Landing Your First Job
From A.B.M.P. Knead to Know Volume 6, Issue 3, summer, 2003
How to Hone your Interviewing Skills:
In preparation for those future interviews, it’s important to know the steps you need to take to sell yourself as employable and ensure success during an interview.
Prep Work:
Start by evaluating your requirements and qualifications carefully before you even schedule your first interview. Be realistic about how much flexibility that you can expect as a rookie employee and what initial pay rate that you can command. Be objective about your qualifications. If you have lots of positive feedback about your skills from your school or internship experience, relate that feedback with confidence, but also acknowledge your limited work experience. Understand that you are probably interviewing for an entry-level massage job. It’s reasonable to seek a positive environment in which to grow and gain skills, but probably unrealistic to expect this first role to be your ultimate dream job.
When you do identify a target employer and secure an interview, you need to ask yourself, what needs does the prospective employer have and what skills can I bring to the job? Is there a modality that I practice that this employer is lacking? What can I do to convince them I am the right one for the position? Do a self-check inventory of skills. Write down your strengths, positive points and address your weaknesses. While this may seem counterproductive, knowing your weaknesses means you can address them rather than be surprised by them.
A good next preparation step is to enlist a friend to help you in brainstorming/role playing exercise. First brainstorm a list of potential interview questions. Examples might include: How do you react to a problem or crisis? How do you respond to a client who is seeking psychological advice? How do you keep going when everyone around you is having a bad day? What is your philosophy regarding massage and health? Then role play: Have your friend play interviewer and ask you some of these questions.
When practicing, keep in mind that interviewers generally ask open-ended questions because they potentially give more insight to the interviewee’s personality. When presented with such questions, don’t just answer yes or no; give some background information or reasoning with your answer and don’t be afraid to explain yourself. If you have a work experience that illustrates your ability to handle a situation referred to in one of the questions, concisely relate that experience. Traits that are often sought in employees include a sense of responsibility, positive self-esteem/image, problem-solving skills, motivation and willingness to be a part of a team. It is not important that you convey all of these traits during an interview, mostly that you be yourself and answer the questions honestly. But do understand that how you present yourself and respond will influence the interviewer’s judgment of your character and motivation. While the exact questions above won’t necessarily be asked, they can often be tweaked to answer different but related questions.
Another important preparation tactics is to do your homework on your potential employer; check out their website, read their publications and literature and get a sense of the business history. Are they a privately owned organization or a corporation? Has the company recently been sold or changed management? Should specific knowledge come up during the interview, the employer is likely to be impressed that you’ve spent time researching the company.
It’s Go Time:
During the interview, think B.E.F.A.R.
· Build Rapport
· Establish Needs
· Flush Concerns
· Ask for the Job/Show Interest
· Restate Interest
Building rapport begins the moment you walk through the door. Body language is key. You’ve heard it before, but it’s worth repeating: Set a positive tone by giving a firm handshake when you arrive and look the interviewer in the eye. Sit straight during the interview. Don’t slouch or lean on your elbow. Also don’t look around the room during the interview – this gives the appearance that you’re not concentrating. Be direct, concise and confident. If asked about a previous or current job, find something positive to say. Don’t belittle your previous company or employer; be honest and let your interviewer know you are looking for new challenges.
Establish the employer’s needs by first listening carefully to the questions. If you are asked something you have not rehearsed, don’t panic. The interview is not a race and you can take a few seconds to contemplate the question. Another way to establish the interviewer’s needs is to ask your own questions, listening carefully to the answers for insight into the requirements. You make a positive impression and help yourself decide how appealing the job is by making thoughtful inquiries about your position and the company. These may include the following:
· What will a typical workday be like?
· Who will you report directly to?
· Are there any special demands or conditions that you should know of?
· How does the organization keep staff informed of company information and/or new developments?
· What is their policy on compensation – do they offer a flat percentage or hourly pay?
· Do they pay for the time you are scheduled but didn’t have a client?
· What is their policy on tip income?
· Do you have to supply your own table, linens, oils, music, or are those supplied by the organization?
· Will you have to perform clerical duties during down time, such as answering phones and scheduling appointments?
Think through the interviewer’s answers to these questions. It’s important that both you and the interviewer agree that it’s a good match.
As the questions wind down, it’s likely the interviewer will ask you if you have anything to add. This is you opportunity to flush out and concerns by asking if they have apprehensions about your credentials. If, for example, the interviewer says there is concern regarding your inexperience, you can address it directly. Don’t deny your limited work history and don’t get defensive. Simply agree that you lack experience but note that you solid in your training and eager to learn what you don’t know.
In closing, make sure the interviewer is clear that you are still interested. Ambivalence won’t solicit a callback. Bring typed referrals with telephone numbers listed and the best time to reach each person. Your references may include instructors who can vouch for your technique and credentials, previous employers who will attest to your work ethic and two to three satisfied clients who will validate your ability. Don’t list family or close friends as references; the company is looking for non-biased sources not someone who has been your best friend for the past five years.
Some companies ask that you perform a trial massage session, so be prepared. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or extreme makeup. Make sure that you follow proper draping procedures, ask for medical history, contraindications, maybe even have a mock questionnaire ready for them to fill out. Explain the techniques that you will be performing, just as if you were working on a regular client. Ask them about the pressure you’re applying, if they are warm enough, if they prefer music or not, etc.
Immediately after the interview send a brief thank you letter to restate your interest in the position. If time is of the essence you may want to send an email instead.
Now be ready to receive the phone call. Keep a professional message on your answering machine; make it short and sweet. Getting a two-minute comedy routine or musical number on the voicemail message probably won’t help your cause.
The Waiting Game
Rarely do we secure an ideal job on the first time out. Keep a log of interviews; write down what you felt was positive and negative about the meeting and note pertinent information. If you’re lucky enough to get a callback for a second interview, you can refer back to your notes to refresh your memory. If you really thought that an interview went well and you don’t get a callback or a letter within a couple of weeks, call your interviewer to inquire about the status of the position. If they’ve chosen someone else, it’s ok to ask for feedback: Was there a skill or technique that you were lacking? Did the interview not go well? Consider the information and think back to how you might have responded better. Getting such feedback and rethinking how you present yourself may just give you the competitive edge on your next interview.
Remember no one is perfect and interviews are somewhat awkward for all involved, so try to relax and think positive. If you find yourself getting nervous, take some deep breaths and with a smile tell the interviewer that you are a little nervous. Most likely this will break the tension and you can both relax.
Good Luck!