Surveys 253 personnel interviewers at midwestern businesses, finding that all respondents identified communication skills as having a major effect on hiring decisions; 90% indicated that communication skills are essential for success; and 60% reported that applicants were prepared with effective communication skills in job interviews. Identifies…

Examines whether interviewer ratings are influenced by the kind of questions (realistic favorable versus realistic, moderately unfavorable versus unrealistic, highly unfavorable) asked in the realistic job preview (RJP) segment of the interview. Results indicate no significant differences in either job-related ratings or in personal-trait ratings.…

Twenty-four professional recruiters interviewed 91 college seniors. Interviewers' subjective impressions of applicants completely mediated effects of applicants' relevant qualifications, but not academic achievement. A positive relationship between interpersonal attraction and interview outcomes suggests interviewers are measuring applicant fit in…

Responses from 20 chairs of allied health dean/director search committees indicated that 55% found filling the position very or moderately easy. Mean time was 6.9 months. Most (65%) new deans/directors had health professions backgrounds; 30% had been assistant deans/directors. With a mean number of 11.7 viable candidates, the applicant pool was…

Examined interviewees' assessments of job applicants (N=346) in terms of both general and firm-specific employability (fit). Found assessments of general employability differed from firm-specific assessments; there was a firm-specific component to interviewers' evaluations of job applicants; and interpersonal skills, goal orientation, and physical…

Discusses importance of the cover letter that accompanies mailed resume to introduce job candidate and his/her background to potential employer. Presents some guidelines that career planning and placement personnel can use in explaining the whys and hows of cover letters to students. Four steps to a good cover letter are given and examples of…

Describes workshop developed at the Catholic University of America to help international students work temporarily in the United States through Practical Training employment, thus making their education more meaningful and providing them with work experience. Presents history and rationale of the program and discusses cultural issues that must be…

Conducted descriptive study to investigate factors that help and hinder members of job-search groups and the impact of these groups on the experience of unemployment. Persons who had taken part in job-search groups reported 501 helping and 44 hindering incidents. Analyses resulted in the grouping of incidents into 19 helping and 10 hindering…

States that an important part of the ethos interviewees present in MLA job interviews is their enthusiasm for, commitment to, and knowledge of teaching. Advises interviewees to show their passion for teaching; to say why teaching is important, not just interesting; and to remember that teaching is not just performance but design. (PA)

Relates some of the author's experiences in hiring new instructors as chair of the English department at Western Washington University. States that hiring is basically a year-round job. Discusses how position descriptions are written, thoughts on affirmative action, and the importance of organization and maintaining a timetable. Presents some…

Analyzed responses from 651 employers to question: What is major reason why mature unemployed so often have difficult finding work? Five major barriers that limited reemployment opportunities of older job seekers were identified. Older job hunter was perceived as unqualified; more expensive to employ; difficult to integrate into corporation;…

Describes survey of college students with disabilities regarding self-perceived job search skills. Respondents were unable to describe how Americans with Disabilities Act protects them in employment search and were not confident of ability to disclose disability to prospective employer. Suggests factors positively influencing self-perceptions.…

Whether people with similar cognitive abilities, vocational interests, and personality characteristics choose similar jobs was studied for 139 job applicants at an employment agency. Although people with similar cognitive abilities and vocational interests chose similar jobs, those with similar personalities did not. (SLD)

Investigates how job recruiters seeking to fill positions in mechanical engineering or marketing are influenced by the quality of writing in student resumes. Finds that teachers must assess how accurately they and their students understand the community's discourse practices to help students enter a professional discourse community. (PRA)

Describes results of a survey of recent academic-library appointees that focused on specific application practices. Results show that large numbers of applicants waste time by applying for positions for which they do not meet minimum qualifications, failing to meet deadlines, and not submitting requested materials. (Author/LRW)