2015-2016 HBCU Careers Magazine

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HBCU Careers Magazine
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use mockup session with your friends and practice...this is the key to getting to a comfortable level with
yourself. Your school career service may have a Mockup Interview Program that provides a chance to
tweak interviewing skills. Sign-up for it. Make sure to dress-up as if you were going for a real interview,
and bring your “professional” attitude! Listen to the questions asked. Ask for clarification if the question
is not clear. Keep your answers concise and to the point, and make sure you’re selling the product:
“YOU”. There are many questions you may want to ask yourself in preparation for you interview. This
may differ based on the job you are applying for, here are a few general questions:
• What skills can you bring to the job, which you are applying?
• Do you have any work, volunteer or internship experience that is related to the new job?
• How has your education, or time at (your educational organization) prepared you for this job?
• What college subjects did you like least? And why?
• What was your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you handle it?
• What skills or abilities do you hope to strengthen through our job opportunity?
Think of short-term and long-term goals. It takes time to find the right job. Keep this in mind when you
are looking for one. While you are hunting new opportunities, try to pursue your own venture in a field
of interest that you enjoy. Do what you love and trust and rewards will follow. Believe in yourself and
take smaller steps first. This will build your entrepreneurial foundation and you never know where your
venture may take you. Take your chances, stay happy and apply yourself. You could be the one landing
the next billion-dollar company.
Be proactive in your search. Target the right companies. Research the companies that hire graduates
in your field. Use your LinkedIn profile to connect with people who work there. There is a “Student
Jobs” section on LinkedIn where employers post entry-level jobs, internships and co-op opportunities.
There are other sites providing entry-level jobs and other resources for recent graduates. Here are a few
resources:
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