How to prepare for a job interview

They say that finding a job is a full-time job. You cannot sit and wait for an employer to come to you; if you do, nothing will happen. The interview is the moment when all that effort is decided, and the good news is that you can prepare for it.

This topic summarizes what the Ruta de Vida guide, published by IPA-Copan in partnership with Rotary, advises for before, during, and after an interview. If you do not have your résumé ready yet, start with the topic on how to make your résumé.

Before the interview: the search

Build your network

Having a network means establishing and maintaining connections with other people for professional purposes. Some people do not like the idea, because they believe their knowledge should be enough. In reality, who you know can be as important as what you know.

Social media makes it easier: add useful contacts, post your achievements, and stay in touch with classmates, teachers, and the people you have worked with, including your bosses. In-person contact is also key: devote a small part of your time to being sociable with people who could help you in the future, greet them when you see them, and give them a quick update on your life. One day, when you need their help, they will already know you.

Visit potential employers

1. Make a list of the businesses and organizations you would like to contact.
2. Identify which ones suit you best.
3. Print your résumé and start visiting them.

If you are new to this, practice first at businesses where you probably would not work. Save the best opportunities for when you have enough confidence. The Ruta de Vida program also keeps a list of available jobs; to receive it, write to the team.

Prepare for the interview

Before showing up, do four things:

• Learn about the organization. If it has a website or a Facebook page, study it thoroughly.
• Learn about the position. Research what the job you are being interviewed for is like. You can use Artificial Intelligence with a question such as «What is it like to work as a _______ in Honduras?».
• Anticipate the questions they might ask you and prepare your answers.
• Prepare a list of questions to ask yourself.

How to overcome fear and shyness

Most people feel some fear when looking for a job for the first time. It is normal to fear the unknown (you do not know how to dress, how to behave, what they will ask you) and to fear rejection. To overcome it, all you need is practice:

• Practice with a classmate, a friend, or a mentor.
• Visit some businesses where you have no real interest in working. If it goes badly, nothing is lost.
• Ask Artificial Intelligence for a list of common interview questions and rehearse your answers.
• If you are shy by nature, practice being a little more outgoing and self-confident.

Leave the organizations you are truly interested in for when you have overcome the initial fear.

During the interview

The questions they ask you

Most interviewers only ask basic questions that are easy to answer. If one is difficult, do not panic: take a moment to think before speaking. Your goal is to avoid saying anything negative about yourself.

«What are your weaknesses?» Instead of making a list of the things you are bad at, think of something that seems like a weakness and turn it into a positive: «I can be a bit of a perfectionist, but that helps me make sure the results of my work are the best they can be».

«Why do you want to work here?» Saying «I need the money» may be true, but it is a terrible answer. Explain what interests you about the position based on what you researched: «I really enjoy helping people», «I want to learn more about the field of _______», «I feel this job will make very good use of my education and my skills».

Remember: the interviewer is trying to understand how you can help the company. Your answers should focus on meeting their needs, not on how the job is going to help you.

The questions you ask

These are excellent questions to ask during the interview:

• What would my daily duties be?
• What hours would I work each week?
• Who would be my direct supervisor?
• What would the monthly salary be?
• Is there a probation period? If so, how long does it last, and is the pay the same during that time?
• Will there be opportunities to grow in the company if I do a good job?
• Does the position include payment of the fourteenth-month bonus (decimocuarto) and the Christmas bonus (aguinaldo)?
• What other benefits come with the position?
• Is there flexibility to attend classes while I am working?

To understand what the decimocuarto, the aguinaldo, and the probation period mean, read the topic on labor laws that affect you.

If you work and study at the same time

If you plan to attend high school or university while working, explain it clearly to the potential employer from the start. Achieving that balance can be difficult: Copán Ruinas is a strong tourist destination and the busiest day for hotels, restaurants, and shops is usually Saturday, which clashes with the weekend classes of several institutions. Your boss will want you to work and you will need to go to class. If you decide to work for yourself, this problem is much easier to solve.

Once you have the job

Getting it is half the battle; keeping it is the other half. Any employer expects punctuality, reliability, honesty, respect, dedication, initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to work as part of a team. And there are things you should definitely avoid: burdening your boss with your personal problems, asking for cash advances, getting romantically involved with the boss or a coworker, and taking part in gossip.

The guide also warns about two misunderstood customs that a formal employer will not tolerate: «family first» applied to any absence, no matter how small the reason, and «leaving it for tomorrow». And it gives advice for when a job ends: if a serious problem occurs, do not quit in the heat of the moment. Give yourself a couple of days to calm down and think with a clear head. When you decide to leave, communicate your decision a few days before your final date, express thanks for the opportunity, prepare the list of benefits you are entitled to and, if your boss had a good impression of you, ask permission to include them as a reference on your résumé.