Category Archives: Interviews

It takes 6 months to get a job for the guy who sat next to him. This poor guy was doing exactly the same job, got better performance ratings, and would get rehired first if the job was re-opened. To make things worse, the guy who took six months accepts a huge pay cut.

It isn’t fair, but it happens every day.

It isn’t luck. The guy who finds a job quickly did things differently. He may have instinctively done the few most critical steps within the first days of losing his job. He may also have mapped out a strategy and executed it. Either way, he got the critical steps executed. He got the job.

The critical steps most often screwed up by the guys who take 6 months to find a job.

For 22 years I’ve been watching people get jobs in days, or wait a year to find a job. The steps most often screwed up are:

The resume stunk, and he never found out.
He burned his best leads before he was prepared.
Monster became his momma.
HR (Human Resources Department) was his master.
He never expanded his network, but he talked to a zillion people.
Interviews never seemed to go right.
He waited for a phone call back.
He thought recruiters were his friends

Give me a call or research these topics on my blog.

If you want to have the shortest job search possible. Fill out the survey at this link and then contact me. bryan@dilts.us or call Bryan Dilts at 717-975-9001.

No, I don’t guarantee that you will get a job offer in 5 weeks. But I will put 22 years of experience behind your job search.

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Posted in Accomplishments, Attitude, Finding jobs, Followup, Interviews, Job Boards, Networking, Recruiters, Resumes, Time management

Tagged getting a job offer, interview, job search, job search plan, recruiter, resume

The critical email most job seekers fail to send

Posted on September 2, 2015 | Leave a comment

A successful email

A very short email was sent out by a candidate after a brief phone screening for a top level job. I got a copy. It helped set that candidate apart from all the others in a quiet way. The next day that email was replied to with an invitation for an in-person interview. That’s a successful email. That email said, “Thank you for the chance to talk with you about your company and that opening.”

I admit it. The email did NOT get him the interview. His phone presence, background, cheerfulness and “can do” attitude got him the reply. Still, the “thank you” email helped.

100 applicants for a job is not unusual. Phone interviews with 10 solid candidates is common. Often the choice between the top 3 candidates is only based on chemistry, the feelings of the moment. So what can you do?

Send a thank you by email after every interview.
Also send a paper thank you.
Dwell on the positive.
Never complain about a previous job, boss or coworker.
Tell interviewers what you like about the job.
Ask for the next interview or for the job.

In the interview be the type of person you most like working with. After the interview, be thankful. That’s an unbeatable combination.

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There’s no secret about success. Did you ever know a successful man who didn’t tell you about it? (Hubbard)

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Later: The guy who invented running died

I make the milk every morning

Propagating blueberries guerilla style

Great ideas are a dime a dozen

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Posted in Attitude, Interviews

Tagged email, phone interview, phone screen, thank you

2 critical interview questions you should always ask the hirer

Posted on December 16, 2014 | Leave a comment

The interviewer’s first worry (out of 7)

You may be talking yourself out of a job. Your resume and your interview may combine to scare the interviewer. He may think he will lose control of his situation if he even makes you a job offer.

The hiring manager for any job usually already feels out of control. Someone quit, or there is more work to do than his team can handle. He is losing control of his own time because he is being forced to review resumes and set up interview times. He is feeling out of control.

Then you make it worse. He looks at your resume and asks himself, “Why does this candidate want to come work for me? What does he have in common with other people who quit? Will he even accept the job if we offer it?”

Will he even accept the job if we offer it?

That is the first huge question you have to remove from the hirer’s mind. There are two types of questions you can ask to help soothe the hirer. Ask the first one in the middle of the interview. Ask the second one at the very end. The second question is critical.

What do you like most about working here?

Your purpose is to convince the hirer that they have connected with you about what makes the company great. Give them a chance to say what they like the most. While they are talking about it, lean forward and listen intently. If the hirer feels you like his explanation, he will feel a lot more comfortable that you will accept the job.

Can I have the job?

At the end of the interview you have to be bold. You have to ask for the job. There are several ways you can put it.

This sounds like a great opportunity. I like the people, and the job sounds great. Is there anything you have seen in me that would keep you from hiring me?
This is the exact job, company, and coworkers I have been looking for. Can we set up the next step in the hiring process right now?
I really appreciate the chance to talk to you. What a great job and company! I want to work with you. How soon can I start working here?
This has been great. Can I have the job?

You will notice that the last example above is the condensed version. It is the shortest and most direct way to ask for the job. However you say it, say it at the end of every interview. Never forget it.

The will practically never make you the job offer, or set up the next step right then. The point is to let them know you really really really want the job.

Remove all doubt that you will accept the job if a decent offer is made. Do it by letting them know you are interested. If you ask some variation of question 1 and question 2, you will dramatically increase your chances of being seriously considered and hired.

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More on these topics is coming later:

You have to help them regain control before you are hired

In order to soothe your potential boss, you have to give them as much control as possible. If you can prove a few basic things, they will hire you immediately. You need to prove:

You will take that job and keep it.
You can do that job
You won’t take too much training
You will take the initiative to do things within their system
You learn quickly
You get along with all kinds of coworkers – good and bad
You will quickly take other burdens off the boss’s back and give them back control.

How do you prove it?

We’ll talk about that over the next few days.

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Posted in Attitude, Interviews

Tagged hiring interview, interview questions, job interview

How to overcome an employer’s resistance to hiring you

Posted on December 10, 2014 | Leave a comment

Why won’t they hire you? Do desperate employers resist hiring anyone? Do they resist change? Or is it something else they resist?

Would you like to win a million dollars tax free? But isn’t that a change?

If Oprah gave you a new car and money to pay the taxes on it, how hard would you resist? That is also a change.

Did you notice that I added that line about taxes in each question? I had to add that because you might resist otherwise. It isn’t the taxes, it is what the taxes represent in your mind that may cause you to resist.

Employers have the same resistance to hiring you that you might have to accepting a new car or even a million dollars. They are afraid there is a hidden tax, a hook, a hidden problem. They are afraid they will be forced to do things they don’t have time or energy for. It can all be boiled down to their fear of losing control. People are afraid of losing control of their million dollars or their new car due to taxes. They are afraid of losing control if they hire you.

They lose control when they make you a job offer

As long as the employer is looking at resumes, interviewing, testing, talking about candidates, doing reference checks, and thinking about making offers, they are in control. The second they make you an offer, they lose control.

Suddenly it is all up to you. They get edgy. To regain some control they will put a time limit on their offer. Usually they will give you overnight. Sometimes they will give you up to a week. But they want to have control over the process.

They have even less control when you start working for them

I am sure your new boss has worked with someone who was hired and was an absolute disaster. That person looked like the solution to their problem and was a horrible mistake.

You look like the perfect solution to their problem. But, if they hire you, they lose control. When you come on board, there will be training, detailed supervision, review of your work, correction, adjustments to team duties, interpersonal conflicts, and a lot of other things that change. They will lose control of all those things the second you start with the team.

You have to help them regain control before you are hired

In order to soothe your potential boss, you have to give them as much control as possible. If you can prove a few basic things, they will hire you immediately. You need to prove:

You will take the job and keep it
You can do that job
You won’t take too much training
You will take the initiative to do things within their system
You learn quickly
You get along with all kinds of coworkers – good and bad
You will quickly take other burdens off the boss’s back and give them back control.

How do you prove it?

We’ll talk about that over the next few days.

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Posted in Accomplishments, Attitude, Focus, Followup, Interviews, Networking, Perseverance, References, Resumes, talent

Tagged get hired

How to beat personality tests and FAQ

Posted on October 22, 2014 | Leave a comment

Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open. (E. Letterman)

Here is how your boss decides to use personality tests. Then we will show you how to “beat” them.

His story

Your job as boss is in danger. 3 more people have quit. 5 of the last 10 people you hired are having performance problems. Technically they are proficient. At least you got that right. They just aren’t working hard. They complain constantly. They don’t fit in. What can you do to keep your job?

You’ve got to hire better, right? You go to HR (human resources) and ask for help. Jill, the VP of HR, has no time for you. In desperation you blurt out, “Can’t we test these people to see if they are good team players?”

Jill stops, smiles and says, “I’ve seen just the test for the job. It costs $95 every time you give it, but it will do the trick. With your sponsorship we can make it mandatory for all new hires.” Now she has time for you. Why? You just saved her job too. She is also under fire for all the hiring problems. Testing will prove it is not her problem.

A mistake hirers often make is getting the personality they want. Got it? They hire the exact person they want. They just want the wrong person. An accurate test won’t fix that. Better interviews won’t fix that. And truthfully, the tests are a pain to take, but reasonably accurate.

FAQ

How do I beat a personality test?

Be yourself. Answer honestly. Don’t get upset. Really. It works.

So, what do you do when asked to take a personality test?

Take it. Do your best.

Should you worry about the company that asks you to take it?

No. Someone there is trying to hire scientifically. It may work and it may not. It depends on their attitude towards the test, and you have no way to measure that. So don’t worry.

Can I change my answers to score better?

No. Don’t try. You will probably fail miserably. Test makers work hard to make their test detect liars. Anyway, do you really want to get a job that a company thinks is a bad fit for you? Just answer honestly and openly.

Isn’t there a chance I’ll be wrongly excluded?

Yes, yes, yes. That’s the biggest problem with personality tests. It is also the biggest problem with interviews. Hirers sometimes are looking for the wrong person. Get used to it. And sometimes you really are the wrong person for the job!

Personality tests are just another form of interview. Companies pay huge amounts for interview training that may or may not help. They also pay for tests that may or may not help. Don’t take it personally. They are trying to figure out how to hire better. Work with them. Do your best to help them make a good hire.

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Something To Do Today

For the fun of it, go online and find a free personality test. Take it. Does it get close to your personality? It probably does. That means the problem is not the test or you. The problem is that the hiring manager is looking for the wrong result, or that you really are the wrong person for the job.

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Later: Resume blasting

Certifications – gold and lead

Recruiter motivation

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Posted in Attitude, Interviews

Tagged beat the test, job tests, personality tests

Job interview – Good manners

Posted on October 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

Good manners soothe people in a potentially bad situation. In a positive situation good manners make everyone involved even more pleased. Manners are society’s way of helping people cope with each other.

Here are some situations and how to deal with them:

I really want this job: At the end of the interview say, “This sounds like a great opportunity. Is there anything you’ve seen today that would keep me from working for you?” Then say, “Can we set up the next step of the process right now?” They will probably say they’ll call later. That’s okay. They know you really want the job. Send an email and ground mail thank you letter.

In the interview, I realized I don’t want this job: Never walk out of an interview unless they are asking you to do something illegal or immoral. You may be interviewing with this person in 5 years for a different job. Companies change. Opportunities change. If you get the feeling the job is absolutely not for you, stop the interviewer and ask very specific questions and explore your reasons in the interview. Don’t let your interviewer bypass your concerns. They may have solid answers, they may not. Once you are sure the job is NOT for you, look at the interview as a network building opportunity. You may have a chance to talk with a manager who will have a different hiring need, and get the job you really want. Networking for an extra half hour in an interview is easier than getting a manager to go to lunch with you.

They ask how much they have to pay you: Answer them, “I really like this company. The opportunity seems like a good one. I’d like to go to work for you. In my previous job I earned $(amount), I certainly wouldn’t want to work for less. What I would like is to entertain your best offer.”

You are concerned they won’t pay enough: Ask the recruiter or HR person what the pay range is for the job. Don’t ask the hiring manager about money unless you become convinced they won’t pay near enough. Better to ask, “Considering what I have done previously, how will this job continue to challenge me?” That lets the interviewer know you are concerned that the job sounds too easy.

You want to know about vacation time and benefits: Wait a bit. The first interview is absolutely NOT the place to ask. If at some point you talk with an HR person who is already explaining that stuff, ask away. If you are working with a recruiter, ask him. Otherwise, when they are offering you the job is early enough. You don’t have any bargaining power until they have made a decision to hire you.

They ask an improper question: You don’t have to answer. Better to try to understand what they want to know. Reply, “Why do you ask?” or “Have you had a problem with that in the past?” Another way is to answer the underlying question. If they ask, “How old are you?” You can answer, “I’m in perfect health. I haven’t missed a day of work in years.” That gives them the information they need without answering a question you may dislike.

I will be late for my interview: stop and call the person you are to meet. Apologize and tell them when you expect to arrive. Add 10-20 minutes to the time so they are pleasantly surprised when you arrive earlier than you said you would.

I don’t want to go to the interview: call the person who set up the interview, the recruiter, HR person or manager, and explain why. Explain your true reasons and then listen. After a couple of minutes of discussion, finalize your decision to go or not. Let the person who set up the interview tell the people who would interview you.

You don’t want them to call your boss for a reference: Just tell them you don’t want to jeopardize your current job. They will understand.

The basic ideas are: 1. Ask the question at the right time. 2. Let people know your concerns in as positive a manner as possible.

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Something To Do Today

Make an interview preparation list. What things do you want to review before you talk to your next boss?

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Later: Skipped parts

Referrals vs. Monster and CareerBuilder

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Posted in Attitude, Interviews, Networking, Recruiters, References

Tagged job interview, manners

How early do I get to the job interview? (and what if I am late?)

Posted on October 3, 2014 | Leave a comment

How early should you get to a job interview? That depends on how far you have to travel and how slow the traffic is likely to be.

If you are sure you will get there right when you expect to, arrive 10 minutes early in the parking lot. Grab your notes and go over them. Practice the interview questions you have written out. Go into the building 5 minutes before the interview is to start. You want to be on time, but avoid waiting too long in the lobby, getting nervous.

If you are going a long distance, you may need to plan on arriving 15 to 30 minutes early. In that case, tell the interviewer of your dilemma when you set up the interview. Waiting 20 minutes in your car is a waste of your time. Your interviewer can often set up a soft start time and see you immediately when you show up early.

Perfect timing: walk into the building 5 minutes before your interview. If you will have to wait more than 5 minutes in your car, go in earlier. Horrible timing is 5 minutes late unless you have called ahead to let them know you will be late.

If something anticipated arrives too late it finds us numb, wrung out from waiting, and we feel…nothing at all. The best things arrive on time. (Gilman)

If you are late: your best job interviewing tool may be a cell phone. If you are going to be late you can call the person you are going to meet with and let them know you will be late. Tell them a time 10-20 minutes later than you really expect to arrive. That way you can still arrive “early.”

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Something To Do Today

Before your next job interview make a list of questions that show your desire, interest and motivation. Use those 5 minutes in the car for interview preparation.

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Next: The phone interview

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Posted in Interviews

Tagged job interview, when to arrive

What to ask in the interview – the 4 best questions

Posted on October 2, 2014 | Leave a comment

Contributor, hard working, excited and interested will get you a job. Greedy, lazy, bored and distracted will get you shown the door out.

Excellent questions are a way to show the difference between you and the other candidates. You need to ask questions that show you will take some of the burden off of the hiring manager. You must show your great attitude with your questions.

“What do you see as the greatest contribution I can make to my team here?” is a winner.

“What problems will I be helping to solve in this job?” works.

“What burden can I take off of your back in my first 3 months?” will be a relief.

“How will my performance be evaluated in one year’s time when I take this job?” is a great question.

Let them know you will be trying to meet their expectations. Open up a conversation on what is really expected of you.

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. (Twain)

Do you get the idea? You need to ask questions that show the ways you can contribute and start taking away some of your new boss’s headaches.

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Something To Do Today

Before your next job interview or pay review, make a list of questions that show your desire, interest and motivation.

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Next: How early do I get there?

Later: Good manners

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Posted in Interviews

Tagged interview questions, job interviews

My last job stunk, what do I say?

Posted on September 17, 2014 | Leave a comment

“My last employer lied to me. He looked me straight in the eye and lied to me twice in the employment interview. Then he spent the next year undermining me. He made it impossible to reach the pay level he promised me.”

When he told me that, I understood. I’m an agency recruiter. I could see from his previous jobs that he was exceptionally good at what he does. Before he goes out on a job interview I’ll tell him how to handle that situation. Eventually he’s going to have to get over that job wound.

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. (Gandhi)

Remember, your attitude is everything. Managers know that some bosses reek. Every manager has also had an employee who was terrible. Your interviewer has to decide if you or your boss was the problem. Because they lack facts, they will decide whose fault it was by your attitude.

When they ask you about that lying, thieving, disgusting, wife beating boss you had at your previous job, be careful. Remember, the slimeball’s dog still loves him. Say only, “At my last job I accomplished..” and list the good things you got done.

If asked, “Why did you leave?” Say, “My boss and I did not see eye to eye.” Then add something else that is positive that you accomplished.

Never say more than one sentence at a time about that vile, filthy, back stabbing, dog kicking boss. Remember the Grinch’s cat still purrs when he pets it. Make each short comment about him as positive as you can. Follow that sentence with something positive you were able to get done at that job.

The best thing you can do is GET OVER IT. Forgive the louse. No. Forgive the man. Stop brooding. It affects your attitude. Hate will make it much harder to get a job. Interviewers can smell your discontent.

Forgive, forget, and get on with your life. Do you really think you will be telling every interviewer for the next 20 years about that boss? You won’t. The time to stop telling people about that boss is now.

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Something To Do Today

Had a boss you hated? Make a list of 10 things you accomplished there. Not your job duties, things you made better. Accomplishments. Use that list every time you are asked about the job.

Category Archives: Interviews

15 ways to blow your job interview subliminally

5 Weeks – How to find a job in 5 weeks

The critical email most job seekers fail to send

2 critical interview questions you should always ask the hirer

How to overcome an employer’s resistance to hiring you

How to beat personality tests and FAQ

Job interview – Good manners

How early do I get to the job interview? (and what if I am late?)

What to ask in the interview – the 4 best questions

My last job stunk, what do I say?

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