How To Ace A Panel Interview

Had a call for a group or panel interview recently? While you might be thrilled to make it to this stage of the hiring process, the mere thought of fielding not one, but a whole team of interviewers can be enough to put your stomach in knots.

However, the reason most employers conduct panel interviews isn’t to intimidate you; rather, it’s a time-saving way to meet with people that will likely interact with you in the new job, and gather their impressions all at once.

So, when you stride into that group interview, remember that the team is there to learn about you and your value-add, NOT to interrogate you or make you uncomfortable.

5 Steps To Ace A Panel Interview

These five tips can help you feel more in control of the process while facing a group of interviewers—with a professional, enthusiastic demeanor that helps win the job.

1. Direct Your Attention To Each Person On The Panel

Upon starting the interview, get each person’s name (and ask for their business card or jot down the name), and then look at each person as you introduce yourself. This will help to break the ice and establish a connection to all of your interviewers.

While fielding questions, avoid staring at a single person (nothing makes you look more “frozen” than doing this!). Instead, make it a point to relax, smile, and open your gaze to the others in the room.

Even if a single member of the group asks you a particular question, look around at the others while you answer it. Doing so will help you project a confident image and build rapport with the entire panel.

2. Expect To Repeat Yourself

While one of your interviewers might take your answer the first time, you can almost expect someone else to either ask for clarification—or ask it again, later in the interview.

Why? Because, just like our verbal abilities, many of us have different listening styles. What is clear to one panel participant may need further explanation for another person.

In addition, each panelist comes to a group interview with a different agenda. You can expect a prospective peer to be interested in your technical or analytical skills, for example, while the boss might be more curious about why your last job was so short in length.

You may also find yourself repeating information from earlier interviews. This is perfectly normal in the context of a multi-interview hiring process, so avoid coming across as impatient or noting that you’ve answered this query before.

3. Find Out Who You’ll Need To Impress The Most

Within most panel interviews, it becomes obvious very quickly who’s on “your side,” and who still hasn’t made up her or her mind.

While it may be comforting to direct your answers and gaze toward the interviewer who seems more open to your responses, you’re better off tackling the naysayer first.

Why? Because winning over the person most likely to reject you shows you have the ability to read the audience, as well as problem-solve on your feet.

Most employers are looking for leaders that will challenge issues head-on, ask numerous questions, and hone in on the thorniest problems first. If you respond well to someone that throws challenges your way, you’ll come across as an unflappable professional ready to take on the demands of the job.

In addition, most panel interviewers convene after a group interview to discuss the candidate and their impressions. If you’ve won over the toughest member of the group, the others may likely throw their support behind him or her.

4. Be Prepared For At Least One Zinger Question

Interviewers, like anyone else, tend to feel more comfortable (and perhaps bold) in a group. Therefore, you can almost count on being asked a question that might not be posed to you in a one-on-one situation.

Of course, you’ll want to prepare for your interview by pulling out 3-5 “power stories” that demonstrate your abilities to perform the job. Arming yourself with these anecdotes will give you the ability to answer numerous behavioral-style questions common to both single- and multi-interviewer situations.

But if there’s any question or situation you would feel awkward explaining, prepare and practice a set of answers to it prior to your panel interview!

This way, you won’t feel a sense of dread when the question finally comes up, and you’ll be better able to handle any curve-balls thrown your way.

5. Thank All Participants Promptly

At the conclusion of your group interview, thank everyone personally, and gather business cards if you didn’t already do so.

Then, as you’re sitting in your car post-interview, write thank-you notes immediately and bring them back in for drop-off to the receptionist.

You’ll gain the advantage of having the interview fresh in your mind, and will score points for your promptness and attention to professional courtesy.

In summary, a panel interview is nothing to dread, especially since it offers an opportunity to establish rapport with your potential new co-workers and bosses.

Arm yourself with a stack of success stories, answers to tough questions, thank you notes, and a smile, and you’ll be on your way to a faster job offer.

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5 Tips On How To Make The Best Impression In An Interview

An interview is not only meant to assess your skills, but also to assess your personality. Therefore, before you go for any job interview, it’s very advisable that you prepare adequately. Whether you are going to be considered for the job or not is determined by the kind of impression you create on the interviewers.

How To Make A Good Impression In An Interview

One thing which all successful individuals have is the ability to make a good impression: whether you are the Bob Finch of the oil industry or the Philip Green of retail, it’s essential that you have the skills to make yourself memorable. The following smart tips are meant to guide you on how to create a good and admirable impression in an interview:

1. DRESS DECENTLY

The type of dress or clothes you put on says so much about you. The first judgment that interviewers make is basically based on your dress code. Do not dress in casual or dirty clothes. Instead, look for official clothes and make sure that you are groomed properly. By doing this, you will definitely stun the interviewers and they will have to think so hard before saying no to you.

2. ARRIVE ON TIME

One of the most important factors to take into consideration whenever you are invited for an interview is time. It’s very advisable for you to arrive for the interview at least 20 minutes earlier before the scheduled time. This will give you enough time to organize and recollect yourself well. Being punctual for the interview will also show the interviewers how serious and reliable you are for the job.

3. BE CONFIDENT

Self-confidence is also one of the most determining factors in an interview. No one wants to recruit a timid or uncertain person for a serious job. During the interviewing process, just be yourself and provide relevant answers to the questions being asked. Maintain eye contact and stand straight while talking to your interviewers.

Whenever you are asked a question, give a correct answer. If you are not sure about it, be honest and say that you do not know instead of fumbling. However, you should be very careful not to be overconfident. Do not go inside with chewing gum in your mouth or with your hands inside your pockets.

4. ASK SMART QUESTIONS

In most cases, you can will given a chance to ask the interviewers a few questions at the end of the interview. Given a chance, ask intelligent and relevant questions that can show your deep interest in the company or organization. Some of the best questions that you can ask include the following:

How does the organisation show that it values its workers or employees?
What do you expect me to do in order to help your company achieve its goals?
What are the challenges that I might face in the job if hired?
Be careful not to ask questions related to payments or benefits as this might show how greedy or money-hungry you are.

5. SHOW APPRECIATION

Before you leave after the interviewing process, do not forget to thank your interviewers. You can show courtesy by giving them a firm handshake and saying kind words such as “Thank you,” “I am much obliged,” or “I would be glad to hear from you again.”


Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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How Studying Abroad Can Help Your Career

Studying abroad is something that crosses the minds of most students at least once during their studies at university. However, not everyone acts on it. Some miss out by opting away from what could be the best year of their higher education – or even the best year of their lives.

How Studying Abroad Helps Your Career With Four Important Skills

As well as giving you the fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture and experience an entirely new world, studying abroad can have a dramatic impact on your job prospects. Here are a few benefits:

LANGUAGE SKILLS

With technology developing at a dizzying rate and ease of travel continually bumping up intercultural knowledge, a global mindset is a valuable quality in the eyes of employers. Many companies have a foothold in a multitude of countries, making language skills absolutely key.

Even if you are not going overseas to study a language, you will pick up some of the local dialect. This is great news post-university as candidates with another language often fare well in the job hunt.

ADAPTABILITY

Studying abroad demonstrates that you are flexible; that you are content and capable wherever you might be. Whether you navigate public transport strikes or alter your schedule to fit around a siesta, you will come back having learned to adapt to new situations and jump obstacles with ease.

Employers might need you to drop everything to go to a last minute meeting or make a snap decision about whether you’ll be attending an event at the other end of the country – or even overseas. Companies will be more prepared to hire someone who can prove their flexibility and is happy to say ‘yes’ than those unwilling to do so.

WORKPLACE SKILLS

Some cities are renowned for specific qualities. Barcelona is known as a cultural city brimming with artistic treasures while London is identified with business and first-rate education facilities. This makes studying at business schools in the UK an attractive option for overseas students looking to enhance their business skills and employment prospects.

Wherever you decide to study abroad, you can rest assured you will return home at the end of the year with improved communication skills, sky-high confidence levels, and a wealth of cultural knowledge – all of which could fast-track your CV to the top of the pile.

INDEPENDENCE

Sure, you’ve learned how to do your own washing and can rustle up a mean spaghetti bolognese, but that’s not a patch on studying abroad. The ability to get on a plane, jet off to a foreign country and be willing to call it home for the next few months is a valiant and admirable feat – and something that will not be lost on recruiters.

From renting a home in a foreign language to standing on your own two feet in unfamiliar territory, a year abroad screams autonomy. Independence is a key attribute employers look out for and, while teamwork is equally important, firms like to know they are taking on people who can work without constant direction and support.


Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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Negotiating Salary: Tips For Professional Women

Although negotiating salary should come naturally to women, it’s not usually the case. We are good at handling all sorts of negotiations at home —the contractor we hire for the bathroom renovation, the amount of screen time allowed to our teenager if grades improve, the next vacation spot — but when it comes to negotiating salary, we’re not that great.

I would contend, however, that women in particular have all the critical skills necessary for successful negotiations in the workplace, top among which is negotiating salary. We’re consensus builders, emphatic, good listeners, and we have a collaborative style. The problem is that, too often, we don’t manage our careers as closely as we should and in not doing so we leave money on the table.

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

According to research, there are several key reasons why we stay away from negotiation situations:

• Women perceive their circumstances as being fixed, out of their control —unlike men, who believe that everything is negotiable—therefore, they don’t attempt to negotiate for themselves. (Too often, women don’t even try to negotiate a salary offer, they just take it.)
• Women’s sense of entitlement is weaker than men’s. For example, a well-known study conducted by two psychologists showed that women would pay themselves 19% less than males would for the same task.
• Women don’t lobby for pay rises as much and as often as men do. When rises occur, bosses tend to give money to those who asked for it —usually men— and give a smaller share (if any at all!) to the women who didn’t ask.

HOW TO CHANGE THINGS AROUND

If you are committed to your career and you are serious about being recognized for your work, you will have to engage in negotiations along the way. Nobody will do it for you, so you might as well give it all you’ve got.

Here are a few things you can start doing right now:

• Establish clear career goals for yourself and ask for what you need and what you want. This is harder to do if you are not sure of where you wish to take your career.
• Check how much people in your industry and in similar positions with equivalent knowledge and experience are making. If you want to negotiate from a position of strength, it is critical to know where you stand in relation to your peers.
• Before you meet with your boss to negotiate salary, make a list of what you’re willing to give up and what’s non-negotiable. Knowing your walk away point will help you discuss terms more easily.
• Learn how to talk about your achievements in relation to how they affect your company’s bottom line. Whenever possible use numbers to quantify your accomplishments.
• Anticipate questions that your boss will ask and work from a win-win perspective. What’s important to your manager? Why do they need you? What is the current demand for your position in the market?
• See the potential to negotiate everything and everywhere both personally and professionally. Negotiating salary is never only about how much you make. Health benefits, flexible time, title, working from home, expense account, an assistant, and so on, are all items that you should consider negotiable.

This is not your grandmother’s workplace. It’s yours. It’s more flexible than even a few years ago, and companies everywhere are struggling to help their women advance. Let’s do what is in our hands to make sure we continue landing positions of leadership and that along the way we are compensated for our efforts as much as our male counterparts.

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5 Tips on How To Deal With Difficult Co-Workers

The average full-time employee spends more time at work with co-workers than at home with friends and family. This can make for an unpleasant situation when we have one or more co-workers that we dislike.

However, it’s in everyone’s best interest to try to reach some common ground and make the work environment at least tolerable. So, how can you deal with difficult co-workers?

5 Tips For Dealing With Difficult Co-Workers

Here are some tips to help you deal with a problem work associate:

1. Be The Better Person

If you find that a co-worker is always breaking bad on other employees and has a proclivity for office politics and gossip, try to distance yourself from that person. If you happen to share an office with the scandalmonger, try to only talk about work-related topics that are not personal attacks on others in the office.

2. Keep A Positive Attitude

No one wants to be around someone who’s always negative and in a bad mood, so even if your difficult co-workers try to bring you down think about the positives in your job. If you’re struggling to see the silver lining think about what this job allows you to do outside of work. Perhaps your income provides you with a few discretionary dollars that can be spent on a favorite hobby.

3. Ignore The Person

We’re at work to do a job, so focus on the tasks that must be accomplished and network with other people at your workplace who aren’t quite so difficult to be around.

4. Take Action

Sometimes people don’t realize that they are perceived as being negative or being a gossip. In a non-confrontational way, pull the person aside in private and tell them that you’re really trying to be positive at work and could use their help. This tactic might be subtle enough to invoke a change in their behavior.

5. Make The Most Of It

There’s no rule that we have to be best friends with our co-workers. You may find that you work with someone who you just can’t grow to like and that’s OK. However, come to the realization that you do need to try to be professional and treat the difficult person with respect and civility. Continue to focus on your work and see if there’s something that you can learn from the difficult person, even if it’s just the fact that you don’t want to act like him.

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How To Deal With Conflict In The Workplace

Have you ever been through a rough time at work? I don’t mean the kind of stress that many of us experience with tight deadlines, full plates, and work-life balance nowhere in sight. I’m talking about a rough time with people. A personal struggle that involved one on one difficulties or disagreements that escalate beyond the typical, every day conflict in the workplace.

Have you ever had a knock-down, drag-out disagreement with your manager about the quality your performance on a particular project or even a full year of performance? Have you ever received performance feedback that extended into the realm of an attack on your personal character? Have you ever had a colleague or a leader who constantly beat you down with strictly negative feedback that was often caustic and hurtful?

You can certainly influence someone’s behavior in the workplace, but your behavior is the only thing that is totally under your control. Your response to the situation is the only thing you have absolute control over. Every situation and every response will be unique, but here are three things you can consider in order to determine exactly how you need to respond:

• Consider the patterns
• Consider the source
• Consider your options

1. Consider The Patterns

Have you heard feedback in the past that is similar? Be honest – have you ever had an inkling that the message you received might have elements of truth, even if this person delivered it harshly and ineffectively? If there is some truth in the feedback received, you can at least gain from the self awareness that comes with identifying a challenge.

After you have cooled from the encounter, recall the content of the message separated from the tone and the delivery. Make a list of feedback or input that you accept and make changes as desired.

2. Consider The Source

Of course you want to do a good job at work and it is important that your manager believes that you create value in the workplace. There is some truth to the fact that we have to please our leaders in order to remain gainfully employed! An important question, though, is whether or not you will allow this person’s opinion to have an impact on your professional self-concept or confidence in what you know and are able to produce at work. In other words, consider the source of the feedback.

Is the person a respected colleague who simply behaved badly or had a bad day? Do you typically align with the person in terms of what you value and how you define ‘good’? Or, is this person a known “bully”, self-aggrandizing, unrelenting tough guy (or gal) with whom you have very little in common?

3. Consider Your Options

Once you have considered the patterns and considered the source, you have choices to make. And, the good news is, you are in total control of two things now – your outward response and your mental response to the situation. A mature response requires a level of self-awareness on your part. If it makes sense, seek the opinion (or a ‘reality check’) from a trusted advisor who will be honest with you. Test your interpretation of the situation with an outsider to ensure you are not missing something while you are in the heat of the situation.

The answers to the questions about the source may not impact your actual outward response to the situation, but they should certainly have an impact on how you internally process the episode – do you take it to heart? Do you adjust how you feel about yourself professionally? Or, do you recognize that the “problem” is not within your control and simply move on?

You, and only you, determine how you will ‘feel’ about yourself post-encounter. You can allow the emotional encounter, whether based in truth or not, to have a negative impact on your perception of self. You can allow it to escalate your stress level. Or, you can take whatever good ‘content’ there was in the message, but not allow the attack to have an impact on your mental well-being.

Whether or not you confront the person about the actual encounter is a tough call and will vary based on your situation, your relationship, your own style, and the potential value to be gained from follow-up versus moving on. If you do decide to confront the person about the episode, remember, you are still only in control of your response.

(Disclaimer – if your experience ever reaches the realm of harassment or a hostile work environment, it is wise to seek support and expertise from your Human Resources group or a trusted leader in the company.)

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What To Say In A Thank You Card Besides ‘Thank You’

Have you ever felt frustrated after an interview? Sure you have! I know you’ve mentally gone over your interview answers and you remember what you DID NOT say, and you realize you missed an opportunity to REINFORCE your candidacy. Well, this is what to say in a thank you card.

Of course, it all depends on how badly you’ve screwed things up. Sometimes, there is no backpedaling, but let’s assume for a moment you can recoup or cement your candidacy… what then do you say in your thank you letter besides thank you?

The problem with most thank you letters is they are usually prepared as just a nice gesture.

Saying thank you is a very nice thing to do; it does go a long way, but if written as an ordinary thank you, it is not strategic enough to add another dimension to your candidacy… it leverages not an additional qualifier and doesn't elevate your interview performance.

In other words, use your thank you opportunity as a last marketing tool in order to gain a competitive distinction.

What To Say In A Thank You Card

Here are a few things you can do to take advantage of the follow-up (thank you) opportunity. Remember, now you have “insider” information you didn’t have prior to the interview – don’t waste it.

When Your Interviewer Shared A Concern

If during the interview process you were told the perfect candidate must meet XYZ and you discussed your lack in one of these areas – you need to talk about this again! Concisely bring it up, reiterate why this would not be a problem, and, in fact, promote how, despite this “weakness,” you are the PERFECT candidate.

When You Did Not Say What You Should Have Said

At times, we reflect and in retrospect recognize where we failed. Well, this is your opportunity. Bring up the topic and say you would like to elaborate, you would like to expand; you had time to think about this and want to convey the following.

When You Think You Sensed Apprehension

This is a bit risky because you could be wrong. Yet, what is life if not risky? If you are very good at ascertaining needs and you KNOW you identified a problem, “smooth” it out! Please do not say you think the interviewer did not understand… you NEVER want to convey you assume to know what others think but you can discuss what YOU failed to communicate.

You can state you would like to clarify a point you wish you had emphasized.

When You Really Just Want To Say, ‘Thank You’

There are times when you were FANTASTIC during an interview and you sincerely just want to say, “Thanks!”

Nevertheless, you don’t know how your competition performed and you are not privy as to what kind of thank you letter they are preparing. So, in this case, thank them but fortify your candidacy even further. You could…

• Accentuate three of your top qualifications as discussed during the interview. Now you have more information than you did prior to the interview – put it to work for you! Connect your qualifications with employer needs expressed during the interview.
• Bring up information they shared about the company and express how much more interested you became.
• Sell them again on the bottom-line goal they need to achieve via your employment. Seal the deal by promising to deliver.

Keep This Thank You Letter Concise

While a sales tool, it does not have to be as elaborate as your resume or cover letter.

Remember, the entire job search process is a strategic marketing effort; leverage every tool and maximize every opportunity.

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What To Say When An Interviewer Calls You At A Bad Time

It finally happens! The phone rings, and being in active job search mode, you eagerly answer every unrecognized number because it could be your next employer. But at the particular moment, you’re at the gym, in line at the grocery store, or picking up your kids from after-school sports.

When the phone rings in these situations, it can be mentally jarring, and therefore difficult to focus. Not to mention you’re unlikely to have your resume or other notes in front of you about the particular company. (You did take notes on your company research, right?) So, resist the urge to proceed with the interview anyway, out of fear that you won’t get another chance. You will, as long as you set the proper tone of this initial conversation with the recruiter. Here’s how:

Answer the phone correctly in the first place.

Since nearly any job is going to require that you speak to some other human being inside or outside the company, it’s important to demonstrate how you would answer the phone in professional circumstances. The first impression you give the interviewer should be an indication of the first impression you would give to that company’s vendors or customers.

Eliminate the awkward five seconds when the recruiter, probably thinking it’s you, is required to ask for you, only for you to respond with, “Who’s calling?” (or the more defensive version, “Who’s this?”). The wrong inflection can make you seem like you’re avoiding bill collectors, and the entire exchange slows the flow of conversation. Instead, smile – yes, smile through the phone – people can tell, then announce your name. A simple, “Hello. This is Joe,” will immediately confirm to the recruiter he’s reached the right person and set the stage for a pleasant exchange.

Express gratitude and enthusiasm.

Over the phone, your voice and attitude are the sole criteria available to the recruiter in these initial moments. This is the opportunity you were waiting for, so be happy about it. Regardless of the busy scenario you’re caught up in, if you had a second to answer the phone, then you have a second to ensure your tone is positive.

Continue to build on your pleasant-sounding foundation. Say, “Thanks so much for calling. I was hoping I’d hear from you. I’ve been really excited about this opportunity since I first came across it.”

Speak the truth – or something like it.

Clarify that you can’t talk right now, but don’t over share. When you call someone at work who can’t speak right now, their administrative assistant says, “She’s in a meeting at the present moment,” regardless of what the case actually is, because it really doesn’t matter. Maintain the same level of professionalism – no need to say you’re two minutes from completing your ten-minute mile on the treadmill right now.

Your objective is to politely, firmly end the current call. Demonstrate your professionalism and initiative by setting up the next call. It’s like a date. When you ask someone out, if the response is, “No, I can’t,” then you have to wonder if that means no forever or just no to that particular day – either way, not a good feeling. But if the response is, “I can’t on Tuesday. How about Thursday?” then you have something definite to go on. Apply the same concept to the conversation with the recruiter. Say, “I need to be in a quieter place in order to focus. May I return your call in one hour?”

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4 Phrases Your Boss LOVES To Hear

Managing up is a challenge all professionals face at one time or another. After all, everyone answers to someone. And learning effective ways to advance the relationship is a skill all professionals can use every day.

Managers are not only responsible for your role and responsibilities and to a degree your career; they are also responsible for their duties as well. If you really want to make your boss a fan, think of ways to work these four phrases into your workweek:

“Here’s a potential solution”

Bosses hear a LOT of problems. A. Lot. And more often than not, they are expected to come up with the solution. The thing is; if it isn’t their problem, they are not going to actively seek out solutions. Therefore, when you come to the boss with a problem, immediately follow it up with a proposed solution. This accomplishes two things. First, it shows your manager that you are solution-oriented. You took the time to examine the problem and think about ways to address it. Secondly, your solutions are essentially saving the boss time and energy and those are both gifts to your manager. This approach is a huge win for you and the boss.

“Here’s an idea”

You should be a student of your company. You should be very familiar with the company goals, mission, and vision. You should also have a very good understanding of the company’s challenges. When you know these challenges, you should spend some time each week working on ideas to solve those challenges that the company faces. When you go to your manager to say you have an idea to impact the company’s bottom line, everyone wins. Bosses should love to hear ideas on how to make things more efficient and more profitable. Be looking for these ideas whenever you have down time at work.

“Let me show you”

A picture is worth 1,000 words, and we are deep in the “show me” era. In time-strapped days, it is so much easier to show someone something than it is to tell them. When pitching something to a boss or sharing an idea or even solving a problem, show him/her what you are talking about. Sketch it out, give them a flow chart, something visual and talk them through it. If you can, make a quick prototype. It is so much easier than using just your words when the chances are good that the boss is distracted.

Think about it: When you show people what you are saying, you have captured two of their senses, hearing, and seeing. If you give them something to hold – even better (three senses). This gets their attention and allows them to truly evaluate what you are trying to do for the boss or the company. Always try to show people what you are talking about. It allows them to react to your idea in a more connected way.

“I could use a little mentoring”

Bosses are not solely responsible for your career. This is your responsibility. If you need new challenges, want new opportunities, it is up to you to scope those out and present them to the boss. If you don’t know how to do something or think that you could build out your skills even further, it is up to you to ask for mentor-ship.

As the protégé, you must take the active role in carving out time for the relationship. When you seek mentor-ship from your boss, know that it may not be the boss that becomes your mentor. You boss may not even be the right mentor, however, they can be the one who facilitates an introduction. When you ask for this type of guidance, your boss knows that you own your experience and will work to support you.

Building a solid relationship with your boss is key to getting where you want to go with your career. These relationships will follow you throughout your career. These bosses will likely one day be the person you call on to be a reference. And when it comes time to be a reference for you, you want them to say that you were solution-oriented, respectful of their time and full of an entrepreneurial spirit. And that is a glowing reference, trust me. When I am hiring, these are precisely the things I want to hear.

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Are Cover Letters Still Relevant?

If it's one thing that recruiters are constantly asked, it's this: is including a cover letter with my resume still a good idea?

In these days of automatic Applicant Tracking Systems that crunch thousands of resumes per year per company, the obvious answer would be no. However, this fails to take into account the fact that a real live human will eventually get to read the 'winning' resumes that these systems spit out. In that case, not having a cover letter attached to your resume is as big a mistake as it used to be.

Having a really great cover letter is important because it allows your employer to 'meet' you virtually, rather than just reading through a dry resume. Most people's personalities come through in their writing, and your word choice, overall tone and general presentation will allow your potential hiring company to get a much clearer view of who you are and as well as what you have to offer the company.

Here are the top 4 attributes of a great cover letter:

Keep It Simple Silly (K.I.S.S.)

In a cover letter, you are writing an introduction to your resume here, not the next War and Peace novel. Just as really effective resume should be kept to 1-2 pages max, a world-class cover letter should stick to 1-2 paragraphs max. Don't tell your life story - that's what the interview's for.

Tell Them Who You Are

Do you have any personal connection to the company? Did you meet their Head Editor at a conference last year, or have you followed them for many years on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or similar networking sites? Don't be shy - announce that personal connection!

Tell them Why They Should Hire You

The simple answer should be your obvious passion for the company, which should come through in the way you write your cover letter. Don't just write "I love your company!" - that's too 'on the nose' and akin to blurting out the big 'L' word during a first date, or worse, before it.

Highlight Your #1 Best Attribute

Even with the shortest one-page resume, employers will still skim read. If you've been modest and tucked away the 'little' fact that you saved your company $20 million dollars last year through making a few choice tweeks to the budgeting system, the cover letter is the place to sing it from the rooftops. Be modest about your achievements, but don't hide them, either.

In summary, even though today's application procedures are becoming largely automated, a great cover letter can help the hiring manager draw a firm deciding line between you and a similarly qualified candidate who forgot to include a cover letter.

Keep it simple, be bold, and great forces may come to your aid.

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Resume Tip: How to Eliminate Unnecessary Wording From Your Resume

These days, the golden rule is to try to keep your resume to two pages or less. One page is ideal unless you are a manager with decades of experience.

If you are struggling to follow this rule and shorten your resume, a great way to do that is by re-reading your resume and cutting down your text to eliminate unnecessary job description and excessive verbiage.

Here's what to look for:

Trivial Job Tasks

This is perhaps the easiest text to cut. Most jobs have trivial tasks involved which do not need to be listed in the job description.

For instance, if you're a graphic designer, employers take it as written that you'll know how to print out your own work and purchase new printing supplies and paper. Listing these tasks wastes valuable resume real estate, as well as hijacking space that would be better put to use listing real achievements that will set you apart from the crowd.

If you've listed any trivial tasks like these, get rid of them right away:

• Restocked office supplies
• Tidied office, took out the trash each night
• Refilled coffee machine on a daily basis
• Kept my workstation clean and tidy
• Key-holder responsible for opening up office every day

Basic Computer Skills

If you're applying for any IT or tech-based job, it is assumed that you have basic computer skills. Listing every single program you know how to use - especially those not related to the job you are applying for - creates unnecessary clutter that is annoying for the hiring manager to plow through.

For example:

• Troubleshooting Windows issues (unless you have advanced Geek Squad skills)
• Creating documents in Microsoft Word and Notepad
• Daily use of printer and associated software
• PC literate (if you are Mac AND PC literate, list that. If you only know one system then it's not worth listing).

Overlong Descriptions

Are you guilty of writing the next War and Peace when a short amount of text would suffice? Follow these 3 rules to shorten your resume naturally:

• Too many 'Ands' in a sentence. Each sentence should only contain one or two 'ands' or else things get confusing. Break up sentences with excessive 'and' usage with full stops and semi-colons. For instance: "My job duties included creating purchase orders and website templates, and also writing and printing brand mock-ups" should be edited to: "My job duties included creating purchase orders and website templates. I also wrote and printed brand mock-ups."
• It is far better to write about your achievements in the position, rather than listing every tedious task you performed. For example, if you're a janitor, write: "Improved upon previous standards of cleanliness by cleaning restrooms every hour, exceeding to the previous year's requirement to clean restrooms twice daily." This is better than "Cleaned restrooms hourly. Took out trash. Scrubbed floors. Refilled soap dispensers."
• Eliminate overly descriptive words and phrases. You're not writing a novel here, so unless you're applying to be a writer in a fiction department, your resume should avoid overly colorful job descriptions. For example: "Java Programmer, responsible for coloring the digital space on the Interwebs with melodious cascades of code."

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5 Reasons Calibri is the Best Font for Your Resume

1. 12-point Calibri produces perfectly sized resumes of 550 to 750 words on two pages. If you need more space, 11-point works well too.
2. Because of this, Calibri focuses writers on telling their readers a 100% relevant story of reasonable length — the best kind.
3. Research has shown that readers associate Calibri with stability. Employers like stability in an employee.
4. Calibri was made to be read on a computer screen, which is where most people read resumes. It renders beautifully.
5. Calibri is Microsoft Word’s default font. Thus, it’s familiar to readers and easy on their eyes. The more resumes they read, the more that matters.

Yes, Calibri, when it comes to resumes, you’re simply fontastic!



IMAGE: © VEGE – FOTOLIA.COM

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The Top 5 Reasons Recruiters Reject Your Resume

What do recruiters like and dislike most about resumes? A couple of university researchers in Australia had nothing better to do than try to answer this question. And I had nothing better to do than read the results of their study. By far the most impressive part of the study was that they managed to convince 68 managers and HR professionals who didn’t have to to read a bunch of resumes and cover letters.

Here’s what they found:

When the readers LIKED a candidate it was, in order of importance, because:

1. They had experience that was relevant to the job at hand.
2. They liked the format of the applicant’s resume.
3. The applicant met the qualifications (things like education, etc.) for the job.

When the readers NOT LIKED a candidate it was, in order of importance, because:

1. They lacked experience.
2. Their resume had a poor format.
3. Their resume lacked information.
4. Their resume lacked achievements.
5. They had a poor cover letter.

The takeaways?

1. You better have relevant experience.
2. Your resume better have a good format.
3. You better tell your readers what they want to know and tell them about your achievements.
4. Oh, and the cover letter? This study supports the notion that your cover letter can hurt you more than it can help you. Beware!

Source: The Impact of Competency Statements on Resumes for Short-Listing Decisions, Jim E.H. Bright & Sonia Hutton. International Journal of Selection & Assessment, Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2000.

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Resume Font: When to Choose Bold

Resume font choices can be confusing. First you have to decide which font (or fonts) to use.  Then you have to decide where to use a normal font and where to use bold font. 

Resume Font: Where to Go Bold

Because bold font draws your readers’ eyes, it’s helpful to use it to guide them to the information that’s most important to them. Check out this research study, or the following video, to see how readers scan resumes.

Now that you know what they’re looking for, be sure to use bold font on the following elements of your resume:

1. Your name.
2. Section headings.
3. Job titles.
4. Employment dates.
5. Employer names.
6. Employer locations.
7. Your name in a second page header.
8. Degrees.
9. Degree dates.
10. School names.
11. School locations.

Resume Font: Where Not to Go Bold

Candidates often also use bold font inside the narrative descriptions of their jobs and accomplishments. This makes me:

1. Wonder if the applicant thinks I’m so dumb they have to point me to the super important information in the narrative text of their resume.
2. Look at de-contextualized bits of information that don’t mean much to me because they’re out of context. To see what I’m talking about, look at this article. Only read the bolded bits in the bullet points. Did they mean anything to you?
3. Assume that all of the other information on the resume is unimportant – otherwise it would be bolded too!

Then I go back to wondering if the applicant thinks I’m dumb.

Summary

Resumes amaze me. They contain so much explicit and subtle, subliminal information. Always think about what the reader wants and how your writing might make them feel. Then give them a good experience.

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Should You Follow Up After Submitting a Resume?

There isn't an easy answer to the question of whether you should follow up after submitting a resume. I posted the question on the (very useful) Answers section of LinkedIn to see if I could get some insight into whether you should (or shouldn't) follow up after sending a resume. I received a variety of good answers, both in favor of, and against, following up.


In addition, if it makes sense for you to take that extra step in the hiring process, there are good suggestions on how to best follow up after sending a resume.

Chris Dittus, owner of August Communications Consulting, told me "As an HR professional who has received thousands of resumes over the years, I can tell you that there is no 'one size fits all' answer to your question (unfortunately!). There are numerous variables at play in these processes, and every organization is a bit different. It's impossible to know if you will be wasting your time following up on a resume you have sent in response to a job posting, or if it will be the one thing that gives you a small edge over another candidate."

It Depends

So, in general, the answer is that it depends (and I heard that from several experts). It depends on how you applied, if you have or can find a contact person, and how much you want the job - how much effort is it worth? Here are some suggestions regarding when following up can help.

Jason Alba, JibberJobber

I think it depends (isn't that the typical response you hear from an MBA?). How did you get your resume to them in the first place? Has your only contact been online, through their job page? Or have you networked your way in? I would try and network my way in.

You Should Follow Up Your Resume

Elizabeth Sidel, Director of Recruiting at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

After submitting a resume, the candidate should follow-up (unless otherwise advised not to) with a phone call or email; it shows enthusiasm and ambition, and could differentiate the candidate.

Chris Dittus, owner of August Communications Consulting

It is certainly appropriate to send an email or letter a week or two following the submission of your resume, if you have not yet heard anything from the company. However, if you receive no response after submitting your resume AND following up with an email or letter a few weeks later, I wouldn't invest additional energy in that particular opportunity.

Liz Ryan, Workplace Expert; Networking Expert; Columnist at BusinessWeek.com

You have to follow up. Polite email messages that reinforce your strong interest in the job. Not-too-frequent phone calls to check on the status of your resume. Every single day, I hear from people who got jobs because they stayed on the case.

Nathan North, hrConsultant - hrLoop, Inc. - Founder

If you are going after a job that you specifically want then go for it, write a letter, call, or send an email to the hiring manager.

Asi Burak, Owner, Chief Product Officer - ImpactGames

From my perspective (as an employer) I would definitely prefer an email follow-up after 1-2 weeks - resumes could be lost in a pile. It is also an opportunity for the sender to add more information, and be more specific. In many cases, specific and relevant communication works better than anything.

Andrew Magliochetti CCIM, Owner and Principal, Helios Realty & Development LLC 

A short hand-written note to the contact person goes a long way, and differentiates you from the rest of the pack. It shows you actually took more than two seconds to write an email - a call is a little too intrusive/pushy.

Sales Jobs Follow Up

The one time it's absolutely necessary to follow up, I heard repeatedly, is when you're applying for a sales job. Scott Winterton, founder of TwoLeftHands.Net, says "I think it's definitely a good idea to use Linkedin and/or a phone follow-up to job inquiries. In addition, in Sales it's a good idea to be proactive in your cover letter and let the contact know when you plan to call him/her. In my own experience, I've found that they sometimes respond back with "that time won't work, but why don't you try me at..." Now you have an invitation from the hiring manager to give him/her a call!

"You Shouldn't Follow Up

Susan Heathfield, About.com Guide to Human Resources

Not all employers may feel this way, but I hate fishing phone calls that have absolutely no purpose other than to make you notice an applicant. Wonder how many people call me each week to see if I have received their resume? Lots - and only the people I rarely call back. It's a wonderful opportunity for you to make a lasting bad impression. Fishing-for-attention phone calls rarely help and usually brand you as a pain.

Giselle Feijo, HR Manager

As an HR manager, I really dislike when applicants call me to follow up on the status of their application. Well, the 'status' of application is that I will be doing the following up - with the applicants who are qualified.Bottom line, HR managers are very busy. No one appreciates being constantly interrupted by unimportant phone calls to check on whether a resume was received or not. If applicants cannot resist the urge to contact the HR manager, do it in writing (email, card) so that it is not intrusive. If you do not hear back, move on please.

Sheilah Etheridge, Owner, SME Management: Management and Accounting Consultant

If you have sent in a resume and heard nothing from them just move on.

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How to Dress for an Interview

The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why, in many cases, it is still important to dress professionally for a job interview, regardless of the work environment.What's the appropriate dress code for an interview? You'll want that first impression to be not just a good one, but, a great one. In general, the candidate dressed in a suit and tie is going to make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in scruffy jeans and a t-shirt.Here's more on what to wear to an interview for professional, casual and startup companies, when you want to make the best impression.


How to Dress for a Professional Interview

Men's Interview Attire

• Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
• Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
• Belt
• Tie
• Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
• Little or no jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Limit the aftershave
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Women's Interview Attire

• Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
• The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably
• Coordinated blouse
• Conservative shoes
• Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
• No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry
• Professional hairstyle
• Neutral pantyhose
• Light make-up and perfume
• Neatly manicured clean nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Less Formal Interview Attire

When the workplace or the job is less formal, the dress code may be as well. If you're not sure what to wear, it's fine check with the person scheduling the interview. However, it's still important not to dress like a slob. Here are some alternatives:

Business Casual

Start-up Casual

What Colors to Wear 

Wearing the right colors can help convey your confidence, professionalism and your ability to fit into an organization's environment. Here are tips for choosing the right colors for your interview attire.

What Not to Bring to the Interview

• Gum
• Cell phone
• Coffee or soda
• If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)
• Cover tattoos

Interview Attire Tips

Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire and everything fits correctly. Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview. If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are ready for next time. Polish your shoes. Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building.

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What can you do better for us than the other candidates for the job?

Since most of us would rather be recognized for our own unique value than being compared to others, it can be challenging when employers ask us to elaborate on what makes us better than other candidates.For example, an employer might ask something like, "What can you do better for us than another candidate?," or, "Why should we pick you instead of someone else?" 


Be Careful When You Answer

this type of question can also be a trap to determine if you have an inflated view of yourself or will tend to be overly critical of your colleagues.  The best approach is usually to view this inquiry as an opportunity to convey your strengths to the employer, without implying that you are better than everyone around you. 

Start With a Disclaimer

It can be helpful to start with a disclaimer that you are not aware of the strengths of the other candidates, and you are sure there are some impressive individuals applying for such an attractive position.  Then you can go on to assert that you do have many assets that will enable you to make a solid contribution if you are hired.You might say, "Although I am not familiar with the others who you are interviewing, I am sure there are lots of talented people applying for such a position. However, given my unique background and experiences, I think I would be a strong candidate for this position."

Follow Up With Your Strengths

Then, you can follow up with a specific outline of your own strengths. But, it is not enough to answer in generalities. You should be prepared to reference 6 - 8 strengths in terms of skills, past experiences, areas of knowledge and personal qualities that will help you to excel in the job. 

Remember that your presentation will be most convincing if you share concrete examples of how you have applied your strengths to add value in jobs, internships, school projects or volunteer work. Describe situations or challenges, actions you took, and results you generated by tapping each asset. Review the description for your target job and identify the aspects of the position that seem to be of high priority to the employer.  Try to share as many of your assets as possible that will help you to carry out the core functions of the job. 

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Interview Question: How Do You View Yourself?

How Do View Yourself? Who Would You Compare Yourself To?

In order to assess your strengths and weaknesses during an interview, an employer might ask you to describe yourself. This type of question can take various forms, from "How do you view yourself?" to "Who would you compare yourself to?"


Best Answers:

The best way to answer is to share some of your strengths, particularly those that match the qualifications for the job.

In addition to discussing strengths that are central to the job, you should also include some other interesting personal qualities that are not particularly relevant, but will provide an authentic feel to your presentation.  For example, for a job in advertising, you might mention how you view yourself as a creative type of person and then also mention that you are a risk taker who enjoys skydiving or bungee jumping.

Follow Up Questions:

Be ready for follow up questions, such as a request for you to cite examples of whatever qualities that you mention. Be prepared to reference situations where you applied that strength and the impact which you had. Another line of follow up questioning might be to ask about your weaknesses if you have supplied a totally positive view of yourself. The best way to answer is to mention a weakness that won't directly hinder the outcome of the interview. For example, mention one that is not central to the job, could be construed as a strength or one that you've worked on to the point that it is no longer actually a weakness.

Comparing Yourself to Other People:

Some employers might ask you to compare yourself to someone else in order to determine more clearly how you view yourself. Generally, you should take a modest approach and avoid comparing yourself to iconic figures in business, politics or the entertainment world. A better tact can be to mention a personally inspiring individual such as an older sibling, parent, teacher or mentor. The key will be to point out some positive, common quality that makes you similar.  For example, you might say "I'm a lot like my Dad; he instilled in me a keen curiosity about scientific phenomenon." In answering this question, the key is to arrive at an answer that presents you in a positive light, but is at the same time humble and authentic.

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