Employers talk all the time about job seekers misrepresenting themselves on their resumes and during interviews. But what happens when the tables are turned and interviewers show poor form by misrepresenting the job? What do you do when employers misrepresent themselves? I recently had a long conversation with a client who was highly disillusioned. When he decided to Read More
Become interview savvy
Interviews can be really stressful. Part of that stress is the pressure you feel that you may be "caught out" by not having the right knowledge or skills. Confidence comes when you can happily 'strut your stuff' and talk on the same level as those who interview you. Here's a few tips on how to become interview savvy, so that when you walk in that door, you're talking the Read More
Survival tips: internal interviews for promotion
Internal Interviews for Promotion: What do you say when they know you so well? Internal interviews can be tricky. You're not a shiny unknown employee, you're a person they know with baggage and imperfections. But with that, you also offer a degree of predicability and the value that comes with knowing the company, the main players and how things work. I spoke Read More
When rehearsing for a job interview backfires
The interview has just started. Pleasantries are exchanged and the candidate—we'll call her Jill—is confident. She's been rehearsing for a job interview like this a million times since getting the call. She's prepared. Word perfect in fact. "So! We'll get right into it," the interviewer says as he smiles at her encouragingly. "What I'd like to know first, is how Read More
Telephone Interviews: Are You Prepared?
So many first impressions are made on how a jobseeker looks. But what if the first job interview is a telephone interview? Phone interviews focus on content, not appearance, so this process can be a real boon for many who may be concerned about age discrimination or judged by the way they look. It does put a whole new focus though on what you say and how you say it, and Read More
Employment Background Checks and You
In 2009/2010 374,500 people in Australia had been "up close and personal" with the Australian justice system. It would be fair to assume that in the past three years what with the growing demand for police action on our roads, and the pressures of job lay-offs and a turbulent economy, that those figures will have increased. It is also fair to assume that many of those Read More
11 Things Not to Do During Phone Interviews
Interview Skills Are Vital Here are 11 things not to do during phone interviews. Are you honing your interview skills now? Take a job interview phone call at work or at a cafe. Make sure you are someplace quiet to take the call. Interrupt your interviewer. Make sure he or she has finished asking the question before you answer. Wait a second or two before Read More
When the questions turn to salary in a post GFC world, tell the truth
The downturn in the world economy during, and following the GFC has influenced the way people accept job offers. For many, that means just "settling". Instead of expecting to enjoy a salary bump when progressing from job-to-job, people all over the world have simply accepted whatever role and salary was offered, because, in the long run, paying the bills and eating are Read More
Be on Message and On Track: That’s What Interviewers Want
"Next!" calls the Casting Director, inviting the actor onto the stage. "So", he says flipping through the notes on the table. "It says here that you were the understudy for the lead role in Phantom of the Opera, correct?" "Yes sir" says the actor nervously. "I also played Macbeth in the Shakespeare Company's latest production of the same name, and prior to that was Read More
I Hate My New Job: How Could I Have Known?
After just six weeks in his new job following months of unemployment, Andrew voluntarily resigned. It sure wasn't what he had expected to happen! Yet, here he was; walking away from a job where from day one he felt excluded. He could remember his first day well. It started badly with his manager confiding that she had gone against her judgement in hiring him. He was older, Read More
Time to ‘fess up: explaining yourself at interview
Okay so you made a mistake at your last job. A really, really big one. You lost your temper when you were frustrated and you cursed loudly and publicly. Suffice to say that your team considered your actions unacceptable. Some called it workplace bullying. Of course you have remorse. You felt bad the minute these things passed your lips and when you saw the expression on Read More
Obsessive Worrying: It doesn’t help your job search
Many jobseekers take worrying to a whole new level until they become obsessive about the impression they will make at interview. They fear they are not dressed appropriately, that sweaty palms will be a deal breaker when they shake hands, or that they will be found to be inadequate in some way. They talk themselves into a lather of "what ifs". What if I stutter when I'm Read More
Was it Them or Me? Communicating Your Achievements
Communicating achievements is cited as one of the key issues jobseekers consider a real challenge. Some people are reluctant to be frank about what they do well; they feel squeamish about recounting tales of how they distinguished themselves against their peers and consider it bragging (and we all know that nobody likes an show-off!) As a result, people tend to talk in Read More
Going up? The 30-second Elevator Pitch
Dave the job seeker assured me he had prepared this elevator pitch. “Okay!” I said, “Hit me with it”. He began. “I was born in 1969 in Melbourne Australia” he started. I went to school at Box Hill South Primary School until I was 12 or so, and then I became a student at Box Hill High School.” His story continued... ….“So my first job was at fifteen where I Read More
Recruiters: Brick Walls or “Holders of the Secrets”?
Recruiters appear to be at the top of most jobseekers’ hit lists. Most people I have come across are certainly soured by the recruiter/jobseeker relationship, united in their criticisms that search consultants are the impenetrable brick wall to job search success; the self-serving, commission-focused obstructionist front line preventing a love match between the candidate Read More
An interview? Don’t panic – have a plan!
Your heart skips a beat as you disconnect the call. A combination of nausea and elation hit you as you turn to your partner wide-eyed, incredulous. "I got the interview" you say quietly as if by saying it louder you'll somehow make it untrue. As you grasp the reality, you grin and laugh. "I got the interview!" you repeat while performing a tiny jig at the kitchen Read More
