Ten Things To Do To Get Hired--Part 2

This one comes in handy if you are interviewing to be a Boy Scout leader.

6. Always be prepared.
You can never be too prepared for your first meeting with a potential employer. Before your interview, always browse the company's Web site. Find out as much as you can about the company's products, leadership, mission and culture, and prepare answers to common interview questions.

Ok.  How about reading the annual report and 10k's as well?  The web site will be propaganda.  The financials tell the real story.  Just google SEC and Edgar and you will get to the web site with the financials and commentary.

7. Be on time.
Whether it's an informational interview, an open house or a formal interview, always arrive about 10 minutes early. Allow plenty of time for traffic and poor weather.

Please stop.  Arrive 30 minutes early.  Or if you have a flat tire or get robbed and are 30 minutes late, rub dirt all over yourself and run panting into the interview.  At least they will remember you. 

8. Dress and act the part.
In a business setting, always dress in professional clothing in the best quality you can afford. Take the industry and employer into consideration, but a business suit is almost always appropriate for interviews.

Ok, this one is important.  I don't want to hear a bunch of stuff about clothes don't matter.  If you go into a store and there are two boxes of, say, crackers and one is a bit smashed you will buy the other.  Same with clothes.  They probably won't help you but they can kill you.  For men, if you are in doubt, go to Jos. A. Bank and throw yourself on the mercy of the staff.  Women, go to Liz Claiborne.  And don't forget the shoes. 

9. Listen more than you talk.
Even if you're nervous at an interview, try not to ramble. By keeping your mouth shut, you can learn valuable information about the company and avoid saying something that you'll wish you hadn't.

Don't know about that one.  The best training for interviews is to do a lot of interviews.  The more you do, the better you get.  If you are sitting there trying to figure out if you are talking too much, I think you will soon be in trouble.

Finally, number 10.

10. Ask good questions.
At the end of an interview, the employer will inevitably ask if you have any questions. Have a list of questions prepared that showcase your company research and interest in the position.

Maybe.  But I think you really should think about your closer.  Something not quite as radical as "I would kill for this job"  but something unique to really show you want it.

So that is it.  The ten things to do to get a job.  Pretty weak but not totally worthless.  The thing to remember is that getting a job is a job.  Spend 10-12 hours a day on it, read everything you can, talk to anybody that will talk to you, research, and you will get a job.  It may not be perfect but life isn't. 

Next week--ten things to get you fired.