“Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.” –Babe Ruth

How to nail an interview:

• Prepare: Research the company – know their mission and vision. Review any details of the job role.

• Be on time: Arrive early to avoid putting pressure on yourself.

• Make a good impression: Be personable, honest, and show interest and passion. You can also build rapport by mirroring the interviewer's body language and tone.

• Ask questions: Ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in the role and company. Your research on mission and vision help you think of questions.

• Follow up: Sometimes THIS is the reason you get the job! Send a thank-you note and address any questions after the interview. You can also follow up with an email to reinforce your thanks and interest in the role.

• Be aware of your body language: Maintain eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and smile with confidence.

• Be positive: Avoid negative comments about past employers

• Be polite: Address people formally, with respect and kindness. Yes ma’am and no sir will go a long way in an interview. Do your absolute BEST to hold in any gas. In the event that you let out a burp, definitely say excuse me.

• Be Honest: Even with all of the above advice, no one is expecting you to be a robot. If you are super nervous, it is okay to tell the person you are nervous.

• Say “Thank You”: As you are saying goodbye, be sure to thank the person for the opportunity to be interviewed for the position. Smile, give eye contact, and shake their hand.

• Practice. Have a friend, mentor, or family member help you practice for the interview.  Get in the habit of sitting down with someone, having them ask you questions and you answer them.

• Questions: Come prepared with at least 3 questions about the company or about specifics about the job.  If you don’t have any questions, it comes off as though you don’t care. Be sure that the questions reflect that you will be a reliable and engaged employee.

Save specific questions like:
"When do I get time off?"
"How much will I get paid?"
“Do I get any breaks?"

These are fair questions to ask once you are hired and talking about the specifics of the position.

More appropriate questions for an interview might be:
“Who will I work with most closely?”
“What other departments or units will I interact with?"
"What are your expectations for me in this role?"

• Don't Get Discouraged: If you are not offered the job, that is okay! Try not to be too disappointed. Keep submitting resumes, filling out applications, and preparing for interviews. You will find a job eventually!

What Should You Wear?

• Dress one step up from what those in the workplace environment wear. For example, if a company’s leaders and employees typically dress in jeans and T-shirts, your one step up might include a pair of non-denim pants and a tucked-in shirt.

• Make sure the clothes you choose are also comfortable and make you feel confident. Even if you’ll be wearing a tie and button-down shirt, make sure your garments do not restrict movement or irritate your skin so that you can focus on the conversation with a potential employer. You may even choose to wear something you already know feels comfortable rather than investing in a new set of garments.

• Make sure every garment in your outfit is clean, free of wrinkles and/or rips, and fit well. These details alone can polish your look.

Online Interview Tips

Here are some tips for online interviews:

• Clarify if you are doing a phone call interview or a video interview. 

• Take the interview in a quiet place without distractions. 

• Make sure that you have a stable internet or phone connection in which to have the interview.

• Plan to be ready for the interview 5 minutes before it is scheduled to start.

• If you are on a video interview, be sure to follow the “What you Should Wear” tips.

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” –Michael Jordan

The following sections should be on a resume:

1. Contact Information

The top of your resume should include your name, the city you live in, your email address, and phone number. You no longer need to include a street address on resumes.

• Make sure your email address is professional sounding. It is easiest to stick with a variation of your first and/or last name.

• Examples:
firstname.lastname@gmail.com
firstinitial.lastname@yahoo.com

• Things to avoid in an email address: The year you were born, improper grammar, drug references, body part references, inappropriate language

2. Education 

Include the name of the high school you are currently attending or last attended.

Include the month and year that you expect to graduate or that you did graduate.

If you are in college, include the same information for the colleges you have attended.

2. Work History

Include any jobs that you have worked with the following info:

• The name of the company 
• Your job title
• The city you worked in
• The date range in which you were employed

3. Extracurricular Activities

This is a great place to include any non-work related experience.

Include sports that you played in school, clubs that you participated in, or any volunteer experience. Include the same detailed/descriptive information as “Work History.”

What Not to Include:

• Nicknames. Use your birth name on your resume not nicknames.

• Personal Identifiable Information. Don’t include your birthdate or social security number.

• Hobbies. If you choose to list any hobbies, make sure they are appropriate to list here.

• Pictures. Leave off your favorite selfie, picture of your dog or emojis. The only exception is a professional headshot.

• Disabilities or limitations.  Do not offer information about any disabilities or medical conditions, allergies, limits on days/hours that you work, or your living arrangements.

• Past pay. Do not include the amount of pay that you received working at other companies.

General tips:

• Keep it short and sweet. With less than 5 years of work experience you should be able to fit everything into one page.

• Resumes are all about consistency.  Use one font on the entire resume and have a consistent margin all around the document. 

• Use color sparingly.  Use no more than one or two colors on your resume. Colors should be conservative: black, dark blue, dark grey, or dark green. If you want to use two colors, use one color for your name and section headings and another color for all other text. 

• One big exception to this advice is if you are applying for a marketing, graphics or creative job.  In that situation you can add more creativity and life to your resume to give them a sense of how you would fit into the role.

• Stick with proper formatting when you write your resume. Spell words out in full instead of abbreviating them and capitalize the first letter in the first word in a sentence. 

• When you save your resume make sure to include your full name and the date. 

• Example:
Kelly Martin Resume-September 2023

• Lastly, don’t forget to spell check and ensure that your grammar is accurate.

References

Many companies will ask if you have a reference who can speak to your character and past experience.  Typically they will ask for these after you go in for an interview.

Your references should be someone who knows you well and will say good things about you.  It shouldn’t be a friend. Start thinking about who you could ask. Think through teachers, youth group leaders, social workers, people you volunteered with, people you worked for or even friends' parents. Really any adult that you know that can say positive things about you.

Resume Copies: Print off a few copies of your resume on white paper and bring them with you. Give them to the people you speak with.

“Remember that this might not be your dream job, but just a stepping stone to where you are going. Doing your very best in each job will create opportunities for you in the future. Hang in there!”

Be reliable: Arrive on time, meet deadlines, and maintain good attendance. 

Be proactive: Volunteer for additional tasks, take initiative, and offer to help colleagues. 

Communicate openly: Keep your manager updated on your progress, ask questions when needed, and address concerns constructively. 

Maintain positive relationships: Be pleasant to work with, avoid gossip, and build rapport with colleagues. 

Develop your skills: Continuously learn new things, attend training sessions, and stay updated on industry trends. 

Be adaptable: Show flexibility when needed, such as adjusting to changing schedules or taking on new responsibilities. 

Seek feedback: Ask your manager for constructive criticism and actively work to improve your performance. 

Be positive: Maintain a positive attitude even during challenging situations. 

“When putting in your two weeks or quitting a job, understand the consequences. Sometimes a bad job is better than no job at all.”

Do you have a job lined up?

• Having a job lined up will give you less stress and help aid you in the long run. While you may not like the job you are in now you may need it to survive. Don’t quit until you have a plan and a new job.

Do you have references that will relate and improve your chances of being hired?

• Understand that references should include a job that you have worked for 6 months or more. Anything less may give the impression that you are unreliable or will leave without notice.

Jobs that offer Tuition help:

1. Retail and Hospitality:

• Starbucks: Offers 100% tuition coverage for a Bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program for both part-time and full-time employees.

• Target: Covers tuition and textbooks for certain degree programs through partner schools and offers tuition assistance for other programs.

• Walmart and Sam’s Club: Provides free college tuition and books for eligible employees through their Live Better U program.

• Chipotle: Covers up to $5,250 in tuition assistance per year and partners with certain colleges to offer discounted programs.

2. Food Service:

• McDonald’s: Offers tuition assistance through its Archways to Opportunity program, providing up to $2,500 per year for eligible employees.

• Taco Bell: Offers up to $5,250 per year in tuition assistance and access to scholarships through the Taco Bell Foundation.

3. Healthcare:

• Kaiser Permanente: Offers tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing healthcare-related degrees.

• CVS Health: Provides up to $3,000 per year in tuition reimbursement for part-time employees and $5,000 for full-time employees.

4. Logistics:

• Amazon: Covers up to 100% of college tuition, fees, and books through its Career Choice program for in-demand fields.

• UPS: Offers tuition assistance of up to $5,250 per year through its Earn and Learn program for part-time employees.

• FedEx: Provides tuition assistance for eligible employees to pursue degrees or certifications.

5.On-Campus Jobs

Working for your college or university can come with benefits like free or discounted tuition:

• Resident Assistant (RA): Often provides free housing and/or meal plans, plus a stipend.

• Teaching or Research Assistant: Graduate students and some undergraduates can work in these roles for tuition waivers or stipends.

• Student Employment Office: Many schools offer part-time campus jobs that are flexible with class schedules.