The Behavioral Interview

Tell me about yourself.
Why are you looking to leave your job?
Why do you want to work for our company?
Tell me about a professional conflict you've had.

These are all very common questions asked by recruiters and hiring managers that every job seeker should be ready for. What exactly are employers looking for when they ask you behavioral questions that aren't necessarily related to your skills or the role?

Employers are looking to see if they'd want to work with you and if they'd like having you on their team.

When listening to your answer, employers are evaluating you on a few core areas.
1) Is this person excited about this position at this company or do they just need a job?
2) Can this person play well with others and solve problems or could they disrupt the current team dynamic?
3) Is this person aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and will they take criticism well?

The best way to prepare for a behavioral interview, in addition to doing mock interviews, is to do some soul searching. Have your resume in front of you and take notes about each job you've had, specifically what did you like/dislike about the job, what did you do well/accomplish, what did you learn, and how did you work with others. Being aware of these factors will help you understand what responsibilities you don't like, and more importantly what duties and roles you do like.

After you've analyzed your work history and are more aware of what you're looking for in a career move, it's important to come up with examples and stories that can be used in an interview. If you have a handful of specific examples with detailed stories at hand, you can use them for a wide range of questions. The types of examples you want to have should address the following:

• An accomplishment/success
• What are you proud of? Have you won any awards or received a promotion?
• Conflict resolution
• How do you work with difficult people? What would you change about your manager? When have you disagreed with a colleague?
• Challenges
• What has been the most difficult responsibility or project you've tackled? Have you spearheaded a new project/program? How did you successfully complete it? Did you exceed expectations?

Job searching, again? What now?

By: Marché Howell

For one reason or another you’ve come to the point where it is time to look for another job. Let’s be honest. Searching for another job is quite comparable to dating after being in a long-term (or sometimes short-term) relationship. You find yourself asking questions like ‘how do I update my resume?’ and ‘where should I search?” You’re questioning the value of LinkedIn or even rethinking going back to school or getting that certification renewed.  Whatever the case may be, you are looking to advance yourself to the next level in your career – or looking to start one altogether.

Here are a few things to consider when placing yourself on (or back on) the job market.

Invest in a quality resume.

Your resume is the first thing a hiring manager, employer, or recruiter sees and you want it to reflect you in a positive light.

Find the role you that you want and add the qualities of an individual that works in that role to your resume.Now, use discretion here, of course. You want to be honest, yet purposeful in the things that you highlight within your resume. So, if you are looking for a role in customer service, be sure that ‘customer service – like’ skills are within your resume. Lookup key words or buzzwords that coincide with the role that you want and find a way to incorporate that into what you are currently doing.

Not sure how to improve your resume? Utilize a professional resource like Inside Recruiter to get a revision consultation and other tips on things to do when job hunting.

Use sites like LinkedIn to display your resume as well as job hunt.

According to a recent study on LinkedIn usage, LinkedIn has over 433 million users with 128 million residing in the US alone.

Facing the facts, we live in a digital age where everything is done electronically and digitally. Social and grassroots media has taken over by storm and changed the way we do every day things – including looking for a job and sourcing for employees. Employers are using LinkedIn to post positions; and recruiters and HR managers are going there to recruit talent. Wouldn’t you want your information to be seen by employers? How are you supposed to get noticed by that hiring manager, director, partner, etc., if you don’t put yourself out there? Use your resources!

Practice your interview etiquette!

To the more seasoned job seekers, I know what you’re thinking. You’ve being doing ‘x’ for so long and shouldn’t have to practice…but that’s not the case at all. You’d be surprised by how difficult it is to tell an individual who didn’t work along side you what you did, how you did it and the impact or affect it yielded your department/team. These are things to practice telling a friend who works in a different industry, to be sure they understand you and can repeat back to you what you’ve said. Simple things like articulating your strengths can make or break your interview and either make you look sharp to a potential employer or unprepared.

  

It seems like a full-time job in itself to look for a new job, project to join, or next career move, so the more that you can do to be prepared, the better. Doing the little things like updating your marketing materials, investing in a quality resume, and practicing communicating your strengths are the very things that will make you stand out to employers and prove how serious you are about advancing yourself professionally. 

Just remember, employers want to know what YOU can bring to the table, so TELL THEM! Be confident and diligent in your search and that next position is yours!

Happy Job Hunting!

Related Resources: http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/by-the-numbers-a-few-important-linkedin-stats/

Staying Positive After Interview Rejection

Rejection is hard, but it's a part of life. As a recruiter, one of the most heart breaking things is desperate and depressed candidates.  This is because they won't get hired, making it a horribly vicious and unfair cycle.  This is why your internal monologue is so important.  If you have been rejected or are having a difficult period in your life, do everything you can to find a way to stay positive and optimistic.

I saw a great YouTube video, and the message about accepting your feelings and controlling your thoughts really resonated with me.  Identify what you're feeling and allow yourself to feel it, but control your thoughts and think positively.  If you didn't get that dream job, it's ok to be upset and disappointed, but it's important to remember that there could be a million reasons you didn't get the job, most of them having nothing to do with you.  So let the emotions take their natural course in and out of your system and don't let them control your attitude or take over your life.

You are good enough!

• Don't let rejection make you feel unworthy or lesser than others, everyone gets rejected. Instead of being hard on yourself, that job just wasn't the right fit for you.  Everything happens for a reason and the right job for you will come along.

Be realistic!

• There is always room for improvement.  If you got a rejection, look at it as an opportunity for improvement.  Do you need to revise your resume? Brush up on your interview skills? You are not perfect, no one is, so take rejection as an opportunity to test your resume and practice your interviewing skills, and then adjust accordingly.

How do you stop the negative emotions from taking over your thoughts? Share your tips in the comments below! :)

Why Handshakes Matter to Your Career

One of the most important things in an interview is a good handshake.  It sets the tone for the entire interview and believe it or not, you will be judged on your handshake. Perception is reality and if you have a great handshake you are most likely perceived as confident and trustworthy, making you more likely to be hired - if you're qualified of course.  A great handshake should be firm, use your whole hand (not this finger-tip handshake similar to royal ladies of medieval times), and consist of 2-3 shakes.

To avoid sweaty palms as much as possible, watch your breathing when you're in the lobby and try to stay calm; don't let your nerves get the best of you.  If you typically have sweaty palms, place your hands on your lap while you wait, don't clasp your hands together because that will just make the situation worse.  Maybe even have a napkin in your hand that you can easily put in your pocket or purse when the interviewer comes out to get you.

First impressions really do matter and the handshake is part of that.  A strong and confident handshake won't get you the job, but it will help people have a positive first impression of you.

Negotiating Pay

Money can be such a touchy subject and is always uncomfortable. I have talked about negotiating before, in this article. Make sure you do your research, find out how much people with your job title make, and make sure it's area specific. I highly recommend using www.Glassdoor.com, www.salary.com, and Google searches.

When asked about what you're willing to make, stick to professional reasons, including the amount of experience and education you have, the requirements of the job, and average pay for this kind of role. Do NOT, under any circumstance, use your financial situation as reasoning. Your bills/debt/etc should never be discussed with your potential employer, and could easily work against you.

Its always a good idea to negotiate, and if you're consistent with the numbers you give, you won't come across as greedy. For example, in discussions, if you always say you're looking for $75-85k and they make you an offer of $70k, it's perfectly acceptable to say, "Thank you, i'm extremely interested in this position and think I can make a big impact, however, I really can't accept anything less than $75k."

If they stand firm, then you can say something like, "Well I understand, but maybe we can be creative about the $5k difference. Perhaps extra vacation time or a sign-on bonus".

It's not your place to be grateful you were made an offer, it's your place to make sure this is a mutually benefiting partnership between you and the employer.

Have you negotiated your salary before? Let me know your story in the comments!

Mini Rant: How to Not Get a Job (Full Voice Mailbox)

Okay so here's the thing if you're looking for a job, your resume is out on job boards, and you're talking to potential employers and companies: clear your mailbox!

One of the most frustrating things as a recruiter is contacting candidates and not being able to reach them because I can't leave a voice-mail. Delete your old voice-mails and listen to the new ones so you know who's calling you and you can return calls for job opportunities.

There is absolutely no reason to have a full voice mailbox is especially if you're already talking to potential employers and need to hear back from people. This prevents you from getting a job in many situations because time is everything in your job search and you can lose out to another candidate very quickly. There's absolutely no reason to have a full voice mailbox when it's on your phone and you can literally press one-button to delete the message.

What are your pet peeves when dealing with recruiters? Let me know in the comments!

Interview Prep - Questions and Answers

Interviewing can be tricky, and it's normal to be nervous, but preparing for your interview is the most important thing you can do.  Check the company website, www.Glassdoor.com, and do a quick Google search for interview questions.  Write out the questions you might get on paper and practice your answers.

Ask a question at the end! Have some stock questions prepared in case you don't have any questions about the job:

• What are the challenges of the position/department?
• How is performance measured/what are the goals?
• What is your favorite thing about the company/department/position?

Be confident!  Its not just about what you say, but how you say it.  If you're not confident with your skills and experience, the interviewer won't be either.

Say "I" not "we"

Remove "I believe" or "I think" from your answers and just make the statement

"My strengths are communication and prioritizing." sounds better than "I think my skills are communication and prioritizing".

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Insider Secrets for Your Job Search

Interviewing should be a conversation, you shouldn't be rambling on for 10 minutes answering one question, and you shouldn't be give one word answers either.

Be confident, not cocky!  Interviewers aren't going to hire you if you doubt yourself or are super negative.  You're also not going to be hired if you  come across as cocky and arrogant.

Explain your responsibilities like I've never heard of that job before.  Some of what you might consider irrelevant and simple tasks can be really important and transferable, so don't leave them out.

Organization and simple formatting on your resume go a long way.  Have everything left-adjusted, use bullet points for your experience and bold the job titles and companies you've been at.  Condense what you can so there isn't a ton of blank space on your resume.

What are some tips you've heard that really resonate with you?

Guaranteed Ways to Ruin Your Interview

There are many tips on what to do in an interview, being prepared being at the top of the list. However, there are a few things you may do that tank the interview immediately. Here's what to avoid:

Saying you're not the best for the job/Talking about what you're not good at - many people feel awkward talking themselves up, and self deprecation is alive and well, but avoid it at all costs in an interview. I would never say I don't like or am not good at calling candidates, it's like saying, "Here's one of the main job duties for this role, I suck at it". If the interviewer wanted to hire you before, they don't now.  Be confident and positive about yourself and your skills.

Being Mean/Rude - its not just the interviewer that's making the hiring decision. The receptionist and/or executive assistant has a lot of say in the matter, be kind and courteous to everyone from the moment you get in your car to drive to the interview. 

The Two Most Important Things When Job Searching

Ever since the recession hit in 2008, the job market has been in the employer's favor.  While unemployment rates in the U.S. have improved overall, there are still far more applicants than there are jobs.  With the job market being so competitive, you need to be able to sell yourself to employers positively and with confidence.

Your cover letter and resume should highlight the skills and experience you bring to the table, not what you want out of a job.  You're not begging to be hired, you're telling employers why they need to hire you and what they'll get out of hiring you.

Confidence and positivity are two of the most important things you need when job searching.  It's easy to get discouraged and become jaded, but you have to catch yourself and switch back into positive thinking.  Go on Youtube and watch a clip of your favorite comedy skit, or search "funny animals".  Do something to laugh and the go back to applying for jobs, because no one wants to hire someone who seems negative or desperate.

What do you do to stay positive?  Let me know in the comments! :)

Employee Assessments - Why and How

Depending on what field you're in, employers may ask you to complete an assessment of some sort.  This could be anything from a basic aptitude test to a skills assessment or case study and can be before or after an interview.  This is usually a large factor in whether or not you're hired, so make sure you do your best work.

If instructions are given, make sure you follow them.  Talk to your recruiter about expectations, what it takes to pass, and when it must be completed by.  If it's a timed assessment (most online tests are), make sure you can give your undivided attention, and don't run up your time doing other things.

Take home tests: If it's an assessment you can do at home, make sure you give it your undivided attention.  As a recruiter I would much rather a candidate ask to turn in an assessment a day late, than rush through it and fail.

Excuses recruiters don't want to hear: I wanted to turn it in as soon as possible; I don't test well, I was sick; I was on medication; I couldn't concentrate.  All of these things are in your control.  If you need more time, ask for an extension!

Tests onsite: Ask you recruiter if there's anything you can do to prepare for the test, if yes then do it!  If there's nothing you can do to prepare then don't freak out and just make sure you read the instructions and each question carefully.

Professional References

References won't necessarily get you the job, but they could ensure that you don't.  All employers ask for references before making an offer and these references need to be professional, which can include coworkers, supervisors, and managers from your current or previous jobs.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is absolutely no point to put "reference provided upon request" on your resume.  Of course you're going to provide references when asked, that's a given, delete the stock sentence.  While you can include your references on your resume, you don't need to, and it's probably a better idea to provide them after you've interviewed and had a chance to prepare them.

There are a few important things to remember to ensure that your references will be great:

1. References should NOT be family members or friends you've never worked with.  If you put your mom or dad as a reference, you will not be taken seriously.

2. Tell your references that they might be getting called by a company, what position you're interviewing for, and if there is anything you'd like them to highlight (i.e. - an important project you worked on, award, or extra responsibilities).  Make sure the person you list is going to give you an outstanding reference; you'd be surprised how many times I've had reference calls where the person doesn't have anything good to say about the candidate.  Sometimes it's what a reference doesn't say that makes the difference, so make sure the people you list are ready to talk about how great you are.

3. Don't lie!  If a recruiter feels like something is off during a reference check, and perhaps you're lying, they can call the company's HR to verify your employment.  If what HR says doesn't match up, you could lose your chance at getting the job.

Some employers have a policy of not providing references because they're afraid of being sued for libel or discrimination, but they usually will verify title and dates of employment.  Don't count on this though, because many employers are willing to provide references and it's not worth the risk.

So make sure your references are from somewhere you've worked, know that they might be getting a call, and are willing to talk about how amazing you are.  What are some things you do when asked to give your references?  Let me know in the comments! :)

How Recruiters Get You a Job

Whether they work directly for a company or at a staffing firm, recruiters are incentivized to fill job openings, so it's important to stay on their good side.  The best thing you can do is develop good rapport with your recruiter.

A good recruiter searches for and screens applicants and then narrows down the pool of applicants to qualified candidates the hiring manager would want to consider.  It's our job to figure out what kind of pay/benefits/perks you want in order to accept an offer.  This is one of the reasons why it's so important to be honest and upfront with your recruiter.  Don't expect to turn around and ask for more from the hiring manager, it won't happen, and it could hurt your chances to get hired.

While every company is different, a recruiter will typically make recommendations to the hiring manager and do their best to bring the manager to a decision and facilitate the onboarding process.  Follow-up with your recruiter when needed and help him or her make a case for you.

Interview Prep - Your Turn to Ask the Questions

"So what questions do you have for me?" is something you will be asked in 99% of all your interviews, and you need to be able to fire back with at least two thoughtful and relevant questions.

One great question that was brought up by a student when I spoke at Cal Poly Pomona was "Are there any concerns you have about me being a good fit that I can address?".  This gets to the heart of what you want to know and allows you to recover from anything that the interviewer might see as a weakness or red flag.  This may throw the interviewer off so give them a second to think about it and make sure you respond by addressing their specific concern.

Ask about specific things at the company, such as the company culture, most important things for someone in this position to achieve, what a day in the office would look like, and the biggest challenges the department faces.  These questions are very specific and will tell you a lot about the company and the role.  These questions also show that you are serious about the opportunity and very interested

You should always end an interview with "When can I expect to hear back from you?" or "What are the next steps in the interview process?".

While you may think its funny to ask "So do I start tomorrow",  its not, don't say that.

What are some good questions you've asked the interviewer?  Let me know in the comments.

Interview Prep - What to do the Day of the Interview

Take care of everything the night before the interview, the last thing you want is to forget something or be late.  So the night before, make sure you've printed out a few copies of your resume, have paper you can take notes on, and have your outfit picked out.  Make sure you know where you're going and have your route mapped out; be aware that drive times from google maps and siri do not accurately factor in traffic, so give yourself plenty of time.  Make sure you set a couple alarms so you wake up on time.  Get plenty of sleep!  Do not under any circumstances pull an all-nighter or go out partying the night before your interview.

Go about your normal routine, if you normally eat breakfast or drink coffee, do so, but don't drink coffee or an energy drink if you typically don't, you don't need to excuse yourself to the restroom in the middle of the interview.  Take your padfolio with your notes, resumes, and directions, and head out the door.

When you arrive (5-15 minutes early), be nice to everyone from the lobby attendant, random people in the elevator, and the receptionist.  Recruiters and hiring managers ask the receptionist about your interaction, if you're nice, and if you'd be a good fit for the department, so make sure you're on your best behavior.  YOUR CELL PHONE SHOULD BE OFF FROM THE MOMENT YOU ENTER THE LOBBY!  In fact, you can just leave it in the car.

This is where all your research, discussion with the recruiter, and soul searching come into play.  You should have already discussed compensation with the recruiter, so you shouldn't need to bring it up unless the recruiter said to or an offer is made on the spot, if this is a final interview with the director, then you can bring up pay and perks.  If you prepared, then just take a deep breath, you're ready.

Do you have any interview-day rituals to get you ready?  Let me know!

Thank You's and Follow-Ups

Thank you notes are used for a number of things, but most importantly to show your interest in the role and company.  I have spoken to many managers who refuse to hire someone that doesn't send a thank you.  A thank you not should be brief, don't over think it.  Thank the manager for taking the time to interview you, and if you can, reference something specific you discussed in the interview.  You should send separate notes to each manager that interviewed you, as well as your recruiter.

Once you've had an interview, you immediately want to send a thank you note.  You can send a card or an email, but you should do it right away.  If you need to, ask the recruiter for email addresses, or to forward your thank you email.

Following-up with your recruiter is important, and while you may be anxious to hear whether or not you got the job, be patient and show restraint.  If you ended the interview right, and asked either when you could expect to hear back or what the next steps are, you should know how long to wait before checking-in.

If you were told it would be a week, then wait a full week.  Afterwards, if you still haven't heard back, then call or email your recruiter and see if there's an update, below is an example of asking for an update without being too pushy.

Good Afternoon,
I hope that your day is absolutely fantastic.  I just wanted to follow up with you about the status of my application.  I'm looking forward to speaking with you in the very near future.  Thank you so much for all your help, it is very appreciated.

**Note - Do not be a stalker and call your recruiter daily or multiple times a day in order to get a status update.  Switch between email and voice-mail in case one may be more effective than the other.

If following-up on voice-mail, be sure to leave your full name, the position you interviewed for, and your phone number.

What kinds of follow-up have you found to be effective?  Let me know in the comments!

Interview Fridays: Tell Me About Yourself - The Elevator Pitch

An Elevator Pitch is basically your brief summary about who you are and what you do and should be no longer than an elevator ride.  You can use an elevator pitch during an interview when asked "Tell Me About Yourself" or as an introduction when networking.

The key to an elevator pitch is to sell yourself and be confident without being smug or annoying.  Practice makes perfect, so rehearse your speech and ask people for feedback.  Does it sound sincere?  Is it to long? Does it make sense?

Hi, my name is Natasha and I'm a recruiter.  I've been in recruiting for over 3 years now and have worked in both corporate and agency environments.  I've hired for all types of positions including entry-level sales reps, Java Developers, and managers of health information departments.  I also work with people to help prepare them for their next job opportunity by editing resumes and conducting mock interviews.

Interview Prep - Researching the Company

Researching the company is a must-do prior to interviewing and there are a lot of tools to help you do this.  Some interviewers may ask what you've come across while researching the company, so make sure you come prepared.  Not only should you look at a company's website, but look at all their social media including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.  Keep an eye out for promotions, community activities, and any events they may have.  Here's a great article from LinkedIn about how social media can help you land your next job.

You should also look at other resources like www.salary.com and www.glassdoor.com.  Content on these sites should be taken with a grain of salt, and they are just part of the research that you should be doing.

Take notes!  During the entire interview process you should be taking notes so you have easy access to the information you've discovered or been told.  Refer to this to help you prepare for the interview.

Traditional vs Modern - Tattoos in the Workplace

Tattoos are a very controversial topic in the professional world, even in this day and age.  Traditional views mean tattoos are for gangsters and kids up to no good.  Modern views mean tattoos are for all walks of life and can be a way to express yourself.   Full disclosure - I have two tattoos that can be seen on a regular day in the office, but can also be covered up for professional meetings and conferences if necessary.  Depending on your industry and profession, it could be completely acceptable, or you could be made to cover them up.  If you work at a Disney park for example, you will be made to cover the tattoo.

My suggestion would be to research first and see how tattoos are viewed for someone in your career path, if it is not accepted, then you may want to consider getting them in places that you could cover when necessary.  When interviewing, cover up the tattoo - I say this because you don't know what the person on the other side of the table is thinking, and you don't want to give them any anything to focus on other than your skills and experience.

I do have a few hard rules: If you're getting a sleeve, make sure it cuts off before the cuff of a dress shirt, and no face, neck, or hand tattoos.  There's no way to cover them up, and it will be more difficult to find a professional job.  Also, laser removal is extremely painful and expensive.