Job Interview Skills - DOs and DON'Ts

Hello there, my name is Ronnie.

Today I'm going to teach you something that every person has to go through.

You have to do this if you want to get a job.

It is a job interview.

Some people hate job interviews.

You get nervous, you don't know what to say, you don't know what to wear, you're afraid

of what questions they're going to ask you.

Hopefully I can help you with this one.

I've been to many job interviews, I kind of like them, I think they're fun.

I'm excited to see what questions they're going to ask me and how I can answer them.

I will give you a lesson on what questions typically they will ask you in a job interview,

but right now I'm going to focus on basic do's and don'ts for any general job interview.

Job interview skills, okay?

The very first one and probably the most important one is to research the company.

If you are going for a job at a computer company or in a restaurant or at a bar, know a little

bit about the company.

When did it start?

How long has it been there?

You all have access to the internet if you're watching this.

Use it.

It's a great tool that we can use.

We are able to have this information right in front of us.

Use it.

Look intelligent, please.

Ask them questions about their company.

They love that.

They do.

They eat it up.

So they're going to ask you many questions.

They also like it if you ask them a couple questions.

Most questions are good.

Don't ask some rude questions like, "How much do you weigh?" or something like that.

Keep it very business, please, okay?

Don't ask them out on a date.

Another thing that's very important is be on time.

My mother always told me be early because I'm usually late for things, not by my own

doings.

In our wonderful city of Toronto, we have this wonderful system called the TTC.

Very unreliable.

I could walk faster most times.

So if you're going for an all-important job interview, leave at least an hour before the

scheduled time.

That gives you time if the subway stops, or if you can't find the building, or if you

have to go to the toilet right away.

You have time to do all of this before the all-important interview.

Don't pee your pants.

The other thing -- one more -- answer the questions positively.

They're going to ask you what I like to call "trick questions."

They will ask you things like, "Have you ever gotten into a fight or had a confrontation

with someone at your job?"

"Yeah."

"I hate this one person."

"No.

Don't -- no!"

Do not say that.

Put on a face like you're thinking about the question, like, "Um, let me think."

"No, no, not really.

I usually get along with everyone."

Now, you've not lied, because you usually get along with everyone is 100% sure and positive.

If there are people at your work that you did not like, pretend they did not exist.

Don't insult anything.

Don't be a negative Nancy.

Don't say bad things about your last job, your old boss, or co-workers you hated.

It looks like you are a bad person, which you're not.

The other people are obviously the bad people, and you are amazing.

So always remember, positive, and don't say anything bad about other people.

It just looks bad on you, okay?

Don't look like a slob.

People who are new to the ESL world are studying slang.

A slob is a person who wears dirty clothes, so, "Oh, what if you -- before your job interview,

you go and you need a coffee?"

So you go to the coffee store, and you get a coffee, and you spill it down your shirt.

Advice -- go to a store, if there's one around.

Buy a new shirt, okay?

Or put a pin or something -- I don't know what you do -- put a pin over it and say it's

fashion.

Gentlemen, iron your shirts, or buy non-ironed shirts.

That's what I do, non-ironed here.

Brush your teeth.

Don't have bad breath.

Chew some gum.

If you smoke, smoke, fine.

After the interview, make sure your breath is nice.

You don't want to have dragon breath at an interview.

The person will be like, "Brush your teeth, people.

Brush your teeth."

The other one -- talk about your positive traits.

Do not talk about your negative traits.

If you are a confrontational person, do not tell the person that.

They will trick you.

They'll ask you questions like, "What are your negative traits?"

Say something cute like, "Well, I always like to keep my work area clean."

They love that.

Or, "I really like to be on time.

It's quite annoying to my schedule, but I really love being on time."

If you do have a negative trait, which we all do, keep it quiet.

Say something very minor that's a little bit negative, and it will help you.

Good luck on your job interviews.

Probably the most important thing that you have to do on a job interview is smile.

That should help you 152%.

Good-bye.