Can You Succeed in Securing a Job? Test Your Knowledge

Do you think you have a full proof plan for getting hired? Read the following five statements and decide if they are True or False.

*Answers can be found at the bottom.

Questions

1. You should arrive at least 30 minutes early for any job interview.
2. It is better to land the job first before letting your new employer know about any planned vacations, weddings or other scheduled events or activities that would mean time off.
3. You should contact previous employers prior to listing them as references for new work opportunities.
4. Being a little overdressed for an interview is more preferred than being under dressed.
5. Applying for jobs, rather than seeking out employment agencies, is always the best route for landing your dream job.

Answers:

1. False. Recruiters and HR Representatives traditionally have very busy schedules and if a candidate arrives too early, chances are they’ll be told to go get a coffee or sit in the waiting area for the majority of the time. On the other hand, leaving very early to make sure you arrive between 10-15 minutes early is perfectly acceptable and viewed by most interviewers as a positive sign.
2. False. It is better to be upfront with a potential employer on events or activities you may have which will require time off. In the event of a planned family reunion, vacation or other activity that is well planned in advance, most employers will understand. By not being forthright, you may risk not being able to take that time off if it is months away, and in the event you are working as a temp, you may find you’ve been replaced when you return, particularly if the time off is early on in the assignment.
3. True.  It is always good protocol to give anyone you are going to list as a reference advance notice, so they’ll be looking for an email and not discard it as junk mail. And, there will be no surprises.
4. True. Going on an interview is like a dress rehearsal for a job. It is always better to be a little over dressed, rather than under dressed. No matter how casual a would be employer or representative may be in a phone screen or when setting up an interview, unless you’re applying for a position working at a circus or a horse stable, it’s best to stick with either business casual or business professional when heading to a formal interview.
5. False. No matter how good your skills are, or your experience may be in a particular profession, sometimes if you just don’t have the right key words in your resume and/or cover letter, your documents may never even be seen by a human being. Many companies today use software programs which weed out those resumes that do not contain the specific words that the decision makers are looking for. But, whether it is a particular profession or industry, sometimes temporary staffing firms can help those same candidates get a foot in the door.

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