You’ve sifted through stacks of resumes. You’ve found that elusive, perfect specimen of a candidate. Even better, they’re just as interested in the job as you – and the hiring manager – are in them. Best of all, they ace their interviews, leaving their competition in the dust. Your client is happy. You’re happy. And you pull together a great offer. It’s all systems go.
You get a call from a headhunter. Or a friend mentions that their employer is hiring. Maybe you’ve just been keeping your ear to the ground, daydreaming about a new job. And that new job pays more money.
The longer you’ve been job hunting, the sweeter it is when you hear the words, “we want to extend an offer…” Yes! You’re in the final lap of the race. But it’s not over yet. So don’t lose your focus now. It could end up costing you, big time.
You know the three rules of job interviewing: 1. PREPARE, 2. PREPARE, 3. PREPARE. But as you gear up for a great first interview with a potential employer, you may be so focused on what to do — that you may not give enough thought to what not to do. During your first interview, you’ll likely be asked if you have any questions. No matter how well you may have answered their questions, it is equally important that you ask your own questions masterfully. The interview is an audition. And asking questions is your opportunity to showcase your leadership skills, your ability to ask insightful questions and conduct yourself intelligently during high-stakes meetings, your knowledge of the company and the industry, and your career priorities. It is also a moment fraught with risks and potential pitfalls. Before your next interview, do your homework, write down your questions, and be sure you avoid the kinds of deal-killer questions we’ve listed below.
What does your company do?
Never, ever ask your interviewer for information that you’d already know if you had bothered to do a few quick online searches. That said, if your intention is to better understand the specifics of how the company functions, ask your question by prefacing it with what you do know about them.
Preparing for a job interview can be daunting. If you want to impress that prospective employer, you’ve got some homework to do: fully research the company, prepare strong answers to anticipated questions, even choose the right clothes. But in all of your eagerness to impress your interviewer, don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re on another important mission during that interview: assessing how they impress you.
Even for the most qualified applicants, interviews can be a daunting experience. At SkyWater, we advise all of our candidates to research the company, understand the role and rehearse their answers to the most common interview questions.
Two of Minnesota’s cities were named by ZipRecruiter as top ten job markets at the beginning of 2015, namely Rochester (4th) and Minneapolis (10th). Out of the big cities (population in excess of one million), Minneapolis was ranked top, ahead of Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City and Columbus.
What does Minnesota's cold snowy spring have in common with Accounting and Finance in the world of job searches. Unfortunately, a lot. A still sluggish (although warming) economy, a surplus of qualified candidates and a dearth of openings in this market have left many people making that long sighing sound.
Spring has Sprung, so have our employees at SkyWater! With their walking shoes on, once again we are supporting our 2nd annual "Walk a Mile for a Smile" benefiting MN-based non-profit Smile Network International. Taking a break from the action, the SkyWater team will raise awareness and hit the 1 mile walking path around Carlson Towers on a daily basis for 6 weeks.
Starting a new job is a reason for celebration which usually energizes and motivates us. We often prioritize the title, compensation, location and responsibilities. If it ticks those boxes, many professionals don’t give much consideration to the three principal reasons a job doesn’t work out.
