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Job Interviews for New Grads

May 2, 2011
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Job interviews can cause anxiety even for experienced workers. Fortunately, interviews get easier the more often you do them. The secret to walking calmly and confidently into an interview is to research the company beforehand, be articulate, and remain poised no matter what kind of questions the interviewers ask.

Do Your Research

Determine what the employer’s focus is (adults/children/all ages, particular referring sources, profit/non-profit etc.) and what your role will be. Ask experienced clinicians, professors, supervisors for info as they may provide excellent info that you couldn’t get from a company’s website or its ad.

Make Contact with the Employer

Send your cover letter to the person named in the ad, or, call the company and request the name of the person to whom you should send your letter and resume. In your letter, state your interest in the job and briefly explain why your education/clinical experience makes you suitable for it. Include your resume with the letter (mailed, emailed or faxed). In your resume, emphasize the skills, knowledge and experience that make you suitable for the job. Don’t make the employer have to look hard to find this info on your resume.

If the employer sends you an application or questionnaire, fill it out completely, providing an answer for each question or writing ‘not applicable’ for questions that don’t apply to you. Return it promptly and attach another copy of your resume just in case the first one was lost. If, after a couple of weeks have passed, you haven’t heard from the company, you may write to the company again, asking about the status of the recruiting process and whether you are being considered for an interview. This shows the employer that you’re truly interested. You may discover that they’ve decided not to hire anyone, or they’ve hired someone, so you can focus your attention on other jobs.

The Interview

Arrive 15 minutes early and bring copies of your resume along with a note pad listing your questions. Of course, your attire and personal grooming must be business formal even if you will be wearing casual clothes once on the job. An interview is an information session about the job, as well as an opportunity for you and for the interviewer(s) to ask questions of each other. This is your chance to obtain enough info for you to decide if it is the right job for you.

You will be asked about your educational and clinical experiences. If the interviewer is also a speech-language pathologist or healthcare professional, you may be asked general questions about certain communication disorders, the cause of a disorder, treatments, or related professional matters. You may be asked about your strengths and weaknesses; how you would deal with a difficult patient; how you would interact with a difficult co-worker; and what your career goals are. Since you don’t know which questions will be asked, you can’t study for the interview. However, lists of ‘behavioral interview questions’ are readily available online and in career search books, so read them and think of how you would answer the questions. Take your time, ask for clarification if necessary, and don’t sweat it if you didn’t answer a question perfectly.

To facilitate more fairness in hiring, most employers must comply with the Amended Civil Rights Act of 1964 and provide equal opportunities to applicants regardless of the applicant’s religion, sex, race, colour, or national origin. Don’t answer any questions pertaining to these matters or provide info during the interview that would address these matters. Ensure that your resume does not include information that would provide employers with information pertaining to these matters either.

When it’s your turn to ask questions, refer to your list. You may wish to ask about specific duties or certifications needed, schedules, work hours, opportunities for continuing education and career advancement, and whether mentorship is available. If the employer has broached the topic of compensation and benefits, then it’s fair to ask questions about this. Don’t start negotiating your salary at this point, however, unless you are being offered the job right there and then. If you are arranging a CFY, then you should request a meeting with your immediate supervisor if she or he isn’t present at the interview. By the end of the interview, you should have a reasonably complete understanding of what the role entails, and what your work day and opportunities will be.

Follow-up

Send a thank you note expressing your appreciation to the interviewer(s) for taking the time to interview you. Re-assert your interest in the role and mention that you hope to hear from them soon. If they notify you that they’ve chosen another applicant, you can request they keep your application on file for future opportunities. If they offer you the role, be ready to negotiate salary and benefits, having already researched the average salary for similar roles in that region of the country.

 


 


 


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