Tag Archives: Interview

      By Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter

Have you been on more job interviews than you care to think about lately? Do you feel that you are interviewing worse with each meeting? Well, that perception may not just be in your head.

Interviewing gets old after awhile, and just like the salesperson who hasn’t gotten a “yes” since he can’t remember when, it can be downright deflating.

But remember, the interviewer doesn’t know how many interviews you’ve been on, and quite frankly, isn’t too concerned about the number. All they care about is the interview you are participating in right now. In their office. With them.

Too often, though, they are forced to sit across the desk from someone tired and worn out from knocking on doors. If that “someone” is you, I’m afraid you’re wasting your time if the interviewer suspects this to be the case.

You may be saying to yourself, “But my attitude was great for the first umpteen interviews and that didn’t seem to make any difference at all.” 

Okay, maybe you’re right. But remember, your chance for success will not go up as your attitude goes down.

It may seem difficult and even impossible at times, but you are only hurting yourself when that chip on your shoulder is taking up more room in a hiring manager’s office than her desk is. If you’re reading this, you probably relate.

Here are a few ways to be sure your attitude doesn’t get in the way of your success.

1. Sharpen your acting skills. I don’t mean be fake (they will see right through that). No, instead, look upon each interview as an actor might that is preparing for their next scene. Steady yourself and think about who you want the audience to believe you are. A winning performance may not get you invited to the Oscars, but you will definitely stand a better chance of getting you invited to the office party.

2. Beware of developing “commission breath.” While this condition is typically used to describe a salesperson that has been cursed with a dry spell, it is equally descriptive of the attitude any of us can develop when the “no’s” are stacking up, and the “yes’s” have all but disappeared. The job seeker afflicted with this condition will appear desperate and willing to do almost anything to close the “deal.” The problem is, desperation is never attractive, whether you’re selling widgets, looking for a date or trying to land your dream job.

3. Be confident, not cocky. It’s amazing how often people seem to confuse these two attitudes. To paraphrase Webster’s, cockiness implies self-confidence to an irritating degree, whereas confidence implies a bold self-reliance that creates a state of trust. If you were doing the hiring, which trait would you choose?

4. Lastly, don’t forget to smile. Even if you don’t feel like it at first, like going to the gym, you always feel better about it after a few moments, and it shows.

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        By Vickie Elmer

Not everything you present in the job interview must come directly from your work experience. Sometimes a great story and a great skill springs from your personal life.

The trick is to choose the right attribute – and then present it well, so that it seems relevant to success at the job you’re seeking, said Marc Cenedella, founder & chief executive of The Ladders, an executive and managerial job-matching site.

“What one or two things do you do outside work that you can package that demonstrate an attribute for the job you want?” asked Cenedella. “You want things that underline the narrative to show you’re going to do well” in the new position.

First determine what attributes you will need to demonstrate. Take a close look at the job description and the organization. Most jobs really depend on four to six key skills – for managers it might be financial management, analytical skills, leadership, people skills, change management – as the most important ones, Cenedella said.

Sometimes the key skills are obvious; but in times of great change at the organization or in the economy, it pays to ask the HR manager or recruiter what traits are most prized and sought after in this search, he suggested. Come right out and ask: “What are the three most important things to succeed in this job?” 

That list could serve as a map into the new job. If the job requires an ability to win under any circumstances, you may be able to demonstrate that by telling how as captain of the local softball team, you lost two key players and still managed to make it to the finals. If the job requires adaptability and constant learning, your travels to 100 countries, and visiting lesser known cities – then blogging about it – will provide excellent examples, he said.

“What are you showcasing?…. It’s not a social call. It’s not about making new friends. Everything is about getting more offers and getting into the new seat” at a new job. It’s your job to carefully select the stories that match up with that attributes list.

Then you must fit the right personal successes – as a volunteer or board member, a parent or an event planner – into a compelling, but concise story. Don’t ramble on about the soccer team or the school carnival; focus on what you did and how it developed or showcased your talents. Make sure you frame the story from your personal life into the context of how it will help your future employer, and how it will improve your success.

Even if you have a lot of volunteer or personal experience and expertise, Cenedella suggests that you need to limit yourself to one good story and attribute from that arena. Most of your examples need to come from your professional life, he said.

Whatever stories you tell need to resonate and feel relevant. Consider them illustrations to the main points: I have demonstrated these key skills and I would be a great addition to your team.

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      By Heather Huhman

What You May Be Ignoring In Your Job Search

You did your research, tailored your resume, and applied for a great position. You may have even scored an interview, came prepared, and impressed the interviewer. Now it’s just time to play the waiting game, right? Wrong!

If you’re sitting around waiting for your dream job to find you, you’re ignoring a crucial part of your job search: the follow-up. Job seekers should follow up after applying for a job and after interviewing for a position. Following up is essential in your job search because it reinforces your interest in the position for which you applied or interviewed and it helps you stand out among other candidates.

Following up could even be the difference between getting the job or getting the hose — almost 15% of hiring managers said they wouldn’t hire someone who didn’t send a thank-you note after an interview, and 32% said they would think less of a candidate who didn’t follow up.

Here are 5 tips for following up: 

1. Do it soon

Don’t waste time after your interview — send an email follow up within 24 hours, and a snail-mail follow up soon thereafter.

If you’re pre-interview stage, a recent survey found that job seekers should follow up within two weeks of submitting a resume; specifically, 38% of senior managers surveyed recommended following up in one week or less, and 43% said one to two weeks.

2. Ditch the keyboard

Email is a great way to follow up quickly, but nothing replaces a hand-written note. You don’t need to do this unless you’ve formally interviewed with a company; if they gave you their time and consideration, you can surely take the time to write a note thanking them. A handwritten note will show that you’re thorough, detail-oriented, and very interested in the position.

3. Reiterate your qualifications

Use your follow up as an opportunity to reiterate why you’re qualified for a position.  If you’re following up after an interview, take this time to say anything you had forgotten to say during the meeting. This is your last shot to sell yourself and your services!

​4. Keep it short and sweet

Hiring managers appreciate follow-ups, no doubt — but don’t ramble on and don’t be repetitive. Keep your thank you email to one or two short paragraphs, and limit your handwritten note to the size of a basic thank-you card. Remember, you’re saying thank you and reinforcing why you’re right for the job, not applying a second time.

5. Don’t limit your follow up

Following up is necessary after submitting an application and after interviewing for a position; but, another important time to follow up is after networking. In times like these, send a quick email to your new contact saying how nice it was to meet them and that you hope to stay in contact in the future.

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Heather R. Huhman is a Glassdoor career and workplace expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of Lies, Damned Lies & Internships: The Truth About Getting from Classroom to Cubicle (2011), #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

The Glassdoor Team is a small yet seasoned group of individuals looking to provide greater transparency into one of the most important aspects of our lives – our jobs. Contributions to the blog are designed to present a unique perspective on current events, offer commentary on the inside workings on specific jobs at a multitude of companies, and provide details on the latest happenings from within Glassdoor.