Interview Tips (146)
We talk a lot about out-smarting interviewers and beating them at their own game -- but it's also worth remembering something important:
Most hiring managers do NOT like interviewing candidates.
Many of them completely hate the hiring process altogether.
Why?
Because it takes them away from their *real* work, and forces them to spend days, sometimes even weeks, interviewing different people.
Each time a new person walks through the door and takes a seat, they're desperately hoping that he or she will be the one.
A member asks:
I would like to receive your advice if you do not mind.
I had an in-person interview a few weeks back, and the Hiring Manager gave me some immediate positive feedback as he escorted me through the door.
He literally said, "You did really good in your interview".
When I got home, I emailed a thank you note within 24 hours. However, since then I have not received any response from the Hiring Manager or Recruiter regarding the position.
I sent a follow-up note to the Hiring Manager one week later, and also emailed a follow-up note to the Recruiter two weeks after the interview.
Today, I'm going to share a "secret weapon" with you.
Don't laugh. Although what I'm about to tell you sound old hat -- and to be fair, it's nothing you probably haven't heard before -- it is extremely powerful. This subtle shift can make or break your next interview.
Before I go any further, let's talk about neediness.
We all know neediness is bad. The problem is, though -- when you need a job, you need a job! There's no getting around that.
Yes, there are certain techniques you can use to project confidence. (I'll share some in a future blog.) This is kind of like papering over the cracks. It works most of the time, but it doesn't solve the real issue.
This "secret weapon" I'm about to share solves the real problem.
It’s not unusual for companies today to have multiple rounds of interviews. The first interview is for screening a basic set of qualifications that people need to meet.
While the second interview, usually involves a longer schedule. This is because you’ll probably meet with a couple of people in different settings. So if you were invited for a second interview, congratulations! But remember this is just the first step.
Would You Like Help Finding Your Dream Retirement Career?
Written by Alan Carniol
Since I shared those three “retirement career” stories (about Dr. Jack, Kate, and Jody) over the last few days, two things have happened:
First, I received many emails from Daily Success Boost readers who said they could really relate to them – folks who are in a similar situation, and they’re now wondering if it’s worth grinding it out and waiting for retirement.
Second, a lot of these folks asked if I could share some more specific advice on how to find their dream retirement career as soon as possible.
The answer is, yes, I can.
Joni was an accountant for Lehman Brothers.
It paid her well, but she grew to hate her job and always dreamt of doing something else.
However, she stayed put and kept her nose to the grindstone instead of following her dreams.
Why?
The money was too good.
She kept getting massive bonuses in the form of Lehman stock, so she stayed on and kept socking it away until she had enough to retire.
Kate was a 53-year-old, successful executive for a public company.
She always put in the extra hours to advance her career. And she once again lined herself up to win a big promotion with a new division and to take her career to the next level.
If she got the position, she’d get more money, more prestige, and more power at work. It was the opportunity of a lifetime – complete with access to a private jet and carte blanche expense account.
However, the position had some significant drawbacks:
She wondered if she had the desire and energy to last another ten or twenty years – grinding away in a high-prestige job she didn't truly love.
Dr. Jack had always planned to sell his practice and retire to travel the world in style. So, he followed his dreams, closed up shop, and hit the road.
But then, after a year of trekking the globe, he discovered something:
He missed being a doctor.
Seeing the world was fun, but somehow this kind of retirement wasn’t everything he’d imagined.
Why Acing Your Interview is Like Baking a Cake
Written by Alan Carniol
Some time ago, a client – let's call her "Joan" – wrote in with a problem that so many candidates face. (Maybe you're experiencing this too...)
She was a former executive assistant who, after seven years of service, was abruptly laid off due to downsizing. However, she was certain that getting another position would be fairly easy with her track record.
But now, after nearly a year of searching for her dream job without success, she felt her confidence plummeting and her frustration skyrocketing.
Desperately, she tried just about everything to ace her interviews.
She wore a suit. She wore a dress.
She wore her glasses. She wore contacts.
I want to share a bit of my personal story.
Once upon a time, I got an interview with a great company through a family member. The first interview went okay, and I thought the job was a shoe in.
However, the last interview – the BIG one – wasn’t so pleasant.
When I showed up, I was impressed with how modern the office looked. The interviewer was in a sharp suit, and everything seemed like it was expressly designed for “big shots”.
I thought I was prepared, but then the interviewer asked me a question that threw me for a loop. After I answered, the interviewer took off his glasses, looked me in the eye and said: