Wednesday, 8th March, 2006
Getting the Interview
Q: Although I have sent my resume to dozens of Fortune 500 companies, I
haven't gotten one interview. What am I doing wrong?
A: Even if you have a great resume, you are unlikely to achieve any success
in your job search for two reasons: 1) the companies you are targeting
aren't hiring in any significant numbers, and 2) an unsolicited resume
without a great deal of follow up usually ends up in a filing cabinet with
the hundreds of other resumes that have come in.
While Fortune 500 companies were excellent places to find a good job some
years ago, these companies are no longer expanding, and in fact are
downsizing in many cases. If you want to find a great job, you must target
the firms who are hiring: small, fast-growth companies. Of 2.1 million jobs
created in 1993, 79% were at companies with 100 employees or less.
Once you have selected a few great companies to target, do some research
before sending your resume. Call the company and ask for the name and fax
number of the hiring manager of the department you're interested in. Speak
with other people in the department to find out the specific goals and needs
of the hiring manager and the company. Only when you have enough information
to tailor your resume to the specific job should you send it with a
customized cover letter to the proper hiring manager. After sending, be sure
to follow up by telephone with the hiring manager.
This information is taken from The New Rules of the Job Search
Game by Jackie Larson and Cheri Comstock, published by Adams
Media Corporation (800-USA-JOBS).
The Ten Most Common Interview Mistakes
The Ten Most Common Mistakes People Make During Their Interviews
Lack of Preparation
Once the interview is scheduled, do your best to get ready for it. Find out
as much as you can about the interviewer(s): bone up on the company, their
business, and the position for which you're interviewing. Prepare for the
questions they're likely to ask you, as well as the questions you would like
to ask them. Formulate an objective, i.e., getting a job offer and learning
enough about the company and their people to enable you to decide whether
you want to work there.
Arriving Late
On the day of the interview, leave enough margin for error to avoid any
possibility of being late. No one will remember your excuse for being late,
only that you were late. If you are unavoidably late, offer a sincere
apology just once, and then let it drop.
Improper Appearance
Every large company has its culture. This is likely to include a dress and
grooming code and standards. The appropriate attire and grooming (e.g.,
length of hair, and use of cosmetics and jewelry) is generally what you see
around you. If you're in doubt as to what to wear on your interview, pay an
anonymous visit to their facility during lunchtime and take a look.
If you expect the interview to last several hours, plan to wear clothing
that will look neat all day. Bring a comb and whatever other "equipment" you
may need to maintain a neat and tidy appearance. If it's raining, protect
your outfit with reliable rain gear. Do not, under any circumstances, allow
yourself to appear disheveled.
Lack of Confidence
Are you confident of your ability to meet responsibilities entrusted to you?
Would you hire someone like you? If not, then you need to learn to appear as
competent and confident as you would like to be (and want others to believe
you are). Of course, feeling confident doesn't automatically make you
competent, but it does create an atmosphere that is conducive to success.
Poor Attitude
The best way to approach an interview is with enthusiasm and an open mind.
Treat everyone you meet with courtesy. If you decide during the interview
that you don't want the job, or that you may not be sufficiently experienced
or qualified to receive the offer, chalk it up to experience.
Continue to present yourself in an upbeat and professional manner. If
they're giving you the courtesy of their time and consideration, the least
you can do is to respond in kind. Practice manifesting a positive
attitude-it's a good habit to develop and maintain.
The Wrong Pitch
There are different kinds of interviewers, with different purposes. The
Personnel / Human Resources professional typically is there to screen you
and keep from wasting the decision-maker's time. You don't need to "impress"
them, and you certainly can't snow them. They just want to ensure that you
have truly and accurately represented yourself in your job application and
resume.
When you're interviewed by a screener, answer their questions as clearly and
accurately as possible, but do not volunteer any additional information.
They don't need to like you, only to decide that you're worth passing along
to the decision-maker. Chances are you'll never see them again even if you get the
job.
The decision-maker, on the other hand, wants to feel comfortable with you as
well as certain that you can do the job. This is where you may opt to turn
on the charm, discuss more personal interests, and talk shop. They probably
don't have a lot of experience conducting interviews, and you may be able to
get them to do most of the talking.
Inconsistency
Professional interviewers are quick to notice inconsistencies, hesitations,
and uncertainties. They may challenge something you say just to see how you
respond. If you back off, change, justify, qualify, over-explain, or retract
what you said earlier, they may suspect that you've been exaggerating or
lying to them, and they're likely to probe deeper. When someone responds to
your statement with a skeptical look, a pause, or a comment, like "Really?",
you've got to hold the fort. Just smile politely, nod, and wait for them to
continue. If you become uncomfortable, you can always ask, "Have I answered
the question to your satisfaction?", or "Was there anything else you wanted
me to talk about?"
Failing to Listen
The successful interviewer reads the interviewer's tone and gestures and
responds accordingly. This means paying attention, and knowing when to
continue, change direction, or stop talking. Avoid potentially controversial
and overly personal issues.
When you see their attention lagging, change the topic or (better still) ask
a question. Don't get carried away with the sound of your own voice. Pay
attention to the interviewer's questions and line of conversation. Bear in
mind that what they want to hear is more important than what you may want to
say.
Blowing Your Cool
If you are being interviewed for a high-level or high-pressure position, you
may be subjected to a pressure interview. This can take the form of making
you wait, having the interview interrupted (once or several times),
inappropriate conversation or questions, and even rudeness or hostility.
Most likely, you will never be subjected to such tactics, although some
unpleasant situations (especially being kept waiting) can arise without
intent.
The trick is to know yourself, your tolerance, and what you're willing to
put up with. If you react, do so with control and resolve, so that you won't
regret your behavior afterward. It's a matter of personal temperament and
values...and perhaps how badly you want the job.
Blowing the Negotiation
If you get the offer, at some point you will have to negotiate your
compensation package and any other benefits. Make sure that the terms of
your employment, including responsibilities, reviews, and related conditions
are defined and that you have a clear idea of what is expected of you. Don't
commit yourself to a salary or conditions that will make you unhappy.
Remember, once you have accepted specific terms, it will be difficult, if
not impossible, to amend them. So prepare yourself to negotiate wisely in your
own behalf.
Dressing for Success
How important is proper dress for a job interview? Well, the final selection
of a job candidate will rarely be determined by dress. However, first-round
candidates for an opening are often quickly eliminated by inappropriate
dress. This is not to say you should go out and invest in a new wardrobe,
just be sure that you are able to put together an adequate interview outfit.
Generally, a professional-looking dress or suit with low-heeled shoes makes
the best impression. In more conservative industries like law and banking, a
suit is a safer bet than a dress. At the same time, some hiring managers in
"creative" industries like advertising and publishing look for a more
informal, stylish look that reflects the applicant's individuality. Use your
best judgement and wear whatever is both professional and comfortable for
you.
Top personal grooming is more important than finding the perfect outfit. Be
sure that your clothes are immaculately clean and well-fitting, that your
hair style is neat and businesslike, and that your shoes are clean and
attractive. Avoid excessive jewelry, makeup, or perfume.
Be sure to bring a watch, pen, and pad of paper for taking notes. A
briefcase or portfolio, if you have one, will help complete the look of
professionalism. Avoid carrying purse if you can-it may detract from your
professional image. And don't forget to take a few extra copies of your
resume!
This information is taken from Every Women's Essential Job
Hunting and Resume Book by Laura Morin, published by Adams
Media Corporation (800-USA-JOBS).
Thursday, 30th March, 2006
Interview Tip: First Impressions Now Take Shape at Warp Speed
Interview Tip: First Impressions Now Take Shape at Warp Speed
By Jeffrey Zaslow
From The Wall Street Journal Online
In 1900, when romantic suitors got to know each other on front-porch
swings, a first impression was something arrived at by the end of an evening.
By 2000, we were sizing each other up at a far faster clip. Self-help gurus
focused on the crucial first five minutes of a relationship, and research into
first impressions led to books such as "How to Make People Like You in 90
Seconds or Less."
Well, nowadays, even those 90 seconds seem awfully quaint. According to a
new study by researchers at Carleton University in Ottawa, people are
registering likes and dislikes in as little as 1/20th of a second.
Click here to read the rest of this article
Having a face-lift to bolster a career
Eryn Brown The New York Times
Ginny Clark of Manhattan got a face-lift last
April. She had several reasons for seeking out the procedure. Clark, 62, said
she "wanted to look 20 years younger." She was socializing with a rather
youthful crowd - dating a man 10 years younger than she was and often dining
out with friends in their 30s and 40s.
In addition, as a stock trader for the investment firm Cantor Weiss, Clark was
working with a lot of younger people - a circumstance that gave her pause.
Most of her peers, including a brother nine years her junior, were retiring
from their Wall Street jobs. But Clark had no intention of quitting; a younger
look, she believed, would extend her career. "Being a dinosaur in the
business," she said, cosmetic surgery "gives you a leg up if you want to stick
around."
Click here to read the rest of this news article
14 ways to ace that job interview
BY DIANE SEWELL
14 WAYS TO ACE THAT JOB INTERVIEW
Eighteen months ago, Jodi Jensen was working for a national sports
association, helping to develop athletic programs. Today, she has the job
she's always dreamed of: police officer. Jensen is a uniformed constable
patrolling the streets of Calgary, responding to emergency dispatch calls and
conducting criminal investigations.
Jensen, 27, is using a new and exciting set of skills in her job with the
Calgary Police Department. She also has great benefits and a good salary that
promises to get even better thanks to a progressive pay scale: After five
years, Jensen will be pulling in more than $66,000 a year.
