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Like a boss

Like a boss. Tips to get you the perfect job!

Selling yourself in a job interview or tertiary course interview can be a pretty hard task. How do you convince someone to hire you without sounding up yourself? How do you make sure they get to know you and your skills if you only have 30 minutes to do it?

How do you get the older people interviewing you to realise that being young doesn’t mean you aren’t the right person for the job? And that your age is actually an advantage?

Your youthfulness should be seen as an asset, not a liability. Here are just a few (very general!) selling points you should remember.

  • You are good with technology. You know how to use it and properly. You are adaptable to new trends, programmes and tools. It comes as second nature to you.
  • You know how to work online. More organisations are using social media. You’re a natural expert in the social space and will be able to not only recommend but teach them a thing or two about fan pages, sending online invitations, creating Prezi presentations (chances are they are still using Powerpoint) and any online jobs they need!
  • You’re flexible. Chances are you live a busy life. You balance school, sports, friends, family, lessons – the list is endless. Although this may not seem like a skill, it means that you can multi-task and can handle the pressure of a busy lifestyle. It also means you are used to working or hanging with a wide range of people – making you a great team player for any organisation.
  • You’re willing to learn. You might be up against other people that have more experience than you, but you should sell the fact that you are willing to learn and do what it takes to get up and learn everything (and more) that you need to.

A few general tips

  • Be on time – 10 minutes early is even better.
  • Dress the part – tidy, formal and probably no crazy or offensive styles!
  • Keep an open mind – you won’t always start out in your dream job but it can all be part of your plan to get there.
  • It’s ok to ask questions – if you are unsure of what they are asking you, get them to clarify. And what’s best – ask questions back!
  • Relax and remember – they would be lucky to have you.

These are just some general selling points, you will have your own personal skills that you will need to think about. And the skills you share will depend on the job you are going for.

16 years or over?

It’s a good idea to be clued up on the minimum wage rate. These are reviewed every year but are currently $16.50 per hour (before tax) for anyone aged 16 years or over. Visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website for more detail.

For more information

Employment agency Workwise’s resource It’s about a job is full of advice for finding employment.