We’ve all had that nervous feeling right before your next job interview. It’s nerve racking to say the least. If you’re new to the job search and career space, I completely understand your anxiety around interviews. Half the battle is the level of preparation that takes place before the interview takes place. The other half is keeping your “nerves” under control while you worry about how you will be perceived by the interviewer. In any case, you will still need to be mentally and physically be prepared. Each type of interview requires diverse preparation, which I talk about in this video. If you are looking for interview coaching before your next job interview, go here.
This is second of the StoryTime Series on my podcast and YouTube channel sharing stories of all of our experiences in the world of careers, jobs, contract work, independent consulting and business interactions. In the second episode, I share one of my experiences while working in a toxic environment. The names, dates and other information were kept confidential to protect the innocent or guilty party.
The objective is the learn and grow from our professional and personal experiences to become a better version of ourselves, professionally. This particular story hits home and taught me so much about myself and the level of restraint I earned during that time. If it wasn’t for a great friend talking me off the proverbial ledge on a weekly basis, I probably would have been arrested for physical assaults and verbal altercations. The tension was thick and my stress level went through the roof! I am grateful to have survived it without loosing my composure.
What did I learn from this experience?
I learned that people and their preconceived notions are so strong, it allowed them to spread malicious lies about other people’s character. Keep in mind, they never took the time to get to know the individual but somehow felt entitled to assume things about people. Needless to say, the very sword those people intended to injury others, they ended up falling the same swords.
I learned corporations set up “certain people” for failure. For example, training some employees on the 25% – 30% of their duties while training other employees on 90% of their duties. They followed up by measuring each employee’s job performance without the same level of detailed training. So the employee with 30% of the training will never perform at the level of the employee that received 90% of the training. When questioned about why the training levels are different when the expectation of performance is the same, you receive responses like “training is a privilege“.
I learned that we all have a choice with the work environment we choose to spend our time. In my case, this employer terminated me for job performance, when I received less than 50% of the necessary training to be successful. It was the second termination from a job that I felt relief! The relief of not ever setting foot in that toxic environment.
If you find yourself having to self-talk your way into the doors of your job every morning…just so you don’t want the entire place to explode while you’re on a lunch break…It’s time to get a concrete career plan specifically tailored to you leaving that toxic environment for GOOD! Start by grabbing my eBook, “From Clueless Teenager to Consummate Professional”, 7 Steps to Cultivating the Career and Economic Life You Want here. It will help you cultivate your exit plan and career strategy. While you’re at it, grab my FREE DREAM Career Guide specifically formulated to help you document your Career Strategy step by step.
Looking for direct individual Career Coaching? Schedule your Career Strategy, Interview Coaching and Resume Consultations.
This is first of the StoryTime Series on my podcast sharing stories of all of our experiences in the world of careers, jobs, contract work, independent consulting and business interactions. In this first story time, I share one of my experiences while working for an employer. The names, dates and other information were kept confidential to protect the innocent or guilty party.
The objective is the learn and grow from our professional and personal experiences to become a better version of ourselves, professionally.
If you are applying for new jobs and getting interviews, then know you are doing something right. Your career tools are working for you. Your resumes and cover letters are getting past the applicant tracking system, also known as ATS into human hands. If your #resumes or #coverletters are not getting you interviews, I have a resources to review them to make sure they are doing their job to market you well and land you interviews. Go check out my resource here.
Ok, so your landing job interviews and the whole process makes you nervous right? I totally understand. I still get nervous when I have business meetings and do interviews, but I also have preparation, strategy and specific goals already established before attending any of those interviews. I want you to be armed and ready to handle those job interviews, like the professional that you are.
In this video, I go over two things you need to do BEFORE THE INTERVIEW…DURING THE INTERVIEW & AFTER THE INTERVIEW to increase your chances of getting the career opportunity/job you want.
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW (Do these two (2) things)
1. Ask for all the interviewers full name and titles. You want to be prepared for a panel interview or one-person interview. Bring the appropriate amount of resumes based on the number of interviewers. Thinking about it more, bring some extra copies of your resumes, just in case.
2. Ask about the appropriate the dress code for the interview, if it is in-person. You want to be prepared for what the interviewer may be expect from you.
Looking for additional help with getting ready for your next interview, go here to access the interview audio series to help strategically prepare for your next interview.
DURING THE INTERVIEW (Do these two (2) things)
1. Ask the interviewer this question: What personality type are you looking for to fill this position?
It allows you to obtain information about what type of environment they are looking to create with the person in this position. Please take notes, so you can be prepared to respond positively. This question will also reveal the overall company culture and the mindset of the interviewer responding to it.
2. Ask this other multilayered questions: Did you recently create this position? If not, did you recently loose the employee filling this position due to retirement or termination? If so, what were some of the positive things the last person in the position did right? What were some of the areas that need development that you are hoping to correct with the next candidate?
AFTER THE INTERVIEW (Do these two (2) things)
1. Follow up with the interviewer/employer by writing them a thank you letter sent via email or snail mail. You may also want to send them a handwritten thank you card.
2. Ask about the timelines in them making their decision on the candidate choice. Follow-up with them again via email, if you do not receive a response from them within the timeline they specifically told you.
If you are looking for direct interview coaching where I get industry specific with you and provide proven strategies for you before, during and after the interview, go here.
Sometimes, interviewers literally pull questions off the internet to ask right before your interview begins, but do not make the mistake of not answering their questions strategically…it can cost you the job or career opportunity.
Some interviewers like to ask this question “What are your weaknesses?” to see how you respond non-verbally and along with what you have to say. This question can throw you for a loop if you are not aware of the objective. The objective of this question is for you, as the interviewee to communicate how you overcome weakness or challenges in your professional career by telling a story about yourself. In the video, I provide a couple of examples of how you would respond positively and professionally to this question.
If you have need additional guidance and support to be fully prepared in your next interview, schedule an interview session with my by going here…where I work with you directly to properly equip you to efficiently handle all aspects before, during and after the interview.
If you want to work with me to in other ways or support, go here.
Want to connect with me or get general career questions answered? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW or go here to leave me a voicemail or email message which will be returned within 24 hours.
Can you control when a company puts out an ad for an open position? You can only control how you respond to the open position. In life & your career, there are some factors that are out of your control, so don’t concentrate on that. Focus on how you represent yourself in-person and on paper with your #careertools, to get the best possible results.
If you’re not sure if your career tools like your #resumes #coverletters or #lettersofrecommendation represent you well…check out my resource here to make sure tools are working for you in the #jobmarket.
Your communication skills are extremely important in the interview which plays a huge role in how you present yourself. In this video, I talk about one of the ways to help you improve how you present yourself in a job interview. To get the entire article from the June 2018 DREAM Career Newsletter….go here to get your FREE copy.
Just starting out in the working world and don’t know where to start? Grab the FREE D.R.E.A.M. Career Guide that will help you get started with the job or career you actually want. Get it here.
When going through the process of fielding job applications online and offline, finally start landing some interviews, the process can be daunting and sometimes frustrating. I understand all too well how looking for a job is truly a full-time job. Keeping your mind positive and continue to take action just one part of the process. The other part is to know what to do and the career tools to use once job/career opportunities begin to materialize. The job search becomes even more exciting when you start landing interviews…
Interviews means you are one step closer to landing the job or career opportunity, so you want to make sure you prepare with the right career tools, possible questions and responses to the questions. You also want to be aware of how you communicate nonverbally, especially during the interview. If you are looking for additional help with preparing for your next interview, check out the interview help resource interview help resource where you can get the tools you need to DOMINATE in your next interview.
Your nonverbal communicate can speak more loudly than your words in an interview, so it’s important to be aware of what you are communicating to the interviewer. Here are 3 nonverbal queues that could jeopardize your chances of landing the interview…
1st Queue Not speaking clearly or loud enough for the interviewer to make understand what you are saying. It’s so important to speak loud enough, but not too loud, like your at a ball game screaming…well, you get the point. Your tone of voice is also important. Speaking in a monotone voice can communicate to the interviewer that you are bored or uninterested in the position you are discussing. Even if you say the right things, the monotone voice can kill your chances. If you are looking for more customized help or coaching through the interview process, check this resource to get your industry specific interview coaching to handle your next interview like a BOSS!!
2nd Queue Shrugging your shoulders with your head down, especially when speaking with the interviewer(s). It’s important to present yourself like a confident candidate, even with virtual interviews. It helps communicate to the interviewer that you are confident with your experience and demonstrate how your unique qualifications help their organization. Believe it or not, your body language is more than fifty percent of your communication.
3rd Queue Facial expression that expresses negativity. Your facial expression speaks volumes without saying a word. If you face looks like you just smelled some disgusting garbage, you will not be received well by the interviewer. You have to be mindful of your facial expressions especially when someone says something you don’t like or agree with. You always have to keep positive and slight smiling face, which I refer to as keeping your “game face” on. If someone’s face is not pleasant, do you want to keep looking at them? So why do you think the interviewer wants to look at your facial expressions when it’s unpleasant? I just want to bring that point the fore. If you looking for more customized help with your interviews, check out this interview resource, so you can truly set yourself up to WIN in the job market.
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