What to Do and What NOT to Do
You might feel as though hiring managers want to hear about how you’ve been struggling, just took out a cash advance for fast cash and need a job now. However, they could care less about any of this during an interview. Unfortunately, job seekers have committed such interviewing blunders, says the annual survey of the worst interview mistakes at CareerBuilder.com.
Awkward behavior isn’t the only thing that will kill your chances of landing a job. When asked about the most dangerous and common mistakes that interviewees could possibly make, 51% of hiring managers said dressing out of sorts. 49% said slamming former bosses as the wort offense, though 48% also named disinterest was the deciding factor. These were just a few reasons that were given, others included asking the wrong questions, arrogance, and giving answers that were insufficient.
For the sake convenience, here are 10 mistakes people have actually made so you don’t repeat their mistakes at an interview.
Oh, No She Didn’t!
There was once a candidate who answered her cell phone in the middle of an interview and asked the interviewer to leave his own office because it was a “personal” conversation. You shouldn’t EVER do this. You must not forget that you are being judged, whether you like it or not, from the moment that you walk into the doors of the establishment. Turn your darn cell phone off, and stop being a teenager already, or at least put it on silent or vibrate.
Don’t Provide TMI
A guy filling out an application for a job told the interviewer that he probably wouldn’t be staying with the company long because he was expecting an inheritance check when his uncle died, and “he looked half-way to death at the moment.” He finished by adding, “I just need some fast cash to pay off some debt.” This isn’t the kind of thing that a hiring manager or interviewer wants to hear about. If you plan on not being at the company very long, and can’t supply a date when you plan to leave, it’s best not to apply for the job at all.
Arrive Prepared
One candidate asked the interviewer if they could catch a lift home after the interview. Odds are that if you don’t know someone, you don’t want them in your car after only 30 minutes of bonding time. Make sure that you are prepared before you arrive to the interview, and that means securing a ride there and back.
Express Yourself – But Not Too Much
There was an applicant who lifted each of his arms and smelled his armpits before entering the interviewing room. Obviously, make sure that issues of personal hygiene are sorted out before you go to interview for the job. Interviewers logically think that if you’re unsure of your cleanliness at an interview, you will be at work as well.
Don’t Lie
There was an interviewee who told the interviewer that she couldn’t provide the company with any writing samples due to the fact that all her work was previously for the CIA and marked as “classified.” It would be impossible to know if she worked where she did (the resume should list it), and it wasn’t what you say during an interview. As a professional, a writing sample should have been drafted before entering the company’s doors. As if it hasn’t been stressed enough, show up prepared.
Know When to Keep Thing Professional
Never do what one candidate did and tell the interviewer that he was fired for beating the crap out of his former boss. This is the kind of situation where an interviewer respects a persons’ honesty, because they know they won’t be hiring that person. Though the information you’d like to give might be true, ask yourself if it belongs in an interviewing conversation.
Keep the Vices at Home
An applicant was offered some cookies, food and refreshments before an interview and declined them, saying with excitement, “I can’t line my stomach with that grease before I get drunk tonight. I’m getting ripped!” While everyone has their own personal vices, it’s not good to mention the ones during an interview that could lessen your chances of getting the job.
Prove You Should Be There
At an interview for an accounting position, an applicant said that she wasn’t a “numbers person,” she was a “people person.” That probably didn’t go over will with the interviewer. Make sure that you can prove to the person interviewing you why you are there and what your skills can bring to the company or business.
Even Over the Phone, Be Polite
During a phone interview with a hiring manager, one interviewee flushed the toilet. As you can guess, the hiring manager didn’t call the candidate back. Make sure that you are professional and polite at all times. First impressions can be lasting.
Groom Yourself BEFORE the Interview
The applicant waited until the middle of the interview to take a comb from her purse and give her hair a touch-up. Some don’t mind keeping up appearances, but there is obviously a time and place for it. You don’t want the state of your hair, clothes, brutal honesty, or body odor to get you a ticket back to the unemployment line or a fast cash advance instead of into a new career.
In this economy, people might not want to seem ungrateful for the jobs they have, but it’s only natural to dream of greener pastures. After all, some professions just seem more exciting or prestigious than others. Salary.com recently conducted a survey to find the most glamorous professions, and here are the top five. But what does it actually take to land one of these jobs?
- How to Make a CV Standout Image by SOCIALisBETTER via Flickr
Creating a resume is perhaps one of the most important documents you will ever write. It can help you find the dream job, unfortunately for many people, the resume seems to be a stumbling block to finding the perfect opportunity. How many times have you sent your resume and sat by the phone waiting for a call to be interviewed?
1. Your CV must reflect your market
Who will you be sending the CV to, what will they be looking for, what will make it stand out? Here are a couple of examples. If I was going for a sales job I would first want to get the sales managers attention. How do I get the sales managers attention? By explaining in the first Paragraph my sales achievements. In my current job I may be the top performing sales person. When I send my CV, after my name or under it I may write something like (XXX co current Top Performing Sales Person).
A Doctor or an accountant may put their qualification after their name. Ensure you qualify your experience.
2. Make a CV about your achievements – Not your job
This is the most important aspect as it will make your CV stand out from all your competition. I would estimate about 95% of resumes out there list responsibilities rather than achievements. Lets imagine you have two applicants for an accounting job, one reads
1999- 2009 Finance Manager – Deutsche Bank
Responsible for
Managing a team of 5
Ensuring year end process is completed on time
Improving processes
Performing budgets, forecasts and analysis
The other reads
1999- 2009 Finance Manager – Deutsche Bank
Achievements
Managed and developed a team of 5, through ongoing coaching and mentoring two of the team have gone on to become Finance Managers.
By identifying process improvements I reduced the year end close from 12 weeks down to 4 resulting in a saving of over $300,000 in extra resources
2008 budget I identified and accomplished cost savings of over $3m saving the jobs of 5 staff.
Who would you rather invite in to interview?
3. KISS – Keep it Simple, Stupid
If you follow the above you shouldn’t have any more than two pages. Many people try and pad out the resume by filling it with fluff and generic statements. If you can’t get the interviewers attention in the first few seconds they won’t read any further. Keep it succinct and to the point. Avoid the urge to describe yourself eg: Max is a hardworking, committed and creative individual with a great eye for detail. You’ll be amazed at the amount of people who claim to have great attention to detail and when you read the resume it is littered with mistakes.
DO NOT put a picture of yourself on the resume. This never ever works (unless you are a supermodel) and it can create a negative image. Its a bit like going on a blind date. If you showed a photo before the date you give them an excuse not to meet you (unless you are Brad Pitt).
4. Make sure the right person gets to read you CV
Too many times people don’t get an interview because the right person hasn’t seen their CV. There are many barriers blocking you from the decision maker, HR, PA’s, line managers. Before sending your resume make sure you find out the name and contact details of the MD or Head of the business. If you are going to apply for a job using an online application make sure you follow it up. There was just an example this week at work where a guy had applied for a job direct with the company using their online application process. After a few weeks he hadn’t heard anything and I called him about the job. I put him forward to the line manager who loved him and offered the job. The next day this guy gets an auto response from the companies HR team saying he had been unsuccessful. This happens all the time.
5. One CV doesn’t fit all
Treat your resume like the bait when fishing. If you cast in a few times and don’t get any bites perhaps you may be using the wrong bait. Remember that the resume serves one purpose only, to compel the reader to want to find out more. You may want to make minor adjustments dependent upon the job you are applying for.
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Everyone approaches a job interview with some degree of apprehension. So just what are the top interview questions? Whilst preparing for a job interview is extremely important, most people assume they would benefit from having a list of sample job interview questions. However if you want to make a great first impression during the Interview think about:
- What you are going to say? – How you are going to say it? – How you are going to act, beforehand?
1. Do Your Homework
You can never have too much information – log on to the company’s website, get hold of company literature and find out about competitors. Your homework will let you demonstrate impressive interest in the organisation
2. Make A Good First Impression
Look smart and professional; dressing to impress means erring on the side of ‘traditional’ rather than ‘trendy’. Plan your route and allow plenty of time to get to the interview. Be courteous, smile and shake hands firmly.
3. Body Language
Despite being well qualified, you need to look motivated and interested in the job. Your actions, posture, gestures and facial expressions, reveal a lot about you. Remember to look the interviewer in the eye and don’t be afraid to smile when appropriate. If there is more than one interviewer, always look at and address the person who posed the question; glance at the others when you have finished your answer. Adopt a good posture and don’t cross your arms, fidget, tap your feet, sprawl or lean forward anxiously.
4. Sound Positive
You must be ready to expand on the information presented on your resume and anticipate the path the interviewer might take. No one fits a job perfectly so emphasise your most relevant skills and slant answers to reassure the interviewer that any shortfall is not a problem. Don’t use tentative language or phrases such as ‘I feel I could’, ‘I think I can’. ‘Perhaps I would’ – dilute the strength of your case. Avoid yes and no answers to which make the interview more like an interrogation. Be enthusiastic but don’t constantly interrupt, don’t be evasive – make a virtue of any career gaps on your CV
Tip! Practice before the interview; test yourself by talking out loud or presenting to partners and
friends
5. Handle Tough Questions With Confidence
Employers deliberately ask questions designed to see how you behave and react in certain
situations. Giving positive, fluent answers isn’t as difficult as it might seem, advanced planning makes it easier to anticipate general enquiries and prepare coherent,
effective responses. Be smart, turn these questions into an opportunity to take the initiative and ‘sell’ the exact message you want. If you don’t understand a question, seek clarification before answering: – Never guess or give a knee-jerk response – It’s much better to admit that you don’t know an answer
6. Be Prepared For The Following Questions
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would your manager describe you?
- What is your career path for the future?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
- What motivates you to be successful?
- How do you react when you are left to work without supervision?
- Give me an example of when you feel you have coped extremely well under pressure at
- work?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
you have constructively overcome it – E.g. “Speaking in front of large crowds isn’t something I feel comfortable doing, so I try
to speak up in team meetings more often.”
7. Interviews Are A Two-Way Process
Always prepare questions in advance about the job or company. This is a good chance to clarify any points of doubt, you need to ensure that the job is exactly what you expected and what you want.
8. Suggested Questions To Ask
- What are the opportunities for career progression?
- What are the training opportunities?
- What are my precise responsibilities?
- How much travel is involved?
- What are the targets for the first 6 months?
- How long will it take you to make a final recruitment decision?
9. Close On A Confident Note
Leave the employer with a good final impression. Smile, thank them for their time, say you enjoyed discussing the job and that you are interested. Ask them what are the next steps of the process and ask if they have any further questions.
Competency interviews have become increasingly popular
So what are behavioral interview questions and how should you answer them to ensure you get hired? A competency based interview involves asking the candidate questions concerning their specific experience. The questions require detailed answers in which the candidate should provide insight as to how competently they dealt with certain situations (hence competency interview). The result gives the interviewer an accurate insight to the candidates ability to perform the role successfully based on relevant experiences.
Unfortunately many candidates are ill prepared for behavioral interview questions and when put on the spot struggle to give detailed answers. It is therefore essential that you prepare your answers before undergoing a behavioral based or competency interview. So how do you prepare for the interview and what type of questions will you be asked?
Here are 5 tips that will help you answer behavioral questions in an effective manner
Preparing For A Competency Interview
Prior to the interview please ensure you get a detailed job description. Whilst looking at the description put a tick next to every area you have relevant experience. Order them strongest to weakest. Now looking at the areas that you don’t have exposure to think of something you have done that is similar or think of a situation in which you have had to learn a new skill. You are going to use this example during the interview in case your lack of experience is mentioned.
How To Answer Great Interview Questions
If there are specific responsibilities such as managing a team, meeting sales targets or working to deadlines think of examples/achievements in which you’ve displayed that quality. If you are struggling to think of examples try and think of the proudest moments in your career. Perhaps a time you were commended by your boss, a customer or your colleagues.
Break the event into three parts
a) THE SITUATION – Describe the scene to the interviewer, was there a crisis? A customer complaint? A tight deadline? How did you identify the situation?
b) THE PART YOU PLAYED – Once a decision had been made on how to resolve the situation, how did you do it? If part of a team, what part did you play. If the plan wasn’t working what did you do next?
c) THE RESULTS YOU GAINED – What was the outcome of your actions? Did sales increase? Did you make a customer happy? Did you save the company money?
Do Not Use Hypothetical Answers In A Competency Interview
If you don’t have experience in a particular area be honest and say so. But don’t leave it at that, use an experience that is similar or may have some relevance. If you are asked to provide an example of how you have increased sales but haven’t been in a sales job, perhaps you can provide an example of how you have influenced a decision at work. You may have persuaded an unhappy customer not to buy elsewhere.
Possible Interview Questions
If the example you provide did not have a positive outcome, focus on what you learned from the experience. Articulate how it changed the way you performed your job and made you better. The interviewer may ask you to provide examples of times when you have been under stress, failed at a task or even been fired. It is important to remember that everyone makes mistakes. The behavioral based questions will enable the interviewer to discover exactly how you deal with failure and disappointment.
Remember that 90% of success comes from the preparation. Most people fail at a competency interview not because they can’t do the job but because they don’t convince the interviewer they can do the job!
