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/

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.

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".

End of Summer Sale!

Hi Everyone!  I'm having an end of summer sale now through September 30th.  Prices for all services start at $30 and you can get an additional 20% off if you refer a friend!

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• LinkedIn Profile
• Interview Prep

Email me at insiderecruiter629@gmail.com or call 213-290-3142 to get started! :)

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?

Profile Summary for Resumes

I am a strong believer that Objective Statements on resumes are pointless, so how should you start off your resume?  Well a "summary of qualifications" or "profile summary" is always a good idea and can highlight your main strengths as well as give your resume a focus.  If you're a student or recent grad, this is a great place to include what area or industry you want to go into.

The most important thing to remember for the summary section is to keep it brief, focused, and quantitative.  Do not use this section to say how much of a team player and goal oriented person you are (those are just buzzwords anyway).  Instead, use this section to say how many years experience you have, what industry or career path you are focused in, and any skills or experience that's relevant.

For example, if you have been working in retail or the food industry and are now going to school for nursing, not only should you focus on the customer service and human interaction in your jobs, but you should make sure your summary focuses on your schooling and the skills you've learned in your classes.  Any recruiter or manager looking at your resume will know that you are focused in healthcare and nursing roles.

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. 

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.

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!

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.

Interview Prep - What to Wear

A good rule is to over-dressed rather than under-dressed, but you should always dress professionally and ask your recruiter what the dress code is.  Generally, you want to wear business or business casual attire, but you should always be conservative.  If it's something your grandma wouldn't like you wearing, don't wear it to an interview.  Also, I love to add a splash of color, it's an interview, not a funeral.  Size also does a lot, make sure your clothes fit you properly, too tight or too loose will not look right and will not impress in an interview.

Women
Formal Business Attire - Conservative blouse, knee length business skirt or slacks, conservative closed-toe heels/flats, suit jacket
Business Casual - Conservative blouse, knee length business skirt or slacks, conservative closed-toe heels/flats






Men
Formal Business Attire - Dress shoes, button down dress shirt, tie, slacks, suit jacket.
Business Casual - Dress shoes, button down dress shirt, slacks

Getting the Call - Initial Phone Interviews

The first thing a recruiter does if they like your resume, is call you.  That's the entire purpose of a resume - get the call.  The phone screen is our way of seeing if you fit the job description and are interested in the job. Phone screens vary greatly depending on the job and the recruiter.  Some might take 5 minutes, while others take 45 minutes.  A phone screen usually takes about 15-20 minutes and covers what's on your resume and the details of the job.  This is where you can explain anything on your resume and highlight your strengths.

If you get a phone screen, there are several things to remember:

1. It's OK to Reschedule - You weren't anticipating someone calling you, so if you're in the middle of something, in a noisy area, driving, or have a bad connection, its OK to ask to reschedule.  I would much rather call you back, then deal with a distracted candidate that I can barely hear.
2. Be Prepared - You didn't know I was calling, but you better know what is on your resume when I ask you to go over it with me.  Tell me about your experience, but please don't ramble.  Remember K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid - I think I'll do an entire post on this motto one day).
3. Ask Questions - Maybe you applied to 10 jobs over the weekend and have no idea what the companies were, that's fine, don't tell me that, but ask me about the job, what your responsibilities would be, what's expected of you, and if you could be emailed a job description
4. Take Notes - I'm taking notes as we talk because there's no way I can remember it all, and you should too.  Write down what we discussed and what questions you still have, this will be useful if you make it to an interview

Questions I always ask during a phone screen:

• Tell me about your experience
• Why did each job end? (layoff, quit, fired)
• What are your responsibilities in your current job?
• What are you looking for in your next job opportunity?
• What are the things that are important to you?
• How much were you paid at each position?
• What do you want to be paid in your next role?