Be a Fly on the Wall in a Job Interview

July 2, 2008— -- Peggy Klaus -- a take-no-prisoners, no-nonsense career and communications coach -- wants to help people like Boston College graduate Jon Cifuentes find a job in this tough market.

Klaus says getting a job is an art form, but one that can be taught.

"I bet he's feeling a lot of anxiety," Klaus said.

So are thousands of other recent grads. Generation Y is wondering why it's so hard to get that first job.

"There's sort of apathy among college students," said Cifuentes, who graduated this spring and was meeting with Klaus. "It's not an exciting time to be a college grad."

Cifuentes may not be optimistic, but he is one of the lucky ones. He managed to get an interview at a small Internet company called Experience.com -- a Web site that offers career services for college students. But Cifuentes was one of more than 200 applicants for the position and the interview was less than 24 hours away when he met with Klaus.

"This is really about getting your best self to come out," she said, not wasting any time, "both in tomorrow's interview and the interviews in the future."

Jon said he hasn't had a lot of luck with the people interviewing him.

"He just made me feel uncomfortable from the get go," he said of one interviewer. "He had to check the resume twice for my name."

"It's great you brought this up," Klaus said. "Edit your idea that interviewers are going to be engaging and smart and scintillating, and have done their homework about you. I wish could tell you different, but Jon, you've really got to get over that."

Which brings Klaus to her first lesson: Drive the Interview. That means telling the interviewer what you want the interviewer to know about you, and asking questions. Asking about the company is important, Klaus said, and "not nosy."

"It's a wonderful trait to have," she said.

"I think young kids, graduates can be a little self-absorbed," Klaus said.

When Klaus began talking to Cifuentes, she noticed a big problem right away. He was struggling with his answers.

"Do you have some core beliefs?" she asked.