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Job Interview Etiquette: 3 Do’s and Don’t For Your Next Part-Time Job Interview

June 20, 2021

We are looking for someone to fill a few hours at the store. It’s a great job. It pays well. The work environment is good. You’d think it would be simple, but it’s not. We are competing against seemingly everyone in the free world right now to find a person for this part-time job. It’s not easy, but I’m still hopeful. All this looking has me thinking about part-time jobs and job interviews and finding a job – and even in this job-seeker-oriented market I’m thinking about what the basic do’s and don’t are for job interviews. So I’m sharing with you some random thoughts on the topic. I hope you will enjoy it, or share it, especially if you are hoping to score a great, part-time gig any time soon…

1. Show Up On Time

Everyone’s time is important. I don’t want to waste yours and no hiring manager wants you to waste theirs. Bruce loves to say, “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. And if you’re late, you’re rude.” I think these are wise words to live by when looking for a part-time job. If you are applying for a job, even a part-time one, plan to get there early (sit in the parking lot if you have to). It goes a long way. It tells the hiring manager how much you care and what you will bring to the job even before they’ve spoken to you. It’s a simple courtesy that will pay huge dividends in your job search.

Photo by George Milton from Pexels

2. Read The Job Description

I got my first big corporate job, for a Fortune 50 financial services company, partly because I could answer truthfully when asked the question: Have you worked in a New York advertising agency? Technically speaking I had, because I had worked in the Connecticut branch of a NYC firm. So I answered yes, and I got the interview (and the job), but it was a stretch. Job descriptions are the road map to lead you to the perfect job. If you read the description, have the skills and can see yourself in the role… apply. If it’s not a good fit for your skills, no amount of talking in the interview is going to make it work.

Mature women (40s) at beauty spa getting a pedicures.

3. And Finally, Please Don’t Tell The Hiring Manager These Whoppers…

Here’s the part where sometimes people get a little crazy. Going into the interview, you have to put on your common sense hat. Think about what you are saying when you’re talking to a hiring manager, even for a part-time job. You are applying for a job after all, not applying to be the hiring manager’s best friend. So please don’t tell them some of these things that I have heard, like:

  • Your life story (I was born in a small, log cabin in Mississippi) – stick to the skills you bring to the job and experiences you have had that are relevant.
  • You are going to be late for the interview because you’re having a pedicure and it’s not done yet – seriously, this happened to me! And she showed up for the interview in the pedicure flip flops! Say you’re stuck in traffic, your goldfish died or anything that sounds like the interview is a top priority.
  • You’d like to be able to study for your college/high school classes (whilst on the pay clock) when things are slow. I’m sorry, what? There’s always work to do and you want to be known as the one who will jump to it.
  • You’d like to know if there’s a couch in the back for quick naps between customers – yup, actually happened to me too! You will never get the job if the hiring manager is already hearing how you will loaf around.
  • You’ve got 18 vacation days planned in the next 2 months – exactly why is this a good time to hire you?

So, I hope you get where I’m going here – put your best, non-pedicure-happening-at-the-moment foot forward when applying for that part-time job. A great part-time job can really add a lot more than cash to your life. Just use your common sense in what you share – and go out there and find your bliss.

Photo by Lukas from Pexels

A Few Final Thoughts:

There’s probably a job out there for almost everyone right now. In today’s job market, there may even be two or three. Just look for the ones that you know you can do (or at least think you can do) and the ones that have the potential to make you happy. All the rest will fall into place. And if you think you’d like to work at Consignments Ltd., by all means, stop in today and apply – we could use the help. And as always, stay safe and be happy out there, my friends.

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