Congratulations, you've landed an interview! As you prepare for the big day, ask yourself these questions: Do you know what the purpose of an interview is? How do you prepare for an interview? What should you wear? Are there things you should bring? Consider how to effectively communicate your ideas and most importantly, consider how to make a great impression. In this newsletter, we will discuss all of these things and how they affect your interview.

Keep in mind, the point of the interview is to sell yourself.

Prepare your attire the day before the interview. Remember to wear traditional colors like black, navy, brown, beige or grey. Keep accessories to a minimum. If you keep in mind "Don’t dress for the position you have, dress for the position you want" you will have a good rule of thumb to go by. For more information on dressing professionally, visit http://youremploymentsolution.blogspot.com/.

Beyond appropriate clothing, to successfully convince an employer that you are the perfect candidate for a position, you must prepare. Employers typically request that you bring a few things, so make sure you remember to bring:

The next step in demonstrating successful interviewing skills is to demonstrate confidence. Research the company, be aware of the industry or audience served, engage everyone you meet, and again, dress to impress. Next, know what you will say to these commonly asked questions:

1. What is one of your strengths?


2. What is one of your weaknesses?


3. What is the best job you have ever had?


4. What is that worst job you have ever had, and why?


5. Why did you leave your last job?


6. Why do you want to work here?


7. Why do you have gaps in unemployment?

Finally, follow up. Send a hand-written, legible card to the people responsible for the job lead and to the people who interviewed you. This is the icing on the cake! If you make sure to follow up in a timely manner, your potential employer will not only be reminded of who you are but they will be reassured about your good character and thoroughness.

If you like talking on the phone, make sure you're on the phone for at least three minutes Wednesday, February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Why? Three minutes is all it takes to tell representatives at the TAKE ACTION Job-a-Thon about your qualifications! For jobseekers, the TAKE ACTION Job-a-Thon is a promising event for a few reasons. It was created with jobseekers in mind, those answering the phones are specially trained, and it comes at no cost to you!

First, for those who are underemployed or who are currently employed and looking for a different career, attending a career seminar during the day may not be feasible. But phoning into a call center after work hours is very convenient! The TAKE ACTION Job-a-Thon was created with your busy schedules in mind.

Secondly, when you call in, you will have a short conversation and be asked a few concise questions about your employment history. The TAKE ACTION Job-a-Thon was created with efficiency in mind, so to inform us of why you are a perfect candidate will only take three minutes at the most!

Finally, while some job boards may require you to register and pay a fee, the TAKE ACTION Job-a-Thon is free. It comes at absolutely no cost to you! So what is there to lose?

Call (850) 580-8678 Wednesday, February 23 from 5-7:00 p.m. to TAKE ACTION!

Rachel Cross is from Tallahassee, but she went to school at Agnes Scott College, in Decatur, Georgia. She graduated in December with two degrees in Psychology and Math.

We met her at the "Get Connected" Job Fair on January 18, 2011. She was looking for an internship to get her career started.

"I'm trying to scope things out, figure out what I’m going to do." Cross said.

Cross is not the only one who finds internships valuable. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost anyone can benefit from doing an internship, no matter what their motivations. Part of that value in interning comes from the opportunity of experiential learning. Whether job seekers have some, little or no idea about what they want to do, they can get firsthand knowledge about a particular type of work or work environment.

"I like statistics and probability," Cross said. "So I think I want to go into research."

Did Cross find a place to intern?

"I found a lot of places, mainly banks and insurances companies." Cross said.

Luckily, the "Get Connected" Job Fair was able to provide opportunities for Cross to pursue those much-needed internships.

"There are a lot of employers and a lot to see," Cross said. "It’s great because it is a lot more than what I thought."