The Interview(ee?)
One thing I notice is the vast amount of articles coming around that are talking about interviews, their processes and their tips. I want to give a different perspective; try doing the same thing everyone else is from a different country. It actually makes it a lot tougher, even though you might not think so.
My Problem
If you follow my blog you realize, I’m currently studying in Alicante, Spain, my 3rd year of my international business major. As much as I am loving it, it makes apartment hunting and job hunting for the upcoming summer and school year much more difficult.
As much as I would love to send in a snail mail copy of my resumé or give a quick ring to the HR department of wherever I would like to apply, it financially isn’t that feasable. Doable, just not reasonably. The benefits of using some direct contact methods that help by being stateside:
- You usually get to talk to someone, and if you’re anything like me thats much more reasurring than sending your resumé into the black hole of the online database.
- The advantage of the company receiving a physical copy of your resumé shows not only your persistence but your will to succeed and advance in the working world
The Realization
The first step is realizing you have a problem. When you get stuck in a difficult situation, you probably already know it. So understanding that you are in this pickle is naturally the first thing you need to do. Then after that you can begin focusing on ways to rectify, and make the problem one that is almost non existent.
The Solution
Anticipation. The simple fact that you can anticipate these problems make the solution much easier. My Suggestions:
- Skype: If you haven’t found the many many benefits of Skype yet, I suggest giving it a try. Should you be called for an interview you have an economical and practical way to conduct a phone interview on the cheap, especially if YOU have to call.
- Google Voice: 2 benefits here: Recorded transcriptions and a proper phone number where you can receive a transcribed voicemail in case you get a call back.
- LinkedIn: The online resume: get connected, get out there, and get known.
Naturally, I’m still going through my application process for this summer, but as more develops and more comes my way, I’ll be more than happy to clue you in on my tips. If you have any please leave them in the comments.
Image by Ben Heine
Social or Social Media?
With all the hype on Social Media, I feel like there is one thing that can tend to be lost. That is the fact that we have to actually be SOCIAL, for social media to work.
This tends to show it self that so many people are Twittering Away, and posting their blogs, and writing notes on Facebook, meeting people through LinkedIn, adding new locations on BrightKite, that we forget about face-to-face interactions.
I find the face-to-face interactions come from things like PodCamps. This is where many bloggers, companies, and many social networkers come together to find new ideas, new topics, and discuss the many happenings of Web 2.0.
My point today is that these many Social Applications should really try to interconnect these many groups within their online communities, similar to PodCamps. Though with Facebook, this could come to true “Facebook Stalking”. But point being, let’s not forget our true interactions, discussions and conversations that really keep people tied together.