How you sell yourself during a job interview will have a major impact on your chances of success, however it is very important that you do so in the right manner otherwise you run the risk of sounding desperate which might be a major turn-off for the prospective employer. In order to be in a prime position to showcase your ability you need to fully understand the job description and be aware of the most important criteria in the description.

1)  Build a rapport from the start.

From the minute you enter the interview room you are being scrutinized so make sure you make a good first impression. Be positive, greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, relaxed smile and do likewise to any other staff members who may be in attendance at the interview.

 2)  Use examples to your advantage.

If you have a good understanding of the job description then you will have a fair idea of what areas the interview will focus upon. Have examples ready to support your answers, there are fewer things more powerful to back-up your statements than examples that will prove to the interviewer that you have the relevant experience that he/she is looking for.

 3)  Have research done on the company.

One of the questions that you will most likely be asked is “why do you want to work for us?”, in your answer demonstrate to the interviewer that you have spent time researching the company. A thoughtful response based on information garnered from the company’s website will be appreciated by the interviewer.

 4)  Be relaxed.

Talking in a relaxed confident tone where you are in control of your speech will stand you in good stead with the interviewer, it will demonstrate a level of confidence and show that you have belief in what you are talking about.  Be mindful not to be overly relaxed mind you and similarly don’t allow your confidence to interpreted as cockiness.                                                                                                                                                       

 5)  Spend time practicing for your interview.

Study the job description and put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes, what questions would you ask based on the description? Write these questions down and use them as a platform to rehearse for the job interview, like with most things, you will find that the more you practice the more confident you will become, thus ensuring an assured interview. 

To truly sell yourself in a job interview you need to prove to the interviewer that you have the talent and energy for the role and are also the right fit for their company. You will achieve this by avoiding common interview mistakes, by conveying your passion for the job and by having a friendly approach, leaving the interviewer in no doubt that you would be a perfect fit to gel with existing team members.

We finish February with our once a month fun post, rather than our regular formal posts providing interview tips and advice on such topics as how to write cover-letters that help you become a more employable candidate. Having a sense of humor is important, irrespective of the economic conditions that surround us, so following up on last month’s post 5 previous jobs of the rich and famous today we take a humorous look at 10 things you would love to say to your boss but can’t, primarily because you need to keep your job of course.

 1. Come in at the weekend? You must be joking, you are lucky to have me from Monday to Friday as it is.

 2. You’re going to need someone to cover for me I’m heading home early today to go for a few drinks with my mates.

 3. Shall I run over to the store and get you some breath mints?

 4. How about when it suits me? Does when it suits me work well for you?

 5. Don’t bother giving me a deadline, we both know I’ll have it done when I’m good and ready.

 6. Is your train of thought shut down for repairs?

 7. I’m not sure what you are trying to say but either way I will treat it with the same meandering indifference as I do all your ideas.

 8. I have a job interview in the morning so expect me when you see me.

 9. Yeah, it ain’t gonna happen boss, I forgot all about it.

10. How about you get the coffee for a change. 

Hopefully that provided you with a smile, next week we return to serious business with a post on how to sell yourself during a job interview, in the meantime no matter how tempted you are, make sure you don’t say any of those lines to your boss or you may find yourself looking for a new job sooner rather than later.

Advice For Lunch Interviews.

Sometimes when you get to the serious end of the interview discussions such as after a second or third interview, the company who is hiring may invite you to meet for lunch or dinner, this news should be welcomed as it is a sign that you are a genuine contender for the role. However this type of interview should be treated with just as much seriousness as a first-round interview, so it is worth reading this previous post on a job interview checklist.   

If you perform poorly during a lunch interview then serious harm will be done to your credibility as a possible employee. The 6 tips outlined below will help whet your appetite for the interview and serve as a guide on how to perform well during this kind of interview.                                      

1. Avoid messy food.

A dinner/lunch interview is not the time to order awkward food to eat, so avoid food like tacos, spaghetti or stews and instead focus on food that you don’t run the risk of spilling on your shirt.

2. Mind your manners.

Refrain from speaking when you are in the middle of eating something, even if you are asked a question, finish eating before answering. The interviewer will far prefer the short delay rather than being given a close-up of your half-chewed food. Along a similar vein try to ensure that you have your mouth closed while eating and avoid slurping your drink/soup.

3. Be polite.

Your communication skills will be scrutinized by the interviewer particularly in relation to waiters and staff so ensure you show common courtesy at all times to prove to the interviewer that you have what it takes to work well with other employees.

4. Avoid distractions.

Have your cell-phone switched off or put in on silent, a business lunch is most definitely not the time to be sending text-messages or receiving /making calls.

5. The bill.

Most job seekers are unsure who should pay, the rule of thumb is the person who invited the other to lunch and that is usually the interviewer. As a matter of courtesy do offer to pay, once the interviewer declines your offer, politely thank him/her for the meal.

6. Send a thank-you note.

Following your lunch interview be sure to avail of the opportunity to send the interviewer a thank-you note. As with all thank-you letters make sure you emphasize your interest in the job in the letter and thank the interviewer for his/her time.

Don’t allow the fact that you have progressed to this stage of interview cloud your judgement, as over-confidence will not stand you in good stead with the interviewer, it will have the opposite effect. The tips provided in this post work equally well for dinner interviews so keep them in mind should you have any meal-related job interview.

Interview mistakes have been highlighted in a previous post The Top 5 Interview Mistakes And How To Avoid Them, continuing on that theme today we investigate further into interview mistakes to see what you need to be mindful of when attending job interviews.

• Watching the clock.
  Most interviewers are appreciative of anyone who takes time from their working day to attend interviews. If you are constantly checking your watch during the interview, this might hint to the interviewer that you would rather be elsewhere, so rather than showing the interviewer that you have an interest in the job you are in fact doing quite the opposite.

• Using crude language.
  Using bad language /swear words in a job interview will severely damage any chance you have of getting the job so keep your language professional and controlled throughout the interview process.

• Trying to speak over the interviewer.
  Make sure you allow the interviewer time to complete each question that he/she is asking, don’t guess the question and start speaking whilst the interviewer is speaking as you may be answering the wrong question altogether, not too mention that it shows a lack of courtesy towards the interviewer.

• Asking inappropriate questions during the interview.
  Intelligent questions related to the job or company is what is expected of you, if you ask questions that blatantly display that you have failed to do research on the company will alienate you from the interviewer and harm your chances of getting the job.

• Being critical of past employers.
  In the interview you should focus on communicating how you can add value to the business not criticizing past employers, as this may lead the interviewer to believe you have a poor attitude thus ending your chance of getting hired.

If you make a simple mistake during an interview such as get dates wrong or be unable to give a satisfactory answer (in your mind) to the question asked try not to get too flustered, instead continue on with your interview in a composed manner, and be sure to send a follow-up thank you letter after the interview.

When turning down a job offer it is important to understand how to decline a job offer with courtesy as in the future you may see another job with that company that interests you or it may simply be because you change your mind over which offer to accept, either way, respect should be taken with your reply to their job offer.

Before you make a decision to decline the job offer you need to give careful consideration that you are doing the right thing, once you have reached that stage then it is time to get in touch with the other company to inform them of your decision. The sooner you do this the better, from the company’s perspective, as they can then offer the job to their second-choice candidate.

Begin the process by calling the HR Department and thanking them for their offer before telling them that unfortunately you will not be accepting the role.

Following your call, the employer will appreciate it if you take the time write a letter /email explaining why you turned the role down. Here are some tips for what to say in your letter:

- once again thank the company for their interest in you.

- mention how impressed you were with both the staff and the organization.

- describe how it was a very difficult decision that you had to make.

- refer to the reasons why you accepted the other offer.

- offer your best wishes to both the individual and to the company.

Maintaining a professional attitude is important so do not criticize or show a lack of respect in your decline letter as burning bridges with the company may end up costing you in the long run. Finally before sending your letter make sure to check it for spelling and grammar errors to portray a consistency in your professionalism.

Our once a month feature, where we take a break from the serious business of job searching, continues today, last month we looked at 10 Funny Quotes About Work, today we focus on 15 Previous Jobs Of The Rich And Famous which will hopefully not only brighten up your day but also serve as an inspiration for you to never give up on your dreams irrespective of what career you work in.

01. Mick Jagger, ice cream salesman.

Maybe this was the inspiration behind their recent album titled “40 licks” !

02. Sylvester Stallone, lion cage cleaner.

Proof if it was needed that Sly Stallone was a hardman long before he became Rocky or Rambo.

03. Rod Stewart, gravedigger.

Rod has always been a natural performer on stage though singing in front of 40,000 people every night may be less scary than his early job as a gravedigger.

04. Simon Cowell, mail room clerk.

Before becoming the music mogul that he is today Simon Cowell used to be a mail room clerk with EMI Records.

05. Michael Dell, dishwasher.

The founder of Dell once worked washing dishes in a Chinese restaurant before becoming one of the world’s most successful businessmen.

06. Harrison Ford, carpenter.

How ironic that the self-taught carpenter would go on to play the character of Hans Solo in Star Wars.

07. Demi Moore, debt collection agent.

Long before Demi Moore became a member of Hollywood’s Brat Pack in the 1980’s, she was a debt collection agent before becoming a model.

08. Walt Disney, paperboy.

Before Walt Disney delivered some of the most famous cartoon characters of all time, he delivered newspapers for a living.

09. Cindy Lauper, dog kennel cleaner.

I’m not sure whether it is her idea of fun but the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” singer once had a job cleaning dog kennels.

10. Brad Pitt, refrigerator mover.

Brad Pitt has always been a cool customer even before he became a famous actor as one of his early jobs was as a refrigerator mover.

11. Sean Connery, milkman.

The thought that the future James Bond once worked as a milkman is a bizarre one indeed, I wonder if he preferred his milk shaken not stirred.

12. Jim Carrey, security guard.

Probably not the scariest security guard you are likely to encounter but before he became Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Jim Carrey spent time working as a security guard.

13. Danny DeVito, hairdresser.

Before embarking on an acting career, Danny DeVito was a qualified hair stylist and worked as a hairdresser in his sister’s beauty parlor.

14. Hugh Jackman, clown.

An unlikely career for one of Hollywood’s hottest actors but Hugh Jackman once worked as a clown entertaining kids at birthday parties.

15. Jack Nicholson, messenger boy with MGM’s cartoon unit.

He doesn’t look like the type of guy who would take orders from anyone but Jack Nicholson did exactly that when he was messenger boy in MGM.

Feel free to add to this list in the comments section while next week we return to the serious side of being a job-seeker and provide tips to help you improve your chances of getting an interview.

Writing a resignation letter is not an easy task but in order to exit your company on good terms it is recommended that you do write a resignation letter in a respectful way irrespective of the reasons for your resignation. The resignation letter outlined below is concise yet provides clarity on the reasons why the employee is leaving, the employee shows gratitude by expressing his/her appreciation for his/her time there and provides the final date that he/she will be working in the company. The employee furthermore expressed his/her willingness to help ensure a smooth hand-over with his/her replacement, which the company will appreciate.

Dear John,

I wish to put in writing my letter of resignation as HR Manager in Sample Company Ltd. As of today’s date I plan to work my notice period of 4 weeks as specified in my employment contract. I want to let you know how much I have enjoyed working here and to thank you for all your help and guidance during my 4 years here.

The reason I reached the difficult decision to leave your organization is because the company where I have accepted the job is a lot closer to home meaning my daily commute is shortened by over 2 hours allowing me to spend more time with my young family.

My final day working with Sample Company Ltd. will be July 6th and I will, of course, work hand in hand with you in training my replacement to ensure a smooth transition period. I want to thank you for the support and opportunities during my tenure here and it is with a heavy heart that I leave having made many wonderful friends while working here.

I wish to offer the company my wishes for continued success and again acknowledge my appreciation for all you have done during my time here.

Sincere regards

Dave

Aside from the fact that it is common courtesy to write your resignation letter in a dignified tone if you write a disrespectful letter, before asking for a testimonial, then you may find that your employer’s testimonial will not be as glowing as you had expected.

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Working From Home.

The opportunity of working from home would have most workers drooling at the very thought but if given the opportunity it is important to take a balanced view of the advantages and disadvantages that remote working provides. Today’s post outlines a list of the advantages and disadvantages of working from home to help you make a clearer choice should you the opportunity come your way.

Advantages.

1. Less time commuting means you get to spend more time with your family.

2. You save on the cost of travel expenses to and from work.

3. Your working hours are (usually) more flexible.

4. You have no dress code so can wear whatever you feel comfortable working in.

5. Less pressure with no boss looking over your shoulder.

Disadvantages.

1. It can be lonely working 8am to 5pm without the social interaction which you may have enjoyed in the office.

2. It takes a disciplined type of individual to avoid the constant distractions at home that can divert your attention from your work.

3. Work is constantly at your doorstep.

4. Just as having family around you is an advantage it can also be a disadvantage if young children are in the house and are too young to comprehend that you are working.

5. The fear that you being away from the office may impact future promotion opportunities.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Whether you are considering setting up your own home based business or have the opportunity to accept a role telecommuting from your current company spend time weighing up the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision that suits you best.

If you are interviewing for a job that allows you to work from home then the interviewer will be looking for candidates who show responsibility, reliability and trustworthiness so have examples ready where you have demonstrated these traits in previous roles.

It is important for candidates interviewing for a job to be aware not only of the things they say, but also of their nonverbal communication which can be just as telling as the answers they provide during the interview. The first impression you make on the interviewer will go a long way to deciding whether you will be considered for a second interview or not.

By now you should be aware of the importance of being dressed appropriately for the interview which is one method of nonverbal behavior your interviewer will take into account. From the moment you walk in to the interview room the interviewer will be scrutinizing your body language to see if you show confidence, or if you are the type of person that gets easily distracted, for example.

 1)  Make eye-contact.

Making good eye-contact during a job interview is important as it implies confidence. When making eye-contact do so in a natural manner don’t stare in a constant gaze at the interviewer as this will be off-putting for him/her.

2)  Smile when appropriate.

Smiling at the right time will work in your favor when interviewing though avoid laughter unless the interviewer initiates it. Smiling portrays a positive, confident demeanor so be sure to smile at the appropriate moments during your interview.

3)  Keep your arms relaxed rather than crossed in a tense position.

Aside from what could be viewed as a defensive position, having your arms crossed does not easily allow for taking notes or using your hands to gesture. You are best served by leaving your arms rested on the armrests on the chair or resting on a notepad on your lap.

4)  Get your posture right.

It is important to avoid slouching in your chair as this may be perceived as showing a lack of interest in the job which will seriously harm any chance you had of getting the job.  Try to sit up straight and refrain from fidgeting as this will be annoying for the person interviewing you.  Avoid looking overly relaxed as this could hint at an air of cockiness on your behalf, which is a trait that your interviewer will not be seeking in prospective employees.

Most interviewers will allow for the fact that interviewing can be nervous occasions for most people so won’t be too harsh on you if your non verbal behavior is not 100% correct but be sure to adhere to the important ones outlined in this post if you want to give a successful interview.

As regular readers know once a month I lighten the tone of my posts with a funny entry, such as our post in October on The Top 10 Funny Quotes About Work , rather than one centered on recruitment advice, so it seems fitting that the final post of 2009 falls into the lighthearted category so we can end, what has been a difficult year for many jobseekers, with a smile.

01. Teamwork is essential, that way you can always blame someone else.

02. Planning is the art of putting off until tomorrow what you have no intention of completing today.

03. Budgeting is a method of watching your money disappear methodically.

04. I never said it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

05. Computers will never replace human stupidity.

06. If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done around here.

07. To err is to human but to really mess things up requires a password.

08. Your true value depends entirely on what you are being compared with.

09. Of course there is no logic, it’s just company policy.

10. Due the cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.

I’m sure many of you readers can relate to some of these phrases and hope they provide you with a few laughs over the festive season, I will end by wishing Happy Holidays to each and every one of you and will be back in January when we return to the more serious business of helping you to improve your interview skills.