How To Get Rid Of Interview Nerves

How To Get Rid Of Interview Nerves

It’s normal to feel nervous before a job interview. But when those nerves start to impact your interview performance, it’s time to learn how to get rid of interview nerves once and for all.

Here’s how to get rid of your interview nerves and crush your next job interview:

Honesty, Interview Prep, And Connection

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @erica__007 How to get rid of interview nerves. #interviewquestions #interview #interviewtips #jobsearchtips #jobinterviewtips #interviewhelp #interviewprep #careertok #careeradvice #jobsearch ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

1. Be honest about your interview nerves.

First of all, it is okay to let the hiring manager know you’re nervous. It’s okay to be honest with them. But when you let the hiring manager know you’re nervous, make sure you do it with a smile because that’s going to set the tone for the interview.

If your interview nerves have the potential to ruin the job interview, when you sit down with the hiring manager, smile at them, take a deep breath, and say, “I just want to let you know that I am nervous for this interview, so I may not answer every question as smoothly as I want to, but it’s because I’m excited about the job opportunity.”

2. Focus on interview prep.

Keep your facial expressions and body language in mind. People hear what they see, especially in an interview. So the next tip I recommend to get rid of your interview nerves is to work on your interview prep.

Mock interviews are a great way to not only practice your answers to interview questions but also work on your body language and facial expressions. Remember to sit up tall and lean in a little bit. Remember to smile. Remember to make appropriate eye contact.

I often tell clients who are struggling with interview nerves to wear a ring or watch or another piece of jewelry on a different finger or wrist so that every time they see it in the interview, it triggers them to remember the body language tips above.

Interview prep is one of the best ways to get rid of interview nerves because it helps to instill confidence in your interview abilities and qualifications for the job. Body language and facial expressions are just as important as your interview answers, and interview prep can help you practice both.

3. Realize the interview is all about making a connection.

Sometimes the easiest way to get rid of interview nerves is to change your mindset. Before your next job interview, tell yourself: “I’m excited. This is about making a connection today. This is about me starting the process of getting to know this employer.”

The interview isn’t an all-or-nothing situation. You’re learning. You’re growing. You’re doing your best. And you’re at the job interview to make a connection and share your answers. The person who’s interviewing you could be a potential colleague one day. How would you act if you were simply having coffee with them?

When you change your interview mindset to focus on connection and excitement instead of worst-case scenarios, your interview nerves will subside. A shift in your mindset will prevent you from psyching yourself out in the job interview, going in with that serious attitude, serious body language, and serious facial expressions. It’s also going to help you answer interview questions with more positivity and enthusiasm, the perfect combination for connection.

The next time you’re experiencing bad interview nerves, remember these three things: honesty, interview prep, and connection. And before you know it, your interview nerves will all but disappear!

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Why You Shouldn’t Look At Your Notes During A Job Interview

Why You Shouldn’t Look At Your Notes During A Job Interview

Should you look at your notes during a job interview? A lot of people have different opinions on this. Personally, as a career coach for 20+ years, I don’t recommend looking at your notes during a job interview. And this is the simple reason why…

It’s Distracting

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @torzamorris Can I look at my notes in a job interview? #interviewprep #interviewhelp #jobinterviewtips #jobsearchtips #interviewtips #interview #interviewquestions ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

Looking at your notes during a job interview is extremely distracting. For example, if I were giving you advice in person or via video call, but I was either taking notes or looking at my notes while talking to you, how would you feel about our connection? Probably not very good.

I don’t think looking at your notes sends the right message when you’re trying to have a conversation during a job interview.

Now, you may think that your only other option is to memorize your interview answers. That’s not true. In fact, you shouldn’t be memorizing at all.

Instead of looking at notes or memorizing your answers, research the most common behavioral interview questions you’ll likely be asked in the interview. Write out your answers to them. Read them back to yourself, and do that every day for a little while until you haven’t memorized them, but the storyline of them has been committed to memory so that when you’re asked a question, your answer comes out naturally.

Now, in addition to that, there’s something that I teach at Work It DAILY called the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model. When you write the answers to these behavioral interview questions out, you want to follow a beginning, a middle, and an end. (Storytelling!)

  • What did you experience?
  • What did you learn from that experience?
  • How have you grown from that experience and how are you going to use that on the job?

This is what employers are looking for. You’re a service provider. You’re a business-of-one. They’re trying to understand how you are going to serve their needs, why they should pick you, and why you’re going to give them the best return on investment (ROI). This process—researching common behavioral interview questions, using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model when writing out your answers in advance, and reading them until you know the stories you want to tell—will get you to a place of comfort where you’ll be able to just look at them and have a conversation.

The hiring manager is a person that you’re trying to connect with. This is a potential future co-worker. You are at that interview to make a friend, make a colleague, in a sense. So, you want to connect. And looking at your notes while you’re trying to answer their questions—this is not connecting.

If you have such bad interview nerves that you feel like you need notes, my advice to you is to learn how to do better interview prep. You not only want to do the prep to ease your interview nerves but to be able to sit there and connect with the person you’re talking to.

In the hiring process, it’s all about connection! That’s why looking at your notes during a job interview will do more harm than good.

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The No. 1 Job Interview Thank-You Note Mistake To Avoid

The No. 1 Job Interview Thank-You Note Mistake To Avoid

Sending a thank-you note to the hiring manager after a job interview is not only a kind thing to do but also a job search best practice. However, what you write in your thank-you note can significantly impact your chances of moving on in the hiring process.

If you make common thank-you note mistakes, the hiring manager might note consider you for the job. And there is one job interview thank-you note mistake that you should avoid at all costs…

#1 Thank-You Note Mistake: Recapping The Interview & Trying To Resell Yourself

@j.t.odonnell No. 1 Job Interview THANK YOU NOTE Mistake #thankyounote #thankyou #jobinterviewthankyounote #jobinterview #jobinterviewtips #interviewtips #interview #interviewtipsandtricks #mistake #mistakesweremade ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

The number one mistake that people make when writing a thank-you note is recapping everything they talked about in the interview and trying to resell themselves to the hiring manager.

In your thank-you note, you do not write an epic novel. You don’t tell them why you think you’re the best candidate for the job. And you definitely don’t mention something you forgot to talk about in the job interview.

A thank-you note is to do one thing: give thanks.

Here’s the simple thank-you note formula you should use after every job interview:

Dear [hiring manager’s name],

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak with you about the XYZ position. I really enjoyed talking with you about [something you specifically talked about]. If there’s anything else I can provide to further my candidacy, please let me know because I would love to work with you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

That’s it. Three sentences.

And just in case you’re wondering, send a thank-you note to everybody that you met with during the job interview.

Since your thank-you note is only three sentences long, you have the time and the ability to personalize that second line where you talk about what you enjoyed speaking with them about. If you met with three people, send three thank-you notes that are short and sweet, like the example above. You are showing your follow-through and your consistency, but also respect for the fact that your time to sell yourself was in the interview.

Your thank-you note is for showing appreciation. Don’t make the mistake of recapping the interview and trying to resell yourself. If you follow the formula above, you’ll write a thank-you note that will surely get you bonus points during the interview process.

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How To Answer “Tell Me About A Time You Went Above & Beyond”

How To Answer “Tell Me About A Time You Went Above & Beyond”

One of the hardest and most important job interview questions is, “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.” Here’s the perfect technique to ace the answer every time.

Step 1: Think About A Time You Exceeded Expectations

The first step is for you to sit down and think about a time when you exceeded expectations on the job.

Imagine the times when you were given a lot of praise or maybe you got a promotion or even a raise. Think about what made you earn these things and ask yourself how exactly did you go above and beyond in order to get that appreciation and that recognition.

This is going to help you flesh out the stories that you’re going to want to tell in order to validate your experience and your ability to go above and beyond.

Step 2: Break The Story Down

Job candidate tells the hiring manager about a time he went above and beyond at work during an interview

Now, step two is for you to break that story down into what we call the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model for answering behavioral interview questions like, “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.”

You want to think about the experience objectively and factually. Explain to the hiring manager everything that happened leading up to you earning that praise or that promotion or that raise.

Then, you want to talk about what you learned. As a good employee, you always want to be thinking about those experiences and what they taught you.

Lastly and most importantly, you’re going to talk about how you grew as a professional—how you’re going to take what you’ve learned and apply it going forward. This is going to demonstrate how employers like them could benefit from this added expertise that you’ve developed.

Step 3: Practice Your Delivery

Professional woman practices her answer to the interview question, "Tell me about a time you went above and beyond?" during a job interview

The third and final step is for you to practice your delivery. You do not want to walk in and wing it. It’s super important that, in addition to writing out your answers, you play them back to yourself.

What do I mean by that? Well, I suggest grabbing a mirror and talking out the answers, looking at yourself straight in the eye with a smile, or asking friends or family members to do a mock interview with you. Even recording yourself and playing it back on a video will do the trick.

Doing these things repeatedly is vitally important in job interview preparation, especially when it comes to answering a question like this. “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond,” can seem like a daunting interview question, but all you have to do is follow the three steps above to answer it effectively.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


How To Explain A Career Gap Due To Cancer

How To Explain A Career Gap Due To Cancer

If you’ve been out of work because you’ve had a life-threatening illness or cancer, I am so happy that you’re okay. That is the first priority. Who cares about your gap in employment? Let’s get you healthy first. And the fact that you are looking for work means you’re on the other side of it. So to me, that’s the story to tell.

The sad thing is 20 years ago you couldn’t admit you had a life-threatening illness because people wouldn’t hire you. Is that still happening today? I know it is. It’s unfortunate. It stinks. But I’ve worked with a lot of people in your position, and I’ve found that if we can get the right verbiage and find the right way to answer this employment gap question, it can work in your favor, as opposed to it being a negative.

You might be wondering if you should lie when answering the employment gap question. I’m not a fan of lying, and I also don’t think you need to. But, at the same time, I’m not a fan of shock value.

So here’s my advice…

How To Explain A Gap In Employment Due To Cancer

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @t.a.m.m.a.m.a.y How to explain your career gap due to cancer. ♥️ #gapsinemployment #cancersurvivor #howtoexplain #jobadvice #jobtok #gaps #employment #careeradvice #careertiktok #jobsearchtips #jobtiktok #careertok ♬ Unstoppable – Sia

When the hiring manager asks why there is an employment gap on your resume, respond with, “That’s a great question,” because that way you’re immediately going into this conversation with a positive tone. And it’s the truth. It is a good question because you’re going to answer it with enthusiasm.

Here’s how to structure the rest of your answer…

“It’s a (blank)-year gap because I had a life-threatening illness. I had cancer. And I am so happy to say that I’m here because I’m on the other side of it. Being sick for (blank) years, getting through cancer, and being a survivor has taught me (blank). I feel (blank) about work now. This is why I’m excited. I want to leverage (blank) skills. And I know I’d have that opportunity at this company.”

In summary, when you explain a gap in employment due to cancer, talk about:

  • The things you’ve learned
  • How you feel about work now
  • Why you’re excited about this employment opportunity
  • The skills you want to leverage

Show the hiring manager that you’ve taken this very powerful experience in your life and you’ve dealt with it. You’re amazing, and now you’re on the other side of it and ready to go. This draws them in. Now they’re your champion. Now they want to place you in that job.

So there’s a right answer to this employment gap question. There’s a right story to tell. And with the right practice, you can get to the interview and tell it with enthusiasm and get them on your side.

I hope this helps because you are amazing. If you’re reading this and you survived, you are amazing and that means we can get you hired too. Go get ’em!

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3 Ways To Practically Guarantee You Get The Job

3 Ways To Practically Guarantee You Get The Job

Have you ever had the experience of sending out your resume everywhere and getting no results? No emails. No callbacks. No interviews. It sucks, doesn’t it? I had that experience a few years back. And then a profound realization changed everything for me. I realized that…

You’ve got to make an irresistible offer.

And a boring, traditional resume just doesn’t do that.

See, employers and recruiters are used to seeing the same thing over and over: a plain-Jane resume and cover letter. And they’re dying to get something fresh. Something that makes an impact. Something that’s irresistible.

We’ve all sent in boring resumes during our job search at one point or another. But now, it’s time for an update. Here are three ways to change your job search strategy to practically guarantee you get the job:

1. Prove You’ll Earn Them More Than You Cost

Here’s the truth: You need to make your employer a profit.

Meaning hiring you comes at a cost. And likewise, the effort from the work you do brings in revenue.

So, what’s the easiest way to practically guarantee you get the job you’re applying for? Simply prove, based on past results, that you’re going to bring in more revenue to the business than you cost them.

For example, one campaign I thought of and helped run at my past employer paid for my annual salary within a couple of weeks. That’s solid, tangible, and quantifiable proof that I’m worth more than I cost.

So, if you haven’t already, start thinking of measurable ways you bring in revenue for a company—and then put those detailed examples on your resume. The numbers will speak for themselves.

2. Provide Credible Proof That You Can Perform

Hiring manager asks a job candidate about their past job performance in a job interview

Testimonials from credible people—whether they’re mentors, peers, employers, or teachers—are one of the best ways to show proof of past performance and character. And past performance combined with character (cultural fit) is a huge element employers look for in potential employees.

The good news is that LinkedIn has made gathering these testimonials easier than ever. So, if you don’t have any yet, think of a few people that could provide great testimonials for you, and ask for them. They’ll make a huge difference in your job search.

3. Work To Learn, Not To Earn

Young employees learning on the job during a work meeting

When you’re first starting out and you don’t have proof of generating results or credible testimonials, then the best way to get your foot in the door (if you’re unable to successfully network your way into the company) is by working for free for a week, or even up to three months.

In fact, I got my dream job—the position I had my heart set on—by offering to work for free for three months. Now, of course, you don’t want to do this for ANY employer. Only offer this if you’re fairly certain that working for free will lead to a job, and that job will open up a world of opportunities within 2-3 years for you.

That’s what it did for me, and that’s what it could do for you.

BONUS: Stand Out Online!

Professional man builds his online presence during his job search

Your bonus tip is to stand out online. Why?

The first thing any employer is going to do when you apply is Google your name. And what if what they found blew them away so much so that they shortlisted you for the position immediately?

That’s what can happen with a great online presence. And nowadays, that’s easier than ever to achieve. You don’t have to be tech savvy, you just need to know how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and make your personal brand known to colleagues, recruiters, and hiring managers.

We know the interview process can be stressful and draining. By doing these four things in your job search, you’ll practically guarantee you get the job!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Job Shopper vs. Job Seeker: Which One Are You?

Job Shopper vs. Job Seeker: Which One Are You?

There is a huge difference between being a job seeker and a job shopper. And if you don’t understand the difference, keep reading. Because I promise you, if you’re looking for work right now, you need to understand the difference.

The Difference Between A Job Seeker & A Job Shopper

@j.t.odonnell Job Shoppers vs Job Seekers. Why ypu want to be the 1st and not the 2nd! #jobsearchtips #jobseeker #jobshopper #howto #careertiktok #jobtiktok #jobs #careers ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

The majority of people looking for a job right now are job seekers. They’re getting on board job boards, they’re applying to a bunch of jobs, and then they’re sitting back and waiting to hear from employers.

Here’s the problem: just because job boards are there doesn’t mean they’ve made it easier for you.

A job seeker has a 3% chance of getting a callback when applying online. And that is because these online job boards have made it easier for the employer to get a lot of applicants. But that means there’s a lot more competition for you. So you apply for a job, a thousand other people apply, and there’s a 3% chance you’re getting a call. That is a really frustrating demotivating, embarrassing, depressing way to look for work. You don’t want to be a job seeker.

You want to be a job shopper.

A job shopper chooses who they want to work for, and they are very intentional in the way that they reach out and connect with that employer in order to get their dream job. Sounds a lot better, right? Who doesn’t like shopping?

You start by finding companies that you respect and admire that hire for your skill set and you make a list. It’s called an interview bucket list. The reason you make this list is because employers don’t just want the most qualified applicant. They want the one who would be the easiest to work with.

You get hired based on your personality and your aptitude. You can’t teach personality and you can’t teach aptitude. You can teach experience. That combination of personality and aptitude means you’ll get along with everybody else in the office and you know how to adapt yourself and do things the way the employer needs you to do them. That’s the difference.

Once you have your interview bucket list, reach out and connect with as many people as possible who work at those companies. Here’s an example of what you can say to your new connections:

“Hey, I’m a fan of your company. It’s literally on my top 20 list of companies I’d love to work for someday. Can I hear how you got your job or can I hear what you love about your work?”

That kind of connection story piques their interest because now you’re somebody they might want to hire because you have the things they can’t teach. You’ve got the personality for the job.

So, that connection story is everything. That’s how you become a job shopper instead of a job seeker. Remember to use your connection story in your disruptive cover letter too. Good luck, and go get ’em!

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5 Tips For Writing An Unforgettable Thank-You Note

5 Tips For Writing An Unforgettable Thank-You Note

Your job interview may be over but the interview process isn’t done yet. There’s another crucial step that could mean the difference between getting hired or getting looked over. That step is sending an unforgettable thank-you note to your hiring manager.

Will a thank-you note really make a difference?

Yes, it definitely will. Writing a thank-you note gives you the opportunity to keep on making a good impression after the interview process is complete. It shows that you care about the company and appreciate the time people put in to meet you. Plus, it shows that you care about the next step in the hiring process and want to take an active part in it.

If you have questions about your thank-you note strategy (like what to put in it or how to send it along), here are some tips on how to write a thank-you note that will really wow your potential employer:

Don’t Send A Hand-Written Note—Email It Instead

There’s a good chance the hiring manager is super busy and wants to make a hire soon. You need to keep up with them. If you write a note by hand and send it in the mail, it may not reach them by the time they make a decision.

To ensure that you’re up to speed in the hiring process, send the thank-you note via email. It will get to the hiring manager much faster.

Send It Sooner Rather Than Later

Man on laptop writes a thank-you note after a job interview

The hiring process moves fast, so it’s important you make a good first impression—fast.

The optimal time to send a thank-you note is within 24 hours of your job interview. That way, the hiring manager doesn’t forget you or the conversations you had during your interview. A quick turnaround on your thank-you note also shows the employer you’re a proactive and eager job candidate.

Be Sure To Say Why You’re Thankful For The Interview

Woman on laptop sends a thank-you note to a hiring manager

Saying “thank you” in your thank-you note is a given. Take it a step further by telling the hiring manager why you are thankful for the interview.

You could mention that you liked learning more about the company, meeting members of the team, and getting to know more about the position. This shows the hiring manager that the job interview was more than just a formal part of the hiring process for you.

Remember Names And Drop Them In Your Note

Man writes a thank-you note to an employer on his laptop

During your job interview, learn the names of those you come in contact with and mention some of them in your thank-you note. You could mention a question they answered for you or give them a shout-out for making you feel comfortable.

This shows that you pay attention to the details and care about those who have helped you throughout the hiring process.

Tell Them Why You’d Be A Good Fit

Woman sitting on grass types a thank-you note on her laptop

Now that you’ve gone through the interview, reiterate why you think you’d be a good fit for the job. You got a glimpse of how the company functions, so now’s your chance to add what value you think you bring to the table.

You can also express your excitement about the position and the company. It will show that you care about the job and it will help you further stand out in the hiring manager’s mind.

At the end of the day, a thank-you note will make you a memorable job candidate, someone the employer would love to have on their team. So, don’t forget to send a thank-you note after your next job interview!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

What Employers Are REALLY Looking For In Job Candidates

What Employers Are REALLY Looking For In Job Candidates

The longer your job search drags on, the more you start to doubt your interviewing abilities. Or worse—you start to doubt your skills and experience as a job candidate, which in turn affects your interview confidence.

You may begin to ask yourself, “What are employers really looking for in a job candidate?” The good news is we can help you understand just what you need to convey in a job interview to stand out to employers and finally land a job.

Employers want you to answer three questions they won’t ask you directly. So, it is your job to answer those unasked interview questions in order to move on in the hiring process.

Here are three things you should be sharing in your job interview to make the right impression and send the correct message to potential employers:

1. How Do You Save Or Make Companies Money?

The first thing you need to convey in your job interview is how your skills and expertise save or make a company money. You are a business-of-one. As an employee, you provide a service to an employer. So, in your job interview, you have to prove to the employer that the services you can provide for the company will either save or make them money.

It comes down to your ability to justify the initial cost it would take to hire you. Most professionals don’t know that it costs an employer between 130% to 140% of their salary to hire them. It’s a big investment for a company to hire a new employee. That’s why you need to convey your efficiency and effectiveness as an employee in job interviews.

To prove you could save or make a potential employer money, quantify your past experience (on your resume and in the interview) and cite examples of how you’ve saved or made your previous/current employer money. Once a potential employer understands that you will provide a good return on investment, they will automatically consider you a great candidate for the position.

2. How Do You Like To Deliver Value?

Professional woman shakes the hiring manager's hand during a job interview

Make sure you talk about how you deliver value too. No employee performs a job the same way. We all work on tasks differently and go about accomplishing goals with different processes and strategies. If a company doesn’t think you’ll be able to do the job the way they want you to do the job, you probably won’t be offered the position.

In order to explain how you deliver value, you need to know exactly what you do and how you do it. During a job interview, let the employer take a peek inside your brain to help them get a better idea of how you would perform certain tasks that the job requires.

A great way to explain how you deliver value is by answering behavioral interview questions with the STAR technique. Begin answering a behavioral interview question by describing the situation or task you were faced with. Then, explain how you took action, walking the employer through your decision-making process. Finally, quantify your results so the employer can clearly see how you deliver value.

(If you’re not sure how you deliver value, take this free quiz! You may be surprised by the results.)

3. Why Do You Feel Connected To The Business?

Job candidate answers the hiring manager's questions during a job interview

The last thing you absolutely want to convey to an employer is how you feel connected to their organization. Consider the company culture and their mission, and use that to your advantage.

During a job interview, it’s important to explain to an employer how you feel like you’re a part of their “tribe.” Why do you want to be a part of the team of people dedicated to solving this specific problem? You can also talk about why you admire their products and services, why you understand and identify with their customers, and what you love about the way they do business.

Tie all your pre-interview research back to what excites you about working for the company. Employers want to hire people who would integrate well within their organization. By talking about the above factors, you’ll connect with employers on a deeper level and show that you’re passionate about the job. Therefore, you’ll come across as a great cultural fit.

You can also begin to convey that connection to a potential employer in your disruptive cover letter. A disruptive cover letter catches an employer’s attention and gets them excited about you as a candidate. So, even before you walk through the door to your interview, an employer will already feel a connection to you.

Knowing what to say in an interview in order to make the right impression can feel incredibly overwhelming, maybe even impossible. If you follow these three tips, you’ll be sure to send the correct message to an employer, and ultimately increase your chances of landing the job.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


3 Ways Professionals Should Respond To Job Rejection

3 Ways Professionals Should Respond To Job Rejection

You polished your resume and sent it to the right person, along with a stellar cover letter. You got a call. You aced the interview. You were brought back in—twice! You sent thank-you notes after each interview, to each interviewer. Your follow-up was polite and appropriate. You were told you were a finalist. The HR person thought it was looking good for you…yet they gave the job to someone else.

After all that effort and waiting and wondering. After joking with the receptionist about being a “regular” in the lobby. After establishing what seemed like a genuine rapport with the executive in charge of the department. After what the HR person said about it looking good…

Yes, it’s a disappointment. But in spite of what you might think, all is not lost. What can you do to maximize your chances of having some good come out of this seeming loss?

Here are three ways you should react to a particularly disappointing job rejection:

Be Gracious

Yes, you were obviously the best candidate, at least as far as you could tell. And maybe some of the people on the other side of the interview desk thought so too. But a decision was made, no matter how difficult. And it’s time to touch base one more time with a thank-you note to all involved for their time and consideration.

Be A Resource If You Can

Professional man gets rejected from a job

If there’s some topic that was discussed and a piece of information that the interviewer wished they had, track it down. If the interviewer wanted to connect with someone you know, offer to make the introduction. There’s not always an opportunity like this, but if there is, take advantage of it.

By doing this, you’re not only being professional about the rejection, but it’s also an opening to add the hiring manager to your professional network. Consider connecting with this person on LinkedIn down the line.

As they say, “Out of sight, out of mind,” so try to stay on the hiring manager’s radar.

Keep The Door Open

Young woman and HR manager discuss the next steps after she is rejected from a job she applied to

Even though you didn’t get the job, it’s important to reiterate your respect and admiration for the company and the fact that you would like to work there. It’s okay to say, “If another position comes up—or if the candidate you hired doesn’t work out—I would still love the opportunity to join the team over there.”

A sentence like this can cement you in their minds as the backup or as the first person to be called when something else becomes available.

HR officials will sometimes forward resumes of promising candidates to colleagues at other companies for their open positions. Getting the original job is just one good outcome of the job interviewing process. Consider a “near miss” at getting hired one more step in building your reputation for overall career success.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Top 5 Questions Hiring Managers Expect You To Ask In An Interview

Top 5 Questions Hiring Managers Expect You To Ask In An Interview

There are a few ways you can impress hiring managers in a job interview. You can stand out for your answers, your personality, aptitude, and experience, your knowledge of the company, and the questions you ask.

But which questions do hiring managers expect you to ask?

According to a recent study by Zety, there are a handful of questions hiring managers expect you to ask before the interview concludes. Here are the top five:

1. Can You Show Me Examples Of Projects I’d Be Working On?

Why a hiring manager wants to hear this: They want to know you’re serious about wanting the job and excited to add value to the company from the very start. It shows initiative. If you’re already thinking about working on projects this early in the hiring process, that puts you way ahead of the other candidates who are just trying not to bomb the interview.

What their answer will tell you: You’ll get a sense of what your average project will look like. You’ll also be able to get a better idea if this is the type of work you want to do. Could you develop your skills working on these projects? Is this work that will challenge you to grow as a professional? If the hiring manager stumbles trying to answer this question, they might not have been completely transparent about what the position actually entails.

2. What Are The Skills And Experience You’re Looking For In An Ideal Candidate?

Man shakes the hand of the hiring manager before his job interview

Why a hiring manager wants to hear this: It shows that you’re curious and want to know exactly what you need in order to succeed in the position. You are interested in being that ideal candidate. You are interested in being a successful employee.

What their answer will tell you: You’ll know exactly what they are looking for, all the skills and experience they didn’t mention in the job description. It also gives you another opportunity to prove you have the skills and experience they’re looking for. A great way to provide proof is by using the STAR technique (or the “Experience + Learn = Grow” technique) we recommend job seekers use to answer behavioral interview questions.

3. What Are The Most Immediate Projects That Would Need To Be Addressed?

Hiring manager listens as the job candidate asks her a question during the interview

Why a hiring manager wants to hear this: Even more so than the first question on the list, this question shows that you are a proactive employee. You are already imagining yourself working for the company and contributing to its success. You are eager to add value and prove that you are an excellent employee.

What their answer will tell you: You’ll have a clearer understanding of what your first few months will look like on the job. It’ll help you imagine working for the company, and allow you to brainstorm ideas for the projects they mention. Also, it’ll help you plan ahead. In the case you do get the job, you’ll already be prepared to jump in and add value from your very first day.

4. What Does A Typical Day Look Like?

Man asks the hiring manager a question during his job interview

Why a hiring manager wants to hear this: They’ll know that you’re already imagining yourself in the position. Hiring managers are looking for serious job candidates. They’re not looking for candidates who don’t care what they’ll be doing day to day because those are usually the same candidates who are only interested in a paycheck.

What their answer will tell you: It’s simple. You’ll find out what a typical day in this position looks like. Don’t like what you hear? That’s probably a red flag. But if you like what the hiring manager says, that’s a good indication that you’ll be happy working the job.

5. Do You Expect The Main Responsibilities For This Position To Change In The Next Six Months To A Year?

Woman shakes the hiring manager's hand before her job interview

Why a hiring manager wants to hear this: You’re seeing if there is potential to stay at the company long term, either in the job you applied for or in a different position if you get promoted. They want to know if you hope to stay at the company for longer than one or two years because it costs employers a lot of money to hire new employees. They might get the impression that you’ll be a loyal employee.

What their answer will tell you: It’ll tell you whether you’ll be expected to do tasks you weren’t originally hired for or not. If the hiring manager says the main responsibilities for the position will change, you can ask them to elaborate. Do the changes align with your career goals? Is that how you want to grow in the company, in your career? If not, you probably won’t see any long-term career potential there, and it might be best if you look for a job elsewhere.

Never leave a job interview without asking the hiring manager a few questions. If you don’t ask at least one of the questions above, hiring managers might choose the candidate who does (if all else is equal). Just remember to ask the questions you really want to know the answers to, the questions that will help you decide whether or not you want to work for the company.

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Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Why Not Handle A Job Interview Like A Sales Conversation?

Why Not Handle A Job Interview Like A Sales Conversation?

As a candidate, can you really say you “enjoy” a job interview? From the moment you walk into the room, it’s the interviewer asking the questions and setting the agenda. You feel like a deer in the headlights.

This fear comes from feeling like you are not in control.

Take Back Control — Nicely!

Man smiles while the interviewer / hiring manager reads his resume during a job interview

It doesn’t have to be that way. When you attend a job interview, you are attending a sales meeting and selling your flagship product: yourself!

Do salespeople sit and wait for their customers to ask questions about their product, hoping they ask the right ones? No! They ask questions themselves! This is how they find out what their customers’ needs are so that they can present their product as the solution that meets these needs.

If you’re in a job interview, you need to do the same!

How Can I Do It?

Woman listens to the interviewer's / hiring manager's question during a job interview

Interviews normally follow the same format. The interviewer starts the meeting with a few words of introduction. They tell you something about the position. (Usually, it’s on the job description, which you have already studied in detail.) Then they will ask you questions. They will give you about five minutes at the end of the interview to ask questions yourself.

If you let them follow this plan, your opportunity to really influence the conversation will be in the last five minutes of the interview. That is too late.

To turn your interview into a sales conversation, you need to ask your questions while the interviewer is telling you about the company and the job.

A sales professional asks questions to find out what the customer might need from his product. You need to find out what the employer needs from this position.

Try asking questions like this:

“Ms. X, can you tell me how this position contributes to the company’s success?”

If you want to be more direct, you could ask:

“Ms. X, what problem does this position solve for the company?” or “What need does this position fulfill?”

Watch the interviewer’s reaction as they answer the question. If the interviewer seems happy to answer the question and gives you an in-depth answer, then you can ask for more details. Be sure to say, however, “I’m sorry for interrupting your flow,” and then ask the question.

One word of caution. NEVER say: “I’m sorry for interrupting your flow, but…”

The “but” is the killer. It communicates the idea that your apology was for nothing and that you didn’t mean it.

Use That Information!

Man treats his interview like a sales conversation

Once you get this information, refer back to it when you answer the interviewer’s questions.

If the interviewer asks you about your experience solving technical issues with customers, you can answer his question by saying: “That sounds a lot like what I would be doing for your customers. Am I right?”

If the interviewer asks you about your knowledge or experience, answer with: “I did something similar to what we were saying earlier about…” and then expand on your knowledge and experience as appropriate.

By referring back to the purpose of the position / problem it solves, this gives you the chance to position yourself as the candidate who is the solution to this problem.

Limitations

Man listens to the interviewer / hiring manager during a job interview

​You need to know your interviewer:

Many jobs require multiple interviews with different interviewers. Each interviewer may perceive the role from a different perspective, so be ready to ask this question multiple times, and get different answers from different people.

If you are in a later interview, your interviewer may question why you are asking this again. Respond by explaining that different interviewers have different perceptions of the role and you want to be sure you are on the same page.

Your interviewer may not be comfortable with the question:

Not all interviewers have been trained to interview candidates. They don’t always want to be doing this and they may think that they have better things to do with their time.

If their answers to your question are short, or they refuse to answer, then don’t press it. You might want to think about their reaction, however. The question is not unreasonable. Why would they refuse to answer it?

If they don’t want to interview you, then they don’t want you as a colleague.

If they think you should shut up and answer the questions and “know your place,” that’s the kind of company you’ll end up working at.

If they haven’t got the time to handle one simple question from you, then you have to ask how serious the position is or how serious the company is in recruiting someone for it.

They Are Buying You, But You Are Also Buying Them.

Man shakes hands with the interviewer / hiring manager after a job interview

This question is sometimes the human equivalent of a “ping” test: software engineers send a signal to a website/server, etc. The response he gets back tells him a lot about the connection.

When you ask this question, watch your interviewer carefully.

Don’t just listen to her answer. Watch her behavior.

This can tell you a lot about what kind of people you will be working with.

Let me know how you get on!

Further reading…

For more ideas about reading people’s behavior, please check out: Reading People’s Emotions: A Beginner’s Guide