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.
And The 7 Steps You Should Take Instead
There are very few moments in a job search as thrilling as learning that the employer of your dreams is about to extend an offer.
You’ve just gotten word about a great job at a company you admire and, from everything you’ve seen so far, it’s perfect for you. Next step: submit your application, resume and cover letter. Next step after that: sink into a state of fear and paralysis. Why? Because, not long ago, your career hit an ugly little speed bump. You were demoted. And while the personal pain of that event has started to subside, you worry that it has put a permanent stain on your resume – and your career aspirations. As an executive recruiter, I am often struck by how highly competent professionals can remain haunted by a past demotion. While no one can whip out a magic eraser and undo what has happened, I can offer you something better. I can tell you what works. Here is a realistic strategy for dealing with a demotion on your resume, in five simple steps.
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.
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.
