job-hoppers-haven

Complete Interview Preparation Guide

Prepare for your interview:

·         Research the company on line (and read their financials if they are publicly traded)

o   Understand how they make money

o   Determine how your skills and experiences can benefit the organization

·         Read these BLOG articles posted on our candidate website:

http://greatjobs4greatpeople.typepad.com/job_hoppers_haven/2007/01/your_hired.html http://greatjobs4greatpeople.typepad.com/job_hoppers_haven/2007/02/preparing_for_c.html

http://greatjobs4greatpeople.typepad.com/job_hoppers_haven/2007/03/proof_statement.html

http://greatjobs4greatpeople.typepad.com/job_hoppers_haven/2007/09/4-interview-str.html

http://greatjobs4greatpeople.typepad.com/job_hoppers_haven/2007/04/subtle_intervie.html

You must demonstrate how your skills, experience and personality translate to the job you are interviewing for.

·         SELL your skills

·         SELL your personality

·         SELL your attitude on life

·         SELL your best traits

·         SELL your accomplishments

·         SELL how easy you are to get along with and manage

·         SELL that you are promotable

You must handle the most popular question /statement  "tell me about yourself"

·         WRONG ANSWER  “I was born in 1972 and went to Jefferson High School.  In the summer I worked in my father’s bakery as a dough boy.. 

·         RIGHT ANSWER

o   I am currently a “YOUR CURRENT JOB TITLE”  with experience working within “YOUR INDUSTRIES” (manufacturing, telecommunications or banking etc.) and list a few of your top skills (financial statement preparation, financial analysis, month end close, mergers and acquisitions etc.).

o   Briefly demonstrate an accomplishment you think is related to the job you are interviewing for ( I obtained my CPA within 2 years after graduation and recently reduced the monthly reporting cycle time 2 days through an automation project I completed using Excel and Macros for my department).

o   Then say this “Before I go into more detail, perhaps you could share with me a little more about the position and company so I can concentrate on relevant details about my background”.

This positioning statement has 3 VERY IMPORTANT elements

(1)   A brief statement describing you as a professional.

(2)  Highlights an accomplishment which makes you stand out from the competition.

(3)  Redirects the interview back to the employer so you can determine what the employer needs to accomplish (as discussed in the website articles above). 

Here is a great way to handle the “Money Talk” 

·         Speak in terms of what you make

·         It is OK to tell them your BASE SALARY, your BONUS, BENEFITS, PERKS, STOCK OPTION PLAN, FREE CELL PHONE, GYM MEMBERSHIP etc. if you have these.

·         It is NOT ok to tell them WHAT you want to make.  Leave that to us. 

·         It is OK to say “ Thanks for asking.  I am interested in working here because (fill in the blank).  Please contact my recruiter to discuss those details.  Let me assure you I am reasonable and very interested in working here”

Ending your interview

Ask the interviewer a question like this one, using your own words “Now that you have evaluated my experiences and skills, do you think they will translate into the “insert job title” role?   If you are not convinced that the hiring manager is comfortable, you must act and handle the unspoken OR spoken concern. 

o   It is vital you handle any concerns, doubts, fears the employer has at the time of your interview, because the moment you leave, the decision to advance you or remove you from the hiring process is more than likely decided. 

Maximize your phone interview with these simple tips

1.       Interview in a quiet room with a copy of your resume with you.  Highlight your main accomplishments so you don't forget to use them.

2.      Stand up  and pace the floor during the phone interview.  Do not sit at any point during the call.

3.      Be energized.  Raise your voice 15-20% to project a better voice tone through the phone.

4.      Ask this question EARLY in the interview “what do you need this ‘insert job title here’ to accomplish for you?”

5.      Demonstrate, using detailed examples, how you would accomplish the task you uncovered in question #4.

6.      End on a positive note and tell the interviewer “This role is exactly what I am searching for in my next career move. What is the next step?”

7.      Send a short email thank you note.

 

Handling the most popular question  "tell me about yourself"

 

WRONG ANSWER  “I was born in 1972 and went to Jefferson High School.  In the summer I worked in my father’s bakery as a dough boy…

RIGHT ANSWER

1        I am currently a “YOUR CURRENT JOB TITLE”  with experience working within “YOUR INDUSTRIES” (manufacturing, telecommunications or banking etc.) and list a few of your top skills (financial statement preparation, financial analysis, month end close, mergers and acquisitions etc.).

2       Briefly demonstrate an accomplishment you think is related to the job you are interviewing for ( I obtained my CPA within 2 years after graduation and recently reduced the monthly reporting cycle time 2 days through an automation project I completed using Excel and Macros for my department).

3       Then say this “Before I go into more detail, perhaps you could share with me a little more about the position and company so I can concentrate on relevant details about my background”.

This positioning statement has 3 VERY IMPORTANT elements

(1)   A brief statement describing you as a professional.

(2)  Highlights an accomplishment which makes you stand out from the competition.

(3)  Redirects the interview back to the employer so you can determine what the employer needs to accomplish (as discussed in the website articles above). 

Subtle seeking versus persistence

In Job-Hunting, Subtle is Best by Carol Lippert Gray - September 5, 2007 from jobsinthemoney.com Of course, you want to stand out. But when you're trying to convince a firm you're the solution to their problems, there's a fine line between creative and weird. For example, hiring managers say applicants try bribery in the form of coffee for the entire office, Yankees tickets for the interviewer, or invitations to dinner. A senior recruiter once received a fruit basket from an applicant. She comments: "The guy did get hired, but not because of the fruit." Some applicants may be inappropriately persistent. One called incessantly for weeks, both before and after the position was filled. Another asked for an additional interview after being told the job was taken. And some do just plain weird stuff. Last year, a survey by CareerBuilder found tales of a candidate who wore a tuxedo to an interview (which is probably less weird than the one who came dressed as a cat); a candidate who brought a baby gift for the interviewer, who was pregnant; the stalker candidates, one who sat next to the hiring manager at church, and another who waited for a hiring manager at his car. "We're not really sure why people do those things," says Theresa Chu, a Chicago-based senior career advisor at Careerbuilder. If you can't decide whether your attention-getting scheme is appropriate or hare-brained, she suggests, "step back and try to see yourself from the hiring manager's point of view." Doing that can mean reading up on what the company is looking for before you go to the interview, bouncing ideas off of friends to see how they react, and going through a mock interview with someone you trust. Less Obvious - But No Less Unsuitable Of course some candidates are on target and impressive. They're appropriately dressed, give Power Point presentations, distribute portfolios of their work on CD, or offer to work for a day to showcase their skills. Others find the devil is in the details, says Marilyn Bird, manager of professional staffing services for Robert Half International. "I have heard about people who've fallen asleep during an interview and getting argumentative about the requirements of the job," she says. However, it's the simple things that "can be so very terrible for your first impression if you're not going to go about them in a professional way," she adds. One example: a handshake that's too soft or too hard. To paraphrase an old saying, you need one that's just right. Another oops: wearing too much perfume or cologne. Additionally, Bird says, "One of the fastest ways candidates talk themselves out of a new job is to speak negatively about a previous or current employer." It's better to "use a positive, optimistic tone instead of dwelling on what's not there." Bird cites other fine points: Don't arrive more than 10 minutes late or early. Be cordial to everyone you meet within the company, both before and after an interview. Don't appear greedy. "Asking about salary or benefits too early on in an interview can be a red flag." Have questions about the position, the company or the hiring manager. "How could you possible know it all on the first interview?" And don't forget that your resume is a sales tool. "Don't make your resume into a creative masterpiece," Bird advises. Remove non-work-related information, avoid fancy fonts and paper, and never attach a photograph. Finally, if you think an attention-getting stunt is really unusual, think twice. Would you rather be remembered in the HR office as that weirdo who did such-and-such, or the employee who's getting promoted - again?

seven tips for getting great references

Developing All-Star References
By Alesia Benedict

Every job seeker knows that when applying for a new job, great references are almost as important as a stellar resume. It’s generally the first thing a hiring manager will ask for in an interview, so you’ll have to be prepared.

What’s the best way to develop your references? Can you just write down a few names and contact information of people who’ll say you’re a good employee who won’t run off with the office supplies? Not exactly.

Developing great, usable references does require some work, but it’s not impossible! Here are a few tips to help you create an all-star list of references.

1. Who Makes the Cut?

   When compiling your reference sheet, the first question you should ask yourself is the most logical one: who’s on the list? Your first instinct might be to choose someone in your company with an executive job title or strong name recognition to people outside of the organization. But, the last thing you want is for a recruiter or hiring manager to make a phone call to this higher-up and hear a response like "Joe who?" For this reason, director supervisors and others who have day-to-day knowledge of your work performance make the best references.

2. Are They Competition?

   While your references should be someone you’ve worked closely with, they shouldn't’t be someone who could end up being your competition. They need to have strong knowledge of your work performance, but, for this competitive reason, they should be in a different functional line of work.

3. Ask Permission

   You’ve done your investigative work and have your VIP list of strong, knowledgeable references. But, do they want to be on that list? Maybe not. It’s vital that you get the permission of each and every one of your references before handing their contact information to a recruiter or hiring manager. Once they’ve accepted your request, you’ll need to double check their contact information and find out how they’d like to be contacted - via phone or email. Make sure to also ask when they prefer to be contacted, so they aren’t caught off guard when a recruiter calls.

4. Find References’ References

   Recruiters and hiring managers know that anyone you reference is going to say good things about you. Of course, right? You certainly wouldn’t list a reference who would speak poorly of you. This is why hiring professionals often ask most references: "Who, other than you, has direct knowledge of Joe’s work performance? Can you give me their number or email?"

   So, be sure to ask each of your references the same question "Who would you recommend as a reference for me?" If they name someone who might not give you a glowing report, take the opportunity to steer them away and suggest an alternate person.

5. Get it in Writing

   What’s even better than email or phone references? Letters of recommendation. Written references will save you the time and energy that organizing phone references requires. Save yourself even more time by saving every "pat on the back" you get from your supervisor or colleagues throughout the years. When it’s time to job search, these saved accolades will prove invaluable.

6. Proper Presentation

   References should only be provided during the interview. Never include them in your resume or send them in with job applications. When you’re called in for an interview, however, it’s best to have the prepared document to present to the hiring manager.

7. Keep it Professional

   Your references should be strictly professional - choose colleagues or peers who have direct knowledge of your work performance. The "character reference" from an executive’s friend or family member generally isn’t very helpful for the hiring manager, so including one is unnecessary.

After you’ve landed your new job, it’s always a great idea to send each reference a thank you note to show that you appreciate their help in getting you there.

Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC, is the Executive Director of GetInterviews.com. She’s also been cited by Jist Publications as one of the "best resume writers in North America," quoted as a career expert in The Wall Street Journal, and is published in 20+ career books. Alesia’s services come with a guarantee -- interviews in 30 days or they’ll rewrite for free!

Guesstimate Interviews

None of my clients use these tactics, but it is a great interview tip just in case you are asked.

borderline HUMOUROUS video about how to talk about yourself in the interview

He kind of reminds me of Will Ferrell when he turns to the side and pretends to bomb an interview question.  He has a few good tips, but mainly I just wanted to comb his hair away from his forehead!

4 Interview strategies

Short audio\video explains how to behave DURING the interview depending on the personality type of the interviewer.

Great Interview Questions

Steve Adams, IT Manager at CashChoice, shared with me his thoughts about interviewing.  Here are a list of some of the questions he uses in an interview.

1. What can you tell me about the company?
2. What happened to the last person in that position?
3. How much travel, if any, will be involved?
4. Have you had any layoffs recently?
5. What kind of education and experience are you expecting?
6. Are you expanding your operations?
7. Are there any opportunities for advancement or promotion?
8. What systems will I be working with?
9. Who will I be reporting to and what is their background?
10. How large of a team will I be working with?
11. How much of an opportunity will I have to expand my skill set?
12. How would you characterize the relationship between this department and the company?

Subtle interview no-no's

Being a sales guy I am acutely aware of those around me.  If I am selling to a CFO I strive to keep her engaged in the conversation and think about their biggest problems (to which I present a potential solution).  So it comes as a great surprise that candidates don't "read and react" quick enough or at all in an interview.  Jeff, the CFO, is an existing client was just chatting with me about some of his recent interviews.  Jeff interviewed three Treasurers from me and was optimistic that he could hire one of them.  Jeff interviewed another treasurer candidate from a competitor, The Lucas Group, and he nixed the candidate in the first 30 seconds!   

Jeff was completely unimpressed with the candidate's unprofessional appearance and they didn't walk at his  speed.  Examined out of context this appears trivial.  A slow walker doesn't indicate performance, does it?  Well in this case it did!  The candidate had one strike against them for not looking the part of a six figure professional and then proceeded to fall behind as Jeff walked down the hall to his office.  Jeff turned to speak and the candidate was 10 yards back. 

TIP: if you have to follow behind the interviewer you have to match their tempo stride for stride.  Failure to keep up might imply a lack of energy, drive and lack of social awareness.  An "A-type" boss will be a natural competitor and expect you to share that competitive drive. 

Proof statements are the KEY to a successful interview

Congratulations on securing an interview.  I will explore and pontificate on several key topics in this most important phase of job-hopping.

A. Research by reading the companies 10Q and MD&A.  If they are not publicly traded you are limited to the company website, Hoover's and Atlanta Business Chronicle.

B. Create a list of your top 10-15 significant accomplishments.  These are proof statements.  What have you made, saved, implemented, reorganized, restructured, invented, that made an impact?  Now consider the client and how these relate to their organization. 

C.  Within the first 15 minutes of your interview ask the hiring manager what are his/her biggest challenges, obstacles, issues, projects, strategic initiatives that she/he is facing.  You now have the road map for your interview.  Tailor your comments, ideas and remarks to address his/her needs and use your proof statements.

D.  Dress for success. 

Download Womens_Interview_Dress_Etiquette.pdf

Download Interview_Dress_Etiquette_Men.pdf

Files are in in Adobe Acrobat.