Archive for April, 2011
Don’t Pass On Your Pastimes
Apr 26th
In the past we’ve covered interview topics like:
- Behavioral Interviews
- Confirming Interviews
- What You Should Bring on an Interview
- Investigate Before Interviewing
- …and other posts dedicated to Interviewing
While we have touched upon formal interview questions and answers we would also like to address how important it is to practice and know how to answer:
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR SPARE TIME?
These answers to this question give the employer insight to how you would interact in the environment and social atmosphere of their company.
Do not exaggerate.
If you enjoy running say so but do not tell the potential employer that you run marathons.
If you find that you do not have any pastimes worth mentioning – get creative with what you know you love to do!
Here are some creative spin suggestions:
- If you find you are ALWAYS on Facebook, Twitter, and the like you may want to say, “I am an avid social media networker.”
- When you realize that all you do is sit on the couch and watch TV you may want to reference the most educational show in your rotation. In detail, explain what you have learned.
- If your nose is always in a book describe to genre that most interests you and why.
- Do movies fill all your spare time? Is Netflix your best friend? Name your favorite movie and make sure the main character portrays characteristics you think the potential employer will appreciate.
- Forrest Gump I find this movie inspirational, up lifting, and a true lesson in life, love, and loss. No matter how many times I watch it I’m captivated in a different way. His determination, commitment, and self-acceptance is something I’m always striving for and perfecting.
- Is your agenda filled with brunches, dinners, frozen yogurt dates? Mention how you value your friends and are always discovering new areas in your city to dine, meet new people, and try new things.
Hopefully you are inspired by the examples above. If you have more questions regarding this informal interview query – comment!
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on April 26, 2011 at 4:33 pm, and is filed under Chronicles For Candidates, Human Resource, Interview With The Interviewer, Social Media, To Do Before You Interview. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Go Green – Office Edition
Apr 25th
Earth Day, April 22nd, has come and gone but just because April is almost over doesn’t mean your green efforts should be.
After combing our office we realized there were so many ways we could save energy, paper, ink, lighting, heating, ect.
Here are some ways to make your office environmentally friendly.
GO GREEN:
- Shut off your monitor at night before you leave. Take it a step further and completely shut down
- Use PowerPoint presentations, email, or any other digital mode of “handing out” meeting notes to co-workers. Think about how many trees you saved with the click of a button
- If you don’t have recycle bins in the office – GET THEM.
- If you have to photocopy use the shrink feature to fit multiple pages on one page, front and back
- Recycle ink toner cartridges
- Switch off all electric devices and lights – coffee makers, printers, fax machines, ect.
- Did you know – Flickering fluorescent tubes use more energy? If you see one, change it!
- Bring your lunch, fill your water bottle at the water cooler, bring a coffee mug
- Use recycled paper if possible
- Go paperless – email invoices, bills, ect
If you have any GREEN ideas that you utilize in your office please share and leave a comment! Have a great week.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on April 25, 2011 at 3:27 pm, and is filed under On The Job. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Why (NOT) Me?
Apr 18th
You have been sitting by your phone awaiting the inevitable call defining your career future. Either you got the job or you didn’t. If/when you do not get the job offer, because it happens to all of us, you start to wonder what you did wrong in the process.
We have provided a few pointers to perfect while looking for a job, interviewing, and hopefully receiving offer after offer.
- Nobody Is Perfect – But Your Resume Should Be
- Customize your resume to the actual job description which you are applying. Take in to consideration the company’s culture and job qualifications. Job seekers get into the habit of sending the same resume to all employers. Make it personal – it makes you stand out.
- DO NOT assume that your LinkedIn profile will suffice as a resume.
- DO NOT lie. You will eventually get caught, either losing the job you lied to get or not getting a job you’re currently interviewing for.
- Be creative with your resume. Especially if the industry you want to work in calls for creative candidates.
- Attendance on the Web Is Non-Existent
- Don’t underestimate the power of being an active networking, social media butterfly. Make your social media profiles professional, eye-catching, and original.
- If you are active with your social media posts do not reveal your relationship woes, drunken nights on the town, or anything personal that you wouldn’t want your employer to know about.
- When you apply for a job and the hiring manager likes your resume the next possible may be to find your picture on Facebook and/or LinkedIn. Again, make it professional.
- Keep Your Cool
- We know how stressful it is to be unemployed, laid off, and searching for a job. This doesn’t mean you can act this way in an interview or when networking. Replace stress with confidence.
- Be confident but don’t be too arrogant. Use your strong and positive personality when speaking about your experience. When asked questions about past experience or why you were let go, don’t get defensive. Just smile with confidence and answer in your slowest, calmest, “I know who I am and what I want,” voice.
While these are only some reasons you may not have received a job offer, this area is not black and white and can be a ton of reasons why you were not chosen.
The company could:
- Hire internally
- Change the scope of the job
- Place the job on hold due to budget
- Lack of experience/Overqualified
- Talked too much/too little
For more on this topic please leave a comment!
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on April 18, 2011 at 3:28 pm, and is filed under Chronicles For Candidates, Human Resource, Interview With The Interviewer, Right Your Resume, Social Media, To Do Before You Interview. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Confirmation Key
Apr 11th
Before you put on your black dress shoes, best dress shirt, and pack your briefcase, CONFIRM your appointment with your recruiter or HR Manager.
Here are is a key to making sure you don’t get lost, forget documents, or miss out on an amazing opportunity due to rescheduling.
- Email and/or call your recruiter or HR Manager to confirm the address and interview time.
- Consider all possible routes when mapping the directions
- Make sure you know the name/s of the person/s you are meeting with as well as their job title, and what their job responsibilities are
- The resume in your briefcase should be identical to the one you originally sent. If you’ve made any update print out a few copies and provide the interviewer with the document noting it’s updates
Arriving fully prepared, on time, and with all the items that are required is a great way to make a lasting first impression.
Good luck and please comment for further advice!
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on April 11, 2011 at 4:54 pm, and is filed under Chronicles For Candidates, Human Resource, Interview With The Interviewer, To Do Before You Interview. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Calling It Off Before The First Interview
Apr 7th
In past posts we have tried to emphasize how important it is to present yourself well when you are active in your job search.
Aside from the obvious preparations like dressing professionally for an interview, bringing an updated resume, sending thank you notes, and networking, there are other not so obvious things you should organize when applying for jobs.
As a follow up to our “It’s Not Your Experience – It’s Your Email Address” we would like to bring to light another “technological” hiccup that may prevent you from getting an interview, let alone a job.
Your ring tone!
Maybe you forgot that you set all incoming calls to listen to “Firework” by Katy Perry while they wait for you to answer. Nobody, especially a Human Resources Manager or Recruiter want to listen to music while calling to inquire about you and your past experience.
Before you even have a chance to answer the phone the caller already has a first impression of you.
Let’s be honest. Is Britney Spears new song really what you want a potential employer to hear upon calling you after receiving your resume?
Other than, “ring ring,” the first thing the caller should hear is your strong, confident voice answering, Hello, this is ___________.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on April 7, 2011 at 8:38 pm, and is filed under Chronicles For Candidates, Interview With The Interviewer, SINC - Source, Interact, Network, Connect, To Do Before You Interview. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Interview Essentials – Bring Your Resume!
Apr 5th
One of the biggest interview “no-no’s” is showing up without a resume.
Ask yourself this:
- Would you lead a business meeting without a presentation? You would be lost, losing your co-workers attention as well.
- Can you imagine showing up to a private event without a personal invitation? You would be shunned at the door!
After our recruiters conducted interviews with a large handful of candidates that arrived without a resume in hand, we’ve decided to dedicate a post to what should be on your interview checklist.
Interview Essentials:
- Bring a copy of your resume to every interview you ever go on. Take it a step further and bring extra copies just in case you are passed along to other associates at the company.
- Always dress the part
- Bring two forms ID just in case you have to fill out paper work
- Pen, paper, and portfolio (if you have one and if it’s required)
- Freshen Up – Pop a breath mint, shower beforehand, and NO PERFUME
- Shut off your phone entirely. Even a little buzzing can be distracting.
- A smile, a strong handshake, and confidence
If you have any other questions about what you should bring with you on your next interview – leave a comment below!
Good luck.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on April 5, 2011 at 5:17 pm, and is filed under Chronicles For Candidates, Human Resource, Interview With The Interviewer, Right Your Resume, To Do Before You Interview. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
