Career Counseling

In a more competitive and globalized market, there is an increasing need for individuals to take charge of the development of learning and career for a variety of reasons: There is increasing rate of change of our organizations and in the knowledge and skills we need to perform our jobs. Career ladders are rapidly shrinking or disappearing as reorganizations lead to flatter structures. There is an ever-increasing need for us to keep learning to keep up with the rapid growth in knowledge and the rate of change of our workplace environments. And, involvement in one's own development fosters greater commitment to the process than other-directed activities.

APDS career counseling services aim to help students make a successful transition between college and their career. Whether you are a graduating student, a recent alum seeking career employment or an undergraduate trying to make a career decision or looking for an internship, our Career Counseling Services can help.

APDS would like to collaborate with Asian universities’ career service offices to provide more events for Asian students.

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"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

"Why did you leave your last position?"

"Can you describe a previous work situation in which you...?"

"What is your ideal work environment?"

"How do you handle mistakes?"

"What is your most notable accomplishment?"

Interview skills

As any job seeker can tell you, acing an interview is no easy feat. According to a survey by Robert Half International, nearly one-third of executives said job candidates make more mistakes during the job interview than any other part of the job-hunting process.

(1) You can't take it back

Consider these real-life responses from hiring managers:

"When asked by the hiring manager why she was leaving her current job, the applicant said, 'My manager is a jerk'".

(2) Preparation is good insurance

While it's unlikely you'll make mistakes as egregious as the ones above, it always helps to prepare before interviewing with a prospective employer. Here are five tips to help you make a good first impression:

*Do your homework. Before the interview, review the job description again and make sure you can describe how you skills and experience match the requirements of the open position.

*Come prepared. Bring extra copies of your resume--printed on high-quality paper--and a list of references to the interview. Also dress appropriately. Even if you're interviewing with a company that has a casual dress code, it's better to be slightly over-dressed than under-dressed.

*Know what to expect. In all likelihood, the hiring manager will ask you a host of standard questions, such as "Why do you want to work for this firm?" and "what makes you right for this role"? Practice your responses with a friend so you can provide clear and concise answers.

*Have the right attitude. Be confident during the interview but not arrogant. Also consider your body language. Making eye contact with the interviewer and nodding your head in agreement show you're engaged; slouching in your chair indicates you're bored.

*Follow up. Sending a thank-you note after the interview may seem old-fashioned, but hiring managers always appreciate receiving one. A brief message thanking the person for his or her time and reaffirming your interest in the role shows your professionalism and desire for the job.

Above all, be yourself when interviewing with a prospective employer. Companies seek workers who not only have the skills to perform to the job but also the personality to thrive within the corporate culture.

You can Say Too Much Without Even Speaking?

Can a shrug mean too much? No matter what a job candidate might say, using the wrong body language can make them appear disinterested or even deceitful to recruiters. Learning how your body language may be perceived can prevent you from committing body langauge blunders that can sabotage interviewes. Here are some tips on getting your body langauge right in an interview.

1. Maintain the right amount of eye contact. Using too little or too much eye contact can impact a recruiter's perception of you. If you avoid eye contact after being asked a question, or you look down, it can suggest dishonesty. Not making eye contact can indicate disinterest or lack of confidence. To show a recruiter you are interested, alternate looking at their eyes, mouth, and shoulders. However, be careful not to overdo the eye contact. Some job hunters concentrate on maintaining eye contact too much that they develop a "stalker stare".

2. Don't fidget. Fidgeting is a telltale sign of nerves, and although many recruiters make allowance for nervousness, they will also expect you to handle pressure with ease if you're seeking a high-level job. If you display your nerves too much during an interview, your may be at disadvantage. Aside from displaying your nervousness, fidgeting is annoying and distracting to recruiters. Although everyone has their own personal fidgets, the key is to control them during interviews so they don't distract your interviewer.

3. Be conscious of posture while standing and sitting. Slouching, whether you are standing to greet the interviewer or sitting down, suggests a lack of self esteem. During an interview you should appear confident and engaged in the conversation and poor posture can send a message that you are indifferent or too casual message.

4. Avoid "closed" body language. Body language such as crossed arms and clenched fists show defensivenss and tension. Crossed arms is "the universal sign of unfriendliness", because it suggests that the candidate doesn't want to open up. Instead, sit with your ankles crossed or feet flat on the floor and use oepn hand gestures which suggest friendliness.

Source: Stall Street Journal of Career Service Office, Teachers College