How to Ace Your Next Job Interview

by Terri Williams

Landing the right job can determine where you live, your social connections, your choice of a partner, and even the quality of your kids’ education.
Since so much depends on the outcome of your interview, it’s important to avoid missteps. Especially since the competition is so steep. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 6.7 million unemployed Americans as of April 2014. Also, many employed workers are searching for better jobs. As a result, companies are bombarded with candidates. Many employers report receiving hundreds—and sometimes, thousands—of applications for one job.
With so many applicants chasing so few positions, employers can afford to be particularly choosy, and they’re taking their time to fill these open positions. In fact, the average amount of time it takes to fill a job vacancy has risen from 15 days in the middle of 2009, to 23 days as of 2013, according to a study in the Quarterly Journal of Economics by economists Steven J. Davis, R. Jason Faberman, and John C. Haltiwanger.
An overabundance of candidates and extended hiring timeframes combine to make the interview process even more important. Employers can afford to pursue perfection, so you need to appear as close a match to the position as humanly possible.
However, you can increase your quality quotient, which will, in turn, help you gain an advantage over the other applicants. By understanding the seven major parts of the pre-interview and interview process, you can make a good first impression, stand out from the competition, and increase your chances of landing that great job.

1. Conduct Background Research—Know the Company You're Hiring For

Background research is an important part of the pre-interview process. Companies hire employees because they need help to reach their goals and objectives. They need specific employees to perform specific tasks. As such, the ultimate goal of your interview is to convince the employer that you are the best person for a particular job.
However, you won’t be very convincing if you don’t know anything about the company. You cannot present a compelling case to be hired if you are not familiar with the company’s goals, objectives, core values, or other critical information. The best place to find valuable information about the company is on its website. Ideally, you should read the “About Us” page, in addition to pages about the company’s products and services, the organizational structure, competitive placement in the market, and philanthropic efforts.
At first glance, this level of research may seem excessive. However, familiarizing yourself with this type of information will allow you to provide much stronger answers in your interview. For example, if the company stresses honesty, integrity and ethical behavior, you can shape some of your answers to include these traits. If the company values customer service, you’ll know to emphasize your customer service skills during the interview. If the company places an emphasis on “accuracy,” you’ll know not to answer, “a lack of attention to detail,” if you are asked to name one of your weaknesses.
In addition, one of the most important questions that you may be asked during the interview is “How can you help our company?” By conducting background research on the organization, you will be able to answer this question in a way that demonstrates your knowledge of the company.

2. Present Yourself Professionally, Without Unrestrained Style

Your appearance is part of both your pre-interview and interview process. Your preparation before the interview will play a major role in how you are perceived during the interview. As a result, you need to put your best foot forward.
Proper grooming is the first step in the process. Most employers prefer to hire neat, clean-shaven applicants. This is neither the time nor the place to display your individual fashion style. Your objective is to impress the employer with your skills and abilities, not with your ability to physically stand out in a crowd. Men with mohawks, 4-inch beards, earrings and tattoos that seem to envelop the entire body are usually not at the top of the company’s wish list, unless, perhaps, it is a ultra-creative, laid-back organization.
Women with purple hair—and other stark hair colors, visible tattoos, plunging necklines, miniskirts, stiletto heels and excessive makeup may be passed over for more conservatively dressed applicants. As a general rule of thumb for both men and women, if you are considering wearing anything that usually elicits stares from strangers, this choice is probably too flashy for most interviews.
A nice dark colored suit may sound boring, but it is your best bet for making a good first impression during your interview. Make sure that your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free. Your shoes should be polished and free from dust and dirt. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum for both sexes. Women should not wear the type of earrings, bracelets and other jewelry that clicks, clangs, or makes other sounds whenever you move, since this is also distracting.

3. Timeliness Is Important, So Be on Time

You should not be late for the interview under any circumstances. Granted there are exceptions to the rule, such as pulling someone from a burning house or car, or administering CPR to someone who stopped breathing. But unless your reason for being late falls within these categories, do not expect the interviewer to be forgiving.
If you are not familiar with the interview location, you need to locate the setting in advance. It is a good idea to actually visit the site during daytime hours, so you will know how long it takes you to get there in traffic, and then you can also discover if there are streets closed for construction, parking issues, or anything else that would negatively affect your ability to arrive on time. And if your vehicle is low on fuel, replenish your gas tank in advance.
You should prepare your clothes in advance, and it is a good idea to have an alternate set of clothing prepared, just in case you encounter a missing button, broken zipper, etc.
Another issue facing some applicants is the ability to leave work on time to go to the interview. If possible, schedule your interview early in the morning, so you can go to work afterwards. If this is not possible, plan to leave your job in plenty of time to arrive at the interview in a timely manner. You can’t afford to have any last minute work-related delays.
You may think that it is not a big deal to be a few minutes late for your interview, but you are being judged on your timeliness. The interviewer does not know you, and this is their first opportunity to judge how you handle commitments. If you don’t show up on time for your interview, you’ve already created a negative impression regarding how seriously you take your obligations. And the interviewer may be wondering if the company hires you, is this a sign that you will make excuses for not performing your work in a timely manner.

4. Communicate with Poise, Interest, and Expressiveness

Nonverbal communication plays a major role in the job interview, although it is not more important than verbal communication, according to Dr. Ronald E. Riggio in Psychology Today. Nodding your head and smiling do not compensate for not being able to intelligently answer questions. However, your communication techniques contribute to the overall impression that you create.  And according to Riggio, applicants who project the best images during interviews master the following:

• Poise, being comfortable and confident.
• Interest, making eye contact and being attentive.
• Expressiveness, using positive emotions such as occasionally smiling

Practicing your interview is one way to help you gain poise and confidence, while losing your feelings of nervousness.
Also, looking interested and making eye contact should not be taken to the extreme. For example, Riggio says you should not “stare down” the interviewer, but on the other hand, do not appear to be bored or uninterested.
In addition, expressiveness should not be taken to the extreme. For example, while you should smile, don’t smile so often that it looks fake or forced. Also, refrain from displaying anger or annoyance, even if you are talking about a negative situation.

5. Overcome Difficult Issues

During the interview, some sticky questions may arise, especially if there are gaps in your employment history. According to Forbes magazine, it is important to let the interviewer know that you spent this time productively. Be sure to include freelance and volunteer work that you were doing during this time frame. Also, you may be asked why you left your last job or why you are planning to leave your current job. It is important to remain positive in your response. Penguin Interview suggests the following types of answers:

“My last job was not challenging enough. I was not motivated to wake up to work anymore and I really needed a change. Based on the job description I really believe that I can find what am I looking for in your company."

"There was a downsizing in our company and similarly to most people in my department, I was fired. However, it is the past. I am ready to utilize the knowledge and experience and start to build my new career in your corporation."

Be sure that your answers bring the question back to the position that you are interviewing for, and end with ways that you can help the company.

6. Ask Intelligent Questions

Asking intelligent questions shows that you have an interest in the company, and it lets the interviewer know that you have done your research. It also gives you an opportunity to learn more about the job. According to U.S. News & World Report, these are the types of questions that demonstrate a genuine interest in the company and the position:

• Why is this position open? What is the turnover rate for this job? This type of question will help you determine if the job is a good fit. A high turnover rate could indicate a difficult manager, unrealistic expectations, or some other type of problem.
• What are the biggest challenges a person would face in this position? This question shows that although you’re excited about the position, you also understand that every job has challenges and you’re ready to meet them head on. 
• What would a successful year look like for this position, and how would it be evaluated? This question demonstrates that you’re not just interested in drawing a paycheck. You’re a high achiever, with a desire to know the criteria for success. 
• How would you describe your management style? This is another question that shows the manager that you’re serious about the job. And while the manager may not be able to provide an accurate self-assessment, their response will at least give you some idea of their management style.
• Do you have any reservations about my fit for the job that I could address? This question provides an excellent opportunity for you to squelch any qualms the manager may have about hiring you. By providing clarity, you may be able to put their fears to rest. 

7. Avoid Interview Landmines

During the interview process, it is important to avoid the landmines that can potentially derail your chances of getting the job. For example, do not bad mouth previous bosses, no matter how terrible they were, because you may come across as someone who is bitter and is carrying a lot of emotional baggage.
According to Monster.com, it is also unacceptable to say, “I just need a job,” when asked why you are applying for the position, or asked why the company should hire you. While it may be true that you need a job, employers do not want to hire someone who just needs a job. They want employees who truly want to work for the organization.
Monster also recommends that you avoid asking such questions as, “How long do I have to be here before I get vacation time? How much vacation time do I get?” These types of questions make you appear to be more interested in what’s in it for you, which is not the way to impress potential employers.
Telling companies that you are also interviewing with other companies is also a no-no. In your eyes, you may appear to be a more attractive candidate if you let them know other companies are also interviewing you. However, Monster says that sharing this knowledge actually makes you appear less attractive since companies do not want to compete for your interests.
Other potential landmines include making political, religious and sexist comments. First, the interviewer would be appalled that you would make these types of comments to someone that you do not even know. And then, the interviewer might think that you are the type of person who always makes inappropriate comments. And if they hire you, the company could potentially face lawsuits as a result of your behavior.

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Are You Ready for Your Job Interview?

The stakes are high and the number of candidates is even higher, but an interview is your opportunity to stand out from the competition. Since you never get a second chance to make a good first impression, your impact should be lasting and positive. Preparing in advance allows you to communicate confidence and appear as an interesting, memorable candidate.
While it may seem like a lot of work to research the company you're interviewing for, adhere to such strict appearance, and comply with arrival rules, following these guidelines demonstrates your willingness to be a team player who abides by the customs and norms that govern the hiring process. At the same time, your ability to ask engaging questions marks you as a top candidate for the job. By applying these techniques, you can ace your next job interview.

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How to Get Your First Job After Graduating

by Gary M. Stern

After the recession of 2008 and 2009 struck the economy like a punch in the gut, the job market tightened. Despite the fact that the New York Times reported on March 7, 2014 that the unemployment level stabilized at 6.7%, getting that first job out of school has become extremely competitive.
In most fields, there are more applicants than jobs. Earning that first position calls for creating a strategic plan to land it.
Recent job applicants encounter a classic Catch-22 situation. Seeking their first full-term employment suggests that they’re inexperienced and lacking a track record of success. In a tight economy, how does the recent graduate outmaneuver more experienced competitors that are proven performers?
If you’re fresh out of college, this tutorial will guide you through the steps needed to find and then land your first position.

Create a Strategic Plan to Get Your First Job

Finding that first job won’t occur by happenstance. It takes an organized approach and structured plan of attack to grab the job you want.
The most important factor in devising a plan involves knowing exactly what job you’re after. The more you can narrow down the exact job you’re seeking, the more efficient and effective your search will be. Pursuing a job in marketing is too vague, but pursuing an opening in website marketing for a start-up in the health field narrows your search dramatically.
To start your pursuit demands asking yourself this question: what’s the ideal job that I’m qualified to perform?
If you’re interested in fashion, an entry-level job in marketing at a clothing company might work. In publishing, an editorial assistant might serve to launch your career. In finance, an entry-level job in investment banking or research analysis could get you through the door. Each type of position will require an individual plan of action, but there are common strategies to consider.
Your action plan needs to target your ideal job. It should coordinate the tactics you’ll use to get this job, including critical components, such as: how to leverage your connections, reach out to contacts, and tap into the channels of greatest opportunity.
Following are a number of steps, each representing a potential strategy you can use to customize your plan for getting your first job out of college. Walk through each step to build your custom strategy. Then implement it in the order that fits your individual goals best for landing that ideal, first job.

Step 1: Use Your Connections

Often it’s who you know, not only what you know, that secures your first job. It’s important to organize your contacts:

• Whom do you know in the field that you’re pursuing that you can reach out to?  
• Whom do your parents and their friends associate with in the industry you’re targeting? 
• Who might know about a job opening, well before it is posted on job boards like CareerBuilder or Monster?  

Start sending out e-mails to contacts, explaining exactly what job you’re pursuing, why you’re right for this position, and what you bring to the job. Don’t do a hard sell, which turns off most people, but just a simple, straight-forward cover letter, with your resume attached.
That will get your job search rolling.

Step 2: Network at Associations or Through Groups

Since networking is often a useful way to identify job leads, joining associations and groups serves as another way to expand your opportunities. If you’re interested in accounting, joining the American Accounting Association can prove useful.
Nearly any organization can offer benefits. Toastmasters International helps sharpen your public speaking skills but can also lead to making valuable connections. Identify any associations or groups that could prove beneficial in your job search.

Step 3: Draw on Internships

Many college students have had one, if not multiple internships. Tapping that network, particularly if it’s in your desired field, is another way to target openings. Consider:

• Whom did you establish relationships with at the firm that could connect you to a job? Head of a department? Well-connected staff members? 
• Did you deal with people at competing firms or vendors who may know of openings? Did you attend conferences while working at the internship? If so, whom did you meet that might offer assistance? 

Reach out to everyone you met whom you formed a relationship with that could offer job leads.

Step 4: Tap Your Alumni Network

If you recently graduated from college, the career office is a suitable starting point. Who in the alumni network can you contact for jobs leads? Look for alumni that are succeeding in their field. Send them an e-mail, explaining when you graduated, what internship you had, and what kind of job you’re qualified for.
Ask the head of the career office for suggestions:

• What contacts does he or she have that can help? 
• What companies in the field you’re pursuing have alumni serving leadership roles? 
• What startups visit the campus frequently on career nights that are expanding? 
• Which alumni serve as mentors?

Add these potential paths of pursuit to your strategic job hunting plan.

Step 5: Target Small Businesses 

Richard N. Bolles in What Color Is Your Parachute? observed that most first-time job seekers target large businesses and overlook smaller firms, causing them to miss many prime opportunities.
He said firms with twenty or fewer employees create two-thirds of all new jobs. Nonetheless, many job seekers start their search with IBM, Goldman Sachs and Google, but forget to apply to the thousands of smaller firms that are doing the bulk of hiring. Multiply your chances of finding a first-job by targeting smaller companies.
Look for startups that are adding a number of employees in a given year.  Reading profiles of companies in business publications reveals the startups that are thriving and hiring. For example, according to Portland Business Journal, Opal Labs—a software company out of Portland, Oregon—recently received a $2.1M seed funding round and is planning on hiring staff. They mention in February of 2014 as expecting to hire between 25 to 30 people by the end of the year.
It’s not uncommon to see popular startups doubling their staff in a single year. Search for companies that have recently received funding and that have a track record of growth.

Step 6: Visit Company Websites

The more self-initiating you can be in your job search, the better. In your action plan, jot down ten companies that you’d ideally like to work for. Visit each website and look for its career page.
Most companies enable applicants to submit their resume and cover letter to target specific jobs. Make sure you tailor your cover letter, tweak and customize it, to best match each company position.

Step 7: Apply to Job Websites, While Differentiating Yourself

Most experts say that career websites are inundated with resumes, making it difficult to stand out in the crowd. Still, applying for jobs on CareerBuilder or Monster or more targeted sites such as MediaBistro for media-related jobs makes sense.
When you apply, find something that differentiates you from competitors. You won the debating award at college, proving that you’ll likely make an effective speaker at the public relations firm you’re applying for. As an intern, you served as a bank teller but also covered reverse mortgages, which most entry-level applicants aren’t aware of. Highlight the skill or attribute you possess that most applicants lack.
Keep in mind, a skill that you take for granted can offer a compelling edge. For example, my friend's daughter majored in Asian studies and studied in China for a semester. She nabbed a job as a correspondent on an Asian TV network in New York based on knowing how to speak Chinese. The skills you possess that few others do can lead to a job opportunity.

Step 8: Connect With Executive Recruiters

Connecting with executive recruiters is a tactic that can speed up your job search.
Many executive search firms deal mostly with CEOs and senior executives and not entry-level jobs, but some smaller and mid-sized recruiting firms handle first-timers. A quick website search should enable you to identify the top executive search firms in your area, or within driving distance of a nearby city that recruit recent graduates.
Many recruiting firms demand that the job seeker have a distinguishing skill such as software development, sales experience, or is multilingual and speaks Spanish. If there’s anything in your background that separates you from the pack and can offer a competitive edge, highlight that feature in your cover letter and your resume to bolster your search.

Step 9: Use Social Media and a Dedicated Site

One way to differentiate yourself from competitors is to launch a blog, in an area that connects with your job search. If you’re seeking a job in finance, for example, starting a blog on why millennials should save could yield benefits. If web design is your passion, then building a blog teaching the latest front end development techniques will help showcase your skill and boost your reputation.
For example, Lauren Berger in her book All Work, No Pay cited one college student who majored in fashion and started a blog about the latest, trending fashions that young women in their twenties were attracted to.  She parlayed that into landing an entry-level job at a New York fashion company.
LinkedIn and Facebook can help target certain jobs and let people know what job and industry you’re targeting.
Your LinkedIn profile should be crisp, pointed, and targeted to your job pursuits. It should include any recent internships or roles you performed in college that relate to your job search. In addition, your Twitter account should include recent postings that position you as conscientious, responsible and trustworthy. Withholding photos of your spring break escapades is strongly advised.
Posting YouTube videos of your volunteering efforts at the local food drive or organizing a rally at college can also prove beneficial. These self promotional videos can be linked to from your blog and social accounts, positioning your experience positively.
Be sure to do a search on your name. Many employers perform a Google search on your background. Make sure this search turns up your positive contributions in your internship, in college, in volunteering, or leads to your blog. If not, spend some time on boosting your online profile.

Step 10: Strengthen Your Resume

You just graduated from college, never worked at a full-time job and want to draft a strong resume. How did you do it? By being honest, accentuating your strengths and what you’ve done so far, and stressing your education and qualifications.
Resumes need to be written in a concise, tight way. You need the following: a clear objective, a list in bullets of your strongest qualifications, a synopsis of your work experience, your educational background, including your college, any scholarships, any overseas travel courses, languages, a paragraph on your personal background, and a summary describing the job you’re pursuing. Your resume should tell a compelling story.
Consider applying basic search engine optimization to your resume and highlight the experience and qualifications that could wind up in major search engines, such as: scholar, athlete, volunteer, or board member of an association.

Step 11: Be Persistent 

Woody Allen once said that 90% of success is based on showing up.
First time college graduates who aren’t deterred by rejection, keep knocking on doors, send follow-up emails to heads of human resources, will reap the benefits. Don’t give up easily.
You’re going to get rejected; it says little about you except you weren’t right for that specific job. Keep plugging away. Don’t be a pest, but be assertive.
If you’ve submitted a resume for a job that you’re well-suited for and haven’t heard back in several weeks, write a follow-up e-mail. If you’ve never been contacted, ask about the possibility of being interviewed. Explain in two or three sentences why you’re right for the job. Nothing wrong with being shy and introverted, but being assertive in a tough economy can make the difference.

Step 12: Take Audacious Action

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that on March 7, 2014 that 10.5 million Americans were unemployed. When so many Americans are desperate for work, taking audacious actions to distinguish yourself from the other job seekers assumes greater importance.
Similar economic woes are rampant across many nations. Regardless of the country you graduated college from, you’re likely to face stiff competition in getting your first job. What actions will you take to stand out?
Consider visiting smaller firms in person and leaving your resume. Though this strategy may not prevail at GE, IBM, or JPMorgan Chase, it might be appreciated by a small public relations or marketing firm. It shows your initiative, drive and interest—all positive attributes. If they’re not interested, you have little to lose by leaving a resume and something to gain. That personal attention is the type of action it may take to land your first job.

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Landing Your Ideal Job 

If you follow your action plan, make connections, use social media, persist and show fortitude, you will get that first job out of college. Of course, as soon as you do, it’s nearly time for the next pursuit, landing your next job.

Resources:

• Read Richard N. Bolles book, What Color Is Your Parachute?.  Bolles’ website, Job Hunerter's Bible, also provides tips on job hunting and improving one’s resume.
• Lauren Berger’s All Work, No Pay offers tips on developing a resume, networking and finding a job.
• The website Jobdig is a career website that showcases advice and includes job leads.
• The website Job Shadow displays videos and descriptions of the day-to-day life of an IT manager, behavioral analyst, and more.

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