Golden Job

It's all about Job and Career!

Several years ago, while volunteering in my children’s school, I had one such people-watching occasion that continues to haunt me more than five years later. A class of grade 4 students was selecting purchases from the annual book fair. At the centre of one boisterous group, a good looking boy, who I will call Ian, was using verbal teasing that verged on bullying to exercise control and power over those under his thrall. Of course, I am probably reading more into the situation than was really there, but the thought that came into my mind as I watched him was “snake oil salesman.” Under Ian’s direction, the boys eschewed books of any kind, and invested their funds in novelty pens, fancy erasers and instantly forgettable knick knacks.

Over in the senior-level book section, a young girl, who I will call Laurie, carefully reviewed the jacket covers of  novels targeted to teens. After thoughtful consideration, she chose a book by one of my favourite authors. We spent a few minutes discussing other books the author had written, and I assured her she would find the latest novel a thoroughly enjoyable read. Laurie struck me as bright, articulate, and very insightful for a nine year old, and I was confident that this was a girl who would be going places in her life.

With the completion of her transaction, Laurie joined the line of students who were waiting to return to their classroom. But before she did so, she handed all of her change over to Ian, and I overheard her say, “here, I don’t need this.” She was blushing as she said it, and it was evident that Laurie was in the throes of a crush. Ian, on the other hand, behaved as if having money freely given was the natural order of things. He immediately bounded over to the novelty table, “some girl gave me money”, and bought another junk trinket.

I was sorely tempted to tell him that this “some girl” had a level of intelligence that he could only dream of. More to the point, I wanted to grab Laurie by the shoulders and give her a shake, warn her not to undersell herself like that, and tell her that the “Ian’s” of the world are a dime a dozen, but the “Laurie’s” are a rare and precious commodity. I didn’t of course. Some lessons can only be learned by living.

Why was this incident so memorable? Because it represents in microcosm what so many of my clients – particularly professional women – do to themselves during their careers. They undersell their strengths and abilities, and fail to recognize their personal worth.

All too often, clients – both women and men – come to me with original résumés that are merely a laundry list of job duties. They are reluctant to toot their own horn, and don’t have a measure of what they have accomplished. It is only after we start an intensive interview process, and I begin to dig beneath the surface, that these clients get a hint of their true value proposition.

The Office Administration case study (anonymized to protect client confidentiality)  in my web portfolio is an example of one such client. Hannah arrived in my office looking defeated. She had been laid off four months before, and was struggling to even get an interview. I looked over her original résumé and wasn’t surprised. While she had dutifully chronicled each position she held over the past ten years, there was no “meat” attached to any of them.

As we began the process of exploring her accomplishments, I was amazed at the wealth of untold story in her career path. There were administrative systems that were set up from scratch, complex client and supplier relationships skilfully managed, a backlog of accounts receivable issues resolved, and innumerable process improvements that greatly increased operational efficiency. With each new accomplishment uncovered, Hannah sat up a little straighter, and her eyes began to brighten. When she left my office, she had a renewed energy and confidence in her job search, and that was even before she had a copy of her new résumé.

I am pleased to say that, within two weeks of distributing her new value-focused résumé, Hannah was invited to three interviews, and has accepted a position as Office Manager with a mid-sized marketing company.

And Ian and Laurie? The last I heard, Laurie was an honours-level student who, thankfully, had outgrown her earlier self-consciousness and was an active leader in her high school. Ian, on the other hand, had a difficult transition from his small-pond big-fish grade school environment, and was struggling to find a place for himself in the “new normal” of high school life. Restorative justice? Not really. Ian just needs to re-invent his own value proposition.

Here’s how to make your interview top notch:

1. Be on time.
Apart from force majeure being late is quite simply unforgivable. You can guarantee it will not be forgotten and can only be detrimental. The night before your interview look up the address of where the interview is (especially if the company has multiple offices) and prepare all the documents you need to take with you. Plan your route and know what time you need to leave. Now add half an hour minimum. Travel problems and bad weather can affect your journey so be prepared. If you are early, scout out where the building is, check the time and go for a coffee making a note of how long it took to get to the coffee shop and therefore how long it will take to get back. It may seem like you are planning a SAS mission, but it will be preparation worthwhile.

2. Firm handshake
A firm handshake gives a good impression. It states that you are confident and that you are serious about the interview. Even if you have to wipe your hand because you are a sweating wreck, get it right.

3. Interview them
The most impressive candidates are the ones who not only ask questions but are the ones who are keen to make sure the company is the right move for their career. Don’t be aggressive or pedantic but make the interviewer sell to you. This presents a good impression of you and provides you with valuable information for later interviews.

4. Give them everything they need
When your interviewer walks out the door they need to have pretty much made up their mind that you are progressing to the next stage. To help them, make sure your answers are full explanations and not one word answers.

Ask at the end of the interview if they need any other information to help in their decision. This is a nice way of suggesting that they voice any concerns they may have or alternatively if you feel you have built a rapport, ask them straight out if they have concerns. This is a personal decision as you may feel it too bold or that the interviewer will react negatively, either way, when the interviewer leaves the room they need to have all the information you can give them to make their decision.

5. Hunt down your interviewer
This will not always work, however, the internet gives you a massive advantage and may well pay dividends. More often than not the HR department will forward you the name of the interviewer. Use this information! Google, facebook, linkedin are all libraries of personal information. Finding out before you walk through the door that your interviewer has the same interests as you or that they studied the same course at the same university can be a massive advantage. However, this works both ways and it may be worth looking to see what your name brings up – is it the image you want to portray?

6. Dress code
On many occasions I have heard that wearing a suit and tie is the safest bet for an interview. As a rule yes, however, dress code in a company is usually a reflection of the culture there and many now operate casual dress codes. If a company specifically says that you can wear whatever you want, then smart casual may well be the way to go. To be safe, wear the full works for an initial interview and take it from there. Be aware – I know personally of companies that have frowned on candidates walking in to latter stage interviews after already seeing the dress code and being told they can wear whatever they like. If you are not sure, ask in the first interview and gauge the reaction from there.

7. Build Rapport
How you do this is up to you but I would advise against cracking jokes. Be friendly, smile and be open.
Psychological barriers can have an impact – try to have as few obstacles as possible between you and your interviewer such as don’t fold your arms and if possible sit on the corner of a table next to an interviewer. This is better than across a boardroom, however, it cannot always be helped.

It is common practise to create an interview panel from different departments in a company and levels of seniority.  Regardless of whether they are going to be your peers, your new boss or will never even be on the same project as you, every interviewer has to answer one simple question – Would I want to work with this person? Make the answer a simple one…

8. Documents.
I have never heard of a hiring manager or interviewer refuse an applicant to have their CV in front of them. You should know your CV off by heart, but they may select a particular phrase or section of information, which without context you might struggle to answer. Check at the start of the interview if they mind.

Have a pen and pad to hand. At the start of the interview ask if the interviewer minds you jotting notes down. Every interview is a chance to learn more and taking notes can only highlight your interest.

9. Ask for a glass of water.
Asking for a cup of tea or coffee may result at best in a burnt tongue or at worst turning up in a cup and saucer. Nerves and chinaware do not mix. Having a dry mouth may inhibit your performance and a glass of water can be a great technique in an interview to buy extra time. If you are asked a tough question, a few sips of water and returning the glass to the table looks far more presentable than umming and erring your way through.

10. Be positive.
This includes your aspirations, reasons for leaving jobs, past employers and answers to questions. Interviewers and companies will be reluctant to hire someone that they think will be hard to work with or may be negative. If you have to answer a potentially negative question then at least tag positives on to it. Being able to draw positives from a damaging scenario can make all the difference.