Tips Source

1:
Last-Minute Interview
Preparation
By Doug Hardy, Monster Staff Writer
Even if you have less than a day before your job
interview, you can outshine the competition with a little
interview preparation. The following four tasks will take
you about four hours (plus five minutes) to complete,
and you'll walk into the interview confident you'll be
successful.
Conduct Basic Interview Research
To prepare for an interview, find out as much as you can
beforehand. Call the person who scheduled your
interview and ask:
Who will you be talking to? Will you meet the
manager you'd work for, or will you just talk to
HR? What are the interviewer's expectations?
What's the dress code? Dress better than
suggested. Most times, it's best to wear a
professional suit. You'd be amazed how many
candidates show up looking like they're going to
class, not presenting a professional demeanor.
Get directions to the office. Plan to leave early.
Keep a phone number to call if you get stuck on
the bus or in traffic. If you arrive late and
stressed, the interview will not go well.
If you don't have a detailed job description, ask
for one.
That's a five-minute phone call.

Learn About the Company Online

Do some fast Web research, which will give you
something to talk about in addition to the job description.
Go to the employer's Web site, or search the Web for
information such as:

How big is the company in terms of annual sales

or employees?
What does the company say about its products
or services?
What recent news (such as a new product, a
press release, an interview with the CEO) can
you discuss?

If the company is public, the boilerplate at the

bottom of its press releases will tell you a lot.
Basic research should take you about an hour.

Think of Some Stories

Be ready to answer typical interview questions with a
story about yourself. To prepare, write down and
memorize three achievement stories. Tell about times
you've really felt proud of an achievement at work or
school. These stories demonstrate all those hard-tomeasure qualities like judgment, initiative, teamwork or
leadership. Wherever possible, quantify what you've
done, e.g., "increased sales by 20 percent," "cut
customer call waiting time in half," "streamlined delivery
so that most customers had their job done in two days."
By the way, nonwork achievement stories are good too;
if you volunteer for the local food pantry, write down a
time you overcame a big challenge or a crisis there.
Achievement stories make you memorable, which is
what you want. There's an exercise in Monster Careers:
Interviewing called "Mastering the Freestyle Interview,"
which helps you develop these stories into compelling
sales points.
Take the time you need -- at least three hours on this
task.
Pick Your Outfit, and Go to Bed Early
Lay out your interview outfit the night before, get a good
night's rest, and always get an early start. The last thing
you want is to waste all of your interview preparation by
arriving flustered and panicked because you couldn't find
a parking space.

Tips Source
2:
Dress Appropriately for
Interviews
By Thad Peterson, Monster Staff Writer
What do I wear to the interview? It's a question millions
of people agonize over on some level while looking for a
job.
The bad news is that there are few cut-and-dried
answers. As the saying goes, there's no accounting for
taste, and each interviewer has his unique sense of
what's appropriate interview attire. The good news?
Deciding what to wear isn't as difficult as you might
think.
Dress One or Two Levels Up
"The rule of thumb is that you dress one or two levels
higher than the job that you're going for," explains Kate
Wendleton, president and founder of the Five O'Clock
Club, a national career counseling and outplacement
firm. "If you were going for a job as a mechanic, you
wouldn't go in there in dirty overalls, even though that's
how you would dress for that kind of work. You would
still go in there and show respect. You would go in with
an open-collar shirt, clean pants and maybe a jacket."
As Wendleton puts it, by dressing a notch or two above
what's standard apparel for the position you're
interviewing for, "you're definitely showing that you care
about this job, and that you know the game."
Caution Is The Better Part of Valor
When it's time to get dressed for the interview,
remember: It's not so much that you're trying to get the
job with what you wear; rather, it's more a matter of not
taking yourself out of contention with your presentation,
Wendleton says. "Interviewers can decide in 10 seconds
that they don't want you," she adds. "It will take them
longer to decide they do want you." Chances are good
that by dressing on the conservative side, you won't
unintentionally disqualify yourself. But trying to
demonstrate how hip you are with your exposed lower
back tattoos or laid-back Juicy Couture outfit could
backfire.
This Isn't 1999

Once upon a time during the dotcom heyday, "people

would come in with nose rings and sandals, and
because there really was a severe labor shortage, they'd
get hired," Wendleton recounts.
She says that young, freshly minted grads often make
the mistake these days of going too casual, perhaps
confusing what once was with what now is. "These days,
people are not desperate for you," she says. "Recent
grads tend to dress like they're students at interviews.
Nobody forgives that. Not in this market."
Use Your Judgment
Is a suit always a must in an interview? Absolutely not.
Michael Smith, who recently searched for a job in the
Chicago area, went on an interview in the midst of a
bitter cold snap in that region. "So instead of wearing a
suit, I wore black slacks and a sweater," Smith says.
"The sweater was large and cable-knit but very nice and
high quality. The interviewer actually said to me that it
was nice to see something other than a suit walk through
his door. And a week later, I got the job."
So be sure to learn about an industry's fashion culture;
some are obviously more casual than others. It's also
usually fine to inquire about the dress code while setting
up the interview. An Armani coat and tie or your nice
Ann Taylor outfit may not be required if you discover the
dress code is casual.
"But it's never fine to go in with a collarless shirt,"
Wendleton warns. And for men, she suggests putting on
a jacket, even when not wearing a tie.
You Might Not Want to Be Too True to Yourself
There are those who say it's pointless to dress for an
interview in a way that you wouldn't once you're on the
job. Why misrepresent yourself to a future employer or
try to be someone you're not?
"If you want to have eight earrings and have your tongue
pierced, that's fine," Wendleton says. "But you're
showing you don't know how to play the game. If it's so
important to you, go ahead and dress like you normally
do, but realize that you may not get the job."

Tips Source
3:
What to Wear to an Interview
By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer
You have a job interview tomorrow. You've learned
everything about the company, you're prepared for any
questions they ask, and you even arrived a few minutes
early. You couldn't be more ready.
But when you stop in the restroom for a last look in the
mirror, your mind starts racing: "Am I dressed the way I
should be for this interview?"
"In an interview situation, you're marketing yourself as a
product, and so you want and need to have the best
image possible," says Amy Glass, a trainer and coach at
Brody Communications Ltd. of Jenkintown,
Pennsylvania, and an expert on presentation
skills, business etiquette, professional presence
andinterpersonal communication.
Presenting a professional image is more about doing
your homework than spending money. So as you
prepare for your interview, keep these wardrobe tips in
mind.
It's OK to Ask What to Wear
In many traditional industries, like finance or
accounting, business professional dress will be
appropriate: A conservative suit, shirt and tie if you're a
man, or a conservative suit if you're a woman, with -perhaps -- personality shown through your shirt or
jewelry, Glass says. In other industries such as
advertising, public relations, graphic design and
information technology, what to wear might be less clear.
If that's the case, Glass says, ask about the company's
general dress policies when you're first contacted about
an interview.
"You can say to the person you speak with, 'I want to
make sure I understand your company culture and dress
appropriately,'" Glass notes. "It's not a bad thing at all. In
fact, it shows respect."
If in doubt, err on the conservative side. "I've been
overdressed at times, and that can be uncomfortable,"
Glass says. "But that's much better than being
underdressed."

Shop Smart
You don't have to buy several suits for different
interviews at the same company. In many instances, you
can get by with one suit combined with what Glass calls
a "capsule dressing" strategy -- varying what you wear
with the suit each time.
"If I'm a young woman and I invest in a nice black
pantsuit, I could use that one suit for interviews, but
change the shirt, jewelry or scarf each time," says Glass.
You Don't Need to Spend a Fortune
Visit higher-end stores, like Nordstrom or Neiman
Marcus, to look at interview clothes, Glass says. But
when you're ready to buy something and money is tight,
head for the outlet stores.
When considering your purchasing options look not so
much at the specific price tags on various garments, but
at the "cost per wearing," suggests Glass.
"Suppose you see a suit that's $150. If it's a trendy cut
and it wasn't made of great fabric, you might be able to
wear it once a month for two years. So your cost per
wearing is fairly high. If you buy something for $300
instead, in a cut that will last longer -- not trendy but not
old-fashioned either, and not screaming the year it was
made -- your cost per wearing goes down dramatically.
So don't look at the original price so much as how long
the piece will be useful to you."
Don't Neglect Accessories
If you have leather shoes, Glass says, make sure they're
shined. If you have suede shoes, make sure they're
brushed. And if your shoes are five years old, have the
soles redone at a shoemaker. If you have a leather
briefcase and it's still in good shape, now's the time to
use it. If you don't, a nice portfolio binder will do just fine.
Will all the effort and expense you put into your
professional image for your interview make any
difference? Absolutely, Glass says. In fact, it's essential.
"Your image matters because it shows your
attentiveness to detail and gives recruiters an idea of
how you'll represent their company to clients, both
internally and externally," Glass concludes. "The visual
message you send makes a big difference in how you're
perceived and, ultimately, whether or not you get the
job."

Tips Source
4:
Build Your Brand
By Barbara Reinhold, Monster Contributing Writer
Who makes your favorite shoes or outfits? What
beverage calls your name when you need a pick-me-up?
Whose movies won't you miss? Whose help do you seek
when you want a project done right, at home or at work?
All of these questions involve your reactions to a
particular brand -- a collection of assumptions about
quality, appeal and reliability that you've made in
response to repeated experience with a variety of
possible products, people or services. Here's the
important thing: Whether you like to think about it or not,
right now there are people thinking about your very own
brand of whatever you are and do, and they're deciding
if they want to make it one of their favorites.
International branding strategist Robin Fisher Roffer,
author of Make a Name for Yourself, suggests eight
steps to help women develop and project their own
brands.
Eight Essential Steps
1. Identify the primary "product" (service, resource,
special ability, etc.) you have to offer others.
2. Identify your core values. What really matters to you?
3. Identify your passions. What things or ideas do you
love?
4. Identify your talents. What have you always been
recognized for (particularly as a kid)? What do you do
better than most other people? What skills do people
seem to notice in you?
5. From your hopefully long list of talents and qualities,
choose the top five, the ones you do best and enjoy
doing the most.
6. Weave the items on all your lists into a statement of
your specialty. What are you particularly gifted at
delivering?
7. Write a paragraph emphasizing your specialty and
your five key talents, weaving in your most important
values, passions and skills.

8. Now add a tag line to your brand.

The Tag Line Tells Your Story
A coach I know who consults by phone -- primarily
helping six-figure earners work their way even further up
the corporate ladder -- goes by this tag line: "A coach for
successful people to help them be even more
successful." A senior project manager working in the
crossfire between the marketing group and packaging
designers at a stressful manufacturing facility has
developed this tag line: "An efficient problem solver who
understands and enjoys both the creativity of designers
and the practicality of marketers." My tag line for my
counseling and coaching practice is this: "The
permissionary -- a visionary realist to help you discover
and manifest your dreams.
A tag line's shorthand helps other people remember a
key point about you. At the Pioneer Valley of
Massachusetts chapter of the NAWBO (National
Association of Women Business Owners) breakfast
meetings, every member and guest stands up and
introduces herself via her tag line, or verbal business
card. In this organization, the women remember each
other's tag lines as easily as their names, and after each
month's meeting, hundreds of ripples go out about each
of the women attending and what she has to offer. And it
works for entrepreneurs and employees alike.
Get the Word Out
Once you've worked over your tag line and the other
items on the list for a few days or weeks, it's time to take
them public with someone you trust. Keeping them
secret is a sure way to never act on them.
The road to career disappointment is littered with lists,
dreams and goals never shared with anyone. So get
your "brand me" musings out into the light of day to
solicit support and constructive criticism from someone
else. And you could be a brand adviser for that person in
return. And it would be even better is you could get four
or five women together regularly to encourage and
critique each other's branding strategies and activities.
Creating and building your unique brand is an organic
and ongoing process. So consider yourself and your
career a work in progress, and reach out to get and give
as much help as possible as your brand shifts and
matures across the expanse of your career.

Tips Source
5:
Work Values Checklist
By Pat Boer, Monster Contributing Writer
Every day, we make choices -- some without careful
consideration. Whether we realize it or not, often our
career choice is based on values rather than the work.
Values are the beliefs, attitudes and judgments we prize.
Are you aware of your values? Do you act on them?
Use this checklist to get a better idea of what's important
to you. It's divided into three categories related to
intrinsic, extrinsic and lifestyle values.
Intrinsic Values
These are the intangible rewards, those related to
motivation and satisfaction at work on a daily basis.
They provide the inner satisfaction and motivation that
make people say, "I love getting up and going to work!"
How important (on a scale of one to five; five being most
important) are these intrinsic values to you?
1. _____ Variety and change at work
2. _____ Be an expert
3. _____ Work on the frontiers of knowledge
4. _____ Help others
5. _____ Help society
6. _____ Experience adventure/excitement
7. _____ Take risks/have physical challenges
8. _____ Feel respected for your work
9. _____ Compete with others
10. _____ Have lots of public contact
11. _____ Influence others
12. _____ Engage in precision work
13. _____ Gain a sense of achievement
14. _____ Opportunities to express your creativity
15. _____ Work for a good cause
Extrinsic Values
These are the tangible rewards or conditions you find at
work, including the physical setting, job titles, benefits
and earnings/earning potential. Extrinsic values often
trap people into staying at jobs they don't like, saying: "I
just can't give up my paycheck!" They are commonly
called "golden handcuffs."

How important (on a scale of one to five; five being most

important) are these "golden handcuffs" to you?
1. _____ Have control/power/authority
2. _____ Travel often
3. _____ Be rewarded monetarily
4. _____ Be an entrepreneur
5. _____ Work as a team
6. _____ Work in a fast-paced environment
7. _____ Have regular work hours
8. _____ Set your own hours/have flexibility
9. _____ Be wealthy
10. _____ Have prestige or social status
11. _____ Have intellectual status
12. _____ Have recognition through
awards/honors/bonuses
13. _____ Wear a uniform
14. _____ Work in an aesthetically pleasing environment
15. _____ Work on the edge, in a high-risk environment
Lifestyle Values
These are the personal values associated with how and
where you want to live, how you choose to spend your
leisure time and how you feel about money.
How important (on a scale of one to five; five being most
important) are these lifestyle values to you?
1. _____ Save money
2. _____ Vacation at expensive resorts
3. _____ Have access to educational/cultural
opportunities
4. _____ Live close to sports/recreational facilities
5. _____ Be active in your community
6. _____ Entertain at home
7. _____ Be involved in politics
8. _____ Live simply
9. _____ Spend time with family
10. _____ Live in a big city
11. _____ Live abroad
12. _____ Have time for spirituality/personal growth
13. _____ Be a homeowner
14. _____ Live in a rural setting
15. _____ Have fun in your life and at work
Once you have completed all three checklists, write
down all the values you rated as 5s. If you have less
than five, add the values you rated as 4s to the list. If
your list of 4s and 5s has more than 20 values, you need
to stop and prioritize your list. To prioritize, select no
more than four or five values from each category.
Next, analyze which of the three categories is most
important to you. Consider how each is reflected in the
work you currently do or in the position you would like to
find. Look for overlap or values that seem to go together,
such as "be wealthy" from Extrinsic Values and "save
money" from Lifestyle Values. If there is no overlap or
compatibility between categories, or if everything is
important to you, then reprioritize your list by selecting

your top 10 values. Then narrow that list down to the five
values you absolutely need both on and off the job.
Finally, write two or three sentences describing or
summarizing how your values will translate into your
ideal job. Knowing what's important will help you prepare
for your next interview or help you find increased
satisfaction with the job you have.
As you follow the process, if you notice that what
motivates you is actually a reward or already part of your
lifestyle, it means you're living your values.

Tips Source
6:

equipment," says Julie Jansen, author of I Don't Know

What I Want, But I Know It's Not This.

Passion Can Drive Your Career

Inject Passion into Your Job Opportunistically

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing

Writer
Whether it last happened today or 20 years ago, most of
us have been hit with that pit-of-the-stomach, Mondaymorning moment of questioning: Why do I work here? Is
this all there is?
What's missing for many American workers is passion, a
positive emotional connection to our work -- often our
most energy-consuming pursuit. The good news is that
with introspection, planning, action and support, you can
redirect your career to incorporate what truly excites and
invigorates you.
Passion Drives the Most Successful Careers
In the context of work, passion is more than a best-seller
buzzword, according to Sally Hogshead, author
ofRadical Careering. "The word passion' has a cheesy
connotation, but you have to see it as a nonnegotiable
element of your career success," she says. "In fact, if
you're going to be your most successful, you have to be
passionate."
To put the drive back into your career, you first must get
back in touch with what energizes you. "Look back over
the course of your life -- even back to when you were 12
years old -- and seek patterns in what you like about
what you've done," says Lawler Kang, author of Passion
at Work. "Try to come up with a high-level passion, even
a mission. Then ask, Does this job meet my personal
mission?' whatever that mission is."
Your passion may take many forms: working with
people, grappling with an organizational puzzle, telling
stories or building that better mousetrap. It's wise to
come up with more than one endeavor that energizes
you, because some passions don't lend themselves
easily to a career.
Put Passion into Your Work
Don't make the mistake of assuming that any work
activity that touches on your passion will automatically
gratify you. "Even if you're interested in golf, it's unlikely
you'll stay interested in working in a golf store and selling

Suppose you've got the talent and decide you want to be

a golf pro. For a successful candidacy, you need to lay
out a plan that will help you put all the pieces together.
"You've got to get some substantial stuff on your resume
-- fill in the blanks, repackage yourself, get training,"
says Jansen. A reality check with professionals in your
target occupation is key.

Of course, many of us don't have the time and money to

undertake a total career change. Big changes typically
come with big expenses. But some professionals
develop creative ways to infuse their careers with a
passion that has been a long-term avocation.
"A client of mine, an account executive at a global ad
agency, is passionate about health," says William
Arruda, a consultant with Reach Communications
Consulting. "So she came up with several ways to inject
her passion into the daily grind." The account executive
worked with the on-site cafeteria to design healthful
menus, led after-work yoga and kickboxing courses and
gained a healthcare company as a client.
That's one way to serve up a career with a side of
passion.

Tips Source
7:
The 5 Dumbest Things to Say in
a Job Interview
By Dominique Rodgers
Monster Contributing Writer
Job interviews can be stressful for everyone involved.
The interviewer feels pressure to make the best hire,
and the candidate can feel like they are being put under
a microscope. Its not hard to see why so many of us
have horror stories of answers we botched, questions
we forgot to ask, or a host of other things wed love to do
over.
In the pantheon of dumb things to say in a job interview,
we all know the classics: bringing up salary right away,
speaking poorly of your former employer, and the
inexcusable Excuse me while I take this call.
Here are five more items to add to that list.
I just need a job.
Gaye Weintraub, a career counselor in Houston, says
shes been hearing this one a lot lately as more and
more people search for jobs. This is absolutely one of
the worst things a candidate can tell a potential
employer, even if it's true! Employers are searching for
new hires that genuinely want to work in that position
with that company. Weintraub added, They want
employees who will thrive in the position and remain
loyal to the company.
What's in it for me?
This question, out loud, would obviously be a horrible
thing to say in an interview. What if youre saying this,
however, without actually saying it? Management
consultant Barry Maher was involved in an unfortunate
interview like this recently. The first three questions
from the applicant were, in order: How much vacation
time do I get? How long do I have to be here before I'm
eligible for a vacation? How long before I start to accrue
additional weeks of vacation? What had looked like a
great applicant, now looked like someone who couldn't
wait to get out of work. The same goes for questions
about benefits, how soon youll get a promotion, or any
other scenario that looks like you want to get more out of
the job than you will give to it.

I'm also interviewing with ________.

According to Lauren Milligan, founder and CEO
of ResuMAYDAY, you shouldnt mention other
interviews youve scheduled or other companies you
might want to work for. Letting the interviewer know that
you are interviewing elsewhere immediately makes them
less interested in you. Companies don't want to compete
for your enthusiasm. Even if you are interviewing
elsewhere, make them feel that you have a laser beam
focus on them, and no one else. Mentioning other
interviews wont make you seem sought-after; it will
make you seem unprofessional.
Nothing.
There is no excuse for not having any questions for the
interviewer. Interviews are two-way streets. The
company wants to know if you are match for them. You
want to know if the company is a match for you. When
that point comes in the interview, it's your chance to find
out, says Mic Fleming. The principal
at YESShrsuggests questions like: What do you like best
about this company?, Is there anything else you need to
know about my application that we haven't covered?, or
something highlighting the companys accomplishments.
Fleming added, At least flatter me that you've done
some homework about the company.
The wrong name.
Take the time to make certain you know the name of
your interviewer. You dont want to start off the interview
process by asking the receptionist that youre there to
talk with maybe David? Donald? By the time he or she
tracks down the correct person, everyone will know you
werent prepared. This small step seems trivial but it is
absolutely vital.

Tips Source
8:
Why You Keep Falling Short In
Job Interviews
Could one of these five fatal mistakes be keeping
you from landing a job?

Were not talking about proofreading your resume for

typos -- that should be a given. One small mistake that's
made all too often is not accounting for time zones when
doing a phone or video interview, says Chris Brown,
director of human resources at InterCall.
He says he scheduled to interview someone located in
California at 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific, but the
interviewee logged in for his interview at 1 p.m. Pacific,
clearly not accounting for the time change. The
interviewee missed the call. This simple mistake
knocked him out of the running for the position, Brown
says.
You talk about retiring

By Catherine Conlan
Monster Contributing Writer

While retirement is a natural topic of discussion for

workers of a certain age, this kind of honest dialog can
be a detriment, Meier says. Talking about retirement can
make it seem like youre counting the days until you can
stop working.

If youre being called in for interviews but cant quite

seem to land a job, its time to take a look at what might
be holding you back. Here are some ways you might be
falling short in job interviews.

He also encourages military veterans to avoid using the

word retirement to describe the end of their service.
The word retirement should be banished from your
vocabulary.

You let down your guard

You fail to follow up

While its important to connect with interviewers, you

dont want to get too friendly, says Jeff Altman, host
ofJob Search Radio. He recently had a candidate on the
final long-distance interview before being flown in for the
in-person interview, and it was going very well. The area
head and candidate were getting along great, laughing
and joking with each other. Then the area head asked a
question and the candidate replied, I'll give you the
answer at the whiteboard when we meet."

Sending a thank you to the interviewers after an

interview is good form and shows courtesy, respect for
their time, and genuine interest in the job, says Trevor
Simm, founder and president of OpalStaff. Plus, it
keeps the lines of communication open with the
employer. Always follow up after interviews.

There was no meeting, Altman says. The candidate

was rejected. He had confused the camaraderie of the
moment and lost track of the fact that this person was
still evaluating him and had every reason to expect an
answer.
You wave red flags
Obviously, you dont want to lie in a job interview. But if
youve made it to that stage, you need to keep in mind
that hiring managers are looking for red flags, so dont
show them any.
For example, if you ran your own business only to have
it fail, talk about the success it did have when times were
good instead of focusing on what went wrong. A
business owner who failed to renegotiate a lease and
lost access to his facility is not a good explanation as to
why you want another job, says Robert Meier, founder
of Job Market Experts.
You dont pay attention to detail

Tips Source
9:
The 4 Worst Things that Can
Happen in a Job Interview -And How to Handle Them with
Grace
By Dominique Rodgers
Monster Contributing Writer
Most people, at one time or another, will endure a job
interview that feels more like a comedic dream sequence
than a serious professional experience. Everything that
can go wrong will, and youll just have to find a way to
wrap things up as quickly and gracefully as possible.
How do you exit these nightmarish scenarios with your
dignity intact? Better yet, how do you potentially save the
interview and still get the job? Read on to find out.
You're late
Even if you leave yourself plenty of time to get to the
interview, there is always the possibility that there may
be an accident on the road or that there is construction
that you were not anticipating, says Cheryl Palmer,
owner of Call to Career, an executive coaching and
resume writing service.
If youll be late, call the interviewers office as soon as
you know. He or she may want to reschedule or may be
willing to wait a few extra minutes.
You have a wardrobe malfunction
In case you needed another reason to be on time,
consider this: You may need time to change
clothes.LegalAdvice.com Marketing Coordinator Patricia
Campbell once had someone knock an entire cup of
coffee onto her outfit while she was on the way to an
interview. Luckily, she had about 40 minutes to spare
and was able to run into a store, purchase another outfit,
change and still make it on time.
Anna Aquino once showed up to an interview in superhigh heels, only to be taken on a very uncomfortable
walking tour of the facility. The author and guest speaker
says she had to apologize to her interviewer for not
being able to keep up because her heels were pinching

so badly. Eventually she just took them off and held

them for the rest of the walk.
The interviewer laughed about it, she says. I got the
job. I think he appreciated the fact I was real about the
situation.
Your technology fails
Theres not much point in doing a video interview if no
one can hear you, the video keeps freezing or the
interviewer only gets a closeup of your nostrils. If this
happens, you end up wasting everyones time and
theres a chance theyll postpone or cancel the interview.
Plus, it makes you look unprepared and unprofessional,
says Chris Brown, director of human resources at Web
and video conferencing provider InterCall. If it happens,
deal with the glitches as quickly as possible without
showing frustration.
To keep it from happening, however, test your
equipment beforehand. The best thing you can do is
ask one of your friends or family members to do a test
run, Brown advises. This will allow you to check all
aspects of your system and determine if everything is
working OK. The person on the other end can also tell
you if you are making any errors, such as moving your
head out of view, talking too loudly, etc.
Your body rebels
Erik Bowitz sweats during stressful interviews. The
senior resume expert at Resume Genius says his
clothes and the temperature of the room dont matter,
hell always sweat buckets. Since carrying a towel
wouldnt be professional, he combats the problem by
asking the interviewer questions.
Whenever I feel myself beginning to sweat, I simply
double down on the pressure and begin asking my
interviewers questions, says Bowitz. By turning the
tables and putting them on the spot I alleviate the
pressure from myself and can cool down.
Recruiter Mark Phillips of Sanford Rose Associates once
had a candidate go into mild hypoglycemic shock
because of running a marathon the previous day. At that
point, what can you do besides acknowledge the
situation, make the best of it, and move on?
This type of emotional intelligence is what Phillips
advises in almost all interview disasters. He says,
Acknowledge the error. Name it. Apologize. Offer
explanations without being defensive. The key is to be
as ego-less as possible and engage the interviewer on
the topic in the moment.

Tips Source
10:
The 6 Worst Things to Wear to
a Job Interview
By Catherine Conlan
Monster Contributing Writer

When youre invited to a job interview, one wrong move

can blow your chances. Even wearing the wrong thing
can distract an employer from your polished resume and
outstanding experience.

Before you schedule your next interview, be sure to

review this list of the six worst things to wear for a job
interview.
Ill-Fitting Clothes

If you havent worn your interview outfit recently, you

might find it doesnt fit the way it used to. Dont try to pull
it off, though. You wont look your best and you wont
feel comfortable -- and it will show.

Better to wear an outfit that is tailored to suit you, rather

than anything that feels or looks too tight or too short,
says Stacy Lindenberg, owner of Talent Seed
Consulting. It may not only give the wrong impression, it
may also be distracting. Tugging at your skirt hem, for
example, is another distraction that takes away from the
focus on you and your skills.

loud, obnoxious colors, busy-printed shirts or overly

patterned ties. Take the conservative approach, and
save the fun stuff for after youve got the job.

Anything Distracting

Theres a fine line between standing out and wearing

something thats just distracting. In the interview
process, you should err on the side of caution and tone it
down. Better to choose subtle patterns over brighter
ones, and dark or neutral clothing versus neon colors or
anything distracting, Lindenberg says. You should be
the focus of the interview, not your clothing.

Women should not wear anything too revealing or low

cut, Simm says. No platform heels, no sun dresses,
nothing too trendy. Make up and jewelry should also be
toned down. For men
and women both, it's generally a good idea to stick with
the basics: a black, blue, or grey suit and the associated
conservative accoutrement."
Excessive Accessories

You might like to make a statement with your jewelry,

but the job interview isnt the time to do so, says Annette
Richmond, executive editor of Career Intelligence. Stay
away from jewelry that jingle-jangles, which can be very
distracting for an interviewer.

Experts advise against wearing perfume and cologne as

well. You may feel like something is missing when you
refrain from wearing your favorite fragrance, but this is
one more thing that can be distracting during the
interview, Lindenberg says. In addition, many people
have sensitivity or allergies to fragrances. Play it safe!
Something Very Different from What the Interviewer
Suggested

Overly Casual Clothes

Even if youre interviewing at a laid-back workplace, its

still possible to take the casual concept too far, says
Trevor Simm, founder and president of OpalStaff. Do
not wear jeans, tennis shoes, shorts, t-shirts, hats, flipflops, or any garments with messages or brands written
on them, he says. For men wearing a suit, do not wear

Its a good idea to ask about whats expected of you

when youre setting up a job interview. Always ask the
point person that set up the interview for advice on what
to wear, says Carl Sharperson, vice president of
theKidder Group recruiting firm. If you wear something
that is significantly different than the instructions that you

were given, then you stand a good chance of turning off

the interviewers.
The Obvious

Never attend any interview with ill-fitting, sweat-stained,

smelling like smoke, dog or cat hair covered clothing that
looks like something you slept in, says
headhunter Michael Mayher. Never wear the same
ensembles you would wear out to a bar or nightclub with
your friends. Mayher also says ridiculously sculpted
fingernails on women and pointy shoes and contrasting
socks for men are no-nos.

When in doubt, overdress for the first interview, he

says. If you're an adult and need to be told these things
you probably are not right for the job.

Tips Source
11:
Give Thanks, Get the Job

Recruiter Roundtable Discusses Thank-You Notes

The Recruiter Roundtable is a monthly feature that
collects career and job-seeking advice from a group of
recruiting experts throughout the US.
The question we put before our panel this month is:
"How much do thank-you letters from candidates
influence your hiring decisions?"
Market Yourself Well
Thank-you notes are a nice gesture, and I would always
encourage candidates to follow up with one after an
interview. However, as far as influencing a hiring
decision, I have yet to see someone being extended an
offer because of it. The strongest candidate will get the
offer. Every little bit helps in marketing yourself as the
best and most enthusiastic person for the role. If you do
send a thank-you note, always check for spelling and
grammar.
-- Bob Hancock, senior manager of global talent
acquisition, Electronic Arts
No Question About It
Sending a thank-you note is a must. When a job
candidate sends me a thank-you note, it shows me the
person is truly interested in the opportunity. This simple
gesture can distinguish one applicant over another. In
fact, when considering multiple people for an open
position, I typically recall who has and hasn't sent a
thank-you note.
The thank-you note is valuable for job seekers beyond
demonstrating their interest in a position. This also is an
opportunity to re-emphasize the skills and expertise they
would bring to the role and address any outstanding
concerns they may have from the interview.
The best strategy is to send a quick e-mail shortly after
the interview followed by a handwritten note. Whether
you choose to send a thank-you via e-mail or in writing,
the key is to send one.
-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American
permanent placement services, Robert Half International
A Good Way to Stand Out

While my hiring managers or I would not make a hiring

decision based solely on a thank-you note, a short and
well-written note from a candidate following an interview
will certainly not hurt their chances. As most candidates
don't follow up this way, you will automatically stand out
if you do, and this can set you apart from the crowd in a
positive way.
For example, a tasteful handwritten card sent to your
interviewer is thoughtful, and will probably end up on
their desk or bulletin board for a while, further reminding
them of you when they see it. An alternative is to send
an email note, which may appear more professional, will
arrive more quickly and has the advantage of being able
to be forwarded on to other interested parties within the
company.
-- Suzanne McFadden, senior technical staffing
consultant, Wells Fargo
Boost Your Impact Easily
According to surveys, about 85 percent of executives
say that a post-interview thank-you note has some
influence on the hiring decision. While only half of
candidates send thank-you notes, it seems to be an
easy gesture everyone should use to greatly impact the
hiring process. Surveys also suggest that hiring
managers are divided in terms of preference for
receiving thank-you notes by email or letter. It is
therefore up to you to decide which method best fits the
culture of the organization.
-- Yves Lermusi, CEO of Checkster

Tips Source
12:
6 Things That Drive Hiring
Managers Crazy
By Catherine Conlan

Monster Contributing Writer

The simplest mistakes can torpedo your chances for a

job. Avoid these six common missteps that drive
recruiters and hiring managers crazy.
You dont listen.
During an interview, it can be tempting to try to get out
as much information about yourself as possible. But
listening is just as important, says Miriam Berger,
president of A Hire Authority, a contract recruiting
service. My biggest pet peeve is when candidates just
don't stop talking and listen, she says. I have held so
many debriefs with the hiring teams where the
consensus is to disqualify the candidate because the
person just didn't stop talking. While this may be due to
nerves, Berger says managers worry that a chatty
candidate may turn out to be a distraction or impossible
to manage.
You bring an audience.
Hiring managers and recruiters say theyre seeing an
odd trend: younger job candidates getting their parents
involved in the hiring process. In my years of human
resource roles I've personally experienced a lot of
absurd and ridiculous behavior from job seekers, says
Christine DiDonato, founder of Career Revolution.
However, the one that really blows my mind is one
committed by some of our recent college graduates:
Bringing their parents to the interview or having a parent
call the hiring manager or recruiter and attempt to
negotiate their employment offer. This doesnt help you
build a personal brand, and it certainly doesnt make you
look independent and capable, DiDonato says.
You nag.
Its important to follow up after an interview, but Tracey
Russell, a recruiter at Naviga Business Services, says

overdoing it is a mistake. Multiple emails and phone

calls a day is the quickest way to make sure your
resume will be thrown in the trash, she says. Even the
most promising resumes wont be considered when the
candidate behaves like that.
You overdo it.
If you want to work at a specific company, you can
broadcast your interest by applying to a job there -- not
all of the open positions. One of the most annoying
things a job candidate can do is apply to every available
position at a company, says Haley Cousins, a recruiter
at Naviga. Not only is it a waste of time for the hiring
manager, but its also a waste of the candidates times.
Applying for every position lets the hiring manager
know that you are not serious about the openings, and
are just trying to find any job. Limit your applications to
positions you have the skills and experience for.
Youre not fully dressed.
When you are participating in a video interview, don't
pick up until you are fully dressed, Berger says. One
hiring manager called the candidate at the assigned time
and the candidate was actually late getting dressed and
answered while he was putting on his shirt, she says.
Not a good idea.
You lack basic interview skills.
Brush up on your interview skills before the big day so
you dont blow it. There are many other things that
candidates do to drive hiring managers crazy, which
include overselling themselves in the interview, not being
prepared with examples that back up the answers to
the interviewers questions and candidates who check
their emails and messages during the interview,
Berger says. Thats more common than you'd
imagine!

Tips Source
13:
4 Job Interview Errors and How
to Correct Them
By Catherine Conlan
Monster Contributing Writer

Job interviews can be stressful, especially if youre

nervous about making mistakes that could sabotage
your chance of getting the job. Fortunately, many errors
are easy to avoid with a little preparation. Here are four
of the most common ones and some tips for steering
clear of them.
Getting Too Personal
One common error is revealing too much personal
information during the interview, says Anastasia Kurylo
ofFortified Communication Consulting. I have conducted
interviews in which candidates inundate me with their
personal life story, she says. Voluntarily revealing this
much personal information can make an interviewer
uncomfortable and raise legitimate concerns about how
confidential the candidate will be with company
information.
Takeaway: When answering interview questions, its
best to stick to work-related answers.
Not Picking Up on Cues
Another common mistake is not following the
interviewers lead in the conversation. Kurylo says she
once had a student who wore a business suit to the
interview for a fun and casual job. The interviewer made
several comments about it, questioning the candidates
understanding of the company culture.
The candidate assumed shed blown the interview the
moment she put on the suit, Kurylo says. The interview
had been blown by the candidate not providing a good
response about her choice of clothing. The interviewer
repeatedly told her how much she loved the candidates
credentials and experience.
Instead, the candidate could have laughed off her
clothing choice and blamed it on advice that went
against her own judgment; something she wouldnt do
again. Then the interviewer -- who clearly wanted to hire

her -- would have had more to latch onto in order to

excuse the poor clothing choice. If she had persevered
rather than given up in the interview, they might have
been laughing about the suit over a business lunch
weeks later.
Takeaway: When the interviewer gives you an
opportunity to course-correct, take it.
Not Doing Your Homework
Many candidates continue to make the mistake of not
researching the company before the interview. Hiring
managers want to know that interviewees are interested
in their open positions, not simply that the interviewees
want a job, any job, says Cheryl Palmer, owner of Call
to Career. Candidates who can speak knowledgeably
about the company and how they can contribute to the
organizations success show that theyve done their
homework and have a high interest in the business.
Takeaway: Take advantage of any resources (online and
offline) you can get your hands on to learn about the
companys mission and culture.
Not Taking Initiative
Stu Coleman, partner and senior general manager
at WinterWyman, says another common mistake is
taking too passive of a role. Its important to determine,
for both parties, if what each has to bring to the equation
is a benefit to the other, he says. Candidates need to
interview the company, as well. You have to be
respectful and professional, but dont forget to be real.
This is a big decision, one that hopefully you will live with
for years, so make sure it is as good for you as you are
for them.
Takeaway: Come with your own list of questions about
the companys strategy and culture.

Tips Source
14:
5 Reference Mistakes That Can
Cost You the Job
By Catherine Conlan
Monster Contributing Writer

Your carefully crafted resume got your foot in the door,

and you nailed the interview. Dont mess up your
chances of getting hired by making these common
mistakes with your references.
Dont tell your references to expect a call.
While this seems like an easy mistake to prevent, there
are always the reference checks where candidates
forgot to tell employers they would be receiving a call,
says Julie Kline, SPHR, executive HR consultant at
Prastmark Consulting. Its a professional courtesy to ask
peoples permission to use them as a reference, so they
know to expect a call sometimes in the future. If your
references respond with surprise and confusion when a
potential employer contacts them, it gives the impression
that you are unprofessional or disorganized.
Give references that have little relevance or are
inappropriate.
An example, Kline says, would be listing the CEO when
you were actually 15 steps below C-level on the food
chain. Or worse: I had a candidate who listed his
mother as a reference, she says I didn't know whether
to ask if he made his bed every day or if he was a good
listener at home.
Giving a reference who barely knows you -- or knows
you a little too well -- makes potential employers
question your judgment, professional networking abilities
and past performance. After all, if you dont want
potential employers to talk to past managers, they will
automatically wonder what those past managers might
say.
Make it hard to contact your references.
If you don't list different ways that your references can
be contacted, it could cost you the job, says Cheryl
Palmer, owner of Call To Career. It is standard to list
phone numbers on your references sheet, but it can also

be useful to list email addresses and even Skype

usernames if your references are outside the country.
Giving employers different ways to contact your
references can speed up the process.
Be sure that your references will be there when you
need them, as well. Anastacia Kurylo, president
ofFortified Communication Consulting, says she pushed
to get some references from a job candidate, but they
would not call us back after leaving several messages.
Admittedly we were making the decision quickly; they
could have been on vacation. We hired him after finally
securing better references and he was fantastic for what
we needed. We almost missed out. Candidates should
know that their references may not be available to speak
when the employer needs them in order to make a hiring
decision.
Dont prepare your references.
Your references might be from jobs you had a while ago,
and they might not know what youre doing now. If your
potential employer feels like youre not in touch with your
references regularly, they may wonder why you listed
them.
If it has been a couple of years since you worked with
the people who serve as your references, you may need
to update them on what you have been doing as well as
what your job target now is, Palmer says. A recent
copy of your resume can fill in the gaps for your
references, and vacancy announcements that are
representative of the type of position that you are
seeking can give your references more specific
information about what aspects of your background they
should highlight when talking with employers about you.
Give a reference without knowing what they might
say.
You should never ask someone to be your reference if
you are not sure what they will say about you, Palmer
says. Employers usually check your references as a last
step before they make you an offer. You can't afford to
be in a position where you have to guess what your
references will say. You should know that they will speak
glowingly of you.
Kline says she called a reference on a candidate once
and got the response, Oh, that [guy]? We canned him
three years ago. Kline says, The candidate didnt get
the job.

Tips Source
15:
5 Things You Don't Want Your
References to Say About You
By Catherine Conlan
Monster Contributing Writer

Youve come a long way in your job search and you can
practically feel that offer letter in your hands. You just
need your references to confirm youre the right person
for the job.
Dont let them undermine all your hard work. Watch out
for these five things you dont want your references to
say about you -- make sure you tell them!
1. Anything About Your Private Life
Your reference might think that mentioning information
about your personal situation can add to the profile a
potential employer is putting together, but its a bad idea,
says Farrah Parker, a training and development
consultant. A reference is disastrous when the person
mentions your private life in an attempt to garner
sympathy on your behalf, she says.
Encourage your references to talk only about your job
history. And when youre putting together your reference
list, carefully select professionals who will not integrate
phrases that expose that you are a parent, spouse, or
caretaker of an elderly parent, Parker advises. While it
is illegal to ask about your external responsibilities, it is
not illegal to collect facts through an overly chatty
reference.
2. Anything They Cant Say With Enthusiasm
When you go through your list of references, consider
how they will talk about you in addition to the content
they will share. You want your references to be your
advocates, and if one isnt able to speak enthusiastically
about you, consider whether you want to include her.
If you have a manager who cant sound excited about
anything, it may be unavoidable, but if you know people
who can speak warmly and genuinely about you,
definitely include them.
3. That They Didnt Expect the Call

If you are looking for a new job, its easy to forget to

keep your references up-to-date about what youre
doing, even if youve asked them in the past to serve as
references for you. But the worst thing your reference
can say is that he or she didnt expect the reference
call, says Jen Kapela of Jen Kapela Leadership
Solutions.
Make sure your references are prepared by knowing the
job you are applying for, the specific job requirements,
and what they could highlight that will put you in the best
light for that particular position, she advises.
4. The Amount of Your Severance
If youre negotiating a severance as you leave your
company, watch what for your former employer might
say, says Donna Ballman, an employee-side
employment attorney and author of Stand Up For
Yourself Without Getting Fired.
Ive seen HR get cute when employees have negotiated
for neutral references (dates of employment and job title
only) in an agreement, Ballman says. If they want to be
spiteful, this sneaky line tells the potential employer
something went wrong. I always ask that confidentiality
of a severance agreement be mutual.
5. Any Problems Youve Resolved
If youve behaved badly in your past jobs, but are now
reformed and trying to move on, dont list references
who bring up your misdeeds.
You wouldnt want a reference saying you lied on your
expense report, says John Paul Engel, president
ofKnowledge Capital Consulting. You wouldnt want the
reference to talk about the Christmas party where you
got drunk and harassed both the female and male
members of your staff asking for sexual favors. And you
wouldnt want your reference to reveal the series of
mistakes you made that almost crashed the company. If
you were fired, be sure to have someone other than your
boss give you a reference for your next job.

Tips Source
16:
5 Things That Will Make Your
Interviewer Hate You
By Catherine Conlan
Monster Contributing Writer

You probably know most of the interviewing tips that can

help you forge a connection with a potential employer.
Now its time to learn some of the things you must avoid
in an interview to ensure the interviewer doesnt end up
hating you by the end of it.
These things really do happen. Just make sure they
dont happen to you.
1. Jump at the chance to trash your former boss. An
interviewer will dislike you if you respond to the question,
What advice would you give your former boss, if
asked? says Lee Evans, CEO and career coach at
Free-Job-Search-Websites.com, adding that this is a
trick question. The interviewer will interpret your
negative response as the answer you might give when
asked about a manager at the interviewing company. It's
also a test of your ability to respond appropriately to
sticky questions. Your interviewer and prospective
employer will side with your former manager, and view
you as difficult to deal with.
Instead: Keep your responses professional and watch
for trick questions.
2. Tell the interviewer what you would
change. Sometimes interviewers will ask you what you
might change about a prospective employer, and it can
be an opportunity to bring out some ideas you might
have. But keep it constructive, and wait until they ask,
says Ronald Kaufman, author and executive coach.
Telling them things you would change about their
company is arrogant and implies you might be a
disruptive employee, Kaufman says. As an outsider,
you dont know my needs, my budgets, my problems,
and telling me what you would change is a major turn
off.
Instead: Wait to offer suggestions until the interviewer
asks for them, and even then, keep them brief and
constructive while stressing that you know you dont
have all the information.

3. Comment on your interviewers

appearance. Whether you like the way your interviewer
looks or not, keep it to yourself. Even well, you look nice
today is inappropriate, according to Evans. Commenting
on how people look when youve just met them can be a
signal that you arent concerned with social boundaries
or are rude. Comments about appearance are on the
interviewers red flag list, Evans says.
Instead: Keep social commentary to a minimum, and
stick to safe and general topics, such as the weather or
traffic, before you get into the interview.
4. Denigrate the organization youre applying
to. Even when you want the job, its possible that things
you say make it sound like you think youre better than
what the company deserves. If you make it appear as
though the organization where you are applying is not up
to speed in terms of technology or that its facility is
lacking, you will alienate the interviewer, says Cheryl
Palmer, a career coach. You need to give the
interviewer reason to believe that you are the best
person for the job and that you really want to work
there.
Instead: Find ways to talk about how youll be a good fit
for the company, rather than implying youre a superhero
for offering to help the organization out of a jam.
5. Show up late. Its a killer, no matter why it
happens. Showing up 10 minutes early is a common
interview tip, but its importance cannot be overstated.
Tardiness shows one of two things: disrespect or poor
planning, both of which are nonstarters for most hiring
managers, says Michael Dr. Woody Woodward, an
organizational psychologist and author of The YOU
Plan. Showing up late sets the tone for the rest of the
interview, and youll have to be at the top of your game
to come back from such a setback.
Instead: Make sure youre early to your interview.
Interviewers arent looking for reasons to say no, but
things you do can annoy them enough that you lose your
chance at the company. Do what you can to make sure
they dont hate you.

Tips Source
17:
Practice Makes Perfect: How to
Rehearse for Your Next Job
Interview

Caroselli, author of Principled Persuasion. "Think about

a visual that really represents what you can do," she
says. "It can be a photo taken at an event you
organized, for example. If you have nothing that
symbolizes your capabilities, then look for a pattern not
readily apparent in your resume and be prepared to talk
about that particular interest or talent, apart from your
official work history."
Know Your Lines
Actors do it, and you should, too. "Memorize a few short
quotes and have them ready," Caroselli says. "They'll
help you respond articulately to virtually any question."

By Caroline M.L. Potter

Sum It Up

There are a lot of steps that usually happen before you

get to the interview portion of your job search: writing a
resume, networking, compiling your references. Most
folks are able to put a lot of effort into getting the
interview, but many fall apart during the actual interview.
Why? Poor planning and a lack of practice.

The very first request an interviewer may make is, "Tell

me about yourself." In order to answer this interview
question quickly and succinctly, she urges interviewees,
"Have an elevator speech ready in case they want a
brief overview of your career."

Instead of winging it, or relying solely on your

professional skill set, you should stage a rehearsal for
your next job interview.
Not sure how to go about doing so? Start by enlisting a
family member, friend or partner to play the role of
interviewer, and ask that she stay in character from start
to finish. Set up a space, such as a desk or table, where
you can create a suitable setting. Then use these 10 tips
to from corporate trainer Marlene Caroselli to make your
interviews -- both mock and real -- successful.
Do Your Homework
"Learn all you can about the organization in advance,"
advises Caroselli. Share this information with your mock
interviewer, perhaps in the form of crib notes. She can
use this to grill you.
Tune In
"Watch people being interviewed on television and make
note of what works," she advises. Look for traits that
make people likable and competent.
State the Unobvious
"Create one really intriguing statement about yourself,"
she says. "For example, a woman I know, expecting to
be told, 'Tell us a bit about yourself [the most
popular interview question],' replied, 'I think I should tell
you I'm a nonconforming conformist.' She explained
what she meant and wound up getting the job."
Think Outside the Box
A little visualization can go a long way, according to

Be Tough on Yourself
Research tough interview questions and provide them to
your helper. Also, point out gaps in your skills or holes in
your resume and instruct her to grill you on those points.
"By comparison, your own, actual interview will seem like
a walk in the park, and that prospect will encourage
you," Caroselli says.
Capture It on Camera
"If possible, have someone video you doing an interview
rehearsal," she says. "Then study your body language to
see if it reveals confidence, poise and enthusiasm."
Listen Up
Close your eyes and listen back to the recording of your
replies to interview questions. "Play the tape back and
analyze your responses," she says. "Ask yourself,
'Would you hire you?'"
Stay Calm
Work on being relaxed before your big meeting. "When
you get to the interview site and are waiting to be called
in to the interview room, work on a brainteaser,"
Caroselli advises candidates. "Research shows it calms
the nerves and takes your mind off the challenge
ahead."

Tips Source
18:
Keep Your Guard Up at the
Interview

By Allan Hoffman, Monster Tech Jobs Expert

All the signals indicate the job is yours: You've endured
hours of interviews, and now you're standing in front of
the receptionist's desk with a potential colleague,
engaging in harmless banter. The topic turns to your
current job, and you tell her you can't wait to bail on your
psycho manager and out-of-touch CEO.
You've just shot your chances. Once word gets back to
your potential employer about this "harmless" exchange,
you're pegged as a malcontent.
"We're all human, and when things start feeling good, we
let our guard down," says Dave Sanford, executive vice
president of client services at recruitment firm Winter,
Wyman & Co. "You can't let your guard down."
Interviews are fraught with opportunities to ruin your
chances of landing an offer. Unless you're vigilant, you
may sabotage yourself. Check out these tips to stay on
your toes.
Don't Get Too Comfortable
Job seekers should not buy into the myth that they
should just be themselves during an interview, according
to career coach and Monster Interview Expert Marky
Stein. "It's a highly ritualized form of interaction," Stein
says. "If you think you're not under the most strict
scrutiny, you're going to slip up."
Perhaps more than any other mistake, interviewees get
too comfortable and lose sight of the fact it is an
interview -- a delicate situation requiring a careful dance
between the job seeker and interviewer. If you appear
too relaxed, you may unintentionally create the
impression you don't really care whether you get the job.
Too many people slump back in their chairs, perhaps
thinking they look relaxed. "I recommend that people sit
right at the edge of their chair," Stein says.
Sanford says job candidates often get too comfortable
just at the wrong moment -- when they're getting signals
the job is theirs. "What ends up happening is the
candidate will start to move from I'm on my best
behavior' to thinking the job is mine,' and they stop

being deferential," he says. Deference is essential

throughout the interview process. Don't act like the
interviewer is your best buddy -- he's not.
Follow the First-Date Rule
"I consider an interview like a first date," Stein says.
"Interviewees, thinking that they're getting sort of
friendly, (sometimes) reveal distasteful things about
themselves. Most people on their first date present the
best foot forward." That means not telling interviewers
about your health problems or financial woes.
Don't Babble or Ramble
When nervous, job seekers often talk too much,
sometimes about the wrong things. To avoid rambling,
you've got to practice, says Jenna Gausman, a career
counselor with Kerwin and Associates. Think about
drafting potential interview questions and even
conducting a mock interview with a friend or relative.
Show Up Early
Too often, job seekers don't leave themselves enough
time to visit the bathroom, check their hair and otherwise
feel prepared. Career counselor Judith Gerberg
suggests showing up 15 minutes early, giving yourself
enough time to visit the washroom. Stretch and yawn,
she says, in order to release any tension -- and
decrease the likelihood of slip-ups.
Respect Everyone
"These days, people get feedback from whoever you've
met," notes Gerberg. "If you're rude to anyone along the
line, that will get back to the boss." So be nice to
assistants, receptionists and everyone else you
encounter along the way.
Don't Drink
Interviews sometimes are conducted over meals or at
other social events, which might include alcohol. Never
consume alcoholic beverages in interview situations,
Stein recommends. You can say something like, "I drink
on occasion, but I'll have an iced tea today." Alcohol
inevitably makes you let your guard down -- just what
you don't want to happen.
Avoid Hot Topics
Religion, politics and other controversial topics should be
off limits, says Gausman. Don't think you'll win points by
sharing your views on same-sex marriage or stem-cell
research.

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10 Tips to Boost Your Interview
Skills
By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need

to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing
is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to
make a great first impression. So study these 10
strategies to enhance your interview skills.
Practice Good Nonverbal Communication
It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight,
making eye contact and connecting with a
firmhandshake. That first nonverbal impression can be a
great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.
Dress for the Job or Company
Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission
to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important
to know what to wear to an interview and to be wellgroomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less
formal depends on the company culture and the position
you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the
company dress code before the interview.
Listen
From the very beginning of the interview, your
interviewer is giving you information, either directly or
indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a
major opportunity. Good communication skills
include listening and letting the person know you heard
what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that
style and pace.
Don't Talk Too Much
Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know
could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared
ahead of time, you may ramble when
answering interview questions, sometimes talking
yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by
reading through the job posting, matching your skills with
the position's requirements and relating only that
information.

Don't Be Too Familiar

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business.
This is not about making a new friend. Your level of
familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is
important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the
interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your
place as a candidate looking for a job.
Use Appropriate Language
It's a given that you should use professional
language during the interview. Be aware of
any inappropriate slang words or references to age,
race, religion, politics or sexual orientation -- these topics
could send you out the door very quickly.
Don't Be Cocky
Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There
is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism
and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to
demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not
worse, as being too reserved.
Take Care to Answer the Questions
When interviewers ask for an example of a time when
you did something, they are asking behavioral interview
questions, which are designed to elicit a sample of your
past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you
not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an
opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your
skills.
Ask Questions
When asked if they have any questions, most
candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. Part of
knowing how to interview is being ready to ask
questions that demonstrate an interest in what goes on
in the company. Asking questions also gives you the
opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you.
The best questions come from listening to what you're
asked during the interview and asking for additional
information.
Don't Appear Desperate
When you interview with the "please, please hire me"
approach, you appear desperate and less confident.
Reflect the three Cs during the interview: cool, calm and
confidence. You know you can do the job; make sure the
interviewer believes you can, too.

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Response Strategies for
Interview Questions

By Michael Neece, Monster Contributing Writer

Every interview question thrown your way presents an
opportunity for you to make your case for why you're the
best person for the position. You want to highlight your
positive qualities and avoid giving reasons to disqualify
you. That said, think about your overall response
strategy for the interview.
Examples Speak Volumes
For each quality you present, make sure you're prepared
to describe a situation where you demonstrated that
quality. Basically, you always want to be able to back up
any claims you might make. For example, if during the
interview you say that you work well under pressure, be
ready to describe an example where you did work
effectively under pressure and delivered the results
required.
Steer the Interview Your Way
One thing to guard against is getting lured into the
interviewer's game of alternative or trick questions. Be
like a politician. The next time you watch a debate or
press conference, notice the kind of questions reporters
ask, and then observe how the politician responds.
Politicians often answer questions indirectly by
presenting information they want to convey. You can do
the exact same thing in a job interview.
For example, if the interviewer asks if you prefer to work
alone or on a team, he may be trying to get you to say
you are one way or the other. But you don't have to play
this game. The reality is that most jobs require us to
work both independently and in teams. Your response to
this question should show that you have been successful
in both situations.
Your answers also need to provide the reason to hire
you, and you want to avoid providing reasons not to hire
you. Before responding to any interview question, take
your time, breathe and think about your answer.
Thoughtful answers delivered clearly are much better
than empty answers given rapidly. And you're not being
measured by your response time.
Be Clear and Concise

Be honest and succinct with your responses. Tell the

truth in as positive a manner as possible, and don't
discuss things or events in a negative fashion. Long
answers are less effective than concise responses and
tend to make interviewers suspicious. If you are talking
more than 90 seconds without interaction with the
interviewer, you may be providing more detail than is
needed. If you feel you may be talking too long, just stop
and ask the interviewer a question like, Am I giving you
the level of detail you're looking for? This prompts a
response and promotes an open exchange of
information. Besides, if you're putting the interviewer to
sleep with your long-winded answers, asking a question
will wake them up.
Open the Conversation
After your response, ask the interviewer a tag-on
question, such as, Does that give you what you were
looking for? This ensures you are understood
accurately, conveys that you want to be sure you're
providing what the interviewer is looking for and
promotes two-way communication.
You deserve the best, so practice your responses to
frequently asked interview questions, and prepare to be
your best when it matters most.

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Focus on Your Strengths

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

What do you have to offer an employer? Why should
that employer choose you over someone else? What will
make interviewers remember you after they're done with
their first round of meeting potential candidates?
It's about matching their problems and needs with your
qualifications, skills and traits. Your mission is to
convince interviewers that you are the solution they've
been seeking.
Make Your Case
Concentrating on your five best strengths will help you
focus during the interview and will make it easier for
them to remember you. You can begin before the
interview by identifying your five key strengths and
matching them up with the job requirements. Once
you've done that, determine ways to bring up these
matches during the interview.
Susan Croce Kelly of Kirkpatrick International in Houston
is a communication specialist who writes speeches for
executives. She advises telling your audience what you
are going to say early in your presentation and then
repeating your points throughout. It is not unusual for
people to say What a wonderful speech,' and then five
minutes later can't remember what it was about, says
Kelly. If they remember two ideas from a speech, that is
scoring high. Repetition is really important, because they
might miss it the first time. Keep going back to the main
point.
You can actually use the speech model to prepare your
presentation. Think of ways to present your key qualities
throughout the interview. For example, let's say you're
interviewing for a position that requires strong
organizational skills.
The first interview question the interviewer asks is, "Tell
me about yourself. Part of your answer should include a
statement about your organizational skills. One of my
key strengths is being organized. If you were to ask my
coworkers, they would tell you I am the ultimate
planner.
Later in the interview, you could repeat your strength in a
story format: One project I worked on was very complex
and detailed. It required a lot of forethought and planning

on my part. I was able to do this using Microsoft Project

software for tracking and scheduling.
The interviewer asks, "Why should we hire you?
Your interview answer should repeat information about
being organized. From what I have heard throughout
the interview, it sounds like you're looking for someone
to come in and bring order to projects here. Since I am
known for my organizational skills, I know I would be a
real asset.
By the time you leave the interview, the interviewer
should have a strong sense that you're a very organized
person. Since this is important for the job, you will
probably receive serious consideration as the solution to
the company's problem.
What Are Your Strong Points?
Identifying your five strengths and matching them to the
job is an important step in preparing for your interview.
Read through the description and identify the key factors
needed to do the job. Be sure to read between the lines.
For example:
Will interact with accounting, engineering and
manufacturing departments.
What will it take to perform this task? What kind of
person is this company looking for?

It will require good communication and interpersonal

skills, and the ability to interface with a diverse group of
people and levels. If these are your areas of strength,
focus on letting the interviewer know that you have the
ability and experience to interface well with many
different groups.
Like the speechwriter, you want your audience to
remember the important points you have made. By
concentrating on a handful of strengths, you will find that
you are more focused and succinct about telling what
you have to offer. More importantly, the folks you meet
are more likely to remember you for your strengths.

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22:

Lie down comfortably in a quiet room. Close

your eyes, and use each breath to relax your
body from head to toe.

Imagine yourself preparing for the interview on

the morning it will take place. When you
visualize getting to the employer's office, use
your senses to imagine the colors, light,
shadows and objects in the room. In your mind,
hear the interviewer's voice when he greets you.
Notice your emotions are calm and confident as
you shake hands.

Visualize Interview Success

By Marky Stein, Monster Interview Expert

Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Michael Phelps

employed visualization and relaxation techniques before
his races. Golf superstar Tiger Woods incorporates
visualization into his pre-swing routine. And Phil
Jackson, the legendary former head coach of the Los
Angeles Lakers, implored his players to visualize victory
before games.
So if your career goal is a better job, visualizing your
interviews in advance could be worth trying.
The Power of Positive Thoughts
Many of us have visualized worst-case interview
scenarios. It's not unheard of for people to have
nightmares about upcoming interviews. According to
Lynn Joseph, vice president of Parachute, an
outplacement company in Point Richmond, Virginia, that
power can be harnessed in a positive direction to get
what you want from an interview. [Note: The author is
also employed by Parachute.]
Athletes, entertainers and salespeople have been using
visualization for decades. Now job seekers are using this
technique as well.
The Journal of Consulting Psychology outlined an
experimental study of visualization techniques. One
group of job seekers received traditional career
counseling and interview coaching. Those in the second
group were exposed to the same career counseling and
interview training, but these job seekers also learned to
use visualization techniques related to these subjects.
Two months after the training, 21 percent of those in the
group who did not use mental imagery found new jobs.
But 66 percent of those who used this technique were
employed within two months.
Train Your Mind
What distinguishes good visualization techniques from a
passing daydream is that you purposefully program your
mind to visualize only the positive things you want to
happen. Follow these steps to seize the power of your
imagination and program yourself for a successful
interview:

When you meet the interviewer, imagine you are

smiling warmly, and he is smiling back at you.
As the interviewer begins to ask questions,
imagine you answer them spontaneously and
easily. You feel confident and comfortable.
Ideally, at the end of the interview, you might
imagine hearing the interviewer say something
like "You're hired" or "Welcome aboard!"
The more you use your imagination in this way, the
better you'll get at effective visualization.

Make Visualization Work for You

Cynthia, a financial analyst who was terrified of
interviews, started using mental imagery to prepare
herself for them. "Before I used the imagery, I felt like a
scared puppy," she told me. "Now I feel like a lion."
Cynthia got a job with a higher salary than she had
imagined.
Brenda, a triathlete who used to cross the finish line in
about the 20th percentile, now says, "If I practice
visualizing a win' for about a week before the race, I'm
ensured a third or even second place." Even the NFL's
San Francisco 49ers and the US Olympic gymnastic
teams make mental imagery a compulsory part of their
training programs.
You have nothing to lose by trying this technique for
succeeding at job interviews -- and you might just find it
works. Imagine that.

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Tactics for Handling a Panel
Interview

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer and

Kathryn Troutman, Monster Federal Career Coach
There you sit alone in front of the room, waiting for the
assembled strangers to attack you with interview
questions. It's really not quite that bad. In fact, there is
an upside to panel interviews. You'd probably have to
talk to each of these people individually at some point in
the process -- this way, you get it over all at once.
Panel -- or board -- interviews are often characterized by
a standard set of questions for all applicants. Typically
formal and organized, this interview format is often used
in academia and government or for high-level
executives. Occasionally, youll encounter a panel
interview for other positions in a company.
Interview Preparation: Dont Be Ambushed
Find out what type of interview you can expect. The
recruiter setting up your job interview can probably give
you an idea ahead of time. If you have the opportunity,
ask how long the interview will be and who will be on the
panel? You can better tailor your answers when you
understand the interview conditions.
And remember -- no matter how uncomfortable the
interview situation -- you are there as a professional to
learn just as much about them as they are eager to learn
about you.
Different Perspectives, Same Purpose
How do you deal with so many interviewers in one
sitting? The best way is to take them one at a time. The
board or panel is not one entity, but several individuals
coming together with the common goal of hiring the best
candidate for the job. At the same time, each person has
his own agenda or department's interest at heart.
For example, the HR manager will be checking to make
sure you are a good fit with the culture and people
working at the company. The hiring manager will want to
know about your technical skills or business know-how.
And the person from accounting will want to know if you

are savvy enough to operate a business budget.

What to Expect from the Panel
You may be asked to speak about instances when you
demonstrated particular behaviors or skills that are key
to performing your desired job. This form of interviewing,
known as a behavioral interview, relies on the premise
that past performance is the best indicator of future
behavior.
Always be prepared to provide a sort of elevator pitch -a brief summary of who you are and your career goals.
This message can include your overall mission, top-level
skills and interests, but not a recitation of your lifes
history. Be ready to share your concise message at the
beginning or end of the interview.
Practicing for the interview with a video or audio recorder
is extremely helpful. The best interview answersinclude
examples that are compelling, on-target and spoken with
interest and some enthusiasm. When speaking, dont
hesitate to lean forward. Check your posture at a table
and lean forward to demonstrate interest in the position.
Remember to look at each person who asks the
question, and then shift your eye contact to the other
members of the interviewing team.
Lastly, make sure you get each person's business card,
hopefully at the beginning of the interview, so you can
address each person by name and follow up with
individual thank-you notes afterwards.
Team Interviews
Another multiple-type interview is the team or "good
cop/bad cop" interview. The team is usually made up of
two interviewers, one who asks the questions and one
who takes notes. The two typically trade roles, which can
be confusing if they have different styles. Keep in mind
that these inquisitors are working together toward the
same end, so treat them equally.
Although these interviews can be stressful, interview
practice and preparation can pay off. When you
rehearse your answers and your physical presentation
beforehand, you will feel more confident no matter how
many people you have to face.

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