*IF* you can stand IT culture as a female, then hang in there. You could read this article as the dismal soundings of IT as it stands today. OR... you could take the Fairy point of view, realize that industries that remain male-dominated also remain high-paying, and stick it out until the boomers are gone, thus maximizing earnings and hopefully your retirement portfolio. I see opportunities for those who have sufficiently thick skin.
Not that it has anything to do with how to get hired, per se, but it's fun remembering the pointless frenzy of the early dot-bomb era. And all M$oft had to do to cook Netscape's goose was bundle a crappy little browser in with their O/S. Best of all... they even saw it coming. It's probably in here because it makes Fairies laugh. :)
- Identify your accomplishments before you go on an interview.
- Don't let your guard down. No matter how friendly the interviewer is, you must always remember that she/he is not your friend.
- Answer the interviewer's questions in a direct and concise manner.
- Dress in a manner that your position calls for.
- Maintain direct eye contact with the interviewer; this will show that you are confident in your abilities and that you have nothing to hide.
- Don't bring up salary first.
- Develop questions of your own that demonstrate your interest and knowledge in working with the company.
- Send a thank-you letter to all individuals with whom you interviewed.
- Be aware of your language. Avoid vocal fillers such as "like" or "um".
- Answer questions within 60 seconds or you will lose your listener.
- Make sure that you show interest in and enthusiasm for working for the employer.
- Be prepared, but don't sound rehearsed.
- Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself."
- Be aware of the interviewer's body language and adapt yours to match hers.
- Give yourself 24 hours before you accept or decline a position.
- Remember that you are interviewing the company as well.
- Before the interview ends, ask if you should clarify or elaborate on any points.
- Be prepared to expand on the information you provided in the resume.
- Always show up on time.
- Be as honest as you can without hindering your chances of landing a job offer.
- Thank the interviewer for his time.
- Listen carefully to the questions that are being asked and try to determine their hidden meaning.
- Ask for the interviewer's business card so that you will have the proper spelling of his or her name as well as job title, address, and phone number.
- No matter how great you were during the interview, continue your job search until you have accepted a job offer.
- Maintain a positive and upbeat demeanor; never let them see you sweat.
- Answer the question that is being asked; don't go off on tangents.
- Be aware of your tone and body language.
- Establish rapport with the interviewer.
- Don't interrupt the interviewer when she is speaking.
- Don't hog the interview with your agenda.
- Be patient during the interview process. You may be asked to attend more than one interview before a job offer is put on the table.
- Expect to be nervous.
- Don't overstay your welcome; recognize cues that the interview is coming to an end.
- At the end of the interview, ask the interviewer what the next step will be.
- If you get the impression that the interview is not going as planned, don't show your disappointment; remain calm.
- The purpose of the first interview is not to get a job offer; it is to be invited to a second interview.
- Know the organization's needs and culture before the interview.
- Be yourself.
- Don't speak negatively about your present or past employer.
- Wait until you are offered a seat before you sit down.
- Interact with the interviewer; don't react.
- Pace yourself; if you need extra time to think of an answer, take it.
- At the end of the interview, make sure you ask for the job.
- Allow sufficient time between interviews.
These tips are by Linda Matias.
