How a Lack of Common Courtesy can SINK your Interview

Now that you are getting ready to embark on the “professional world” making sure you are presenting yourself professionally in all avenues is very important. Julie has covered many different areas in life where professionalism trumps individuality. Using your Facebook account to help your career, not hinder it and using a professional voicemail on your home/cell phone are just a few of the small adjustments to start considering as graduation approaches.

You don’t have to lose your individuality… just transition it to the new, professional YOU. Once you’ve graduated from WVJC you have the college credentials to go out into the work world. You are in charge of the presentation of these new skills. Take into consideration every aspect of the job searching process. Always use please and thank you, sir or ma’am, when speaking to any individual, at any step of the job search. Rude voicemails, mistreating the front desk secretary, showing late, or not showing at all to a scheduled appointment, and not following up with the interviewer properly can all spell instant disaster for you and your career at that company. Instead look at it from the entire picture. There are circumstances where the person you interview with is not the one who set up the interview. Make sure you clear up who you will be interviewing with during that conversation so you may enter the interview prepared. Also show courtesy and manners to the individual setting the appointment. Although they may not have the final decision, they may have some say in the matter.

Pulling the ole' no-call-no-show to your interview enables you to kiss that job good bye. No matter the excuse, it is your responsibility to call if any changes are needed to your appointment time. Earth shattering things happen to people every day and I am not trying to take away from that fact. However, your potential employer is not aware of that unless you make them aware of it. The employer is in need of a new employee to fill an open position, so they too are on a time deadline and are looking for an individual that can be reliable, responsible, punctual, and professional. A no call no show is none of those things.

Rescheduling or canceling an appointment doesn’t have to be a bad thing, just be smart about it. First of all, try to avoid this at any cost. But, bad things can happen to good people. Most people understand that. Make sure you call to reschedule or cancel your appointment as soon as you know there is a change. The more time before the interview the better. Be polite when you make this call. The interviewer may be disappointed or show some aggravation but keep in mind it is their job to fill that position, and usually as quickly as possible. So, if they set up the first interview with you they must have deemed you a potential candidate.

Common courtesy is the main point here. Polish up on your manners and your personal interaction skills between now and graduation. You can never be over prepared. You can always stop in and ask any of the WVJC staff members for help when you aren’t sure.

SD