Let’s be honest. Prepping for interviews is tough. You’ve probably read hundreds of articles telling you what to wear, what time to show up, etc. etc. etc.
You keep getting interviews, but why won’t anybody hire you?
The job search isn’t easy. You can submit 50 online job applications and never hear back from a single company.
But what do you do when you ARE getting interviews, but never progressing beyond the first or second round? Your resume isn’t the problem, so there must be something else holding you back.
We’ve got you covered. There can be plenty of reasons you aren’t getting the job offer. Let’s dig in. (more…)
How Do You Choose?
This question differs from “tell me about yourself” in that the interviewer expects a specific, targeted response related to one specific project.
Interviewers ask this question for two reasons: they want a better picture of your abilities, and they want to learn about you personally by seeing what you think is your biggest accomplishment.
But it can be difficult to choose just one accomplishment, especially if you haven’t prepared a response ahead of time. Here’s how to make sure you’re ready for this question.
Do you have an answer ready?
This question is like the shark in Jaws. You never know when it’s going to attack. It could be at the beginning of the interview, or maybe in the middle. It’s even possible it catches you off guard at the end when you think you’re safe.
What’s so scary? It’s only five words. “Why should I hire you?” You might also get “Why do you want to work at this company,” or something else along similar lines.
The scary thing is that answering these questions requires plenty of preparation beforehand. This is probably not an answer you can come up with right away (especially if you first consider saying “because I need money, duh.”)
Here are a few essential things to include in your answer.
Here’s what you had to say.
Recently we asked our Movin’ On Up readers the interview questions they need help with.
The top choice was “What are your top five strengths and weaknesses,” with more than 32% of the vote. “Why are you leaving (or want to leave) your current job/company” came in second with just under 13% of the vote, followed by “Why should I Hire You,” “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years,” and “Other” with 9% each. The rest of the responses were as follows:
- “Tell Me About Yourself.”—8%
- “What Are Your Most Impressive Accomplishments to Date.”—5%
- “Describe Your Perfect Work Environment/Company Culture.”—4%
- “What Would Your Coworkers Say About You? Both Good and Bad.”—4%
- “Why Do You Want to Work At Our Company?”—3%
- “Do You Like to Take Charge of Projects and Situations or Would You Rather Receive Direction?”—3%
- “If You Could Change Something about Your Past (Or Current) Job, What Would It Be?”—1%
- “Describe Your Perfect Boss/Manager.”—1%
Interviews can be tough.
When you sit down with someone you’ve never met before, answering personal questions about your work history and experience can be awkward.
The key to acing an interview? Being prepared for those rough questions.
We want to write articles perfectly matched to your interview question concerns. So take our poll and let us know what questions you want help with! We’ll use your responses when creating content for 2019. (more…)
You’ve got your foot in the door, but how do you make sure they let you in?
We’ve all been there. The interview is over, and you feel great. You breezed past every question, provided solid references, and you know you’re the right person for the job.
But three weeks go by and you don’t hear anything. Weeks turn into months. Did you do something wrong? Is there anything you didn’t cover in your interview?
You want to touch base with your interviewer to see if you’re still in the running, but how do you do that?
Believe it or not, it all starts mere minutes after your interview ends.
Step 1: Write a Thank You Note
As soon as you get home from an interview, start drafting a handwritten thank you note. This should be brief, but powerful. Mention something new you learned about the organization, like what a typical day is like or what you learned about their workforce. That shows you’re not only interested in the company as a place to work, but in the people and culture as well.
Companies interview many, many applicants. Sending a great thank you letter is a wonderful way to stand out and help them remember you. Making yourself memorable means they’ll be more likely to get in contact with you in the future about the interview process.
Step 2: Send an Email Inquiry
The best way to get in touch about next steps is to send an email. Wondering how to make that email stand out? As noted by CareerSidekick, reply to an existing conversation. You’ve already talked to your interviewer by email (or someone in HR), so replying to that same email chain makes it easier to remember who you are.
Change the subject line to something specific regarding your interview. This can be something like RE: Last Monday’s Interview or RE: John Smith’s Interview Status. Something that catches the eye and gets straight to the point.
Step 3: Write the Email
A great follow up email should be short and sweet, but packed with specifics. Start off by using their first name, and then mention the exact position you’re applying for. Sprinkle in a few details about why you’re the best person for this position. Then tell them you enjoyed the interview and are excited to learn more about the company.
Finish up by asking about next steps and when you might hear something about the position.
Not quite sure what to say? Here’s a basic template! Feel free to adjust it to your needs, but try to keep it short and simple.
“Hi Edward,
It was wonderful interviewing with you last week regarding the Administrative Assistant position. I enjoyed learning about your company culture and hope to get started with Company Name soon! With over ___ years of experience, I’m excited to start working with Company Name.
If it’s not too much trouble, could you provide me with information regarding next steps and when I might hear back about the position?
Thank You,
Bobby Schmidt”
Call
You should only call as a last resort. If you’ve emailed and still not heard anything after a month or more, then it’s alright to pick up the phone. Politely ask about the status of the position. If they tell you it has been filled, thank them for their time and tell them you’ll be sure to apply for another position in the future. Just because this job wasn’t right for you doesn’t mean the next one won’t be perfect!
Do you have any more questions about following up after an interview? Let us know in the comments section below!