Interview Series: Part Five - Follow-Up

As you probably know, once you've had a job interview the endless waiting begins.  You will wonder how you did, how you compared to the other candidates, and when will you find out when the decision is made.

After your interview, always make sure to get the contact information for the people you've interviewed with.  That will give you the opportunity to follow up once the interview is done.

The first step to following up is thanking the person for the interview.  You can send them an email stating how much you enjoyed meeting them and that you're looking forward to knowing their decision.  It's also a great idea to send a thank you card in the mail.  This is a nice personal touch that may help the interviewer make a decision in your favor, especially if they're having a hard time deciding between you and another candidate.  Whatever method you decide to use, make sure to take action within 24 hours of the interview, especially if you're sending something through the mail.  This may seem like an old-fashioned technique but it will always make you stand out from the other candidates.

The second step to following up is finding out whether a decision has been made.  Don't bombard the interviewer will emails right away.  You will come off as desperate and/or annoying and that won't win you any favors.  Try waiting at least a week or two from your interview to send a quick email reminding them of how much you enjoyed meeting them and how you're curious if a decision has been reached. 

Never call the interviewer unless specifically asked to.  You never know how busy their schedule is and if you're calling them you might be viewed as pushy.  Always try to follow up with an email unless you are told it's okay to call them.

By sending the interviewer a thank you note or follow up email, you'll remind them of who you are and your meeting with them.  In a sea of candidates, this can bring you to the interviewer's attention and may help you get hired.

How soon do you usually follow up with an interview?  What sort of responses have you received by sending them a thank you note/email?  Please share with us in your comments below.

Interview Series: Part Four - Interview Questions for You to Ask

During a job interview, you will be discussing your experience and how you qualify for the job you’re applying for. At some point, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. This isn’t the time to be shy or reserved. In fact, if you don’t ask questions, it may appear that you’re not interested in the position.

Here are some job interview questions you may want to ask:

1. What qualities are you seeking in the person you hire?
2. What is the most challenging aspect of the position?
3. Describe what a typical day is like for this position.
4. Do my qualifications match what you are looking for?
5. Where do you see this position in a year? Five years?
6. Is there opportunity for growth?
7. Is this a newly created position or would I be replacing someone?
8. What goals do you have for the person you hire?
9. What is your top priority for the person you hire?
10. How soon are you looking to fill this position?
11. What are the next steps in the interview process?

While you probably won't have the opportunity to ask all of these questions, pick a few that will generate answers that are important to you and what you're looking for in a job.  You may find that some of the answers to these questions may be discovered during the initial part of the interview but you'll still want to pick at least two or three to have ready to ask so that you can show your interest in getting hired.

What types of questions do you ask in a job interview?  How have they helped you get a job?  Please share with us in the comments below.

Interview Series: Part Three - Interview Questions You May Be Asked

One of the most nerve-wracking things about going on a job interview is not knowing what to expect.  You don't really know the people who you'll be interviewing with and if your personality will match with theirs. 

The one thing you can prepare for is the questions that they may ask while you are there.  While there's no way to predict exactly what questions you'll be asked, there are some standard questions that come up in most interviews.  

We've listed a few of them here:

1. Why are you looking for a job?
2. Why are you leaving your current job?
3. Why are you interested in our company?
4. Describe your ideal position?
5. Where you do see yourself in five years?
6. What are your strengths?
7. What are your weaknesses?
8. Describe your greatest accomplishment.
9. What do you like best about your current/last position?
10. How do you handle stress?
11. How do you handle a problem or difficult situation?
12. Describe how you would handle a difficult co-worker/employee.
13. Describe how you stay organized.


Again, you may not be asked all of these questions, but having a good idea of how you might answer them will give you an edge over your competition.  Answering job interview questions correctly can be one of the keys to a successful job interview and to getting the job you deserve.

What kinds of questions have you been asked on a job interview?  Please share with us in the comments below.

Interview Series: Part Two - 6 Phone Interview Tips

Sometimes employers will screen job candidates by doing a phone interview first. It can be a short conversation to set up an in-person interview or a longer discussion about your qualifications.

Here are six phone interview tips to help you be prepared:

1. Always act professionally. You may be just having a phone conversation but the other person on the phone could be your next boss. Think of how you would normally talk to someone in that position. Would you use profanity or slang while talking to them? Probably not.

2. Keep out background noise.  More than likely, you will know ahead of time when the call will take place.  Always find a quiet place to talk.  Even if you have to lock yourself in the bathroom or your car, make sure your potential employer doesn't hear noise that could distract from the conversation.  If you will be home during the interview, have a friend or family member watch the kids for an hour.  Keep pets and any other distraction away from where you'll be talking.

3. Have your resume in front of you.  You may be asked about your former jobs or qualifications.  Be prepared to answer questions about what you've done in the past and what you're looking to do in the future.  It can be easy to forget details and accomplishments so having that information close by will help to keep you on track.

4. Confirm who is calling who and when. Make sure you know if they are calling you or if you are calling them and at what time. You don’t want to be waiting for the phone to ring when they’re expecting you to call them. In addition, make sure the time is confirmed, especially if there is a time zone difference. You may be applying for a job 5 miles away but if you’re talking to their corporate office in another state, you will want to confirm the time of the call.

5. Have a notepad handy. You’ll want to take notes about what is discussed in the interview. The interviewer may reveal important details about the position or provide information on the next steps in the interview process. You may also want to take notes to distinguish key points in the interview that may come up in a second interview or if a question arises at a later date.

6. Get the interviewer’s contact information. Once the interview is over, you’ll want to thank them. You can send them a nice email or letter to thank them for the opportunity to discuss your qualifications. This will show them you are a professional and you are interested in the position.

Tomorrow we will discuss some questions or subjects that may be asked in your interview.

Feel free to let us know about any other phone interview tips that you've found to be helpful.  We welcome your comments below.

Interview Series: Part One - 6 Job Interview Tips

When a potential employer contacts you to set up a job interview, you’ve made a huge step in the right direction. This means that your job application, resume, and cover letter were good enough for them to want a face-to-face meeting with you.

Keep in mind that a job interview isn’t much different than meeting someone for a first date.  Both parties are looking for a successful long-term relationship that provides benefits for everyone involved.

Remember that you are there to show how you can help the company achieve its goals and show your strengths.  Before the actual interview, remember two important things: do research on the company you'll be interviewing with so you have an idea of what they do and bring copies of your resume.

The six job interview tips listed below will help you prepare for a successful meeting.

1. Look professional. Unless you are sure that the company you are interviewing with doesn’t want you to dress professionally, make sure that you do. If you aren’t sure, err on the side of caution and dress in business attire. You’ll want to look your best from your clothes, shoes, hair, and even fresh breath.

2. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Your future employer may want you to fill out a job application before your interview. (Hint: Bring a pen!) When you arrive early, you give yourself plenty of time to complete the information before meeting. Also, the interviewer may want to review your paperwork before the meeting.

Arriving early gives them time to review all of your information and it allows you a chance to take a deep breath, relax, and review your résumé prior to the meeting. In the event that traffic or an unforeseen event causes you to be late, always call the interviewer and let them know as soon as possible that you will be delayed.

3. Turn off any electronic devices. You don’t want your cell phone going off and causing a distraction during your interview. It’s probably a good idea to turn it off, silence it prior to entering the building, or just leave it in the car.

4. Be polite to everyone you come in contact with. You never know how much influence the receptionist or other office staff has over company management. If they see that you are rude or unprofessional, they could prevent you from being hired.

5. Ask questions that show you are interested in the job. During the interview, the interviewer will more than likely give you a brief description of the company and the position you are applying for. At some point the interview will turn to questions for you to answer and ask. If you don’t have a good set of questions to ask the employer, you may appear uninterested in the job. (Later in the week we will discuss job interview questions to ask and answer.)

6. Get the interviewer’s contact info. Make sure you have a way to follow up with the interviewer after your meeting with them by asking them for a business card. You’ll want to mail them a thank you note or at least send an email thanking them for their time. A nice follow-up letter or email will show you enjoyed meeting with them and that you’re interested in working there.

Follow these interview tips and you'll be sure to stand out as a great candidate for the job.

Tomorrow we'll go over tips on doing a phone interview.

If you have any interview tips you'd like to share, please let us know in the comments section below.

4 Things That Will Ruin Your Cover Letter

Other than your resume, a cover letter will be one of the first things that will give a potential employer their first impression of you.

The last thing you want to do is make simple mistakes on your cover letter that will hurt your chances of getting the job.

1. The wrong person or address.  Always make sure you are showing the correct person and address on your cover letter.  If you're sending out a lot of applications at a time, it could be easy to forget to change the information from a previous application.  Make sure you have the correct spelling for the person you're sending it to, the company name, and their address.
2. Spelling or grammatical errors. This falls right in with the last item. Your cover letter should be free or any mistakes that could distract the reader from the content of your letter.  Word processor software should catch most mistakes but you still want to proofread your letter.  Software can't distinguish between the correct meanings of there, they're or their.
3. Being conceited or arrogant.  While showing confidence in your skills and abilities is a good thing when applying for a job, you still will want to keep it in check for your cover letter.  If you say something like, "You'll be impressed with my skills" or "You won't need to look for another Accountant again...", you'll come off as offensive and not much of a team player.
4. A letter more than one page.  As we've mentioned numerous times over the last few weeks, potential employers have very little time to go over all of the applications they receive.  Your letter needs to summarize your skills and qualifications in one page or else you risk it being tossed.

If you need help in writing your resume or cover letter, we offer affordable rates for resume and cover letter writing services.  Please contact us to set up a free 10-minute consultation.

Cover Letter Series: Part Four - Follow-Up

When you send out your resume and cover letter, waiting to hear from a potential employer can be agonizing.  Instead of waiting, should you reach out to them to find out what's going on?

The answer can get complicated and it will depend on the situation.

Sometimes an employer will state in the job posting that they do not want to be contacted about the job.  This usually means that any contact other than submitting your application is not wanted.

Even though it can be hard to wait, resist the temptation to reach out to them too soon.  Remember, the job market isn't what it used to be.  There are many more people who are unemployed and employers are inundated with job applications.  It can take them a considerable amount of time to review all that they've received.  If you "bug" them too early about what's going on, you could risk getting noticed for the wrong reasons.

A good rule of thumb is to wait at least two weeks after you've submitted your application to reach out to anyone.  If the job had an application deadline, you will want to wait until two weeks after that deadline no matter when you submitted your application.

A quick email inquiry at this point should not hurt your chances.  You will just want to mention that you're still interested in the job and that you want to make sure they got your application.  Do NOT ask when you can meet for an interview or when interviews will start being scheduled. 

Being pushy or impatient will tag you as unprofessional and may result in getting your application denied.  Try to occupy your time by submitting other applications or other productive tasks so your main focus is on moving forward no matter what the outcome of one application will be.

Next week we will go over the interview process and how to prepare for them.

Please let us know if there's any other subjects you'd like for us to cover in the comments section below.