Interviewing

The thing about getting a job is that there is no simple and easy "follow these steps and you're guaranteed to get hired" formula. Here at Emurse we give all kinds of tips and strategies and here's another for inspiration: 4 of the steps most critical to getting hired.

• #1: Customize your resume and pitch to each interview.
• #2: Focus more on results and a little less on skills and responsibilities.
• #3: Get the inside track, meaning make a point to find out and understand the company's culture, focuses, and needs before you apply and interview (so you can better do #1!).
• #4: Make a great first impression by dressing the part and having a positive, powerful presence.

For most people background checks are no big deal, but for those who aren't so lucky and find themselves sweating bullets over a misdemeanor in their past it can be a real source of stress -- and if handled incorrectly -- it could mean a lost job opportunity.

Although there's nothing that can be done to keep a misdemeanor from showing up on a background check there are steps you can take to minimize the damage when it does:

• Prepare in advance (before you even go to a first interview) to answer uncomfortable questions about your background -- know what you're going to say and how you're going to explain important points.
• Avoid becoming anxious or defensive if/when the subject comes up in the interview (especially if it comes up unexpectedly).
• Be upfront and honest (but don't necessarily bring it up until the interview gets to the background check stage) and don't try to cover it up, pretend it didn't happen, or hope the employer doesn't notice it. You'll only end up looking worse.
• Tailor your list of personal and professional references to show character and to counterbalance any concerns created by your less than perfect history.

Imagine you are a hiring manager for a moment. You have an interview set up and the candidate walks into your office very meekly and offers up a limp handshake with a "Please hire me, I need a job so bad" look on his/her face. Despite the lack of confidence, you pursue the interview and the candidate seems to answer your questions and then some, talks badly about his/her previous employer when asked why he/she left, and seems only concerned about his/her new compensation, benefits, and/or vacation. Upon completion of the interview the candidates gets up to leave and makes little eye contact. Immediately following the interview your receptionist comes in and complains how the candidate was quite rude. As a hiring manager do you think you would hire this candidate? I seriously doubt it.

As such, I have compiled the five interview mistakes you absolutely need to avoid when meeting with a potential employer.

Ideally you should be researching the companies you are applying to before you ever submit your resume for a position they have posted. However, with unemployment currently hovering over 10%, I can understand why job seekers will blindly apply to positions in hopes of finding something -- anything -- that will pay the bills. In case that didn't cross your mind initially though, it is essential to research the company before you actually interview with them. Common themes for researching should be to find out more about the role you applied to, basic information about the company (what they do, how they do it), and even research what current/former employees feel about the company.

It's common to be nervous before attending an interview. I mean heck... sweaty palms, fumbling over words, lack of eye contact... it happens all the time. I see many signs of interview nervousness and tend to blow it off to just that. However, there are some instances where the manager just couldn't ignore the red flags. A survey of top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations turned up these stories of unusual behavior by job applicants. Here are some of the best of the collection of interview mishaps...

" A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."

"Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."

"A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? When do I start? What's the salary?" I said, "I assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll pay me more. "I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer."

"... asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security."

Q. What five or six adjectives best describe you?
A. Really, really, really, really, really cool.

Q. How do you handle change?
A. I usually put it in a jar in my sock drawer.

Q. Are you willing to take a drug test as part of your employment?
A. Sure. What kind of drugs do I get to test?

Have you ever seen something you could not believe in an interview? Maybe asked a very random question during an interview... comment and let us know your story.

Interviewing for a new job is stressful enough without ending up in a situation where you're faced with an interviewer who's cold, abrasive, or even downright hostile. And since the current economy and sparse job market makes every interview that much more important, you might be inclined to try and "save" the situation. But is that always possible? Unfortunately (and realistically), probably not. But does that mean you shouldn't give it your best shot? Hell no!

So here are a few steps for making the best of a bad situation:

Our friends over at Rock The Job have a new video up discussing the importance of researching the company before your interview. Eric, a guest on the show, recalls a job he once took without properly investigating what the company actually did. Turns out, he soon found himself working for an e-mail spam company!

As the economy continues to sour, many are finding themselves more and more desperate for a new job. It's worth remembering that doing your homework before accepting any position is still just as important. Taking a job that is not the best fit may distract you from finding a job you really love.

Have you ever found yourself in an interview that wasn't exactly what you had hoped for, or worse, found yourself employed by a company only to find out they're selling Viagra via e-mail?

Share your stories with us!

There is one question that everyone hates to answer. A question that is difficult to overcome because you are never sure what the right answer is, never sure how to approach it, and it can be deadly to an otherwise successful interview. This question involves self assessment, a fine tuned answer, and a positive delivery. This question almost always comes up... Tell me...

What is your greatest weakness?

MSN recently surveyed hiring managers across the country and asked them some of the craziest things they have heard in an interview. Some of the answers are silly, some just plain mind boggling, others leave the reader questioning what the candidate was thinking.

Here are our favorite really bad answers:

One job posting and a slew of potential candidates. You were one of the lucky ones who secured an interview. How do you make sure to take the most advantage of the opportunity?

Lock down the interviewer before it is over through proper preparation. Proper interview preparation involves being prepared both mentally and physically. Before you go on your interview make sure you do the following:

1. Get a good nights rest the night before. Nobody likes to interview someone who looks like they haven't been sleeping and has bags under his/her eyes.

2. Research the company and position thoroughly. Make sure to read though the job description, check out the companies website, have questions prepared, and know what it is they are looking for in the right candidate.

Negotiating salary always seems like the most stressful part of the job interview process. You want to make sure you are happy with what you are being paid while simultaneously not pricing yourself out of a great opportunity. Nevertheless, paying your bills and living a comfortable lifestyle are important factors when you think about the hard work and hours you will be putting in to earn all that. Today's economy and tough times have made this process even more difficult.

Here are some tips to help you negotiate your salary in a recession.