Time’s Work in Progress blog offered a peek today at a survey we recently commissioned on Internet job searches. Time staff writer Lisa Takeuchi Cullen reports:
[A] survey … from RiseSmart—a job search site that “caters to jobseekers earning $100K or more and that’s backed by former CareerBuilder and HotJobs execs”—finds one in three people already employed spends an hour a day looking for a new job.
Lisa then poses this question to her readers: “Are you one of them? Why?”
That’s a topic for another post (or several), but for those who saw Lisa’s post, we wanted to let you know that the full results of our survey will be released soon. Stay tuned.
1. You’re a brand. Act that way.
2. Know the company.
3. Know your interviewers.
4. Go ahead, wear a pantsuit.
5. Make eye contact.
6. Handle sensitive questions with finesse.
7. Ask the right questions.
8. Be assertive — ask for the job.
9. Get contact information and send individual thank you notes.
Many people say “Tell me about yourself” is the most difficult interview question. That’s wrong on two counts.
First, it’s not actually a question; it’s a request.
Second, it gives you complete freedom to say whatever you want. If you’re prepared, it’s the best single question you can be asked.
In the three videos below, Denham Resources offers an example of a GOOD response to “Tell me about yourself,” a BAD one, and an UGLY one.
Here’s the good response:
Here’s the bad one:
And here’s the ugly one:
My thoughts on the videos above is that the points made in all three are well-said. I would argue, however, that the GOOD answer could be much better. I’m a firm believer that interviewers tune out of long answers during interviews, and this is a long answer. It goes in too many directions. I think it’s better to stop after making a couple of points, and to do so in a way that an interviewer will naturally want to ask you a follow-up question.
Brian Krueger of CollegeGrad.com has some good general advice on “Tell me about yourself” here:
Here’s a chuckle: A reader asks Marie Claire’s “Cubicle Coach” what she should do at her next company outing — since at the last one her bikini top came down and she accidentally flashed everyone. CC’s advice: Go to the gathering, but “to avoid any easy memory association, stay away from the water. This time, stick to macaroni salad and Wiffle ball.”
We generally deal with the concerns of $100K+ executives at RiseSmart, but with commencement season upon us, we thought we’d offer some tips for new college grads looking to land their first job. Here are some tips from RiseSmart Blog contributor Heather Johnson:
The job interview, for anybody, can be a harrowing experience. It is even more frightening for the recent college graduate. You’re finally in the real world and everything has seemingly taken on greater importance. The safety net that supported you through the last four years is gone. You’re living on your own, your parents are more reluctant to help out, and you might live far away from your friends.
It’s time to carve out a living and the first interview is your first test. Here are five things to keep in mind so you can walk away with a positive feeling:
1. Preparation is crucial. Being prepared doesn’t simply mean that you’re ready with a quick response to any potential question the interviewer may ask. A big part of the interview will come when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions. Be ready to ask at least two or three. Make sure you’ve researched the company inside and out. This will show you have legitimate interest in the position.
2. Tend to every detail. Call at least three days before the interview for confirmation of the location and time of the interview. Find out the name of who you will be interviewing with. Have extra copies of your resume and references available. Drive to the office where the interview is taking place to ensure there are no snags the day you actually have to be there.
3. You can only make one first impression. Politeness and an easygoing manner are crucial. Pushiness is a turnoff. If you’re debating whether to wear a suit, wear the suit. Only take a seat when you’ve been offered one. Follow the interviewer’s lead and answer the questions asked.
4. Be punctual. This is a no-brainer, right? Well, this goes back to No. 2. Know where the interview is taking place and make sure you know how to get there. And get there at least 15 minutes early. If you arrive early and the interviewer is ready to start, this will only make you look better in their eyes. Remember you’re on their schedule.
5. Go short instead of long. If you feel as if you’re rambling then you probably are. The interviewer can only process so much information at once. You don’t want your major point to get lost in a bunch of unnecessary words. Be concise and thorough. This can be a tough skill to master so get a friend to ask you potential questions and practice!
[Heather Johnson is an industry critic on the subject of how to become a nurse. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.]
Pegasus News is a popular Dallas-Fort Worth news Web site owned by Fisher Communications. Reporter Minnie Payne published a story today on RiseSmart. An excerpt –
In today’s economy with many companies downsizing or consolidating, top executives in the $100,000-plus-a-year job range are finding themselves displaced. Ask any person who has ever been or is in this spot and they’ll tell you that it’s a full-time job trying to find that perfect position. RiseSmart, a Carrollton firm, aims to help through their 26-member off-shore “concierge” service to jobseekers.
Dan Schawbel at Personal Branding magazine has released a preview of his May issue, which features an interview with Robert McGovern, founder of JobFox and CareerBuilder.com.
In association with this cover story, I’m fortunate to be interviewed as one of 10 “thought leaders” on job hunting. I encourage you to check it out.
Martin Desmarais of the IndUS Business Journal published a profile of RiseSmart last week. An excerpt —
RiseSmart is not without competition in the executive online job search market – competitors include TheLadders and ExecuNet – but the company separates itself by actively searching the Web for jobs, as opposed to relying on recruiters or companies to post jobs to its site…
According to Sathe, he came up with the idea for RiseSmart during his own job search for an executive position in 2006. He said he tried executive search firms, as well as looking on his own online and was disappointed in the results, particularly in searching online. “There was a huge mess. There was literally thousands of listings and posting,” he said. His quest with RiseSmart was to help combat this mess.
And, so far, Sathe is happy with the way things have turned out.
“I think our service will alleviate the pain of a lot of people in the job search,” he said. “Plus, with the economy today and layoffs, we can help people find jobs.”
With Americans fearful of a recession, the competition for $100K+ jobs has become more intense than it has been in years. In this environment, it’s more important than ever for jobseekers to be well-prepared for job interviews — particularly when they are seeking their first $100K+ job.
To help candidates break the $100K+ barrier, here are five tips to help you in the interview process:
1. Brand yourself. To be a $100k+ manager or executive, you must have a brand — a one-sentence or one-phrase way to powerfully describe yourself in your interview. Don’t just tell the person where you worked and what your responsibilities were. Instead, tell them you’re a ‘sales turnaround expert’ who’s ‘tough-minded’ and ‘thrives under pressure.’ That’s the kind of meaty characterization that recruiters use in pitching candidates to employers, and it’s how you need to present yourself in the big interview.
2. Know the employer. One of the biggest differences between the candidate who gets the $100k+ job and the one stuck forever in five figures is doing your homework before the interview. If you can reference and react intelligently to what journalists, investment analysts and others have said and written about your potential employer, you present yourself as a leader who thinks strategically — not a worker bee who waits around to be handed a new task.
3. Dress for the part. Dress for the side of the $100K salary line you want to be on. For example, high-powered male executives are far more likely to wear French cuffs than sub-$100K managers. So add a couple of new shirts and some nice cufflinks to your wardrobe – at least for your job interviews. Female executives, meanwhile, tend to dress more conservatively as they move up the corporate ladder – favoring high-end pantsuits over skirts, cardigans and other early-career options.
4. Don’t ramble — be concise. Answer questions thoroughly, but then stop. If you feel the need to continue talking simply because the interviewer hasn’t asked the next question, you’ll come off as weak and indecisive — not a leader. Some interviewers like to put you in awkward situations just to see how you’ll respond to them. Don’t take the bait; stay in control – especially of what comes out of your mouth.
5. Ask for the job. If you want to win your first $100K+ job, you need to show mental toughness in your interview – so bring your hard hat, not your pacifier. Bashful people don’t become $100K+ executives. Do you want the job? Then ask for it directly. Employers respect assertiveness, particularly for leadership positions.
Heather S. Hughes has a great post at the Black Star Rising photographers’ blog where she discusses making the career change from newspaper staffer to wedding photographer. It looks like her career transition should go well — and the reason is how well she’s planned for it. As she puts it:
I chose wedding photography because it is stable (people will always get married), requires advanced planning (most are booked at least six months out), and will still allow me to work as a freelance photojournalist on stories I care about. I am taking the plunge now because wedding season starts soon…
To my credit, or not, I am an obsessive planner and enjoy organizing and making lists … I read a lot of books to help me with my lists, and things were added to it each week, which is why it is important to start this process before you leave your job, so you aren’t rushed into making mistakes. Lists also help you figure out what will make you happy and what you really want. They can reassure you that you’re making the right decision.
We know what many of you might say in response: I’m too busy — too engaged — in my current job to start planning for what I’ll do next.
Believe me, we understand. And that’s one of the main reasons we created RiseSmart. We know that $100k+ managers and executives often don’t have 30 to 40 hours per month to devote to searching for their next job online. And so we do it for you.
Now what’s your excuse for not planning ahead?
ABP. Always Be Planning. It’s about the best career advice we can give.
