Dear Job Seekers... let me help...

My dear job seekers – I know full well how challenging it is to put yourself out there every time you log onto or walk into an interview. You may be amazing at selling your product, company, or service – but still feel unsure of how to showcase your amazing self.

You have probably prepared for every possible interview question you anticipate being asked. I’d like to offer some advice, however, if I may. I have noticed a couple of common interview fouls lately that I want to help you avoid.

1)????? Answering questions directly: Trust me when I tell you to simply ANSWER THE QUESTION and then ask them if they have any concerns about your answer. These questions always require either a “yes/no” answer, or a quantifiable response: do you, would you, are you, how much, how many, or how often is how these questions typically begin.

If someone asks you a quantifiable question, please do not start with something along the lines of, “well let me explain my thought process before answering your question.” Even worse than that is, “well it depends upon a variety of factors.” That is a given. Nothing will cause your interviewer to internally roll their eyes or tune out faster than your inability to directly answer their question.

2)????? Take over the interview instead of following the agenda or directions the interviewer has provided: You may be used to “telling your story” in the fashion you want it heard. Unfortunately, there may be a limited amount of time for the interviewer to gather all of the details they need to make the decision of whether to move you forward in the interview process. If you hijack that time, they may be turned off, or not have the confidence in setting next steps.

I’ll give you a great example. I always let people know what I’m looking for when we walk through their work history and that I want to keep that portion of our conversation under 15 minutes; A) what excited them about the company when they joined, B) what they were most proud of and challenged by in that role/organization, and C) why the change to the next organization.

If they blatantly ignore my agenda and start taking me to Oz or Narnia before addressing the things I specifically let them know I was looking for (or neglect those things altogether), I feel disrespected. If I have to remind them there is a whole other slate of things we still need to get through or that we are running long on time, that should be a huge red flag.

3)????? Being on time, dressed appropriately, and having technology that works: to assume that an interview with an outside recruiter is anything less than a “real interview” is a huge mistake. This person’s time is just as valuable as yours or any hiring manager they might intend to put you in front of. This is your one and only opportunity to show them how you will represent yourself to a client who is willing to pay for their service to show them only the best talent on the market.

Don’t say anything along the lines of, “I would never ‘say/do/dress like’ this in a REAL interview,” or “I’ve worked with other ‘headhunters’ so I know the drill.” No, you don’t. Not all recruiters are created equal just as not all companies, leaders, or job seekers are created equal.

You have SO MUCH to offer and the right job is out there – I promise you! And I’m rooting for you! Please let me and my team at Elevation Talent Group know if you need career or job search advice. We are committed to helping you reach your career aspirations!