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The Worst Interview Mistakes To Avoid
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So many people treat the interview as if it will take care of itself, and therefore they make the same critical errors. The fact is that far more interviews are LOST than won, so I want to show you the 5 biggest mistakes to avoid. Follow this advice and you’re already ahead of the game.
1. Not preparing properly
Too many people I coach, those that aren’t getting any job offers, are walking in to their interviews ill-equipped and ill-prepared to make a great impression. Good preparation means doing intelligent and thoughtful research so that you know what you need to know about the company, knowing yourself and what you specifically can offer to this company in this role, and practicing to the point that you can handle virtually any question they throw at you.
2. Not thinking “strategically”
Many people are under the mistaken impression that it’s up to the interviewer to figure out if you’re the best candidate. This is not true. It’s your job to prove that you are the best candidate. Your goal is to make certain that they hear how qualified you are by the end of the interview
Most people just hope an interview goes well, but if you want to succeed in an interview you have to think strategically. An interview is a competition – there’s only one winner, and you need to think “What do I need to do and say in this interview to be the best candidate? What do they need to hear to select me?” Instead of hoping you win, think strategically and plan to win!
3. Not starting strong
Here’s the fact – it takes 3 minutes for the interviewer to make his/her first impression. Starting strong means greeting the interviewer with confidence, being personable, conducting yourself professionally, and nailing the first couple questions (in my opinion, “Tell me about yourself” is often the most important question they ask, and one of the most important questions you need to know how to answer well).
4. Not being able to “articulate” your value
Knowing your specific value to this company in this role is a big part of your preparation, but being able to then articulate this value in a clear, professional, and intelligent manner is just as important. It boils down to just good communications skills, and there are two ways to improve your communication skills in an interview: 1) practice or 2) get the help of a professional interview coach, and then practice some more.
5. Not putting their mind at ease
With most job opportunities there may be at least one qualification that you don’t have – maybe its lack of industry experience, lack of a degree or specific accreditation they’ve asked for, lack of enough experience in a certain skill, it could be anything.
In interviews, many people are screened out for something they lack rather than the other way around. So they need to believe that if you don’t have it, you can learn it quickly, or you’ll get it, or you have another skill that makes up for it. Don’t give them the opportunity to make a big deal out of something you lack — put their mind at ease, find an answer that eliminates their concern, and then they’ll select you based on what you can offer rather than eliminate you for something you can’t.
Remember, a superior resume is valuable because it gets you the interview — but superior interviewing skills will get you the job! Improve your interviewing skills, learn the best practices and strategies to succeed, and you will consistently get the offers you want.
+ Jason Stauffacher,
Executive Résumé Expert, Résumé Strategist and Coach
laptop@razorresume.com
www.razorresume.com
Yes, I accept invitations to connect: http://www.linkedin.com/in/razorresume
Facebook email ID: laptop@razorresume.com
1-877-410-3765
Minneapolis local
612-331-1120
####Discover the benefits our strategic partners have to offer: http://www.resumespider.com/?dcode=813592 : Deliver your resume to up to 124,000 recruiters and employers.####
Do You Have The Perfect Purchasing Resume?
Your resume (or CV) can either help you greatly increase your salary or hinder your career advancement. Here’s how to achieve the former with your resume.
First, focus on the structure. An ideal structure consists of Name and Contact Information, Career Summary, Computer Skills, Professional Experience, Education.
| Then, consider the length. For entry-level purchasing positions, a one-page resume is appropriate. However, “If you have more than five to seven years of experience, then you want to have a two-page resume,” according to Tonia Deal, President of Tonia Deal Consulting, a leading supply chain recruiting firm. “I will not submit a resume over three pages.”
Next, ensure that the Professional Experience section is done well. List experience from most recent to oldest. Within the Professional Experience section, have headings listing each company and the years you’ve worked for those companies. But an additional commonly ignored item that employers and recruiters like to see is a short description of those companies. |
“Who is this company? What do they do? I want the annual sales,” says Deal of company descriptions on the resume. She explains that employers like to “know the type of organization that [candidates] are coming from.”
Underneath each company heading, you should include subheadings for each position you’ve held accompanied by dates you’ve held those positions. Under the position subheadings, include your responsibilities and achievements in bullet point or paragraph form.
For responsibilities, Deal indicates that she finds the following information helpful:
- The categories you’re responsible for buying
- The annual spend you’re responsible for
- The type of supply base you’ve dealt with
- The number of team members you’ve supervised
- The purchasing organization’s structure (e.g., centralized), particularly if “the individual [has] been part of restructuring the company,” she says.
For achievements, Deal admits “The first thing that I will look for is numbers,” such as “Improved delivery performance by 50%” and “Initiated structured cross-functional global sourcing process to accelerate $20 million of annual savings.”
“I love it,” Deal exclaims when asked about a candidate including credentials such as the SPSM Certification on a resume. “I like to see it right under Education.”
Including a certification on a resume “is really critical,” in Deal’s opinion. “I really want to see that because that should be highlighted.”
+ Jason Stauffacher,
Executive Résumé Expert, Résumé Strategist and Coach
laptop@razorresume.com
www.razorresume.com
Yes, I accept invitations to connect: http://www.linkedin.com/in/razorresume
Facebook email ID: laptop@razorresume.com
1-877-410-3765
Minneapolis local
612-331-1120
####Discover the benefits our strategic partners have to offer: http://www.resumespider.com/?dcode=813592 : Deliver your resume to up to 124,000 recruiters and employers.####
+ Rita Korwicki,
Manager and Interviewer
1-877-410-3765
Badda Bing Badda Boom: Job Success Rule 1
Badda Bing Badda Boom. Rule one for recent grads, and even new employees,and even the old.
“Show confidence, not cockiness. Employers’ chief complaints regarding recent grads are that they expect too much too soon and presume they know as much – or even more – than seasoned employees. Understand that you will need to earn your stripes before being given greater responsibility.”
-Jason
