Interviewing Skills Articles

During every interview, you need to give the employer something to remember you by. After all, you are only one of many vying for the job. Always showcase your best qualities and skills. Be sure to leave the employer with the impression that they cannot afford to NOT hire you. They need you on their team. Help them to remember it by writing a follow up letter after interview. nnThere will be numerous interviews held for the position that you want. How can you stand out? Out o

Are you closing your business? Whether the economy affected your decision to close, or whether you’re just ready for a change, the skills and accomplishments you’ve accrued throughout your time as a business owner can translate very well into a successful sales role for you!

As a recruiter, I am always impressed by candidates who have questions of their own to ask—and I consistently receive feedback from hiring managers all over the country who feel the same way. The candidate who’s asked, “So, do you have any questions?” at the end of the interview better come up with something. One who answers, “No, I don’t think so,” is going to get a big negative mark against them in the hiring decision.

“O my God!” “What? – I am rejected!” That was Harry’s instant reaction, when he got the rejection verdict in one of the interviews that he had faced. He couldn’t believe his ears when the news broke out to him. His first reaction was to sink in his sofa – engendered with dejection! The memories of the day when he faced this interview resurfaced, and he started recounting the events of that day. His mind was grappled with astonishment, when he realized that it was just one q

Do you know that most people develop a lasting impression of you and what you’re like based on the first few seconds of meeting you? That’s way before you’ve said anything important…you’ve barely said “hello.” Some of that impression is based off your body language and handshake, true, but the rest is based off how you look—what you’re wearing.

Many people think that LinkedIn, a professional networking site, is only for those who are searching for jobs. So if you are someone who already has a job, there’s no use in posting resumes and recommendations, right? Wrong. It’s a misconception that LinkedIn is only for those who are actively looking for employment. The true purpose of this site is not just to function as a resume depository–it is, above all else, a place for people to network. Networking is a valuable tool, regardless of employment. LinkedIn is not even just a networking tool…it’s a resource center.

Situational Response Question: An airplane landed in the parking lot. What would you do? Most situational interview questions are like behavioral interview questions. They have some direct relation to the job…like, “You are introducing a new policy to the group and facing opposition. How would you handle it?” Or, “How would you handle a situation in which a subordinate was not performing to expectations?”

The short answer is yes. A recruiter can and will absolutely help you put together a 30/60/90-day plan, especially an external recruiter whose paycheck depends on you getting the job. The longer answer is also yes, but you have to do your part in making sure that happens. A good recruiter can point you in the right direction for your research on the company. But you also have to ask the right questions to get the recruiter to share with you what they believe and know about the company and the job. What are some basic things you need to know to create a killer 30/60/90-day plan?

You won't find the best way to answer job interview questions from a Google search of 'best answers to interview questions'. Mostly what you'll find are answers that make you sound just like everyone else. The best way to answer interview questions is to do it with a strategy of your own. Your mission in this interview is to sell yourself for the job...so all your answers have to help you accomplish that mission. How can you talk about your background and your skills in a way that all works together to present you as a 'gotta have' candidate? That's a strategy.

What are your advantages and disadvantages? This job interview question is another way to get at what your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a candidate are. But in this particular one, they’d like a list of the pros and cons of hiring you. Don’t let it throw you. It is a beautiful thing to be the one in charge of putting together that list (if only during the interview). You can spin this story like a politician and turn it in your favor. Don’t lie. Just focus on the positive.

Job interviews aren’t what they used to be. If you’re going for something above entry level, you’re going to find that the pressure is on. In further interviews for higher positions, you may be required to create an interview presentation. This takes the interview game to a whole new level. If you’ve never had to deliver such a presentation before, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to put into creating a successful experience. Take things one ste

Yes, you can. There are all kinds of resources online for you to tap into: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, corporate websites, and Google. Your network can come in pretty handy here, too. If for some reason there’s a lack of information online (like maybe it’s a smaller company) and you can’t, then that’s definitely a strong reason to do what you can and bring it into the interview anyway, since that’s an excellent opportunity to ask the questions that will lead to a greater understanding of what it will take to be successful in that job.

If you’ve had your interview and you’ve sent your thank you note, what do you do now? If it’s been a week (don’t wait longer than that), you need to call the hiring manager to see what’s going on. Where are they in the hiring process? Are you being considered? What do you need to do to prove that you’re the one?r

Online social media is a fantastic tool for job hunting. The Big 3 (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter) each have their own unique style that you can utilize in different ways for your job search. But while you're working these sites to land the perfect medical sales job, employers and recruiters are looking for you, too. And if you get their attention in the early stages of the job interview process, they're going to be actively searching for more details about you. According to one survey, 70% of hiring managers and recruiters have rejected an applicant based on what they found online.

Describe your work style. Do you know what your work style is? This is a popular interview question, but a lot of people go wrong in their answers because they don’t understand what that employer really wants to know. They’re not interested in your personality or your likes and dislikes with this question. They’re not interested in your work wardrobe, either.) They want to know how you work. So some people really shoot themselves in the foot with the ‘work style’ question because they say things like, “I’m really laid back.” First, that’s a personality trait.

How many jobs have you applied for online? How many job offers have they gotten for you? It would be my educated guess that the answer is zero. Don’t worry—you’re not the only one. Online job applications are probably the most common, yet least effective, job search effort. Why isn’t applying online an effective strategy?

Candidates are always looking for the “secret” to what the hiring manager is really looking for, so that they can highlight those parts of their experience that will entice the manager into making the job offer. If you look at hiring across industries and job titles, the basic qualities all hiring managers look for in the interview are the same: • Does this person understand the job?r • Can he or she do the job?r • Will he or she do the job?r • Does this person pose a risk to my own continued employment?

If you’re a college senior, you’ll be a jobseeker soon. Students traditionally use on-campus job interviews as a way to get their first post-college job, but according to one article, less than 1/3 of college students find jobs from companies that hire through career services. So what’s a bright, enthusiastic, newly educated wannabe wage-earner to do? Use social media. Recruiters are using connections through Twitter and Facebook to find candidates. More specifically, get a LinkedIn profile.

It’s too long if you aren’t getting any interviews at all. If nothing is changing for you, or moving forward in any measurable way, then you must do something differently. Remember: what’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Digital interview platforms have changed the way human resource personnel find talent. A digital interview platform broadens the candidate pool and allows managers to spend quality time focusing on the most promising candidates. Invest Resources in the Right PlacesrnIn an environment where budgets are tight and competition fierce, that catch phrase "time is money" is more relevant than ever. Sifting through dozens of applications and setting up interviews that require extensi

Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work. If you get asked to describe a time you went above and beyond the call of duty on the job, be thrilled because this is a great behavioral interview question that has the potential to make you look like an amazing candidate. You should ALWAYS have one of these stories. It’s always a great thing to talk about how you not only met, but exceeded the expectations of your employer. That’s value.

Is your lack of experience stopping you from getting the job you really want and know you deserve and would be good at? This happens to many people, and can be a huge roadblock, especially in our current job market. It does put you at a disadvantage, but there are things you can do.

One of the easiest ways to make a good impression in your phone interview is to be calm, cool, and collected. To do that, you need to be prepared, organized, and relaxed. Here are some tips that will help you have a great phone interview.

Are you in an executive job search? Statistics say that you’ll spend one month in the job search for every $10,000 you earn. Do you have that kind of time? Of course not. You can have your pick of executive positions if you are as strategic with your executive job search as you are with your executive job. How? Let’s start with this: Here are the 3 things that keep most executives from getting interviews:

The best time to present your 30/60/90-day plan is in your first face-to-face interview. In this difficult economy, many well-qualified people are applying for jobs, creating some stiff competition for you, so you’re going to want to come out of the gate strong. Don’t bother trying to bring it up during your phone interview—I don’t think you can present it well over the phone. I do think that you can email it to the hiring manager if you are trying to get the hiring manager’s attention and you’ve exhausted your other methods.

Recently, I consulted with a young professional who had completed a job interview, and was informed by the company that they were interested in meeting with her, once again, for a second interview. The good news: the company was now considering the interviewee for a management position rather than the initial technician position. The bad news: the young professional was unsure what to expect during the second interview. Obviously, she had appropriately prepared for the first

Medical sales jobs (and especially medical device sales jobs) are notorious for being difficult to get into, and most people assume that it’s impossible for candidates who are right out of college. While it’s true that competition for these jobs is fierce, it’s a myth that you can’t land a spot for yourself as a new graduate. The same information applies to anyone who wants to transition into medical sales. How? Here are some possibilities that can get you past that hurdle: • If you have a very technical degree like chemistry, biology, or other life science degree.

So what happens when you have a really great interview, you send your follow-up email in a timely manner, but then you hear nothing? What do you do? Do you send another note? Do you contact HR? Or the hiring manager you spoke to in the interview? It’s a tricky situation, and a lot of people struggle with what to do.

What does it take to set yourself apart from the competition in the job interview process? Is it a killer resume, a brag book, a 30/60/90-day plan, a great LinkedIn profile, smooth interview skills, or how well you prepare for the interview? Yes, it’s all those things. AND, it’s more. It’s how you position yourself in relation to your competition. Who is the hiring manager comparing you with? How do you stack up? What do you have to offer?

A job interview is the most difficult part of the job application process. Many of us do not have the ability to persuade and communicate well so we find ourselves dealing with nerves before and during the interview. Job interview guides teach job hunters how to survive an interview and possibly get the job and the most efficient way to ace the interview is to practice, practice and practice. Typically, most job hunters fail because they come unprepared. This job interview gu

Telephone interviews are often conducted by companies as a first step to the hiring process. They are frequently conducted by someone in Human Resources and typically follow a standard interview format. They are meant to weed out the undesirable candidates so that the hiring manager has only a short list of pre-qualified candidates to interview. For these reasons, it is important to make sure that you are well prepared for the telephone interview.nnStart by researching as muc

As a medical sales recruiter, I spend a lot of time on the phone fielding inquiries from job seekers. Not only about specific jobs in medical sales, laboratory sales, imaging sales, biotech sales, clinical diagnostics sales, pathology sales, medical device sales, hospital equipment sales, pharmaceutical sales, or other areas of healthcare sales, but also about career coaching: How does it work? How can it help me? Can you help me?

What hiring manager doesn’t want to choose someone who is sincerely enthusiastic and excited about the job? They all do. If you’re excited about the job, you’ll try hard and probably do better than someone who isn’t. Plus, your genuine enthusiasm will make them like you more. If they like you, they’ll be more likely to hire you.

What’s the best way to show recruiters and hiring managers why they should consider you for a position? It has nothing to do with the interview…go back a step. It’s your resume. But many sales reps fail to understand exactly what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for when they scan resumes. As a medical sales recruiter, I frequently see resumes cross my desk from candidates who’ve had experience in selling roles, but fail to include numbers, dollars, or percentages on their resumes. It’s a common mistake that can really hurt you in the job search.

LinkedIn is an amazing tool. I've seen a wide range of folks land both jobs and contracting opportunities. Careers can grow in unexpected and amazingly positive ways with this tool. Before LinkedIn, a young person beginning their career could have spent decades contacting and connecting with only a fraction of the persons they can now connect to in a matter of a few months.

It's critical in today's uncertain business climate to make no mistakes in interviewing and hiring new sales representatives for your company. Hiring managers are under more pressure than ever before to make the right decision the first time. Beyond the basics of conducting a great interview and communicating with candidates in a timely manner, it's important to keep an objective, balanced perspective. Here are the top 5 things you need to know to make a great decision and avoid costly hiring mistakes: 1. Use a results-based decision-making process. What does this mean?

In your job interview, the details matter. The big picture is often the same, in terms of the process, but how you handle each individual step tells the interviewer a tremendous amount about you and how you’ll approach the job. Here are 3 opportunities for you to stand out from your competition: Presentation

Many people work wildly, seeking to grow their networks. Besides the largest sites of LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, you can find many more that are dedicated to the subject, whether they are a smaller social networking site, a blog devoted to the topic, or simple product website that "helps" you network. The great news is that networking, in terms of collecting large groups of folks that you can reach, has never been easier. The bad news is that collecting names and business cards never was effective networking, and the online equivalent won't work, either.

Why would you accept a lesser salary than what you made before? Won’t you jump ship when a better offer comes along?

Here’s a common scenario (and complaint) for job seekers: “I spend all day long applying to jobs online through Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, or niche job boards—and I never get a response. Have I lost the understanding of how this job search works?”

It seems that there’s always been a stigma attached to being unemployed, and even in this economy, when so many people are without a job for a lengthy stretch, it still causes candidates to be uncomfortable and nervous about telling people that they’re unemployed. They don’t quite know how to handle the situation in the job search or in the interview.

As a career coach, I talk to job seekers in difficult circumstances all the time. One of the biggest problems that job seekers can face is that at some point, they were fired--for fault. It wasn't downsizing. It wasn't the economy. They did something that caused the company to let them go. If you were fired, you might think that your career is over--but chances are, it isn't.

A 30/60/90-day plan is a detailed outline of what you intend to do on the job in your first 3 months as an employee. It’s an overall strategy for success laid out in a step-by-step fashion that is specific to that company and that job. The more specific it is to that company, the better off you are, because you want the hiring manager to be able to visualize you working for him and being successful in the job. As you might guess, it’s not easy to just whip one of these up.

Never underestimate how important thank you notes are to the impression you make on the company in your job interview process. But the most critical factor of all is speed. For that reason, every thank you note should be a thank you email...sent within 24 hours of your interview. Why? Because hiring decisions can be made quickly, and you don't want to miss your chance to influence it. It's that simple.

Everyone looking for a dream sales job wants a “secret weapon”—the edge that will make potential employers eager to hire him or her, and willing to bestow high salaries, benefits, and bonuses! In many cases, that weapon is the 30/60/90-day sales plan. What is it? It’s a written plan that explains to the hiring manager how you’ll spend your time in the first 3 months you work for the company, in detailed steps that demonstrate exactly how you’ll be an asset to the company.

Sometimes you know right away. You’re in the middle of an interview and things take an awkward turn. Your face gets hot. You struggle to answer questions. The conversation is stiff. You know you aren’t going to get a call back. Other times, it isn’t so obvious. You think everything went well from the application through the interview. Then you get the phone call (or email). Long story short; Thanks for coming in, but we’ve decided to go with another candidate. Either

There are plenty of people who think that a LinkedIn account replaces traditional methods of job-hunting. While this might work for a few, this is not really the concept that propels the existence of this professional networking site. The purpose of LinkedIn is to provide a means of connecting with other people in the context of career opportunities…that’s why there are groups to join, Q&A sections, testimonials, and more. LinkedIn can be a valuable tool even when a resume is already in place.

The best-prepared candidate is often the one who gets the offer. And the hands-down, very best way to ensure that YOU are the best-prepared candidate is to construct a 30/60/90-day plan.

In the current economy, finding a job for graduates who are just entering the market can be a difficult task. There are a few hurdles that most graduates have to face because they are new to the workforce. Lack of experience is the biggest challenge, followed closely by lack of interviewing skills. Thankfully the internet is filled with tips from employers and people with experience in the workforce to help a new graduate through the interview process. The Basics For any inte

Even though we all know that most adults change careers at some point in their lives (many more than once!), it can still feel like an overwhelming task—but it isn’t. What does it take? A great resume. Write a killer resume that highlights your transferable skills, using the keywords for your new industry as much as possible. Emphasize your accomplishments with quantitative evidence (numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, growth, etc.) Great networking.