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Six Interview Mistakes

Here is good information by Michael Neece, Monster Contributing Writer

It's tough to avoid typical interview traps if you're unsure what they are. Here are six to watch out for.     

1. Confusing an Interview with an Interrogation

Most candidates expect to be interrogated. An interrogation occurs when one person asks all the questions and the other gives the answers. An interview is a business conversation in which both people ask and respond to questions. Candidates who expect to be interrogated avoid asking questions, leaving the interviewer in the role of reluctant interrogator.

2. Making a So-Called Weakness Seem Positive

Interviewers frequently ask candidates, "What are your weaknesses?" Conventional interview wisdom dictates that you highlight a weakness like "I'm a perfectionist," and turn it into a positive. Interviewers are not impressed, because they've probably heard the same answer a hundred times. If you are asked this question, highlight a skill that you wish to improve upon and describe what you are doing to enhance your skill in this area. Interviewers don't care what your weaknesses are. They want to see how you handle the question and what your answer indicates about you.

3. Failing to Ask Questions

Every interview concludes with the interviewer asking if you have any questions. The worst thing to say is that you have no questions. Having no questions prepared indicates you are not interested and not prepared. Interviewers are more impressed by the questions you ask than the selling points you try to make. Before each interview, make a list of five questions you will ask. "I think a good question is, ‘Can you tell me about your career?'" says Kent Kirch, director of global recruiting at Deloitte. "Everybody likes to talk about themselves, so you're probably pretty safe asking that question."

4. Researching the Company But Not Yourself

Candidates intellectually prepare by researching the company. Most job seekers do not research themselves by taking inventory of their experience, knowledge and skills. Formulating a list of accomplishments prepares you to immediately respond to any question about your experience. You must be prepared to discuss any part of your background. Creating your talent inventory refreshes your memory and helps you immediately remember experiences you would otherwise have forgotten during the interview.

5. Leaving Your Cellphone On

We may live in a wired, always-available society, but a ringing cellphone is not appropriate for an interview. Turn it off before you enter the company.

6. Waiting for a Call

Time is your enemy after the interview. After you send a thank-you letter to every interviewer, follow up a couple of days later with either a question or additional information. Try to contact the person who can hire you, and assume that everyone you met with has some say in the process. Additional information can be details about your talents, a recent competitor's press release or industry trends. Your intention is to keep everyone's memory of you fresh.

Anatomy of a Great Resume

Source: Top Counseling Schools

5 Questions Great Job Candidates Ask Interviewers

Must read article!

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/5-questions-great-job-candidates-ask-interviewers.html

5 Soft Skills You Should Always Bring Up In An Interview

Five Soft Skills You Should Always Bring Up In An Interview

The Problem With Your Elevator Pitch - And How To Fix It

Five tips to dropping the phony facade and elevating your pitch so that you sound like a real person instead of a marketing automaton.  Go to:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3004484/problem-your-elevator-pitch-and-how-fix-it

The Common Denominator of Success

My job search skills programs have always been based on the principle that pro-action + right action = success with an emphasis to developing skills that lead to pro-action.

I was cleaning out an old file recently, and ran across a little pamphlet that went back to when I was a Dale Carnegie Training Consultant.  It is entitled "The Common Denominator of Success," by Albert E. N. Gray.  I believe the message is as poignant today as it was when it was written in 1940.  

"The Common Denominator of Success" first appeared as a major address at the 1940 National Association of Life Underwriters annual convention in Philadelphia.  It is considered by some to be the most timeless piece of sales motivation literature, and I consider it priceless advice for job seekers who struggle with pro-action.  I'm sure many of you will cringe at some of the less than politically correct language, but remember it was written in 1940.  Here's an excerpt.

"The secret of success of every man who has ever been successful -- lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don't like to do.  Because by doing the things they don't like to do, they can accomplish the things they want to accomplish.  Successful men are influenced by the desire for pleasing results.  Failures are influenced by the desire for pleasing methods and are inclined to be satisfied with such results as can be obtained by doing things they like to do.

If the secret of success lies in forming the habit of doing things that failures don't like to do, let's start the boiling-down process by determining what are the things that failures don't like to do.  The things that failures don't like to do are the very things that you and I and other human being, including successful  men, naturally don't like to do.  In other words, we've got to realize right from the start that success is something which is achieved by the minority of men, and is therefore unnatural and not to be achieved by following our natural like and dislikes nor by being guided by our natural preferences and prejudices.

[The things that job seekers suffering extended unemployment, or are in jobs they dislike, are numerous.  But I believe they can all be disposed of by saying that they all emanate from one basic dislike - selling yourself.  Any reluctance to follow a definite prospecting program, to use prepared presentations, to organize time and to organize effort are all caused by this one basic dislike.]

Why are successful men able to do things they don't like to do while failures are not?  Because successful men have a purpose strong enough to make them form the habit of doing things they don't like to do in order to accomplish the purpose they want to accomplish."

Beyond Showing Up

Must job seekers (but certainly not all) have this part of the interview process nailed.  Firm hand shake, smile on your face, dressed for success.

The 21^st century interview process has moved way beyond that now.  Showing up dressed for success, and answering some traditional questions fairly adequately doesn’t work as well anymore. 

Your job is to surprise and delight, and to change the agenda.  Your job is to reset expectations and make the interviewer delighted that you could be part of the team (assuming the interviewer is the decision-maker).

Showing up is overrated.  Necessary, but not nearly sufficient.

Why Storytellers Get the Job They Want

This article was written by a colleague, Frank Traditi a few years back.  It's as relevant now as it was then.

Why are storytellers so successful? Because people love to hear stories. Stories that are funny, sad, exciting, dangerous -- you name it -- you can create an instant relationship with someone if you can tell a convincing story.

Here's why the fine art of storytelling can be a powerful tool in your quest to find a job. You are probably aware by now that companies hire you based on your ability to demonstrate what you can do for them and how you can solve their problems. While a hiring manager expects you to have all of the functional skills necessary for the job, they are much more interested in how you can use your special abilities to handle the challenges given to you if you were in the job. The big question is how do you demonstrate this ability in an interview when they haven't seen you at work yet?

Tell a story.

Often during interviews you'll get the opportunity to highlight your unique talents. A very effective way to do this is to introduce career success stories about how you overcame significant challenges. You may have suggested a creative idea to handle an employee performance problem. Maybe you instituted a step-by-step process to reduce customer complaints. Perhaps your persistence paid off to close a multi-year contract with the largest customer the company has ever seen.

All of these actions resulted in great accomplishments throughout your career. Now you get the chance to tell the story of how you did it. To help you tell your story in the most convincing way, you need a simple format to work from. Here's an easy, 3-step process to put the pieces together for your success stories when you get the opportunity to tell them.

1. Describe the problem or opportunity you faced.

This is the situation you were up against. It may have been a special project that you were assigned or a highly volatile customer issue. Perhaps it was an aggressive sales objective never attempted before. You're setting up the plot of your story here.

2. What did you do?

 How did you deal with the challenge? Perhaps you devised plans, assigned tasks, coordinated meetings, created a system, or mobilized a team to tackle the problem. Describe the process, step-by-step, of how you attacked the problem through to resolution. Remember - you are explaining and marketing your ability to solve problems.

 3. What was the positive end result?

 Describe, as specifically as you can, the positive outcome of your actions. How did you save or make money for the company or department? What changed for the better as a result of your initiative? Did a difficult communication problem disappear after you got involved? Did you repair a big customer problem? If you can point to specific, bottom line results, the more convinced a hiring manager is that you are person for the job.

Here's an example to help you out. Let's say an interviewer asks you a question such as:  "Tell me about a time where you had to work in a high-pressure situation."

 1. Describe the problem or opportunity you faced.

 Not too long ago, we were dealing with a technically complex customer service problem with one of our largest customers. They spent approximately $200,000 per month with us and were not going to stand for poor customer service. They had been dealing with these issues on and off for a period of four consecutive months. They threatened to cancel a long-term contract if we did not take care of the problem within the next 45 days.

 2. What did you do?

 I had just taken over responsibility for the sales and service team that managed this account. First, I assessed the problem through an all-hands meeting with everyone who came in contact with the client. Next, I assembled several teams to each take responsibility for one of the problems related to a specific technical issue. I asked each team to develop a plan of attack to deal with their problem area. They had 24 hours to communicate back to the other team members and report on their progress.

This method of handling a very complex and technical problem proved successful. It mobilized individuals who, up to this point, were passive and fearful about correcting the customer problem.

 3. What was the positive end result?

 The bottom line was that all of the client's issues were fixed within two weeks. Their contract renewal came due 60 days after we fixed the problems. As a result of our fast action and determination, they signed a new contract for an additional $150,000 per month in services over a three-year period.

Who needs to hear your stories? You'll want to tell them to anyone who has the power to hire you, or who could repeat your story to someone who can. This includes prospective employers, managers who can influence the hiring process, networking contacts, and job search buddies. Take a moment now to identify three success stories appropriate in discussions where you get to talk about your career.

Why Can't I Find a Job?

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that between 74-85% of all jobs are never advertised.  It's no wonder that job seekers spend so many months on their job search, or become so frustrated that they give up looking for work. They are looking in all the wrong places. 

Successful job seekers refuse to ask that dreaded question of themselves or others. Instead, they consistently employ four key principles throughout every job search. Each principle is critical on its own. But to land the job they want successfully, they know that each one interacts with and supports the other. 

The Four Key Principles of Successful Job Seekers 

1. Use job search strategies that work. Two of the biggest challenges job seekers face are knowing which job search approaches are the most effective, and figuring out where to start in finding job opportunities. Successful job seekers know that any approach that helps them find and connect with the right people will eventually land them the job they want. Answering want ads and Internet postings have only marginal value. Developing relationships through networking, referrals, informational interviewing, and recruiters gets them closer to, if not right on top of, their ideal job. They know that in a competitive job market, they cannot rely on looking for positions already advertised passively. They actively market themselves to the people who are likely to hire them. 

2. Stick to a step-by-step, action-oriented process. The typical job seeker quickly becomes overwhelmed by his or her job search. There are million of things to do, places to look, and people to talk to, but they don't have a system for putting the pieces together.  Job seekers who know the score, design and implement a game plan that includes setting a specific and attainable goal, actions steps to take every day or week, and a system to track their progress. If they don't realize the results they want to achieve, they don't abandon this plan. Rather, they make adjustments that get them back on track. 

3. Stay motivated in face of frustration and rejection. Rejection letters, no return calls, and outdated information are all part of the normal working day of a job seeker. Most people get frustrated and angry with this every-day occurrence and give up. The successful job seeker sees this as opportunity or a positive learning experience. They don't let the fear of rejection get in the way of their progress. By sticking to their plan, they don't give up during the job search. They are motivated by the goals they've set and nothing will deter them from that accomplishment. 

4. Know when to ask for help. Looking for a job can sometimes be the loneliest job in the world. Uncertainty and doubt set in with many a job seeker when things don't go right. Perhaps even a sense of pride sets in and the thought of asking someone for help makes them feel like a charity case. Conversely, successful job seekers know that they cannot do this alone. They stack the odds in their favor by adding some outside help to their job search campaign. They want to be accountable to someone other than themselves. They need to get a different point of view, or perspective, on their progress or challenges. And, they seek out support from people who care about their progress or help them develop the tools they need to win. 

The next time you ask yourself or someone else, "why can't I find a job," you now know all is not lost. Implementing a solid action plan, sticking to your goals, and seeking help when you need it most, puts you in charge of your destiny. 

Simply put, you are just a few steps away from being a success. 

Portions of this post were adapted from an article by Frank Traditi written in 2005 and are used under license.

10 Things You Must Do To Be Successful in Your Job Search

People are successful in their job search because they do what those who suffer extended unemployment don't do or refuse to do.  It's that simple! 

It’s easy to blame the economy, or whatever else, for extended unemployment, all along waiting to be rescued.  What's not so easy is to recognize that NO ONE IS COMING TO THE RESCUE!  And, you will have to do things you may not want or like to do. 

Why are successful job seekers able to do things they don't like to do while those suffering extended employment are not?  Because successful job seekers, the ones who get the jobs they really want and quickly, have a purpose strong enough to make them form the habit of doing things they don't like to do in order to accomplish the purpose they want to accomplish. 

It's very nature to be influenced by the desire for pleasing methods and be inclined to be satisfied with such results as can be obtained by doing things you like to do, or doing things that require little effort, such as spending the majority of your job search time searching Internet job boards after you got up at 10.  But the truly successful person is influenced by the desire for pleasing results, and, in the case of a job search, will learn how to integrate pro-action with right action, regardless of whether those things are pleasing or easy to carry out. 

So, what is it that people do to be successful in their job search, but may not like to do, but learn to do them anyway to achieve pleasing results:  getting the job they really want quickly.

1. They approach their job search as a well-planned asset-building personal marketing campaign, not a flex time mini-vacation.
2. They have a clear idea what they want to do and what value they can bring to an organization. 
3. They research industries and occupations that need their skills.
4. They target companies within those industries that need their skills and contact them directly.
5. They seek out and contact those people who have the authority to hire or supervise a person with their skills.
6. They network with people who love their jobs and their employers.
7. They write compelling credibility statements as cover letters.
8. They write accomplishment-based objective tailored résumés.
9. They follow up religiously.
10. They spend 25 to 44 hours a week in their job search.

First things first.  Find your purpose!  And then learn how to carry out these 10 essentials to job search success.  Behind every success there must be purpose and that is what makes purpose so important to a successful job search (and everything else in life)!