Rewarding Resumes Service - Our Business is Getting You Interviews

What you should know before you enter the interview (Click the link for details)

Employers are usually impressed to know that a candidate took the time to learn about their company. Utilize the numerous resources available to find out about your prospective place of employment. What products or service do they offer? What is the history of the company? What does the department you may be working in do? Use the Internet or the library. No matter what level position you are applying for, it is good to know something about what the company does, its place in the community, and the world at large. No matter what position you are applying for, you will be contributing to the company’s growth in some way. Don’t you think you should know something about what you will be contributing to? Is the company’s mission in line with your goals?

Researching the company will give you an edge over other competitors for the same job. You will be able to allude to some of the things you found out during your interview. As a matter of fact, some employers will ask you outright, what do you know about our company? This is your time to shine! Imagine how other ill-prepared interviewees will react to that same question. I really don’t know much is not an impressive answer. It shows how unprepared you would be if hired for the job. It also shows that you are not really interested in the company and that you may only be pursuing a paycheck.

If you have a portfolio, bring it along with you. I have done this successfully showing proof of work that I did. Be careful not to bring items that will release confidential information of the company you are leaving. Some people have even brought their performance appraisals to share with their interviewer.

As a professional resume writer, my job is to present you at your best on paper so that you can obtain an interview. Many times when my clients read their resumes, they ask, “Is that really me?” I bring out their qualifications in ways they never imagined. So now it is your job to read your resume and get familiar with yourself. Pick out the key qualifications that correspond to the ones that the position requires. Find ways in which those qualifications would help you in the position that you are applying for. The interviewer may very well pick out these key lines and ask you how will they correlate with the job you want. So get confident in yourself and develop an intimate knowledge of your selling points. You know yourself better than anyone else.

The way you dress says a lot about you before you even open your mouth. Image speaks volumes. Some have gone as far as saying image is 90% and knowledge is 10%. Remember you will be representing the company that you work for. Therefore there is certain protocol to follow when dressing for interviews. The standard dress is to wear conservative colors such as navy blue, black and brown. I was a participant on a panel interview in which a candidate wore a red suit. That did not impress the other panel members at all. The interviewers carried on for days about how the woman was obviously power struck to wear red before she even got the position. You should wear clean, neatly pressed suits with all your buttons in tact. Remember you are going to be the center of attraction during the interview. Try to match as closely as possible. Shirts should be nice and clean. Take care not to have whites looking like yellow. On the other hand, do not go in the room smelling like bleach.

You are not going on a date. Also the interviewer may be allergic to your perfume and you do not want any strikes against you for how you smell. A good rule of thumb would be to look at yourself in the mirror right before the interview. Examine your facial area since this is where most contact will take place. That includes your nostrils. You do not want furry friends hanging out. The bottom line is you want to look presentable.

Be on time. It is important that you get to the interview at least 20 to 30 minutes early. You may be required to complete applications before the actual interview. Not to mention that you will feel more composed and less nervous when you don’t have to rush through the door. Set your alarm if necessary so that you will have adequate time to groom yourself and eat a meal. If the interviewer gives you the opportunity to select an interview time, be sure to choose a time that works for you. A good idea may be to conduct a test run to the company a few days before the interview. This is especially a good practice if you do not know where the job is located.

Do not underestimate the importance of the receptionist. Be courteous and put your best foot forward the moment you enter that building. The hiring manager may ask the receptionist for feedback concerning your entrance. Do not be rude to him or her or treat them like they are beneath you.

If you were serviced by Rewarding Resume Services, you should be armed with your Job Application Worksheet (JAW). This worksheet has all the information you will need to transfer to your application. You should also have a list of personal and business references complete with contact information. Make sure you got permission from each referral before including their name on your application. This will prevent surprises such as one of your references giving out undesirable information about you.

The stage is ready for you to perform and perform you must. Notice I did not say act. You should not become an impostor and be someone you are not. Not only will you be deceiving your prospective employer, but also yourself. Even if you do get the job, it will be as the individual you presented yourself as during the interview and not the person you really are. Be yourself! Do not lie. If you cannot perform a certain task, do not claim you can. In many instances, people have been fired from jobs when the manager finds out they lied on their applications, resumes and during the interview. There are however, enhancements that you can apply to your persona.

There are different types of interviews. A common one is the panel interview in which you will meet with a group of people all at once. Many times, such an interview is designed to test how you react under pressure. The interviewers will take turns shooting questions at you. Take a deep breath, think about the question, and give them intelligent answers that pertain to the question. Do not beat around the bush. Keep in mind that they need to fill a position as much as you would like to get that job.

It may first begin with a handshake, which tells a lot about your personality. Give a firm handshake. Bring some tissue in case your hands get sweaty and clammy. Your handshake must exert self-confidence. Do not prolong the shake. On the other hand do not pull away instantly. Use good judgment. It is a part of Western culture to greet each other by shaking hands. Greetings are conveyed differently in various parts of the world. In Japan, bowing may take the place of the handshake. Also, do not fold your arms. This is a defensive gesture which may convey that you are hiding something from the interviewer.

The interviewer may be a little uncomfortable as well. He may try to break the ice with small polite talk. For example, he may ask you if you found your way to the company address all right and how good were his directions. Always stay positive. Even if it was difficult to get there, keep a cheerful note. This is not the time to tell how you got lost or how you broke your shoe heel on the way in.

This will also be the time for you to size up the interviewer. Look around the office. Does it have a warm feeling or does it feel like the North Pole. You will not have an opportunity to do this if you meet in a conference room.

You look your best and are sitting in front of the interviewer. You must be aware of your body language. Not only are they listening to you, but they are also watching your every movement. Rule number one is to maintain eye contact. Looking them in the eye shows that you have nothing to hide. Notice I did not say to have a stare down which will only make the interviewer uncomfortable. Look them directly in the eye when answering a question, then look away. Lean forward to show interest. Do not slouch and lean back as if you are in your recliner at home.

If several people are interviewing you, be sure to address the person who asked you the question, while politely making eye contact with the rest of the group. Smiling never killed anyone. It is good to maintain a pleasant countenance. There is no need to keep a silly grin on your face or act like a clown. However most people like to know you are agreeable and will fit in the workplace. They do not want to work with a grouch. It is very important that you maintain a positive and pleasant attitude. Have you ever heard as well that “attitude is everything”? The very moment that you face the interviewer, you are being sized up and judged to see if you will fit in with the other employees.

You are evaluated as soon as you open your mouth. Your resume and cover letter validated your written communication skills. Now the way you talk and articulate will validate your oral communication abilities. Have you noticed that many advertisements for job require excellent communication skills? Can you communicate with the staff? If the job requires you to be on the phone, how will you come across to clients? These are the things that the interviewer will be trying to answer. As a part of your daily routine, you will have to make phone calls perhaps to clients and coworkers in other departments.

If you are not a good communicator, hopefully you practiced on how to speak in front of a mirror or role played prior to the interview. Speak with confidence and do sound like you know what you are talking about. This does not mean bragging. There is a distinctive difference between confidence and bragging. You may have a monotonous voice but you must try your best to sound upbeat and cheerful. It will not hurt to put a little pep in your step. Let your face shine. Speak passionately about your work and capabilities. Articulate and pronounce all your words well so the interviewer will not have to ask you to repeat yourself. This gets to be annoying. So what if you have an accent? Your accent has nothing to do with how well you speak. If you have an accent, speak slower and clearer. Also it would be a good idea to brush up on your grammar. Your aim is to impress the interviewer. Avoid having anything in your mouth. That includes candy and chewing gum. This reflects your degree of class and professionalism.

This question can either make you or break you. This is not your opportunity to talk about your personal life starting with your birth, your children and your home. Keep it short! The interviewer is looking for a brief, organized statement of your education, professional achievements and goals.

This question is your opportunity to tell the interviewer about your job skills, job achievements, your performance on past job and what you hope to contribute to the organization. Did you notice that everything should relate to the job? Another variation of this question is what can you do for us? Again here is the time to go into your abilities and tell what you have done in the past and how you can make a difference.

How can we eliminate you right here when you tell us what makes you a poor worker?

While it is good to be honest, you can be quite selective here. This is not time for confession. Instead, inform the interviewer of an attribute or characteristic that can be cast in a positive light. Consider the following example. I am a workaholic who always volunteer to take on extra work when asked. However I need to realize that even though I like to keep busy, there are times when I should share the workload with others. Another example is this. Because I work better under pressure, I tend to procrastinate. Even though I produce better results this way, I need to give myself adequate time to work on projects. Do you get the idea? Even though these answers seem negative, the interviewer will see the positives in it. Which boss would not like a workaholic? Use specific examples. Tell of a time in which you exhibited such behavior. You don’t want to sound like the person who the interviewer last spoke with. Your unique experience will set you apart from the others.

Are you a stable potential employee or a job hopper? Will you be job-hunting again six months from now?

Do not tell the interviewer that you would like to be in his/her position. A good answer is you would hope to be still in the company making advancements in your career as well as contributing to the growth of the company. Tell me of an instant in which you…… Think of experiences in the past. Slow down, it is ok to tell the interviewer that you need a little time to think. It shows that you did not memorize your answers. Think of projects you worked on, difficult situations you overcame, a crisis that you solved. Make sure that they are ones that ended successfully with you as the main character.

So you made it through the interview and it is time to wrap it up. The interviewer asks you, so do you have any questions for us? You smile and say, “No you have covered it all.” Wrong answer. Remember they want you as well as you want them. Find out about the position. Is it what you really want? Ask questions to determine this. You must show a curious mind. Have at least two questions for the interviewer. For example, what would I have to do in order to be successful in this position? Another would be why did the last person in this position leave. Did they meet the department’s goals? As information is given to you about the position, throughout the position, you should be forming questions in your head. The answers should give you more insight on the job.

Do not ask about salary until you have gone through the entire interview process and the interviewer has made it clear that you are the chosen candidate for the job. Always state that salary is negotiable. You want to avoid appearing as being money hungry. Salary is a way of weeding out over zealous and unambitious candidates. You should have researched salary before going to the interviewer.

Do not ask about benefits. Most companies will volunteer this information to you at the appropriate time. The last thing you want to do is look like you are mostly concerned about what the company will do for you.

How many unthankful people can you think of? Hopefully you are not one of them. Before leaving the interview, note the name of your interviewers or ask them for business cards. Ask them their time frame for making a hiring decision. Be sure to send a follow-up letter thanking them for their time spent interviewing you. You were probably selected from a large pool of applications. Include some key points that you went over in the interview. You should have been taking mental notes all along. Reiterate what you can do for them and how you will make a difference. Conclude your letter that your are convinced that you are the one for the job. Your letter should be short, powerful and confident. A follow-up letter can be enough to jog the interviewer’s memory and cast you in a positive light.

Congratulations! You aced the interview and will have to break the news to your current employer. Now is not the time to gloat and brag. Remember not to burn your bridges. It is a small world and you may encounter your current boss later down the road again. This is especially true if you intend to remain in the same industry. Not to mention that the grass is not always greener on the other side and people have left jobs only to return. You will also need good references.

Do not tell your coworkers of your job change before you tell your boss. Rumors fly like wild fire. Sit down with your boss and inform him/her in a respectful manner that you will be leaving. Do this in writing giving at least two weeks notice. Offer to make any necessary transitions and perform training if needed. You must end your employment on a good note. Your boss may harbor some resentment for you leaving. Hopefully, it will not be in the middle of a project. Your letter should have a pleasant note. There should be no bitterness present. Inform your boss that you have found another job that is more in line with your future goals. Thank him for all the opportunities that were presented to you during your time at that company. Try hard to remember how happy you were when you landed the job you are about to leave. Let that feeling echo in your resignation letter. Your employer should realize that it is time for you to move on.

During your last two weeks, do not wander aimlessly, shunning your work and taking lengthy lunches. Just as how you made a good first impression to get the job, leave a lasting impression when you leave. You don’t want to leave a bad image. Leaving on a cantankerous and negative note is usually a sign of something deeper, bad character.

When I look back on all my interviews, I have no regrets. Each time, I entered the room with confidence, knowing that I was a great person for the job. My positive attitude did a lot for me.

I put my best foot forward and let faith have its perfect work. If I was not selected for the job, then it was not the perfect will of God. It was not meant to be.

I have somehow found myself on the other side of the table. Yes, I now wear the hiring manager’s shoes. I see apprehension, fear, confusion, dishonesty, confidence, loyalty, and passion shining in the eyes of those I now interview.

To be successful, you must feel successful. You are how you feel. If one interview does not work out, keep on trying. There is a job waiting out there just for you. Use each interview as a tutelage and learning tool for the next one. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect.

Each day is a learning experience. Take care to spend every day preparing for the next to come. When you move ahead in life and stretch one hand forward, never fail to take advice of the ones who have walked your path, and in the same manner reach back with the other hand to those who are coming behind you: for life is a chain of experiences held together by love. Do not be the one who breaks the link in the chain. Life is full of opportunities. Reach for the stars, do not limit yourself.

The opportunities of life are yours to seize boldly. Share your knowledge, experiences and success with others, but always remember that you, too, have earned the right to partake.