Ran out of time earlier to finish sharing my story on the best interview ever.  Baby #2 insists that I still share it because I had that married couple in tears at Pinks the other evening, telling them my experiences of job searching . 

Although, my favorite interview by far was the one where the man ran an Ad on Craigs List to meet women.  I drove all the way to Bolsa in Huntington Beach to meet with a man last summer who had literally rented a room in a building, (maybe the day before?)  Oh joy, I could work in a room ‘alone’ with him all day long.  Imagine the benefits?

Honestly though, the most hilarious interview thus far was to run a Medical Clinic.  (Yes, I have multiple job skills and I am qualified to run a Medical Clinic, I have before, so I have interviewed in this field alongside my own job fields.  Just keeping all options open.)  Now to understand why this is so funny, if you don’t know me personally, I have completed a 14 month medical certification program, an Associates Degree, a Bachelors of  Science degree, with a dual emphasis, a minor and two years of poorly performed Graduate work. 

The interview starts with this gal, maybe 19 years old, asking me a few questions about my Resume which is clearly in front of her.  Question number four, “did you graduate high school?”  Uhh, yes (actually sort of but irrelevant.)  She repeats that she needs to know if I graduated high school.  “Yes, in fact, I have medical certifications and several college degrees too.”  She repeats to me, “I understand you went to college but it is very important that you graduated high school?”  Wow.  I am totally speechless.  The interview lasts another daunting 30 minutes, with the questions growing increasingly stupider and more bizarre as we progress.  Her final question, “are you fluent in Vietnamese?”  WHAT?!?  Honestly, do I sound fluent in Vietnamese to you?  (This position was located in Fountain Valley.)  The call literally ended with she was really impressed with my qualifications — that high school diploma and all was very important to her — but since I am not fluent in Vietnamese she cannot hire me at this time.  Where to begin? 

Logically, wouldn’t that have been the 1st question to ask, not the last after 30 minutes?  Second, should I even touch upon the fact that another language is necessary to work in a medical clinic in So Cal?  Wouldn’t it make more sense to pay a receptionist to translate, than hire your top employee running your clinic based on this unnecessary business criteria alone?  uhh, hello?

Baby #2 nailed my thoughts exactly.  After she repeatedly questioned me on the important factor of whether I had a high school diploma or not, which sort of becomes irrelvant if you went on beyond that point academically, (aka no one cares regardless, as long as you are not a moron,) Baby # 2 stated, “at that point Mom, you should have asked her if she had one?”

The towel that started the giggles!

The job sounded perfect!

I had 30 years of experience in that field (and five years at the executive level).   I answered their ad and exchanged subsequent emails with the executives and their assistant (the person I would be replacing) with thoughtful, clever and convincing responses. I spoke directly with that assistant. I just knew that I was going to get the job. I was confident … and told my family so the day before.

But on the day of the interview, everything that could go wrong did.

First, I overslept.  And, the internet was down at home, so I couldn’t get to the items I needed for the interview.   I’d left the paperwork undone because I knew it would take only a few minutes to complete.  I planned to type everything up and print it out … a single tidy package. But I couldn’t get to those documents that morning. Rats! My only option was to hand print the information on hard copies I’d printed earlier.

Then I couldn’t decide what to wear. I’d set out several outfits the night before but didn’t try them on. That morning I didn’t like the way any of them looked on me … and that result took a bite out of my confidence.

My next mistake was not scoping out the location of the interview.  I used to work just a few blocks from the location, so I didn’t bother to actually drive there and find the building beforehand.  Afterall, I knew what block it was on and I expected a certain building design due to the nature of the business.  But that morning, I drove around the block twice and didn’t see the building. I would not have found it at all if I hadn’t called my brother (his computer was working) and asked to look up the exact address.  The name of the company was not prominent on the building and the building style was vastly different than my expectation. Precious pre-interview minutes … gone.

I found the building. Parking was the next hurdle.  I didn’t have enough quarters (I’d put off getting change until that morning and simply ran out of time) so I had to use my credit card in a newfangled parking pay box machine thingy. It didn’t like my card (or maybe it was the operator)  … but it wouldn’t let me complete the transaction and it wouldn’t produce a parking pass. Aaarrgh! I tried another parking pay box machine thingy down the street. Same result.  Instead of being calm, confident and relaxed for my interview, I was stressed.  I could not find my smile.   

I spotted someone just inside the building and asked her for assistance with the parking issue. Did she have change? Or could she help me with the machine thingy? She was perplexed that I had a problem. Afterall, parking was free directly in front of the building where I happened to be parked.  Stress stretched into stupid and stressed.  And, I was out of time.

My interview was about to begin. Oh, and the woman I asked for assistance turned out to be my first official contact at the company.  The first thing she did was ask me for the paperwork.  I had to tell her that it wasn’t done and that I needed a few more minutes. I managed a smile but she did not. I don’t know for certain, but I imagine that she’s thinking: “Ah, this interviewee doesn’t know how to park, she didn’t arrive early, she looks funny in that outfit, she appears stressed and she doesn’t have her paperwork ready!”  

She called to tell the Human Resources person that I wasn’t ready yet (my tiny bit of confidence slid down the drain) and then set up a station for me to take a few “simple tests”. I’m certain I produced only mediocre results on all of my “simple tests”.  I would have done downright poorly on them if I hadn’t researched a bit the day before. I’d never heard of these tests and happened to Google them. Thank goodness for that small amount of homework. There were some not-so-straight-forward-yet-not-quite-trick questions that were mentioned in the internet information. That little bit of research is the only thing I did right for the interview.  

I have experience in the executive interview process. I know what should be said and what points to get across. You’d never know it that morning. I could not produce any enlightening verbal sentiments whatsoever.  My brain and mouth were not cooperating. I was supposed to talk with the Human Resources Director and then the Executive Assistant I was going to replace, and, perhaps speak with the executives themselves.  However, I sabotaged myself by not thinking about what I wanted to say. I simply wanted to get the interview over with. My discomfort was apparent.  Big time.  As I departed, (having not made it past the Human Resources person), it was obvious to me that I was not going to be invited to continue in the selection process. I was sour.

I kicked myself for not having prepared whole-heartedly the day prior, as I’d prepared for other job interviews. I incorrectly assumed that my years of experience would make this interview a breeze.  My memories of the event include nothing but glaring evidence of non-preparation and unexecutiveness! My performance didn’t even merit a personalized “thank you, no thank you” letter. I got a canned email … the lowest form of communication.  

As it happens, my oldest brother from another state was in town. Right after the interview, we took an hour drive to visit relatives in a nearby city. It gave us the chance to discuss how terrible this interview went. My brother wisely noted that sometimes you learn more from your mistakes than your successes. I had plenty of mistakes to mull over.

Despite the outcome,  I’m a firm believer in the fact that things work out (or don’t work out) for a reason.  

The day after that interview, we had a family situation that required my husband and I to take charge of our young grandson for the next several weeks. The job I sought would have required all of my attention and much more than 40 hours per week (and they wanted someone to begin within days of the interview).  I’m certain I would not have held up emotionally for my family if I’d taken on a new executive job. I was relieved that I did not have to divide my attention. And what originally was quite an embarrassing day turned out to produce the correct result for me.  It was a blessing and a learning experienced disguised as a job interview!   

And the blessings continue. The family situation resolved itself better than anyone anticipated and merits a blog of its own in the future.  My husband and I had several weeks of one-on-one time with our grandchild … something we’ll always cherish. Now that the holidays are here, I’m thankful for the bountiful time I can spend with my family and thankful that I can still laugh at the little things … like I laughed on Thanksgiving.

Actually, I laughed so hard, that, well, I was glad that I was in the bathroom!  Here’s what happened:  Normally, folks put out their best towels for guests during the holidays, right? This year, after our two dozen relatives went home following the Thanksgiving meal, I ventured into our main bathroom (I’d used our second bathroom up to that point in the day) and found that the only towel hung up for them was the rattiest, stringy and torn half-towel  (that I normally use as a rag) hanging there.  Sheez! At least it was clean. I simply found it funny that no one said anything and politely used it to dry their hands.  Perhaps they thought it’s all we have?  Afterall, I’ve been unemployed for six months now. Oh, well!  It was so out-of-place that perhaps they chuckled.  For whatever reason, it tickled me into a major laughing moment! It’s not quite as funny here and now … but it was hysterical at the time! Perhaps we’ll get a new towel or two for Christmas?  I don’t need towels, but if I do become the recipient of one, I’ll chalk it up to a young male being in charge of putting a clean towel in the bathroom at Thanksgiving.

I’ve had my fair share of job hunting escapades and know the frustration that goes along with the search. You know what your skills are, but if you are not effectively communicating those skills through a resume, you could find yourself out of luck and out of a potentially good job.

For a brief period in my life, I worked as a headhunter. Not in the aboriginal sense  — mostly I found jobs for professional people. I specialized in placing candidates in manufacturing jobs and surprisingly, I was quite good at it, having made three placements in an unusually short period of time. I learned a lot during the little time I worked at this profession on an all-commission basis. One thing this experience taught me was that it could actually be quite useful and worthwhile to work with a professional to locate that right job for you.

If you’re a professional or if you’ve got management experience and find a need to change your job, it may be in your best interest to contact a professional placement agency to send them your past job information. Most agencies charge the clients (i.e. the hiring company) any fees that are associated in the placement. You, as a candidate, have the opportunity to discuss your qualifications and experience with an actual person, who can then assist you in creating a resume that is up to par with your actual abilities.
In the past, people would typically find jobs through classified ads, through word-of-mouth or via referrals. However, with time, we now find ourselves using the internet for our job searches. For certain industries, it’s pretty much inevitable that resumes are fielded by recruiters and headhunters. Nevertheless, we can still take a look at how headhunters may add value to our job hunt, thereby making us more keenly aware of ways to leverage their expertise to our benefit.

5 Tips on Using a Job Placement Agent (or Headhunter)

#1 Check if a headhunter can actually help you.

Headhunters generally work to place professional, managerial and skilled positions. Find out if your job search will benefit from the help of a placement agent working on your behalf.

#2 Leverage the job recruiter’s experience and network to get yourself the best placement.

In general, these recruiters (as they are quite commonly called) will help you communicate more effectively with your potential employers in areas such as salary, benefits, and relocation assistance. Because professional placement agents have dealt with many companies and candidates, they often know how to barter a better deal than you could on your own.They can be your mouthpiece who speaks on your behalf, and advisor who can also coach you on how to deal with employees and interviewers from hiring companies.

#3 Save time with your job search.

Another convenience is that you no longer have to hit the pavement looking for a prime opportunity. The headhunter will present it to you. If you’re interested, they will submit your information to their client companies and if any company finds you a good match, the process will move forward.

#4 Make yourself stand out: get yourself past first base with your job search.

Many companies don’t even hire directly anymore but rather rely on the expertise of a good headhunter. They may have a good working relationship with an agency and the only way you’ll get through the door of the company is through the placement agency. While you may not have to do as much legwork looking for a job as you would on your own, you’ll still need to impress the placement agent — not just through a well put together resume, but also through a favorable screening interview. Consider headhunters as a “dry run” for getting yourself noticed for certain job placements. Headhunters receive a ton of resumes every day so it’s important that you stand out in some way. After all, they’ll need to notice you first before they can decide if they’d like to work with you going forward. Ah, the competition!

#5 Consider the quality of the placement agency you’re working with and keep in touch!

If you’re starting to get the itch for a new job, consider researching good placement agencies. Not all of them are highly reputable so make sure you check them out carefully. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and stay on top of things as much as possible. Make sure you always keep your contact information updated because you never know when opportunity will come knocking!
Guest Posted By Tisha Kulak for THE DIGERATI LIFE
Image Credit: College Recruiter

Leverage The Internet To Get A Job

We’ve heard about how great social networking can be to our job or career. For instance, by connecting with past colleagues and friends over the Internet, I’ve increased my chances for getting job leads which eventually led to actual job offers. I’ve been using LinkedIn as one great resource for connecting with others professionally. Facebook can potentially do the same job if you take a professional stance with your profile. Then there are many others who have immersed themselves in a creative job hunt by setting up web sites that reflect and market their accomplishments.

So yes, the Internet is a fabulous resource that you can leverage to land a new job. But there’s a flip side to this — especially when you end up sharing too much of yourself online. Here’s aninteresting article about how the online world can be hazardous to your career, plus more thoughts on this below (courtesy of our guest poster, Jacques Sprenger):

Can Online Social Networking Break Your Career?

It used to be, before the birth of the Internet, that applying for a good job only required a good, short, crisp, resume and a terse, professional, cover letter. In the past, your resume writing andjob interviewing skills plus a quick background check would be enough to get you hired. Well things have changed for the job seekers of today.

Nowadays, it’s a whole different ball game because of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other such wonderful social networks. If you don’t believe this assertion, try to Google yourself. That’s what employers do, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey: “Employers are checking job applicants’ profiles on sites like Facebook, Brightfuse and LinkedIn.”

What are employers looking for? Incriminating information and material that job candidates probably shouldn’t be posting in his/her profile — stuff that betrays the image of the professional who fits the mold of the ideal employee. Such as Marilyn (not her real name, of course) who was filmed by a “friend” when she was lying on the sidewalk, completely drunk and minus her clothes. The “kind friend” promptly posted her visage on Facebook, complete with first and last name of the victim.

Or how about this survey that claims that “35 percent of job recruiters have dropped a job candidate because of information uncovered online”? These days, it’s not that hard to make someone look bad: if you ever become the target of someone who is tech savvy, say because of envy or rage, then watch out! It wouldn’t be too hard for the conniving perpetrator to post numerous profiles of you as someone with a past (criminal), a boozer, or any other filth they may think of. Guess what the prospective employer will think after Googling you?

Stuff To Watch Out For Online

Here’s a list of things you may want to beware of, when you set out to cultivate your online presence:

1. Watch what you say in a social network.
The troublemakers of this world have found a new way to reduce everybody else to their own mediocre level. You can sink yourself, however, by not being careful. As qouted from Regulargeek.com: “for some reason, many people have the idea that if they use a social network or other popular website they can say whatever they want.” Even a silly statement uttered as a joke can backfire on you if a potential boss fails to see the humor. Extreme case in point: a couple of miscreants thought it was funny to post their malicious antics on the web. Nothing funny about landing in jail!

2. Avoid writing about your company.

You may want to steer away from discussing your work or job on the Internet (except, maybe, if you do it anonymously in a forum like Glassdoor.com, where you can rate your job, company and salary). Complaining about your company (past or current) may have ill consequences. From Buzzle.com, here are top reasons given by employers for not hiring someone based on an Internet search:

• Lying about job qualifications (31%)
• Poor communication skills (25%)
• Links to criminal behavior (24%)
• Trash-talking previous employers (19%)
• Posting inappropriate photographs online (11%)
• Using unprofessional screen names (8%)

3. Avoid questionable associations.
In these trying times, when finding a job is so difficult, a small mistake in your past may make all the difference. Imagine using a screen name like nakedmonkey, or partygirl, or killingmachine. Speaking as someone who worked in Human Resources in the past, I would strongly hesitate hiring someone with questionable associations, especially during an employer’s market.

How To Defend Your Reputation

Okay, so you have some blots on the web that may affect your chances; so what is one to do? I heard of at least one innovative company that vows to “defend your good name on the Internet”. Companies like ReputationDefender will, for a fee of course, take care of the problem and keep monitoring your unwanted presence on the Internet until you cancel the membership. But you don’t have to go this far when you can simply take reasonable steps to keep your name clean online. It would be so much cheaper not to be caught in your underwear with a bottle of beer in each hand when a “friend” is taking pictures.

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by SILICON VALLEY BLOGGER

If you want to apply for a job then you will certainly be disturbed with the feelings of being interviewed and you must be embarrassed with the coming situations. But remember if your homework is complete then these problems are nothing. Just follow this post which will pivotal role in creating and building required confidence in you so that you can prove yourself with a successful interview..

Job Interview Questions

They are at the forefront of offering career tips and countless number of Industry Career Tools such as  CV Templates, expert advice eBooks, quizzes, virtual job interviews, career snapshots, the latest news and links to the latest job opportunities from all industries.

Now they have partnered with CareerPlayer.com to bring you a series of video insights into various jobs, careers and industries as well as practical job seeking advice.

So, take a look below at their latest videos.

Career Advice Videos

Choosing Careers		Taking a Gap Year		Networking Tips
Career Fairs		Top Business Tips		Business Jargon
CV Tips		Interview Questions		Psychometric Tests

Industry Videos

Accountancy		Advertising		Banking
Legal		Marketing

If you are looking for a job in today’s world ? there is no better way to do that than through the Internet. It can offer you the widest range of possibilities in all walks of life anywhere in the world at tag44. Many people, even today, find the Internet intimidating mostly because it is so vast and it has so much information that you do not know where to start and where to end at tag44.com Many job websites like www.tag44.com offer employers free job posting to enable them to connect to job seekers. In order to find a online job you need to master the skill of searching on the Internet at tag44. You would need to know where to look and what to ignore.

1. Searching job on the Internet ? before you go for the actual search, you would need to narrow the search focus as much as possible. For this purpose, you need to identify what exactly would make you happy to have as a career at tag44.com

In case you are undecided yet, list your strength and past experience and this would guide to what should be your career focus at tag44. If by any chance what you see is not exactly what you want ? do not despair. You could attempt a change in career by focusing on your aptitude and soft skills.

Once you decided what you want to pursue then start your online job search at tag44.com You will almost instantly receive thousands of possible websites like tag44.com where such job listings are posted. Choose maximum four such websites and submit your application.

2. Posting your resume on the Net ? your search for job can be delegated to the Net. You could identify excellent job sites like www.tag44.com and post your resume there. For websites such as this one, the moment you upload your resume, it would be available to thousands of employers as these days majority of tag44 job sites are following social networking by allowing employers to post jobs for free and connect to job seekers.

A word of caution ? you need to upload a separate CV for every type of job you are looking for at tag44.com for example if you are looking for a job in marketing and HR ? you have to draw up different resume so that each would have different keywords highlighted in it. Since the employer would search the data base by keywords ? So pickup the best ones relevant to your skills and job you aspire at tag44.

Appearing For the Interview
Once you get the call letter, you are in the second phase of the job acquiring process. Here you need to understand and prepare yourself thoroughly for behavioral interviews, psychometric interviews, technical interviews and so on at tag44. You also need to learn in depth about the company you are appearing the job interview for as well as what exactly the job requires of you at tag44.com Before you appear for the interview you would need to match your skill and strengths as closely as possible to what is required for the job at tag44. Also do some research on internet about job salary and employment guidelines for similar kind of positions.

Finance and Career Highlights ( November 23, 2009 )   Today in the LifeSpace Community, we highlight various links including a nice macro update from the Five Minute Forecast, tips on how to stay on budget, Green Home buying tips and some general interviewing tips.

Ideas, Articles and Resources:

		10 General Interview Tips   The majority of interviewees go to an interview without much preparation, but these ten interview tips will help you go through an interview with a breeze!
	10 Tips for Staying on Budget   Staying on a budget reduces financial stress and allows you to save up for a future expense. Here we highlight 10 great ways to help you stay on your budget.

	Top Green Home Buying Tips   Green house hunting is great for you and the environment. Get our top tips on things to consider when green house hunting.
	Betting Against the House, A Sector to Short, Retail’s Role in the Recovery   The 5 examines a wave of bad news for the dollar and U.S. national debt. Plus, a sector to short and how retail looks as though it won’t be able to pull us out of the recession just yet.

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NTKOG #65: The kind of girl who, when she has been mistreated by someone in a position of authority, instead of just taking it with a smile, gives the jerkwad whatfor instead.

I am: laid-back, would be a nice way of putting it. A doormat, though, might be more accurate.

I am not: good with: confrontation, authority, or recognizing when people have definitely stepped over a line with me.

The Scene: Job interview in Brookline last week, for a secretarial position at a firm that deals in a field completely outside my range of interests. The interview has been set up by a temp agency, though, so I put on my power suit, brush up on my interview questions, and walk in fifteen minutes early with resume in hand and a big ol’ smile on my face.

Half an hour later, the guy who’s supposed to interview me finally moseys into the office and immediately I can tell he is — well, “a sleazy fucking jerkwad” is really too delicate a phrase, I think. He’s in his mid-50s; very GQ; too much cologne.When he takes my hand, there is no pretense of a shake. Instead, he squeezes hard enough to pulp the bones down to marrow, then takes a seat across from me.

“So, you’re from Prestigious West Coast University, eh?” he says, and I smile and nod. “And you’re looking for a secretarial position. Ha!” He looks like a guy who has too often and too wistfully watched Mad Men, wishing for the good old days when he could have conducted this interview while sipping from a tumbler full of Scotch.

While we are talking, he leans back in his leather exec chair and crosses his arms behind his head. One of his legs is crossed, his foot resting against the table. He looks like he’s waiting for a girl to crawl under the table and just start blowing him right there.

Did I mention he’s a huge fucking asshole?

The whole interview, he lets me say approximately twenty words. The rest of the time he goes on about how important he is and what high-level work he does. He mentions, charitably, that “the girls” are necessary to help run the office. He asks whether I feel up to the challenge of cleaning up the office at the end of the day.

The whole time, also, he keeps throwing out acidic little barbs about the university I went to, and the fact that I left there without a job, then smugging that he bets I don’t like it when he makes these little jokes. Uh, no shit? The school I went to was, like, pretty okay, and not infrequently, insecure people like to play a nasty little head game about it: they’ll make constant negative comments about various stereotypes about the school — not least of all the stereotype that grads are arrogant — then when I finally tell them to, dude, seriously, stop it, they smile back: “See what I mean? You guys are so arrogant.” I — I cannot tell you how much this infuriates me. I love the school I went to; I had four wonderful years there, met all my best friends there, and generally have positive feelings about it. And I’d expect everybody to feel the same way about their own undergraduate institutions, so why are we even talking about this?

And yet, he talked about it. For at least ten minutes of the forty-minute interview. After he’d finished his monologue of Important Manly Poweritude, he asked me: “So, you have any questions for me, honey?” Um, yeah, just one. How does the fine Commonwealth of Massachusetts feel about vigilante castration?

Sadly, though, although I prepared a totally appropriate feminist rant — or at least a withering barb — the asshole hurried me out of the interview room before I could find my voice. So. Fail on that front. But. BUT! I did call the temp agency and withdraw myself from the interview process, citing, in only slightly more polite language, irreconcilably assholic behavior as the reason for my request.

The Verdict: I’m pretty bummed out that my knee-jerk authority cowering was too strong for me to overcome right to this jerkwad’s (jerk)face, but I’m going to go ahead and give myself partial points for actually withdrawing from the interview process instead of continuing to jump through his asshole hoops. The more of the (sometimes terrible) real world I see, the more I realize that there are lots of guys like this out there, who feel the constant urge to make it known: “Hey, little lady, fuck your fancy education and your power suit and all your big clever ideas. At the end of the day, this is still a man’s world and, heads up, I take my coffee with two sugars, sugar.”

Aaaaaaargh. Even thinking about this makes me hate men. So even though I wimped out this time, next time I meet a guy who is Part Of The Problem, dude, he best be prepared for an unholy rant.

Good read below from Selena Dehne in MSN Careers regarding steps to take after finding a job position of interest.  While detailed, the benefit is that you’ll stand out to the person reviewing your information.  And that can make all the difference when it comes time to select candidates for interview. 

Often, when job seekers come across job ads that interest them, they immediately submit their résumés and cover letters to the employers. Then they wait, wondering if their submission will develop into an interview opportunity or if it will slip into a black hole and never resurface again.

Unfortunately, this process is one of the least effective ways to achieve momentum in the job search, says Richard Deems, Ph.D., co-author of “Make Job Loss Work for You.“

Instead, he encourages individuals to work through his five-step Deems JobGetting Skills^TM System to ensure their job hunting progresses into job getting.

“This system takes an entirely different approach from what job seekers may have been taught in the past,” Deems says. “It starts with a simple difference: Before applying for a position, job seekers should find out as much as they can about the position to see if they’re interested in doing what needs to be done. Of course, people who do this won’t apply for as many positions as does the typical job hunter. But then, why should they waste time and energy on something they don’t really want in the first place?”

Below are the five steps Deems says job seekers must take to achieve success, no matter what level position, occupation or industry they are targeting.

Step one: Research the position
“When you hear of a position that interests you, contact the person who has the authority to hire you,” Deems says. “That’s really the only person you want to get in front of. You tell that person that you understand he or she may have a position open, and if so, you’d like to talk about their needs in detail.”

If the job ad fails to name the appropriate person to reach out to, job seekers can call the company directly, look at the company’s Web site or browse articles and blog posts on the Internet about the employer.

Deems says job seekers’ goals in this step should be to:
· Get their name to the decision maker.
· Learn more about the position than other candidates will know.
· Decide whether this is a position they want to pursue.

Step two: Research the organization
Before they apply for a position, job seekers should know a great deal of information, including the organization’s history, products or services, past mergers or acquisitions, locations, environment and key leaders.

To gather this information, Deems suggests that  job seekers:
· Ask the decision maker to send them a copy of the annual report or other pertinent material about the company (if it’s not available online).
· Use the Internet to research the organization. Visit Web sites such as the company’s press room, investor relations links and blogs.
· Use their network (both offline and online) to find someone already in the company. Ask that person what he thinks of the company — pros and cons.

Step three: Evaluate your strengths and interests
“After you’ve explored the position and the company, you need to stop, evaluate and make a decision,” Deems says. “Does the job call for what you do best and most enjoy doing? Will the workplace environment enable you to be your best? Do you want the job or not? One way to evaluate the position is to chart it out, listing your criteria for selecting the position and how this opportunity fits your criteria.”

Step four: Design your positioning strategy
Next, job seekers should contact the key decision maker in the hiring process and let that individual know they want to be considered the top candidate. Then, job seekers should ask what they need to do to make that happen.

Often, the decision maker will simply ask to see the job seeker’s résumé, but job seekers can do more to ensure they stand out from other candidates, Deems says.

“Your positioning plan needs to go beyond the résumé. You need to do things that will keep your name in front of the decision maker, even as that person is reviewing other résumés. To do this, you might need to follow up on your résumé, ask someone in your network to make a call on your behalf and so on. Also, take time to write down what steps you need to take,” he explains.

Step five: Implement
Deems says job seekers should do three things when they’re ready to implement their positioning plan. They  are:
· Assemble your application package according to the instructions of the person who has the authority to hire you.
· Deliver your package in person, if possible. If you cannot deliver your application in person, send it via e-mail or regular mail — or both.
· Follow up. Wait two or three days for the employer to receive your application package; then call to ensure it was received. At that time, have questions prepared to ask the hiring contact and also try to arrange a time to sit down and talk with him or her in person.

Some of these steps may intimidate job seekers at first, but it’s a proactive and effective way to achieve results in the job hunt. “The candidates who are out on the streets meeting and talking with people are the ones who maintain their energy and confidence,” Deems says. “Those who sit back at home and merely mail out their résumés are often those who get discouraged. Sure, they’ll eventually get hired. But the process is likely to drag on much longer than it needs to, and the position may be less satisfying than it could be.”

As always, if Bradley Resume can assist click here.

In my first post I blogged about the use of a social network. This sounds harmless but it could backfire you; you can even lose your job and there’s a chance for not getting one at all. If you are applying for a job many businesses will google you on the internet. They can look into your personal life via MySpace, Hyves or Facebook. Make sure you don’t post pictures of yourself drunk in the weekends or in different unappropriate settings. Their first impression would be enough for not inviting you for a job interview.

If you already have a job DON’T EVER insult your boss publicly. Scroll downwards the text and you can see this girl posting her feelings on Facebook. Definitely a wrong move! She doesn’t know her boss is also active on Facebook. He finds out and she gets sacked immediately.

Another example of someone who is active on Twitter. Maybe a little bit too active..

You never know who is watching you via the internet. Keep your personal life private and draw a fine line. Always be careful what you post on your blogs, it might come back to bite you!

How to lose your job in 140 characters or less..

Source: http://open.salon.com/blog/trudge164/2009/08/18/social_networking_101_how_to_lose_your_job_on_facebook

Don’t Let Job Interviews Catch You By Surprise

Here’s How:

1. Show up 10-15 minutes early for your scheduled interview. Do not show up too early as this may be an annoyance to an interviewer especially if waiting room space is limited. Never show up late.
2. Dress neatly, conservatively but also casually. Avoid trendy clothes, jeans, or personal identity statements (like a Mohawk or political t-shirt) unless they are fitting to the job, for example; trendy is OK if the job is in a trendy clothing store. For more see jobsearch.about.com
3. Remove piercings that may be objectionable and obvious to an employer such as a facial piercing and keep tattoos covered. It is unlawful in most regions for employers to deny you a job because of these things but it can still happen.
4. Know your resume inside out. Nothing looks worse than an applicant who keeps reading off of their resume. If there is an application form take your answers from your resume so you won’t stumble when asked about your qualifications.
5. Shake hands and remain standing until offered a seat. Clearly and confidently state your name and thank the interviewer for seeing you.
6. Avoid giving speeches when asked questions. Keep your answers concise and to the point. If you don’t understand a question or you didn’t hear it do not be afraid to ask to have it rephrased or repeated.
7. Whenever possible prepare your answers in advance. There are some standard interview questions you can expect. Examples of these types of questions can be found at jobsearch.about.com
8. Know a bit about the company you are applying to work at and details about the job you are after. Answer any questions you are asked with references to these things whenever relevant.
9. Do not be afraid to ask questions of your own. In fact, many interviewers consider the “do you have any questions” part of an interview to be very telling about a potential employees work ethic and job expectations.
10. If it hasn’t been stated it is OK to ask about the rate of pay, bonus structure and advancement opportunities within the company. If the company is very large, like McDonalds, ask about any employee scholarship programs that may be available.
11. Never lie about your availability. If you can only work weekends, say so. If you can’t work any later than 9pm make it clear right away.
12. Ask when the interviewer expects to have made a decision and if they will be contacting all applicants or only those who are hired. Make a point of following up via telephone 2 business days after your interview.
13. Before leaving thank the interviewer again and shake hands. Smile and make eye contact as you leave.

From Jessica Stevenson, former About.com Guide

In just this past week, several of my clients have sounded tired during our interview practice.  I even got a very detailed response that was related to, but not quite exactly on point to what I had asked.  These are hardworking jobseekers who I know are diligently working through the coaching assignments.  Is it possible to over-prepare for interviews?

Most jobseekers don’t prepare enough.  So don’t use this column as permission to slack off your search.  You still need to research the company, industry and specific individuals you will be meeting.  You still need to stay abreast of current events and be able to engage in timely discussions.  You still need to have the 3-4 key message points that will present you in the best light and position you appropriately for the specific job at hand.  So there is much work to do, and over-preparation is a rare problem.

Still, I’ve seen over-prepared candidates and other recruiters have seen them, so it’s worth discussing.  Over-preparation is when your answers sound rehearsed.  You lose the spontaneity and thoughtfulness in your responses.  Your answers may be relevant but not exactly on point because you sidestep the exact question and instead jump to the points you’ve memorized in your head. 

There is a better balance between under- and over-preparation, and the secret ingredient is listening.  For all interviews, you need to research and prepare your overarching message.  But with each interaction you need to listen to what is uniquely happening at that moment and adjust accordingly.  This means that you laser focus when you have an anxious or tough interviewer.  You let the story structure meander when you have a conversational interviewer.  You are ready with details or you move on depending on your read of what the interviewer wants.  In other words, you prepare in advance a wide range of responses but react to the moment at hand.  Preparation and practice is not a substitute for listening in the moment.  A good interview is a conversation to experience, not a monologue to prepare.

 Caroline Ceniza-Levine, career coach, writer, speaker, Gen Y expert and co-founder of SixFigureStart™ (www.sixfigurestart.com), coaches jobseekers using a recruiter’s perspective of what employers really want and how the hiring process really works. Formerly in corporate HR and retained search, Caroline has recruited for Accenture, Citibank, Disney ABC, Time Inc and others. Caroline is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Professional Development at Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs and a life coach (www.thinkasinc.com).

In a recent New York Times article, Lisa Kline, the fashion stylist notoriously known for dressing Sarah Palin with $150,000-plus of designer clothing in what the article’s author Lauren Lipton calls, “Wardrobegate” talks of outfitting the former Vice Presidential candidate for what was one of the most widely-seen job interviews of the year. 

Sure, the $2,500 Valentino jacket from SAKS that the stylist selected for Palin to wear as she accepted the GOP’s vice-presidential nod, looked amazing paired with that black pencil skirt but if your wallet isn’t as big as the Republican National Committee’s  read on for our top five tips to looking good in the interview.

1. Don’t show the toes. Open-toed shoes are never appropriate for an interview. Leave the sandals for the beach and the strappy heels for prom.

2. Nylons, yes nylons. We get it, nylons aren’t only dowdy, but they’re uncomfortable. However, for an interview you’ve got to be ready for any situation and any interviewer. Many people are still stuck in the mindset that you don’t show a bare leg with a skirt, so it’s better to error on the safe side and then after you’ve landed the job dump the hosiery. There are a few exceptions to the rule: when interviewing at a fashion forward company/fashion industry company you can leave the nylons behind.

3. Brushing alone will not suffice. Ladies — if you’ve got long hair we’re talking to you. Your normal routine of air-drying and brushing your locks isn’t going to do. Either pull back your hair in a simple and professional bun or take the time to style your ‘do. 

4. Get polished. It really is the simple things that matter. Look at your nails. Yes, right now, we’ll wait. Is the polish chipped? Are the edges jagged? Chances are in an interview situation you’ll be gesturing as you passionately explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the position. You want to look professional and put together–and that means a clean look from head to nails. Just as you wouldn’t go into an interview with greasy hair or make-up still on from the night before, you wouldn’t want to show up with chipped polish (even if it is that fab new Russian Navy Blue). 

5. Jeans are never OK. We said it. Yep, deal with it. Jeans are never OK for an interview. Even if the setting is in the most casual of situations, think: coffee, lunch, etc. You always want to dress for the position you want not the position you have (read: unemployment).

You just got the call for a job interview! This is great news, Congratulations! See how all the hard work you put into writing a professional resume, networking at various events and online job searching has paid off at last. To be sure you are the brightest star above all the other job candidates, I have provide essential job interview tips to ensure your success!
Be Prepared – This means practicing answering interview questions , doing your homework on the potential employer and matching your skills with your answers for the duties related for the open position.
Dressing for Success – Dressing professionally makes the best first impression. While it may not be necessary to purchase a business suit, it is very important that you dress the part.
Don’t Be Late – Arriving on time for a job interview means getting to the interview location at least 15 minutes early. Indeed the job interviewer will take note of your arrival time and will allow you to review all your notes for the interview.
Keep Eye Contact – Making eye contact, along with a smile and solid handshake will convey confidence to the job interviewer.
Show Enthusiasm – If the job comes down to you and another candidate, this is an excellent way to stand out to the interviewer. Showing your enthusiasm for the open position lets the interviewer know that you are serious about the position and are driven to succeed.
Let Them Know You’re a Team Player – Hiring managers want to make sure that they hire someone who can take direction. They also want someone that can lead a team to meet the company’s objectives. Provide real work examples of how you can lead a team and also how you can be a team player for a company.
Make Sure You Sell Yourself – It has been proven that people buy from people they like and this theory does apply when hiring someone. Remember a job interview is like a sales pitch. Have a list of your core competencies and be prepared to discuss how you have showcase your competencies in the past and they will be beneficial to the potential employer.
Always be Truthful – Never mislead the job interviewer, especially about your skills and past experiences. Most companies will conduct a background check before they hire someone and you don’t want to be in the boat where they find out that you were being dishonest to them.
Be Professional at all Times – Although this should always be done without saying, sometimes people do need to be reminded from time to time. Don’t chew gum, pay attention and sit up straight.
Ask Interview Questions – Asking questions demonstrates to the interviewer that you are interested in the job. So much to the fact that if you don’t ask interview questions you could come off as frail and useless. Also asking questions allows you to evaluate the company so that you can make sure that company is a good match for you.
Always Thank the Interviewer – When the a job interview comes to an end make sure to smile, stand up to extend your hand for a firm handshake and say “thank you. Ask the interviewer when do they expect to make their decision and if you should follow up with them if you don’t hear from them by the decision date.

Funny Job Interview Video

It’s YouTube video day here at WSFAU.

This is a YouTube video of a job interview. Listen carefully and you will hear this candidate shoot himself in the foot (although he obviously doesn’t think so).

H. got  2 rejections from his interviews. At the moment there is no upcoming interview and no results that awaits us. I hope that H. gets some more interviews before the end of the year. I still hope for a miracle that he gets an offer till end of the year. That will be my Christmas wish.

So that means we are not moving to that faraway place. I am surprised with some of his interviews. The results are so fast. The reason why he didn’t get that  job from  that 3 hour interview was because he was very quiet? How could that be when they have given him a 3 hour interview. Such weird answers. They probably just didn’t like him. Such a lame excuse.

Well that’s it for now. H. goes to his theraphy tomorrow. It turned out the insurance pays only 80% of his fees. For now we just do it anyway. We still have some savings . I’m sure H. is going to be sad again when he goes there tomorrow.  I tried cheering him up today through  a walk in the park, taking pictures and all. I’m not sure it that helped at all.

After I wrote that last post, I received an email regarding a job I applied to WEEKS ago.  Like, so long ago I had forgotten about it.  Or at the very least, written it off.  It’s a job for a travel DVD distribution company.  Now, this is not working for a film studio.  About as far from it as you can get actually.  But given that I never want to work at a film studio again, it suits me just fine.

It would be a steady paycheck (how large of a paycheck remains to be seen), would utilize my past experience in DVD marketing, film distribution (which was my very first entertainment industry job now that I think about it – weird), and would get me out of this rut I’m in.  Plus it’s a JOB.  In this economy.  And that’s nothing to scoff at.

I am perhaps putting the cart before the horse here, though.  After all, I haven’t even interviewed yet (tomorrow at 3pm EST – positive vibes are appreciated thankyouverymuch).  But I know I have a good shot.  They asked for entertainment industry and travel industry experience, and I have both.  I know that’s hard to find out here in Florida.  Travel, not so much.  Entertainment… yes.  Plus I have very specific experience this job calls for.  And I know I can kill an interview.  Kill in a good way.

Between you and me though… I’m a little scared.  Because if I DO get offered the job, then I will be tempted to take it.  Assuming it’s not some shady company, and the salary is decent, I will be tempted.  But that means big changes for me.  Like, working at a desk again.  Commuting again.  9-6 again.  Monday – Friday again.  I haven’t had a job like that in 4 years.  Plus, what will it mean for my business?  I mean, even if I get and accept this job, we can shuffle things around to make it work.  But there’s also some other stuff that I would have to renege on, which I would be sad and a little scared to do.  Another certification I was getting in March that I probably wouldn’t be able to get, because I wouldn’t have the time to use it.  Some promises I made to people I would have to back out on (I HATE that).  I mean, I know everyone would understand, but still… I hate flaking out on things.

However, I need an income.  My husband needs me to have an income.  Our mortgage needs me to have an income.  And right now, that comes first.  I need to realized that.  This economy has affected me and my personal training career in ways I never would have imagined.  It’s affected my new business as well.  It’s time for me to bring a paycheck home again.  And after just posting a whoooole long post yesterday about wanting to get back into entertainment and change my path, I would be remiss not to take this opportunity, should it be offered to me.

But I need to chill.  Cart.  Horse.  Get them in order, dude.

I guess we’ll just have to see.  Everything happens for a reason, so let’s see if this job is supposed to happen for me.  All I can do is go in there tomorrow (3pm EST – vibes!) and do my best.  Hopefully it will be a good fit for me, and they love me and want me to have this job.  I can deal with everything else if I’m offered a position.

There.  Horse.  Cart.  Everything is in order.

You apprehend all sorts of rules about job account success:

* humans adjudge about you in the aboriginal 10 abnormal * you accept to
make a acceptable aboriginal consequence * consistently ask astute job
interview questions * apprentice as abundant as you can about the company
* they’ll apparently ask account questions brash to cruise you
up * accept some quick answers to account questions at the ready

Not bad, as far as rules go: some of them accomplish absolute sense.
But accepting the job you wish isn’t about afterward rules or
giving the ‘right’ account answer.

It’s about presenting yourself in the a lot of accurate way that
takes affliction of you and the interviewers at the aforementioned time.

So abounding humans abandon their affairs away: they don’t yield enough
care and account alertness time so that the accomplished action is
enjoyable, aesthetic and advisory for both parties.

Your Aboriginal Opportunity: Accepting The Interview

If you wish the job, affairs are so do about a actor other
eager people, so your appliance has to angle out from the
crowd. British CVs are usually addled and boring, and people
create them as actual documents, rather than as marketing
tools. You can addition your affairs of accepting an account by
making your CV attending and ’sound’ special.

Use acceptable paper, architecture a claimed logo, dabble with the layout
to accomplish it simple on the eyes. Edit it ruthlessly. Humans always
put in too abundant detail. Highlight the $.25 that chronicle to the
job you’re traveling for. They don’t charge to apperceive you went to St
Mary’s School if you were 12! Put ‘who you are now’ at the
beginning of your CV, and leave apprenticeship and abilities for
the end.

If you don’t accept what you anticipate are the appropriate educational
qualifications, don’t worry. Just leave them off. If you include
enough absorbing and arresting actual about who you are
now, what you didn’t do is far beneath important.

I acclaim a abbreviate branch at the alpha that says
something about your claimed qualities and your business
skills. A abbreviate account about what you’re gluttonous can aswell go
down a treat.

As we know, a job for activity is so attenuate nowadays, that eclectic,
unusual and even inconsistent CVs are OK as continued as they’re
presented well.

Even if you anticipate your accepted job stinks, attending at the good
points as admitting you were searching at it from the alfresco in.
Most jobs arise abundant bigger from the alfresco than they do from
the central (only you apperceive the absolute truth); so pump up the
goodies and blue-pencil the baddies!

So that worked. You’ve got the Interview; now what?

Preparing For a Job Interview

Here’s the key and the a lot of important affair to bethink when
preparing for interview

Before you go through the door, acquaint yourself that unless they
are artlessly traveling through the motions because they’ve already
appointed someone, they wish it to be you.

They wish to apperceive their seek is over, so for the breadth of the
interview, the job is yours. You charge to accomplish the a lot of of it.

Having said that, aboriginal impressions are abundantly important. Be
yourself appropriate from the start, axis up the aggregate on those
bits of you that a lot of bout the ; axis down the aggregate on
the $.25 that don’t. However, never anytime shut the aggregate off
entirely, as you will again be assuming to be anyone you’re
not – a abiding compound for disaster.

Not a acceptable abstraction to lie! You can be accurate with the truth, but
lies accept a addiction to acknowledgment and chaw you in the bum! Even if
they don’t apperceive you’ve lied, you will be giving out signals that
are a give-away that something is wrong.

Being put on the atom can feel actual uncomfortable, and it’s easy
to abatement into a arresting posture. If you’re not abiding of
answering account questions or feel boxed into a bend it’s
all appropriate to buy time – including adage ‘I charge some time to
think about that.’

No amount how afraid you are, you do charge to attending afterwards the
people interviewing you. Show that you apperceive how to communicate
and chronicle to people: ask hasty questions.

Have a accrue of catechism to ask at account and anecdotes
of accomplished triumphs (and even a few disasters, as continued as their
funny or amusing ancillary is apparent). This is not just a account of
what you can do, but some claimed examples that acrylic the whole
picture.

There are no appropriate answers to account questioning. In fact
a acceptable account catechism is one that allows you a adventitious to
talk about yourself.

Account Follow-up

At the end of your interview, if you haven’t been advised, ask
when they anticipate they’ll be authoritative their decision. At atomic then
you’ll apperceive how continued you’ll accept to delay afore you hear.

Many places don’t automatically let humans apperceive if they haven’t
got the ; so one aftereffect alarm is allowable. More than that
and it can feel like badgering.

No amount how abominably you anticipate the account went, if you want
the , consistently forward a aftereffect account acknowledge you letter.
Since a lot of of us anticipate of able things to say afterwards the fact,
include one or two of those, apropos to something specific
from the interview.

Use phrases such as:

‘I’ve accustomed a lot of anticipation to our account and…’ ‘Something
you mentioned got me thinking…’ ‘What you said about _______
really addled home…’

If you don’t get the and you’re analytical why not, buzz up
and get some feedback. It may advice you for the next interview.

Happy hunting!

Recently I had an interview for a job, for an Austrian company, involved in banking automation.

They are looking for .NET software developers for the Bucharest office.

So I passed the first technical interview at the recruiting company and I went on to discuss with the technical manager and the boss.

They asked, I answered pretty well, except for a couple of questions.

Everything seemed alright for them and for me too.

At the end, when I was asked about my questions about the company, how they work and so on, I pulled-up a piece of paper with Joel’s test.

I like to consider the Joel’s test like a smoke test for software companies. You can find the details here: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000043.html

The guy seemed a bit shocked but he answered the questions. And the answers made me happy.

I thought, hey, this is a nice company, I might like it here…

But… a couple of days later I got a phone call from the recruiting company saying that the answer was negative, but not for technical reasons but because they were very displeased by my questions, from the Joel’s test.

The conclusion? Be very careful with what you ask your potential employer.

Recently, I was interview coaching an otherwise very qualified and hardworking jobseeker.  Her vibe was frustrated, closed and all around unpleasant.  Essentially, she was a perfect example of the burned out jobseeker.  When you’re burned out from your job search, your interview responses get defensive.  You come across as an energy drain when you network.  You dismiss leads prematurely because you assume the worst.  Here are some ways to combat burnout before it derails your job search: 

Schedule weekly breaks from your search.  Many jobseekers I see start their search with a flurry of work and then go cold.  Then they restart, only to stop again.  Regular, systematic action is the best pace for your search, so schedule regular, systematic breaks as well.  Maybe a Wednesday afternoon at a museum, or an evening class unrelated to your search.  An added bonus is that these extra-curriculars are great examples of being well-rounded and interesting outside your professional work.

Pick an optimistic job search buddy.  Working with someone is a great way to stay motivated and have built-in accountability.  But beware that get-togethers don’t devolve into pity parties.  It’s okay to be candid if you’re feeling down but you have to move on, so pick a partner who will help you do that.

Celebrate wins big and small.  Keep a tab of the things that are going well with your search – the new people you’ve met, the old friends you’ve reconnected with, those meetings where both parties hit it off.  You should be constantly reviewing your search anyway to find the things that work for you that you can repeat and also to troubleshoot areas to fix.  But don’t forget to celebrate the things that are working also to remind yourself that, yes, you can do this, and it’s just a matter of time. 

We all have been to parties with the guest that just sucks the fun out of anyone they meet.  You don’t want to be that person.  Refresh as needed.  Hang out with positive people.  Encourage yourself with real evidence from past wins.  Avoid job search burnout at all costs. 

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, career coach, writer, speaker, Gen Y expert and co-founder of SixFigureStart™ (www.sixfigurestart.com), coaches jobseekers using a recruiter’s perspective of what employers really want and how the hiring process really works. Formerly in corporate HR and retained search, Caroline has recruited for Accenture, Citibank, Disney ABC, Time Inc and others. Caroline is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Professional Development at Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs and a life coach (www.thinkasinc.com).

Looking for a new job? Some job interview techniques may prove helpful before you walk into the lair of a hiring company. Here are some general tips on preparing for your interview.

For many people, the interview is the most stressful part of getting a job; something like asking the girl you love to marry you — or if you’re a lady, it would be like lending your guy an ear. It’s a serious commitment, although few candidates take it as such, and even fewer prepare adequately for the big moment. Getting a job interview means that the company is interested in pursuing a relationship with you, after culling your resume out of hundreds of applicants (especially in today’s market).

Image from BetterMondays

Preparing For Your Interview? Apply These Job Interview Techniques

Did you just find your dream job? If you haven’t gone through an interview process before, or feel that you’re rusty, then here are a few things to do to get ready. Some points to keep in mind while you rehearse for that big day:

1. Remember that the interview is not really about you.

The interview process is about what the company will gain by employing you. So the main arguments at your disposal are related to what you bring that will benefit the business. Yes, they have your resume in front of them, but they are interested in hearing from the proverbial horse’s mouth what special skills you have that will make a difference for them.

2. Prepare to fill in the blanks.

Those resume writing tips may have paid off, helping you secure your job interview. But your resume may not be able to provide the full picture. It may fail to explain why you didn’t work for 2 years or what the real reasons are for your dismissal from X company. Be prepared to be honest — brutally, if necessary.

Try “I couldn’t find work because I wasn’t willing to move to another state” or “I decided to take a sabbatical to forge my character by exploring the Amazon”. Or “I’ve had philosophical differences with my company” can really mean that “my boss and I didn’t get along because he wouldn’t accept my suggestions”.

You can be as euphemistic as possible about the gaps you leave in your resume, but if they do come up in the interview, it’s strongly recommended that you come clean. Falsifying information will eventually bite you in the end.

3. Check the mirror.

Common sense says to dress for the occasion, and an interview certainly qualifies as a formal affair. There are however, some exceptions: I once interviewed a young man who showed up wearing a gaudy t-shirt; he was hired immediately because his talent as a software programmer was top of the line.

Most employers in the corporate universe frown on beards, Pancho Villa type moustaches, long hair (for guys), short dresses, and low-cut blouses (unless it’s an audition, not an interview). So dress appropriately for the job and act naturally. What’s that cliche again? Dress for success. Even if it’s just to snag the job. You can ruminate over your company’s dress code after you get the job!

4. Sell yourself!

One of the most important techniques to get that coveted position is to sell yourself well, in my opinion. You must suddenly become somewhat of a salesperson, which isn’t easy for a lot of job seekers to do.

But here are some basic tips: assume a good posture when facing the interviewer and remember that he/she is waiting to be convinced that you are the best candidate. Beyond marching down your resume, job history and past work experience, make sure you’re prepared for the “softer” questions which can be some variant of:

• Why did you leave your last job?
• Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
• What do you bring to the table that other candidates don’t?
• Why should we hire you?

If you work in a technical field, you’ll have more questions to wrestle with that are pertinent to your specific career. You’ll sell yourself well by acing those questions!

5. Stay relaxed.

One way to keep the pressure off? Try to be yourself and show a bit of personality in your interviews. I challenge myself by trying (operative word here) to spice up a technical or dry interview with a little humor. Charm can get you far, although not everyone has the natural ability to be witty. But being relaxed during the interview can help draw more of your personality out, and will avoid those unsightly underarm perspiration stains, awkward handshakes, or nervous shifting that plague many an interviewee. Deep breaths or yoga before the interview, perhaps?

6. Make the first impression count.

I’d strive to make a good first impression, but this comes automatically when you project positive energy with a positive and confident demeanor. So look at your interviewer in the eye, and use a firm handshake. If he/she feels that they grasped a wet noodle, your chances of being hired could plummet. A little formality works (until you know your colleagues better) — I’d wait till the other is seated before taking a seat, and I’d avoid slouching.

A few more tips from the trenches: try to speak clearly and to put some emotion into your answers. Show how much you’re interested in the job by displaying enthusiasm. Hopefully, you don’t have to fake how excited you are about the position. But avoid being dramatic as well, as your body language can reveal more than your words to a trained interviewer; a lot of them can tell when you’re pulling their leg. Smile when appropriate, but never use laughter, especially the guttural kind. And overall, be as passionate as you can about getting the job, without going overboard.

by Jacques Sprenger for The Digerati Life