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Nail the interview: new process awaits job seekers

As the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” For job seekers, truer words were never spoke. Particularly today, when job openings attract applicants like honey does bees, setting yourself apart from the legions of others applying for the same position can prove quite difficult.

A greater number of graduates paired with an oversaturated market of individuals looking for new work has only increased the competition. More than ever before, job seekers are fighting an uphill battle to get themselves noticed, a battle that seemingly grows more demanding with each passing day.

Such a reality only heightens the importance of making a strong first impression, one that will make you stick out in the interviewer’s mind, hopefully earning you a second interview along the way. While nearly everyone is aware that appearance and education go a long way toward making a positive impression, there are several other areas job seekers can address to make themselves stand out from the rest.

· Preparation. In addition to knowing all about yourself, you should know about the job you’re applying for as well. Candidates who enter interviews with little or no knowledge of the open position rarely, if ever, get a second interview, much less a job offer. Research the position as well as the company. Don’t be afraid to write down questions that might arise during that research and refer to them throughout the interview. Doing so will show the interviewer you’re genuinely interested in the position and the company, setting you apart from applicants just looking for a job. Include in your research any recent company developments that perhaps made headlines in the news.
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Nail the interview: new process awaits job seekers

As the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” For job seekers, truer words were never spoke. Particularly today, when job openings attract applicants like honey does bees, setting yourself apart from the legions of others applying for the same position can prove quite difficult.

A greater number of graduates paired with an oversaturated market of individuals looking for new work has only increased the competition. More than ever before, job seekers are fighting an uphill battle to get themselves noticed, a battle that seemingly grows more demanding with each passing day.

Such a reality only heightens the importance of making a strong first impression, one that will make you stick out in the interviewer’s mind, hopefully earning you a second interview along the way. While nearly everyone is aware that appearance and education go a long way toward making a positive impression, there are several other areas job seekers can address to make themselves stand out from the rest.

· Preparation. In addition to knowing all about yourself, you should know about the job you’re applying for as well. Candidates who enter interviews with little or no knowledge of the open position rarely, if ever, get a second interview, much less a job offer. Research the position as well as the company. Don’t be afraid to write down questions that might arise during that research and refer to them throughout the interview. Doing so will show the interviewer you’re genuinely interested in the position and the company, setting you apart from applicants just looking for a job. Include in your research any recent company developments that perhaps made headlines in the news.

· Expect the unexpected. A side effect of the boom in job seekers is that recruiters are expanding their horizons to better whittle the applicant pool. While in the past interviews were more predictable with respect to questions asked, the wide and largely qualified applicant pool many job openings create has forced recruiters to ask less predictable questions to help them choose between otherwise equally qualified candidates. Therefore, preparing for such questions can be a great way to set yourself apart.

In addition to the more traditional inquiries, topics such as conflict resolution, problem solving and how well you work with others are now subjects many recruiters prefer to broach. The more specific your answers, the more likely you are to stick out in the interviewer’s mind. A popular trend among many interviewers is presenting hypothetical situations and asking applicants how they might deal with such situations. Think about the job before your interview and what situations might arise that the interviewer could present hypothetically. Strong responses to such questions will certainly make you stand out.
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Acing job interviews takes time, effort and thought

Looking for a new job in the new year? Patrick Ropella, president and chief executive officer of Ropella & Associates, an international executive search consulting firm, gives some sound advice about job interviews.

Q: When asked “What personally motivates you?” in a job interview, how should I reply?

A: You may have personal motivations — children, family, friends, etc. — but what an employer wants to hear is that you want to be successful in your career. They want you to say “I want to be an integral part of a successful team” and “I want to help my company, my community and my colleagues in whatever way I can — whether it be helping with a project, a charitable event, or just helping format a spreadsheet. I want to be a part of something successful.”

Q: What is the best way to answer the question “How do you feel about diversity in the workplace?”

A: Employers want to hear that you are all for diversity — that you believe diversity is good for creating ideas and teaching people how to relate to others who are different from them in some way. An employer wants to know that you are completely comfortable and look forward to working with a diverse group of people. In an interview, make sure you address how you can help energize support and be a proponent of diversity. Diversity = a good thing.
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Secrets to finding a job are timeless

As we welcome the New Year, I offer my annual New Year’s Wish List. Unfortunately, it changes very little each year.

Seek solutions to problems, not faults to blame.

I offer this wish as I wish you a truly happy and successful 2007.

Objectivity is imperative in order to find workplace happiness and avoid repeating past mistakes in future opportunities. Face personal facts honestly, avoid transferring blame for past failures and focus on present strengths and future successes.

I wish that when employers use the word “screen” they think “in” rather that “out,” and focus on applicants’ strengths and attributes that may contribute to a company’s growth rather than focusing on negative aspects of a person’s past.

My largest wish each year is for job searchers to take a step out of the electronic box that the Internet has created and come to realize that when posting resumes online and responding to online job openings, the job seeker is willingly competing globally with job seekers, many of whom are not even qualified for the job opening. The electronic “pipes” get clogged and you wonder why you get no response.

Step out of that box and match your credentials to employers’ needs whether they are advertising open jobs or not. Then, identify managers within likely companies who may be able to influence hiring decisions and make direct contact asking for the opportunity to meet in person. Sell yourself in terms of what your research tells you that company needs, and let your contact refer you to HR. There is nothing as powerful as a third-party recommendation!

That’s why networking works so well. You get visible and let people see you, get to know you and learn something about your ethics, honesty, reliability and worth. Then your networking ripples from contact to contact until you are face-to-face with an interested employer.

For 2007, use the Internet for how it can help you best: obtaining information about employers and information about job searching. Use it creatively, then get dressed and get out and get visible. Your next job offer will come with a handshake and a smile, not a left click and a delete!

Happy New Year!