The interview question “Why do you want this job” or “Why do you want to work here?” is a variation on “What interests you about this position and our company?” In a dating situation, this is the equivalent of “Why me?” or “Why are you interested in me?” Your answer should be about why this employer is unique and special in your mind and how your skills are a match to their needs. Read More
Job Search Lessons From Dating
You find a job that looks interesting, you go to the interview looking your best to see if the job is a good fit, you go home and wait by the phone for the call back… Sound familiar? Maybe like a first date? If you think about it, the process of getting a job is very much like dating. For both dating and job searching, there are the do’s and don’ts. Not surprisingly, there are many parallels between them.
Questions You Should NOT Ask in a Job Interview
Asking the right questions in an interview can give you a huge strategic advantage. Asking the wrong questions can cost you the job. Following up on our blog about smart questions to ask, here are some things you should not ask, especially in the early stage interviews: Read More
Interviewing with the Young and Inexperienced
Many job seekers, particularly mature workers, have experienced interviewing with someone much younger or less experienced than themselves. It’s a common scenario and need not lead to disaster. Here’s how to handle it. Read More
What Have You Been Up To Since Your Last Job?
A common situation many job seekers face is having an employment gap on their resume. A gap could be due to either being out of work, or taking a job that does not require your qualifications and education and does not align with your career development. While having a period of time during which you were not working is nothing to be ashamed of, you need to be prepared to confidently discuss it, if it comes up in an interview.
If you have had a lengthy job search, answering that you have been looking for another job is not going to impress the interviewer. Read More
Don’t Let Your Appearance Hurt Your Job Search
We may not think about the impressions we make with our appearance very often. Most people are pretty set in the way they dress, the way they wear their hair, and their taste in fashion. But during a job search, you meet new people more often and are reguarly creating a first impressions. Are your looks holding you back? Now may be a good time to take a deeper look. Read More
The Introvert’s Guide to Interviewing
As not only an introvert, but also a shy introvert, I have always found social situations to be incredibly difficult. When you add the stress that anyone might feel over an important interview, nerves and anxiety can be overwhelming. But with proper preparation, practice, and patience any introvert can interview like the best of them. Read More
What I Learned from 50+ Mock Interviews
Today’s guest blog is by Bilal Aslam, who recently launched WiserProfile, giving you personalized feedback on your LinkedIn profile. Bilal is a technical visionary with 5 years of experience at Microsoft, currently an engineer on Windows Azure. Recently, Bilal was the VP of Engineering at emptyspaceads, a seed-stage startup. His passions include data mining and distributed systems.
One of my friends Gayle runs an awesome company (CareerCup) which provides phone and in-person technical interview coaching for A-list companies like Microsoft, Google and Amazon. I have been doing mock interviews for CareerCup for more than two years now. While I don’t remember the exact number of mock interviews I have done, it’s in the neighborhood of 50+. Candidates have run the gamut from hopeless to brilliant. Read More
Video Friday: Body Language in Job Interviews
Body language can make or break a job interview. In this video learn how to convey capability, interest and professionalism with body language. Read More
Video Friday: Preparing for a Phone Interview
Being prepared for your interviews can help you present yourself confidently and make the best impression. Watch this video and learn how to be best prepared for your phone interviews. Read More