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Mar 06

Biggest Interview Mistakes

By Uncategorized

Attention candidates, your career and future is on the line. Everything you do when it comes to the process of being evaluated for a job, is representative of your candidacy.

Here are our most noted 10 biggest interview mistakes ever:

1. Arriving late. Arriving ten minutes prior to your scheduled interview time is actually being on time. This will not only make a good first impression, but also allow for a few minutes to collect your thoughts about your goals and desired outcomes.

2. Underdressing. Your appearance will leave an everlasting stamp on the interviewee’s mind, something to think carefully about during garment selection process: appropriateness, cleanliness and coordination will take you far.

3. Being ill prepared. Keeping in mind you are one of, at minimum, 3 to dozens of potential candidates is always a good idea. Use your knowledge to shine.

4. Giving off the wrong verbal or visual cues. Look your interviewer in the eye. Be specific and try not to ramble. Stand-up to greet them with a firm handshake and a sincere smile.

5. Slouching. Your body language truly does shape who you are. Be open with your posture, sit straight with your hands at your side or in your lap. ‘Your body language shapes who you are‘.

6. Butchering names. Whether interviewee or company, please be certain to get the name and proper pronunciation correct during your meeting. Always greet the interviewer with a smile, a firm handshake, and direct eye contact and proper pronunciation of their name and company to show that you care.

7. Rambling. If you feel you have answered the question, stop, smile at the interviewer and await the next question. Listen to the questions and give examples to back up your answers to the questions provided. No more, no less. Positioning yourself in the best light possible is your ultimate goal here.

8. Criticizing previous employers. Learn to fail forward and learn always turn every experience into a learning opportunity. This will help you not only in interviews, but also in life.

9. Lying. Whether about your skills, time at a place or subject matter expertise, your fibs will always come out sooner or later. This is particularly important when it comes to experience, it’s best just to keep your subject matter straight to avoid more awkward situation in the future and by staying open to learning.

10. Getting too comfortable. Yes, acting as if is definitely a technique that has proven to show enthusiasm and valor, but not vulgarity. Always remember this is potential place of work, all jokes about off-subject matter, family affairs and overzealous name-dropping will be a turn off for your prospective employer. As Steve Jobs put it “Stay hungry, stay humble.”

If you have any detrimental interview mistakes to add, please leave them in comments or share your stories with us, we always want to hear the latest!

Feb 19

How to Thrive In a Phone Interview

By Uncategorized

Phone interviews are frequently used by companies to save time by pre-qualifying your interest and expertise. The following are some recommendations to ensure your next phone interview is successful for you.

Isolate Yourself
Phone interviews place you at a disadvantage because you only have one tool of communication, your voice. The interviewer’s impression of you is shaped by all the sounds coming through the phone. Insulate yourself from distractions and background noises. Do not have your phone interview when you are surrounded by a lot of noise like an outdoor café at a busy intersection. If the call is on your cell phone make sure the caller can hear you clearly.

Stand Up
During the call stand up, walk around and smile. All these things make a big difference in the projection and quality of your voice.

What’s Next
At the conclusion, ask the interviewer about next steps and timing of their hiring process.

Prepare Your Responses
Phone interviews follow a similar pattern of questioning with the purpose of screening you out of consideration. Below is a list of questions most phone interviewers ask. Write down and practice your responses.
– Tell Me About Yourself.
– What do you know about our company?
– How did you learn about this position?
– What is our current salary?
– What are your compensation requirements?
– Why are you looking for a new position?
– What are your strengths?
– What are your weaknesses?
– Do you have any questions?

Questions You Ask
Questions are your primary tool of influence with an interviewer. Questions help you direct the conversation and assess if the company is right for you. Here are some questions to ask during a phone interview.

Opening Questions:
Questions you ask at the beginning of the phone interview.
– What is your position with this company?
– What are the key things you’d like to learn about my background?

More Questions:
Questions you could ask in the middle of the interview.
– What business imperatives are driving the need for this position?
– Describe the three top challenges that I’ll face in this job?
– What are the characteristics of people who are most successful in your company?
– What are the key deliverables and outcomes that this position must achieve?

Closing Questions:
Questions you ask at the end of the phone interview.
– What additional information would you like me to provide?
– What concerns do you have at this point?
– When is the best time to follow up with you?

Jan 29

Acing the Interview Game

By Interviews, Uncategorized

Before the Interview

Do your market research. Review the company website and review the position specifics. The more you know about the company and the position, the better you can customize your answers and attributes.

Research the company and gather as much information on whom you will be speaking with and what their role is. Listen to their questions and make your answers relevant and succinct. Remember you have to keep them interested! Take a look at where they’ve worked, gone to school or interests that they display on their public profiles. We highly recommend checking out their Twitter feed to get an idea of what they talk about.

During the Interview

Create rapport. This means using eye contact, smiling and showing enthusiasm. The biggest criticism we hear from hiring managers is that applicants do not show enough enthusiasm for the position. Asking questions about the company and the position is a great way to show interest and to work through nervousness. Smile and listen to the answers; they will help you later!

Tailor your responses to questions by speaking in terms of the specific position. Emphasize how your qualities will benefit the company. Emphasize how your qualities will benefit the company.

Ask your recruiter for information about the person(s) you will be interviewing with as well as the person(s) with whom you will be working with.

After the Interview

Be positive, enthusiastic and energetic about the new opportunity. Enthusiasm is infectious and employers like to hire candidates with energy and a good attitude to do the job.

Send a thank you note via email as soon as possible.

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