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Managing Interview Stress: Six Quick Tips to Keep You Cool In Conference
Sep 4, 2008

Nobody likes a job interview. It’s stressful – a potentially life-altering event. Yet, the average worker is going to have 5.4 jobs over his or her career so, if you haven’t already had the pleasure, a job interview may well be in your future.

The best interview you’ll ever give is the one that shows off the natural you and “your way.” Precise and creased or kind of out-of-the-box – when the real you comes out, you’re in the middle of an excellent interview.

Unfortunately, many of us approach a job interview with dread, fear and loathing. We take classes, read books (The Five Minute You’re Hired Handbook) and prep like we would for the SATs and, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s part of the process to visit the company website, read up on the industry and prepare yourself with information that shows you know your stuff.

But, if you sit there stiffly and uncomfortably during the interview, and rattle off industry insider jargon for a half hour, you aren’t going to create an accurate impression of you – the confident, relaxed host who can handle a dinner for 20 as easily as he can improve the numbers as the new regional sales manager.

Here are some tips to put your mind at ease and equalize the playing field so you don’t feel as though you’re in the glare of the spotlight.


Wear your favorite clothes.
The suit that fits well and shows off your professional sense of style. The one you like best. Your lucky suit or the one in which you’re most comfortable.

Same with shoes. Go for comfort. The next thing you know, you’re getting a lengthy tour of the facilities while breaking in a new pair of wingtips. Ouch!

If the job isn’t a "suit" job, wear your most comfortable clothes that are appropriate for a job interview. Not blue jeans, a torn Amy Winehouse t-shirt and a Yankee cap on backward. If you look nice – clean, pressed and shined – it shows a potential employer you’re serious about a job.

Be as comfortable as you can in the clothes you choose for an interview. It’s probably not a good time to experiment with a new look.


Start preparations early.
Your interview is at 11:00 AM. Get up at 8:00 and give yourself some slow motion time. You don’t want to be rushed this morning. You want to be relaxed.

Try meditating for 20 minutes. Get in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and block out the world. Let your mind go blank and give yourself a few positive affirmations. There is something to be said for this “power of positive thinking” thing.

Keep your pace slow from wake up to arrival at the interview location. The stress of rushing to get there on time will have you vibrating like a tuning fork, and a good interviewer is looking for signs of stress. A hectic morning is not a good start for a job interview.


Put your materials together.
Bring a copy of your cover letter, resume, recommendations, licenses, certifications, awards and other information that might be useful during an interview.

Place these materials in an organized fashion in an attaché case, even if you have to borrow one from your brother-in-law.


Skip the caffeine.
Or at least cut down. If you’re a five-cup-a-day latte junkie, try cutting back to one on the morning of your interview. Caffeine is a stimulant. It gets you jagged and, remember, you’re presenting the cool, calm and collected you to the interviewer so get comfortable and show them the real, decaf you.


Use the interview as a give and take.
This kind of equalizes the playing field and takes the spotlight off of you. An interview isn’t an interrogation (though it may feel that way at times); it’s an exchange of information.

Prepare a list of questions that you want to ask – questions about job responsibilities, chain of command, daily responsibilities, required skill set and other information you need to know to determine if this is a good fit for you. (You don’t have to take the job just because it’s offered to you, unless things are really bleak when you look at the checkbook.)

Asking appropriate questions shows you’re interested in the company, it gives the interviewer an opportunity to talk and it gives the both of you an opportunity to connect on some level. That’s important – especially if the HR interviewer is doing 20 different interviews that day. You’ll stick out as the one who asked some good questions and told a funny joke.


Follow Through.
The biggest mistake interviewees make is no follow-through. If you spoke to the manager who told you to give her a call in a week, mark it on your calendar and make that call. If the shift supervisor tells you to come back in the morning, be there early.

And if the head of HR invites you to meet her at an industry conference, take her up on the offer. It’s a good sign that you’re in the running.

Send a thank you note ASAP after the interview – while your face and personality are still familiar. It doesn’t have to be long but send it on professional, high quality, watermarked stationery (it really counts). Some HR coaches will tell you to send a hand-written card. It’s one of those “play-it-by-ear” things.

Nope, no one likes to go through a job interview but there are plenty of things you can do to prepare yourself. Preparation builds confidence and assurance that you know your stuff, in turn creating the sense of security that reduces stress. You know this. No sweat.

There are also lots of things you can do to relax so you walk into that interview as a poised professional who’s prepared, calm under pressure and ready to get down to business.

And that’s just the kind of impression you want to make.


Common Resume Questions
Jul 20, 2008

1. I have so many accomplishments. How do I determine which ones to include on the resume?

This is a fair question. Since the resume serves only as a synopsis of your accomplishments, you won’t be able to include everything you’ve ever done. However, it is important that you identify all your achievements and then take great care in determining which ones you will include. Below are a couple of thoughts that you will find useful when making a decision.

* An exercise that hones in on your accomplishments is the PAR formula. PAR stands for problem, action, and result. Using the PAR formula will help you identify achievements you want to include on your resume. Take the time to reflect on your experiences and using the PAR formula, jot down every accomplishment you have for each job you’ve held. For example, are you a sales professional who increased profits? If so, how did you do it, and how much did profits increase? Alternatively, you may be a customer representative who has the ability to diffuse escalating issues with clients. Can you give an example that illustrates this talent, perhaps with a big-name client or an “impossible” problem you solved?

Once you have written down all of your accomplishments, select the ones you are most proud of and prioritize them in order of importance to the position you are seeking.

* Another way to determine which accomplishments should be included on a resume is by examining your performance reviews. Take note of the comments your manager made and the achievements he or she lasered in on. Chances are, if your current manager was impressed by a specific accomplishment, your next employer may also be impressed. So consider including the observations made by your current/previous manager.

You can also include accomplishments in your cover letter as well. So if you find that you have a lot of accomplishments, you can make mention of some of them in the cover letter. However, keep in mind that your resume should contain the accomplishments you are most proud of, while the cover letter should contain supplemental accomplishments that may be of interest to the decision maker.

2. I’m not comfortable writing about myself. How can I overcome that?

Many job seekers feel uncomfortable writing about themselves, so you are not alone. To overcome this uncomfortable situation, keep in mind that the employer is expecting you to toot your own horn. Remember that decision makers don’t know who you are, so it is up to you to provide them with a fair and accurate representation of what you bring to the table.

In addition, the resume isn’t written in the first person, so you will not be using the terms “I” or “me.” Instead, your resume will be full of action verbs such as operated, managed, or streamlined. Because you eliminate the use of personal pronouns, you can pretend you are writing about a friend or a family member. Disassociating yourself from the resume may allow you to be less bashful when writing about yourself.

3. How long should my resume be?

The answer is: it depends. If you are a recent college graduate or have less than three years’ experience, a one-page resume is appropriate. On the other hand, if you are in middle management or have more than three years of experience, a two-page resume may be necessary. And if you are a “C-level” executive, the resume can be much longer.

The reality is that there isn’t a definitive answer to this question. The rule of thumb is this: after reading your resume, do you think to yourself, “Wow! I’d hire me in a minute!?" If the answer is yes, then length is inconsequential.

Here’s a quick tip when writing your resume that may cut back on the length: only go back 10-15 years and don’t mention positions you held back in the 1980s.


Interview Skills That Attract Offers
Mar 9, 2008

An interviewer’s mission is to assess your qualifications compared to the other candidates interviewed. Asking you questions is their way of accomplishing that mission. Preparing meaningful responses in advance is your way of impressing the interviewer.

Be prepared to talk about your skills, competencies, qualifications and accomplishments especially as they pertain to the specific opening. Know how to state likes and dislikes, your strengths, weaknesses and goals succinctly and fluently.

Especially know how to convey the value you bring to the table – the strengths, unique gifts and marketable assets that are distinctly yours. If you want to stand out in the huge ocean of candidates that represents your competition, you must be prepared to state how you differentiate yourself from the crowd.

You must be able to respond appropriately to the question of why you left your previous position, assuming you left voluntarily. No matter how challenging your supervisor was or how grueling the workload, you must frame your response in a positive light.

Make sure you do not discuss salary. Interviewers are aware of average job salaries and want to be sure you are in the ballpark. However, their knowing your salary history or requirements can disqualify you or lock you in to compensation that does not match your worth. If asked, you can simply state that your salary is negotiable.

While your answers will help the interviewer assess your skills for the position at hand, it’s how you respond that more importantly determines your overall fit with the company. Personality is ninety percent of the battle. You may answer a question in a qualifying way, but your attitude could be telling them no.

At the outset, you must establish a rapport with your interviewer and maintain the chemistry between you throughout the meeting. You could be the most qualified candidate for the position, but the person with whom the interviewer feels the most comfortable gets the offer.

Be prepared to ask your own questions - about the position itself, the company and opportunities for your own growth. This allows you to quickly assess the viability of your pursuing the position further. An interviewer may like you, especially because of your questions, and want you to continue through subsequent interview stages; however, you may decide the job is not for you.

Come to the interview dressed appropriately, and on time. Your handshake needs to be firm but not gripping. Eye contact must be maintained throughout the interview. Sit upright in your chair and try not to shift your posture too much. Remember, you’re there to sell yourself; before the interview is over, make sure you ask for the offer. Fully prepared, you will come away a success.