Job Interview Horror Stores - July 21, 2015

Sometimes, interviews just go off the rails. Please enjoy today's edition of Job Interview Horror Stories!  Thank you to everybody who submitted their story.

Names and details have been omitted to protect the innocent.

•  "My favorite story is of a [job] candidate who accepted an offer, never showed up, and then a week later asked to be reconsidered. Of course he didn't get the job, and he wrote a b.s Glassdoor review which I was able to remove by showing them what he did." - Recruitment manager, manufacturing company.
• "I had one [job candidate] come in on Monday morning to interview for a software developer position.  What I noticed on her face and hair was a lot of white “specs”.  I asked her what she did over the weekend.  She responded by telling me she painted her apartment this weekend, but neglected to wash the paint off her face and hair! – (she still got the job)." - Recruitment manager, consulting/finance firm.
• "I had fired [a job candidate] from one company being presented to me by a recruiter for a position in another company.  The recruiter wasn’t aware that the candidate had ever worked for our firm - it wasn’t on his resume." - Senior executive, insurance industry.

Please feel free to share your interview horror stories for future inclusion in this column!

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. He is a Human Resources professional and staffing expert with almost two decades of in-house corporate HR and staffing firm experience, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).

Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Three Weekly Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Job Hunting Tips – July 20, 2015

Lemon Squeezy

Here are three simple job hunting tips for you to begin your week!

1. Remember to dress up for your interview, even if you've heard the company is a "casual" environment. It's easy to take off a necktie or jacket if an interviewer tells you to dress down. But there's no smooth way to change into a business suit after your interview has started. NOTE: Some companies will actually tell you how to dress for their interview, in case it's different than anticipated (jeans, etc.). Follow their directions if provided. When in doubt - ask!
2. Bring your own pen to an interview, in case you need to fill out a job application or complete some other paperwork. It shows you're prepared, and the company may not have one for you (yes, it's unlikely, but you never know...).
3. Also when going to an interview, have handy the exact dates of your previous employment for the past 7 years, or your previous five employers. If you enter incorrect dates into an application, guessing as to incorrect dates could be interpreted as dishonesty, and knock you out of the running.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. He is a Human Resources professional and staffing expert with almost two decades of in-house corporate HR and staffing firm experience, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).

Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Job Hunting Zen Thought of the Week – July 17, 2015

Here is your Job Hunting Zen Thought of the Week!

You applied to that really cool-looking job online.

They received over 400 applicants for the position.

The company called you for an interview. You went in and met with the team.

You may or may not get the job, but you comprised 0.25% of the candidate pool, and you got the chance to sell yourself in person.

One in 400 certainly beats the odds. And if you've made it this far, you certainly have a chance to nail the job!

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. He is a Human Resources professional and staffing expert with almost two decades of in-house corporate HR and staffing firm experience, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).

Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.