Black College Grad's First Job Interview
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Vertebrae
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1) What is the most important thing for a African-American college graduate to bring to his first job interview?
A) A recommendation.
A resume.
C) A pink shirt and tie with no bass in his voice.
D) None of the above
Source: http://kenjidirect.tumblr.com
A) A recommendation.
A resume.C) A pink shirt and tie with no bass in his voice.
D) None of the above
Source: http://kenjidirect.tumblr.com
Comments
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Probably a recommendation. It's not what ya know, it's who ya know. But after that a superb resume with a superb cover letter would be next.
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FROM THE LIST, IMA SAY RESUME... THAT'S FOR EVERYBODY
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Recommendation, it may be what gives you an edge over other candidates that are equally qualified.
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I would say a strong recommendation.........notice I said a "strong" recommendation
black folks tend to suck at networking unfortunately......which is the real secret that you learn at a top tier college
also, I would say have strong conversational skills that show you are prepared for the interview
notice is worse than having a kid show up trying to get a job and he doesn't even know what he really applied for or who he is trying to work for........employers want to know that you have an internal motivation for trying to work there.......a paycheck isn't enough
and a good interview outfit is better than any well typed resume.......resumes are not as important as mofos think..........especially for a young cat just coming out of college.......they already know you are only going to have but so much experience -
Make sure you have your resume. Employers schedule interviews but forget all about you when they hang up.
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What if his first name is Malik or Tyrone?
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Make sure you aint got no baggy ass steve harvey suit.
Not only bring your resume, but bring it in an actual resume holder/portfolio
Put on some smell good
Be yourself: thats vague as hell but more specifically, if you are an upbeat, vocal person, be that. If you're a serious, professional at all times person, be that. Either can win....(However if you're "laid-back", do not be laid back)
Reason being, no matter what u do, the person interviewign you has seen it before. They are older and wiser. You will not trick them into gettign the job. Be yourself so they can feel comfortable that if they hire you, you wont switch up once you're in the door. Thats their biggest concern. Most of the time, the actual work you will do can likely be done by any number of similar people. They are hiring who they wouldnt mind working with and can rely on.
Source: I used to sponsor and sit in on our company's quarterly HR dept working lunch, where they shoot the ? and talk off the record. I've heard what they REALLY think. -
For me it was who I knew. I didnt even apply for the job, dude just reached out to me and said he heard about my skills from someone who we both associated with he basically kept trying to get me to come work for them and I agreed ? I was tired of bein broke.
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Its who you know
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sale yourself
be on time...
ask questions about the company (about your future etc..long-term..type of retirement) make them know you'll be there for a minute (even if you don't plan on it)
ask them if they offer incentives on obtaining/furthering your education (do they offer/help on tuition reimbursement)
ask at least 3-5 questions that will make you stand out from the other interviewees
Good luck folk
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Honestly, black applicants don't have to bring anything different than white applicants. You're either going to be applying at a place where race doesn't matter (for the most part) and you'll get a fair shake despite being black or you're applying at a place where race does matter and you won't get a fair shake no matter what you bring. There really isn't any middle ground.
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Trick question
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The Lonious Monk wrote: »Honestly, black applicants don't have to bring anything different than white applicants. You're either going to be applying at a place where race doesn't matter (for the most part) and you'll get a fair shake despite being black or you're applying at a place where race does matter and you won't get a fair shake no matter what you bring. There really isn't any middle ground.
Score: F (Fantasy world)
Only one right answer. -
Resume.
Recommendation.
Appropriate attire (dressing like Fonzworth Bentley will hurt just as much as dressing like DMX).
Questions for the interviewer....relevant ones. (not salary ? , they HATE those) -
blakfyahking wrote: »I would say a strong recommendation.........notice I said a "strong" recommendation
black folks tend to suck at networking unfortunately......which is the real secret that you learn at a top tier college
so what the hell are the omega psi phi, deltas, aka's and kappas doing?? there are millions of them and being in that brotherhood/sisterhood is almost ALWAYS said to be about networking. and to my knowledge 99.9% of them join in college.
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The Lonious Monk wrote: »Honestly, black applicants don't have to bring anything different than white applicants. You're either going to be applying at a place where race doesn't matter (for the most part) and you'll get a fair shake despite being black or you're applying at a place where race does matter and you won't get a fair shake no matter what you bring. There really isn't any middle ground.
Score: F (Fantasy world)
Only one right answer.
Yeah. Every highly qualified black person I know found jobs easy without having to do anything special. That doesn't mean they weren't discriminated against, but this idea that Blacks can't succeed without jumping through hoops is a myth. It's harder for us than most, but at the end of the day, if you got the qualifications you'll find something.
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UPTOWNCONNEXX wrote: »blakfyahking wrote: »I would say a strong recommendation.........notice I said a "strong" recommendation
black folks tend to suck at networking unfortunately......which is the real secret that you learn at a top tier college
so what the hell are the omega psi phi, deltas, aka's and kappas doing?? there are millions of them and being in that brotherhood/sisterhood is almost ALWAYS said to be about networking. and to my knowledge 99.9% of them join in college.
so joining a black fraternity/sorority is the most efficient way to network?
let me rephrase what I mean so folks can better understand
ALL groups generally suck at networking......but black folks suffer the worst economically from their lack of ability to network
fraternities and sororities are basically social clubs
hell it can be argued that ? in prison network better than black fraternities and sororities SMH -
Confidence
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C) A pink shirt and tie with no bass in his voice.
Employers will always hire an effeminate black male, their docile and less threatening.......especially in corporate America -
Make sure you aint got no baggy ass steve harvey suit.
Not only bring your resume, but bring it in an actual resume holder/portfolio
Put on some smell good
Be yourself: thats vague as hell but more specifically, if you are an upbeat, vocal person, be that. If you're a serious, professional at all times person, be that. Either can win....(However if you're "laid-back", do not be laid back)
Reason being, no matter what u do, the person interviewign you has seen it before. They are older and wiser. You will not trick them into gettign the job. Be yourself so they can feel comfortable that if they hire you, you wont switch up once you're in the door. Thats their biggest concern. Most of the time, the actual work you will do can likely be done by any number of similar people. They are hiring who they wouldnt mind working with and can rely on.
Source: I used to sponsor and sit in on our company's quarterly HR dept working lunch, where they shoot the ? and talk off the record. I've heard what they REALLY think.
@ bolded, thats what i struggle with. I know how to come off as a "nice & responsible person", but its really hard. It feels like im on edge all the time cuz its makes me so uncomfortable & pressured to "perform". But what you said about if they hire you, ehhh i unno about that. Cuz if youre yourself, not necessarily talking that hood stuff either, they still not gonna feel comfortable.
At the end of the day thats what it is. THey hire people mostly based on who they feel comfortable with, & thats all relative.
Like i said for me im just not good at the fake laugh-social media type dude..but if i try to fake it it makes me anxious as hell to perform, as i said, its like a load i have to be honest & 100 and its hard when im in "cuffs".
Being myself tho will only make them look at me like a threat. Im not a dumb ignorant dude but what i mean is we prolly relate to different ? & and i never liked to go along with the bs just to fit in or bcuz, even if its homies or some neighborhood tough dude. Im good at reading people & situations so i dont go along with ? that doesnt make sense & thats a threat. -
Make sure you do your homework on the job/company you're interviewing for and bring tough questions ...... shows them you know what they're about while taking pressure off of you and turning it back on them.
On first interview for semiconductor industry, I was meeting with three people who had mad questions for me and I had tossed a few big questions right back at them .... one of the guys that would become my manager after I got hired told me he was impressed by my knowledge of the different types of tools/machines and silicon wafer technology being that I never worked in that field before ..... I'm still mad that that I was laid off cause the plant closed down and relocated to France ...... -
harry knucklez wrote: »C) A pink shirt and tie with no bass in his voice.
Employers will always hire an effeminate black male, their docile and less threatening.......especially in corporate America
Should the "G" get a A? -
blakfyahking wrote: »UPTOWNCONNEXX wrote: »blakfyahking wrote: »I would say a strong recommendation.........notice I said a "strong" recommendation
black folks tend to suck at networking unfortunately......which is the real secret that you learn at a top tier college
so what the hell are the omega psi phi, deltas, aka's and kappas doing?? there are millions of them and being in that brotherhood/sisterhood is almost ALWAYS said to be about networking. and to my knowledge 99.9% of them join in college.
so joining a black fraternity/sorority is the most efficient way to network?
let me rephrase what I mean so folks can better understand
ALL groups generally suck at networking......but black folks suffer the worst economically from their lack of ability to network
fraternities and sororities are basically social clubs
hell it can be argued that ? in prison network better than black fraternities and sororities SMH
that post was me literally asking, not trying to make a point LOL
