Drawing from my last job search: the daunting anticipation left me lagging on my efforts. Even with a recipe for success: significant/relevant job experience, placement at excellent companies, and success in my projects; I found I was not getting as many hits as I would have liked. Once I began receiving phone calls, they were not for the positions I had in mind.
The result of my self-perceived failed efforts left me with even less motivation and more reason to put off my search.
Thanks to a little external motivation and some very good advice from friendly professional acquaintances I constructed a great job search plan that took me from crickets to interviewing Utopia in a matter of a week.
Surrounding Myself With Varied Professionals:
Start by asking for help. Surrounding oneself with different professionals ranging in experience in different industries and roles can provide a well-rounded 360-degree view and clear the path for a solid job-search strategy.
Helpful friends to have in a network include:
Recruiters / HR folks
Engineers - Electrical, Computer, Software, Programmers, Mechanical
Senior Program / Project Managers (whether in high tech or not)
Business / Marketing Managers
Product Managers
Customer Service representatives
Administrative specialists
Each of these people has a unique skill to offer and tapping into each skill at the right time can create a multifaceted interviewee who wins over even the most skeptical interviewer.
Customize the Ultimate Resume
This is a common piece of advice. Utilizing the job description and highlighting the appropriate skills places the candidate at a clear advantage. What about the details?
In my recent example, I have spent the last 10 years going by a longer name. Although I have been able to get by very well with targeted networking, I found that once I updated my resume and Linkedin profile with my simpler nickname, I started receiving responses immediately. Understanding statistics and trends to place an attractive resume is the first step.
Take Every Opportunity to Shine
I received a lot of emails and calls from recruiters regarding jobs that were either not my forte, not in my area, or not in my pay range. Once I began taking these opportunities to begin talking about myself and my skill-set, I found my confidence begin to increase and I was able to refine my 30-second elevator speech to a science.
Be not Fooled by the Phone Interview - Dress to Impress, Even at Home
This is not new information. The phone interview takes away the element of body language, which accounts for an astounding 90% of communication. Smiles, confidence, and professionalism, can be heard loud and clear over the phone and cannot be overdone.
There is, however, a new element to this. With webcam technology, interviewers are beginning to utilize a method of bringing face-to-face back. I had a phone interview scheduled for 9am and at 9:10am my interviewer called me, asking if I was available to chat over webcam. Thank goodness I was already groomed and dressed!
Quick prep for a "phone interview" turn Webex looks something like this:
Dress for the meeting
Have a clean area with a clear background ready
Ensure quiet surroundings
Turn off all other sound notifications; phone or computer
Research the Interviewers
Thanks to Google search, Linkedin, Facebook, Zoom search, and others: researching interviewers has never been easier. Learning about the interviewer adds the advantage of knowing what to focus on and reduces the risk of silly questions, which let's face it, despite what Mrs. Frank said in kindergarten...there is such thing as a silly question.
Prepare that 30-Second Elevator Speech
I briefly referred to this earlier. The interview starts from the moment one pulls into the parking lot. Having a clean car, closing the lobby door (without slamming), being polite to the receptionist, and sitting in the lobby with poise and interest; are all ways to ensure the right foot enters the right door (instead of in the mouth where it does not belong).
"Tell me about yourself?" The interviewer asks. Ding ding ding! This is the perfect time to talk about professional experience and sell in 30 seconds. Be prepared but not over-rehearsed. Pace it and keep it ready. This question can be asked as quickly as in the elevator on the way to the conference room.
Prepare Anecdotes
Answering soft interview questions is an art and a science. Answering questions that pertain to strengths, weaknesses, solving a problem, etc, can be done with the following formula in three to five minutes (I prefer less time personally).
State the problem the company was facing.
State the solution you came up with and executed.
Describe how the solution resolved the issue: numbers are great here. Were days, weeks or even months shaved on the process? Did the company save X dollars?
Companies want to know how a candidate can benefit them. What better way to prove it than with past experience?
Beware of Technical Questions
The reason I mention this is because companies are very serious regarding propriety information. Revealing too much with the intention to show off technical skills can place one at risk with previous companies and raise red flags regarding confidentiality and security to the current interviewer.
Thank You Letters
I have heard reservations regarding the writing of Thank You letters: It makes the interviewee seem desperate.
Think of the Thank You letter as a Jedi mind trick. Rewriting the interviewer's memories of the interview, reiterating their main focus, and proving that they have found the right candidate who will fit in.
Staying Linkedin
I like to add my interviewers to my Linkedin network. If I get the job, great. If I do not, these folks are still in my network for future opportunities. Plus if they add me, I know they liked me.
Program managers are in a delicate position, balancing know-how and people skills creates the ultimate opportunist. This formula will not guarantee every offer, however, getting the right offer will be that much closer.