What you don't know CAN hurt you in today's job market - Part II

"Have you 'Googled' yourself lately?"

This article is Part Two in a series of helpful tips regarding job search and interviewing practices. If you have not yet read Part One of this article, please visit our website at www.themcintyregroup.com and proceed to the "Articles" section. After spending over 23 years in the staffing industry, I am pleased to lend my viewpoints and guidance on successful interviewing and career search techniques.

First - have you 'Googled' yourself lately? An internet posting from long ago may not be forgotten and can come back to hurt you in today’s marketplace. Corporations and managers are researching deeper than ever to uncover a candidate's credentials and background. In addition to the traditional measures of checking references; extensive personal searches can now by done through the internet. If you have ever posted personal information on the internet through sites like: myspace.com, blogs, or other various sites, you might want to "google" your own name prior to a job search and see what pops up! The above mentioned sites are available to the general public, and you should be aware that recruiting firms and top corporations have access to this information too. If you have anything posted on the internet that is "less than professional" in nature, make sure to delete it immediately.

Now that your resume is finished, your shoes are shined and your suit is pressed - you are ready to go into that interview and knock them dead - or are you? What research have you done on the company you are visiting, and what questions have you prepared for your interview? If you are interviewing through a professional staffing firm, you should be prepared and instructed by your recruiter prior to your interview. However, if you are interviewing on your own, you will need to do your homework. With the sophisticated methods available today for on-line researching, you should not have a problem finding out about a company. Prior to the interview you should prepare a series of questions that you would like to ask the interviewer. An example of general questions appropriate to ask the interviewer are:

1) Why is the position open?
2) What career path is projected for this position over five years?
3) What skills are considered most important for this position?
4) Who does the person in this position directly report to?
5) Describe the company culture

And of course, make sure to tailor a few questions that will highlight the research you have done on that particular company.

You must also be prepared for a series of potentially tough questions from the interviewer. Here are some good examples of commonly asked interview questions:

1) Tell me about a time when you failed at a task or missed a deadline?
2) What was the most frustrating thing about your last job? And the most satisfying?
3) Tell me about something that you were responsible for that saved your past employer time or money?
4) What is the most important thing to you in a job?
5) Tell me about a time when you had to handle an angry manager, boss, or client?
6) Did you do anything in your past position to receive special recognition?
7) If you were given multiple projects with the same deadline, how would you handle this?
8) What are the greatest motivators in your life?
9) What type of culture do you thrive in?
10) What would your colleagues say about you?

These questions should give you a fairly good idea of what to expect in a typical corporate interview. In general, prepare for your interview by really knowing what you want, where you excel and what your shortcomings are. And, always be ready to answer questions regarding your salary. My advice on this topic would be to offer a salary range with a bottom line number, but do establish room for possible future negotiation. You might say something like: "Ideally, my salary expectations are a minimum of $45,000-$50,000. However, if there is bonus potential and additional perks, there could be some flexibility in my number." Salary negotiations are a daunting step in a job search, and can be easier when handled by a recruiter or second party.

At the end of your interview, follow 3 important steps: 1) Articulate clearly to the interviewer that you are extremely interested in the job and would like to pursue the position 2) Get business cards from the people you have met or write down their names and titles 3) Determine the company’s interest level by asking the interviewer what the next step is in their search process.

Many candidates are hesitant to voice their interest level and don’t want to appear overanxious. However, some companies may assume a candidate’s silence means disinterest. Don’t be afraid to go after what you want. If you are told that there is significant interest by the company and they want to set up a second interview immediately, than obviously you are headed in the right direction. If the company side-steps the issue or puts you off, this is not necessarily a negative response. There may simply be more candidates already scheduled to interview and the interviewer may want to complete the process before promising anything.

Once you leave an interview, you should have a follow-up timeline to ensure either a second interview or closure: 1) Send a short concise thank-you letter to each person you met within 24 hours of the interview. This can make or break the offer – so carefully check grammar, spelling, content, and then give it to a good proofreader for review. 2) Place one follow-up phone call to your main contact one week after you send the thank-you letter. 3) Follow-up with an email one week later, with the understanding that if you do not hear back from your interviewer than you must wait for them to initiate further contact. The good news is that if you are being represented by a staffing firm you can continue to call your recruiter for updates.

Keep in mind that the unexpected happens, timelines vary, and you never know when an offer is around the corner.

Best of luck!!

Leslie McIntyre-Tavella
President