Resume Help Blog

Archive for the ‘Interview Tips’ Category

Too many candidates mistakenly believe that being called in for an interview is being guaranteed a position — nothing could be further from the truth.

You might be the last person on a short list of candidates. Your skills, knowledge, and abilities are good, but perhaps not a perfect match for the company. However, the hiring manager is interested enough to meet with you and allow you to sell yourself to the company.

How do you do that? Preparation – preparation – preparation.

1. Know how to dress. If you’re not familiar with the company culture, visit its website or offices during work hours to see how staff dress. No matter how casual they may be, the key is for you to look professional—you’re not on staff yet.
2. Do extensive research about the company. Know what they’re about. Nothing’s worse for a hiring manager than to interview someone who hasn’t a clue what their company offers.
3. Compose a list of questions about the company that indicates your interest in its products and services the position itself and the company and department culture.
4. Prepare a list of answers to the most frequently asked interview questions. For example: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
5. Practice, practice, practice. Make certain your voice and body language don’t give away your anxiety.
6. Calculate travel time. Know how long it will take to get to your interview so you arrive on time.

Each type of interview has its pitfalls. Here’s what to avoid:

Phone Interviews:

1. Always, if possible, provide a land-line phone for the interviewer to reach you. Cell phone connections hiss, crackle, cut out, and may disconnect the interviewer. If a hiring manager gets dead air, they may not call back.
2. Make certain background noise is kept to a minimum. No TV noise, screeching kids and barking dogs.
3. If you’re snacking on taco chips when the phone rings, swallow quickly and don’t take another bite until the interview is over.
4. Keep a glass of water handy should your throat tickle during the interview.
5. Don’t smoke or chew gum — the noises can be heard on the other end of the line.
6. Never, ever, answer call waiting during a phone interview. Give the hiring authority your complete attention — if you don’t, you won’t move deeper into the process.

Lunch Interviews:

1. Never order the most expensive item on the menu
2. Never drink alcohol
3. Don’t order ‘challenging’ food — short ribs, greasy sandwiches, and lobster come to mind
4. Don’t criticize the quality of the food or the service
5. Don’t ask for a ‘doggy bag’

Panel Interviews:

1. Don’t focus on one panel member to the exclusion of all the others
2. Don’t forget to greet each panel member individually
3. Don’t forget to glance at each panel member while answering a question, after you’ve directed your opening remarks to the individual who posed the question
4. Don’t forget to send thank you notes to each panel member

Well, what we feared has suddenly happened. The Labor Department reported that the official unemployment rate for October rose from 9.8% to 10.2%, in September. (don’t be fooled, it’s actually higher) And just today they announced another 485,000 lay-offs last week. Just one week before Christmas; what a great Christmas gift! Everyone feared this was coming and just wondered how long it would take. Hundreds of thousands of people are unemployed and job opportunities on a large scale just aren’t available.

So now the next question; what are we to do now?

There seems to be a spirit of cynicism and foreboding everywhere. It’s frightening!  This is an age of political divisiveness, there is a huge dose of bashing and finger-pointing. The plain truth is we have collectively allowed our manufacturing base to be stripped away and it doesn’t look like it’s coming back any time soon.

Don’t expect Obama to rescue you, no matter what he promised in his campaign speeches. The plain truth: you’re on your own. There is no magic bullet that will solve this problem. In fact the way the current majority political party is going it just may get worse. Many of the over 15 million unemployed are not going to find a job again.  ANY job. Am I being pessimistic? I don’t believe so.

Many of our icons that we thought would be here forever are gone are on the verge of going. Many companies are barely surviving, their management are on shaky ground and know it. It’s time to change your thinking from “it’s all about me” frame mind. It’s extremely difficult when the rent’s due and you’ve had no income or possibilities. One solution remains, companies have problems to solve and if you are a problem solver you have a product to sell and lots of buyers.

Look for ways to show that you are a problem solver.  Answer this question: “How can I help them solve their problem NOW?”  This simple change in mentality serves a great purpose in your resume writing or during your job interview.

Start making a list. (be specific) Then boil it down and refine it then do it again till you are convinced it’s the best. These are problems that you’ve already solved.  This what employers will buy today. Don’t just rely on the Internet but take your message out there to the real world to get an audience.

Networking is where it happens, but that could be as simple as talking to someone in line at the supermarket or mall. You have to be “on” all the time.  So develop a great elevator pitch that’s short and sweet.  It should sound natural and reflect exactly how and why you’re a problem solver. That’s what it will take and you can do it. I have a friend who does this in California. She calls her company “Corporate Solutions”.

Not everyone is buying right now but there are jobs. And even if it’s not the ideal job it’s an opportunity for you to shine. You’ll snag one only if you’re “on” and ready to offer someone solutions for the immediate future because of problems you’ve solved in the past. So get that resume polished and I mean as the military calls it; put a “spit shine” on it.