Going after the job

Is your resume getting your foot in the door, but you just can't seem to land the job you want? Here are some things to keep in mind.

There's no such thing as employers.

Employers are just a group of individuals, each one as different from the other as black is to white. They have a range of different experiences, different ideas about how to hire, different ways to conduct interviews, and more thoughts on potential handicaps than you can imagine. If you're lucky enough to work with a recruiter, ask them about the person you are interviewing with. If not, be sure to research them on your own - the internet is full of information. Stalking preferred.

It's like dating.

The skillset is virtually the same. It's two people attempting to decide if you both want to "try and go steady." It's a two-way decision. The person you're talking to is trying to find out:

• Do we like you?
• Do we want you to work here?
• Do you have the skills, knowledge, and experience that we need?
• Do you have the work ethic we're looking for?
• Will you fit in with our other employees?

See, just like dating.

The tell me about yourself question.

This is the first question many people ask and it is the most important one. How you answer will determine your fate. It's kind of a test. How do you respond to an open-ended, unstructured situation - you know the kind that life (and the job you're interviewing for) throw at us every day.

If you respond with a question - you've most likely failed. Don't ask, "Well, what do you want to know about me?" What they're looking for is the answer to the questions they may not ask directly.

What experience, skills, or knowledge do you have, that is relevant to the job they are trying to fill? This is the question you should try to answer here. Not your personal history and hobbies. View this as your elevator speech. It should be well-summarized and well-rehearsed.

All the other questions

There are many books with all kinds of potential interview questions that you could read. But there are really only handful of core questions you need to know. Most of the other questions revolve around some variation of these.

1. Why are you here? Why not the competitor down the street?
2. What can you do for us? How will you help them with the challenges they face?
3. What kind of person are you? Will you fit in? Do you share their values?
4. What distinguishes you from the other hundred people applying for this job?
5. Can they afford you? If they decide they want you, and you can help them, are they willing to pay you the amount you want?

For more information or help preparing for your next interview, contact me at [email protected] or DM me.

Happy Job Hunting!

Cole