Cv for Interviews

Posts Tagged ‘Job Interviews’

Correct these 3 fatal flaws to dramatically improve your chances of winning job interviews…and getting job offers:

1. An ordinary resume without a good Look and Feel.
2. Weak communication skills.
3. A below average personal appearance.

If anything I say rubs you the wrong way…this might be a good thing. Pain often awakens something deep inside us, making it easier for us to see true reality instead of our limited perception of it.

Your shortcoming could be something simple to overcome…or a little more complex to solve. Either way, any problem can be solved if you simply park your ego, open your mind, and learn to see yourself in a new way.

Ok…ready? Let’s go over each of these areas. Examples and detailed instruction is provided via the link at the end of this article:

An ordinary resume:

More than ever, companies today are making the decision to interview you not only from the content of your resume, but its overall Look and Feel. It is one of the most important things you can do to improve your odds of getting an interview.

Yet, most people let their egos take over and create a resume that basically screens them out. And, by the way, it doesn’t make any difference if your resume was done by a professional resume writer. Some of those resumes don’t work very well either.

How do I know this?

Because for years I made my living by placing people with companies who gladly paid me a hefty fee to find qualified people for them. I grew sick and tired of seeing outstanding people rejected all because someone at the company didn’t like their resume.

So, if I didn’t fix this problem, I didn’t eat. Simple as that.

Special Tip: Your resume is a work in progress. It can be updated and tailored frequently. But, the do’s and don’ts of creating content and developing a good Look and Feel do not change.

Weak Communication skills:

Ok…once your resume is up to snuff and starting to turn a few heads, you can expect a couple of calls to set up a phone interview. This is the next critical hurdle you need to get over to be invited in for a face-to-face interview.

No face-to-face interview…no chance of an offer.

The only purpose of your resume and phone interview is to win an on-site interview. Period.

The telephone is a cold instrument and it is difficult to get a warm and fuzzy feeling for someone over the phone. So, you need to communicate well over the phone in order to make a positive impression.

Below Average Personal Appearance:

Ok…your resume is starting to work for you. And, you nailed your phone interview. Your greatest challenge now lies ahead…making a good first impression at your on-site interview.

Fact: People will judge you by your appearance. This is unfair, but it’s an unavoidable reality. Human beings are visual creatures.

During your job search, your appearance needs to be on the conservative side and your body language positive. I’ve seen a lot of bright, talented people rejected because of a poor personal appearance.

On the other hand, I’ve seen some pretty average folks hired because they looked sharp and interviewed well. More often than not, the best prepared candidate is hired over the best qualified candidate.

You may not have the money right now, but if your clothing is old and out of style, you might want to consider it. Also, work with a good clothing consultant at the store. Tell him/her that you are looking for a job and want to look your best.

My April newsletter, Job Brick Wall, contains detailed examples of what works best to overcome these 3 fatal flaws.

All the best to you with your job search.

Mike

Michael Petras is a veteran Executive Recruiter of 14 years and also spent 20 years in the Recreational Vehicle Industry as a Regional Sales Director. He hired and trained over 50 sales professionals. Many have since gone on to become Directors, Executives, and Presidents of companies both inside and outside the RV Industry. Mike conducts community workshops for job seekers and career changers on a volunteer basis. He also publishes a daily blog and a monthly newsletter available through his website: http://www.job-interview-wisdom.com.

Most applicants fail because they lack confidence in themselves. A job interview should never be treated or compared to an interrogation. This wrong notion of what an interview should be actually adds to the fear mounting inside. This fear usually hinders you from effectively expressing yourself during interviews and worst, too much fear may cause some applicants to blank out during the interview.

A good way to prepare for a job interview is to research the company; practice answering the most commonly asked interview questions, and then gather information about the employer. This will not only provide helpful information for the interview but will also boost confidence knowing that you are well prepared to answer any questions during your job interview.

Aside from conducting researches and familiarizing yourself with various questions for the job interview there are still some things you need to know in order to ensure that you get the job you want.

Present the best and most sellable side of your personality

This can be achieved only if you to possess confidence in yourself. It is important that you trust your own abilities and believe that you have the qualifications required for the job that you are applying for. Self-confidence will help you feel at ease during your job interview.

Learn the different types of questions in order to sell yourself effectively

A job interview is all about questions. There are various types of questions used, for instance, questions that probe, questions that put you on the spot and questions that you may find hard to answer. It is important that you know how to easily recognize questions so that you will be prepared on how to effectively answer those questions.

Prepare question topics in advance

Nothing beats preparedness especially referring to job interviews. Since a job interview is all about questions, prepare in advance and practice answering some of the commonly asked questions your potential employer may ask. Practice makes perfect, and doing this will help get you accustomed to the questions thus boosting your confidence during your actual job interview.

Improve your personal grooming

Image and appearance is really important especially during actual job interviews. Your image and appearance tells so much about the type of person you are. Likewise, it is important to choose properly the clothes that you are to wear during your job interview since your clothes reflect just how much you value yourself.

Give a polished interview performance

Try to remember interview dos and donts to avoid mistakes and help swing the interview in your favor.

Carefully assess the job offer

It is also important for you to carefully assess the job offer. Determine whether the job is really the type you want and never be afraid to ask questions. Since it is only through asking that you will be able to know how solid the job offer really is.

Communicate and build rapport with the interviewer

You can achieve this by being an active interviewee, meaning be enthusiastic in answering questions. Show them that you are really interested in getting the job. Develop rapport with the interviewer this will help in ridding you of some of your fears, and will provide you with more confidence.

Conducting a job search is a daunting task, even for seasoned professionals. There are many pieces to the puzzle, and each piece plays its own important role in the process. Knowing the pieces of the process is a crucial element for your success.

While there is no such thing as doing too much, there is a basic guide to follow. It consists of five painless steps that will outline your work ahead. Together, they form the foundation of a job hunt that will yield exceptional results.

1. Put together a great resume.

Before your job search ever begins, you need a resume. The resume is the first contact you will have with a prospective employer. It is an extension of your life and a summary of your accomplishments. It is how a manager will pick you out of hundredspossibly thousands of applicants. It can mean the difference between exciting job interviews and a phone that never rings, between success and failure.

This is a complex task for two pages (maximum) of paper. Thats right, two little pages to talk about your education, job experience, accomplishments and awards, special skills, training, professional experienceaffiliation, and so on. Basically, you need to sum up your life, and make it interesting, in two pages.

There are numerous websites that can help with writing a bullet proof resume. Some offer free information and examples for you to follow, and some will write the resume for you (for a fee of course). Careerbuilder.com is an excellent website for writing and posting your resume.

Professional resume writing, when done by a human resource expert, can give you a significant edge over the competition. You can expect to pay 100 or more for this service, and can be well worth the money. However, before hiring someone to write it for you be sure to check their credentials.

2. Determine the locations you may want to live.

Once you have your resume polished and shiny, its time to think about where you want to live. Determining a location can have a significant impact on your income earning potential. Some jobs are concentrated in certain areas and the pay can be dramatically more than where you live. For example, the vast majority of computer programming jobs in the U.S. are in Silicon Valley, California. Jobs there can pay up to five times more than other parts of the country.

Unfortunately, pay isnt everything. To accurately assess your situation, other factors must come into play. Cost of living, for example, can be dramatically different from one city to another. A 50,000 a year income in Mobile, Alabama is equal to over 122,350 in Manhattan, New York, a 145% increase.

Other factors, such as quality of schools, real estate, environmental quality, quality of life, and proximity to friends and family should also be evaluated. These factors are more difficult to measure than cost of living. Not having your mom to watch the kids can cost you thousands of pounds a year and must be a part of your decision. Write down pros and cons for each factor and take a look at the entire picture.

3. Put Out the Word.

Once you have a resume and decide your desired location, its time to get hustling. The most important place to start, and the most often overlooked place, is your network. Your network is the group of family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances that make up your life. They are the backbone of your search and a great source of information and leads.

The big advantage of your network is that it is compiled with people who already know you. Depending on your relationship, many people in your network will feel a vested interest in your success, and will go out of their way to help. If they come in contact with a potential employer, they can vouch for your character and work ethic on the spot and help you leap to the top of the prospect pool.

4. Look Online

With the advent of the internet, the first place many job seekers look for job listings is now online on the internet. There are more job search websites than you know what to do with and each one is telling you they are the best. The truth is they are.

Monster.com is another excellent job search website. They have great tips, will write your resume and cover letter for, and get you job hunting in minutes.

You can find more by going to Google.com and doing a search for jobs. The key to successfully using these websites is being systematic. Pick a time everyday when you can spend time working online (example: from 2pm to 6pm daily). Start a daily journal and write down what job search sites you visit and the job listings you apply to. This journal will keep you from back tracking and can save you hours of time.

5. Look Offline

Do not overlook the tried and true ways of finding a job. Get the daily newspaper and other classified periodicals to look for listings. Also, get a copy of the Sunday edition from the papers in the locations you are interested in living. Be mindful of signs and conversations everywhere you go, and let new contacts know you are on the hunt.