Emerging from a job interview that went really well is a great feeling. You answered all the questions just as you wanted, put some relevant ones of your own forward and the hiring manager was hinting at a job offer. After a few days without a phone call or e-mail from the employer you naturally begin to get anxious. As a few more days pass by, doubts and frustration begin to creep in.
As a candidate, it’s essential to pull out all of the stops to enhance your chances in a job interview, especially where a vacancy is hotly contested.
Sending a post-interview thank you note is your final opportunity to remind the employer why you are the ideal candidate for the role by demonstrating where your skills and background are an ideal fit for their vacancy. If you’re guilty of sending a standard ‘thank you’ note – or not sending one at all – try the following after your next interview:
Preparing for a great job interview is a job in itself. You’ve done your homework on the company, perfected your resume, answered every question will clarity and confidence. By the time it’s over, you may be tempted to breathe a sigh of relief and think that the ball is now in their court. Well, it’s not. Not quite. Your interviewers invested their time and energy to meet with you. You not only owe them a thank you; you have one more opportunity to remind them of your qualifications for the job.
At the end of every interview, you will normally be given the opportunity to pose questions to the employer. If it is a fiercely contested vacancy, here’s your chance to edge ahead of the field. The responses you are given will also offer insight into whether or not a move to this company is in the best interests of your long-term career plan.
The salary question is a stressful one. But it doesn’t have to derail your job interview. With some thoughtful research, honest soul searching, and careful scripting, you can answer the question with poise every time. Follow these steps.
“What are your salary requirements?”
That question – or any of its many variations – initiates one of the trickiest, most consequential decisions you’ll have to make when communicating with a potential employer.
How should you respond?
With forethought, a well prepared answer, and a clear, confident tone, sure.
But what should you say?
That depends… on a number of factors.
If you write “salary negotiable” on the application, it might keep you in the running and buy you some time to figure out a more specific response. But employers are looking for candidates who understand the market, know themselves, and are confident placing a dollar figure on their professional worth. If you just keep dodging the question by saying it’s all negotiable, you look timid and unprepared for the actual negotiation.
At the same time, your answer need to vary from employer to employer. Here’s how to determine – and adjust – your response for each opportunity:
Without ever, ever trashing your competition
As a candidate, you want to perform to the best of your ability when invited to an interview. As the employment market becomes more buoyant you may find yourself involved in a number of interviews in a short space of time. Naturally, you’ll want to ensure you are the preferred candidate on each occasion but what exactly is the optimum timing to achieve this?
6 Little Ways Your Attitude is Undermining Your Job Interviews
You’re the perfect candidate for this job.
Your Thank-You Email Is A Smart Marketing Tool
Whether you’re actively job hunting or “just listening” when recruiters reach out, you know probably know what it takes to be a serious candidate. You need a clear grasp of your own personal “brand:” your career goals, core values, current abilities and professional track record. You need a resume that powerfully, compellingly reflects those things. And you need to ace every interview, not just with the words you choose but with the levels of engagement and enthusiasm you’re able to convey.
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.
