Interviewing with any company can be intimidating but preparation will help chase away some of the butterflies. Remember it is unusual for a company to hire a candidate who fits the job description 100%. View the position advertisement as a dream sheet. You should have a majority of the traits but just because you’re missing a few parts of the experience does not necessarily knock you out of contention.

Without trying to be too traditional, here are some interview thoughts gleaned from hands-on experience.

Before the Interview

Learn all you can about the company – This is much easier in our era of mega-search engines. Look for names, facts, figures, news, anything, etc.

• What are the recent big news items?
• What are the company’s major services or products?
• What are their guarantees?
• What are the approximate revenues?
• What are the customer service trends?
• Who are the big names?
• How do competitor companies look at your interviewing company?
• If you know somebody at the company, quiz them about the organization.
• If appropriate, see if you can make an appointment with someone at the company for your educational purposes (be careful with this one).

Play stump the dummy – Nothing personal … but prepare a list of the toughest questions you can create based on your intimate knowledge of your own profile. The idea is to train hard to make the actual interview seem easier. Be as tough as you can on yourself during the preparation and you will find yourself more confident at the real event. Here are a few starter questions and you can think of more.

• What is your core message related to the position?
• What are your top 3-5 strengths?
• What are your weaknesses? How do you manage around or offset them?
• What will be the most difficult areas of the new job for you?
• Why are you unique?
• How would you interview yourself if you wanted to paint the most complete picture?
• How will you make up any shortfalls in your experience as it relates to the ideal job description?
• What will you do if you are not selected for the position?
• Do you like the company enough to apply for more positions?
• How will you respond if salary comes up early?

In a future post, we’ll talk more about how to maximize your time during the interview.  To summarize, focus any nervous energy you have on preparation. Write it, say it, and think it (or any combination thereof). This will help with the actual interview and keep anxiety in check. Remember too that a little nervousness will help you be sharper in the interview as well. All the best!

And if you have any thoughts or ideas, take a minute and share your best ideas or experiences in the comments below.

This post was written by Michael Friesen, a coach at 360JobInterview.com.  He is the author of Expected End: What Culture Is, Why It Matters and How to Improve It.  He is a leadership coach and a former CFO and Budget Director for the U.S. government.  You can schedule an interview with Michael on his 360JobInterview.com coach page.

Photo iStockPhoto © Ken Kan

Professionalism goes beyond a great resume and neat appearance for the job interview. Think about a recruiter’s first interaction with you. What does your email address or your voice mail message say about you and your professionalism?

Voice Greetings

Are your voice greetings professional and tastefully done, understandable and clear? OR, do you have your cute three year old speaking the message? Who can understand him/her besides you?  Do you have background music playing that may be offensive or in poor taste, played too loudly and drowning out your message? Remember your cell phone voice mail as well, if you are using that as your main phone contact number! As a recruiter, if I got a voice mail message that I could not understand, or was in poor taste, I hung up, without leaving a message to call me regarding my job opening. They may have looked like the best candidate for the job on paper, but the impression their voice mail message gave, was the opposite.

Email Addresses

Do not forget the email address. Anyone can get a free Google mail, hotmail, Yahoo etc., account. Your email address should be professional and tasteful, not something risqué, politically incorrect or lacking in common sense. (iamadormable@myfanclub.com does not cut it!) As a recruiter, if I had to ask myself “Why on earth would anyone use that email address for their job search?” I would discount them as a viable candidate to interview. Why you ask? Sounds harsh, but that is the chance you take when you send out your resume. Leave ihavedimples@cutecheeks.com off of everything in favor of a more neutral email address like your.name@whateveremailaccount.com!

If the message or email address were not professional, then it left me with a bad impression. It told me the person lacked common sense, or was not serious about their job search, nor respectful of the potential employer.

Being fully professional with all written and audio information is essential. Get the job – then revert to your old messages with the cute kid giving the message, or an email address that harkens to your playful side.

Photo by iStockPhoto © Jacob Wackerhausen

Interviews today are focused on behavioral-based questions. A behavioral-based question is based on a dimension which is a required competency for the position.  In order to answer this question you will need to relate a previous experience to the interviewer’s question.

An example question might be, “Tell me about a time you had to resolve a customer’s problem? “

In this example the dimension is customer service.  Your response must be focused and to the point. A good way to do this is to practice your answer using these 4 elements to guide you in your response:

• Situation -What occurred that created the problem?
• Task- How did you plan do to resolve the issue?
• Action- What did you actually do, what resources did you need to resolve the issue
• Result- What was the outcome as a result of your action?

In your response cover each element in order.  In the Action step, focus on the actions you took, or “what did you do?”Often the interviewee will answer with what a group did as opposed to their role in a task or project. It takes practice to learn how to accentuate your accomplishments without sounding arrogant.

Companies put more emphasis on multiple interviews and the dimensions required to perform the job. Dimensions are not only on-the-job skill; they are also about job fit. T he interviewer scores the applicant responses which are later discussed by the hiring team to make a final determination to select the best candidate. This is done by scoring the interview with a (+,-) or a numerical value. If you do not answer the question you may receive no value which does not help with your score or getting the job. Usually the interview may ask 10 questions and possibly that could in turn be 30 questions by 3 interviewers.

The bottom line: Be a job interview star! Stick with the Situation – Task – Action – Result (STAR) methodology and focus on your personal accomplishments. Future posts will cover other dimensions and specific approaches for specific types of questions.

Need help now? Make an appointment with your own personal coach@360jobinterview where you can choose from over 300 experienced Human Resource professionals. Choose a pro in your field as they can coach you in developing your action plan.

So, you got the interview.  Congratulations!

Now what?  There is much to do my friend!

How long does it take to make a first impression? Not very long, believe me….the first 5 seconds is all you get.

How long does it take to change that bad first impression?  Basically – you can’t. It is done. You have that hurdle to deal with – and, oh by the way – you are there for an interview…..right?

Let’s discuss how to make that fabulous first impression!

It starts when you get the call to come in for the interview. Ask questions; repeat back the time and date they want to see you, and the location. Google map the location, if you are driving; check bus or train, or ferry  schedules; taxi cab availability etc. ; allow enough extra time. In case there is traffic, you won’t be late. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early. Do a dry run a few days before. Make sure your cell phone is charged – in case you are unavoidably delayed – you can call and let them know the reason.

Immediately, look at your wardrobe. You will need clean, pressed clothing that you are comfortable in – no tight fit or loose and baggy! You will be squirming to get comfortable and focus on rather than forming your great responses to their questions.

Casual culture, casual dress code? Go dressed professionally anyway – you are making an impression. Your attire needs to say “I am your person for the job”, regardless of whether it is a casual environment and very informal attire is the norm. Get the job first – then wear the jeans, or other casual clothes to work! There may be times when you are representing the company – and dressing professionally shows them you can dress up

If you don’t have adequate clothing – shop the consignment stores, the clearance sales, and outlet stores, to invest in an interview outfit or two. Get things that can mix and match with what you have, or get one great outfit  – and change it with different shirts, tops or other accessories, so it will look different, should you have more than one interview with the same company. Shoes need to be polished!!! NO flip flops!! If you can wear them when you get the job – great; but NOT before. Tone down the jewelry. Body piercings and tattoos should be covered up. Do not wear any jewelry that is noisy and clangs. You are going to an interview – not nightclubbing.

Let’s talk body preparation. Is your hair neat – or does it need a trim or shape up? Roots showing, color it;  touch up the gray by using a rinse, if you are worried about looking older than you feel; if you have wildly dyed hair color – get rid of it for the interview. Nails need to be clean with no ragged cuticles.   If you wear polish – insure it is not chipped or partially worn off. Facial hair needs to be neat and trimmed.

Do your hands get sweaty? Part of the first impression is to greet your interviewer with eye contact and a firm handshake (No knuckle crunching or limp and flimsy grasps please!). Eye contact and smiling are HUGE. You want to convey you are excited to be there, right? You need to demonstrate your confidence by looking them in the eye and smiling. Fake it until you feel it!

Hygiene: the worst first impression is having body odor or bad breath. Be sure to bathe/shower before the interview; clean hair, use deodorant, brush your teeth, and use mouthwash. Our body chemistry changes when we get nervous. (Carry mints to refresh before you sign in; go to the restroom and wash your hands and dry them completely).

Let’s face it – interviewing is nerve-wracking. It doesn’t have to be. Preparation and confidence can do wonders towards diminishing your anxiety. After all, you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. They don’t have all the power here! You want to ask them questions (again being prepared in advance: look them up online; study their website; what impact to their business has occurred, and how have they fared in this downturned economy?)More on this topic to come – stay tuned to this blog site for more suggestions on preparation for the interview.

Photo © Jacob Wackerhausen iStockphoto

Do you know how long an HR person takes to read each resume?

It’s about 30 seconds. Think about it…..

$3 Million

Superbowl advertisers paid $3 million for a 30-second spot – even in this economy – the highest ever.  Of course, they are counting on their commercials to be memorable, to gain buyers/consumers of their goods or services; and 106 million pairs of eyes were viewing those ads.

Would your resume stand up to that type of scrutiny?  Would you “hook” them and get buy in from the HR screener, or hiring manager? Fortunately, you are not up against 106 Million people each time you send out your resume.

As my friend Jan Smith (www.janmsmith.com) has often asked her outplacement candidates,  “If a recruiter read your resume at 4:00 p.m. on a Friday – would you WOW them and grab their attention?”, or would they be unimpressed, and add you to their reject pile?

WOW!

What do you need to have a WOW resume? Here are some quick tips:

1. Begin with a well-written, memorable summary that includes your skills, abilities, strengths and experience, in 3-5 concise sentences.
2. Back up your summary with quantifiable  accomplishment statements demonstrating how you made a difference;
3. Use current industry terminology to prove you know what you’re claiming.

You don’t have much time.  Grab the reader’s attention with the summary.  It needs to make them want to read the rest of the resume, even on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Does your resume pass that test?

“Great hiring isn’t an instant process, and many companies would benefit from developing more-structured internship programs, in which success and proof of a good fit are measured over time,” says Mary Ellen Slayter in her recent article entitled Bring Strategic Rigor to Your Internship Program.

In the current economy, companies can afford to take more time with, and put more effort into, the hiring process. In fact, smart companies should be doing exactly that. When the labor market is slow, more talent is available and companies should tighten up hiring procedures, improve job descriptions, and focus on hiring quality people instead of hiring a resume. Internships are a great way to take a look at job candidates and determine – in real time – if they have the skills and attitude to flourish in the company.

Over the last several posts, I have tried to make it clear that finding a good job is about much more than polishing up your resume and checking out a few websites. Candidates have to work diligently at improving their value to employers. They have to find ways to increase the ways in which they can contribute to the success of an organization. In a nutshell, you simply cannot rest on your laurels; you have to be improving, growing, and constantly learning.

Need more proof? Read this excerpt from Slayter’s article:

Scare B-list candidates away upfront. General, fluffy job listings create more work for your HR team in the long run than a sharply focused one would. First, too many random candidates respond. Second, HR must then sift through a mountain of lackluster or insincere applicants. Third, these are short-term applicants that need any job they can get, as opposed to A-list candidates interested in a long-term career path with you. There’s a much better way: Sit down with key managers to carefully draft the most challenging, rigorous, mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive job description write-ups as possible –– with zero fluff. Include a roster of advanced role requirements and high cover letter expectations that invite only the keenest and most accomplished to apply. In short, scare the heck out of flaky applicants. Shotgun-blast resume slingers and well-dressed slackers won’t bother applying.

At first glance, this might be pretty intimidating. As you look at your situation and your resume, you might worry that you have little chance to secure that “perfect job.” My suggestion is to change your perspective: to move out of the realm of “resume slinger” or “well-dressed slacker,” you have to make every single job interview a learning experience. Failure to get an offer is not FAILURE – it’s an opportunity to learn where you need to improve. If you don’t get the job, you need to get as much information as you can that will help you in the next opportunity.

Always thank your interviewer and ask if you might ask a couple of questions regarding your interview. Most HR professionals will give you the opportunity, so make the best of it:

“I want to learn from this experience, so…”

“If you were in my shoes, what one thing would you work on to improve my ability to get hired?”

“What is the weakest part of my resume?”

“As an HR professional, what advice would you give me regarding my interview with you?”

At the same time, if you are serious about working for a particular company, you should consider an internship. They may or may not pay, but you could gain valuable experience inside an organization and potentially work yourself into a nice opportunity. If you don’t get an offer, and you’re fairly certain you were a final candidate, don’t be afraid to ask your interviewer if an internship is an option.

Years ago, Robert Schuller wrote a book entitled “Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do.” Here is what Amazon says about the book:

Dr. Schuller shows you how to build a positive self-image, no matter what your problem. Whether it’s unemployment, poor health, loneliness, fear or anything else that blocks your success, you can turn your negative into a positive. No matter how tough times get, you have the potential to achieve the best of life.

I’m wondering if that particular book is enjoying a revival? I suspect there are more than just a few who are currently struggling with unemployment and success issues, and times are plenty tough. A more current equivalent of Schuller’s best-seller is Larry Winget’s 2005 book, “Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life.” If Shuller’s group-hug-style of envisioning a more successful future isn’t your cup of tea, maybe Winget (like Curly) can help you discover that “one thing” that will revive your success drive:

…this book will make you uncomfortable. Winget won’t let you escape to the excuses that we all find so comforting. The only place you are allowed to go to place the blame for everything that has ever happened to you is to the mirror. The last place most of us want to go.

You probably won’t agree with all Larry Winget says in this one-of-a-kind book. You may not like the concepts and ideas he believes will change your life. Winget doesn’t care. His ideas aren’t for everyone and he readily admits that.

Or maybe he could just kick the crap out of you. Whatever.

Two different thought processes, but one common idea – don’t allow circumstances to keep you from achieving what you capable of. No question, job hunting can damage your psyche and erode your self-confidence. The key is to stay focused and network like crazy. Talk to the local Chamber of Commerce to find out about job opportunities; attend Rotary or Civitan meetings and talk business with people; get active and join volunteer organizations; visit college campuses in your area to look for new connections and additional training opportunities; visit every recruiter you can find. You get the idea.

Among everything else, keep things in perspective – and try to keep your sense of humor. Like Schuller said, tough times never last.

Text

Is it just me, or do most people have little sense of what is going on in the world beyond American Idol or Survivor or The Real Housewives of (Fill in Your Favorite)? The average “man (or woman) on the street” doesn’t seem to know much of anything beyond sports and reality television.

Yes, I know, that is a sweeping generalization and completely unfair. Actually, most people are well-educated (read this), well-read, and quite knowledgeable about current affairs.

Not.

The “average” adult in the United States reads at a 9th grade level, and, as referenced in this MSNBC article, adult math skills have gone into hiding:

According to the Department of Education’s National Assessment of Adult Literacy, U.S. adults are terrible at solving real-world math problems, like calculating tips or comparing prices in grocery stores. Some dismal results:

Only 42 percent were able to pick out two items on a menu, add them, and calculate a tip.

Only 1 in 5 could reliably calculate mortgage interest.

1 in 5 could not calculate weekly salary when told an hourly pay rate.

Only 13 percent were deemed “proficient.” Worse yet, only 1 in 10 women, 1 in 25 Hispanics and 1 in 50 African Americans made the grade.

More good news: according to the President’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel, “half of 17 year olds couldn’t do enough math to work in an auto plant.”

Hey, I’m not some kind of intellectual snob, nor do I value a person more or less because they don’t know who the Vice President is or can’t find Montpelier, VT on a map (for those of you keeping score at home, that would be the capital of Vermont). No, the problem is that employers are typically looking for employees who can think, solve problems, and develop ideas. If job seekers don’t do anything to develop those skills, they risk being permanently relegated to second-tier status as a job candidate.

The idea in job search is to give yourself the very best opportunity to land a good job. Every single advantage, no matter how small, helps. One certain way to elevate yourself above many competitive job seekers is to demonstrate your ability to think and solve problems. Sadly, many job seekers don’t read well, can’t write business correspondence, and can’t do basic math calculations.

The solution? Extend your interests. Read a newspaper regularly. Pick up Math for Dummies. Complete a Sudoku puzzle once in a while (a little practice at solving problems).

Sound silly?

So does this: “We have filled that position.”

As if looking for employment didn’t pose enough of a challenge, here is an entirely new problem for those seeking employment – the effective use of social media. No, no, no…not how to use it for networking or job search, but how not to use it. It seems many job candidates torpedo their chances with some employers because of the inappropriate things they post on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.

Is that fair to job candidates? Apparently so, according to this article:

Four years ago, Stacy Snyder, then a 25-year-old teacher in training at Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, Pa., posted a photo on her MySpace page that showed her at a party wearing a pirate hat and drinking from a plastic cup, with the caption “Drunken Pirate.” After discovering the page, her supervisor at the high school told her the photo was “unprofessional,” and the dean of Millersville University School of Education, where Snyder was enrolled, said she was promoting drinking in virtual view of her under-age students. As a result, days before Snyder’s scheduled graduation, the university denied her a teaching degree. Snyder sued, arguing that the university had violated her First Amendment rights by penalizing her for her (perfectly legal) after-hours behavior. But in 2008, a federal district judge rejected the claim, saying that because Snyder was a public employee whose photo didn’t relate to matters of public concern, her “Drunken Pirate” post was not protected speech.

Since Facebook and other sites are public domain sites, it looks like they are fair game for assessing your common sense and discretion. So, next time you get in one of those “drunken pirate” moods, you might want to hold off on posting the pics. I’m just sayin’…

This article further points out that 75 percent of recruiters and HR professionals scrutinize online sites for information about job candidates, and 70 percent of those individuals have actually rejected a candidate based on information obtained from these sites. As companies seek to acquire the best talent they can find, they have been given the golden opportunity to not only assess that talent, but to assess the character of that talent as well.

Formerly, employers were limited to a credit check, a background check, and all those stellar references you put on your resume. Now, however, you have willingly opened up your entire world for them to examine – which, by the way, can be a good thing just as much as a potential risk. After all, your Facebook page could just as easily reveal a solid citizen as much as it could reveal a scalawag.

With recruiters and HR professionals on the prowl, consider this “Word to the Wise:” You might want to check out your Facebook page and analyze it from an employer’s point-of-view. Does your online persona reveal someone that might be considered a huge hiring risk?

A person who knows how to get things done is in possession of a highly marketable skill. The ability to complete complex tasks or projects is a skill that most every employer can, and will, use. The devil, as they say, is in the details. Because the real skill is not just the ability to “get things done,” but the ability to get things done right.

As in, completely. All the “I’s” dotted; all the “T’s” crossed. Soup to nuts – done. Correctly. According to specifications.

If “gitt’n ‘er done” is not among your strong suits, don’t despair – help is a simple “To-Do” list away. That’s right, the proverbial task list. Amazing how those little buggers work. Well, if you do them right (not like the one shown that I found here).

Legendary sales trainer Zig Ziglar tells a story about what he calls the “Day Before Vacation” attitude. He illustrates how much people can actually get done the day before they leave for vacation. Why? Because they have tons of stuff to accomplish and only a single day to get it all finished. The solution? Plan and Prioritize. Put it on a list. Lay out the most efficient way to get it all done.

First, the Post Office. Then, the bank. Drop the dogs at the kennel. Pick up the dry cleaning. You get the idea. The result is that someone who is mostly average at getting things done turns into Larry the Cable Guy on steroids. Git ‘r Done!!

To-Do lists can be fantastic tools. They can also create the illusion that you are actually doing something when you’re not (see picture above). I’ve know people who spend most of their time making lists, rearranging lists, collating lists – essentially, managing the lists. That, of course, is not so good. However, creating a prioritized To-Do list that outlines the critical details that must be addressed and completed can dramatically impact your daily performance.

Using a task list while you look for a job is a great place to practice (if you fail, you only have to explain it to your significant other). Start the week with a Priority List – things I must accomplish this week regardless of the obstacles I may encounter. Think through the details and include them on the list so you don’t overlook anything important. Then, each day, review your Priority List and add any additional items that you need to do that day. Just as you would on the day before your vacation, put them into a logical sequence that will make them easy to accomplish. Anything you don’t complete today goes on tomorrow’s list. Finally, keep all of your notes in a small notebook and you will not only keep a record of everything, but you’ll ensure that nothing slips through the cracks that you should have completed.

In your job search, be specific with your task list. Don’t put something general like “Look for job” on your list. Write down the details of the things you must do. 1) Complete resume revisions. 2) Make the following phone calls (list the people and their numbers – in order of priority). 3) See these companies (list by name and prioritize by geography to make them easy to get to). 4) Send follow-up notes to these people (list specifically).

Ultimately, you can get very good at using a To-Do List, and the side benefit is that it can become a huge asset for you in the workplace.