The Ace Your Interview Blog

Interviews: know what you want to say

2009-07-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

It's all too easy to assume that the employer is in charge of the interview, and you are just there to answer the questions. This is not the case.

You are there to answer questions, yes, of course. But that is not all you are there for.

You are there for two other reasons.

To talk about them in the order in which they are most likely to occur in an interview, they are:

1: to tell the employer what you want him to know about you, that is totally relevant to the job, whether or not he asks you the appropriate question. (More on the farther down)

2: to ask questions that show an interest in the company, that will elicit information that will be helpful to you in deciding if you want the job.

To go back to point 1. You decide ahead of time what skills, experience and personal qualities you have that best fit you for this job, and you work them into your answers at the interview. Please note, you still have to answer the questions as asked, but be alert to opportunities to give some information that the employer hasn't requested (keep it short, to the point, and mixed in with your accurate answer to the question.)

Some employers are not trained interviewers and they can be very uncomfortable with the interview process, and often do not ask the question they need to ask to get the information they want. By preparation, and intent you can make sure you give the information that shows you to be the best candidate for the job.

Now to point 2. At the interview, before you have been offered the job, the "me benefit" questions (how much do you pay, what vacations do I get etc etc) should be avoided. Ask questions that show interest in the company and the job. All the questions you really want to ask, the "me benefit" ones, are for after you have been offered the position.

So go to the interview knowing what you have to offer that you want to tell the interviewer, and have some company/job-centered questions ready for the end, and you are all set to make a great impression.

Here are some excellent products to help you ace that interview:

Guides For Employers And Jobseekers

Job Interview Success System. Transforms The Complicated Job Interview Process Into A Simple, Step-by-step System To Ace The Interview And Get The Job!

Would you like individual help practicing for your interview (in person, by phone, or online audio messenger)?

Informational Interviewing - the Benefits

2009-06-20T08:57:00.000-07:00

Informational interviewing is just what it sounds like – interviewing others to gain information.

The most important rule of informational interviewing is that since you will be asking for time to speak to someone to gain information, that is all you can ask for. Never, never, never ask for a job! It they offer you one, great, but never ask.

The other thing never to do, is never leave a résumé unless asked to do so. Instead leave your business/ networking card, with your name, contact information and brief information about yourself on it.

So what is it all about, how and why does it work?

You ask someone who is in the position that you would like to have yourself, if they have time to speak with you. Tell them you are looking around for opportunities in this field and would very much appreciate if they could spare just about 10 -15 minutes to speak with you.

I say again, this is the person in the position you would like to be in, or at the most, their direct supervisor. This is not human resources, or the person who could hire you.

Try to get an in person meeting, rather than just talk on the phone. After all, who do you remember better, someone you have sat opposite and chatted to or a disembodied voice on the end of the phone?

Ask them about their work.
Ask about working conditions.
Ask what they like best and what they don’t like.
Ask if they have any suggestions, or know of any possibilities of work in this area.
If you don’t already know how much the job pays, you can ask what is an acceptable range of income.
Ask if there is anything else is would be useful for you to know.

And last, but by no means least, always, always ask if they can give you the names and phone numbers of two other people you can talk to about this.

Then when you phone these two people up you can say you got their name from ______ and doors will swing open much more quickly for you. You are not saying you have a reference from the first person, just that they gave you the name, which is true. You can if you like ask the first person’s permission to say you got their name from them, but it is pretty well understood that if someone passes on a name and phone number to you that they are fine with you saying they gave it to you.

After each informational interview, send a thank you note.

What is the point in all of this?

Firstly you are finding out if anyone knows of any work out there. You are not asking to be hired, because the people to whom you are speaking are most likely not in a position to hire you anyway.

However if you make a good impression, they will most certainly tell you of any job openings they know of, and so will the people they refer you to, and the people these people refer you to, etc. etc.

And secondly, once you have done all your informational interviews, and know where the job opportunities are likeliest to be, you can go back to these companies, to the hiring manager this time, and say you have been speaking to _____________ in their _____________ department, and the chances are the hiring manager will be more open to your job application because you have a connection in the company, however slight.

Of course, be prepared for the hiring manager to go to the person you name and ask about you, so don’t make it sound more than it is. Just tell the hiring manager that you were doing informational interviews in the industry to find out where the jobs were, and you spoke to _______________, liked what you heard about this company, and would be very interested in any upcoming job openings.

This time you can leave your résumé.

Through this process you can find out about jobs in your industry and even if there is nothing right now, you can get known by both staff and hiring managers, so that when a job does appear, they will think of and hopefully contact you.

Need more help...

Power up your Interview with your own benefit statements

2009-05-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

You can make a good impression and power up your Interview with your own benefit statements.

"I have worked as in office administration for the past 3 years" is all very well, but probably everyone else s/he is interviewing has similar experience, if that is a requirement ... and even if it is not. Having 12 years experience does not necessarily make you better, or more valuable to the employer than if you have 2. It depends what you did during that time, and how you did it.

Here's how to sho specifically what benefits the employer would gain from hiring you.

Benefit statements are useful when writing resumes, cover letters and at interviews because they demonstrate how you would be able to help the company.

Here are some examples:

If you just stated this skills it would be "Good with Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint."

Here is a much more powerful way to present this information:

• "I use Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint; therefore, I would be able to create documents, develop spreadsheets and presentations." OR "Having created documents, spreadsheets and presentations in my past work, I am confident and efficient using Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

In this next example, the skill is "Proficient with computer drafting."

Here it is reworded into a benefit statement:

• "I have extensive expereince and am highly skilled with computerized drafting; therefore, I would be able to create accurate drawings quickly." OR "Being very proficient and accurate with computerized drafting, I would quickly be able to produce drawings in this position with very little orientation."

Your Benefit Statements

My Skill:

I have used this skill for:________________________________

Benefit Statement: _____________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Create at least 6 of these, preferably more, and use which ever is most appropriate at any given time in the interview. The goal is not to emphasize your “job” but to emphasize the benefits your specific skills can bring.

More Interview help...

Interviews: the last question you should ask as you leave

2009-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

So what is the last, the very last question you should ask the interviewer as you leave the interview?

You've answered all his questions.

You've asked 2 or 3 "employer benefit" questions.

You've thanked the interviewer for his or her time.

Now, as you shake hands and prepare to walk out the door, what is the question you should never forget to ask?

Is it "When will I hear of your decision?"

No.

Is it "May I call you in a few days to see if you have decided who to hire?"

No.

Here it is.

"When do you expect to make your decision?"

The wording is important.

You are not asking when they will notify you, because the answer to that could be that we will only contact the successful candidate.

You are not asking if you can call them because the most likely answer to that is "don't call us, we'll call you."

Instead you are only asking a date: a guideline to when the decision will be made.

On the principal of it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission, you are not going to ask if you can call. Instead, armed with the date of their intended decision, you can then call 2 days after that date, if you haven't heard from them, and just ask if they have yet made a decision.

Why does this work?

Well, if they have already decided on time, and you weren't the one they chose, then you are no worse off than if you had tried anything else.

But if they have postponed their decision for any reason, you have now re-introduced yourself as someone with initiative, and someone who is seriously interested in this job. Employers like that.

The answer you get, if it's not that the successful candidate has already been contacted and it wasn't you, will probably just be another date, with perhaps a reason (or excuse) as to why the decision was delayed.

If you don't hear again, and haven't been told not to phone again, wait a bit longer this time. A week after the decision date, might be a good time to call. This time change you line a bit - say something along the lines of you just wanted to let them know that if they have not yet decided, that you are still most interested in the job as .... (here you have to put something in that is complimentary to the company, such as that you have been looking at their website and have noticed ... then mention something appropriate).

After 2 follow up calls you really have just to wait.

But most of the time one is all that's needed, and doing this can put you higher up the list of possible hires.

Try it. It works.

I offer practice sessions, one on one, for interview skills, by phone or my online messenger (audio).

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Interviews: Demonstrate skills with stories

2009-04-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

When I facilitate workshops on interview skills, so many participants have trouble identifying what skills are included in their stories.

The chances are, no story only demonstrates one skill. Each story will demonstrate many skills. And it's your job as the job applicant/ interviewee to know what skills each story includes and tell the employer.

Don't assume that the employer will identify them.

Let's say you were telling a story that showed your organizational skills. At the end of the story, you could recap for the interviewer, saying something like "so that was a time I used not only my organizational skills, but also my communication, team playing and problem solving skills." (assuming the story showed you used these!)

This is you taking advantage of every opportunity to market yourself during your interview.

Always take any opportunity to include any skill you know is good for this job. But keep it brief. Long winded replies turn any interviewer off.

If you have trouble seeing what skills are in a story, write down a short version of the story, then go through it and analyze what skills you used where. Once you get in the way of doing this it will come quite easily.

Stories are not only a great way to demonstrate the skill the employer has asked you about, but a great opportunity to tell him (or her) about some other skills you have too.

Need some one on one interview practice?

Think Transferable Skills

2009-04-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

When you are preparing for an interview, and when you are actually in the interview, think transferable skills, not job duties.

It's easy to say, but if it's a new concept for you, it's not always easy to do - to begin with. Once you make the shift, you'll find you start thinking that way and it become much easier.

I had a client recently who was making the transition from a manufacturing job to health care, specifically care of seniors.

In answer to almost every question we practiced, she got into long stories about mechanical equipment, production lines and product.

Even after we'd discussed it, she was still having no end of trouble identifying the skills she used in her manufacturing job that would be relevant to her new job in health care.

Her "hard skills" included being able lift, bend and do physical work with regard to her safety and the safety of others.

Her "soft skills" included her organization, attention to detail, ability to stick to a schedule, enjoyment of routine work ... to mention just a few.

If you are having difficulty seeing how your previous job gives you relevant skills for the work you would like to find, write down the job duties of your old job.

Then for each job duty, write down what skills it took to perform them. Think of someone doing a really bad job, in your old posiiton. What would that person be doing or not doing, that made them bad at the job?

The opposite of that is what you must have been doing to do a good job!

For example, if someone doing the manufacturing job was allowing product to be damaged because of careless packaging, the opposite to that is, obvious, taking great care to wrap product well.

What skills are there in this? Attention to detail, pride in job well done, manual dexterity.

Now, how can you apply these to your new job? Continuing with the health care new job theme:

"In my last job, to make sure the end product went out undamaged, I had to pay great attention to detail, be on the look out for anything that was different than usual and check it out. I took pride in making sure all my work was of the highest quality and my supervisors not only satisfied, but very pleased with my work. And also, because I worked with my hands, I demonstrated good manual dexterity. All of these skills are directly transferable to working with seniors."

That could be a possible interview answer to "what did you do in your last job that prepares or qualifies you for this one."

Think transferable skills. Don't think job duties, if you're changing careers.

One-on-One Interview Practice, in person or by phone.

Illegal Questions: and what to do if they are asked

2009-03-23T10:44:00.001-07:00

Illegal Questions mean they are questions the employer has no right to ask, so what do you do if they are asked?

Firstly, what is an illegal question?

That depends upon where you live, but it can be questions about your age, marital status, children, sexual orientation, health, religion, race and several other items, provided they are not relevant to the job.

For example if a job requires you to lift 150lbs, it is reasonable for the employer to check that you indeed fit enough to do so.

If you are applying for a job in a school of a specific religion, where everyone who teaches there is of that religion, it is reasonable, if you apply to teach there, that they will ask if you are of that religion.

These things are obvious.

But let's say you are applying for some type of office work, where provided you can use the computer, answer the phones and communicate reasonably well with others, you have all of the necessary qualifications.

You are in the interview and the employer asks your age.

You know this is an illegal question. The employer should know it's an illegal question, although if this is a very small company it's possible s/he does not.

But you want the job, and replying with "that's an illegal question" is not going to get you far.

What do you do?

I would suggest you just turn it off with a general answer.

You could say "I'm not sure what relevance that has to this job", but that is still putting the employer on the defensive.

Rather, try something like one of these responses below...

If you are older: "I am mature enough to be extremely reliable and good worker, and young enough to look forward to many years doing the best work I can in this type of work."

If you are very young: "I am reliable and mature, understand the importance of doing the best job I can, and I know, if you hire me, you will be very happy with my work."

I have been asked, by way of skirting that question directly, what ages my children are, to which I have replied something along the lines of...

"My children are all well taken care of, and do not in any way interfere with my ability to be an extremely reliable, good worker." (The fact that my kids are grown up and living elsewhere is none of the employers business!!!)

"Are you going to have children?" is a question often thrown at young women.

My answer to that would be "I am career oriented, and have no plans at the moment to have children." Of course, you would want that to be true, if you say it.

But you get the idea.

What nationality are you? "I am a US, Canadian, whatever... citizen" (and though I'm not going to say it, it's none of your business where I came from originally!)

So take some time before an interview to think about any illegal questions that are likely to arise, and come up with a pre-thought-out response.

If you're caught off guard, take a moment to think before saying anything. What is the employer trying to find out? If you'll stay with the company? If you'll turn up for work each day? If you will be a trouble maker in some way, or have trouble fitting in? Then address his concern by telling him that it is unfounded, but without necessarily answering his illegal question directly.

Then, of course, depending on the number and type of illegal questions, you will have to decide if this indeed a company for whom you want to work, even if they do offer you the job!

More help with interviews...

What if I can't think of an answer

Telling Stories is Powerful

Ace your Behavioral Interviews with the STAR format

Create rapport: relate back to what the interviewer said

I work one on one with clients, by phone or in person, to practice for an interview...

What extra Employer Benefits do you bring?

2009-03-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

So you've read the job description and you know all the skills for which is asks. And you've thought about how to present your abilities in all these areas.

Good. You are on your way to getting well prepared for the interview.

But, in these increasingly tough economic times, you need to bring more to the table.

Most employers right now are not having any trouble at all finding people to hire. It's an employers market out there.

So for you to be successful, you have to show the employer that, yes, you have all these skills you read about, but that you also have more ...

To prepare for this, put yourself in the position of the employer. What, that is not listed on the job description, would you like your new employee to have?

Any specific other experience or skill that would be a bonus? What personality, personal qualities would be the best fit for the job? Are there any other skills or experience you used elsewhere that would be transferrable and a bonus for the employer?

I once gained a contract as a freelance Career Consultant because I offered, over my training and experience in this area, the skill of being a handwriting analyst as well. This was not something the employer had ever thought of looking for, but when he saw it on my resume, he decided it would be a very neat addition to the regular career tools.

I still had to get through the interview, and convince him that I was good in all the usual areas of Career Counselling, but this was my "bonus" that I could offer, and it worked.

So, take the time to think about your uniqueness. What have you done, what personal qualities do you have that the employer may not think to ask about, and perhaps is not even aware he is seeking, but which would greatly interst the employer and make him or her decide on you over other job applicants.

Do you need more help with Interview Skills?

I offer telephone, or local in person, interview coaching including behavioral interview coaching.

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Know what you want to tell the Employer

2009-03-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

It's so easy to think that the employer is the one in charge of the interview. And in some ways s/he is. The employer is asking the questions most of the time, and you are trying to answer in the way to best impress him.

Yes, that's true.

But you should go with your own agenda too.

Know what it is about you that you most want to "sell" to the employer. What can you tell him/her about yourself that is most likely to get you the job? What might the employer not ask, that you would really like him/her to know?

Do some research to find out what it is about you that would be both the most obvious fit in the job, and also what is there about you that will be great in this job although perhaps it's not obvious. For this you are looking at some skill or experience that would be a real assett in this job, even although it is not listed in the job ad.

Take time to think this out. It is your secret weapon for the interview. Basically you want to be able to say "Yes I have all the things you are asking for, PLUS ...." and if necessary add how this bonus skill will benefit them.

Have these things front and foremost in your mind when you go to an interview.

No matter what the questions, there can always be an opportunity to tell them what you most want them to know.

Some questions are made for it. Such as "Tell me about yourself" or "What are your main strengths?"

Alternatively, as you tell you (short) stories of when you used the various skills required for the job, you can weave in any extra skills, with a mention of how you see yourself using them in this job too.

Preparing for an interview is not just getting ready to answer the employers questions, and having a few to ask at the end. It is considering what you want the employer to know, what is special about you, what skills you bring that the employer doesn't think of asking for, of what extra benefit you can be to the employer over and above having everying for which he is actually asking.

Take your time. Think it through. If everyone at the interview has all the skills the employer listed in the job ad, what could you tell him about yourself that would make the difference, that would make you stand out. Don't say "nothing"! Stop, think, consider.

You have special gifts and strengths - but you have to tell the employer about them.
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I offer telephone coaching on interview skills.

Relate back to what the interviewer said

2009-02-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

Listen to what information the interviewer gives you about the job and the company, and as you answer questions incorporate anything appropriate into what you say.

If for example the interviewer tells you that this is a small company with a tight knit team, as you answer various questions, you can work in the information that you worked successfully for a small company once before and enjoyed feeling part of the "family." You can also mention that you have worked as part of various teams, and you find that the best work is usually done by teams, although of course there are times when it's more appropriate to work alone and report back.

Mention it as part of a story about a previous job. Give details, but target and direct your answer to link in with what the employer has said.

If we go with team work and small company, anyone could say they are a good team player (and in fact about 90% of resume claim this!) and like a small company.

When asked "what are your strengths?" you have an excellent opportunity to give some brief stories relating back to what you've already learnt from the employer.

Questions: What are your strengths?

Answer 1: I'm a team player, work hard, accurate, good attention to detail and honest.

Answer 2: I have worked a great deal as part of a team, both in smaller companies and larger one, and I find I function well there, but have also proven that I can accomplish tasks alone and unsupervised where that has been preferrable to the work situation. I have shown myself to be goal oriented and have an excellent record of neeting tight deadlines with quality, accurate work .. which was very important when I was working in the accountant's office. And in each of my previous jobs I have been trusted with confidential information and also on some occasions with cash.

Both answers tell you the same thing: this applicant considers themself to be a team player, work hard, accurate, good attention to detail and honest - but which answer proves it better??

Relate back to what the interviewer has said with stories from your work life. It's the best way to connect and appear to be a fit for the job, which after all, is what the employers is seeking.

Just saying it isn't enough. It means nothing.

So tell your stories, or at least give an example of when you did or were involved with whatever it is you want the employer to know about you.

More help with interview skills?

Interview Tips and your Cell Phone

2009-02-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

What is the Cell Phone etiquette for a job interview ?

Well, obviously, number one point is switch your phone of before you go into the interview!

If you forget, and it rings, silence it immediately.

Do not on any account speak to the person who is phoning you.

If you don't know how to silence it, switch it off. Make sure there will be no further interruption, even if it means taking a moment or two to switch it off. If you do so, tell the employer what you are doing so he doesn't see you fiddling with your cell and think you are reading a text message or something!

If I my cell phone rings and I click the button to silence the ring, when the caller leaves a message, my phone makes a loud noise (even though I silenced the ring) to tell me I have voice mail, and then will make intermittent beeps to remind me of that. This is not good in an interview.

Once you've silenced your phone, apologize to the employer, saying you forgot to turn it off, or you thought you had turned it off, and continue the interview.

Do the best damage control you can, but really it's best to just not cause the damage in the first place, so write yourself a note, or set yourself a reminder that will ring in on your phone say, 10 minutes before your interview, reminding you to switch off the phone.

I was once visiting a friend when her phone rang. She didn't answer it or look at call display to see who it was. She just told me it would stop ringing in a minute and kept talking to me. I asked if she didn't want to answer it, to which she told me that, no, she was talking to ME right now and anyone else could wait. That made me feel 10 feet tall, and obviously, I still remember that although it happened many years ago.

Make the employer feel that this interview and talking to him or her right now is the most important thing in the world to you. Your phone can wait.

If you feel you would like more help, I offer individual, one-on-one coaching for interview skills. by telephone.
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Behavioral Interviews need Powerful Stories

2009-02-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

So many job seekers get all tied in knots when faced with a behavioral, or behavioral descriptive interview. There is no need.

The concept of the behavioral interview is to identify past behaviors and use them as a guide to what future behavior is likely to be.

Your preparation therefore is to dig into your past.

Think of stories. Stories are powerful.

Think of stories preferably about work, where you felt good about what you did, when you solved a problem, helped someone out, came up with a great idea, or were praised by someone for something.

Write down as many stories as you can think of where you did well at your previous jobs. Stories, if relevant, can also come from non paid experience.

So let's say one of your stories was that you came up with a new idea for keeping track of stock, and that it keep things in better order, and saved time that used to be spent running out get get supplies when they ran out.

That's a good story.

Next think of what skills it shows, and which of these skills are valid for the job for which you are now applying.

Our story above shows excellent organizational skills, proactive thinking and problem solving.

There is practically no job on the planet that would not benefit from these skills.

The behavioral question might be phrased in any of the following ways:

-- Tell me a time when your organizational skills really made a difference and benefited your employer?

-- Describe an occasion where you came up with a practical, functional solution to a problem at work.

-- Give me an example of your ability to think proactively

These are just 3. There are many, many more possibilities.

You can use one story for several answers.

If you were asked 2 of the above possible questions in the same interview, the second time your answer could go something like this:

-- Actually, on the same occasion as I came up with the solution to our office supply problem (ie you have already used this story to answer a question on problem solving), I was also demonstrating proactive thinking in that I established a system to deal with problems before the occurred in the future.

The more stories you come up with, the easier these interviews will be for you.

If you like you can write out your stories, then write out the skills they demonstrate. I think you will be surprised how many skills one story can contain.

The caution here however is to make your stories brief. Cut out all the unnecessary details. Just give the interview what s/he is asking to hear. If s/he wants to hear more, s/he can ask you to expand on your story.

Stories make you more human. They demonstrate skills much more convincingly that you sitting there saying "I am organized, a problem solver and a proactive thinker" ... well great! Anyone could say that. You need the proof and the proof is in the story.

Would you like to practice your answers to behavioral interview questions one on one?
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Telephone Interviews

2009-01-30T09:52:00.000-08:00

Telephone interviews can give you an advantage over in person interviews in that you can read notes!

Sometimes you will get a phone call to set up a telephone interview for a future time. This is the best kind as it gives you time to prepare.

Sometimes the phone will ring and the voice on the other end identifies him or herself as the hiring manager for a job for which you have applied. They want to do an interview right now.

Panic!

If it really is a bad time: if the kids are screaming, the dog barking and quiet and time to think an impossibility, ask if it would be possible to call them back in 10 minutes, once you have settled things down. But if possible, take the call. They may say they'll call you back and never do it. So take the opportunity when it's there.

So, just in case that unannounced telephone interview happens to you, plan ahead.

Every time you send out a resume, clip the job posting or whatever information you have about the job, to a copy of the resume and cover letter you sent, and keep it beside the phone.

Then when the phone rings and Mr. Smith and ABC company announces himself, and you have no idea which of the 40 jobs you applied for this is regarding, a quick flip through your collected resumes, cover letters and job ads beside the phone enlighten you.

And to help you calm your nerves as you answer questions, you can skim through the resume to come up with those great skills you want to highlight.

So don't be caught off guard. Get your telephone interview kit assembled beside your phone and ace these interviews as well.

Need more help with interviews?
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Smile at the Interview

2009-01-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

Smile at the interview - even if you feel like crying!

Remember, the interviewer doesn't know you. He or she may be nervous themselves - interviewers, especially in smaller companies, often are.

Plus part of what the interview is all about is deciding whether you are a fit for not only the job but also a fit for the organization, and the team with which you will be working.

Nervous or not, if you look and act very stern and serious throughout the entire interview, it will make it more difficult for the interviewer to assess your personality.

This does not mean you should laugh and joke your way through, or laugh like a total idiot all the time. With everything there is balance.

A pleasant smile where appropriate is all that is needed, but is often neglected by stressed or extremely uptight job applicants.

So walk in that door with a smile on your face. Remember to smile occasionally throughout the interview, and again when you shake hands to leave.

It's easy, it costs you nothing, and you can do it whether you think you have a good chance at the job or not.

So smile.

Need more help with interview skills?

Or get advice from an interview expert.
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What colors to wear to an interview.

2009-01-19T15:50:00.001-08:00

So you have an interview coming up, and you've been practising answering questions, and know you should dress up as if for an important day on the job. But what about colors? What colors should you wear to an interview?

One of the first things people are told not to wear is a black suit. Why? Because black is very much a power color, and you don't want to intimidate your interviewer, or make him or her think you are coming to take over (unless of course that is in your job description.)

However, you can get away with black if you wear it with "friendly" colors.

Black and white is very crisp and smart, but the white makes the black even more of a power look. Likewise with gray - at least pale gray. Dark grey with black (and no other color) just looks drab.

So choose any of the warm colors such as red, yellow etc, or the blues and greens. Men obviously will add most of the brightness of color in ties, while women can wear bright shirts or sweaters.

No loud patterns, no clashing colors. This is not a time to make a fashion statement, unless you are going for a job in the fashion industry.

Here you want to look professional and confident.

So use color with discretion, and neutrals in abundance when you dress for the intervew.
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What Questions do you have about Interviews?

2009-01-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

I am going to be posting answers regularly to readers questions about Interviews.

If you have a questions, e-mail it to:

interviewquestions11@gmail.com

and either sign up for RSS feed from this Blog, or keep checking back.

Interviews: Remembering names

2009-01-17T10:49:00.000-08:00

One of the things to remember in an interview is to thank your interviewer by name at the end of the interview.

Sometimes easier said than done.

If you are like most people, you may have trouble remembering names, especially when you are nervous as most people are in an interview.

When you have a panel interview, with more than one person asking the questions, the problem becomes even greater.

One of the tricks often cited it to repeat back the person's name when they introduce themselves.

If they say "I'm John Smith" you would respond "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Smith" (or John, as the case may be)

This may then install the name "John Smith" in the memory of some interviewees, but for the majority, the name gets forgotten in the focus and stress of trying to answer the interview questions in the best possible way.

So you are at the end of the interview, about to leave, and you cannot remember the name of the interviewer, so you can't say "Thank you, John."

What do you do?

You say "Do you think I could have one of your business cards, please?"

Your interviewer is a business person and should have a business card.

Manners dictate that when you receive a business card from anyone, you read it.

So you receive Mr. (or Ms) Inteviewer's business card, look at it, and say "Thank you very much John (or Jane), I hope to hear from you soon."

You now have the name and correct title of your interviewer for the thank you letter you are going to send them within the next 24 hours.

If by any chance that doesn't work out, and your interviewer doesn't have a business card handy, get through the farewells without using a name. Then as you leave (assuming the interviewer has not followed you out of the room to see you out) ask the receptionist for the "correct spelling" of your interviewer's name. Even if it's John Smith this is a valid request - after all it could be Jon Smythe.

If the interviewer does see you out, wait till the next day, then phone the receptionist. Explain you were in for an interview and want to write a thank you letter, could she please give you the correct spelling of the name of your interviewer.

Now you haven't said their name to them in person, but at least your thank you letter shows you knew their name!

Now keep that name somewhere safe, so when you get the call to a second interview, you know the person's name!

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Confidence in Interviews

2009-01-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

Confidence is one of the things that you can "fake it till you make it."

Anyone can come across looking confident with a little practice, at least as far as their body language is concerned.

But in an interview, you need more than that.

You have to be able to answer questions with confidence also.

So whenever you are asked a question in an interview, consider your answer, and whatever it is, deliver it with confidence... even if you are shaking inside.

A good answer given in a unsure, lame manner will not be appreciated no matter how great the content, just because of the lack of confidence in the deliver.

A bad answer given with confidence will at least show you have confidence in your ability.

What people understand from what you say is only 7% based on the actual words you say.

38% is based on the tone and speed of your voice, and the other 55% on body language.

So, although obviously I am not promoting giving bad or incorrect answers, if you do happen to slip up and not answer a question well, if you at least deliver it with gusto, you have conquered 93% of the hurdle.

My advice therefore is twofold.

One:

know as much as you can about the job,
only apply for jobs for which you know you have the skills and experience,
and before you go to an interview think long and hard about what you have to offer the employer in this job.

Two:

practice, practice, practice so you can deliver every answer you give with confidence.

Good luck with your next interview.

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What did you least like about your last job? - Interview Question

2009-01-12T13:16:00.001-08:00

If you are asked "What did you least like about your last job," you want to honestly answer with something that you didn't like. However, it may or may not be the thing that you most disliked.

If, in an office administration job you hated filing and filing will also be part of the next job you are looking for, then telling the interviewer that you most disliked filing might not be your best choice.

Instead think of something that you disliked in your last job that will either not be part of this job at all, or will be a very minor part of the new job.

Also make sure it does not put anyone down. "I disliked the way my previous boss barked orders," would not be an advisable response.

However, I disliked the long commute and the part time hours would be fine, assuming this job is closer to home and full time.

Or, if true, "there was nothing I really disliked about my last job, and I felt I did well in all areas of it, which is why I am applying for this one which appears very similar."

That would be a good answer.

So bear in mind not to opt yourself out of anything by saying you don't like part of the job for which you are applying, and instead see if you can turn it around to tell the employer why you are good for this position.

Here are some more great tips on interviews.
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Interviews: What NOT to say

2009-01-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

It's all very well to know what to say at an interview, but it's just as important to know what not to say! After all you don't want all that good work, all these great answers, all these stories you so carefully remembered and analyzed for relevant skills, wasted.

Some of the following will be obvious, some less so, but all are worth being aware of, so you can avoid mentioning them during your job interview.

Do not say anything negative about any company or person.

This can be something of a challenge if the situation was bad at your last place of work, or if you believe you were mistreated, unfairly let go etc. However, by phrasing it positively you show that you are ready to move on and are not one to carry grudges.

Do not offer information on skills or experience you don't have unless directly asked.

For example if you are asked about your computer skills, you might say "I have a great deal of experience with MS Word, Internet research and e-mail."
What you would not add is "but I have never used Excel."

If the employer wants to know if you have used Excel, let him/ her ask!

Don't just say "No, I don't" to skills you don't have, if you have other skills that are transferrable and can be used in the situation.

For example, I once applied for a part time job in a weight loss clinic, which advertised they would train you on their program. I had no previous experience of such places, and had never even really been on a diet. So why would the manager hire me?

Because I pointed out to her that my experience in Career Counseling was similar. People came to me with a problem, I had the knowledge to help them, I gave them support and encouragement and listened to them when they were having a hard time.

Isn't that what a weight loss counselor does too? The manager thought so - she hired me.

So think about where else you might have gained experience and skills that translate to the new position before you say "no."

A note: most job seekers have heard of the idea of transferrable skills, and may even do a great job of listing them on their resume, but in many years experience practicing interview skills with job seekers, it's amazing how few people think of them as needed when in an interview.

Do not get into a long tail of how your family (especially if you have young children) will not interfere with your work.

Just say something like "I have my family well taken care of so I can focus on work. It is not a concern."

Do not get into too much detail.

Answer questions clearly and concisely. If in doubt, once you've finished you can ask "Does that answer your question?"

Do not get into your personal life.

When asked "tell me about yourself" your answer should consist of what you have done, either paid or unpaid, that qualifies you for this job.

It may include some personal information that related directly to why you are job seeking at this time, such as that your spouse was transferred to this city, so you had to leave you last job to accompany him/her.

And lastly, if you find yourself going totally blank, or just not focusing because of nerves, do not be afraid to say to your interviewer "I'm sorry, I just get so nervous at interviews." But just say it once - not every time you mess up!

I had a client, one time, who got so nervous at interviews, she really did not do a good job of presenting herself at all. So we practices an answer to the question "what is your greatest weakness." When asked this, she smiled and said "Interviews. I can do the job extremely well, but I am awful at interviews!" She got the job, and did do her job extremely well and to the satisfaction of the employer who took her at her word in the interview.

So put your best foot forward, tell them all the great things you can do for them, and don't tell them what you can't do. That's the interviewers job to work that out!

Employers are people too

2009-01-09T12:00:00.001-08:00

Employers are people too, which means when it boils down to it, they hire people they like.

That doesn't mean you don't have to practice good answers to interview questions, and it doesn't mean that any of the other interview tips you may have heard, are not still valid.

It just means that once you have proved that you have what it takes for this job, the employer then wants to see that you are someone who will fit in and be liked by the team.

So as you go through the interview, don't forget to let your personality shine through. Don't be afraid of some gentle humor. Smile. Treat the employer as you would any other person you meet and hoped to get on well with.

Gauge your level of formality to that of the employer, but don't forget s/he doesn't just want to know what you can do, s/he also wants to know who you are.

More interview help to get you that job.

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Handshake: it's more important than you think

2008-12-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

Most people are not aware of the importance of a handshake: and not just that you do it, but how you do it.

When you arrive at an interview, and again when you are leaving, you should offer to shake hands with the interviewer, whether or not s/he seems to be about to offer to do so.

It is an indication of sincerity and confidence.

But it's also just as important how you shake hands.

Here are some handshake types to avoid:

The dead fish handshake: floppy, lifeless and not very pleasant to receive.
The Queen handshake: just offering two fingers to be held.
The knuckle squeezer handshake: "I can break your knuckles before you can break mine."
The pumper handshake: the name describes it well, and your shoulder aches after it.
The covered handshake: where with one hand you shakes theirs, and with the other you cover their hand. Appropriate in some situations, but not in an interview.

I had a client who was invited to a second interview, having shaken hands at the first, presumably to the employers satisfaction. But when they met at the second interview, my client was not expecting to shake hands again, and gave a limp, off guard type of shake, and was told he had lost the job because of it!

Seems unusual, and certainly not many employers would be so up front as to say so, but it probably happens more often than we think.

So be prepared and always give a firm, strong handshake. The "web" between your thumb and forefinger should meet the same place on their hand, hold firmly, but not to tightly, and give a gentle up and down shake. Then let go.

And smile.

Find body language fascinating?

More on body language.

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Interviews: First Impressions

2008-12-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

How long does it take to make a first impression?

Less than 30 seconds.

And first impressions are very hard to change.

So think about a job interview.

How far have you got in the interview before the interviewer has formed that first impression?

You have appeared at the door, perhaps shaken hands, but it's unlikely you've even moved in far enough to sit down.

So what is it that's forming this all important first impression?

How you're dressed.
How you hold yourself - do you look confident, scared or timid?
The expression on your face - smiling, frowning, rigid...?

Before you go, make sure you are dressed appropriately. If necessary, get there early enough to go to the restroom to check out your hair etc.

If you are not sure how you hold yourself, or how you look to others, practice in front of a mirror. This may sound silly, but it really works. Get used to seeing yourself arrive in front of the mirror looking as you think the employer would like to see you look as you arrive at the interview.

holding yourself confidently
a smile on your face
ready to shake hands
not fussing over clothing or whatever you are carrying

And remember to take off outer clothing, and put down anything you are carrying as soon as you are seated. After all, you don't want it to look as if you are on the bus waiting for the next stop!!

So prepare in advance for that all important first impression, and walk in there knowing you are presenting yourself in the best way possible.

More help is available for your interview.

Or perhaps you'd enjoy learning more interview secrets.

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Interview questions: What if I can't think of an answer?

2008-12-19T10:32:00.000-08:00

What if you can't think of an answer to an interview question?

Say so!

Firstly there is nothing wrong with taking time to think before answering a question, so long as it's not too long, and you don't do it every time.

You can say something like "good question" or "can I take a moment to think about that" and then take a minute to think.

Or you can just use body language to show you are thinking - looking upwards, perhaps saying "Hmmmm" and just generally use the body language you would at any other time if you were trying to come up with an answer.

If you feel your nerves are showing, you can comment (once only) that you are always nervous at interviews, and most interviewers will give you a little leeway.

Humor can be used in moderation.

When asked at my first ever interview for a career counsellor position, if I knew all about interview skills (the real answer was "no"), since I was at that moment in an interview, I just smiled and said "Doesn't it show?" Whereupon everyone laughed and no-one asked me the question again!

If all else fails you can always ask if you can come back to that question later ... and then hope the interviewer forgets!

Get more interview help.

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Interviews: telling stories is powerful

2008-12-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

Before you go to an interview, take the time to think back over your (preferably) work life, and come up with some stories. Think of what skills and abilities you expect this employer to be looking for, and think of stories when you demonstrated these.

Once you have thought of a story, write it down.

Look at it carefully, and dissect all the skills and abilities you can think of that are in it.
Write them down.

For example: Let's say there was a time I dealt with an angry customer on the phone.

Skills:

handling angry or "difficult" people
listening
patience
empathy
problem solving
attention to detail
initiative
customer service skills
communication skills
explaining clearly and concisely

are just a few of the possible skills from such a situation.

With that story remembered, I can answer behavioral questions on any of these topics using just this one story.

When you think of a story, you don't automatically think of the wide variety of skills involved in it, so take the time to write them down, and be ready to tell powerful, skill based stories to the interviewer.

And don't forget to add the result at the end .... in this case, the customer was satisfied with the resolution to the problem, and thanked me for my help.

Stories + skills + results = a good chance at landing the job!

More interview help.

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Interview Dressing

2008-12-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

What to wear to the interview! Interview dressing is always a big consideration.

If you know how people dress at the company where you are interviewing, dress as you would for an important day on the job.

So for a woman who normally wears pants or a skirt and a blouse, if she adds a jacket, or wears a more dressy blouse, this would be find.

For a man who normally wears a golf shirt, upgrade it to a dress shirt and pants. If he normally wears an open neck dress shirt, add a tie.

If you will be wearing a uniform or overalls in the job, dress smartly for the interview.

Make sure everything is clean and neatly pressed, with no cat hairs over dark colors, or scuffs on shoes. Your hair should be neat and a natural looking color, regardless of how you normally wear it.

Since may employers tend to be on the conservative site, it is also a good idea to remove any extreme body piericings and cover large tattoos.

If you are really not sure how to dress, take a trip a few days before the interview, to the place of work around the time people are out and about at lunch time, or leaving in the evening, and note how they dress.

It is perfectly possible you will turn up at your interview looking neat, tidy and very respectable and find yourself being interviewed by someone in khakis and a t-shirt. That's fine.

You've still shown respect for the interview and the interviewer by dressing nicely, and when they offer you the job you can always ask about the dress code so you come on your first day dressed like every one else.

More help to ace that interview.

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Behavioral Interviews

2008-12-13T09:19:00.001-08:00

So many people hear about Behavioral Interviews, know little about them, and are terrified they are asked any at an interview.

Don't be scared. Once you know how to answer, they are really simple enough.

Behavioral Interviews can also be called Behavioral Descriptive Interviews and they ask you to recall from you past a time when you did a particular thing, or faced a particular challenge.

For example: Tell me a time when you exhibited excellent customer service under difficult conditions.

or

Describe a time you had to meet a particularly tight deadline.

Your goal, obviously, is to come up with a story from your past that answers the question, but that is not all. You also want to add information that shows you did it well, and that the result was a benefit to your employer.

That's what your potential employers is looking for: "What's in it for me."

Before an interview it's a good idea to think back over your work history and come up with some stories of times you felt good about what you did, or when you overcame a challenge of some kind.

You don't have to write them down, just having them fresh in your mind is enough. Then when the interviewer asks you about a tight deadline, for example, you have a story ready and can answer something like:

"There was a time in my last job when we had to get a proposal in by Monday at 9 am, although the call for proposals had only come out the previous Tuesday. By Friday we were still working on it, so I worked all Saturday and Sunday morning on it, and phoned the director to tell him it was ready for his approval at Sunday lunch time. He approved, I finished off the package and e-mailed it in around midnight on Sunday. We got the contract so it was all worth it."

All the information, nothing unnecessary, and the employer benefit "We got the contract" right at the end where it will be noticed.

So don't sweat Behavioral Interviews, just come up with some great stories beforehand, and enjoy telling the tale of how well you did!

More help to ace the interview can be found here.

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Behavioral Interviews: the STAR format

2008-12-13T09:18:00.001-08:00

Behavioral Interviews: the STAR format

The easiest way to make sure you get all the information you need into a behavioural interview answer is to use the STAR format.

You may see this under different acronyms, but all will probably mean the same thing ulitmately.

ST stand for Situation or Task. What was the situation or task you were faced with?
A stands for Action. What action did you take?
And R stands for Result. What was the result, or the employer benefit of what you did?

In normal story telling we often just give the STA - this needed done, I did it - and forget the R - Result. In interviews the Result can be the most important part so don't leave it out.

Here is an example:

The filing needed done - this is the situation
I filed - this is the action

So far, not very interesting.

The result:

My accurate, careful filing made documents and reports available for quick and easy access by all staff.

Wow! That sure makes it sound better.

Don't forget the results. It will probably take a bit of thought to come up with powerful results until you get used to the idea, but the skill is one that will help you write a resume that will get interviews, and then to ace the interview itself.

Remember, you're a STAR!

Want more help answering interview questions?

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Welcome to the Ace Your Interview Blog

2008-12-12T11:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Ace Your Interview Blog.

On this blog I will be giving tips and tactics to help you ace your interview and get that job.

There are good ways and not so good ways to answer standard interview questions.

There is "homework" you should do before an interview. And there are some neat tricks that can make all the difference to your interview's outcome.

Keep checking back as I grow an extensive library of interview skills so when you go to talk to that employer, s/he just can't wait to offer you the job!