Job Interviews

6 Things to Bring to an Interview

By shannon on Monday, June 8, 2009

As you prepare for an interview, you might be thinking about what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to say, and how you’d love to land the job. But, have you thought about what you need to bring? Before you head out the door for your next interview, make sure you have these six things in hand.

Good attitude.

Many employers hire attitude over skills, so it’s imperative that you bring a good attitude to every interview. If you’re pessimistic during the meeting, potential employers might fear that this attitude will carry over into the workplace.

Copies of your résumé.

Even though you already submitted your résumé to your potential employer, bring a few extra copies printed on nice résumé paper just in case you need one. You never know – another person other than the interviewer might want to sit it on your interview, or the interviewer might request another copy for their records.

Knowledge of the company and position.

Before any interview, make sure you’re knowledgeable about the company and the position you’re applying for. If you’re unprepared, employers will notice and think you’re apathetic about the job itself, a quality that may translate into laziness in the workplace.

Portfolio.

Depending on your type of work, you might have examples of your previous projects or tasks. If so, make sure to bring a few samples with you to demonstrate – not just talk about – your skills, from design work to writing.

Copies of your reference list.

Take a couple copies of your reference list printed on nice paper just in case the interviewer requests this information from you. If they don’t request it, make sure you offer to leave a copy behind.

Manners.

Displaying appropriate manners shows you’re courteous of others and that you respect authority. Be sure to say “please” and “thank you” at the appropriate times before, during, and after your interview. Also, make sure not to chew gum, roll your eyes, or talk bad about your former employers.

Acing any interview takes more than wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and having the right connections. So, make sure to take your interview preparation to the next level, and bring these six things with you every time.

Need more help preparing for an interview? Check out these posts:

Responding to the Top 7 Interview Questions
5 Things Not to Say in a Job Interview
4 Job Interview Musts
Ace the Interview by Asking Great Questions
3 Interview Mistakes to Avoid

Job Interviews

Standing Out in the Interview: What Your Hobbies Could Say About You

By tiffany monhollon on Monday, May 18, 2009

In the résumé writing process, it’s common advice to include community service, awards, and volunteering to demonstrate that you’re a well-rounded candidate.

But, have you ever thought about how your hobbies could help you stand out as a candidate in the interview? How you spend your leisure time reflects your passions in life. And in today’s job market, it’s important to interject your personality into the job search process so you can stand apart. Here are some common hobbies and how you can use them to reflect your personality – and creativity – in your interview.

Reading

If you’re an avid reader, whatever your preferred genre, this hobby can demonstrate a hunger for knowledge or adventure. If the opportunity arises within the interview, you can tap into the knowledge-reservoir you’ve gained from this hobby by using an illustration from a favorite novel to talk about an insight you’ve applied to work.

Example: “Here’s what Lord of the Flies taught me about dealing with human nature in corporate politics…”

Crafting

Crafting comes in many forms, and it’s a great hobby that directly illustrates creativity put to practice. Have you used a logic or thought-process from constructing a craft and applied it on the job? Maybe you’ve started a part-time business selling your wares? Talk about experiences you’ve had or things you’ve learned from your favorite craft project to demonstrate your creative or entrepreneurial spirit.

Example: “Whenever I sit down to create a new scrapbook page, I go through the same planning process, but I’ve learned how to follow my instincts, too. Here’s how I apply that concept to my work…”

Pop Culture

Do you love movies, television, or other pop culture? Maybe you’re an avid fan of a specific genre or form. This hobby can do more than just produce great water cooler conversations between you and your co-workers. It can also show your hip, in-the-know side. Try talking about observations you’ve made from pop culture you admire and how that can apply to your field or discipline.

Example: “I think director J.J. Abrams has a real knack for respecting the history of a show but at the same time finding creative ways to give life to old ideas. I aim to apply that same process to building a business strategy…”

Entertaining

Do you love cooking, hosting parties, and celebrating special events? This hobby does more than just make you the life of the party, it can show an aptitude for strategy, a flair for creativity, and an excellence at executing a plan. Talk about a unique idea you had for a recent event and how that applies to the job.

Example: “I wanted to test a new recipe before the party to see if it would appeal to kids. So, I made a batch and shared it with children in the neighborhood. Just like when I’m planning a celebration with my friends, I like to incorporate feedback to make a better project at work…”

What are You Passionate About?

These are only a few examples of common hobbies and how you can talk about them in an interview. Whatever your hobbies, whether skydiving, horseback riding, or building computers, can you find ways that they apply to your job skills?

Spend some time jotting down all of your hobbies on a piece of paper, and before each interview, check your list to see if any of them apply to the type of work you’re interviewing for. Then, find appropriate times to talk about them during the interview. This trick can also build commonality between you and an interviewer if they share the same hobby. Make sure you don’t dwell too long on a hobby, and try to talk about it in terms of how it applies to the job you’re trying to land. And, choose the hobbies you want to talk about carefully to make sure you leave the right impression. Interviewing with a traditionalist may not be the appropriate time to talk about how your fight club taught you how to resolve conflict!

Have you ever talked about a hobby during an interview? Share your stories – and how your hobbies applied to your job search – in our comments section.

Career Advancement Job Interviews Salary and Promotions

Negotiating Salary in a Recession

By tiffany monhollon on Monday, January 26, 2009

You may think that in a recession your salary negotiating power is gone. In fact, for many people, things are so bad they would rather take a pay cut than suffer a job loss. The truth is, a recent poll showed that many Fortune 500 companies are looking at freezing merit based raises for the coming year. For many people, salaries may freeze or decline throughout 2009.

That said, highly skilled, experienced, or recruited candidates may find that now, they are worth more than ever to employers. So, if you have experience in a field that’s in high demand or have recruiters knocking on your door, don’t worry. Your salary level is probably fine. But if you’re searching for a job or are in an industry that’s feeling the economic slump, now is a great time to brush up on your salary negotiation skills. Selling your skills and experience in an economic climate like this will be challenging. So, here are three ideas for negotiating a salary in a recession:

Make it about their money.

If you’re a proven candidate who’s been successful at saving money for employers in the past, whether by cutting budgets, using innovative ideas, or changing processes, make sure to sell the value you add to a potential employer to save them cold, hard cash right now. Many people can prove they’ve spent a company’s money. But proven power in saving money in a business setting is a rare talent. So, make sure you sell your ability to save the company money by sharing actual dollar amounts you’ve saved. If you’ve saved a company in the thousands or millions, you can make your salary about saving the employer’s money, and chances are, you’ll get paid what you’re worth.

Make it about your performance.

Here’s something to consider when you’re talking money with a potential employer once a job offer’s been extended. Tell them you’re willing to base your raise or bonus on your performance. Set the stakes yourself. If you can accomplish their goals for the position before their allotted time frame, or if you can raise productivity levels in measurable ways above the last person who had the position, it would be worth it for them to pay you more. So, let your boss or potential employer know that you want a better salary but are willing to work for it. Then, give them a deadline to make the change by. Here’s an example: if you meet their goals within the first three months, they agree to give you an immediate 5% raise, no questions asked. And if you exceed them in measurable ways, they will give you another review to consider an even higher raise.

Make it about your time.

Time is money. So, if an employer says they can’t afford to pay you what you’re worth right now because of the economy, suggest that you would work for what they can afford to pay you but at a reduced schedule. For example, if you can prove you deserve to make 20% more than they’re willing to pay but they still can’t pay it, see if they’ll work out a compromise until the economy picks back up and they can afford to pay you more. Suggest that you would be willing to work 20% less time than the job description requires but at the salary they can afford for a full-time person now. If you are a valuable enough candidate or employee, this may just be the solution to meet both of your needs.

When you’re negotiating salary, make sure that you approach the subject with professionalism and tact. Go into a salary negotiation discussion prepared with the facts about what you’re worth, but don’t alienate a potential employer by being insensitive to their business needs, especially in an economy like this. By positioning yourself as your potential employer’s ally when it comes to talking about salary in a difficult economic situation, you’ll be more likely to get paid what you’re worth and help your employer weather the storm.

Have you successfully negotiated a new salary, even in the recession? Share your tips and insights in the comments!

Job Interviews The Job Search

Post-Interview: Following Up with a Phone Call

By james on Thursday, December 4, 2008

After you’ve prepared to ace a job interview and the interview is over, you might feel like you knocked it out of the park. Now what? Sending a polite thank you card is a great idea, but what else can you do?

Calling to follow up with a potential employer can help you stay fresh in the hiring manager’s mind. But be careful – with phone calls, there is a fine line between sounding like an enthusiastic go-getter and becoming just plain annoying. To help you make a post-interview follow-up call that will leave a positive impression, practice using these tips.

Stay Patient.
You may feel that you should be a shoe-in for the job, but it may take the interviewer a while to get back to you. Time seems to move incredibly slow when you are waiting for “the call.” But, keep in mind that hiring managers can have substantial workloads and may be physically unable to get back to you. If you call too soon, they might not have much news for you. It’s best to wait two to three days before following up.

Speak with a Person.
When calling, try to speak with a person instead of leaving a message on a machine. Preferably, speak to someone who was present at your interview. If you reach a receptionist and the interviewer is unavailable, ask when they would be available to take a brief call. If you must leave a message, limit the number of voicemails you leave to one or two spread over a couple days – flooding the interviewer’s inbox will likely annoy them. After a significant amount of time has passed and if they still haven’t returned your calls, focus your time on other opportunities. Would you really want to work for someone who doesn’t respond to you anyway?

Keep it Brief.
When you’re able to speak to someone, keep your conversation short. There is no need to recite your credentials or detail why you’re perfect for the position. Hopefully, you already covered that in your interview. Instead, just express your continued interest and enthusiasm for the position. Use this opportunity to politely ask if the position has been filled or if you’re still under consideration. If you’re still in the running, ask for a timeline for their decision. Finish the call by saying “thank you” for the opportunity to speak with the interviewer.

When trying to reach the interviewer by phone, being assertive can sometimes come off as over-anxious, so restrain yourself from being too pushy. Taking a proactive and confident, yet relaxed, approach to the post-interview follow up can be a simple act that helps you land the job.

Job Interviews

4 Job Interview Musts

By Jennifer Kenley on Friday, October 31, 2008

Job seekers worry so much about preparing for the big things before a job interview – the résumé, the research, the qualifications – that they forget about the basics. Simple job interview etiquette can be the factor that makes or breaks an interview.

So, here are a few “small” things that you need to remember before heading into an interview.

Don’t chew gum. Chewing gum is definitely a no go. The interviewer can’t concentrate on what you’re saying if you’re smacking your gum obnoxiously.

Do dress appropriately. Wearing clothes that are too tight or too baggy will distract you and the interviewer during the interview. Make sure you wear something that is comfortable, yet professional. If you’re unsure, it’s always better to dress up than to dress down.

Don’t forget your manners. “Please” and “thank you” are not a thing of the past. When going on an interview, remember to be courteous to everyone in the building. You could have a great interview, but if your manners are lacking to even one individual, you could lose your chances at landing the job. You never know who can influence your desired boss’s decision.

Do be professional. Whether you have a loud voice or tend to go into a shell when you’re nervous, make sure to adapt your mannerisms to the personality style of the person you’re interviewing with. You don’t want to go to extremes, so don’t overpower or close off during an interview.

The next time you go on a job interview, don’t assume you have all your bases covered. Remember that sometimes the little things make all the difference

Job Interviews The Job Search

3 Tips for Interviewing While Still Employed

By shannon on Monday, October 20, 2008

If you’re like many other workers, you’ve probably started looking for a new job opportunity while still employed, although it wasn’t something you announced to your co-workers or supervisor. It can be tricky trying to schedule interviews around your work schedule without sharing too much information or being disrespectful. Here are three ways to help you schedule job interviews while showing respect to your current employer.

1. Schedule on your own time. The most obvious way to plan an interview, yet not always the easiest, is to schedule it on your own time away from work. Explain to your potential employer that you’re still employed and would prefer an interview time before or after your work hours, or on your lunch break. They’ll understand that you’re being respectful toward your current employer, and will appreciate your courtesy.

2. Request time off. If the hiring employer has a set time for interviews and is unable to accommodate a special request, you might have to interview during work hours. In this case, request time off from your current employer ahead of time instead of calling in sick the day of. Use your paid time off or ask to make up your missed hours at another time, explaining that you have an important appointment to attend and tried to schedule it outside of work hours but was unable to. And, keep your co-workers in mind and avoid scheduling your interview during team meetings, near deadlines, or when your co-workers need you most.

3. Keep it to yourself. There’s no need to divulge this type of information to your supervisor or co-workers. If you tell your current employer that you’re headed to an interview, they can deny your request for time off or even ask you to clean out your desk. Simply share that you have an appointment to attend and leave it at that. Don’t elaborate or construct a lie. You can also ask your potential employer for confidentiality and to not contact your current employer.

Many others have successfully interviewed while still employed, and you can, too. Use these tips to plan your interviews accordingly and your interview just might turn into the job you’ve been waiting for. Good luck in your job search!

Job Interviews Reader Surveys The Job Search

What Do You Want to Know in an Interview? The Questions You Don’t Ask

By tiffany monhollon on Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Have you ever been in a job interview and thought of a question you really wanted to ask but weren’t sure if you should? The reality is, there are a lot of things you won’t know about a job until you actually start it. But there are ways you can ask some of the tough questions when you’re in the interview so you’ll know better what to expect.

We want to know the top questions you want to ask but won’t. Vote in our poll, and we’ll address the top questions in a later post.

poll by twiigs.com

Think of something that’s not on this list? We still want to hear from you.

Let us know the answers you’re looking for in an interview by leaving us a comment.