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I wanted to share this letter with all of my website visitors. I think there is both hope and wisdom to be gained. Linda is a great success story, a model job seeker.
Hi Helen! Good news! Today I accepted a position as administrative assistant to the Director of Secondary Education for San Juan Unified School District. They scurried to interview me once I passed their typing test with 94 wpm and no mistakes. LOL.
The tips you gave me helped so much, Helen. I actually went on interviews for 6 positions total, which is not really too bad. Four of them were within these past 2 weeks. I really started getting serious, and even took 2 tests for the State.
Going on a few interviews like that increased my confidence. But I feel like your advice helped me start out from a much better position. I did my research on the companies, looked around in the waiting areas at displays, read their periodicals, and made sure to bring something about the company into our conversation. I tried to mention something they would be really proud of. It really paid off. I came close on the positions I did not get. All but one of the companies had exhibits in their waiting areas -- just waiting for the candidate to notice. With my new confidence, I was not afraid to step out and make use of any tool I could lay my hands on!
In the interview process, I did not waste time telling them inconsequential things about myself that did not apply to my skills. I narrowed what I would bring to the position down to 3 succinct points -- actually the things I had gleaned from their posting as being most important to them. I brought those 3 points home at the close of the interview as well, and gave a short example. My resume had only the last 20 years experience. When I sat down for the interview with San Juan School District, I brought up that I also had a little over 2 years experience with Sacramento City Unified School District as a school secretary. Their jaws dropped. It was so fun to see their faces. With every interview, I was able to perfect my stories -- and I had a few already up my sleeve, ready to pull out. As I listened to each of the hiring managers, I picked up on what was most important to them, and managed to feed it back to them. With one I put a sense of humor in my voice and said, "Did I mention that I can spell?" I came in second on that one, and the agency who referred me said that they really, really liked me, and wanted to consider me for their next opening. Helen, this job with San Juan seems like the perfect position for me. My new boss called me after I accepted the Human Resources offer. He told me that I was ranked #1 by all 4 members of the interview panel. (He also had me come back for a skills test and an interview with him and HR before offering me the position.) Get this, he is excited to be working with me! He is heading off on vacation now, and said he feels much better knowing that I will be there when he gets back. You gave me confidence, Helen. Thank you so much for everything you did to help. I wanted to add a few details so you would know I listened, and just in case you wanted to use any of my experiences as examples when you talk with others. Do I get an A? LOL. Take care, and thanks again! Linda S. > >
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