a:10:{s:2:"id";s:2:"80";s:12:"cms_headline";s:17:"First Impressions";s:7:"content";s:3467:"<h2>
	First Impressions</h2>
<p>
	Looking down, fidgeting, biting your fingernails, and sweating profusely are just a few signs your nerves are taking over. And nowhere can your anxiety run higher than when you come face-to-face for the first time with someone who has the power to hire you. The truth is, however, the person standing in front of you, the one that is the root of all of this anxiety, is actually on your side.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Kate McLaughlin is a Recruiter at Brion and she routinely meets potential candidates at career fairs. She conducts phone interviews, and if all goes well, she calls people in for interviews. &ldquo;Whenever we are meeting with potential new employees, whether it be at a career expo or in an interview at our office, it&rsquo;s important to remember that our job is to provide you with information about the company&mdash;so ask whatever you like,&rdquo; says Kate. &ldquo;The truth is that we want to&mdash;and need to&mdash;find a lot of people at Brion so we&rsquo;re routing for everyone we meet to be our next successful hire.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	So what makes a good first impression? Kate shared some of her top tips.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Body language</strong>&mdash;Eye contact, a firm handshake and clear speech goes a long way. Try to keep your hands out of your pockets and stand up straight. If this is something you&rsquo;ve struggled with, practice with a friend or in front of a mirror. And don&rsquo;t forget to smile.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Dress</strong>&mdash;It&rsquo;s important to find an outfit spanning the fine line between dressing for the job you want and being the individual you are. It&rsquo;s okay to show some personality, but be careful to not wear anything constricting and uncomfortable&mdash;shoes that are too tight or a collar that fit too snug. &ldquo;You should be able to sit or stand comfortably and not be pulling at your clothes or hair,&rdquo; says Kate.</p>
<p>
	<strong>Questions</strong>&mdash;Bring lots of them! Typically, recruiters are looking for people who take a sincere interest in the company as a whole, not just a single job. Come armed with knowledge about the company and ask about its outlook and the corporate culture. The recruiter will bring up the conversations about money and compensation when the time is right&mdash;typically a second interview or beyond.</p>
<p>
	<strong>What to bring</strong>&mdash;A resume you can reference in case your nerves end up getting the best of you. It can be used as a cheat sheet to remember dates, positions and projects from the past. If the job requires a highly technical skill set (like a project manager or engineer), there may be other documents that will help, but most often these would be requested before arriving.</p>
<p>
	<strong>What not to bring</strong>&mdash;A jar of bitumen. &ldquo;I had one gentleman pull a jar of bitumen out and open it during his interview to use as a prop,&rdquo; laughs Kate. &ldquo;He knows who he is&mdash;and while he did end up getting the job, the bitumen gave me a headache.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	Brion Energy was established in 2010 as a joint venture between Athabasca Oil Corp. and PetroChina Company Limited. Brion is making bold strides in its aspirations to produce 400,000 bbl/d with minimal environmental impact.<br />
	To learn more about current employment opportunities visit: <a href="http://www.buildingsomethingbig.com">www.buildingsomethingbig.com</a>.</p>
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