Recently Amy Brownstein, of Brownstein Strategic Brand Relations, was interviewing to fill an account executive position at the firm. The candidate arrived 35 minutes late, didn’t bring a printed copy of her resume, and started off the interview, after apologizing for being late, by explaining how she “used to always be late, and not be committed to the job but she’s changed.” As you probably guessed by now, she didn’t get the job. Even in this highly competitive job market job, otherwise qualified job candidates do things that virtually ensure that they won’t be hired. Here as some common mistakes that should be avoided.
NOT BEING PREPARED: Sharon Armstrong, author
of "The Essential HR Handbook," notes that during her years as a recruiter she
was constantly “amazed at how many candidates hadn't done their research on the
organization...at least not in-depth research.” That is an unpardonable sin for
most people who are hiring. It not only suggests a poor work ethic, but it
makes it impossible for the candidate to explain why they want to work for this
particular organization. Sharon adds “That mistake is easily avoided. It's called the Internet!”
BECOMING DEFENSIVE WHEN ASKED A DIFFICULT QUESTION: Peter Ocko, a recruiter with Major, Lindsey & Africa, a search firm specializing in the placement of attorneys, points out that: “one of the most egregious errors I see candidates make is an overreaction to the “why are you leaving” question.” According to Peter, “candidates often defend their current employer too vigorously, which raises the “why are you here interviewing” question or they use it as an opportunity to go too negative on the current situation, painting themselves as a malcontent.” A good answer to that question provides “a balanced narrative as to why this new job is a great next step given accomplishments so far.” The key to answering tough questions, without becoming defensive, is to prepare for them.
BECOMING DEFENSIVE WHEN ASKED A DIFFICULT QUESTION: Peter Ocko, a recruiter with Major, Lindsey & Africa, a search firm specializing in the placement of attorneys, points out that: “one of the most egregious errors I see candidates make is an overreaction to the “why are you leaving” question.” According to Peter, “candidates often defend their current employer too vigorously, which raises the “why are you here interviewing” question or they use it as an opportunity to go too negative on the current situation, painting themselves as a malcontent.” A good answer to that question provides “a balanced narrative as to why this new job is a great next step given accomplishments so far.” The key to answering tough questions, without becoming defensive, is to prepare for them.
ANSWERING
THE QUESTION “WHAT SALARY ARE YOU SEEKING?” According to Kathy
Simmons, CEO of Netshare, an online career resource for senior executives, “you
should not answer this question.” Kathy suggests,
rather than just duck the question, to respond politely by saying “you would like to decide what the
position is worth before suggesting a salary figure. Or as I often advise individuals that I am
working with, simply state that you are “looking for a fair package” and ask
what they have budgeted for the position. She adds that when you propose a
salary, if you guess too low, you will never know. If you guess too high, you
may put yourself out of the running without knowing it.”
NOT PREPARING ANSWERS
FOR COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Larry Chiagouris, Professor of Marketing at
Pace University, notes that candidates often are not prepared when asked
"do you have any questions for us?"
Job candidates need to prepare two sets of questions. The first consists
of questions that have been prepared in advance of the interview. The next are
the questions that emerge during the course of the interview, requiring the
candidate to listen carefully throughout the process for topics in need of
clarification. Like the question “Tell me about yourself,” which typically
begins the interview, “Do you have any
questions for me” is a common way to conclude the interview. You would do to be
prepared to respond to both, as you can expect that to be confronted with both
questions when you are interviewing for a new job.
BEING
TOO MODEST:
Interviews are a time for you to sell yourself and what you can do for the
organization. It is no time to be shy. Eric Frankel, a Westwood resident, and
the creator of 10 Minutes to Change, a program that offers strategies for
maximizing employee effectiveness, advises that “you have to be comfortable
promoting your skills and accomplishments to impress a prospective employer.” Selling
yourself appropriately and professionally, according to Eric, is essential to
landing the job. He advises practicing with friends and family or at business
networking functions. As David Couper, author of “Outsiders on the Inside,"
reminds us: “don’t expect that the interviewer will be prepared. The person
interviewing you is likely overworked and stressed because he needs to hire
someone. He may have barely glanced at your resume and given no thought to your
qualifications.”Avoiding these common mistakes won’t guarantee that you will get every job that you interview for. However, learning the dos and the don’ts of effective interviewing will greatly increase the likelihood that you will get a good job that you are well suited to fill.
