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Employers use job applications to standardize the information they have from all their applicants. You have to fill out the application as completely as honestly as possible. Remember that this is what some employers use to decide whether to call you for an interview or not.

When filling out your job application, bring your resume with you, as well as contact details of previous employers. Take a few minutes to read the instructions carefully before filling out the blanks. Be as neat as possible when you complete the application form. The application form is a reflection of you, and a legible form will swing in your favor. Answer all questions truthfully, especially for sensitive questions like why you left your last job. Being honest doesn’t mean that you should be negative though; try to make a positive spin on your answers. Finally, be prepared to fill out all sorts of job applications – from simple one-page ones to applications with multiple pages and questions.

Job aggregators have been helpful to job seekers. They keep a log of companies who have openings, and you can upload your resume in their database for future reference. Pretty neat, eh? Not quite. These job aggregators rely on keyword search since they receive thousands of applicants per day. When a company is in search of a new applicant to fill in a position, they do queries that will bring back results that match the keywords they just typed.

So what do you have to do? The key here is to refine the contents of your personal log file. Maybe instead of writing “I have no job experience since I am a fresh graduate”, you may want to write “I am a fresh graduate, seeking my first job. Although I don’t have any work experience, I am more than willing to learn and use my skills… etc.”. In this way, there is a better chance that some of your keywords might be picked.

Photo taken from http://www.abc.net.au

You’ve heard the cliché “Simplicity is beauty.” The same theory applies to make-up. Your future employer wouldn’t be happy to see too much gunk on your face. What’s important is that you look fresh and neat! To be safe, go for neutral shades, like brown or beige. Even eyeliner works wonders. The purpose of cosmetics is to highlight your best features. It’s how you apply them that matters. For your cheeks, a rose-colored shade would do. Resist wearing sultry shades. A crimson red lipcolor wouldn’t be so hot for an interview. The no- makeup look wins my vote!

For guys, a solid colored conservative suit is best to wear during an interview. No prints please! Patterns somehow diminish the formality in your demeanor. A long-sleeved white shirt plus a dark tie gives guys the smart casual look, though most male applicants nowadays seem comfortable in donning in pastel-colored shirts. Some even wear powder pink ones.

Never wear white socks. You’re not a first-grader so please replace yours with dark ones. Slip your feet into a pair of shiny black shoes. As much as possible, the only accessory you’d wear would be your watch. And it’s not even for the purposes of style.

Keep your hair neat with gel. However, don’t style them up the way band stars do. It’s like something is sticking out of your head. Shave your beard or moustache, and give up your goatee for just a few days. Be quite like a guy-next-door type, at least until you pass the job interviews! To complete your outfit, carry your documents inside a portfolio or a briefcase.

Here are some resources where you might be able to find internships.

Placement office. Your university placement office should have a list of internship programs and application dates. This is usually the place everyone first starts looking.

Networks. Tell the people in your network that you are looking for a certain kind of internship. Your network includes your family, friends at school, friends of your parents, professors, previous employers, etc.

Internship or career fair. Most universities offer a college career fair at least once during the school year and the companies who are part of it usually offer internships. Even if you intend to have your internship in a different city, go to the fair and network anyway as many companies have multiple offices.

Company websites. If you’ve already figured out what industry or specific group of companies you’d like to intern for, go straight to the source by checking out their websites and available internship positions.

Before you start the search for your internship, spend some time to reflect on your goals.

Figure out your career interests. An internship is one way you can streamline your career goals. If you intend to have a political career, for instance, get an internship with a local politician. If you’re not sure what career path to take, consider getting an internship in both those areas.

Determine why you want an internship and what you hope to gain from the experience. There are many reasons why people get internships – college credit, learning new skills, gaining connections, etc.

Even if you know what you want to do, you can still be unsure about the industry you want to get in. For instance, if you’d like to get into sales, remember that pharmaceutical sales is different from selling insurance.

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When you search for a job, you will be spending money and this becomes your investment for the future of your family. When the job you found will be paying you lesser than what you are worth then that means that the investment you made failed. The reality of life is that you do not actually get what or how much you deserve but you get what you were able to negotiate. This applies true when we talk about one’s career. The best thing to do to be able to negotiate the salary you wanted is to know your bottom line.

Source

Forbidden Questions about Family Situation
Examples:

Do you have small children?
Are you planning to have children soon?
What is your marital status?
What is your maiden name?
Are you pregnant?

Exceptions:

Employers can inquire whether you have ever worked under a different name or whether you have personal responsibilities that could interfere with requirements of the job like travel or overtime hours.
Forbidden Questions about Sexual Orientation and Political Affiliation
Executive Order 13087 acts as a guideline against sexual discrimination or party discrimination in the federal government.

Examples:

Are you straight or gay?
How do you feel about working with gay or bisexual people?
Who did you vote for in the last election?
Do you belong to a party?

Exceptions:

This executive order does not bind all employers, but protections exist at least for federal civilian workers.

Employment laws prohibit discrimination not only in the workplace itself but as well as in the interviews. In interviews, questions that are inquisitive about race, religion, sexual orientation, family tradition and situation, and disabilities are illegal. Nevertheless, only a few people know which questions are illegitimate and most applicants fall into a trap of disqualification due to prejudice.

Forbidden Questions about Religion

Examples:

Do you go to church?
Are you religious?
What religion are you?
Do you take time off work for religious purposes?

Exceptions:

Organizations that have a specific religious orientation might ask questions relevant to religious practices and beliefs.

Forbidden Questions about Disabilities and Health

Examples:

Do you have any disabilities or medical conditions?
How serious is your disability?
Do you take any prescription drugs?
Have you ever been in rehab?
Have you ever been an alcoholic?
How many sick days did you take last year?
Do you have AIDS?
Have you been diagnosed with any mental illnesses?
Have you ever received worker’s compensation or been on disability leave?

Exceptions:

Employers may ask whether you have any conditions that would keep you from performing the specific tasks of the job for which you are applying. They may also require that all candidates for a certain position pass through a medical examination that is relevant to the responsibilities of that job. Employers can subject candidates to illegal drug tests or ask you whether you take illegal drugs.

(Taken from: http://www.job-hunting-tips.com/interview-center/interviews9.html)

• When answering interview questions, first pause to make sure that you understand the question and then answer it, providing personal examples, if appropriate.

• During the interview, make sure that maintain good eye contact with the interviewer, but not constant eye contact, and periodically smile.

• When you are asked if you have any questions, find out how the position that you are interviewing for relates to other positions, what a typical day is like, etc. It is generally not advisable to ask about the salary or benefits offered until a job offer is made.

• At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer(s) for their time, express a strong interest in the position, and inquire as to when a decision might be made regarding filling the job.

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