Posts tagged with “interviews”

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.

Job searches are comprised of a multitude of paths that you can take to eventually garner a substantial career opportunity that fits both your professional and personal goals. Whether you decide that your search should rely mostly on your personal network or you chose to primarily submit your resume to online postings, one thing is certain: the amount of contacts you'll meet and eyes that will see your resume will likely be unmatched by the experience of attending a job fair. As such, here are some preparation tips and suggestions for that exact situation.

You've created a great resume on Emurse -- now what?

While we take many steps to help get your resume listed on the major search engines, there are a few things you can do to help increase the traction your resume finds online. Over the years we've heard a lot of great testimonials and have seen a lot of creative uses for Emurse resume links.

We've put together a list of the best ways to utilize your new Emurse resume and get the most out of the site!

Six Easy Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Resume

#1 Take Advantage of Your E-mail Signature
Perhaps the most effective way to spread the word about your resume is to include your resume URL in the signature area of your e-mails. Not only will this tell your personal and professional network where to find your latest resume, you'll be able to see instantly who views it ;) Many of our users have been including their resume in their signatures with absolutely fantastic results.

You'll be building your professional network with each and every e-mail!

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.

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:

%Gallery-68026%

Those hours, days, and weeks between interviewing and waiting to hear back can leave even the most confident people questioning everything from their people skills to their personal hygiene habits. But how can you tell if you really bombed a job interview? For starters you can ask yourself these questions:

Did you make a bad first impression? Obvious reasons to answer this as 'yes' would be if you arrived late, noticed you were dressed inappropriately, or addressed your interviewer by the wrong name or title.

Did you come off as unfocused or uninterested? Signs of this are if the person interviewing you ever had to repeat questions, ask you lots of follow-up questions on the same topic because your answers were too vague, or if you struggled and were awkward when answering common/simple questions about the job and/or company.

Was there a general lack of rapport? Where you casually leaning back in your chair and cracking jokes when the interview started only to find the other person serious, stiff, and not amused? (Or vice versa).

Read more bad interview clues and tips here, plus remember that even bad interviews are good for something: experience!

Veredus, a Florida based recruitment agency specializing in technology job placement, recently posted a video crash course on interviews.

Here's the summary with 9 solid tips for a successful interview.



Interview Tips

Tip #1: You only get one chance for a first impression. Make it a good one.
Tip #2: Be properly prepared for the interview.
Tip #3: Learn about the company and do your research in advance
Tip #4: Be interactive, positive and confident
Tip #5: Dress for success.
Tip #6: Treat your interviewer the way you would like to be treated. Courtesy, positive & engaging.
Tip #7: Interview the interviewer. Ask questions.
Tip #8: Take every precaution to control your environment during a phone interview.
Tip #9: Be confident.

Have any other quick tips? Share in the comments!

When conducting interviews, most employers and recruiters are looking for a combination of characteristics related to a few key themes. When thinking about potential answers to questions you might be asked, it can help to have some background on what these themes are.

Peter Veruki writes in his Business Week bestseller, "The 250 Job Interview Questions you'll most likely be asked",

"There are twelve types of information recruiters seek in a typical job interview. Knowing what these points are, and being able to discuss readily how each point relates to you, will make you better prepared and more in control of the interviewing process. Think of your twelve themes as sales messages."

Veruki identifies twelve topics to consider when preparing for your interview.

Twelve Key Interview Themes

1. Passion for the Business
2. Motivation and Purpose
3. Skills & Experience
4. Diligence & Professionalism
5. Creativity & Leadership
6. Compatibility with the Job
7. Personality & Cultural Compatibility
8. Management Style & Interpersonal Skills
9. Problem-Solving Ability
10. Accomplishments
11. Career Aspirations
12. Personal Interest & Hobbies

For more information on how to use these themes when constructing answers to popular interview questions, pick up a copy of The 250 Job Interview questions you'll most likely be asked.

In most structured interviews, you will have the opportunity to ask your future employer questions. Asking questions during an interview helps show the interviewer your knowledge of the firm and interest in the position.

When coming up with questions to ask in your interview, remember that its not intended to be an interrogation. Try to ask questions that the interviewer will be able to answer. If the interview doesn't go so well and you get the feeling that the position you are inquiring about, take the opportunity to inquire about other opportunities within the firm that may be a better fit.

Here are some example questions to ask in an interview:

"What skills do you think are the most important for this position?"

It's been a couple weeks and you haven't heard back. Is it time to follow up with HR?

Laurie Ruettimann from PunkRockHR.com says no. The goal isn't to follow up with HR, but to figure out who the hiring manager is and follow up directly with them. While this may seem difficult, plenty of search and social networking sites are around to help make this task far easier than it used to be.

Laurie also points out one key point to remember no matter who you are following up with -- Stalkers don't get hired. Don't go overboard.