The Best and Worst Colors to Wear to an Interview

CareerBuilder recently conducted a survey where they asked more than 2,000 hiring managers and HR professionals about what they associate with candidates when the candidate wears a certain color to a job interview. According to this survey, 23 percent of people surveyed agreed that blue was the best color to wear for an interview. The second best color is black, while the worst color is orange, according to this study.

The study also found that certain colors correlate to a person’s specific qualities. Those colors and their attributes are:

Black – Leadership

Blue – Team Player

Gray – Logical/Analytical

White – Organized

Brown – Dependable

Red – Power

Green, Yellow, Orange or Purple – Creative

So if you are interviewing with a company this is looking for a real “team player”, you could consider wearing blue; or white if they are looking for someone who is very organized. It can’t hurt to keep this information in mind when picking out your next interview outfit!

5 Social Skills Technology is Destroying

These are the top five social skills that are diminishing, especially in younger professionals, due to the almost constant use of technology.

Eye contact. One thing that staring at a screen for the majority of our days has taken from us is the ability to know what, or who, to focus on when holding an actual conversation. Being able to hold eye contact during an interview is so important, it can be one of the things that make or break your entire interview process. Being able to sustain eye contact well, and know when it’s appropriate, is a vital social tool.

Phone Skills. The ability to actually speak on the phone - clearly, confidently, and concisely – is becoming a thing of the past for a lot of younger people. The age of text messages, Twitter and Instagram has begun to really impair the younger generation’s ability to actually hold solid, professional conversations on the phone.

Conversation. Asking questions about others, actively listening, and being able to read other peoples physical social cues, are all part of being a skilled conversationalist. The constant compulsion to look at a screen does not give those that interact with you the impression that you are invested in the present conversation. It can also make you feel more awkward and anxious when you’re forced to actually interact face to face with people. If you’re social skills are lacking to the point that you aren’t capable of holding down a decent conversation, who’s going to want to work with you, let alone hire you?

Spatial Awareness. We have all seen that person, the one who stands in the middle of the aisle talking or texting on their cell phone, completely unaware of the people trying to make their way around them. This kind of behavior can be irritating at the office as well. When you’re ultra-focused on your own technological world, it can make you less aware of the present physical world around you. Don’t be this person!

Attention Span. It can be very obvious when someone is bored, either with their work, in a meeting, or in a dialogue. Not being able to muster up some sustained interest and enthusiasm isn’t going to land you that job, promotion, or the respect of your coworkers. Not everything worthwhile can be conveyed in 140 characters or less and part of having good social skills is knowing when to focus and pay attention.

Can you think of any other social skills that have suffered due to a constant use of technology? Let us know in the comments!

Job Fair Etiquette for Stressed Out Students!

It’s hard to make a good impression when you look stressed out.

This type of event can really stress some students out, but not worry; here is a list of tips and advice to really make the most of your school’s job fair!

Some things to do and remember before a job fair:

• Look over the list of participating companies and their open positions; make a list of the ones you are most interested in.
• Prepare your resume for the companies and jobs that interest you.
• Visit their websites and be able to say something positive about their latest press release or signature product.
• If you'll be interviewing at the fair, work on your interviewing skills by visiting with a Career Services professional and/or participating in mock interviews.
• Develop a list of questions for the employers that interest you.
• Wear proper job fair attire, usually a business suit.

Some things to do and remember while you are at a job fair:

• If there is a map of the event available, look over it to find out where the businesses that you are interested in are located and create a game plan.
• If you are pressed for time, approach your priority companies first to ensure that you will have a chance to speak to them. However, if an organization has a long line of candidates, visit other key organizations and return later. If this is your first fair and you are nervous, you might start with some of your lower priority companies to become comfortable with the process. Move onto your higher priority companies as you gain more confidence.
• Be assertive. Approach employers, extend your hand, and introduce yourself. Be prepared to carry the conversation and ask questions.
• Provide employers with a copy of your resume and describe how you would be a good fit for the position and the organization.
• Collect company information for further research.
• Ask the recruiter for their business card so you can follow-up later with a thank-you note.
• Thank recruiters for their time.

And finally, after the job fair:

• Write thank you notes to the recruiters that were of the most interest to you.
• Follow-up on leads by calling the recruiter if you haven't heard from them within two weeks.

Don’t Forget the Post-Interview Thank You Notes...

It only takes a few moments to write one! Sending a thank you note is so important. It shows that you are interested in the position AND it puts your name in front of your potential employer again. Thank you notes should be sent to each and every person that helped you along the way, not just the interviewer.

Here is a basic template to guide you in the process:

“Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

I sincerely enjoyed meeting with you yesterday and learning more about the [Position] at [Employer].

Our conversation confirmed my interest in becoming part of [Employer's] staff. I was particularly pleased at [the prospect of being able to develop my own article ideas with the head of the bureau, and develop my multi-media skills]. I feel confident that my experiences both in the workplace and in the classroom would enable me to fill the job requirements effectively.

Please feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any further information. I look forward eagerly to hearing from you, and thank you again for the courtesy you extended to me.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Contact Information (phone number, email address)”

If this note is going to be mailed, be sure to leave enough room between your closing and your typed name for your actual signature. If it is being sent as an e-mail, that room is not necessary.