A Couple of Interviewing Tips

In the past, I have been told that I interview well. While I am a pretty soft-spoken and shy person, for some reason I do really well in interviews.. Here are just a few tidbits that seem to work well for me.

1. Dress the part. I know you've probably heard this before, but attire is extremely important. Look professional. Even if everyone else in the office is wearing jeans, wear a suit, slacks, a skirt, a blazer; anything that would be considered "professional attire". Fix your hair, break out the heels, do your nails, wear makeup... Also feel free to add your own uniqueness to the ensemble - throw in a pop of color, wear an interesting nail color (just not too loud for the interview)...

2. Have a firm handshake (especially if you're interviewing with a man). I am a pretty small girl. People expect me to have a wimpy handshake, but I have made it a point to have a firm handshake. A strong handshake is important because it's one of the first impressions you make. I love taking people (mostly men) by surprise with a firm handshake. It definitely says that there's more to me than meets the eye.

3. MAKE AND MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT. I cannot tell you how important eye contact is. People are not going to want to hire you if you can't look them in the eye. And it's important to maintain eye contact throughout the interview. You appear sincere and truthful.

4.  Enunciate. This one is especially important for those of us in the South. People down here mumble and have very strong accents. I make it a point to speak slowly, clearly, and enunciate my words (that way you don't have to repeat yourself).

5.  Have several copies of your resume / letter of recommendation. It's important to have several copies; especially if you're unexpectedly interviewed by more than one person. And, this way, they don't have to make copies. (Also use the good paper)

6. Smile.. And relax. You want to look like you belong in that office. Even if you're nervous, try not to let it show. Take a deep breath, and relax. Smile, laugh at their corny jokes, do whatever it takes to show that they don't make you nervous (even if they really do).


I know it's not a lot, but these things have worked for me, and I hope they can be helpful to someone else!

Quotations...

Recently I've been reading like a madwoman and I am obsessed with Goodreads. I love random quotations from intelligent people, so here are a few I found particularly interesting and/or amusing..


I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
- Oscar Wilde

Two things are infinite: the universe and stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
- Albert Einstein

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
- Robert A. Heinlein

It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.
- JK Rowling

When in doubt tell the truth.
- Mark Twain

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.
- Albert Einstein

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
- Groucho Marx
 
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.
- Oscar Wilde

I really feel that we're not giving children enough credit for distinguishing what's right and what's wrong. I, for one, devoured fairy tales as a little girl. I certainly didn't believe that kissing frogs would lead me to a prince, or that eating a mysterious apple would poison me, or that with the magical "Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo" I would get a beautiful dress and a pumpkin carriage. I also don't believe that looking in a mirror and saying "Candyman, Candyman, Candyman" will make some awful serial killer come after me. I believe that many children recognize Harry Potter for what it is, fantasy literature. I'm sure there will always be some that take it too far, but that's the case with everything. I believe it's much better to engage in dialog with children to explain the difference between fantasy and reality. Then they are better equipped to deal with people who might have taken it too far.
- J.K. Rowling


Some Recommended Reading:
Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7) I just finished reading all of these...it was an excellent experience. (I know I'm a little behind in reading these, but if you haven't read them and love the movies, you should definitely read them at some point in your life.)
Entwined Such a pretty book and a good grown-up fairy tale (review here)

Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate), Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate), Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate), and Heartless (The Parasol Protectorate). SUCH a wonderful reading experience. I love these. Just the first one should get you hooked!

Getting Internet back on Thursday!

So when the old roommate moved out 2 weeks ago, she took the internet with her since it was in her name. Sad.
New roommate is getting new internet hooked up this Thursday. Happy!
After this Thursday, I'll be back to normal posting!

The end.

**UPDATE**
AT&T is stupid. They were at our apartment for 3 hours yesterday and STILL no internet. Jerks.

Harry Potter 7.2 Blurb

If you haven't seen Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2, go see it!!!!
It was epic.
And Neville got hot.

The South...

I live in the deep South. There are a lot of things I love about it.. I love that people are friendly (for the most part), strangers make eye contact and smile at the grocery store, the beach is an hour and a half away..

There are also many things that I don't like so much.. First of all, we have summer for like 7 months of the year. Blech. And I hate the stereotypes that the media makes of us; we don't all sound like backwoods rednecks!!

One of the worst things though, is that everyone down here is expected to get married young. And if you don't get married young, you feel left out. I think we're one of the last places in the world who thinks it's normal to get married at 22, 23.. Well, I've decided I'm not claiming that part of being from the South. I'm 24 for heaven's sake! I shouldn't be feeling like I'm missing out because I'm not married yet!

I was talking with one of my remaining single friends the other night, and she is facing the same problem. Our culture makes you feel like you really need a man to "have it all". Now don't get me wrong, I'm so happy for my friends who are / are getting married and I wish them every happiness. But I refuse to feel like I'm not complete yet because I haven't found a husband. Heck, I don't even want to have kids until I'm into my 30's..

So do I want to get married? Absolutely. Will I settle just so I can be married? Hell no. Can I be content being single until the right guy finally get's here? Almost there. :)

A daily dose of YUM:

(He totally made "Cowboys & Aliens" worth watching..)

 

Solidarity sisters.

Ireland, I miss you.

I really do..

I visited Ireland in 2008 and really really want to go back. I love the beauty, the people, the accent, the Irish coffee.. Ha..

Seriously though, I think I'm going to see about making another trip there next year.

Here are some pictures from the '08 trip... 

At the Jameson Distillery

I love all the green!!

Bunratty Castle in Shannon

At Blarney Castle

Pretty!

My mom and me somewhere in the Ring of Kerry

In the words of our guide "ABC.. Another Bloody Castle"

Bagpipes!

Me kissing the Blarney Stone

The Cliffs of Moher

Once Upon A Time

Has anyone else heard of this new TV series coming out this fall?

 I, for one, am incredibly excited about it. Here is the description via their facebook page:

Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) knows how to take care of herself. She's a 28-year-old bail bonds collector who's been on her own ever since she was abandoned as a baby. But when the son she gave up years ago finds her, everything will change. Henry (Jared Gilmore) is 10 years old now and in desperate need of Emma's help. Henry believes that Emma actually comes from an alternate world ... and is Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) and Snow White's (Ginnifer Goodwin) missing daughter. According to his book of fairytales, they sent her away to protect her from the Evil Queen's (Lana Parilla) curse, which trapped the fairytale world forever, frozen in time. Of course Emma doesn't believe a word, but when she brings Henry back to Storybrooke, she finds herself drawn to this unusual boy and his strange New England town. Concerned for Henry, she decides to stay for a while, but she soon suspects that Storybrooke is more than it seems. It's a place where magic has been forgotten, but is still powerfully close ... where fairytale characters are alive, even though they don't remember who they once were – including the Evil Queen who is now Henry's foster mother. The epic battle for the future of all worlds is beginning, but for good to win, Emma will have to accept her destiny and fight like hell.

Brace yourself for a modern fable with thrilling twists and hints of darkness. Brimming with wonder, and filled with the magic of our most beloved fairytales, Once Upon A Time is a fitting follow up to Lost from two master storytellers.

As a girl who loves all things fantastical and princess-y, I will DEFINITELY be tuning in to this new series. It's written by two of the writers who wrote LOST, so it's sure to be a show to keep us on our toes. Here's the trailer:



Will you be watching?