Minding Your Social Media Manners
March 7, 2023
3 Skills You’ll Gain From a Custom Internship
April 18, 2024
In the competitive world of job hunting, one of the key differentiators that can set you apart from other candidates is your level of preparedness and knowledge about the company you’re interviewing with. Demonstrating that you’ve done your homework not only impresses the interviewer but also reflects your genuine interest in the role and the organization. So, how can you ensure you’re well-prepared? Here are our top tips for researching a company before your interview:
EXPLORE THEIR DIGITAL PRESENCE
Start by thoroughly exploring the company’s website and social media platforms. Pay attention to their mission statement, values, and any recent updates or announcements. This will give you valuable insights into the company culture, goals, and current projects.
STAY UPDATED WITH NEWS AND MEDIA
Take the time to scour the internet for news articles, press releases, and videos related to the company. This will help you stay informed about recent developments, industry trends, and any significant achievements or challenges they’ve faced. Being aware of the broader context surrounding an organization will showcase your awareness of their position within the market.
KNOW YOUR INTERVIEWERS
Research the individuals who will be interviewing you. Visit their LinkedIn profiles to learn more about their professional background, skills, and experiences. Additionally, perform a quick Google search to see if there are any interviews, publications, or projects they’ve participated in. Finding common ground or shared interests can help establish rapport during the interview and make you more memorable as a candidate.
UNDERSTAND THEIR MISSION AND VALUES
Dive deeper into the company’s mission statement and core values to ensure they align with your own beliefs and career goals. By doing so, you can demonstrate your commitment to contributing meaningfully to their success. Explaining your understanding of their mission shows that you’re not just seeking any job but are genuinely interested in becoming part of their journey.
ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS
Take note of any recent awards, accolades, or milestones the company has achieved. Congratulating them on their successes during the interview highlights your awareness of their accomplishments and your enthusiasm for joining a winning team. It also reflects positively on your ability to appreciate and celebrate the achievements of others, a crucial skill for a team member.
Our team believes that thorough preparation and research can make all the difference in securing your dream internship or job. By investing time and effort into understanding the company you’re interviewing with, you can show your enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism. Supported with the knowledge and confidence this preparation gives you, you’ll be well-equipped to impress your interviewers and leave a lasting impression. So, before your next interview, remember to do your homework and show up ready to shine!
Your Outgoing Voicemail
In today’s world, communication takes many forms and continues to evolve. While email is a mainstay in many business operations, one mode of communication is still widely used—the phone. More and more companies are starting to use texting or instant messaging platforms such as Slack or Microsoft Teams to communicate with their interns or employees, but it’s very important to have a solid understanding of proper phone etiquette as a basic principle of communication skills. The job or internship you’ve been dreaming of could come to you as a phone call, and acting or speaking inappropriately could cost you the job.
Speaking on the phone may be daunting; but, like anything new, it just takes a little training and practice. Many people feel more comfortable sending a text or an email, but often texts can lead to misinterpreting someone’s tone or implications. This is why speaking on the phone is such an important skill to master– lessens the chance for miscommunication. Whether this is a skill that comes easy to you or not, it never hurts to learn a few pointers.
Be sure you actually have your voicemail set up. Callers who hear an automated voice telling them you haven’t set up your voicemail can suggest that you aren’t open to receiving calls. You may have to record a new greeting every time you get a new phone.
Record a personal greeting. It may not seem necessary, but employers (and others) expect to reach a person–not a computerized voice with your phone number. People feel better knowing they have reached the correct person–a number alone can’t always convey that.
State your name so the caller is certain you’re the right person. Example: You’ve reached Katie Johnson at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Please leave a message. Thank you.
Keep your greeting short and simple. Avoid trying to be funny in your greeting–it doesn’t add personality like you might think and will likely come off as obnoxious and unprofessional.
Clean out your mailbox! A full mailbox is very frustrating for callers who would like to leave a message but are unable to.
Check your voicemail every day. Return calls in a timely manner, especially if a time window was specified in the message.
Leaving a Voicemail Message
Always leave a message. If you call without leaving a message, the person you are trying to speak to will likely not remember that you called. Leaving a message sends the impression that you not only see the person you’ve called as a priority but also suggests that you are a priority worth calling back. Leaving brief details as to why you’ve called is courteous and helpful.
Speak slowly and clearly when leaving a message. Ensure you include the following: your first and last name, the date and time of your call, the purpose for calling, and your phone number. Example: Hi, Mrs. Rodrigues, this is Katie Johnson. Today is Friday, May 3rd around 1 pm. I am calling to inquire about a summer internship. You can reach me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Thank you.
If Your Phone Rings In An Inconvenient Place
If you are in a noisy area, go to a quiet place to answer the call. If that is not possible, dismiss the call and return it as soon as possible. Luckily you’ve set up a great outgoing message, so the caller knows they’ve reached the right person.
DO NOT TEXT OR EMAIL WHEN DRIVING. If you’re running late on your way to your internship or appointment, CALL. Don’t text. Don’t email. Either pull the car over to a safe place as soon as possible to call someone or use hands-free calling. Your employer would much rather you be late than in a car accident because you decided to contact them unsafely.
Using the Phone While Working On-site
Practice makes perfect and can ease your nerves. Many workplaces require the phone to be answered using a prepared script. If you are asked to answer the phone, ask a supervisor for instructions or a copy of the script.
Different workplaces may have different answering systems. Make sure you know how to use the hold or the call transfer feature to avoid dropping a call.
Always be polite. If you don’t hear or understand the person, politely ask them to repeat what was said. If there is a disruption on your end that is out of your control, inform and apologize to the person on the other end of the call.
Prioritize giving the caller what they need. Oftentimes, especially as an intern, you won’t be able to help the caller if it is beyond your workplace knowledge. That’s okay! You are there to learn. If you can’t assist the caller, politely put the person on hold and go find a supervisor or co-worker to assist you or take the call.
Write down messages. In the moment, it might seem like you’ll remember what the caller is telling you, so you don’t write it down. Don’t take that chance. Write down the date and time of the call and ask the caller for the nature of the call as well as their name and phone number. Repeat the information back to the caller to verify it, including the correct spelling of the name.
Using the Phone While Working Remotely
Eliminate distractions. If there are distractions going on in your house, dorm room, or whatever workspace you choose, do your best to minimize them if they will draw your attention away from a phone conversation or disrupt the call. Be mindful of household noises such as kitchen appliances or air conditioners, street noise/outdoor noise, roommates or family members, babies, pets, music, or TV.
Check your service and/or internet connection. If the call is going to drop or get interrupted by a poor connection, do your best to prevent this before the call. Check your Wi-Fi or internet stability since many cell phones use Wi-Fi calling. If you are scrambling during a call to try and fix tech difficulties, it won’t be a productive call.
Don’t chew or eat during a phone call. Don’t do this during any professional conversation–people may not see you eating but the microphone is right next to your mouth (and is louder than you think)!
