Interview Hacks That You Need to Know

job interview
job interview

One of the most frightening parts in applying for a job is the interview. This is especially so for fresh graduates or those who actually haven’t tried in looking for a job. Given that there are hundreds of applicants for a few coveted job openings, the competition is surely tough. There are these fears of stuttering, tripping yourself while you walk towards the interviewer, and not being able to answer the easiest and common questions. Before you head out to your interview, here are some hacks that you need to know.

Don’t set up your interview schedule with strong candidates

Assuming you are applying together with your friends or peers that have better qualifications than you do, it is better to set up your interview on a different date. This way, you won’t be compared to them. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you aren’t as good as they are but you surely have higher chances especially if you can showcase your wit without being compared to.

Make sure to match your style to your image

You need to dress appropriately to impress. Of course this isn’t the heart and soul of the interview but your image matters. The way you dress can give a good impression to the interviewers that you are confident and can perform well in the job.

Modify your style to your interviewer

You need to tailor-fit or modify your answers depending on your interviewer. For example, if your interviewer seems to joke around, then you can exchange jokes when you have a chance. However, if the interviewer is very formal, you need to be formal as well. This has something to do with the age as well; millennial tends to be more focused on creativity and the ability to multi-task, so focus your answers on that. If the interviewer is a baby boomer, you need to emphasize on the ability to work with a team.

Find common likes and interests

The best way to connect with your interviewer is to find common interests and likes. Observe your surroundings especially if you are being interviewed in his or her office. For example, you see pictures of him playing golf and you love gold as well; try to praise him without being too obvious about it. When you share the same interests, chances are, you will be more favored because he will remember you.

Be enthusiastic

Who wouldn’t want someone who is enthusiastic to work for them? Show your interests about the company. So before going there, do a research about the company. This way, your interviewer will know that you are really interested to work for them. This becomes handy as well especially if you will be asked questions of what you know about the company.

Be honest

If there are things that you do not know, be honest. Do not pretend to be know-it-all because this will backfire to you, sooner or later. Hard-selling yourself by saying that you have specific skills which you really don’t have will have negative effects in the long run.

Brief and concise answers

Less talk, less mistakes. If you think you have answered the questions that are being asked, you can stop there. Unless there is a need for you to elaborate, you can do so but if not, it may be wise to just keep quiet.

Use these simple hacks when looking for a job. Again, practice makes perfect. Ask someone who can help you with mock interviews so you can better prepare yourself for the actual thing.

9 Signs Your Resume is Selling You Short

Don’t let your resume hold you back from all the opportunities out there!

Unlike a college test or job project, you’ll rarely receive feedback on your resume; potential employers just don’t have the time to send a personalized critique outlining your mistakes.

That’s understandable — but tough, especially when your inbox sits stagnant after a round of job applications. How are you supposed to know what you’re doing wrong? Before you totally lose your mind, take a few minutes to review these nine ways your resume could be selling you short.

1. Your resume bleeds onto two pages

If you’re a recent college graduate and have less than seven years of relevant experience in the workforce, stick to a one-page resume. Yes, even the most accomplished college graduates should only have a one-pager.

Why? Recruiters don’t want to shuffle through two pages of career details, especially when your career has barely started. That extra page will be seen as unnecessary fluff — and it likely is.

2. You went all out with your resume design

A resume should appeal to the eye, but there’s no need for colorful borders, intricate graphics, or a headshot (unless your career calls for one, like acting or modeling). This distracts the reader from what’s important: the text.

Also, many large companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS), which is software that analyzes resumes and weeds out the least-qualified candidates based on algorithms. So if this ATS software scans graphics that it can’t decipher, your resume might get an automatic “no.”

3. You start with all the wrong information

Way back when, job applicants physically mailed their cover letters and resumes to a company. But times have changed, and your resume needs to reflect that.

There’s no need to take up two lines in your header to list your street address. If anything, including it could hurt your chances of securing a job. For example, if you live across the country but another candidate lives down the block and is almost as qualified as you, then why not just hire that person instead?

Replace your street address with something more digitally friendly, like your LinkedIn profile URL or your online portfolio. Recruiters and hiring managers are going to scour the internet for you anyway, so you might as well make it easier on them.

Oh, and while you’re updating your online profiles, take a peek at your email address. If it’s not a variation of your name, then consider making a new one. You can easily snag a free email address through Gmail or Outlook to create a new, professional email address.

4. You open with an objective

Now that your header is polished, it’s time to launch into the meat of your resume. If your eye scans down to an objective statement, press pause.

Objective statements tend to be generic and don’t offer an employer any additional information to help them understand who you are or your career goals. Replace your objective statement with a professional summary, instead. This is your elevator pitch — it should explain in three to five sentences your qualifications and immediate career goals. Don’t solely focus on yourself; tailor this summary to each job and employer so it feels personalized.

5. You include high school activities

Once you graduate college, you should wipe all mentions of high school off your resume. Focus instead on your college activities and internships. Then, once you’re a few years into your career, you can start shedding those college accolades, too.

6. You lack consistency

Consistency is key, and there are a few areas you’ll want to check for consistency on your resume.

First, start with the formatting. If your first header is underlined, bolded, and centered, make sure your second header is formatted the same way.

Second, make sure your details are presented consistently. If your city and state details are presented as “Denver, CO,” for example, don’t list the next one as “Denver, Colorado.” Check your dates as well. If you list a position as “May 2016 to December 2016,” don’t list your next position as “January 2017–June 2017.” It’s little details like this that can turn an employer off.

Finally, check your verb tenses. All your past experience should be listed in the past tense, while your current position(s) should be written in the present tense; keep that consistent.

7. Your descriptions “tell” when they should “show”

Did you ever have an English teacher encourage you to “show, don’t tell!” Well, that rule of thumb applies to your resume, too.

Comb through your job and activity descriptions. How much are you showing, and how much are you telling? Your points will be stronger if you can show how you resolved a workflow issue rather than simply stating it.

Additionally, see if you can quantify your accomplishments. For example, if, as an intern, you wrote five blog posts a week on top of other responsibilities, that’s pretty impressive. You’re showing the potential employer you’re a hard worker by backing up your statement with cold, hard facts.

On a related note, take a look at your “skills” section. It’s fine to include this section, especially if you’re in a more technical field. Maybe you want potential employers to know you can handle the intricacies of Python and Java. Or maybe you’re bilingual, which will help you in a customer service position.

Don’t, however, use a skills section to list implied skills like “effective written and verbal communication skills,” “organization,” or “conflict resolution.” Your past experience listed on your resume should already show this, so there’s no need to waste space.

8. You list references

It’s great you’ve recruited some solid references to join you on your job search; however, their assistance won’t be needed until later on in the job search.

A recruiter or hiring manager will likely contact your references after a phone screening and interview with you, so there’s no need to include those upfront on your resume. For that reason, cut your list of references. There’s also no need to state that references are “available upon request” — that should go without saying.

9. You didn’t recruit a proofreader

No matter how many times you read your resume, you’ll likely miss something so obvious. That’s just how the brain works — it starts auto-filling words to meet expectations.

In order to break the sequence, get someone else to read over your resume. Send it to your parents, a close friend, or your significant other —  anyone who has an eye for grammar and typos. The more sets of eyes, the better.

There are also professional options where you can submit your resume for a review to check for all of the above mistakes that people make on their resume.

Now that you’ve fixed up your resume, go ahead and click “submit” with confidence because your resume is no longer selling you short!

Author: Carson Kohler

Writer, StudyСlerk

5 Helpful Tips to Make a Good First Impression at a Job Interview

You have already passed the exam, been shortlisted and contacted by the human resources department. The only stumbling block that stands in the way of you being hired – the job interview. This is a make or break kind of thing for most job applicants.

Needless to say, it is very important to make a good first impression. However, a minor hiccup before or during the interview can result in a major disappointment and cost you your dream job. To avoid this scenario, I will share five helpful tips to make a good first impression at a job interview.

1. Don’t be late.

Punctuality is a quality that prospective employers will be looking out for, especially during a job interview. If you arrive late, it sends the signal that you’re unreliable and not paying attention to details.

To prevent this from ever happening, familiarize yourself with the venue and determine how much time you’ll need to get there. Also, go to bed early the night before the interview. It will ensure that both body and mind are well-rested so you can wake up on time.

2. Dress appropriately.

When deciding on what clothes to wear, take into consideration the position you’re applying for. The way you dress represents how you carry and present yourself. Showing up properly dressed is an indication of your professionalism and shows that you are taking the application process seriously. Don’t overdress; don’t underdress either.

If you’re eyeing an office-based job, wear business attire. Dress as if you are making a presentation or meeting with an important client. For other jobs, the attire should be appropriate for the position you’re applying for. Whatever clothes you plan to wear, make sure that it looks neat and presentable. The clothes shouldn’t be too tight or too revealing. Avoid wearing too much jewelry or strong perfume.

3. Be honest.

There’s a saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” Although some may argue that concealing “some information” is necessary when applying for a job, it’s advisable to be truthful in all your declarations. Lying about your educational background or academic achievements is a big no-no.

Even if you are hired on the back of these misrepresentations, there is a strong possibility that you will be kicked out when management finds about it later. For all you know, the HR staff might call your references or look at your social media profiles. Tell your interviewer that what you lack in knowledge or skills, you can make up by being diligent, resourceful, and willing to learn.

4. Be kind and respectful to everyone.

It’s important to show kindness to everyone you’ll meet. Be kind to receptionists, security officers, executive assistants, and other employees in the company. After all, they may be the same people you‘ll encounter every day in case you get hired.

As a “guest”, you are expected to show your best behavior. Don’t act as if you own the place. For instance, don’t chat loudly with your seatmate while others are being interviewed. Wait patiently for your turn; don’t act like you’re bored. Remember, you may already be evaluated even if you’re still waiting in the lounge. During the interview proper, remember to be respectful to the person you’re talking to. If the one in front of you is the HR manager, address that person as sir or madam.

5. Show interest and enthusiasm.

To create a good impression, show that you’re interested and enthusiastic about the job. Be positive about the whole thing and enjoy the experience. Smile, be alert in processing questions the interviewer is asking, and be definitive in giving your answers. Prepare by researching about the company and practicing how to respond to common interview questions.

Convince the interviewer that you are the right person for the job. Highlight your accomplishments while working in your previous job. If you are a fresh graduate, emphasize your achievements as a student, both in academics and extracurricular activities.

Conclusion

With so many to choose from, employers can be choosy when they hire. These tips on how to make a good first impression at a job interview cannot guarantee that you will get the job, but they can definitely get you a little closer. First impressions can shape perceptions of professional competence. Those who perform well during this stage will gain the upper hand over the competition.

With preparation and the right attitude, you’ll be able to do things right and come out with flying colors. Making a good impression can, and will, help you secure more job offers in the future. And that might just be your key to your dream career. This is probably your best opportunity to land a job, so give it all you’ve got. Good luck!