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How to Craft an Elevator Pitch

Home2016 April
How to Craft an Elevator Pitch
April 28 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: Ace the Interview, Elevator Pitch, Networking

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is exactly what it sounds like.  Imagine being in an elevator with a prospective employer and you only have the time it takes for the elevator to reach your floor to tell this person a bit about yourself.  The elevator pitch is a short introduction that should briefly (i.e. roughly 30 seconds) describe your skills (who you are and what you do), your accomplishments (what value you can bring), and your goals (what type of role you are seeking).

A well-crafted elevator pitch is an essential tool when you are conducting your job search.  Not only is it effective when introducing yourself to a network contact, but it also provides a basis for your answer to the “Tell me about yourself” interview question.

How to Craft an Elevator Pitch

There are 2 key elements to your elevator pitch: self-reflection and company research.  The more important of the two is self-reflection, because who else knows your skills better than you!  In your self-reflection, you will identify those top skills, accomplishments, and goals (including why this is a goal and who you will be helping with this goal) discussed earlier.

The second element, company research, is important for preparing your answer to the “Tell me about yourself” interview question.  We will examine this later.

Pulling it all Together – Network Meeting

To help illustrate crafting an elevator pitch, I will use fictional character ‘Joe.’ He is a skilled tradesperson who has a vast amount of experience in custom home finishings.  He has won awards and loves his job.  Here is what ‘Joe’s’ elevator pitch might sound like:

Hi, my name is Joe.  I am a highly skilled tradesperson, with expertise in carpentry.  I have received several “Home Builder of the Month” awards for my outstanding craftsmanship in home finishings.  My passion is for making a house a home by creating custom home finishings, and I am looking for a role in which I can work closely with home buyers in making their dream homes a reality!

Pulling it all Together – Job Interview

Much like the elevator pitch ‘Joe’ used before, we can simply add a ‘call to action’ at the end of the elevator pitch.  Notice too that the introduction at the beginning will be removed as we must assume that in the interview, introductions would have already taken place.

The ‘call to action’ statement is your way to highlight how your skills, accomplishments, and goals align with the company’s short- and long-term goals.  How would you know what the company’s goals might be?  This is where your research comes in.  By conducting a Google News search for recent news articles about the organization, along with the other research you have prepared for the interview, you should have a fair amount of knowledge as to any key developments within the organization.  This could include things such as a major investment or company expansion.  Using our previous example, Joe’s ‘call to action’ statement might be something like this:

I understand that your company is investing in custom build homes for 3 new developments in the city.  I believe my talents in carpentry and passion for engaging customers with my personalized designs would be a benefit to your organization.

Final Thoughts

The elevator pitch is a great tool not only for your job search activities but also for networking within your current organization.  That said, crafting one is not always easy as it requires a great deal of self-reflection.  The only person who really knows about all of the great things that you do is you.  So to enable you to articulate all of your wonderful skills and achievements, self-reflection is an important exercise.

If you would like personalized advice, please feel free to view my services here.  If you have any questions, you can leave a comment below, or send me an email – I’d love to  hear from you.

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How to Negotiate your Job Offer
April 24 2016 nfougere Job Screening 0 comments Tags: Bag the Job, Job Hunt, Job Offer, Job Search, Negotiations

There are 2 key elements in negotiating a job offer: what you are looking for, and what the organization is willing to pay.  Like most stages of your job search journey, it is vital to prepare for negotiating a job offer by doing your research!  Not only should you research the market salaries, but you should also take the time to think through what you would be looking for in terms of salary, benefits, and other contingencies.

There are a number of excellent resources online to help you with your research.  Here are a few that should help:

  • Monster.ca – http://monsterca.salary.com/CanadaSalaryWizard/LayoutScripts/Swzl_NewSearch.aspx
  • Payscale.com – http://www.payscale.com/index/CA/Job
  • Salary.com – http://swz.salary.com/CanadaSalaryWizard/LayoutScripts/Swzl_NewSearch.aspx
  • Robert Half – https://www.roberthalf.ca/en/workplace-research/salary-guides
  • Hays – https://www.hays.ca/salaryguide/
  • Glass Door – https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/index.htm?&countryRedirect=true

When thinking through what you are looking for, you should think about what your bottom line offer would be – after all, regardless of how enticing an opportunity may be, you still need to pay your bills.  Other factors to consider include benefits, vacation, bonus/commissions, percent of travel, flexible work arrangements, etc.  For all of these factors, think about the worst case, best case, and middle ground offers, and be sure to rank order each of the factors you are considering by importance.  For instance, if you are considering a role that requires travel, perhaps you would be willing to reduce your salary expectations if the amount of travel were reduced.  Going through this exercise will enable you to discuss multiple line items in the offer during your negotiation.

Timing – Initial Salary Discussion

Another aspect of negotiation is timing.  Sometimes the recruiter or hiring manager will ask about your salary expectations early on in the recruitment process.  This is a good time to make sure that your expectations are aligned to the role.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, but at least in the same ballpark.  It is always better to provide the recruiter or hiring manager with some sort of salary range, otherwise, they may question your preparedness and your business acumen if you are elusive in your expectations.  After all, negotiation can be an element in the role for which you are interviewing.

Sometimes recruiters will ask you what you earned in your last role (or what you are currently making), but that isn’t necessarily relevant, nor is it always an appropriate question.  A perfectly reasonable answer to this question, however, is to say that based on the role as you understand it, you would be expecting between $X and $Y (fill in the blanks).  Keep in mind: if you are elusive in your answer about your salary expectations, the recruiter may need to resort to asking about your previous salary.  As such, this question becomes increasingly relevant and appropriate for keeping the conversation moving forward.

If the salary discussion hasn’t been brought up by the hiring company by the time you finish your 1st round of in-person interviews, it is ok for you to broach the topic with the recruiter or hiring manager after the interview.  It is typically not appropriate to ask in the job interview itself, however.  Having a salary conversation in advance of a job offer can help you determine whether or not the role is a good fit for you, and it is also your opportunity to use the negotiation tactic of ‘anchoring’ – a cognitive bias whereby decisions are made based on the first piece of information that is revealed in a negotiation.

Timing – Job Offer

When you do receive a job offer, if you’ve done your research and thought through your needs, you should be prepared to talk about several line items in the one negotiation.  Although salary is an important factor, it’s usually not the only or even most important factor to consider.  Being able to look at the big picture in the overall offer should help you to better assess if there are areas where each side could potentially be flexible.  In addition, if there isn’t a lot of “wiggle room” on the employer’s side, you could suggest things like a signing bonus to help close any gaps in the offer.  In doing so, you will be able to demonstrate your reasonableness, flexibility, and creativity.  On the other hand, if you settle one item and go back to the employer later with other requests, you will appear to be indecisive, or even greedy.

Multiple Offers & Counter Offers

In the event that you have multiple job offers, and/or your current employer extends a counter offer – Congratulations!  It is important to remember that you must be honest in your negotiations with your current and prospective employers.  Disclosing that you have other offers or a counter offer on the table is valuable information to the prospective employer, but be careful not to use this as a “hardball tactic” in your negotiation.

Another important consideration is that you must be honest about your other offers.  Lying about a salary package is not only unethical, but you will also run the risk of breaching contract laws – thereby increasing the potential of having your job offer revoked or being terminated after you start.

Final Thoughts

Remember that you are negotiating with people.  Companies don’t negotiate, people do.  As such, it is important that you see things from the employer’s perspective.  They see value in you and are showing that by offering you the opportunity to join their team.  By being fair and reasonable in your negotiation tactics, you will be confirming with the employer that they are making the right decision in offering the job to YOU!  On the other hand, if the employer’s offer is insulting, then perhaps you would want to re-consider this organization as a potential employer.

Every step along the recruitment journey there are signs that indicate whether or not the organization you are entertaining is the right fit for you.  The negotiation is another way to screen a company in or out, just as much as it is a way for the company to screen a candidate in or out.  As such, the negotiation stage is just as important as every other step in the recruitment life cycle.  It’s important that each party is treated fairly and are happy with the end result.

If you have any other insights on successfully negotiating your job offer, please feel free to leave a comment below!

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What to Bring to a Job Interview
April 21 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: interview tips, Job Interview Tips, What to Bring to a job interview, What to Bring to Interview

Today’s post is in response to a viewer question about what you should bring to a job interview. Below is my checklist:

  • Portfolio, Notepad, Pens – having a professional looking portfolio in which you can keep many of the items on my list, including a notepad for taking notes, looks professional and will keep you organized in your interview. The portfolio doesn’t have to be expensive, and if you are looking for options or inspiration, here are a couple of options:
                                                                             
  • Copies of your Resume – as a good benchmark, you should bring at least one copy of your resume for each person in the interview room (including you). It’s even better to bring a few extra copies in case someone unexpectedly joins the interview, or if you are invited to an impromptu 2nd or 3rd round interview.
  • Business Cards – I typically recommend that people have business cards for their job search. These cards would have your personal contact information and come in handy when interviewers are passing out their cards to you – you will have your own card to return.
  • Reference List – It is always better to be over-prepared, so having your reference ready in the event that the interviewer asks is a great way to demonstrate your organization skills and preparation. Don’t provide the interviewer with your reference list, however, unless and until they ask for it.
  • Research Notes – Having a ‘cheat sheet’ of your research notes on the company can be handy to have before you walk into the interview room. Not only will they act as a good refresher, but they may also help you get focused on the interview. Keep in mind, you should not refer to your ‘cheat sheet’ in the interview.
  • Questions – Be sure to bring your question list to the interview. You will be able to keep track of the questions that have already been answered throughout your interview, and help remind you of the questions you want to have answers to before you leave the interview.
  • Map – Although most mobile phones have a mapping capability, it’s a good idea to have a hard copy of the directions and/or map to the interview location. If your mobile phone loses connectivity on your way to the interview, you don’t want to get lost on your way to an interview without a map.
  • Schedule/Calendar – In the event that you have the good fortune of being invited in for another interview during your current interview, having your schedule with you will enable you to confirm your availability on the spot. Just remember to turn your phone off before entering the interview room!
  • Mints – a good first impression is critical in a job interview. One sure-fire way to destroy this is with bad breath. Having a breath mint before your interview will be your best defence (and you won’t have to worry about having gum in your mouth during the interview).
  • Water Bottle – interviews are stressful, and dry mouth is one of the ways in which our bodies react to stress. To help alleviate this, make sure you bring a bottle of water with you and have a drink of water as needed.
  • Briefcase/Bag – unless you have a back issue that requires you to wear a backpack style of bag, I would strongly recommend refraining from bringing one to your job interview. Instead, use a briefcase, laptop bag, or messenger style of bag. If you don’t already have one, here are a few examples:

I would also recommend that you gather your interview checklist items the night before so that you don’t have to scramble for them the day of your interview.
If you have any additional recommendations of things that people should bring to an interview please do leave them in the comments section. Also, if you have any questions that you would like for me to answer, I would be happy to help. Feel free to leave a comment below, or to send me a private message.

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The Pros & Cons of Contracting
April 17 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Contracting, Job Search, Job Search Tips, Pros & Cons

With more and more organizations augmenting their staff with contract employees, it is becoming more important than ever for people to consider the pros and cons of contract employment before they even apply. Here are my top pros & cons, along with a few additional considerations that you can use when deciding if contracting is right for you.

Pros of Contracting:

  1. Generate Income – taking on a contract opportunity is a great way to generate income while you are pursuing other options, such as permanent employment, schooling, or even starting your own business.
  2. Try Before Buy – while working on a contract you have the opportunity to conduct deeper research on the organization for which you are contracting. This is a great chance for you to determine whether or not you enjoy the company culture, team, and role before you make any decisions to pursue permanent opportunities within the organization.
  3. Foot in the Door – In some cases, contract opportunities turn into permanent roles. Starting off as a contractor gives you the chance to showcase your skills and talents, likely increasing the likelihood of you gaining a permanent role.
  4. Keep Experience – contracting is a key way for you to keep your skills current and relevant for your next role.
  5. Add Experience – if you are looking to make a career change, or if you are new to a country, contracting is a great strategy for you to gain the experience you need to move towards your ideal career.
  6. May Pay More – typically, employers will pay a higher wage to their contract employees to compensate them for a lack of benefits. What you lose in benefits, you could gain in increased salary.
  7. Grow Network – working with any employer, even on a temporary basis, you will meet new co-workers and hence, expand your network.
  8. More Employable – As the adage goes, it’s easier to find a job when you already have one. Working on a contract basis still counts!
  9. Less Competition – given that contract opportunities are a less desirable proposition, there could be fewer people competing for these roles. With less competition, your chances of getting the interview and even landing the job will increase.

Cons of Contracting:

  1. Uncertainty – the uncertainty that comes with not knowing when the job may come to an end is the primary reason that people find contracting an undesirable proposition.
  2. Keep Searching – due to the uncertainty (above), your job search never really ends. This becomes increasingly important as the contract opportunity comes to an end. Let’s face it, looking for a job is a full-time job, and it’s a lot of hard work.
  3. Lack of Benefits – as mentioned in Pro #6, there are typically fewer benefits available for contract employees. This makes long term planning (i.e. retirement, vacations, etc.) challenging.
  4. Hours Worked = Hours Paid – As a contractor, you only get paid for the hours you work. So, if you need to take a personal day or time for vacation, then this could be an expensive plan because you won’t get paid if you don’t actually work.

Other Considerations:

  1. Employer Support in your Job Search – given that you may need to look for another opportunity as your current contract comes to an end, it is important to know whether the contract employer will provide you with the flexibility you may need for conducting a job search. Special consideration may be needed for time off for interviews or network meetings.
  2. Childcare – although this only impacts parents, childcare issues may be a prohibitive factor when considering contract opportunities. I recommend you research child care options to see if there are options available to you with the flexibility you will need to accommodate a potentially inconsistent work schedule.
  3. Self-Employment Options – For those who are interested in embarking on a contracting lifestyle, it would be worth considering setting yourself up as a self-employed entity. In Canada, the options would include setting up a sole proprietorship or becoming incorporated, and in the US, it would be the difference between being a ‘W2’ or a ‘1099.’ Most countries have systems in place that cater to self-employed people, and these systems typically involve better tax implications for the self-employed.

Final Thoughts:

Many contract opportunities will present themselves via recruitment agencies. As mentioned in a previous blog post, recruiters are a fantastic resource in helping you determine if contracting is the right move for you.

If you are considering contract opportunities, I hope this post helps, and if you have other helpful hints and tips, please feel free to share in the comment section below!

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How to Answer Brain Teaser (Consulting) Interview Questions – with Example
April 14 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: Brain Teaser Questions and Answers, Consulting Interview Questions, difficult job interview question and answer

This is another wonderful viewer question about how to answer “Brain Teaser” interview questions, which have become more popular in recent years.  Consulting companies and high-tech companies alike are relying on the brain teaser question as a way to assess a candidate’s critical thinking skills.

It is important to note that the brain teaser question is simply an assessment tool and not a form of candidate torture.  The interviewer is not expecting you to be 100% correct in your answer, rather s/he is assessing your ability to work through a complex problem.  With that in mind, let’s look at how to answer these questions with an example: How many basketballs can you fit into this room?

The first step in answering such a question is to repeat the question back to the interviewer.  In doing so, you are able to ensure that you understand the question.  If there is a misunderstanding, the interviewer is there to clarify the question for you.  Given that our example is pretty straight-forward, we can move along to step two.

The second step is to ask any clarifying questions.  Think about the factors that would be important to calculating how many basketballs can fit into a room.  Things like: will the room be emptied of its contents?  Will the basketballs be inflated or deflated?  If the interviewer is not able to answer the questions for you, then we include any assumptions we may have in our third step.

Step three is clearly stating any assumptions.  In our example, we may have to assume that the room would be emptied of its contents and that the balls will be inflated.  It is important to state these assumptions as this is a key indicator of both your critical thinking and communication skills.

Our fourth and final step is to calculate your results.  For this step, use round numbers as it will make the calculation much easier.  Remember, this isn’t about being 100% accurate.  So, in our example, let’s say the room is 10ft wide x 10ft long x 10ft high, which equals 1,000 ft3.  Now, let’s say that a standard basketball measures roughly 1 foot in diameter, and given that it’s a ball it would measure roughly 1 ft3.  Our final assumption (which we can include in step four) is that the balls would be aligned ‘squarely’ to each other (not tasselled about).  So, in doing the math: 1 ft3 ball can fit into a 1,000 ft3 room 1,000 times.  So your answer is: 1,000 inflated basketballs can fit into this room when it is emptied of its contents.

I hope you found this helpful, and if you have any questions that you would like for me to answer, please feel free to leave a comment, or send me a message.  If you would like personalized advice, please check out the services page for further details.

In the meantime: Happy Hunting!

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When to Follow Up after your Job Interview
April 12 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: interview tips, Job Interview Follow Up, Job Interview Skills, Telphone Interviews

You’ve had a great interview for an amazing job, but you haven’t heard back from the company yet. You wait, and wait, and still no feedback. When is it appropriate to follow up? How much is too much follow up? And what should you do while you’re waiting?

Following Up

Before you get to this point, in fact, at the end of your interview, it’s always a good idea to ask the interviewer when you should expect to hear about next steps. This will help you manage your own expectations during the interview process. If you haven’t heard from them in the timeframe indicated, wait a day or two before you send a follow-up email.

If the interviewer wasn’t able to provide you a timeline (or if you forgot to ask at the end of your interview) and you haven’t heard anything in say 10-14 days, then it’s ok to send a quick follow up email to re-iterate your expressed interest and ask if there is any additional information that you can provide them to help in their decision-making.

It is important to remember that the interviewers are likely very busy with conflicting priorities pulling them in different directions. As such, it is imperative that you show your understanding and that you are positive in your messages to the interviewer(s). After all, you don’t want to be thought of as the “high-maintenance” candidate, or the “prima donna” candidate. In doing so, the interviewers may question your business acumen and assume that this is the type of co-worker or employee you could be.

That said, if you find the recruitment process to be unnecessarily long or that you are being treated unfairly, you may want to question if this is a company for which you would want to work. Remember, interviewing is a two-way street, and you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you.

Continue Your Search

Even if you have given the interview of your life for that dream job at one of your target companies, it is important that you don’t lose your job search momentum. It is essential that you continue your job search in the event that something comes up to derail this opportunity and that you have a backup plan in place. Otherwise, if something does happen and the job opportunity is no longer available, but you haven’t maintained our job search, you could find yourself falling behind in your job search. Trying to catch up in finding another opportunity will take that much longer.

Stay Positive

Staying positive during a job search can be challenging, but it is vital to your job search success. When you feel positive, others (including interviewers) will be attracted to your positivity. Here are a few ways in which you can stay positive during your job search:

  1. Keep in touch with your support network – these are your friends, former colleagues, mentors, and/or family members who encourage you and support you. Lean on them if you need encouragement or simply a break from your grueling job search activities.
  2. Training – this is a great way to update or keep up to date with the latest tools, technology, and/or skills in your chosen field. Not only is this a great way to keep your skills relevant and employable, you may end up making some great connections that will serve you in your job search now, or during your career in the future.
  3. Volunteer – this is a wonderful way to leverage your skills to keep them relevant. Much like with training, you may also make some great connections.
  4. Join a job search networking group – these groups will help you through the challenging times you might be facing or the self-doubt that you might be feeling.
  5. Take care of yourself – this means eating properly, exercise, and getting a good night’s sleep. This is especially true if you are between successes as it is tempting to sit at home on the sofa and eat junk food. Although this may be a guilty pleasure, it shouldn’t become a new lifestyle. Maintain your healthy eating habits, exercise routine (even if it is simply taking the dog for a walk), and be sure to get a good night sleep.

With the pace of change in business today, anything can happen to delay the recruitment process. It is important to remember to be positive in your follow-up with the interviewer(s), continue your job search, and by all means, stay positive during your job search journey.

If you have any other recommendations, please feel free to leave a comment!

There is a bonus blooper reel at the end of the video, so watch ‘til the end!

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Top 5 Telephone Interview Tips
April 07 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: Ace the Interview, Interview Tips & Tricks, Phone Interview tips, Telphone Interviews

Telephone Interviews have become increasingly commonplace as a tool used by recruiters and hiring managers in narrowing down their short-list of candidates.  Chances are, if you are applying for jobs, you might be called for a telephone interview.  Here are my top 5 tips for passing the telephone interview:

Remove Distractions

You still need to treat the phone interview like an in-person interview, so make sure you are distraction free.  In most cases your telephone interview will be pre-scheduled, but in other cases, you may get an unexpected call from a recruiter or hiring manager.  If you do receive a call unexpectedly and it is not a convenient time, it is ok to ask to schedule the meeting at a time that is mutually convenient.

Remember, the telephone interview is an important step in moving towards a job offer.  As such, it is imperative that you are focused and present during your phone interview.

Dedicated Space

Make sure you have a dedicated space in your home or office where you can have an uninterrupted telephone conversation.  Ideally, this will be a space with a desk or table where you can be seated comfortably.  If you are at home and laying on the sofa watching TV, you will not sound as professional as you would if you were seated or standing.

If you have trouble projecting your voice, it is a good idea to stand during the interview, as long as it is comfortable to do so.

Smile

Believe it or not, smiling on the telephone shines through in your voice.  A best practice used by telephone sales people and recruiters is to have a mirror at their desk which they use to help remind them to smile.  The added benefit of using a mirror is that it can sometimes help you annunciate and pronounce your words properly.  As important as it is to have a pleasant telephone manner for the phone interview, it is equally important that the person on the other end of the call can hear and understand you.

No Slang

Be mindful of your word choice during your telephone interview.  The telephone interview is still a business meeting, even though it may be a bit more casual in approach.  Ensuring that you refrain from slang, and profanity will ensure you sound professional over the phone.  That said, it is important to show your personality over the phone – and that is where smiling, as was mentioned in the previous tip, will help.

Be Organized

As part of your interview preparation, strive to be diligent with keeping a record of the roles to which you have applied.  Along with this, you can keep your company research notes and any questions you may have for the interviewer together in one place.  The advantage of the phone interview is that the interviewer can’t see you, so you can readily refer to your notes on the job and company during the interview.

In addition, with your organized company and role-specific notes, you can have your pre-written answers to common interview questions ready.  My advice is to have your answers written in bullet point as this will make you sound more natural than if you were to read from a script.

I hope you found this helpful!  If you have your own tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.  I look forward to hearing from you!

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3 Interview Mistakes to Avoid
April 03 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: Ace the Interview, interview tips, Interview Tips & Tricks, Job Interview Skills

 

Interviewing is stressful, and for many people, this stress can cause people to make mistakes.  Here are the three biggest mistakes that people make while interviewing and how and why to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Dishonesty

Dishonesty in an interview can range from saying what you think the interviewer wants to hear through to telling an outright lie.  Let’s take a look at each scenario separately.

First, saying what you think the interviewer wants to hear will, in most cases, come across as phony.  The main objective in an interview should be to present the best version of yourself.  If you spend your time “gaming” the interview, then you are not being authentic.  Although the interviewer may smile and nod, they will sense that you are not being sincere and this could cost you the job.  In addition, your authentic answer to the question may, in fact, be a much better answer than the one you think the interviewers want to hear.  As a result, you could be ‘shooting yourself in the foot’ by not being genuine in your answers.

Second, lying is never a good idea.  Most savvy interviewers can detect when someone is lying to them, and if caught, then you lies will most certainly cost you the job.  For arguments sake, let’s just say that you are a fantastic liar (if so, whatever you do – do not add this to your resume under special skills).  If you lie about having a particular skill or qualification and you are hired based on that skill, you run the risk of having an uncomfortable conversation with your boss or, at worst, your employment terminated.

The bottom line is: honesty is the best policy!

Mistake 2: Arrogance

Most people strive for being confident in an interview, but being over confident can be a deal-breaker.  I have seen this more with internal candidates and those who were referred by the hiring manager.  It gives the impression that the candidate thinks that they have the job ‘in the bag’ and by attending the interview, they are merely checking a box in the recruitment process.  Not only can this leave a bad taste in the interviewer’s mouth, but you may also be selling yourself short.  By not fully engaging in the interview process, you may end up leaving out pertinent information in the interview that could mean the difference between getting the job and being outperformed by another candidate.

For some, going into an interview is incredibly nerve-wracking and they try to overcompensate their nervousness by exuding confidence.  This can backfire and make it look as though you are arrogant.  For all of the reasons mentioned above, it is important to maintain a level of modesty in the interview so that you do not appear overly confident.

Preparing for the interview by practicing common interview questions should help to reduce anxiety.  Pausing to collect your thoughts in an interview will also help to calm your nervousness.   Just remember, even though you may be a front-runner in the interview process, someone else may outshine you.

Mistake 3: Unprepared

As mentioned in a previous blog post, being prepared for an interview is paramount to performing well.  Ensuring that you have done your research on the job and company will help you to showcase your skills in the context of the employer’s needs.  Preparing your answers to common interview questions will help you feel more confident in the interview.  Finally, preparation for the interview may even make you excited about the role and company.

In summary, through proper practice and preparation, and presenting the best version of yourself, you should be able to avoid these common and potentially interview-killing mistakes.

If you would like personalized advice, please check out our services section of this site.  If you have any questions, you can leave a comment below, or send me an email!

 

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