So many Americans absolutely hate the job they're in yet they stay there because they either feel trapped by financial obligations or they don't feel qualified to do anything else. Maybe the effort that it takes to find, interview & land the ideal job is more than they want to deal with right now. I can relate on every level.
...."And thank you for your time, we'll be in touch if there's a fit." Sound familiar? In my case it became an official badge as I was trying to get my first job many moons ago. In fact, I remember pondering once while in a final interview for a fast food job where they had given me phrases like "fit," "cog," and "We're going in a different direction." I asked at the end of that interview, "Well, if you're going to go in a different direction, I'm all in for wherever that leads to."
Where that led me to was the same place I had been over and over. My pondering then led to frustration as I one day ventured back to the burger joint where I had applied, only to see that the incompetent person (who happened to be my best friend at the time) who was hired for the job couldn't remember to leave off the onions on my burger. So this is what they meant by finding someone who is a good fit?
My dad told me that being told "no" would build character and that my resolve to get a job should only increase. Looking back, I believe that what I had actually developed was sort of a Tourette's syndrome to my Groundhog Day madness toward interviewing. Negative thoughts created negative emotions and before I knew it I was doomed before I even put on my corduroys & polka dot tie.
Self-prophecy would fulfill its destiny upon my youth and my madness to obtain a job. My dream of getting a sweet ride that would occupy myself and some babe had now grown in to a full on post mortem, deep exhale, 4 step recovery process to even try to get up the gall to interview again. I even quantified the steps...
Step 1. Upon hearing you're not the one, you take a deep breath in and then exhale as though your cheeks could explode.
Step 2. The Sigh- sometimes a tear might have been involved, depending on who I had told the job was already in the bag.
Step 3. The awkward pause- It would have been, if you or anyone else had been around, but it was just me.
Step 4. Finally comes the cherry on the proverbial sundae- The Face palm. No matter how you handle being told "you're not the one," it's hard not to go into an interview without past interviews rearing their ugly head. The past has a way of reminding us of the mistakes we made and not the victories.
In looking back, it's fun to see how your youth provides you with some invaluable experiences. My job hunting story does have a very happy present tense. I believe that likewise, there is a better opportunity available for you IF you want one and you apply what I show you.
Whether you're looking for your first job or you’re a seasoned executive with an MBA who just got laid off due to cut backs and you're doing something you thought you'd never have to do again.
Go through the interview process. My goal is that my book, this blog and my coaching will be the most in-depth help and reference for employees to help you land that perfect job & employers to find the candidate that best fits what they want and need!
...."And thank you for your time, we'll be in touch if there's a fit." Sound familiar? In my case it became an official badge as I was trying to get my first job many moons ago. In fact, I remember pondering once while in a final interview for a fast food job where they had given me phrases like "fit," "cog," and "We're going in a different direction." I asked at the end of that interview, "Well, if you're going to go in a different direction, I'm all in for wherever that leads to."
Where that led me to was the same place I had been over and over. My pondering then led to frustration as I one day ventured back to the burger joint where I had applied, only to see that the incompetent person (who happened to be my best friend at the time) who was hired for the job couldn't remember to leave off the onions on my burger. So this is what they meant by finding someone who is a good fit?
My dad told me that being told "no" would build character and that my resolve to get a job should only increase. Looking back, I believe that what I had actually developed was sort of a Tourette's syndrome to my Groundhog Day madness toward interviewing. Negative thoughts created negative emotions and before I knew it I was doomed before I even put on my corduroys & polka dot tie.
Self-prophecy would fulfill its destiny upon my youth and my madness to obtain a job. My dream of getting a sweet ride that would occupy myself and some babe had now grown in to a full on post mortem, deep exhale, 4 step recovery process to even try to get up the gall to interview again. I even quantified the steps...
Step 1. Upon hearing you're not the one, you take a deep breath in and then exhale as though your cheeks could explode.
Step 2. The Sigh- sometimes a tear might have been involved, depending on who I had told the job was already in the bag.
Step 3. The awkward pause- It would have been, if you or anyone else had been around, but it was just me.
Step 4. Finally comes the cherry on the proverbial sundae- The Face palm. No matter how you handle being told "you're not the one," it's hard not to go into an interview without past interviews rearing their ugly head. The past has a way of reminding us of the mistakes we made and not the victories.
In looking back, it's fun to see how your youth provides you with some invaluable experiences. My job hunting story does have a very happy present tense. I believe that likewise, there is a better opportunity available for you IF you want one and you apply what I show you.
Whether you're looking for your first job or you’re a seasoned executive with an MBA who just got laid off due to cut backs and you're doing something you thought you'd never have to do again.
Go through the interview process. My goal is that my book, this blog and my coaching will be the most in-depth help and reference for employees to help you land that perfect job & employers to find the candidate that best fits what they want and need!
During the last 22 years of my life, I have invested in the pursuit of cracking the code of what it takes to land almost any type of job in any type of economy. With thousands of job interviews (conducting, observing, and as the person being interviewed) under my belt and position titles interviewed (with offers for employment) such as C.E.O, cashier, Director of North America Sales, Executive Vice President, janitor and my favorite- Part-Time Large Investment Multi-level Marketing Business Owner Soon To Be Future Millionaire but Currently Broke Position. Okay, the title of the last one didn't exactly say that, but I've been to a few of those meetings where they hand you a box of toilet paper and tell you the world is yours.
I’ve accepted a few of these positions along the way, including the ones where money was needed up front. I’ve also applied and interviewed for jobs where I knew I was either over or under-qualified and received invitations to come work or was laughed at in the process. Over time, as I initially started consulting friends and family, and the coined name "Job Interview Guru" has stuck with me.
I've invested many years learning what puts a candidate over the top at each stage of the interview process, and ultimately why he/she does or does not get hired. I'm always led back to one analogy- dating. For most people there is not a stronger emotion that one can feel than the power of an amazing relationship. It takes an immense amount of work to get there, right? The foundation of every relationship is trust, especially in the work place. Think about it.
The problem is this: every employer and hiring manager is different in what they want. If you've ever been to a speed dating event, you recognize a few similarities. As with dating-- in the beginning courtship of a job interview, you're looking to see if there is an initial attraction. This attraction occurs because you, as the possible future employee, see an opportunity for financial gain, growth, etc., and not so much worried if its really a good "fit." From the employer's perspective, (depending on the size of the company) the person hiring could either be in scramble mode because his or her workload is now through the roof or their employee count is like a call center with a revolving door. In which case it's part of their business model. Understanding this will be good for you going in. Bottom line: Many union's are formed simply because there was a warm body available and a paycheck on the other end, but both may still be looking elsewhere for the perfect match.
In the infancy of a relationship where two people initially meet and fall in love because of immediate needs that are being fulfilled for him or her, be it emotional, physical, etc. Because each individual comes from a different background (which is a great thing) synergy cannot be released until trust is formed and a real relationship is established. Trust is the core of what brings people together to make an amazing work environment. Have you ever worked in an environment where co-workers trust each other and are not worried that a fellow co-worker is somehow trying to put one over on them or looking for a reason to report them? This is every executive's dream. People doing the jobs they we're hired to do with little or no maintenance-,i.e. drama.
The challenge involved with the interview process for both parties is gaining finite clarity on the questions that are asked and then trusting that the painting being represented is true. For both the interviewer and interviewee, all successful paths lead to that trust. The problem is both sides have dated before and have built up walls and don't ask the right questions, due to circumstances with a prior employee/employer. I will be touching on this later when we analyze the actual interview.
I have what I call the 3 C's that will take us through the interview process beginning with your S.E.R.P. (Search Engine Results Page). Creating trust and believability that your
resume accurately represents you starts here.
Compatibility, Competency, Consistency= Trust
THE FIRST C- COMPATIBILITY
Your compatibility with the rest of the team/company is measured through every step of the interview process, starting when they first initially receive your resume. Your resume is then measured against what they see on your social media profile.
YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE:
Imagine for a moment that you are the owner of a successfully
high-profile steak restaurant. You're in
need of a chef. You believe that you
have found the perfect candidate-- great references, great resume! You just emailed him/her an offer
letter, however, that night as you go perusing the internet and looking through Facebook just out of random curiosity- You type in your new employee's name to see what he or she enjoys and what his or her interests are. You pull up his/her page and to your
horror only to find out that he/she absolutely despises meat and hates all animal-based food and those that eat it.
Are you still hiring this person?
Now imagine for a second using the employer's perspective. If they go to your facebook page, twitter account, or other social media link that Google or other major search engines WILL pick up and put on a S.E.R.P. (Search Engine Results Page) what will they find? Are you politically inclined? Do you have a strong opinion, expression, or belief that if someone didn't completely agree with, would be offended by it? Do you post what some may consider offensive pictures? Put your name in a major search engine and find out!
Your passions and your beliefs are absolutely yours and you're entitled to them. I'm merely helping create an awareness for you that people DO judge a book by its cover. Right or wrong, you may be the most qualified individual, but your potential employer may determine up front they don't want you to be a part of their company because they now see your convictions as a liability.
This is the reality we live in. ANYTHING that you
have or will put on the internet will be forever embedded there. Google and other search engines every month
crawl or scan all the material that's on the internet. Every time you log something, whether it’s a
profile page, a like, dislike, anything that can be linked to you in either a negative or
positive light, will show up when your name is typed in the search bar.
You should absolutely use this to your advantage. You do not have to change who you are, just be very aware that many employers I'm interviewing, more
and more are investing the time before even bringing you in, to find out who you truly
are! Have people you trust look at it and give you honest feedback.
I hope this excerpt from my book (How to land almost any job in any economy) has been beneficial!
If you are interested in a copy of my book you can purchase it directly from me for only $7.95 via PayPal.
I hope this excerpt from my book (How to land almost any job in any economy) has been beneficial!
If you are interested in a copy of my book you can purchase it directly from me for only $7.95 via PayPal.
If you feel you still need help beyond my blog and book, I have limited space, but am still taking new students to coach. Initially, I give a free 30 minute consultation to see if there is potentially a good fit. If selected, I will work with you one on one through the job interview process. Below are just a few of the areas I will help guide you step-by-step in:
- Creating an eye catching resume.
- Creating a professional online profile.
- Interviewing Techniques
- Understanding body language and key phrases.
Below are the links to my other social media pages, as well as my email address you may contact me at.
Job Interview Guru
