The Job Awful Truth’s: 5 Interview Tips To Keep Your Phone Ringing (Volume 1)
When you are actively pursuing new opportunities, the process will most likely start with some type of phone interview. Sometimes this will be a simple phone screen with a Human Resources representative, but sometimes it will be with the actual hiring manager. Regardless of who you speak with, the five tips in this series will give you the best chance of reaching your next goal in the process, getting to the face-to-face interview.
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1. BE PREPARED…
THE AWFUL TRUTH is, this will be the only time for you to make the first impression and you are at a disadvantage already. Over 50% of human communication is done through body language and with that piece missing in a phone interview, it is imperative that you be well prepared. Start with a printed copy of your resume so that you and the person you are talking with are looking at the same document. Have a list of your top accomplishments written out and placed in front of you. Remember to focus these accomplishments around ways that you have either saved a company money, made a company money or improved a process or procedure. In addition, you will want to have the research you have conducted on this company for reference. As you share your accomplishments, you can relate the information you have gathered to the company and the position you seek. Have a pen and paper for taking thorough notes. Lastly, you will want to have your calendar readily available should the opportunity arise to schedule the face-to-face interview. THE AWFUL TRUTH is, winners don’t wing it, they come prepared, do these things and you should move right on to the next step in the hiring process.
©Copyright, 2009, Nicole Dukehart and Jennifer Bruton. All rights reserved. Used with Permission.
The Job Awful Truth’s: The 7 Deadly Sins of the Job Search
WRATH ….
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Do you hate your boss? Are you angry because you were passed over for a position that you were clearly the best qualified for? Are you feeling frustrated and unappreciated in your current position? Sometimes these feelings are a good thing, they are just the push you need to leave your comfort zone and actually pursue your next best career step. However, you need to put all of your negative feelings aside during your job search, this is not the arena to exact your wrath. THE AWFUL TRUTH is, nothing will submarine a great opportunity for you faster than speaking negatively of your current or previous employer. Your interviewer is not your counselor, they do not need to understand why you are so angry or what a big jerk your boss is. All an interviewer sees, in those situations, is a person who will be trashing their company the same way next year and a potential employee problem. You have to put a positive spin on why you are looking at the position. Speak in positive terms about what this opportunity can do for your career, for example, “I think I could grow with this company and have a better chance at advancement”, “I love the team philosophy here and could really thrive in this environment.” When your motivation to make a job change is prompted by feelings such as anger, wrath or rage, then you need to keep that to yourself. THE AWFUL TRUTH is, you need to put on a happy face when interacting with others during your job search, and then if you really need to, go home and punch a wall.
©Copyright, 2009, Nicole Dukehart and Jennifer Bruton. All rights reserved. Used with Permission.
The Job Awful Truth’s: The 7 Deadly Sins of the Job Search
ENVY –
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Do you find yourself thinking things like “I can’t believe Bob just got that new job, my numbers were better than his?” Do you spend precious moments obsessing over the fact that you and Charlie have the same skill set and comparable experience, but he is getting 10X the number of interviews? THE AWFUL TRUTH is, it is a significant waste of your time to focus on other people’s job searches. You will be much more successful in your own job search if you focus on yourself. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing, your energy is better spent identifying ways to improve your resume, acquiring new skills to make you more marketable, and networking with those that can help you get hired in the positions you seek. THE AWFUL TRUTH is, being envious of someone else’s success only takes away from your own.
©Copyright, 2009, Nicole Dukehart and Jennifer Bruton. All rights reserved. Used with Permission.
The Job Awful Truth 