The students sit in their seats, laughing. Anyone who walks in will not believe that a style and etiquette seminar is being held here. Christina Kimeswenger knows how to keep her little listeners happy.
“I’m not going to show any PowerPoints, by the third slide at the latest everyone has fallen asleep here,” is how the application trainer from Leonding begins the three-quarters of an hour Kimeswenger has available at the Youth & Career” in Wels presented by Upper Austrian News. With lots of humor, she tackles the biggest mistakes young people can make in their first job interview.
Apart from jogging pants or dirty shoes, for example, lack of interest is forbidden: “The other person notices immediately if you’re only there because your parents sent you there,” she explains to one of the attendees. In each example, it is addressed to a different audience. The remarks of Kimeswenger, who runs the basement theater in Linz with her husband, are reminiscent of a cabaret: for example, when she imitates “the boys” as they go to an interview – to then show them how it’s done right . Stand up straight and sit properly, “don’t grab the chair with your hand between your legs, we’re not primates,” emphasizes Kimeswenger.
Wearing a jacket properly also needs to be learned. Image: yogurt
Shaking hands is a more difficult topic at the moment – “listen to your gut” applies here – does the other person want the applicant to shake their hand or not?
applicants under scrutiny
In an interview with OÖN, the apprentice trainer, Alban Kacurreti from EBG, also claims that seemingly small things often have a big effect: “We make sure that the young people are polite and greet the secretary too.” Good grades are not the most important thing, motivation of the applicants is more important.
A common question in job interviews is about strengths and weaknesses. Kimeswenger explains what a competent response looks like: Applicants should list weaknesses that are not relevant to the job. Kimeswenger recommends that young people find out what skills are required in their dream job at www.bic.at.
- Today until 16:00, young people can learn more at the “Youth & Career” fair.