What to Ask During a Job Interview

So you are on the job hunt. Maybe you’re fresh out of college or you could possibly be interested in a more challenging role. Whatever the case may be, you need to be prepared for when that phone rings (or email is sent) and you’re requested to come in for an interview. However, being prepared means more than just knowing what you’re going to wear and reviewing the job description. It also means compiling a list of questions to ask your potential employers when they are finished grilling you. Instead of worrying about that, I compiled a few of my favorite go-to questions that have revealed a lot of information in the past.

What is the atmosphere of the company?

This normally lets you know how the company and department gets down. Are they in business casual attire everyday or can you show up on your first day in jeans? You’ll need to know before you realize that your blazer and heels could’ve stayed in your closet.

How would you describe your management style?

Finding out if your potential boss is a real stickler for checkpoints (AKA a possible sign that he or she is a micromanager) or just lets you do what you need to do can be the saving grace of your sanity. Also, if you’re trying to leave a role where your supervisor was over hovering your back with a microscope, you might need to make sure you aren’t about to run into that scenario again.

What activities does the company and department put on to maintain and to boost company morale?

Is this a place where happy hours are recurring events on the Outlook calendar? Is this a place where food trucks are often parked outside during the summer? Essentially, you want to know if this is a place that values a work/life balance and appreciates its employees beyond the basic benefit package. The answer always reveals if this is a fun place to work for.

What is the company’s policy regarding telecommuting?

Okay, so this might be an iffy one. If you are a parent, a student, or one who lives more than 20 miles away, this may be a relevant question for you. Some companies encourage working from home several days a week. But, some only allow you to do so when it is necessary, such as if the plumber is coming because the pipes burst in the middle of the night. Peep how this question is answered to see how the company really feels about this.

Are there any opportunities for training or mentorship?

I doubt any company would say no. However, some have formal programs in place that allow you to expand your skill set. This means that they value you as an employee and want to see you do well. For you, this means squeezing as much juice out of the lemon as possible just in case this position doesn’t work out forever.

The job search process in itself can be stressful, but hopefully the questions above can help alleviate the madness that could come while preparing for the job interview. Do you have any go-to questions of your own? Please share!

Credits: Wonderlane

How to Make Long Distance Relationships Work

First off, let me explain my situation: I met my boyfriend in 2008. His mom found out I wanted to become a nurse and referred me to a school in Puerto Rico. Two years into the relationship, his mom told me once more, “You need to go to Puerto Rico.” Call me crazy, but I was in love and in my mind you only find true love once or twice in a lifetime and I was not going to jeopardize that. Now, fast-forward to April 2012, the month before I graduated from college. I decided that since I was not going to physical therapy school, I needed to make some moves. I felt stagnant, like I needed to DO something drastic and out of my comfort zone. That “something” was moving to Puerto Rico.

My boyfriend and I played it cool. We were going to make this relationship work, 1,547 (to be exact) miles apart from each other. Two years later, do I regret coming to Puerto Rico for my nursing degree? Absolutely not, I needed to do that for myself. Do I regret putting that strain on my relationship? Yes, I do. Was it hard to stay in the relationship? HELL YES! When I asked my boyfriend for “advice” to give to other couples about long distance relationships, he said, “Don’t do it.” I asked him once more and again the response was, “Don’t do it.” He finally said, “Break up until its done.” But, honestly, when I sat down and marinated on his advice, it made sense.  The arguments, the hang-ups, and the complaining was rough. We made it work, but everyone doesn’t always make it. Here are a few tips we had to learn:

Communicate.

I think that’s self-explanatory. Talk, Skype, FaceTime, text, email, Facebook, Glide, Snapchat, tweet…etc. There are so many ways of communication these days, use them.  You have to make time for each other.

Send pictures of yourself to your boyfriend.

You have to keep your significant other’s attention. Dress up [or dress down] but get in front of that camera and work. He’ll like that.

Make financial sacrifices.

Sometimes, we have to make the sacrifices that include our wallets. My boyfriend switched career paths and entered the culinary world. He moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for an internship, but also to be closer to me. Flights from San Juan to Ft. Lauderdale can be insanely cheap (under $200 round-trip.) For you, that financial sacrifice may just mean driving or flying to see him in his city.

Be relationship-secure.

You can’t have a long distance relationship and be insecure in your relationship —sorry if you thought the opposite. When I left him in Georgia, I was good. I knew he wasn’t going to stray away, because that’s how strong our relationship is. Only you and your significant other will know the strength of your relationship and don’t let anyone make you feel indifferent about that. Make sure you and him have a conversation about cheating. Break up if need be and when you two can be “regionally” closer…try to pick up where you two left off.

But ultimately, make it work. You and your significant have the recipe at making your relationship work. My advice may not work for you two, so create your own recipe at making your long distance relationship work, especially if you want it to stay together.

Credits: Ms. Sara Kelly

The Benefits of Internships

There comes a point in one’s career when he or she simply can’t tweak that summer retail experience for their benefit. The mall, fast food, and clothing store knowledge doesn’t always translate into the entry-level role you desire post graduation. At this point, you should have a few credit hours behind you. However, you’re not quite experienced enough for a full-time job in your field. What do you do? Intern.

The internship is a great way to leverage the information learned in college courses with practical experience. It’s also helpful in determining your specialties and likes so you don’t end up with a job you hate. The movies make it seem like you’re just fetching breakfast and coffee but it’s not really like that all. Every day is a networking experience and your performance can easily set you up for a job post-graduation.

And so what if its unpaid? You’re probably not going to get a job in today’s market without any real experience. Interning helps your résumé stand out. You won’t be an intern forever, but to start, you might need to sacrifice those 20-40 hours a week. You’ll be glad you did later.

I am grateful for the knowledge gained through my college internships. That experience afforded me a job in my field right out of school when others struggled to find work.

Have you interned before? What did you gain through that experience? What are you hoping to gain through an internship?

Credits: gt8073a