Interviewing

A close contact of mine was hiring for a position in his department at a Fortune 500 firm. He had spent a great deal of time wooing one candidate in particular who initially wasn't sure he wanted to leave his current job or relocate his family but said he might do so for the right opportunity.

After passing several rounds of interviews, it became clear he was the front runner. But the candidate kept asking for more time to make the decision, stalling with more questions, and asking for more in his compensation package, with my contact doing everything he could to accommodate.

In this series of articles, I have been discussing managers' opinions on qualities they value in a "Dream Employee." In Part 1, I shared three aspects: Servitude, Attitude, and Intelligence. In this post, I'll highlight two more essential qualities to master for career growth: Good Communication and Being the "Real Deal."

So you made it through the pre-screens and phone interviews, and got the call. The one that says show up at this place and this time for the big interview for the job you've always wanted. So on "Interview Day," you are pumped and ready to hit the starting line and get the interview underway. But where exactly is the starting line? Do YOU know? Some obviously don't. Let's work backwards to figure this out.

Many of you have had unique experiences working with recruiters during a job hunt. Some good and some not so good. Like every profession, there are "good people" and then there are others. You need to do your own homework to ensure you are working with a reputable recruiter. At the same time, you need to do what is expected of you to avoid harming your chances to land a job they are working on. After all, they hold the keys to the opportunity. It is essential for you to have a great working relationship.

With this in mind, I recently polled my recruiter community to find out their top "pet peeves" about working with candidates. I know you have you own list for them, but theirs is a good one to read to ensure you are a stand-out candidate. I have included their Twitter name so you can ask them follow-up questions if you like. This is a smart and reputable bunch. Heed their advice and you'll be glad you did!

Everyone makes mistakes, but one of the worst times to do so is when you're applying for a job. Despite your best efforts, there are some mistakes you simply can't recover from, such as submitting a resume and cover letter addressed to the wrong employer or hiring manager, but other errors do not necessarily spell doom for you.

Robert Half International has outlined the following common mistakes job seekers make and tactics that will give you a fighting chance to recover:

Mishap No. 1: You arrive too late

If there's one rule of interviewing it's to never arrive late. And yet, despite leaving your house with plenty of time to spare, you get stuck in traffic and watch as your meeting time creeps closer and closer. The key here is to not wait until the last minute. If you expect to be late, call the hiring manager to explain your delay and provide an estimate as to when you will arrive. In most cases, the person will understand the circumstances and be able to postpone or reschedule the interview. The hiring manager will question your professionalism and desire to land the position if you keep him or her waiting without an update from you.

• #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.

• 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.