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Six Baby Boomer Tips for Gen Y When Interviewing For a Job
"Fortune favors the prepared mind."
Louis Pasteur
I am always honored to help my local university conduct "mock" interviews for their senior students who will soon be graduating from school and looking for work. I enjoy hearing the enthusiasm in tthe student's voices as they share with me their hopes and dreams for future employment. They are usually dressed professionally and eager to begin practicing skills and techniques for an effective interview. I usually greet them and begin asking job related questions for twenty minutes and then give my feedback on the interview for ten minutes. The feedback consists of what I liked about the interview as a potential employer and what the student needs to change to become more effective. I share my baby boomer interviewing insights below in hopes that someone who is new to interviewing will shorten their painful learning curve and find success much sooner.
- Do your research. Look up the organization's mission, vision and core values statement on the internet and identify ways you can help them reach their goals. Also, review their website and create a list of power questions that you may have about the position being advertised based on this information. A power question is one that the interviewer never thought of themselves. For instance, if you are interested in a sales position, then review their products online and ask them what products they have in mind that may replace their current products.
- Arrive early. The lobby of an organization is a wealth of information. You may be able to read magazines about their industry, listen to the customers that call or come into the organization and begin to build a positive relationship with the receptionist. Also, it gives you a chance to review your research and power questions which gives you the confidence you need to make a great first face- to -face impression.
- Take notes. Nothing pleases a boomer interviewer more than taking notes. Note taking shows that you respect their knowledge and wisdom enough to write their key ideas down. While some interviewees want to maintain eye contact at all times, get good at writing just their key points and then look up. What should you write down? Anything that will help you better understand the job and use in a follow up letter to show that your skills will help make their point a reality.
- Dress conservatively. This means a structured jacket with no cleavage showing for women and a suite and tie for men. Basic grooming is a must with faces cleanly shaven, fingernails cleaned, hair combed and feet covered. For men their socks should match their pants and dress shoes should be worn. For women dress pants or skirts will work with no open toed shoes. You can always dress down once you understand the work environment and dress culture, but the first interview is to impress, even if you are feeling overdressed!
- Manage your online reputation. Today, anything that is posted or written on the internet is subject to discovery. This means it is permanent and any employer may find it. I had a young man call me that wanted to work for me and the first thing I did was "Google" his name. I quickly discovered his arrest for serving minors alcohol at a recent party he hosted. I might suggest you buy a domain name that is your name and begin creating your own webpage that will manage your reputation instead of leaving it up to Google and Facebook.
- Send a hand-written thank you note. Once you finish your interview, immediately send a hand written note that shows your appreciation for their time and one thing you learned that you would be excited to help with. This note will reveal your maturity in showing gratitude, that you were listening to what was said and that you are enthusiastic about helping that organization. Whatever you do, do not send a text message thank you! While this might show your technical skills and sense of urgency, to a baby boomer interviewer, it shows laziness. An email thank you is okay, if it is followed up quickly with a hand written thank you note as well.
So, there you go. Six tips that will help Gen Y relate better to a baby boomer's need for respect and protocol in the interviewing process. Gen Y has so much to offer employers with their enthusiasm and technical skills. As boomers, we are best positioned to help them better understand the rules of the workplace...starting with the job interview.
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Diane Amundson is the owner of Diane Amundson & Associates. She works with organizations that want to improve communication so they become more productive. She has been training, speaking and consulting for over nineteen years in the areas of leadership, generational diversity, team building, conflict resolution and strategic planning. She has worked with Fortune 500 Companies like General Mills and Pepsi Cola along with numerous school districts in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She has co-authored a book titled Success Strategies: A High Achiever's Guide to Success. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and has served as Adjunct Professor of Organizational Behavior at Winona State University.
She is a Rotarian that has traveled the world on humanitarian projects in Mongolia, India and Brazil.
Her style of speaking is informative and highly interactive.
Diane Amundson & Associates
Phone: (507)452-2232 Fax:(507)452-0090
24456 County Road 9 Winona, MN 55987 |
