[?] Subscribe To This Site

Job Interview Blog

Job Interview Blog is my mini-journal about the job interview process. It...

lets you know immediately whenever I create new web pages on my site or update content.

keeps you up-to-date on new interviewing techniques or ideas.

lets you know when I send out my free monthly newsletter, Job Brick Wall. If you're tired of just hearing crickets chirping after you send out another resume, subscribe now to pick up on some fresh ideas and renewed hope.

To subscribe to my Job Interview Blog (no e-mail necessary), right-click on the orange RSS button (see bottom buttons to the left) and then paste the URL into your RSS reader.

Or click on Google, My Yahoo!, My MSN, or Bloglines if you keep a personalized home page there.

If you are not sure what RSS and blogging is all about, click on the "?" above the RSS button. Once you start, you will be amazed.

Jul 30, 2010, Getting Hired: Skills or Attitude?

True or False: Employers are far more interested in your skills, accomplishments, and credentials than they are your attitude.

FALSE

your attitude is the 1st thing everyone notices about you.
65% of the reason you get hired is your personality and attitude.
getting results is important, but will you fit into the culture of this organization?
employers want someone who is a self-starter, flexible, gets along with people, is trainable, and easy to manage.

Your strategies:

if you’ve been unjustly terminated from your last job, let go of your righteous anger before contacting employers.
practice answering interview questions in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend who will give you honest feedback.
smile when you’re talking on the phone.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Getting Hired: Skills or Attitude?"

Jul 29, 2010, Top Ten Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself, is always on the list of the top ten interview questions. Would you believe a 30 second answer will have the greatest impact?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Top Ten Interview Questions"

Jul 28, 2010, Can't Find a Local Job?

Set a drop-dead-date in your quest to find a local job. Make this commitment to yourself and your loved ones:

Over the next 60 days, I'm going to pull out all the stops and do everything in my power to find a local job. On the 60th day, if nothing promising is happening, I'm going to expand my search to within a 200 mile radius of our home.

If that doesn't yield any results after 30 days of looking, expand the radius of your search to 500 miles. If still no results after another 30 days, look for a job from sea to shining sea.

Pearl of Wisdom: In each and every job interview, you have the power to say yes or no to a job offer. But, if you don't get an offer, you have no options. Trust your instincts and feelings. What have you got to lose by interviewing with a company 500 miles from your home? What is your plan if you simply can't find a local job after months of looking? Maybe your dream job is patiently waiting for you somewhere over the rainbow.

Jul 27, 2010, When to Bring Up Salary in a Job Interview?

Timing is everything when it comes to salary negotiations during a job interview. But, what do you say when the company brings up the subject of your salary expectations at the beginning of your job interview?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "When to Bring Up Salary in a Job Interview?"

Jul 26, 2010, Job Interview Etiquette

Job interview etiquette is similar to having good table manners. These small subtleties add a touch of class to the whole affair and make you look good.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Job Interview Etiquette"

Jul 22, 2010, Telephone Follow Up on Resume

True or False: You send your resume to a company in response to their want ad. If you follow up with a phone call to the hiring manager you risk upsetting them and not being considered for the job.

FALSE

it shows you have initiative and drive—qualities most good companies admire and want in an employee.
makes you stand out from the crowd. Most candidates won't call.
Always call the hiring manager as Human Resources may have unjustly screened you out.

True Story: When I was a hiring authority, I was prepared to make an offer to someone. A better qualified candidate called me at the last minute. I found their resume, interviewed them, and hired them. It never hurts to follow up on your resume, but don't become a stalker candidate and repeatedly call. Call once and let the chips fall where they may.

Jul 20, 2010, Bring Examples of Your Work

True or False: Hiring Managers like it when job seekers bring examples of their work to the job interview.

TRUE

it is proof you can do the job.
it makes you stand out from other candidates.
managers like measurable results vs. talk

Your strategy: If you’re a Programmer, bring in a program outline of a successful project you completed. If you’re an Engineer, share some sketches, graphs, or visuals of a recent project that magnifies your skills and accomplishments. If your job doesn’t lend itself well to visuals, bring in a copy of a written performance evaluation, or a written testimonial from one of your customers or bosses.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Bring Examples of Your Work"

Jul 19, 2010, Considered Temp Work?

True or False: Most employers prefer to either promote someone from within, hire a part-time employee, or hire a temp worker.

TRUE

low-risk risk strategy for employers
employer’s thoughts, I want to hire someone I trust and whose work I've seen.
during a recession, employers minimize their risks and costs if they hire a Temp...plus they can try before they buy.
much less age discrimination for Temp workers and it gets your foot in the door.

Your strategy: see if you can get hired as a temp, contract worker, consultant, or part time employee. Most large corporations hire Temps through a Temp Agency or Contract House. Many Temps are converted to Perm in less than 6 months.

Jul 17, 2010, Avoid Resume Rejection

True or False: Most employers use your resume to screen you out.

TRUE

no time—employers spend 16-20 hours a week reading resumes. This is a lot of work, so they want to eliminate as many people as possible. They skim over resumes and reject most applicants. The few resumes that survive their scan are read thoroughly.
fewer than 5% of new hires come from unsolicited resumes.
often a lower level HR staff person is the resume screener. If your resume lacks the right buzz words or job match, your resume ends up on the reject pile.

Your Strategy:

make sure you have a short, concise, well written resume.
make sure your resume has a good Look and Feel and is in a Word or PDF format.
do not shotgun your resume out to tons of companies.
avoid sending your resume to Human Resources.
you are much better off making initial contact with a hiring authority in person or on the phone before you give them your resume.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Avoid Resume Rejection"

Jul 15, 2010, Hope for Unemployed

True or False: In today’s economy, it’s a buyer’s market and employers have plenty of good candidates to choose from.

FALSE

Employers want people who excel at what they do and are in the top 25% of the workforce. These folks are hard to find and companies don’t want to settle for just an average worker.
Most of the resumes companies get are from folks who project below average skills, a laid back attitude, or no upward mobility.
A Player Candidates are always in demand...especially in engineering or high tech.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Hope for Unemployed"

Jul 14, 2010, Job Searches Using the Phone

True or False: Calling employers on the phone, whether or not they have an opening, is a waste of time and annoying to employers.

FALSE

hiring managers are often thinking about creating a position long before they do anything about it
employers dread the thought of having to go through a long search process when the person they need just called in

Tip: Always call the Department Manager or the person who would be your boss. Avoid calling Human Resources.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Job Searches Using the Phone"

Jul 13, 2010, Posting your Resume on the Web

True or False: Posting your resume to a major job board is one of the best ways to get noticed by employers.

FALSE

employers prefer you come to them through a trusted employee or an on-line ad
they have enough resumes to read without having to dig through millions more
you run the risk of your current employer finding your resume on-line and giving you the boot
if you are overexposed your value to a prospective employer or Executive Recruiter declines

Jul 12, 2010, Employer Interview Questions

Share with me an idea or improvement you implemented that made a difference. Even a simple idea will satisfy employer interview questions like this.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Employer Interview Questions"

Jul 9, 2010, Free Interview Questions

Describe the toughest challenge you ever faced and how you worked through it. This is one of my favorite free interview questions.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Free Interview Questions"

Jul 8, 2010, Funny Interview Questions

Tell me about a time when you had to stick by a decision you made even though it made you very unpopular. This is one of those funny interview questions that challenges your resolve to stand firm .

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Funny Interview Questions"

Jul 8, 2010, Sample Job Interview Questions

Discuss a situation during the past year in which you had to deal with an upset customer or coworker. One of the sample job interview questions centered around a specific situation.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Sample Job Interview Questions"

Jul 4, 2010, America is still the land of opportunity

Happy birthday America!

Despite the headwinds of this stubborn recession, America is still the land of opportunity. No other country has people literally beating down their doors to get in.

I know the news media has been pretty negative lately about the employment landscape...and you might be at the end of your rope. But, you need to ignore these sweeping megatrends and stay focused on your individual job search.

Fact: There are always jobs out there. People die, quit, retire, get fired, relocate, and get promoted. Not all companies are struggling in this economy. It's true...unemployment is 9.5%...but, that means 90.5% have jobs. Your job is out there patiently waiting for you. You just have to find it by putting yourself at the right place at the right time. Stay in the game. Do something daily to keep yourself exposed to job opportunities.

I'm optimistic. The best days for America and for you are still ahead.

Jul 2, 2010, Interview Tips and Questions

Describe the most difficult boss you ever worked for and how you dealt with them. Among my interview tips and questions are tough situations you won't relish answering.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Interview Tips and Questions"

Jul 1, 2010, Midlife Career Change

Are you being forced to make a midlife career change because you are out of a job, but too young to retire? Maybe you are already retired, but now need a full time job.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Midlife Career Change"

Jun 29, 2010, Checklist for Long Term Unemployed

I just emailed to subscribers my free monthly newsletter. This month, I share with you the best job search strategies for people unemployed for 6 months...or longer.

This unemployed help advice is especially useful for older job seekers late in their careers.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Checklist for Long Term Unemployed"

Jun 25, 2010, HR Interview Questions

What would you do if the priorities on a major project you were working on were suddenly changed? Find out why HR interview questions like this can be a double edge sword.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "HR Interview Questions"

Jun 24, 2010, Interview Questions Answers

Tell me about a time when your work was criticized. Here are 2 approaches to tough interview questions answers of this nature--both positive.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Interview Questions Answers"

Jun 23, 2010, Sample Interview Questions and Answers

Tell me about a time you went above and beyond the call of duty to get something done or resolve a problem. See why this is always included among my sample interview questions and answers.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Sample Interview Questions and Answers"

Jun 22, 2010, Answers to Interview Questions

Give me an example of an important goal you set and describe your progress in reaching that goal. Answers to interview questions like this provide keen insights into your character and motivations.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Answers to Interview Questions"

Jun 15, 2010, Site Map

This site map lists every page on my website, Job Interview Wisdom, and will help you find the information you are looking for quickly and easily.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Site Map"

Jun 14, 2010, Great Interview Questions

Why did you choose your major in college? Don't let great interview questions like this leave you speechless if you have an unusual degree unrelated to your job target.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Great Interview Questions"

Jun 13, 2010, Top 10 Phone Interview Questions

You risk being quickly screened out if you don't know these 10 common phone interview questions.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Top 10 Phone Interview Questions"

Jun 10, 2010, List of Interview Questions

Dishonesty in the workplace is a problem today. Companies often include this topic on their list of interview questions. Don't be caught off guard.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "List of Interview Questions"

Jun 9, 2010, Everyone Has a Gift to Give You

Pearl of Wisdom: Everyone has a gift to give you. It may be one tiny piece of information that leads you to someone who knows about a job opening. Often times opportunities are laid right at our feet, but our limited understanding of things prevent us from truly listening and taking action. Don't make that mistake. Getting a job offer is nothing more than putting yourself in the right place at the right time, with your best game face on. That involves connecting with as many as people as possible on a regular basis.~Michael Petras

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Everyone Has a Gift to Give You"

Jun 7, 2010, Common Job Interview Questions

Will you relocate? The job posting said, no relocation required...so why is this often on the list of common job interview questions?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Common Job Interview Questions"

Jun 6, 2010, Tell Me About Yourself

Believe it or not, 60% of the decision to make you a job offer will be based on whether or not the interviewer likes you.

Fact: Managers hire people they like.

Studies have also concluded that the decision to hire you, or not, is made in the first 5-10 minutes of the interview. How can that be possible? In that short period of time, you just hung up your coat and barely took your first sip of coffee. Sheesh...give me a chance!

So, your answer to this one question is pivotal in winning their approval, and ultimately receiving an offer.

Would you also believe that your answer to this famous interview question must be no longer 30-60 seconds?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Tell Me About Yourself"

Jun 5, 2010, Behavioral Interview Questions

Face behavioral interview questions without fear. Avoid common pitfalls and blunders. Once you know the pattern of these questions, you'll be able to respond appropriately with poise and confidence.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Behavioral Interview Questions"

Jun 4, 2010, Group Interview

Sometimes called a panel interview, a group interview is more stressful and challenging than a one-on-one job interview.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Group Interview"

Jun 2, 2010, Preparing for a Job Interview

Avoid fatal mistakes and time wasters in preparing for a job interview.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Preparing for a Job Interview"

Jun 1, 2010, Job Interview Weakness

We all have shortcomings. Your job interview weakness could be the way you lost your last job, your age, a long period of unemployment, health issues, no college degree, anxiety, or other issues.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Job Interview Weakness"

May 31, 2010, Job Interview Techniques

Confidently navigate through a face-to-face interview or first level informational interview with these 7 job interview techniques.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Job Interview Techniques"

May 30, 2010, Entertaining Job Interview Stories

Preparing for a job interview is more fun if you hear a few good job interview stories that either drive home a point, or makes you laugh.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Entertaining Job Interview Stories"

May 28, 2010, Good Interview Questions

Get the answers you need to good interview questions like: What are your strengths? Provided are 109 positive character traits to prepare your answer.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Good Interview Questions"

May 27, 2010, Answering Interview Questions

Can you admit to a mistake? Do you learn from your mistakes? Answering interview questions that focus on your past mistakes can either make you or break you in a job interview.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Answering Interview Questions"

May 26, 2010, Why don't they call me?

The number ONE complaint I hear from job seekers is: no feedback from a company after a job interview. Nothing. Just dead silence...

How rude and inconsiderate!

I came up with a good way to get hiring authorities to call you back without shooting yourself in the foot.

I call it my 3 Strikes and You're Out procedure. It works.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Why don't they call me?"

May 25, 2010, Unemployed? Go on a News Fast

Pearl of Wisdom: When we are falling short of our expectations and feeling down about ourselves, watching the news actually gives us a sugar high. We feel better about ourselves when someone else is worse off than we are, or suffering more. If the economy is screwed up, or unemployment is getting worse, we then conclude that it is not our fault because, "no one is hiring." Pretty soon we get lulled to sleep with this kind of thinking...and take less action because...what's the use in trying?! This is a trap. You want to stay away from extremes in your thinking. Put yourself in a positive environment and you will attract positive energy and feelings. The momentum will start to build in your favor.~Michael Petras

May 24, 2010, character reference letter

A well written character reference letter can make a difference in you getting a job interview or a job offer.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "character reference letter"

May 23, 2010, Outline of a Resume

Most resumes share too much information and are poorly formatted. The best outline of a resume should not only have a professional look and feel, but generate high interest from hiring authorities.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Outline of a Resume"

May 22, 2010, Interview Thank You Notes

The best interview thank you notes are short, concise and only take a few minutes to write.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Interview Thank You Notes"

May 21, 2010, 14 Key Job Interview Tips

Simply put--these 14 free job interview tips are critical in preparing for a job interview.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "14 Key Job Interview Tips"

May 20, 2010, Cover Letters for Resume Impact

Under special circumstances, cover letters for resume clarity are important. Even so, a cover letter, sometimes referred to as, a resume cover page, is optional.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cover Letters for Resume Impact"

May 18, 2010, Situational Interview Questions

The real secret to answering situational interview questions is knowing how to respond in 60 seconds using a 3 step process.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Situational Interview Questions"

May 17, 2010, 6 Resume Tips to Smooth Over Thorny Problems

I just emailed my free monthly newsletter, Job Brick Wall, to all subscribers. This month I share with you 6 resume tips to reduce your risk of getting screened out. These tips will especially help the unemployed to win more job interviews...and offers.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "6 Resume Tips to Smooth Over Thorny Problems"

May 15, 2010, Top 10 interview questions

The real secret to acing any job interview is making sure you know the top 10 interview questions of all time. It's a rarity if only 3-4 of these questions are asked.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Top 10 interview questions"

footer for job interview page