Show t I Section - Wednesday October 22 2003 tv ) The Herald Journal i- - Interviews require caters to )0 Q: How can I improve my job interviewing skills? Answer by Terry Teigeler director Utah State University Ogden Center for Graduate Studies a i women By Jasmine Mlchaelson features writer “i A Sweaty palms rapid breathing emotional hyperactivity Sound like an extensive physical workout? No —just going to a Job interview Tbday’s unpredictable economy and uncertain employment status making job searches a reality for many With increased unemployment also comes increased competition for the jobs that exist Being die best you can be is not only a catchy phrase now — it is an imperative prerequi-- ! site to being selected for a job : The job interview is tins place where your experience and capabilities are discussed considered and compared to the needs of an employer "V Personal attributes generally v include personality the ability to '&&& i'i1'"' V Xworic as a team and the ability to get along with othras'The’4fC L r i W ITL- - a - £ - ally considers ':‘ such tilings as how well tins V person will be v perceived by ' clients andiX f how he or she fits with the compa-ny’s ideal employee stereotype and 'V how well die person could influence the company in a cohesive and posi-tive manner v-' During the interview which may only last 15 to 60 minutes the person being interviewed must convince the interviewer of his or her abilities to 'X accomplish both the personal and technical requirements- - To do tins f: preparation and research must be yr?1 done prior to the interview Consider these tips to help your job interview 'go well V Be able to explain yourself The interview is an important time to tout your skills accomplishments and attributes If you don’t clearly you possess the skills and talents required for the job the ' interviewer can only base his or her ' decision on the written evidence you provided in the resume Be able to clearly explain how previous experience can match or exceed the requirements of the new position Discuss personal scenarios that verify that you possess the competence needed to be successful in the new H All of it’s subtle she said but on a ” daily basis it can take a toll “You can imagine that this can ere- ate a huge amount of stress in one’s life”' she said? )i Xyv ity Especially when you don’t have r anyone to talk to who knows just where you’re coming ftoaLsji "This is why Juana is starting a group called MASK (Mutual Admi-ration Society “Klub”) Site intends V ! for it to be a “safe place for women of color to share their life stories and truths” Unlike other groups for peo-pof color this one isn’t religious is intended for all racial minorities ! arid is restricted to women V” The reason it’s women-onl-y Juana said goes back to an unspoken peck' y ing order in society “There is this hierarchy of people" she said “who have access to privi- lege and power and they don’t even question it It starts with Caucasian males and goes down the line” The line ends with women of ? color “If we invite tiie men we’ll be back in second place again” she said “That’s just the way it’s set up” Juana hopes it will be an opportunity for women of color to heal but admits not all of them will enjoy it “I’ve been in groups where women show up and say ’You’re a bunch of whiners’ and don’t come back” die said “We numb ourselves to internalized racism to how we are being treated and it’s a painful awakening Some of us aren’t ready for that” But she said it’s something that if stifled can have serious repercus- ' - ! V AP photo ! A motorcyclist vh£' passes by an old Chinese cemetery in Kuala Lumpur last month x ViX 'v: 'V ' - r - - -- tk''- ie ‘ ' - 1 ' 4- - 'r - ! : : job Be aware that interviewing should be a two way process Neither party should dominate the time allotted for the interview The goal is to provide the interviewer with all rele-vant information supporting the application and perti-- i Ask nent questions about the job and overall working environment This requires work on your part investigating and researching the company’s history goals objectives and expectations before you come to the interview Loosen up Try not to appear stressed and uptight Your personal mannerisms should be as natural as possible Smile and be enthusiastic Have a positive attitude Be kute that your physical appearance is appropriate for the situation This may also require some research so that you are dressed appropriately Don’t talk too much and continually focus the discussion around attributes and experiences that support your application and the job description Listen attentively to the interviewee Be prompt Never keep the interviewer waiting Make one or more followup visits or calls to determine the status of your efforts Attempt to identify both the good and not so good aspects of your interview to help you with future interviewing 1 - associates! 02 : lan-guag- es employe Direct column topics to Jiriens Reese Utah State University Extension Logan UT 84322-050- 0 Juana Post knows how to wear a mask The Hispanic Bolivia native was adopted into a white Logan family as a child As a minority even in her own family she learned fast that X there were things about her that many couldn’t understand “We wear a made out in public” she said of racial minorities “So often in being Outside of our homes!!'! we can’t be ourselves We can’t wait to be in the safety of our homes where we can speak our native and wear our native clothing £ and not have to be curtailed to get ! privileges and power and be heard” She said she’s seen racism ' expressed in a variety of ways! time the not take to s “People may learn how to pronounce somebody’s name” Juana said “They may rhyme (-it re mimic iL Sometimes I’ve seen people cutting in front of (people of ! color) like they aren’t even three People accuse (people of color) of having a chip on their shoulder re of being paranoid re unstable re weak ' — not able to cope re go with the : A ed - ? ! - CrtArtftliei v 1 Page An Asian ghost tour will make even the skeptics shiver with fright tions executive who strongly believes in spirits started tiie spooks tour recently to offer Malaysians and foreign visitors a glimpse into Kuala Lumpur’s surreal side — with the tantalizing prospect of spotting a ghost The three-ho$44 tour kicks off with a seafood dinner which Nantha says makes participants “spiritually stronger” and less susceptible to demonic possession Participants arefalso offered talismans to ward off any evil spirits “Don't wave don’t smile don’t stare too long if you see a ghost” Nantha warns sternly as participants cram into a van “Such behavior might attract the spirits to move toward vou” The fust stop is a nearly tree believed to be the abode of a serpent spirit People seeking guidance and luck place milk and eggs under the tree which was planted by Indian migrant workers S Mahendran a resident in the area said the tree was almost chopped down a decade ago by construction workers But when the tree’s branches ominously began leaking water the project’s developers feared potential misfortune and left the tree undisturbed Mahendran said Next Nantha drives visitors to a deserted cemetery with no ' streetlights re noise except for can cricket chirps Visitors walk ur f ff UALA LUMPUR Malaysia (AP) — In one of Malaysia’s oldest cemeteries tour guide Francis Nantha gazes at hundreds of headstones blanket--' ing a hillside made visible tonight with the help of a van’s M f ' headlights "This is where you can commune with tiie spirits" Nantha says while his listeners exchange nervous glances “They’re usually harmless — so long as you don't go traipsing carelessly all over their resting places” The cemetery is the centerpiece of the "Asian Spooks Experience” a privately run nightly tour of sites notorious for spectral sightings in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia’s largest city Supernatural folklore might seem incongruous in a country with the world’s tallest buildings and one of Asia’s most industrialized economies But ghost tales have captivated people here for centuries making this predominantly Muslim nation a place where superstition still resonates Nantha a former public rela - 1 150-year-o- ld 19th-centu- ry on pathways amid seemingly endless tombstones re stand at a chilly spot believed to be a gateway where spirits enter and leave the graveyard Nantha claims one of his tour groups saw tire cemetery teeming with spirits earlier this year wjhen lightning briefly illuminated (he area Whether re not this is true the mix of Nantha’s shrewd storytelling and the creepy atmosphere transformed a recent group of d skeptical journalists into ' scaredy cats On the next stop — purportedly the most dangerous — Nantha won't even allow passengers to leave the van The location atop a hill is a stomping ground for “pontianak” re beautiful female vampires who prey on men Other highlights include a former railway station reputedly-haunteby peopje who committed suicide and a disused jail where inmates tried to escape allegedly by using black magicV open doors to other dimensions! The eerie excursion ends with a “cleansing ceremony” — participants rub lime juice on their foreheads lips and fingertips while Nantha uses a digital camera to take an instant snapshot of the group “If there’s a red re purple aura surrounding you in the photograph you must visit an exrecist ' immediately” Nantha says wide-eye- - sions “In not speaking the truth we create a lot of ailments especially men-tal health issues” she said She isn’t just speaking as a woman of color herself She’s speaking as someone with her bachelor’s degree in human development ' In creating a support group “by women of color for women of color” Juana hopes to see women collective -- in'supporting one another “We don’t have to explain ourselves when we call another sister of color” she said “We can share our life histories losses disappointments as well as our dreams and skills without demeaning degrading or diminishing self-wort- h” But most importantly they will be able to tell the truth “Ever since I was really little I’ve experienced ways that we are not truthful" Juana said “White lies withholding information creating an illusion of this altogether perfect functioning family isn’t helping any of us as a human race It certainly doesn’t help us evolve to hide under a mask of untruths” MASK meets Sundays at 6 pm For information about the place con0 tact Juana Post 753-510- 3 - |