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Job interview questions and answers! Interview tips! PHONE interview tips! This week's video is all about preparing for a job interview so you'll know how to answer the questions and get the job.

Support How to Adult on Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/howtoadult

Mike's video on making your resumé awesome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWTpUfc3eFI&list=PLvdeRYvP0yPWuDfZOPMorvnCB7ez69Y83

TED Talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc

"How to Adult" is a "life skills" edutainment channel brought to you by Executive Producers Hank Green and John Green. Subscribe for new videos every week!
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Co-written and co-hosted by:
Emma Mills
http://www.youtube.com/elmify

Co-written, co-hosted, directed, and edited by:
T. Michael (Mike) Martin
http://www.youtube.com/tmikemartin
(Mike is also a Young Adult novelist. His book, THE END GAMES, is available at all online booksellers, including Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062201816/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062201816&linkCode=as2&tag=tmicmar-20&linkId=CF4ULRBEW6LATV3C)

Executive Producers:
Hank and John Green
http://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers


 Introduction



Hey, so we took to Tumblr to ask you for your best advice RE: Job Interviews and this is what you said. 


 BEFORE THE INTERVIEW (0:21)



Nikoikoi says, "If you're going around applying to different places in person be dressed nicely enough to do the interview right then and there because that could happen."

Superwhofflepuff answered: Look over your resume and a list of major accomplishments and projects right before the interview; that way it's fresh in your mind. Speaking of resumes, if you're looking to streamline yours you can check out last week's video from Mike that happens to conveniently be on that topic. 

TotallyaComputer suggests prepping answers to common questions. For instance, the classic "What's your biggest weakness?" Instead of saying something like, "Well, I guess I'm just a perfectionist." Instead, say something like, "I'd like to improve on my 'give example' and I'm going to do so by 'give example.'" In other words, acknowledge the negative in the framework of a positive. Practice these a lot. (1:11)

Doteddestroyer also recommends if you're doing a phone interview to write down some answers like these beforehand to boost your confidence.

Livinglifeintheprobabilitylane said for questions about "a time when you..." use the S.T.A.R Method. Situation, Task, the Action you took, and the Results. 

For example, Situation: Moriarty is trying to kill me. Task: Fake my own death. Action I took: Well, I'll never reveal it definitively but let's just say it was rather elaborate and effective. Results: I"m back and better than ever.

You can also prep your own questions. For instance, you can ask about what your daily duties would be. You can ask the interviewer what they like especially about working for that company. It's also perfectly reasonable to ask when they expect to make a decision about the position.

Let's talk about clothes. Now this is all about convincing the company that you're professional and that you're a great fit for the team. It's important to check out the company's attire prior to showing up for the interview. For instance, by contacting the company's receptionist or human resources department and finding out what their day to day dress code is. From there, Forbes Magazine recommends you take it a half step up. If you're unsure what you wear, you can always go with a jacket, if you feel over dressed you can always take it off.


 DURING THE INTERVIEW (2:19)



Cherryscary answered, "for phone interviews: dress up and smile while on the phone. You'll get a confidence boost, and you can hear a smile over the call." 

Anotherblogaboutrandomstuff said, "before any job interview, I always take five minutes and make some power stances/poses to boost my confidence." 

Before you go in, make sure you turn off your phone. You don't wanna be getting any texty-texts or snappy-chats while you're in the middle of your interview.

Be early but not too early. Not more than fifteen minutes. Be sure to smile when the interviewer goes to greet you. Good posture and a solid handshake are key.

Ninjafrogofhnm points out that it's okay to be a little nervous. It's not a surprise to the interviewer so just do your best to relax and don't stress too much over little mistakes.

Tumblr user Shayler, who is a hiring manager says, "if you don't know something, admit it grace and humor. The real purpose of the interview questions is not so much whether they get the answer right, but how they handle the situation. Do they flail and make a wild guess immediately, or do they pause and think before they answer." 

Similarly, nerd-in-a-tiara answered, "never be afraid to pause and say 'let me think about that.' It shows that you're engaged and that you want to answer well."

And bontumblesnow suggests that you quote stay on topic. I put my friend up for an interview and she lost her mind and talked about D&D and Ren Fair and everything but the job. end quote.

When the interview is wrapping up ask any questions that you prepped and be sure to say that you're excited about the possibility of working there. Get business cards from the interviewer if possible. It'll make it easier to send a thank you card or email afterward which you should make sure to do within 24 hours of the interview.

B-reads-books suggests that you also use the note to quote reiterate your interest and touch on topics that you discussed.


 AFTER THE INTERVIEW (3:56)



In addition to the thank you, follow up later on. Did you ask them how long it might take for them to make a decision? If so, wait that amount of time and if you haven't heard anything feel free to contact them via call or email.

If you didn't get the job, ask how you can improve in the future. You never know if another position will open up there. 
And if you don't get the job: that is very disappointing, but it's not because you're not awesomesauce -- because you are the awesomest of sauces.

We all have to acknowledge that the job sea is pretty choppy right now, but there will be other fish in it so just keep swimming. Keep on swimming.

 CREDITS/END CARD (4:28)


When I was in high school, this was my first job, I was at a movie theater and I got to the movie theater and I was like, "I'm here for an interview" and the guy said, "oh they're over there." And so I saw a group of young people sitting around the table. So I went to the table and there was no chair so I got a chair and I set it up next to someone at the table and I was like, "hey guys how's it goin'?" Not knowing that one of the young people was the manager and that was the interview for the group of people that came before me. Which I effectively crashed.

I guess I was 16. I went in to do an interview with a store that was called Babbage's at the time. I guess it's GameStop now. The lady asked, "what would you do if a parent came in and was like 'i wanna buy such and such game for my son isn't that a good game? I really want to buy it.' What do you say to them?" I was like, "I would tell them that there are better games in that type of game we have and here's one of them?" Like did I blow the interview by saying that?

I would say, why would you not sell them the game they wanted? That's my main question.

That stings, Emma.

I'm just wondering.