The Candidate Advantage: Job Search Advice

Integrity At The Offer Stage

Most people believe that accepting or declining an offer is "their" business. And therefore, they have every right to take their own sweet time to respond, make indulgent last-minute requests or even renege on their acceptance. This kind of self-serving and entitled behavior can lead to real issues for people (to include yourself!).

Crocuses (and the 2010 job market!)

The crocus is the first flower to bloom....a welcome sign of positive change to come (going from the cold/dull Winter to the warm/colorful Spring).

We are no doubt experiencing a "crocus" job market right now with subtle signs all around us that things are getting better. Here are some changes to keep an eye out for in the months ahead...

Dealing With "Employment Hopscotch"

 If you've changed jobs too much in your career, you'll need to control the perception of this. If not, employers will assume the worst - - that you are a dreaded “job hopper.”

Making The (Critical) Connection

Employers don't hire "resumes" or "skill sets". So, never leave an interview only portraying these things. A sterile and one-dimensional interview will really hurt your chances of getting the job (not to mention the fact it will be very boring for both parties). Learn how to connect with the Hiring Manager and make more of a personal connection and strong first impression.

Title Shmitle...

As we all know, titles don't always accurately convey what someone does in their job. And in some cases, candidates may feel compelled to edit this on their resume. BE AWARE: while a title discrepancy may not carry as much weight as a misrepresented salary or employment date, any inconsistencies here can raise a red flag. There are far safer (and much more effective!) ways to address this situation if you feel you have a job title that limits or misinterprets your role.

The "Goldilocks" approach to job search

There is no doubt that people will begin job hunting on the heels of a New Year's resolution to "leave their dead end job". But before attacking the job boards, let's take a lesson from dear old Goldilocks. By keeping her options open, she eventually finds the one that's ..."juusssst right"!

The Interviewing "Nevers"

Believe it or not, the following "blunders" occur quite often. Make sure you avoid these fatal errors so you can leave a strong and positive impression on employers during the interview process.

Remember to interview THEM as well!

Hey wake up! This interview is not just for the employer. It's for you as well. And by asking compelling questions about them, you demonstrate your preparedness, attention-to-detail and discerning taste about where you take your next job.

The rules of building a great resume

Your resume doesn't get read, it gets scanned. It's only after an initial and quick determination of interest that a recruiter will actually read through your entire resume. So build your resume with this assumption in mind and make it easy, clear and fast to understand what makes you a compelling candidate.

Dealing with those "skeletons in the closet"

First, let's be clear about what things we'll help you to address: unpaid parking tickets, being let go, bad credit, etc.. But, if what pops up from your past is a felony, well then..... "Houston, we have a problem".

Honesty is the best policy!

I know most of you would never flat-out lie, but many people are guilty of misrepresenting or obscuring things in an interview. Always be clear, specific and upfront at all times (or else risk being caught and/ or raising suspicion about your background). And think about it....how would you feel if companies weren't completely honest with you about the job????

Reference checks - not just a "rubber stamp"

It astounds me how many people marginalize the importance of references. This is not a mere matter of protocol! Hiring managers and HR use these conversations to confirm or, in some instances, make an actual decision to hire. And today employers are trained to ask far more sophisticated questions then in the past. Will your references meet the challenge?

Don't be a "player" (keys to revealing your other interviews)

There's a fine line between playing the field and being a "player" (in dating AND in your job search!). It's OK to let a hiring manager know you have other options, just make sure you'd don't flaunt this and turn them away.

Resigning with class

The resignation process is the important last step of your job search. Regardless of how bad things may have been for you at your job, make sure you end things on a positive note. 

What's wrong here? (problems with the modern day job search)

A colleague of mine, David Belsky, runs an IT placement firm out of Southern California called Jobspring Partners. He has been hearing a lot from candidates lately about the inefficiencies of the job boards and the screening process in general and has shared some great thoughts on what you can do about it.

Cash is NOT always King

Yes, you heard me right....more money is not always the answer.

We are brainwashed into believing that we should push for every extra penny we can get when it comes to the offer stage. This is certainly good advice on some levels. But have you ever considered the downside of doing "too good" of a job negotiating your salary?

Playing it cool leaves the manager cold

Being indifferent or too laid back during the interview is almost the worst thing you can do! You will end up communicating much more to the manager than just your neutrality and brevity on the subject.

A good time to look for a new job (Really?....Really!!!)

One of the big contributors to why the job market is so weak today is employee retention believe it or not (not necessarily the lack of newly created positions). This lack of job hopping is happening for several reasons to include misperception of market conditions, negatively perceived salary trends and plain old fear of getting caught. All of these obstacles can be addressed and easily overcome. Start looking for a new opportunity and YOU can help stimulate this job market.

Manufacturing Interviews: getting in front of a hiring manager

There are some creative ways to get yourself in front of managers...that don't involve you posing as the UPS guy :) !! Use the power of suggestion and convenience to get a meeting set up.

Interview questions that'll kill ya

While completely reasonable to ask, some interview questions are toxic and will kill your chances! Learn how to rephrase things to make the right impression.

Attracting employers with your other interview activity

Use competition to your advantage. But introduce your other interview activity in a way that it attracts them to you, not scares them away.

References that deliver!

In a competitive job market. References are the ultimate deal breaker! Will yours help (or hurt) your chances?

4 Ways to Screw Up a Salary Negotiation

Salary discussions are a lot like walking the tightrope. One false move and you could end up falling to your demise. Avoid some of the more common blunders that could end up costing you a lot of money or the job offer altogether! 

Effective interview followup (that won't turn you into a stalker!)

Ok...we've all seen the cringe-filled scene from the movie Swingers where poor, desperate "Mikey" overdoes it with the voicemail messages to his girlfriend watch the clip. Many job seekers can relate to his situation and could benefit greatly from learning the "art of the follow up". 

17 things you should never do in an interview

Welcome to Never Never Land! Follow our helpful list of "nevers" to make sure you avoid the most common interview blunders and leave a strong and positive impression on employers during the interview process.

Showing off your "flexibility"

Today, companies want to hire the person who is willing to do anything, anytime and anywhere. Since most managers won't ever directly ask about your flexibility, you need to show them how limber you are!

Q: "How do I explain my failed startup?"

 "Hi Beth. For the last 3 years, I have been with a start up company that I, and my business partners, created. We lost our funding and had to close down. What would be the appropriate response when asked about this by a potential employer? I am having a tough time coming up with a correct answer that doesn't sound like an admission of failure or an excuse. Any tips for a failed entrepreneur?" - Kim

Being overqualified shouldn't be a deal breaker

There are many instances where a candidate will apply to a role that is deemed to be below them only to find out they weren't chosen because they were overqualified.

When you think about it...it's ridiculous to think that you wouldn't get hired because you have too much experience! But it happens all the time. Fight against this by understanding what a company's biggest fears are about hiring a more senior person and using this to market yourself the right way on your resume and during the interview.

Surviving the Dreaded Phone Screen

                        

They're impersonal, inconvenient and drive you mad! But no matter how hard you try, you can't get away from the dreaded phone screen. Survive this necessary evil by knowing what the employer's intentions are and how to play this brief conversation to your advantage.

Merci, Gracias, Arigato (in any language, "Thank You" works)

No matter how much job search has changed over the years, good manners and sincerity never go out of style. A well-written thank you note goes a long way to demonstrate your professionalism and thoughtfulness and can make the difference between getting an offer or not. 

What I am thankful for...

When making a move, almost all candidates understandibly focus on the "surface" elements of the job (salary, hours, commute, title). But what about focusing on the things that really matter in a job? 

Keep your resume on a leash!

Flooding the market with your resume is NOT the answer. It will typically make you look desperate and creates the impression that you are open to anything and/ or aren't clear on what exactly you want. Plus, you will also have to deal with the headache of mismatched solicitations and referral confusion that come along with this. In other words..."can't help, might hurt".

Fear & Loathing in Job Search

The current state of the economy has driven some candidates away from the job boards and back to their current jobs. Now, of course, some level of hesitation here should be expected. However, don't let this get in the way of you finding your dream job because the opportunities are definitely still out there! Learn what is "fact" and what is just plain "fear" when it comes to looking for a new job in a tough market.

What managers really want in an interview

While you may not have come right out and said it, you communicate a lot about yourself in how you respond to or ask certain questions. So pay attention to these unintentional little cues!...because managers are looking for some very specific character traits during the interview.  Don't disappoint.

Flattery will get you NOwhere!

A candidate advantage reader writes: "...I found the job of my dreams. But when I gave notice, my boss begged me to stay and gave me a big raise. I was dumbfounded and have to admit a bit flattered that they would go this much out of their way to keep me. I really want to take this counteroffer but have heard that this can be a bad move. What are your thoughts?" - Lara M.

Dear Lara,
As Johnny Mathis says well in his song, it's "Too much, too little, too late." (read more...)

Resumes: Putting your best foot forward

Just like with online dating...you want to put the best photo possible in your profile, right? Well resumes work the same way. Don't underestimate the importance of how you "look" (on paper) to an employer. Resumes are much more than just a mere prop. They need to quickly and clearly demonstrate why you are a match. Make sure yours passes the test!

Getting Referred Into A Job: Curse or Blessing?

Having someone refer you into their company can be a great boost and can really help in getting "your foot in the door". But make sure to ask the right questions before doing this to prevent this well-intentioned act from hurting your chances. You don't want to be associating yourself with the wrong person.

Is a "soft" job market an excuse for me?

A candidate advantage readers writes...

"After nine years at one company, my position was just eliminated in May . The current state of the job market coupled with my guarded approach about finding a good match is the primary reason for my current unemployment status. If I'm asked about my gap during the interview, should I refer to the current employment trends, or do you think this would be perceived as a "cop-out"?

- Barry

Good signs it's the right company for you

How do you ever really know if it's the right fit? Sure, salary level, title, geography and job description are all easy facts to turn to in making your decision. However, remember that your true satisfaction in your job is not likely to come directly from any one of these things. Know where to look and what signs to pay attention to that will indicate if a company is the right match.

Salary Negotiation "Ten Commandments"

A discussion about salary is no minor detail! It not only has a direct effect on the level of offer made, it can literally make or break a person's candidacy with a company. There are some definite rules to salary negotiation that every candidate should know. So keep the following ten commandments in mind during the interview process and also follow my detailed advice in a prior post on what to say when posed with a salary question during the interview.

Interview Bloopers!!

Candidates make mistakes during the interview all the time. And the worst thing you can do is to ignore them and try to forget that this has happened. Trust me, the manager won't! So just like in the movies, remember that you can always "cut and do a retake" to make things better when necessary.

These small errors can be turned into a positive very easily with a sense of humor, a little bit of humility and a desire to make a great impression.

A Candidate Advantage reader writes...

I've gotten a lot of response about the post on admitting to weaknesses during the interview process. There was one question in particular that I'd like to share from a high-level Finance Professional who felt he asserted himself too much/ the wrong way with upper level management and is looking for a way to "admit to this weakness" without jeopardizing his candidacy.

He writes... "I recently read an article you wrote regarding "Admitting your weaknesses" and I hoped to solicit some advice. I am an internal audit professional with a big four audit and consulting background.  I've worked my way through the ranks of both corporate internal audit functions and similar consulting firms. However, I now find myself unemployed, slightly frustrated, and really wanting to get back on my feet...."

Downsizing: Going from a big company to small one

*Props to my colleague Christina Woodward for suggesting this topic. She left a big company (Pepsi) a year ago to join our little start up Seven Step Recruiting and had thoughts to share about how this type of move affected her job search with us and other smaller companies she interviewed with.

Since it is much more common for candidates to go from a big company to a small company when changing jobs than the other way around, it's important that people understand how to navigate through the associated interview obstacles with making this kind of move.

Make sure your reference checks "check out"

There are way too many stories about candidates who blow off the importance of reference checks and end up losing the offer. It makes no sense. It's like stopping just before you reach the end zone to tie your shoe and getting tackled.

References are the critical last few yards of scoring a touchdown. If you assume it's a done deal and don't pay attention here, you'll lose out. Don't treat this as a rubber stamp and mere administrative detail. Take it seriously and pay attention to how this gets conducted on your behalf.

Admit to your shortcomings

How do you answer the toughest interview question in the world - "What is your biggest weakness?" Whatever you do, don't try and avoid the real answer. What the manager wants to know more than anything else is NOT what your actual weaknesses are, but if you are honest enough to admit you have one.

Little White Lies

Every company performs some level of due diligence on the people they hire. Whether the HR person does this themselves or hires a 3rd party to conduct a formal background check, count on everything you say to be double checked.

Know that any informational discrepancy could cost you the job, even if it involves something very minor or ends up being a completely innocent misunderstanding. So always apply the "background check" factor to every aspect of your job search (writing your resume, answering questions during the interview, filling out a job application, etc..) to avoid this problem.

How to handle "taking a step back"

What a kick in the pants it is to learn that you weren't hired because they think you have too much experience. This happens more often than you think since titles and job duties can vary drastically. What one company calls a "Manager of Software Development" could be synonymous with "Lead Developer" in another or even a "Director of Software" someplace else. This creates the illusion of being overqualified.

Learn how to avoid being turned down for the wrong reasons.

Any questions???

At the end of EVERY interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. It is unbelievably common for candidates to say "no". Understand that not asking questions is tantamount to telling them you are not interested. If you are interested, don't blow it by being misread...be inquisitive!

Dressing for Success

The point of the interview is to position yourself as a match for the job, right? Then start with something as easy as how you dress. Smart interview attire will help you to fit in (and avoid sticking out!).

It's amazing to me what some candidates will chose to wear to an interview. While they are more than happy to take advice on how to alter and change their comments during the interview, many are still reluctant to change their wardrobe.

When you wear the wrong thing to an interview, consider what goes through a Hiring Manager's mind...

Know the "Pecking Order"

Be mindful of "pecking order" during the interview process. Unknowingly putting yourself above or below the wrong person can hurt your chances of getting the job.

Picture this...you're the perfect candidate for the job and have been invited back for a third and final round. Someone asks you to meet with "Tom" at the last meeting. You assume he is a subordinate member of the team and are dismissive by not asking him any questions. You come to find out after the fact that this was the VP of the department and you didn't get the job because "Tom" didn't like you.