Employers share tips for a winning interview

Representatives from five Galesburg-area employers Tuesday morning spoke to a crowd of more than 50 people packed into the second-floor meeting room of the Galesburg Public Library. The topic: tips for a successful job interview.

The Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services and the Illinois Department of Employment Security hosted the panel discussion.

Employers talked for about an hour, while audience members had about 45 minutes worth of questions.

Making a good appearance for job interviews by dressing appropriately, and completely filling out job applications in a legible manner were among the subjects that came up a number of times.

Michael Crummer of Blick Art Materials said Blick, a company that employes about 500 people in Galesburg, said the firm looks for “somebody who takes pride in their work, who has good people skills, shows up for work on time and is ready to work.”

Crystal Sullivan, store manager at Walmart in Seminary Square, told how she started as a part-time employee at Walmart.

“Walmart offers lots of opportunity for advancement,” she said. “Right now, we’re hiring.”

Sullivan touched on many of the topics covered by Crummer.

“When you are called for an interview, the one thing I can’t stress enough is to be on time and dress the part,” she said. “If you come in in your pajama pants and your slippers, that is a huge turn-off.”

Sullivan and other employers suggested Goodwill, the Salvation Army Thrift Store and other resale shops as places to buy appropriate clothes without spending an arm and a leg.

Everyone emphasized the importance of showing off one’s good qualities during the interview.

“Just believe in yourself,” Sullivan said. “We’re looking for customer service, so show your personality during your interview. It’s OK to brag about yourself.”

Dan Ahearn, director of human resources at Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse in Galesburg, said his store also is hiring. He said there is a lot of competition. Ahearn said 34 people applied for a recent position as a part-time cashier.

Lisa Noel of the Animal Medical Center, 371 E. Carl Sandburg Drive, is a veterinary technician who, at the age of 48, is preparing to go back to school for four years to become a veterinarian. She started her career as a dog groomer, progressed into kennel work, then became a veterinary assistant. The center also has a receptionist and a veterinarian.

“We take resumes, we don’t take applications,” she said.

Kathy Kopsak, administrator at the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville, said there are 175 to 180 employees at the county home. She said a unique feature at the nursing home is a residents’ hiring committee handles one portion of the interview. She also had tips for the all-important interview.

“Let your personable side come out,” Kopsak said. “Let us know if you have fears, we all do. Basically, we’re more like a family.”

Questions from the audience ran the gamut from how often someone should call to follow up after an interview, to whether the employers hire convicted felons, to what to do if you don’t have a home computer or one that is reliable.

Becky Legge of the IDES said the resource room there not only has computers, there are telephones job applicants can use, a fax machine, copy machine, even nicer paper for resumes.

One man understood dressing for success during interviews but wondered if that also applies to applying for a job.

“You don’t get a second chance to make first impressions,” he said. “Is it as important to dress up to put in an application as it is for an interview?”

While answers varied, Crummer said, “yes. You never know when you’ll get an interview on the spot. I always tell people the interview starts when you pull up in the parking lot.”

The impression applicants make on the receptionist and others who work up front is also important, all the employers agreed, as what they think makes its way back to those who do the hiring.

Basics were stressed. Crummer said filling out an application so it is legible is critical.

“You’d be surprised how many times I can’t make out the numbers for the person’s phone number,” he said, therefore being unable to contact the applicant.

Source:http://www.galesburg.com/news/business/x495077409/Employers-share-tips-for-a-winning-interview