Issue
27(1)
Your First
Interview: For Students and Anyone Preparing to Enter Today's
Tough Job Market. (2002).
Ron Fry. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career
Press, Inc. (distributed by Thomson Delmar Learning), 188 pp.
$11.99. ISBN
# 1-56414-586-7.
Review
by: Karey
Fowler
Advising
First, College
of Music
Florida
State
University
The title
of this book says it all. Ron Fry has written a concise and informative
guide to help anyone prepare properly to enter into today's tough
job market. As advisors we help students plan and negotiate their
academic lives, but too often, we fail to give them insights in
how to prepare for an interview. College graduates often are not
aware of what to say about themselves in the interview, how to
dress, what questions to ask the interviewer or what etiquette
should be followed after the interview. Fry's book addresses all
of these issues.
This
book, which contains 12 chapters, is very logical and covers the
bases for any job seeker. Fry begins by stressing the importance
of developing a personal inventory. Too often job seekers are
thrown by the simple question "tell me about your self." Fry provides
data input sheets to help the reader logically organize his personal
information and suggests rehearsing a two to three minute response
to this question. Fry provides information on making a good first
impression, what you can expect during your interview, and even
gives suggestions on responding to some common illegal questions.
These questions may include "Are you married, are you Hispanic,
what's your religion."
To
be adequately prepared, Fry believes one must have knowledge of
the company, understand the function of the screening interviewer,
and perhaps learn some facts about the interviewing manager. He
provides practical tips on how to find information about the potential
employer and the hiring manager. One simple tip is to get company
newsletters. The job seeker must think of himself as an active
participant in this interview process and must be able to ask
his own set of relevant questions. After all, one must be convinced
that he/she wants to work for this company.
The
book also provides information on how to follow up after the interview
with thank you letters and phone calls. The book provides samples
of thank you letters and tells what is acceptable regarding follow
up calls. Once the job is secured, Fry even discusses how to negotiate
your salary.
This is a well
thought out, step-by-step guide to help anyone turn the often
dreaded interview into something more enjoyable. Other helpful
books by Ron Fry are 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview
Questions and Your First Resume. This book is useful
for advisors, students, or anyone interested in perfecting his/her
interviewing skills.
References
Fry, Ron (2002). 101
Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions. Franklin
Lakes, NJ: Career Press, Inc. (distributed by Thomson Delmar Learning).
Fry, Ron.(2002). Your
first resume. Franklin
Lakes, NJ: Career Press, Inc. (distributed by Thomson Delmar Learning).
