Job Interview Jitters

Job interviews are stressful. There are very good reasons for anxiety and concern:

• You don’t interview every day and uncertain as to how well you will do.
• You” really” need and want this job.
• This is the only job opportunity in your pipeline.
• You’re not exactly sure about what they’re looking for or what they’re going to ask.
• You’re not comfortable “selling” yourself.
• You think you have to be all things to all people.
• You don’t know for sure if you answered the question(s) correctly.
• Fear of rejection.

Interview nervousness is a natural reaction. We all want to ace the interview. Interviewers were once candidates and expect it. But, there can be times before, during, and after an interview that nerves simply explode out of control. Like being in quicksand, the more you focus on composure, the more nervous you get.

The best remedy to get past interview fears is to demystify and understand interview process. Take control and boost your confidence by doing your homework:

• Know the company and potential interviewers.
• Investigate the job requirements and position needs.
• Understand the types of questions that are usually asked.
• Have a series of short well rehearsed accomplishment talking point stories that can be used along the way.
• Have a series of thoughtful questions for the interviewer.

Believe in yourself and your abilities. Work on your interview skills. Practice interviewing with a trusted colleague or mentor so that you can paint a clear picture as to why you are the perfect match for the position. Remember, a job interview is not an inquisition. It is an information exchange where you will be the interviewer 50% of the time.

Beware – Job Hunter Scams

Scams targeting desperate job hunters are proliferating in this economy. Some “artists” demand a fee from the job hunter in order for them to be considered for a position.  Others attempt to gain access to the job hunter’s personal information, including credit cards, bank accounts, and Social Security numbers.  The Better Business Bureau reported a common occurrence where prospective employers informed job hunters they required a look at their credit reports before being considered for placement. The supposed job offer turned out to be a marketing ploy for online credit monitoring with an ongoing monthly fee.

 

Beware: Always research and qualify prospective hiring companies and agents.

 

Every shot counts!!

This is the deepest recession since the Great Depression. It’s a seller’s market. Enough said !! Despite the fact that more candidates are diligently competing for each and every position, I’ve seen a tremendous increase in canned introductions, generic resumes, and unfocused candidate broadcasts, “the wishful pot luck approach”.

Some introductions read like: “Hi, I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself. I live in Tampa and was downsized from my most recent position in January, 2009. Perhaps you might come across a company that is looking for someone with my experience. Please follow the attached link to my Linkedin profile or Yahoo based resume.”

Introductions are a strategic component to every job search. Although brief, they should include relevant highlights, background, and the reason for reaching out to make a connection. Lazy link roadmaps don’t cut it. Effort and personalization are required to overcome an equally invested “Delete Mail” response.

A Job Search

A job search is a marketing campaign, with you as the product. Even the best products won’t succeed without a strong and well defined strategy. Before you begin a search campaign, do your homework, develop your game plan, keep track of your progress, and measure successes. Failures are “lessons learned”. Just as you did in your last position, “Plan your work & Work your plan”. Novel gimmicks are fun to think about and wishful long shots are just that!

What job seekers will do to get noticed

Wed, Jun 10, 2009 (Article)

According to a new survey from CareerBuilder, nearly one-in-five hiring managers (18 percent) reported that they are seeing more job seekers try unusual tactics to capture their attention in 2009 compared to last year. This is up from 12 percent of hiring managers who said the same in 2008 as compared to previous years.

Some of the most memorable tactics identified by hiring managers include:

• Candidate sent a shoe with a resume to “get my foot in the door.”
• Candidate staged a sit-in in the lobby to get a meeting with a director.
• Candidate washed cars in the parking lot.
• Candidate sent a resume wrapped as a present and said his skills were a “gift to the company.”
• Candidate handed out resumes at stoplights.
• Candidate sent a cake designed as a business card with the candidate’s picture.
• Candidate went to the same barber as the Chairman of the Board and had the barber speak on his behalf.
• Candidate handed out personalized coffee cups.
• Candidate came dressed in a bunny suit because it was near Easter.
• Candidate told the receptionist he had an interview with the manager. When he met the manager, he confessed that he was driving by and decided to stop in on a chance.