TEN JOB INTERVIEW TIPS

Here are ten tips to increase your chances of landing the job!

1. Go after small organizations with twenty or fewer employees, since they create two-thirds of all new jobs.

Small is better for increasing your odds of actually getting the job. Small employers usually don’t have a dedicated recruiter, so you will most likely be interviewed by the person or people you will be working with on the job. You can check them out while they check out you.

If benefits are very important to you, keep in mind that bigger is better. Generally, the bigger the company, the greater variety and better the benefits that are available.

2. Hunt for interviews using the aid of friends and acquaintances, because your job-hunt requires eighty pairs of eyes and ears.

You will get a job faster through networking. Employers really want to hire someone they know. If they don’t know you, you may not get the interview. If they know someone and that person recommends you or does the introduction, it increases your chances by 80%.

3. Do thorough homework on an organization before going there, using Informational Interviews, the library, the internet and industry magazines.

All the resources have some piece of information about the organization. You cannot be over-prepared. Knowledge is power. Sometimes just the fact you took the time to research the company, will get you the job.

4. At any organization, identify who has the power to hire you there, for the position you want, and use your friends and acquaintances' contacts, to get in to see that person.

This goes back to networking and getting to know the right person. People are risk averse. That means that they want to be certain they hire the right person. They want to know the person they hire. Getting known can only help you.

5. Ask for just twenty minutes of their time when asking for the appointment; and keep to your word.

This will get you the informational interview. Get known. Meet them. Demonstrate your passion, knowledge, abilities and previous experience. They will welcome it. Instead of having to find you, you go to them!

6. Go to the interview with your own agenda, your own questions and curiosities about whether or not this job fits you.

Interviewing is a two-way street. You may not want the job after you find out more about it. Or you may not feel you’ll get along with the person in the day-to-day business of the job.

7. Talk about yourself only if what you say offers some benefit to that organization, and their “challenges.”

At this point in the relationship, they only care about you can do for them. WIFM – What’s In it For Me to hire you? That is the whole point of the interview. So only talk about what you can do for them. If you know what their challenges are up front (see #3- research the company), come to the interview with a solution or two. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be workable.

8. When answering a question of theirs, talk only between twenty seconds and two minutes, at any one time.

Think of some questions you’ve been asked during previous interviews and come up with some ready responses. Then sit and time your responses. Twenty seconds can be a long time. Be succinct and only answer what they ask you. Stay focused on what they asked, and only answer that question.

9. Approach the interview as if you are a resource person, able to produce better work for that organization than anyone else.

Position your skills, knowledge, abilities and previous experience as a resource for them to use to solve their challenges. Don’t be a know-it-all, but demonstrate how you can help them. “This challenge is very similar to a problem I had at … and we/I solved it this way…”

10. Always write a thank-you note the same evening of the interview, and mail it at the latest by the next morning.

I’m going to go old school on you and suggest actual pen to paper and putting it in snail mail to each panel member. Bring these materials with you and write them in your car after the interview. Then pop them in the mail on your way home.

The alternative is to send individual email messages that afternoon to the interview panel thanking them for the pleasure of their company and taking the time to interview you. Tailor each message to each panel member. They may compare notes/emails and you don’t want to appear cookie-cutter or lazy.

Bonus tip: Be prepared! Yes, the Boy Scout motto works well in the job hunt. Come to the interview with extra résumés and cover letters. Carry business cards with your name and contact information ready to exchange with the interview panel. Dress your best for the interview. Be ten minutes early. Relax; you know you’re a good fit. Just show them the real you in all your competent and experienced glory.

This Week’s Coaching

Review these tips and see were your vulnerabilities lie. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel and the better impression you’ll give. All good.

Are you spelunking or mountain climbing yourself? I am referring to last week’s post about uncovering and identifying your values. Keep refining your list so that you know exactly what your “must haves” and your “deal-breakers” are in this lifetime. This works in job interviews too. If a job or the company’s process or the interviewer, crosses one of your deal breakers, you can be clear on why you are turning down a job. Conversely, if they echo your values you will know immediately that this is right for you. Let me know how it is going for you by sending me an email or making a comment below.

A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream.

All things are possible,

Elisabeth

Elisabeth Adler-Lund

Executive and Life Coaching

Telephone: 916 • 803•1494

E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com