7 Questions Job Seekers Ask That Can Stop A Job Interview Cold

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The job interview is a minefield. You’re being judged intensely, it’s almost like being on trial – interviewers analyze and scrutinize your every answer. They even assess your personality to decide whether they'd enjoy spending eight hours a day in your company.

You know the drill - your interviewers have run out of questions for you. Now, they ask you if you have any questions for them.

Home free, right?

Many interviews go south at this point. Asking careless questions of your interviewers (like any of the seven below) can kill your chances of landing the job, and stop your interview cold.

Question 1: "What is the salary range for this position?"
Why it’s so dangerous: This is the atom bomb of candidate questions, guaranteed to derail just about any interview. It’s considered presumptuous for a candidate to bring up salary, and most interviewers find it distasteful and tactless. True, employers ask candidates for their salary history and expectations – but that’s the way they like it.
Do this instead: Avoid bringing up the topic. It’s radioactive. Salary will come up in due time, then you'll have more leeway to probe the issue.


Question 2: "Will I be required to carry a cell phone?"
Why it’s so dangerous: The question carries a strong negative implication. Some interviewers may infer that you're unwilling to work after standard office hours.
Do this instead: Ask, "What would a typical week in this role look like?" You'll get a sense of the hours involved. If it starts to sound like a 24/7 job, presume the cell phone will be essential.


Question 3: "When does the company conduct its salary reviews?"
Why it’s so dangerous: This conveys that you may already looking ahead to getting a raise you haven’t yet earned, or may be bracing for a distastefully low offer.
Do this instead: Once you receive an actual offer, then it's okay to start asking about questions about the compensation process. At that point you're negotiating, and the topic becomes fair game.


Question 4: "Does this position offer the opportunity to work from home?"
Why it’s so dangerous: Consider this – the interviewer would probably prefer to be working from home right now, but can’t because the job requires her to be in the office. Interviewing you.
Do this instead: Proceed at your own risk. If you will only consider work-at-home positions, by all means ask away. Just realize that if it wasn't indicated in the job advertisement, then it probably isn't an option.


Question 5: "What is the company’s maternity / paternity leave policy?"
Why it’s so dangerous: You may have intended to explore the company's benefits, but inadvertently planted a seed in your interviewer’s mind that you already plan to be absent for a substantial period of time from the job you haven’t even been offered yet. Never mind what the Family Medical Leave Act says – the interviewer will be thinking about the deadlines they’ll miss if they hire you.
Do this instead: Ask Human Resources about maternity and paternity policies after you get an offer. Better yet, see if it's listed in the company's benefits brochure.

Question 6: "What can you tell me about the company?"
Why it’s so dangerous: Did you bother to do any research before coming to this interview? It’s expected that you'll know something about the organization before walking through the door. You'll look lazy and unprepared by asking this.
Do this instead: Ask targeted questions about the culture, the role, and the company strategy.

Question 7: "Are you seeing anybody?"
Why it’s so dangerous: Yes, in my days as a recruiter I’ve had misguided candidates ask interviewers on dates. You won't get the job. You probably won’t get the date, either.
Do this instead: Don't. Just... don't. Regardless of whether you think you had "a moment" in that interview room, put out of your mind the possibility that this is a potential dating opportunity.

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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. 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.

6 Really Easy Ways To Improve Your Job Interview Performance

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Interviews can be daunting. The good news is that in addition to diligently preparing your interview skills, there are simple strategies you can follow to boost your chances of getting the job.

Here are 6 really easy ways to improve your job interview performance! Remember – sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference.

1. Get there early. Showing up late makes a poor impression. It's far better to kill time outside the office beforehand than it is rushing to get to the interview on time. No need to compound the stress of the interview itself.
    
2. Eat before the interview. Many people get cranky on an empty stomach, present company included. Feel full and satisfied by having a snack prior to the interview. Just remember to avoid eating anything with a strong odor which will follow you, such as onions or fish.
    
3. Turn your cell phone off. You'll create an embarrassing situation when your phone rings, beeps, or buzzes during your interview. Be in the moment, and eliminate potential distractions. Your messages will still be there after you're done meeting with the hiring manager.
    
4. Bring several extra copies of your resume. Not only will you have a document in front of you which will jog your memory about highlights from your work history and accomplishments, you'll also have nice, attractive copies available to interviewers who didn't have time to print up their own beforehand.
    
5. Amp up the energy level. This isn't the time to be reserved – show that you're happy to be there! Smile. Be animated. Sit forward in your chair. Low energy can be perceived as a lack of interest
    
6. Ask great questions. Hiring managers love being asked great, well-thought-out questions – these show that you're interested and engaged, and did some interview preparation. Conversely, if you don't ask questions during or at the end of an interview, you'll send the message you either don't care or weren't paying attention. And your questions don't need to be brilliant - try, "What does success in this role look like?" or "What are the biggest challenges the company faces in the next year?" And use your research on the company to lob a couple targeted questions about their business.

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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. 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.

I Was A Lousy Student. Can I Get A Good Job With A Bad GPA?

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Recently finished college with a less than optimal grade point average? Concerned about your job prospects?

Don't panic. While it's true the class valedictorian will have a relatively easy job hunt, even graduates with GPAs on the lower end of the scale can have bright career prospects if they approach the situation strategically. Here are strategies to help you stand out and improve your chances of snagging a desirable career opportunity.

• Embrace the fact that your degree has value. Even a medical school student who graduated at the bottom of his class earned the privilege of being called "Doctor;" the operative word here is "graduated." The university firmly believed you met the standards required for your degree, and that matters to employers.
   
• Detail important life factors. Did you work your way through school as a single parent? Perhaps you funded 100% of your degree by cleaning dishes in the dining hall. Maybe you went back to school after a distinguished career, while managing substantial life responsibilities.  Explaining unique and challenging circumstances to a hiring manager can re-frame your college career in a positive light.
   
• Showcase your applied experience. It's essential to clearly demonstrate your capabilities in both your resume and interviews. For example, if you're looking for a position as a computer programmer, detail how you've developed applications in class projects,  internships, or other initiatives which clearly show your applied mastery of the programming languages. If you still lack experience, work on independent projects independently to develop a portfolio of work.
   
• Slice and dice your GPA to showcase your academic performance and capabilities. Was your grade point average higher in your major than in non-core classes? Perhaps your academic career started off poorly, but improved substantially over time. Or maybe you excelled in a subject relevant to the positions to which you're applying. Here are some examples:
  • GPA: 2.8 (3.7 Last Two Years)
  • MAJOR GPA: 3.6 (2.5 Overall)
  • GPA 2.8 (3.9 in Engineering Classes)
     
• Highlight specialized or challenging coursework. Specific classes you've taken can open doors with hiring managers. If you're applying for a entry-level journalism position with a leading medical journal and you've taken a class on Healthcare Reporting, it should feature prominently on your resume. Likewise, be prepared to speak during the interview to demonstrate a strong understanding of industry-specific issues.
   
• Show off relevant non-academic experience on your resume. The key here is to list activities which might impress an employer. Being elected Student Class President certainly qualifies, as does playing Quarterback on the football team. Maybe you were a business student and chaired the Marketing Club, or competed in the Robotics Club as an engineering major. The possibilities are vast, so long as what you demonstrate career relevance, applied leadership, or some other unique facet of your skills and personality.
   
• Remember – your first job probably won't be your last. No matter how good or bad your first job out of college is, you'll be given the opportunity to build your skill set, establish a work history, and get a few professional wins under your belt. With time, the importance of your GPA will fade, and future employers will place greater (if not total) emphasis on your experience and skills.

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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. 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.