Scott Singer

January 29, 2018

interviewing, resume, career, manners

3 Things You Don't Need To Do When Interviewing For A Job (But Would Probably Help!)

Scott Singer

January 29, 2018

interviewing, resume, career, manners

There are several "must-do" behaviors to follow when interviewing for a job. Dressing appropriately, showing up on time, and being polite come to mind.

And there are many things you don't need to do. Of course, none of the following are a substitute for skills and experience, but these can certainly help put your candidacy over the top.

Smile. Yes, smile! In a full time job, you're spending 2,080 work hours per year with your boss and coworkers. Sure, you need to factor in overtime and deduct vacation days and holidays, but generally speaking, that's how many hours your manager and peers would spend alongside you. Smiling is a simple gesture which conveys friendliness, openness, and positivity, and often translates into likeability and may convince a hiring manager you're a good person to spend time with. Show those pearly whites.
Bring extra copies of your resume. Human resources may have given your interviewers a copy of your resume, maybe not. Bring extra copies just in case - you'll look prepared and ready. Also, this is a good chance for you to present a version of your resume which you've tailored for this specific interview, rather than one which was pulled from the company's applicant tracking system.
Send thank you notes to everyone you meet. This is a dying art; very few interviewees send these anymore. Sending a note (email is fine) will reinforce that the position for which you interviewed is front of mind, demonstrate your orientation toward action, and provide another touch point for you to sell yourself. I've seen well-placed notes push candidates over the top. It's an easy way to make a positive impression. Why waste the opportunity? Some interviewees feel like it's kissing up – it's not. It's both an act of courtesy and an opportunity to sell yourself.

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.

Scott Singer

January 21, 2018

interviews, careers

5 Ways to Combat Hiring Manager Indecision in the Interview Process

Scott Singer

January 21, 2018

interviews, careers

Have you ever noticed that companies are bit slow to make hiring decisions?

It's not unusual for the interview process to take days, weeks, sometimes even months. Or for the process to involve meeting with upwards of 10 interviewers. And to involve reference checks or personality tests or other exams before making a decision.

You're not imagining things, and it's no accident, either. The interview process is taking longer because employers are more afraid of risk.

But first some context. Let's rewind about 8 or 9 years ago, to the height of the recession. There were a glut of job seekers, and fewer jobs to go around. At the time, companies had more of options of candidates from which to choose, so they took advantage of this buyer's market. They became more selective.

It's a great economy right now. If you have talent, it's a seller's market, but you wouldn't know it by the interview process. Here are some reasons why:

Companies became used to being able to cherry pick employees in the bad market. They haven't adjusted their mindset to the reality of the moment, which is that there's more jobs than qualified people to fill them. So they're more inclined to wait for that "perfect fit," even if they don't exist.
Managers are terrified to make a bad hiring decision. They fear that if they hire somebody who doesn't work out, for whatever reason, it's a bad reflection on them. And maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But hiring decisions aren't forever (we're ALL replaceable).
Blame is to be shared. If you're afraid to make a hiring decision, what's the best way to cover yourself? Why not make sure that the whole team has a part in the decision making process? Many managers are delegating their hiring authority to their teams, their peers, their internal and external customers, and other stakeholders so that if the person doesn't work out, everybody can throw up their hands and say, "Well, that candidate fooled all 34 of us who interviewed him!" No single person then takes the blame for making a bad decision. And how freaking hard is it to impress EVERYBODY that you interview with - without consensus, you likely won't get the nod.

So, what can you do to shake things loose when you seem to be stuck in the wheels of the interview process? There is no guaranteed remedy, but here are some ways to kick loose from hiring manager indecision!

Try your best to take control of the process. Be proactive in asking the recruiter and hiring manager what next steps will be, and when you should expect to hear from them again. Ask if they need anything else from you to make their decision.
Demonstrate your interest in the role, right now. Convey excitement. Verbalize this, telling anybody who will listen, "I'm very excited by this opportunity, and would love to joint the team!" You'd be surprised how many job seekers never clearly express interest in the job. People notice.
Send thank you notes. To everyone you've met. It's that little bit of extra effort that shows you care and that you listened to what the interviewers said. I've seen well-placed thank you notes put a job candidate over the top.
Keep the employer apprised. Check in from time to time. If you are expecting an offer from another company and time is of the essence, pick up the phone and call the recruiter, and let them know that their company is your first choice but you anticipate having to make a decision soon.
Be proactive providing references, backup data, and anything else that may help your case. If you show that you are open and have nothing to hide, you may be able to use these little extras to move the process forward.

Scott Singer

January 14, 2018

relocation, job hunting, career

Looking To Relocate? 5 Effective Strategies For Pursuing Work In A Different City

Scott Singer

January 14, 2018

relocation, job hunting, career

Are you looking for a job in another city?

When it comes to hiring, time is of the essence, and employers may prefer to focus on finding local talent so that they don't have to deal with the time and cost associated with interviewing, hiring, and relocating out-of-town candidates.

If you'd like to continue your career in another city, here are 5 strategies you can use to accelerate your search and increase your chances of snagging the job of your dreams.

Localize your resume. One of the very first things an employer does when looking through resumes in their applicant tracking system is filter the results by geography in order to zero in on candidates who already live in the area (in the United States, this is usually done by Zip codes). If you're targeting a move to, say, Chicago, ask a relative who lives there if you can use their address on your resume; alternatively, you can rent a local mailbox from the UPS Store or another mailbox service provider. Also, secure a phone number with your target city's area code by using a free service such as Google Voice, which will route calls to your cell phone.
Localize your LinkedIn. If feasible, change your address in LinkedIn as well. Recruiters comb the system to find talent. This way you'll increase your chances of appearing in their searches.
Schedule a visit. If you have the time to do so, plan a trip to target destination with the goal of securing interviews. If employers have reached out to you and have demonstrated hesitancy to schedule an interview because you're not local, reach out to then and let them know you'll be in town and would love to meet them. Be proactive – identify recruiters and hiring managers at your target companies (LinkedIn is a great tool for this), introduce yourself, and (graciously) request a meeting for during your trip.
If applying internationally, spell out your work authorization status. If you're a Greek citizen applying to a job in Spain, your European Union work authorization enables you to work there without restriction. Spell this out in your resume and cover letter. Consider doing the same if you're following a family member to another country and will be able get work authorization due to their work status and local law.
Tell potential employers you're already planning to move. Have you set a move date? Do you have a place to stay? Make this known, and you'll quickly alleviate concerns about timing and cost.

3 Things You Don't Need To Do When Interviewing For A Job (But Would Probably Help!)

5 Ways to Combat Hiring Manager Indecision in the Interview Process

Looking To Relocate? 5 Effective Strategies For Pursuing Work In A Different City

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