Tattoos & Interviews

I recently came across a Facebook page titled, Tattoo acceptance in the workplace. I even Liked it! I have no issue with tattoos. Or with the people that have them. I even have a few.

But let's face it. Not everyone shares the same opinion. There are hiring managers and recruiters that are more "traditional" when it comes to tattoos. And by more "traditional", I mean they just don't want to see them.

Yes, you have every right to get tattoos, but remember that the employer has the right to not be interested in you as a candidate if you show up to the interview with visible tattoos.

My advice: keep them hidden. Like these professionals do.

Who You Are Speaks So Loudly...

I love quotes. I have even been called a "quote junky". One of my favorite quotes is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, and works perfectly as job search advice:

Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying

Yes, I realize that the great American essayist probably wasn't talking about resumes, or anything even remotely related to looking for a job. But still, this quote is so approriate.

Whether it's your resume, cover letter, or even responses to interview questions, who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what your saying.

Having a list of generic qualifications on your resume won't get you noticed. Just because you wrote that you are a "team player" or "results oriented" doesn't make it so. Cite real successes and accomplishments that demonstrate that you are a team player. In an interview, discuss examples of when you were a team player, and how that helped the company.

The key is: show, don't tell. Here are a few resume examples:

Tell	Show
Top performer	Exceeded sales goals by 25%, earning Sales Executive of the Year...
Customer Focused	Achieved 99.4% Customer Quality score...
Experienced in balancing budgets	Increased revenue 9% while reducing operating expenses by 13%...

Look through your cover letter and resume. Do you have generic statements that lack evidence? Answer questions like, "What does that means?", "Why is that important?", "How did I do that?".

Focus your interview preparation on specific accomplishments. Even if you're not specifically asked a situational interview question ("Tell me about a time when..." or "Give me an example when..."), it is best to answer with a specific example.

The Receptionist

When I was young, my father always told me to treat everyone with respect. The example he always gave was going in for an interview and holding the door open for the janitor... because you never know who that janitor actually is. Well, if you come to my building for an interview in my organization, I will check with our building's receptionist to see how you walked in, how you checked in and how you interacted with others while you waited for me. Were you gracious? Did you say "please" and "thank you"? Did you hold the door open for others? Did you say smile and say hello to people? Our receptionist is an excellent judge or character and can quickly determine if someone won't be a good fit in the company.

Some time ago, I was walking into my building and ran into an obvious interview candidate in the parking lot. As we walked across the parking lot, I asked her if she had any problem finding a parking lot (I like to give people a reason to complain to see if they will). She said she did not and enjoyed the walk since it was such a nice morning. When we went separate ways she said, "Have a great day." and I wished her good luck on her interview. Of course, 10 minutes later, I came back downstairs and introduced myself and walked her up to my office. She did just as well in the interview as she did in the pre-interview.

My advice: be courteous and gracious to everyone, everyday, for no other reason than it makes life easier. As a side effect, it'll prevent you from doing something stupid like giving the middle finger to someone on the freeway only to find yourself sitting in his office in a job interview less than an hour later. True story. Maybe I'll tell it someday.

You Got Fired, Admit It

So, you got fired and now you're "on the market". You're worried that you won't find a job. Someone probably told you that you will "never work again". That is simply untrue. Being fired isn't the kiss of death. You can work again.

I have hired fired people. My sample size is small, but nearly all of those have turned out to be great hires!

So, how do you pull it off?

First, you need to admit it. The most important thing is to not lie. When I ask you, "Tell me why you are no longer with Acme Company" don't hide the fact you were fired. Be honest. Plus, hiring managers and recruiters can usually tell if you're lying. And starting off an employment relationship with a lie is not very smart. If you were fired because you did not perform well, say so. Perhaps you were in the wrong role and now you're looking for a job more in line with your skills.

Secondly, you need to know how your previous employer will handle a reference check . Call and ask for a reference, or verify prior employment. It's entirely possible that you won't like the answer, but at least you'll know.

Having been fired is a red flag, but not as big of a red flag as letting the interviewer wonder if you're being honest with her.

Answering 6 Difficult Interview Questions

The thought of going on an interview is enough to make some job seekers break out in a rash. One reason some get nervous is the fear of being asked something that they have not prepared for. And what about those really difficult questions? Many of us can recite the question we dread the most. Well, here are six questions I have asked and *observed people stressing out.

1. "Why do you want to work here?" - I want to know your interest level in this position, with this company. Is this just one of many places where you've applied? I would rather hire someone with a genuine interest in the company than someone just looking for that next paycheck. The truth might be that you want this job because it pays more or simply because you're unemployed. Although that is completely fine and understandable, that's not a good way to make a good impression.

Research the company and do your homework before your interview, point out positive things about the company and why these items interest you. In the end, employers want to know that you can fulfill a need of theirs, so balance your response with what you can do to address their need.

2. "Why should we hire you over another candidate with comparable experience?" - Here's your chance to sell me on your skills and abilities. Don't make the mistake pointing out why they shouldn't hire someone else. Focus on why they should hire you, on what you can bring to the position. Don't bash the other candidates, even if they are unknown to you.

3. "What is your biggest weakness?" - How do you tell a potential employer about your weaknesses and not damage your chances to be hired. The truth is, we all have weaknesses, even the person interviewing you. Talk about one weakness honestly and briefly. Add ways you are trying to overcome this weakness. Two more important things to keep in mind: you must answer this question, not answering it will hurt your chances considerably; don't give me one of those "my only weakness is I work too hard" or "Is it a weakness to care too much?", that's worse than not answering the question.

4. "Why do you want to leave your current employer?" - There is clearly a reason, don't hide it. Be honest. But, again, don't talk negatively about your currently company or manager.

5. "Tell me a little about yourself" - This very common question is asked in many different ways. Keep your answer brief. Do not just recite your resume. This is your interview "elevator speech", tell me how you got to this point in your career; tell me what I need to know about you.

6. "Tell me about a time when..." - Behavioral interview questions help the interviewer get at how you might respond to specific scenarios. The best way to answer these questions is to tell me about a specific time. Tell a story. Where were you? What was the situation? Don't answer these types of questions with how you feel about it. Tell me specifically what happened.

For instance, you might be asked, "Tell me about a time when you were assigned to work on a team with co-workers from other departments?" An incorrect response might be, "I always work well with teams. I find that I do my best work in teams." A much better response might start something like, "While I was an analyst at ABC Corp. I was asked to join a project team tasked with creating a new customer communication page on our web site. This project gave me the opportunity to work with many people I had not yet even met..."

The key to making these questions less stressful is preparing for them. Write out potential interview questions and some key points you'd like to get across in your responses. Once you've done that, rehearse your responses.

Six Phone Interview Tips

A phone interview is an interview. It is not the time to slack off and stay in your pajamas. Here are a six more phone interview tips.

1. Use a land-line telephone. That's right. An actual land-line. And, for best results, use one that is connected to the wall with a chord. That's right, a land-line. Nowadays, nearly everyone has a mobile phone, but that doesn't improve the audio quality. Don't have a land-line? Ask your friends, family, or neighbors.
2. Be ready 10 minutes early. The person interviewing you may actually call early. Speaking of that, be sure you have a professional sounding greeting on your voice mail. Your greeting should have your name (so I know I've actually called the correct person) and not have any music in the background.
3. Reduce distractions. Make accommodations for children, pets, or house guests. Have your resume and notes in front of you and a pen and paper to take notes. Turn off your cell phone and don't sit at a computer unless your phone interview requires it. If it does, close all applications not being used in the interview. And naturally, stay away from e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and other sites that might steal your attention. Turn off call waiting (easy to do if you have AT&T).
4. Know when to interject. Speaking with someone over the phone is very different than doing so face-to-face. One of the most important elements is how you may talk-over the other person. When face-to-face the other person can tell you are going to interject. The body language is universal and we all do it subconsciously. Be careful during your phone interview. Allow the interview
5. Stand. This may take some practice if you're not used to it but standing can help you stay focused. If you can't stand, sit in a chair where you can maintain a professional posture - no slouching.
6. Smile and use hand gestures. Interviewers want to see your personality. Gesture and use natural body language as you would in a face-to-face interview. Your interviewer will be able to hear the difference.

Treat your phone interview with the same importance as any interview. If any of these tips are difficult, find a friend to practice with.

Interviewing Is Not A Two-Way Street

Of all of the catch-phrases I hear uttered from job seekers and hiring managers, "interviewing is a two-way street" is the craziest. Interviewing for a job is not a two-way street.

Yes, while the interviewer is trying to determine if you will be a good fit for the company, you should be evaluating the company. Do you believe you can work for this manager? Can you picture yourself working there?

Saying that the process is a two-way street, however, implies that both parties (the one that wants the job and the one that has the job to give) have equal power. While you can decide to step out of the running, only the manager can say yes. That gives the edge to the manager.

Advantage, manager.

As a candidate, you still want to assess the company and the manager. But, don't go in to the interview thinking you have the same power as the person interviewing you.

Lunch Interviews

For some positions, I really enjoy doing lunch interviews. Nothing fancy, usually at Chili's, Applebee's, or some other chain restaurant with a name that ends in "eez". For manager positions, especially those with managers reporting to them, a lunch interview is an opportunity to see how a candidate interacts with other humans.

The lunch interview is not meant to torture, I promise. It is way, however, for me to gauge how you might treat employees at all levels. I am hoping that you will relax and just be yourself. Don't over think it. It's lunch, not brain surgery.

I am hoping to see the real you. Are you a gracious guest? Do you say please and thank you? Those are the easy ones. I spend more time observing how you treat the restaurant staff than I do observing how you interact with me. If you treat the hostess rudely or roll your eyes at the waitress when she walks away I can only assume that's how you treat your employees. If you don't make eye contact when talking to restaurant employees I find it difficult to believe you will be respectful to your employees.

By all means, don't try putting on an act, Chili's and Applebee's put a truth serum in all of their menu items. The real you will shine through.

Asking Questions In The Interview - Your Turn

You've found a great opportunity, sent them your resume, and even landed an interview with the hiring manager. You've researched the company and this position, and prepared well for the interview. During the interview, you answered every question flawlessly, even the "tell me about a time when..." questions. At the end of the interview, the hiring manager turns the table on you. "What questions can I answer for you?"

If you prepared, you will not freeze, or panic.

Since most interviews don't involve a candidate actually doing the work they'd be doing if they got the job, interviews are a way to see if you can likely do the job, and if you can fit in the company. The bulk of the way this is done is by conversation. So, it shouldn't surprise you to know that your questions can be just as important as the answers you give to their questions. Your questions tell me how well you understand how this position impacts the company as a whole. You have an excellent opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking and synthesis (the ability to create something out of two or more things).

So, besides asking "When do I start?", consider asking:

• "Why is this position available?" There's a chance that someone else used to do the job you are interviewing for. Of course, it could be a new position because the company is expanding, but if its open because the last person died while actually doing the job, wouldn't you want to know that? You can learn a great deal about the company by asking this simple question.
• "What are the biggest challenges facing this department?" Most hiring managers will be very open and share details of their business with you.
• "What do you see changing in this industry in the next few years?" Change is inevitable.
• "What type of employee have you found to have success in your department?" As a hiring manager, I always enjoy being asked this question. It allows me to tie a bow around all of the things I've said about the role, and describe what characteristics are most common in those that succeed in my department.

It is possible that you prepare a list of questions to ask after the interview but they are answered during the course of the interview. That means you didn't prepare enough questions. This does not mean you can pass on asking questions by saying something like, "I had some questions but they were all answered." You still need to ask a couple of questions. Remember, the questions you ask are just as important as the answers you gave.

The first interview is not the time to ask about compensation or benefits. Your interview should be about what you can bring to the company and this position.

Sometime, I start an interview by asking the candidate if they have any questions before we get started. Sometimes, it can be helpful to a candidate to know some key operational details about the role before they are asked questions. So, prepare some questions you could ask if you are given the opportunity in the beginning of the interview.

What questions do you usually ask?

Dress Up For Your Phone Interview

Be honest. What's the first thing you think of when you hear "phone interview"? Most people won't think about how nice it will be to take the interview in their pajamas. But you should think about what you'll wear.

You should dress the same for a phone interview as you would a face-to-face interview.

Yes, even for a phone interview. That may sound crazy. But you are interviewing after all. Don't you want to be at your best.

You'll come across more confident and more professional. Plus, what if they want to Skype with you?

It happens!