Archive for the ‘Interviewing’ Category
 “We’d like to offer you a position.”
Those are great words to hear, particularly if - like many jobseekers - you’ve been looking for work longer than you’ve ever had to look before.
But while the urge to say “Yes” will undoubtedly be strong the next time you hear those words, you shouldn’t accept without knowing a good deal about your prospective employer. You can, of course, wait to do all this research until after you’ve been offered a job. But there are at least two good reasons not to wait:
1. Some of the information you dig up will help you look good to a hiring manager.
2. Some of it will also help you decide whether, and how, to best pursue a job with this employer.
Regardless of when you want to dig up each tidbit of information, here’s a rundown of what you probably want to know about a prospective employer, and where to find it:
Obviously, you’ll want to know the basics:
-Locations
-Main business activities
-Products and services
You can find most of this just by looking in the yellow pages.
But you’ll also want to know much more.
Competitiveness
For example, how does your prospective employer (PE) stack up against the competition? To find out, visit your PE’s website and familiarize yourself with the branding and marketing information displayed there. Take a look at your PE’s pricing structure, guarantees or warranties, and how it positions itself. Depending on what your PE sells, you may also want to approach the company as a customer would, and try to get a perspective on how the company is seen by those who spend money to keep it going.
Then briefly do the same for your PE’s major competitors. After you’ve done this round of research, carefully consider which company in your PE’s industry or market niche is doing the best job.
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 To state the obvious, no one likes getting fired. But as uncomfortable as that can be, talking about it in the interview for your next (hopeful) job might be even worse. You don’t want to lie, but you definitely want to make sure you come out sounding good - or at least like you understand what went wrong and have learned from it.
In fact, most people try to avoid talking about it at all, but this can lead to an even bigger problem and far more discomfort if the interviewer discovers that you weren’t being honest with them. So how exactly do you broach the subject?
Don’t blame. Think about the person across the table from you. It’s quite possible that they have had to fire people before, and learning that you were let go from your last job will likely dredge up those memories. Just like no one likes to get fired, no one really enjoys the job of firing someone either. If your explanation of why you got fired is mostly an exercise in blaming the people who fired you, it’s only going to make your interview see you as a difficult person and dread the possibility of having such a conversation with you.
Show that you’ve learned. Rather than blaming, say that it was a good learning experience and detail how it has helped you to grow as a person and an employee. What you say will depend on the job and the reason you were let go, but this is your chance to show that you own your mistakes and take responsibility - two things most employers respect.
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 All other things being equal, how do you get a job in a cutthroat, tight job economy like this one? While indeed you do need to have the skills presented in the position description and be able to fulfill the job needs, one of the most basic truths of human behavior is that the more likeable you are, the more likely it is that you will be hired.
So how do you present yourself as likeable? Well, it’s true that it is not something you can fake. The key, though, is simply to be yourself. There is no point in being nervous. Just walk in as if you are meant to be there. Presenting yourself with confidence and without negativity will get you half the way to hearing, “You’re hired.”
Think about what qualities attract you to people. What are your friends like? Are they easy-going, quick to smile, and can they articulate their thoughts well? These are the same qualities that an employer is looking for in a job candidate. Here are a few tips to help smooth your way:
Dress for success - studies show that 45% of employer decisions are based on appearance.
Present yourself well - this includes being prepared, answering questions fully without rambling, and asking good questions. Have at least five questions prepared in advance that you can ask. Answer questions with confidence.
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 Interviewing candidates can be a tough proposition. Oftentimes, multiple candidates will appear qualified and seem likable, but how do you know which one will really be the best employee for you? The right person could mean increased productivity, a better working environment, and less stress on you. On the other hand, bringing in the wrong person can become an expensive, time-consuming, headache-inducing mistake.
It’s impossible to truly know 100% who’s going to serve you best, but there are a number of things you can do to lessen the chances of hiring a dud.
Know your needs. When you bring someone in for an interview, you need to make sure you know what the job actually entails. This may seem painfully obvious, but you’d be surprised by how many interviewees complain about not getting an accurate description and overview of responsibilities on the job they’re interviewing for. Before the interview, collect information from others in the department about the duties, skills needed, and general work environment. Use this to craft your job description. Bonus points: having good, clear information in the job description will narrow your pool of applicants so that you’re more likely to be interviewing people who already fit what you need.
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 In today’s job market, it is harder than ever to get a company to cover the travel costs associated with flying out for an interview. If the job is not highly specialized, it is likely they have many local candidates that are also qualified to take the position, so there’s little incentive for them to pay for the cost of flying out someone who is across the country, even if their resume is stellar.
So how do you find out if they’ll cover the cost? Ask! Some employers will bring it up when they schedule the interview with you, but the employer may have overlooked the fact that you will be flying in for the interview. Or they may be waiting for you to ask instead of offering upfront.
A great way to phrase it: “Will your company be making the travel arrangements for me?” The answer will let you know who is footing the bill, but it sounds less tacky than asking, “Are you paying for this?
What to Do If They Say Yes
Keep receipts. Most companies will take care of everything and simply send you an itinerary, but in some cases, they will ask you to make the arrangements and submit receipts for reimbursements. Either way, it’s good to have a record.
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