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Students are under a lot of pressure juggling full-time or part-time jobs, personal obligations, and course work. Learning effective test taking skills and studying techniques can help students make efficient use of time, and lead to academic success!

Metro College instructors have the experience and skills to help students manage course work, tests and exams, as well as help students develop time-management and organizational skills.

Top 5 Test Taking Tips for College Success:

1. Manage nervousness by eating something before the test (bananas are a great source of nutrients, and they will help calm anxiety).
2. Read test directions carefully, taking note of the time limit, the number of questions, types of questions and how the test is scored.
3. Skim read through the test and answer easy questions first, then tackle the more difficult questions.
4. Multiple choice questions, cross out answers known to be wrong, form an answer and reword it to match the terminology and style of the answer choices provided (when in doubt selected the answer that most closely matches).
5. Essay questions, determine the questions or issues to be addressed, the number of points allocated to the question, and map out the essay using subheadings and notes before beginning to write.

Having difficulty with tests? Speak with your Metro College instructor today!

Metro College provides extensive job search support service for students including resume workshops, and mock interviews. Here are some additional tips to get you started:

Before Your Interview
Before attending a job interview, make sure you research the company and job profile. There are different ways to do this: go to the company’s website; research blogs; or review relevant industry resources.

Practice your interview skills with a friend or family member, and have them ask you questions as if they were an interviewer. Or, sit in front of a mirror and pretend you are in an interview, present your education, skills and work experience, while monitoring your facial expressions and body language.

Review each skill listed on your resume and make sure that you are able to provide an example of each skill, and its application in the real-world. Additionally, depending on your industry, you may need to provide proof of your qualifications, or a portfolio.

Bring Your Own Resources
Use your own resources during the interview. It would be improper to ask the employer for access to their resources. For example, if you have your portfolio stored on a USB key, do not ask the interviewer for access to their computer, bring your own.

Dress Code
Dressing properly is extremely important. This is your opportunity to make a lasting “first impression.”

The job interview is an appropriate time to ask questions about the dress code. Each employer is different – each with different expectations.

• Men should dress in a suit – no exceptions!
• Women should be dressed in either business style pants or a skirt that ends at the knee or lower.

Introducing Yourself to the Employer
When walking into the interview room, be confident! Maintain direct eye contact with the interviewer and be sure to offer them a firm handshake. A firm handshake usually tells an employer how confident you are about your skills and abilities.

Interview Seating
Make sure you are seated properly for the interview, back straight. Men should be seated with both legs close together. Women seated with legs slightly crossed at the ankle. Do not fidget with your hands, pens, or anything else. Your body language tells the interviewer a lot about you!

How to Behave
Listen to the employer. Only answer the questions that are asked. Do your research beforehand, know about the mission and values of the business, and share how you will fit in with the business culture. Business owners want employees who will enjoy working for them!

Ending the interview
At the end of the interview ask when a decision is expected to be made and how you will be informed. Be sure to thank the interviewer for their time and give them a final handshake before exiting. Also, acknowledge the secretary on your way out and say goodbye.

Follow-up with a Thank-you
After the interview send an email or a note to the interviewer thanking them for the opportunity. Take this time to reiterate your interest in the company.

Read more Job Interview Preparation Tips!

Being promoted within a company is a big nod of confidence in your work ethic, skills, abilities and professionalism!

Top 5 Tips to Help Get a Promotion:

• Be Proactive – Take initiative when faced with a new project, problem or task. Don’t wait for a superior or co-workers to guide your through a task, take the initiative yourself to learn what you need to do to tackle the task, and ask for guidance only when needed.
• Be Confident – Confidence in your work will shine through everything that you do, and everyone you work with. Stay up to date with developments in your field, and learn how to develop confidence in your work!
• Be Professional – At all times, it is important to remain professional in your career. Your reputation depends on your actions and behavior, do not tarnish your own reputation by being disruptive, impolite, or otherwise unprofessional.
• Take Responsibility – Along with being proactive, it is important to take responsibility for your work, especially for failures. Everyone fails at some point, taking responsibility for failures and being proactive in resolving the issue shows professionalism and integrity, two qualities prized by employers.
• Seek Feedback – Be open to feedback on your work and performance, and learn from it. Superiors have a lot more knowledge of industry practices, and it is up to you to learn from them!

Metro College offers a number of Student Resources to help you jump-start your career! Learn more about Metro College Student Resources, or Contact Us for details!

Proper communication is one of the keys to success during a job interview.

Communication is more than simply providing information to another person. Verbal communication involves the performance of several skills such as listening, interpreting, reasoning, and articulating, often at the same time.

In addition to verbal communication there are also non-verbal components such as body language, gestures, eye contact, posture, facial expressions, and voice tone that provide additional communication cues.

To be an effective communicator it is important to pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal information, as well as be conscious of your own verbal and non-verbal behavior.

Top 3 Job Interview Skills:

1. Be Professional

Arrive to the interview early, and dress accordingly. The interviewer may be very friendly but it is important to remain professional at all times, avoid the use of slang, use full sentences, keep a straight posture, be respectful towards the interviewer and the interview process. 

2. Start with a Strong Introduction and Some Small Talk

Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake, smile and introduce yourself. Thank them for arranging the interview and make small talk (comment on the weather, compliment office décor, ask a simple question, etc.). Small talk allows you to show a bit of your personality, your confidence and communication skills.

Bonus Tip – do not mention negative or controversial news or issues, keep the mood positive and start the interview off on the right foot!

3. Stay on Topic

Demonstrate proper communication skills and specifically answer every question asked. Many job seekers make the mistake of trying to dodge interview questions they cannot answer, and go off-topic. Interviewers could mistake this as poor communication skills. Instead, address the question, provide a thorough answer and only relevant examples.

Bonus Tip – if you have a skill, qualification or experience that was not mentioned. Do not interrupt the Interviewer, ask for a moment at the end of the interview to provide any additional information.

Metro College Job Search Support Service include resume and cover letter workshops, job search workshops, and interview workshops to help students develop the confidence to shine during job interviews!