Why going to the day spa may be a fantastic career investment

Posted January 19th, 2011 in blog_news, For Job Seekers

Because 99% of the time, your appearance is saying more about you than you realize

Whether you think wearing flip-flops to interviews is fine, or whether you’re still a believer in a more formal  approach, we all know that clothes are an important part of making a good impression in the interview.  But a great ‘interview suit’ is just the beginning.

Experienced recruiters and hiring managers are sort of like that guy on The Mentalist:  They become so adept at picking up non-verbal cues  during interviews that they seem almost psychic in their ability to accurately assess a person’s personality, working style, life-stage, and what motivates them work-wise – often within the first few minutes of the interview.  (In fact, the best recruiters are so good at it that it happens automatically and unconsciously.)

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Job interviews: Sometimes you gotta fake it til you make it

Posted December 7th, 2010 in For Job Seekers

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:   Job hunting is stressful and ego-bruising, and it’s even more difficult when you’ve been unemployed for a few weeks and are starting to really worry about your finances.  And it’s especially difficult at this time of year, for a whole lot of reasons.

So when you finally get a chance to speak with a recruiter or potential employer in real time – either on the phone or in person – and you’re talking about your career, it can be tempting to vent your frustrations, worries and resentment:  ”I’ve been sending out resumes for weeks now and no one ever gets back to me and I keep leaving voicemails but I never hear anything and I see other people getting jobs but no one wants me…”

Would you want to spend 40 hours a week with Debbie Downer?
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Wait a sec – what did that interview question REALLY mean?

Posted November 17th, 2010 in blog_news, For Job Seekers

You know what they say:  Being good at taking tests is a good indicator of how good you are at taking tests, not necessarily how well you’ll do in later life.

In many ways, the same is true about interviewing skills:  Doing well (or poorly) in interviews is not always a good predictor of how well you’ll perform in a particular job in the long term.

interview skills

Reading this list of Top 25 OddBall Interview Questions reminded me that the best interviews aren’t so much Q&A sessions as they are conversations. They’re like a first date.

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9 Essential Interview Tips

Posted July 13th, 2010 in blog_news, For Job Seekers

When it comes to interviews, a little thoughtful preparation can go a long way.

Here are our 9 essential interview tips:

1.  Dress appropriately

Different interviews call for different outfits:  If you’re going to an interview at a Big 5 consulting firm, you should wear a suit; if you’re going to an interview for a managerial position at a chain restaurant, khakis and a shirt are fine (and a fancy suit might be way too much).

There’s nothing wrong with asking about appropriate attire, either – a simple “What is your office environment like – formal or business casual?” either in an email or on the phone when you’re arranging your interview can save a lot of embarrassment later.

(And remember:  99% of the time, it’s better to arrive over-dressed than under-dressed, so if you’re not sure, go for a more formal look.  No one will mark you down for trying extra hard.)

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