Career Information Online

It’s very frustrating when you have been on an interview and think you’ve aced it to find out you didn’t get the job.  You had great conversations with the people you interviewed with, you like the company and you thought you did really well.  You might just have had the skills and background that would be a match for the company but there wasn’t any chemistry.  Everyone has the same chemistry on paper.  Once the hiring manager has determined that your background is the type of background they want to see, many times the reason someone doesn’t get a job is because there was no chemistry between the interviewer and the interviewee.

However, there are other reasons why you might not have gotten the job.  These include:

• Making a poor personal appearance.  While you might not think it is important, many companies and hiring managers place a lot of emphasis on a professional appearance. 
• Having a bad attitude.  Arrogance or cockiness towards the interviewer can be a real turn off.
• Not being prepared for the interview.  A lack of research on the company or a lack of questions regarding the position and the company fall under this category and can be a reason for rejection by a hiring manager.
• Not having the skills listed on your resume.  Don’t exaggerate your skill level on a resume – it can usually be verified during an interview.

Preparation for an interview is key to help you get the position.  Pay attention to these areas where a job can be lost during a face to face meeting.  Being prepared isn’t a guarantee that you will get the job but it will certainly give you a leg up on your competion.

When a company contacts you to schedule a telephone interview be sure to ask the following questions:

• What kind of conversation will this be – a general screen or a technical screen?
• Who will be involved in this conversation?  What is his/her title and role in the company?
• How long do you expect this conversation to last?
• Who will be initiating the call?  Verify the telephone number to be used.

Remember that in a telephone interview it will be only your voice that can communicate who you are.  You can’t rely on body language or facial expressions to express yourself.  Try to speak in a manner that is relaxed, confident and enthusiastic.  Your goal for this conversation is to generate enough interest in the party on the other end of the phone to invite you to the company to meet with them in person.

Some items you might want to have with you during this conversation include:

• A copy of the resume you sent to the company.
• A note pad and pen.
• General questions you want to ask about the company and the position.
• Information about the company (and if possible, be at a computer with their web site on the screen).
• A calendar with your availability for a face-to-face meeting for the next few weeks.

Have a statement about yourself prepared to answer the question “tell me a little about yourself”.  Keep it brief and have it coincide with your education and work history.

You might think some of the suggestions we are about to make sound silly, but you would be surprised how many people mess up on their telephone screen because they have forgotten to pay attention to the basics.  The only tools you have available to sell yourself in the telephone interview are your voice and the words you use.  Here are a few suggestions to help you have a good phone “personality” that conveys confidence and enthusiasm:

• Talk directly into the mouthpiece.
• If possible, stand up during the conversation and move around to help keep your energy high.  Don’t have this conversation while in a hunched over, slouched or laying down position.
• Mirror the speech patterns of the person conducting the interview.  If he/she is speaking slowly then slow down, if he/she is speaking quickly then pick up your pace a bit.  By matching their cadence the conversation will flow more smoothly.
• Be conversational.  This isn’t an inquisition, it’s a conversation.
• Be upbeat and positive.
• Listen carefully – don’t lose your mental focus.
• No matter what is asked or stated during the conversation, always answer in a professional manner.  Never become argumentative or defensive.

What the representative of the company needs to bring away from this conversation is that you can get the job done.  Your goal is to share enough information about you and your background to get him/her to want to bring you into their office for an interview.

End the conversation on a positive note.  Tell the person that you enjoyed your conversation.  Ask him/her what the next step in the process will be and when you can expect to hear from them again.  And finally, if you are interested in the position and moving forward in the process communicate this to the company representative.  Make sure to emphasize this is the type of opportunity you are looking for. 

Think back to the last time you were looking for a new job and had to update your resume.  You might have had some difficulty in remembering everything you did in a previous job, and everything you’ve done in your current position.  My suggestion is this – always have a current updated resume on file.  If you complete a major project or get a promotion, add it to your resume right away.  If your duties and responsibilities change make sure to adjust your resume to reflect your new skill set.  Did you take a course that is relevant to your career, or become certified in something related to your job?  Add it to the education or certification sections of your resume.  When the time comes for you to search for a new job you won’t have to struggle to remember everything you’ve done over the past few years to add to your resume.  And here’s something else to think about.  You never know when a headhunter might call you up with the opportunity of a lifetime.  Do you want it to pass you by because you had to spend days updating your resume?  What if you run into an old acquaintance from college that tells you his/her company wants to hire someone with your exact skill set?  Do you want to miss out because you don’t have an updated resume to email to your acquaintance the next day?

Having an updated resume does not mean you’re actively on the job market, or that you are dissatisfied with your current job.  It’s just a smart move on your part to be ready to act when that opportunity you can’t pass up comes your way.

More and more companies are requiring their candidates for employment go through a pre-employment background check.  Many times the company will wait until you have completed a first interview before beginning the process.  Background checks can range from basic to very complex and complete, depending upon the position.

Just what is included in a background check?  Any or all of the following can be included
when performing a pre-employment background check or screen:

• Verification of previous employment
• Reference interviews
• Education verification
• Verification of professional licenses and certifications
• Motor vehicle report (driving record)
• Social Security number trace
• Military service verification
• Drug/alcohol testing
• Credit history check
• Criminal history check (local, state, national and federal)
• Civil history check
• Child abuse clearances
• Sex offender registry search
• Workers’ compensation history

These are just a few examples of the types of screens that can be performed in a pre-employment background check.  Depending on the nature of the position there might be even more screens that you will have to undergo before receiving an offer of employment.

Consent is needed for pre-employment background screens so your potential new employer will have you sign a form giving your consent.  Read the form very carefully to see what tests you have consented to undergo.

There are some things you can do prior to undergoing a pre-employment background screen.  You can request your own credit reports from the major credit reporting agencies to see if there is any derogatory information listed.  Only use personal and professional references you know will report positive information about you and your abilities.  Don’t lie on any application forms or on your resume. 

Pre-employment background screens or checks are becoming more common in this post 9/11 world.  Don’t be surprised if the next time you apply for a job you are told you will need to undergo a background screening process prior to being hired.

In every interview, no matter what position is up for grabs, the interviewer is going to ask “do you have any questions”.  Your answer must be Yes.  Saying “no” can really be detrimental to your chances of getting that position.

Why is it important to ask questions?  Asking questions shows you are interested in the company and position, and that you are interested in what the interviewer has to say.  It shows that you have done some research and thinking about the position and want to learn more.  It also shows that you have paid attention to what the interviewer has said during the interview, since a good listener will pick up on what an interviewer has said and ask questions about that information.

What might an interviewer think if you don’t ask any questions?  First, it shows a lack of preparation on your part.  He/she might be thinking “you couldn’t come up with even one question”?  Second, it might show you don’t know enough about your chosen career to ask intelligent questions.  The interviewer might be thinking you weren’t paying attention to what was said during the interview, because often a statement made will generate a question.

A suggestion I like to make is to have a list of questions mentally prepared before going into the interview, perhaps 10 to 15 questions.  Many of them might be answered during the interview, so have some prepared you can ask the interviewer.  Here’s one question you might consider using – if I were to get this job, what would be my primary goals and objectives for the first 90 days?

You know you’ll be asked if you have any questions – be prepared for this to show the interviewer your interest in the position and their company.

Whatever telephone number you use as your contact number on your resume must have a professional voicemail message. I know that many people like to have their funny or cute voicemail messages and that’s fine, but not when you’re looking for a new job.

Change your voicemail message to one that sounds confident and professional. Use your full name in your message if you record a personal message, or use the system generated one that is available with many cell phone providers. Here is an example of a personally recorded voice mail message you might use:

“You have reached the voice mail of John Doe. I am unable to take your call right now. Please leave your name, telephone number and a detailed message and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you for calling.”

If you check your cell phone voice mail regularly throughout the day you can state that in your message as well. Plus, using your cell phone as your primary contact number means employers will have an easier chance of reaching you and speaking to you directly during the business day.

As soon as you get your new job you can change back your voice mail message to something more casual. You don’t want a potential employer to not leave a message or have an interview with you because you failed to change your voice mail message.

Punctuality is definitely a virtue when it comes to an employee. When you go for an interview, take that one step further and be sure to arrive early for your interview. You want to be sure you have enough time to fill out an application or any paperwork that might be required of you. However, you don’t want to arrive too early. HR departments and managers have scheduled your interview for a specific time for a reason. They are planning on meeting with you at that time and spending an appropriate amount of time with you to get to know you and your background. They aren’t expecting you to arrive super early. If that is the case, you’ll just be sitting in a reception area until they are ready to meet with you. As an interviewer it is frustrating to have someone show up too early for an interview. This has happened to me in the past and I speak from experience. I’d usually be in the middle of something else thinking I had until a certain time to work on a project, or I might already be in the midst of an interview when the candidate arrived. It messes up your plans and for some managers this might be very annoying to them. You don’t want to start out on the wrong foot before you even start the interview.

A good rule of thumb - arrive about 15 minutes early. If you do happen to get to the building much earlier than that, sit in your car or find a lobby or coffee shop where you can spend the time until you go for your interview. Fifteen minutes gives you enough time to catch your breath, fill out any applications, and compose yourself in preparation for your interview. It shows your potential employer that you care enough about this interview to arrive early.