Contacts greatly aid job hunt

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A woman I work with has this quote on her desk:

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

I can’t count the number I’ve times I’ve sat at her desk and never before seen this.

I took it as a sign.

Graduation was less than just around the corner.

I had done all this research and preparation, but I had yet to actually apply for a job.

In the job-hunting book, “What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard Bolles, my career survival guide, it says that the best way to find a job is to have a contact.

Sounds familiar- that’s how I got my internship.

Everyone you know can be a contact. Every family member, friend, co-worker, person on your Christmas card list, stranger you bump into on the sidewalk. Just keep asking until you find the right one.

So, I contacted a friend who graduated and is now an editor.

She gave me names and numbers and also told me to e-mail my resume to her.

After about a week of waiting in agony, I landed two job interviews. To prepare, I returned to my survival guide.

Most graduating seniors have seen the lists of possible interview questions. There are hundreds. You can spend your time memorizing the perfect answers to those, or you can listen to Bolles. There are only 5 questions that matter:

. Why are you here? Why are you knocking on my door rather than someone else’s?

. What can you do for us? Meaning, if I were to hire you, would you be part of the problem or the solution? What are your skills, and how much do you know about our field?

. What kind of person are you? Meaning, do you have the kind of personality that makes it easy for people to work with you, and do you share the values which we have here?

. What distinguishes you from 19 other people who can do the same tasks? Meaning, do you have better work habits then others, like showing up earlier, staying later, work more thoroughly, work faster, maintain higher standards, go the extra mile, or what?

. Can I afford you? Meaning, if we decide we want you, how much will it take to get you, and are we willing and able to pay that amount?

Even if you are not directly asked these questions, you should try to work answers to them into your responses.

Nervous mannerisms are a turnoff, such as continually avoiding eye contact, giving a limp handshake, slouching, fidgeting with your hands, cracking your knuckles or playing with your hair.

Lack of self-confidence is another. Are you speaking so softly that you cannot be heard, or so loudly you can be heard rooms away? Are you answering in a hesitant fashion or one-word answers? Are you constantly interrupting? Are you downplaying your achievements or abilities?

Some other tips include:

. Observe the 50-50 rule, you talk 50 percent of the time, employer talks 50 percent of the time.

. Keep answers between 20 seconds and two minutes.

. Be seen as a resource person, not a job-beggar. Come across as a problem solver, not someone who simply keeps busy.

. Determine ahead of time not to bad-mouth your previous employers.

And remember, you’re not the only one who’s nervous; employers get scared, too.

April Forristall graduated from the University of Maine in May and is writing a series of columns, to appear Wednesdays, about her and classmates’ job-hunting experiences.