This month

Summer jobs

• Feature — First impressions
• Your turn — The practice interview
• Stay on track — A checklist of "to-dos"
• Take notice — Important dates
• All about AIEmail — Subscribe, suggest, review

Feature

First impressions

Body language and attitude
Make sure your body language during a job interview projects a professional image.

• Eye contact — Good eye contact conveys confidence and enthusiasm.
• Facial expression — Smile. Imagine yourself as an interviewer meeting people all day. Walk in with a friendly and energetic face.
• Energy level — Show enthusiasm.
• Posture — Maintain good posture throughout the interview. Sit up straight, relax, cross your feet at your ankles or place your feet firmly on the ground. Don't slouch, and don't rock back in your chair.

Fill out an application
It may seem like a time-consuming chore, but there is a reason you must fill out an application, even if you have already given the employer a resume. Applications organize information about you into a format that is familiar to the employer. Most applications have room for all of your necessary information for experience, education, contacts, emergency numbers, and tax information. Resumes do not always answer specific questions an employer may have, but an application is designed to address the employer's specific questions.

Always bring a resume
It is always professional to have a neatly printed, correctly spelled, and gramatically correct resume with you. You will likely still be asked to complete applications, but having a resume tells an employer you know how to present yourself effectively. Furthermore, how you present yourself tells the employer how you will handle yourself on the job. Sample resumes can also be found on Adventures In Education at www.AIE.org/HighSchool/hs_splresume.cfm. In addition, there are many good how-to books at your local library, campus bookstore, or local bookstores.

Ask for the job
If you are truly interested in the job, ask for it. As you are preparing to leave, offer the interviewer a handshake, look directly into his or her eyes, and say how much you would enjoy working there. Tell the interviewer that you believe your skills and background are a perfect match to the company's goals and function, that you believe you have a lot to offer the company, and that such a great company has a lot to offer your continued career development as well.

Say thanks
Don't forget to thank the interviewer for his or her time, and follow up with a thank-you note. This is important, not just for the sake of good manners, but to get the job. If time constraints make it difficult to send a handwritten note, at least send an e-mail message, or make a phone call and tell the interviewer "thank you."

Follow-up phone calls
Before leaving an interview, ask the employer to give you some idea when they will be making a hiring decision. If you haven't heard anything after one week, phone the interviewer and inquire whether the position has been filled. If a decision has not been made, now is a good time to let the prospective employer know that you are interested in the job. Many employers hire the most enthusiastic of a group of qualified candidates. People want to have employees who like their jobs.

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Your turn

The practice interview

Before you attend a job fair or go to an interview, remember to practice.

Figure out what you are going to wear to the interview and try it on. Remember to dress appropriately for the job. If you are applying for a position with an accounting firm, a dress or coat and tie would be more appropriate than jeans and a T-shirt. After you've chosen your outfit, see what others think.

Print out your resume and practice interviewing with a friend or relative. This might seem silly or a little embarrassing, but it will be a lot less embarrassing than stumbling over words in the actual interview.

Let your friends or relatives ask you questions about your resume. This way, you can become comfortable and confident discussing your skills.

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Stay on track

Checklist for this week

For freshmen, sophomores, and juniors

Here are a few reminders for the end of the school year:

• Return all textbooks and other school-issued equipment.
• Settle any unpaid library fees, equipment charges, or other outstanding obligations.
• Clear out your locker and take all your materials home.
• File any materials that you might be able to use in the future.
• Some Advanced Placement course notes and supplemental texts may come in handy in college. Keep them in a safe place.
• File all report cards and test results in a secure place.

For seniors

As you are about to graduate, remember to do the following:

• Write a note to your favorite teachers to express your gratitude for all they have done for you.
• Send a message to a special friend with whom you can share good memories.
• Think of an adult, other than your teachers or your parents, that you appreciate for being around to guide you along the way, and thank them.
• Let your parents know that you appreciate the support they have provided over the years.

For parents

• Be sure your child has cleaned out his or her school locker.
• Check to be sure that all library fines, equipment charges, and other belongings have been paid.
• Assist your child in sorting through notebooks, notes, and other materials. You may spot some papers worth saving.
• File away all report cards, test scores, and any other official school papers.
• Carefully review the final report card to ensure all credits have been properly noted.
• If your child was on the borderline of passing a class, find out whether a summer school make-up course must be taken.

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Take notice

Important dates

Mark down these dates.

To get more information on the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, access useful tools, or register, visit the College Board's Web Site(www.collegeboard.com) or call (609) 771-7600.

To get more information on the ACT, access useful tools, or register, visit the ACT Web Site (www.act.org) or call (319) 337-1270.

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