Where do you see yourself in five years? It’s a question many people face in interviews, yet don’t take the time to prepare for it. You may be tempted to envision where you’ll be in five years on a personal level, but that’s not an appropriate way to answer the question. Read More
Note Taking During Interviews
To take notes, or not to take notes: that is the question. Many job seekers might have been wondering about what to do about note-taking during job interviews. On the one hand, you want to write down important items that come up during the conversation. On the other hand, you don’t want to seem inattentive and distracted, or miss out on other important things your interviewer said while you’re busy writing down her last sentence. Read More
How To Answer “What Do You Know About Us?”
“What do you know about us?” It’s a common but puzzling question that gets asked at many interviews. Last week we talked about how to research companies. Today, how to present the information you gathered in a way that shows you did your research and highlights why your skills and background would be an asset to the company. Read More
Showing an Employer You’ve Got “Fit” – Part 2: Demonstrating Your Fit
Last week, we talked about exact what “fit” means in the hiring managers’ mind. Now you understand the possible meanings behind “fit”, next step is to clearly demonstrate you’ve got it.
Showing You are a Fit
Interviewers rarely ask “Do you think you would fit in here?” Yet they are measuring fit all the time. The job seeker must proactively demonstrate fit. Given how subjective fit can be, it’s important to bring out your fit throughout the interview. Here’s how: Read More
What to Wear to a Job Interview
It’s the night before your dream interview and you are getting ready. You’ve researched the job and the company, you have directions to the interview, and now it is time to pick your outfit. First general rule of thumb: always dress one step above of what people wear to work at that company. Read More
Video Friday: Researching People before the Interview
Good preparation for an interview includes researching the company and the position you’re applying for, but it also includes researching the individuals who will be interviewing you. Here are some tips for helpful research you can do. Read More
The Easiest Elevator Pitch to Deliver
Today our guest blogger is Jeff Haden. Jeff is a columnist for CBSMoneyWatch.com and Inc.com. He has written more than 30 non-fiction books, including four Business and Investing titles that reached #1 on Amazon’s bestseller list.
Jeff learned much of what he knows about business from managing a 250-employee book manufacturing plant. Everything else he picked up from ghostwriting books for some of the smartest CEOs and leaders in business. Follow him on Twitter at @Jeff_Haden.
I’m terrible at delivering elevator pitches. While some people are great at making a wonderful first impression on potential clients, to me making an elevator pitch feels forced and obvious, so I usually chicken out and console myself by rationalizing that impromptu encounters with people in need of a ghostwriter aren’t likely anyway. 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
Troubleshooting Tuesday: Stalling After Interviews
Interviewing is the most important phase of a job search. Few people get hired without a successful interview. Yet it’s also a place where many job seekers get stuck. On Troubleshooting Tuesday, we are moving through each phase of the job search, tackling and fixing common sticking points. If you are generating job leads, and being invited in for interviews, but not getting called for second interviews or job offers, it’s time for a deeper look at what it takes to interview successfully. This week we’ll focus on preparation for interviews. Other Troubleshooting Tuesdays will help refine communication skills and other aspects of interviewing.
Interview Invitation: Tell Me About Yourself
I’m impressed with how well this video demonstrates techniques for covering the talking points that everyone will deal with during a job interview. John Heaney walks you through the following points: