Laura DeCarlo, Author at Job-Hunt

12 Tips for One-Way Video Interview Success (Prerecorded Interviews)

Laura DeCarlo — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:43:15 +0000

For decades, we have embraced the face-to-face interview, typically in person and sometimes by phone.

Since the Coronavirus pandemic, face-to-face interviews are often avoided or postponed as long as possible.

Video interviews have become MUCH more common, including one-way video interviews which were relatively rare.

One-way video interviews (or prerecorded interviews) are an increasing method of doing the first round of interviews, although phone interviews are still also widely used.

The purpose of the one-way video interview and the phone interview are typically the same: confirm that the candidate meets the basic requirements for the job.

This new style shakes up everything we hold dear about just what an interview is supposed to entail.

What Is a One-Way Video Interview?

In the land of job interviews, we have come to rely on and expect the 2-way or face-to-face interview where the employer asks the questions and the job seeker responds, hopefully turning the process into a conversation and connection.

Now we have something altogether new on the horizon which makes me think of a singer cutting a demo tape — it’s the one-way video interview.

In the one-way video interview, the job seeker’s answers to preset questions are recorded for the employer to see later.

Usually, this interview happens at the beginning of the interviewing process, often as a replacement or supplement to the phone interview which has typically served as the first step in screening job candidates.

The concept is simple: The employer can request a recorded video from a job seeker, and the job seeker answers pre-scripted interview questions usually by a specific date that is the deadline for the interview. Then, members of the employers staff can watch (and re-watch) the candidate’s answers to the questions at their convenience.

Prerecorded Video Job Interviews

So what can you do when faced with the 1-way interview? Prepare, and follow these twelve steps to success.

1. Read and follow the instructions very carefully.

You will be more successful in the interview and you will demonstrate your ability to work carefully and thoroughly by following the directions for the interview very carefully.

Skipping this step — or just quickly glancing at the instructions — can automatically disqualify you before the interview even begins. Avoid making assumptions about the process that could be wrong.

2. Meet the employer’s deadline.

The good news is that you can usually pick a time for the interview that is the best for you, after work or on weekends if you are employed. The employer usually sets a “due date” when the interview should be completed. Know that date, and meet that deadline to be considered.

If possible, beat that deadline by several hours or even days. Avoid doing the interview at the last possible moment to make the best impression on the employer.

3. Have the login information handy.

As part of the invitation, you should receive a URL where you will need to login to participate in the interview. Other login information, like the employer’s or the interviewer’s name, an identifier for the interview, and possibly a password, may be sent to you as part of the invitation process. Be sure to have that ready.

4. Make sure you have the right devices available.

If you have no other options, you can probably use your smartphone for this interview, assuming it has a camera. However, you will very likely make the best impression using a camera connected to a computer, assuming the computer also has a microphone and a speaker

Double-check with the interviewer if you need to use your smartphone.

When possible, test the connection to be sure it works before the interview regardless of device used.

In advance, test your microphone and camera to be sure that they work. Even perfect answers to the questions won’t make an impact if they can’t hear your answers or see you talk.

5. Do your homework.

Carefully review the job description and highlight where you meet or exceed the requirements.

In today’s digital world, you can learn all about the company, its competitors, its products, and its goals in short order by spending some time on the Internet. Review the employer’s website, press releases, products and services to know who they are and where they are going.

Then, be sure to focus on how you align with the job’s requirements as well as the employer’s goals and mission. [More: Interview Success Checklist and Pre-Interview Preparation.]

6. Have your interview answers ready.

If you receive the questions in advance, you have received a fabulous opportunity to be well-prepared. It’s like being handed the keys to the kingdom. Script out your answers in advance, remembering to tell clear and concise stories that are examples of your accomplishments.

If you don’t receive the questions in advance, which is unfortunately more likely, be prepared to answer the standard job interview questions. [More: Smart Answers to Interview Questions and Smart Strategies to Answer to Behavioral Interview Questions.]

Focus on the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results you attained. [More: Structured Examples.]

During the interview, have a copy of the job description and your resume or application available to reference if necessary.

7. Practice, practice, practice.

I could say this one hundred times — you must know your script well enough to be natural. When you answer the questions you need to sound like it is second nature to share this information. You won’t have that unless you memorize it, practice it aloud, and grow into it, just like an actor does with a script.

8. Choose your location carefully.

Choose a quiet spot where, hopefully, you will be the only person visible (and audible).

Don’t make the mistake of trying to do this interview in a busy place with many distractions around. Keep the interview background as simple as possible, like a wall, or something else that is unlikely to cause a problem or create a distraction.

If possible, have a light showing on your face from in front of you so that your face is well lit. Test the lighting to find the best position for it– a lamp which is slightly above your face and behind the camera, shining on you, is usually the most flattering.

9. Dress the part.

Just because you are not face-to-face does not make this any more casual. You want to be well-groomed and well-dressed, avoiding distractive prints, overly bright colors, and noisy jewelry. You want the focus to be on you, not on what you are wearing. [More: Dress for Job Interview Success.]

10. Be the best you.

The best you sits up straight and leans slightly forward, makes eye contact, remembers to smile and show personality, and talks in a clear, well-modulated voice. Don’t whisper, mumble, or fidget.

Practice will also help you overcome issues like fidgeting so again, there is more reason to prepare. If you can record yourself in practice, do it! You will rapidly see what needs to be fixed.

11. Look directly at the camera.

When you are answering a question, look directly at the camera rather than at your computer screen. Imagine that the personal who will be viewing this video is right there. Pretend you are talking to that person.

12. Pay attention to the clock.

Usually these interviews have a time-limit. So, put a clock where you can easily see it, and use the time wisely.

One Way Interview Benefit to the Employer

For employers, the benefit assumed is increased efficiency. They reduce the initial manpower hours for scheduling and conducting live interviews, even over the phone, and this can greatly cut down on the time spent reviewing candidates.

If an interviewee does not have a great start, the reviewer can just move on instead of what would have happened in a live interview — wasting the time to see it through, or giving the candidate false hope.

The other plus for the employer is that the reviewer or recruiter/human resource person is not identified, so he/she will also cut down on calls from job seekers checking in. Of course, this is not so good for you, the job seeker!

One Way Interview Benefit to the Job Seeker

For job seekers, the primary benefit is avoiding — or postponing — traveling to the employer’s location for the interview. This also helps them reduce exposure to the Coronavirus while making progress with their job search.

Some of the one-way platforms offer job candidates the opportunity to review their answers, before submitting their recording, and re-record any answers they think they could improve.

The disadvantages for the job seeker include losing the opportunity to ask questions which are answered immediately, limiting their ability to collect more information about the employer or the interviewer.

Each job seeker must also must succeed using relatively new technology in a high-stress circumstance, which may be a test of their knowledge of, and comfort with, that technology.

The Bottom Line on How to Prepare for One Way Interviews:

While the “how” of your job interview might change, the goal remains the same: Present the BEST you to the interviewer by focusing on knowing the job and the company and having clear answers and stories that demonstrate why you are the best fit for their position. You can do it!

Some of the Frequently Asked Interview Questions:

Tell Me About a Time When You Failed
Tell Me/Us About Yourself
Why Do You Want THIS Job?
How Did You Find This Job?
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job?
After a Layoff: Why Did You Leave Your Job?
After Being Fired: Why Did You Leave Your Job?
Do You Have Any Questions? — choose from 50+ good questions to ask them
MORE Smart Answers to Interview Questions

More About Different Types of Job Interviews

About the author…

Laura DeCarlo is recognized as the career industry’s ‘career hero’ making a difference to both job seekers and career professionals as the founder of Career Directors International. She possesses 11 top-level certifications in resume writing, career coaching, and career management; 7 first place resume and job placement awards; and has written three books on interviewing and job search including Interview Pocket RX, Interviewing: The Gold Standard, Resumes for Dummies,and Job Search Bloopers. Follow Laura on Twitter at @careerhero.
More about this author…

The post 12 Tips for One-Way Video Interview Success (Prerecorded Interviews) appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Top 12 Tips for Phone Screen Interviews

Laura DeCarlo — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:29:57 +0000

What is a phone screen interview?

Phone interviews are typically called “phone screens” by the employer because they are screening candidates. These interviews are short, usually less than 30 minutes and may be as short as 10 minutes. The goal of a phone interview is to get an invitation to continue through the interview process.

Three to six of those candidates who make it through the phone screen will be invited to participate in the next round of interviews.

Usually the phone screen interview is relatively short, typically lasting between ten and thirty minutes, focused on confirming your match with the job opportunity.

Candidates who don’t pass this screen are eliminated from consideration.

How to Handle Unexpected & Unscheduled Phone Screen Interviews

When the unexpected call happens, you can take one of two approaches — accept the call, or ask to reschedule because you are unable to talk at that moment.

The best approach is to ask for a better time — when you are in a quiet, safe environment, have your notes in front of you, and are mentally prepared for the interview.

Good interviewers usually schedule the interview in advance. (more below)

Sometimes the calls come out of the blue when you answer your phone!

If you currently have a job, do NOT take this call in your workplace! Your boss or a co-worker may interrupt and may also discover your job search, putting your job at risk!

Most recruiters and employers will understand that their timing may not be right and be willing to reschedule. Don’t ask to reschedule to a date in the distant future. Choose some time within the next few hours or next day, if possible.

12 Tips for Successful Phone Screening Interviews

Since you may not know when to expect the telephone interview, it is critical that you do not wait to prepare for the interview until you have the interview scheduled. You have to accomplish your goal – selling yourself, your skills, your experience, and your value – with only the words that come out of your mouth now.

You have just three assets for a phone screen– your attitude, your voice, and your preparation! What can you do to have the best opportunity for success?

BEFORE the Phone Interview:

1. Have professional voicemail.

This interview determines whether or not you are considered for the job. Your goal is to make a great impression. Later you can decide whether or not you really want this job.

Start with your voicemail since these interviews are often set up via a phone call. When you can’t answer the phone number you provided on your application or resume when someone calls, be sure that a voicemail message is available, confirming that the number belongs to you, and clearly stating your name in a professional way.

Voicemail Do NOT: “Hi. I’m out partying right now. Leave a message, and, if it’s interesting enough, I might call back.”

Voicemail DO: “You’ve reached Bill Jones’ phone. I’m unable to take your call right now. Please leave your name, phone number, and the reason for your call. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

When you are able to speak with the interviewer, be professional. Have your calendar ready to schedule the interview.

While you may be justifiably tempted to answer with “Finally! I was wondering if I would ever hear from you!” when you answer the initial call, resist that temptation. This is a business call! That annoyed response or an unprofessional greeting like “Yah?” when you answer the call may immediately end the opportunity.

A much better response is “Thank you for calling. I am very interested learning more about this job.”

2. Schedule the interview carefully, confirming the interviewer’s information.

Choose a time that works best for you.

Experienced interviewers know that, if you are employed, you will need to schedule the call for a time when you are not at work. So, they are accustomed to taking calls before 9, after 5, or at lunch time — whenever you are not at work, if employed.
Schedule the call for a time when you are sure you can be on time (being late will likely kill the opportunity!) and undistracted.
If they say the call will last 10 minutes, set aside 20 minutes. If they say 15 minutes, set aside 30, etc.
Choose a time when you will be awake and sober — not before you’ve had your morning coffee (if required) or after a celebration (if scheduled).

When you schedule the call, choose a time when you can be in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted by a co-worker or family member, barking dog, or other loud noises. You must be able to easily hear the interviewer, and you want them to hear you easily, too.

When the date and time have been established, collect information about the interviewer. The person you speak with may change depending on the date and time of the call, so when the call has been scheduled, ask for the name and job title of the person who will be interviewing you.

If you are supposed to call them, confirm their phone number.
If they are to call you, be sure that the number they have is correct.

3. Do your research in advance.

Know as much as you can about the employer and the opportunity before the interview, just as you would for an in-person interview:

Re-read the job posting, and make notes of where you meet or exceed the requirements (and where you don’t).
Review the organization’s website (if any) to see what they do, where they are, and the latest news they may have posted.
Look for a LinkedIn “Company Profile” to see what information they post, as well as other job openings they might have.
Google the company and the product/service names. See 50 Google Searches to Avoid Bad Employers for more ideas.
Check a site like Glassdoor.com to see the job interview questions commonly asked by this employer as well as the salary ranges and employee reviews.
Based on your company research, have questions to ask if the opportunity arises or you risk looking uninterested and unprepared (not good!).

This research will help you to succeed in the face-to-face interview later, hopefully. It should also help you to determine if you really want to work for this employer.

For more pre-interview research ideas (and details), read The Winning Difference: Pre-Interview Preparation.

4. Know your answers to the common questions usually asked.

Brief “yes” and “no” responses will not move a telephone interview forward, but will end it quickly. So, start by practicing your answers to the top interview questions now so that you are ready when the unplanned telephone interview occurs.

After confirming that you meet the basic requirements (education, skills, and experience), these questions are typically asked in phone screen are Tell me about yourself and Why do you want to leave your current job?

Paint visual pictures with your words by telling stories that demonstrate results you achieved or contributed to with answers that express the who, what, when, where, how, and why. Those answers will make you stand out.

The more you prepare now, the less you will ramble and omit from your answers during the actual interview.

5. Have the documentation you need at your fingertips.

Having easy access to the company and job information will allow you to confidently respond to questions without fumbling regarding which job you are talking about.

So have a copy of both the job description and a copy of the resume or application you submitted in front of you before the interview starts.

Also have the notes you made during your research — questions to ask about the organization. Having questions which are specific to the employer will impress them with your interest and your attention to detail.

DURING the Phone Interview:

6. Listen carefully.

As in every business discussion, listening to the “other side” is as important as what you say, and, in fact, what you say will be more effective if you are listening carefully.

Avoid making assumptions about what is being said. Ask for a clarification if necessary so that your response will be most appropriate.

Completely focus your attention on the interviewer. Answer the interviewer’s questions carefully, and ask your own.

Don’t take other calls or texts, and avoid all other distractions.

7. Smile while on the phone!

You will find that you sound more upbeat and engaged when you do this. Your smiles will be “heard” by the interviewer making for a positive impression. This is where your attitude will really show.

To help you remember to smile, place a mirror by the phone, where it will be easy for you to see yourself in it. Then, during the call, make a point of looking into it, and smiling while you are talking.

8. Focus on your language and voice.

You have only the power of your voice in a telephone call. Speak clearly, stay upbeat, and use positive language. Smiling (#6, above) will help.

Don’t trash anyone, not even the former boss who was such a jerk!

Try to take cues from the interviewer (does he or she speak slowly and softly or fast and loud?), and modulate your own tone and word choice to make a positive impression.

The mirror (#6, above) will help in staying positive, but you must remember that the words you choose (your language) and the motivation you put forward (tone, modulation, enthusiasm) will help determine your outcome.

9. Take notes.

As the interview begins, ask for the name and job title of the person who is interviewing you, and write it down in your notes. At the end of the interview, ask for, or confirm, the person’s email address (so you can send your thank you).

If possible, take notes during and immediately after the call. Focus on giving good answers rather than writing copious notes, and you can write most of the notes after the call.

Note the date and time of the call and, if scheduled, whether they were on time. Then:

During the call, write the name and job title of the person who called. If they don’t volunteer it, ask, and confirm the correct spelling of their name.
During the call, write down any commitments you make for after the call, like sending a sample of your work or following up with the answer to a question that you couldn’t answer during the call. Do be careful not to put a current or former employer’s confidential information at risk.
At the end of the call, be sure to make note of the answers to the questions in #11 below.
Note anything about you that seemed particularly important to them, indicated by the interviewer asking you several follow-on questions about that topic.
Note anything about you that seemed to disappoint them.

These notes will help you write your thank you note and also help you to prepare for the in-person interview.

10. If you have a web portfolio or a complete LinkedIn profile, direct the interviewer to it, if possible.

Imagine this: The interviewer asks you to describe a challenge you have faced. Ask if he or she has access to the Internet.

If the answer is yes, suggest they visit your web portfolio or LinkedIn Profile (links hopefully on your resume), and have them click on your project highlights page. There, the interviewer will see what you have made public, perhaps an outline of key projects and a terrific graph that expresses your results.

Telephone interviews are truly one of the best reasons for creating a web portfolio or making sure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and shows your accomplishments.

This enables the interviewer to see your value while you talk about it.

[Related: LinkedIn for Job Search.]

AT THE END of the Phone Interview:

11. End the call effectively.

If the interviewer is bringing the call to an end without discussing the next steps, speak up! Express your enthusiasm for moving forward, saying something like this:

“Thank you for your time today. I’ve enjoyed speaking with you, learning more about this opportunity, and I would be very happy to discuss more about it in person.”

Ask if email is the best method for staying in touch (so you will be more sure that your thank you message gets through, if sent by email).

If an in-person interview is not scheduled at the end of the call, find out when and how you can follow up with the employer.

Be sure to ask for contact information (name, phone number, job title, and email address) of the person, or people, who will be your contact(s).

AFTER the Phone Interview:

12. Send your thank you, immediately.

Sure, it was a telephone interview, but that is no reason for not taking the time to exercise simple but powerful courtesies. Write a thank you letter, and email it as soon as you can after the interview. Don’t just say thank you! Make a point of reiterating your strengths and value for the position.

The Bottom Line with Phone Screen Interviews

Phone screen interviews are typically the first hurdle in the interview process used by employers to quickly separate the qualified from the unqualified job candidates. Follow these 12 steps to succeed in your next phone screen interview, and you’ll be invited to continue the interviewing process. These steps will guide you successfully through the telephone interview. Remember, do not leave this interview to chance – prepare now for success!

More About Succeeding in Phone Interviews:

About the author…

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How to Answer: “Why Should We Hire You?” (with Samples)

Laura DeCarlo — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:28:47 +0000

This is a critical question because it will show your success, self-confidence, and preparation.

Employers take this question very seriously, and you should, too.

In this answer, do double-time by selling yourself and by demonstrating your knowledge of the company.

Start by doing your homework on the employer before the interview, even if it is “only” a telephone interview.

That research will likely include visiting their website, Googling their name, and performing an advanced search on LinkedIn long before you ever find yourself in the interview! [Read The Winning Difference: Pre-Interview Preparation for details.]

The question of, “Why should we hire you?” can take a variety of forms such as, “Why do you think you will be successful in this position?”

Like “Why do you want to work here?“ and “Tell me about yourself,” this question is the employer’s invitation to sell yourself as the answer to their needs.

Bad Answers to “Why Should We Hire You?”

An answer that focuses on the benefits to you is a bad answer. So, answers like:

I need the money.
I need a job.
This location is very close to where I live (or go to school or want to move or whatever).
A friend used to work here and said you pay well.

As important as those reasons are to you, they are not the reasons the employer will hire you. Frankly, nice as these people might be, they really don’t care about the benefits to you if they hire you.

Your answer to this question should focus on them, not on you! You are the seller in this situation, not the buyer. So, you need to focus on the benefits (more than one!) to this buyer.

Remember that the goal here is to entice this employer to offer you this job.

Best Way to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

Connect the dots between the job requirements and your qualifications. Start by doing a careful analysis of the job’s requirements so you know:

The requirements you meet.
The requirements you exceed.
The requirements you don’t meet.

In today’s job market, employers reportedly find candidates who are a 50 percent “fit” with the job’s specifications to be acceptable, although they prefer candidates who meet more of the requirements. The best strategy is to analyze the job and your fit with it before applying.

Following the steps outlined by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz in 3 Steps to Interview Success: Build Your Interview Checklist will help you analyze the job, determine your fit, and decide how to describe your qualifications in a way that will enable the employer to see you as a good match.

Example Answers to “Why Should We Hire You?”

Embrace that this question as an opportunity to emphasize your value and to demonstrate your knowledge as they work together to show how well you could do the job.

For example, someone applying for a position as an administrative assistant, which requires experience and expertise with Microsoft software, might say:

I have been using Word, Excel, and Outlook since 2001 to maintain both financial and administrative records, to create and distribute internal reports for management, and to create and distribute the internal organizational newsletter which was sent to over 200 staff members twice a month.

The financial reports were created and maintained using Excel, and both newsletters were written using Microsoft Word, using templates that I developed. Those financial reports monitored employee activity and asset usage, used by 4 senior managers including the CEO and COO. They were distributed using Microsoft Outlook.

I have taken several workshops on Microsoft Office products, and have worked with the newest version and previous versions, going back to the 1997 version. So, I am very comfortable with the Microsoft Office suite of products.

Or, in a more traditional situation, here’s what you might prepare to say as a new graduate of a medical transcription training program applying for a job with a cardiology practice:

I believe that I will be successful in this position because I have 900 hours of hands-on training in medical transcription in a classroom environment at the XYZ Institute.

(Get out your portfolio, and open it to a print out of a sample of your work).

Here you can see several examples of medical records, dictation, and reports I have produced in MS Word.

I have also excelled in my terminology courses, gaining a strong base in numerous disciplines.

However, I have always been interested in Cardiology and made it a personal goal to focus on that area. Because of that, I read the Journal of Cardiology to stay up-to-date with changes in the field, names of new pharmaceuticals, and other innovations.

I have an excellent basis in the discipline to transcribe the records of your Cardiologists with ease. Also, I recently joined the American Association of Medical Transcriptionists and am already taking steps to pursue certification.

When I share answers like this, most people react by saying, “That’s so good; I could’t do that.” But, that’s not true – crafting answers like this is just getting to know yourself in advance.

[MORE: Smart Answers to Interview Questions.]

Advanced Preparation to Make Sure You Get Hired

You need to plan to answer questions about why you are qualified and know how to sell yourself above the other applicants.

Realize that you may have the same skillset as other applicants, but much of job interview success revolves around who does the best job at communicating their expertise in the interview!

So, spend some time doing the following:

Listing your skills and strengths.
Writing CAR stories (Challenges, Actions, and Results) about accomplishments for each of your jobs.
Documenting your accomplishments.
Uncovering what makes you special by reviewing letters of recommendation and/or other testimonials you may have from work, school, and volunteering.
Writing down concrete answers to questions like this that give a concrete example to prove you fit the bill!

Bottom Line with Answering the Question “Why Should We Hire You?”

By making getting hired your job and putting in the time to prepare, you can successfully and confidently answer an employer when they ask, “Why should we hire you?” Go get ‘em!

Answering the Common Job Interview Questions:

Questions About You:

Handling Special Career Situations:

Questions About Them:

Questions for You to Ask Them:

Do You Have Any Questions? — choose from 50+ good questions to ask them
5 Absolute Must-Ask Questions for the End of Your Next Interview
The Second Interview: 5 Key Questions to Ask
45 Questions You Should NOT to Ask in Job Interviews

Interview Preparation:

About the author…

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How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in Your Job Interview

Laura DeCarlo — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:28:31 +0000

While this is often among the first questions asked at the start of the interview, the goal of the interview is not to become best friends or to hear your read your resume.

Their goal is to determine if you are a good fit for their job, so your best strategy is to focus on this employer and your fit for this job.

This is an opportunity to market yourself as a qualified candidate — presenting yourself as the “solution” (right candidate) to their “problem” (a job to fill).

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” In Two Parts

The best way to answer this question?

Focus on this opportunity! Tell them about your accomplishments and experience that make you an ideal candidate for the job you are seeking.

This is not an invitation to tell your life story or share any secrets about your current or former employers. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes — what would you want to know if you were them?

Emphasize what will make you stand out as qualified for the company and for the job.

Break your answer to this question into two parts:

1. How/why you are qualified.

Summarize what you have done that qualifies you for this opportunity. Don’t recite what is on your resume or job application, but don’t assume that the interviewers, who may have been interviewing several candidates, will remember all of your qualifications.

Start with your current/most recent job, and present the most significant highlights, the ones that would be most relevant to this job. These are the qualifications that make it clear that you are a very good candidate for the job.
Add other relevant details and accomplishments that demonstrate you are qualified for this position.

MORE: Read top recruiter Jeff Lipschultz’s tips for analyzing job descriptions — 3 Steps to Interview Success: Build Your Interview Checklist.]

2. Why you have applied.

Focus on advancing your career. Stay away from reasons that are not clearly career-related. Emphasize the opportunity to move forward in your career without saying that you are dead-ended in your current job.

Focus on the future — this opportunity and your career, demonstrating your interest and enthusiasm for the job and the employer:

This job really interests you because…
This job is the logical next step for your career.
This employer is one of the best and a place where you have always wanted to work.

Avoid the purely personal reasons. Do NOT say:

You want to work closer to home because your kids sometimes get out of school early and you want to be able to be there with them.
You are too tired from the long commute to enjoy life.
Your boss is a jerk and you want a better job.

This is where you must tread very carefully and not say anything that might be interpreted as trashing your current/former employer. DO tell them how well you fit, using the 2-part answer, above.

Don’t spend more than 30 to 60 seconds answering this question.

Sample Answer for “Tell Me About Yourself”

Someone seeking a management position with a local branch of a transportation company might say:

Part 1: Why You Are Qualified:

I am currently the Team Lead for ABC Freight Company in this area, reporting directly to the District Manager. During the last 9 years, I have progressed through positions of Package Loader, Courier, Dispatcher, and Team Lead.

In my current position, I have had the opportunity to complete numerous management training programs, provide supervision and leadership to all positions within the station, and participate in special projects in conjunction with Senior and District Managers.

My team includes over 50 drivers, loaders, and couriers and includes Big County. Since I was born and raised in this county, I have an excellent knowledge of this area as well as the 2 neighboring counties — North County and South County.

I enjoy being a Lead and the opportunity to empower and motivate my team. Last year I was awarded ‘Top Lead ‘ for greatest team gains in productivity.

Part 2: Why You Applied

I believe this experience and training has prepared me to take the next step and pursue a management position with XYZ Trucking. This company has a reputation for excellent management. This opportunity looks perfect to me, and I look forward to working with the best.

Yes, this person prepared and practiced his response in advance. Smart move!

As you can see from this sample answer, this individual:

Emphasizes the tangibles that qualify him for the job, from his knowledge of the local area, long-term tenure with the employer, and recognition for management results within the industry. He does not focus on fluffy stuff or personal information, but paints a picture as to why he is a perfect candidate for the job.
He also looks forward to advancement in his career, seeking a management position with this new employer.

[MORE: Smart Answers to Interview Questions.]

How to Prepare for “Tell Me About Yourself” In An Interview

Fortunately, this question is one of the easiest job interview questions to prepare for.

KNOW YOURSELF in terms of qualifications for the job and match for the company:

Carefully review the job description to note where you meet or exceed the requirements.
Research the company.
Identify, catalog, list, and review your successes and accomplishments.
Identify and list your relevant expertise, strengths, and unique value.
Write out your 2-part answer, as described above.

And, practice, practice, practice so you sound natural and confident.

Then, you will be ready to put yourself in the employer’s shoes, and emphasize what will make you stand out for the company and for the job.

[For more tips on preparing for a job interview, read Pre-Interview Preparation so you will have a solid understanding of the position and the employer. ]

What You Do NOT Tell Them

I call this question a “spider web” because if you simply tell someone about yourself without planning or context to the target job for which you are there to interview, you could give away all kinds of information that leaves them with the impression that you are:

Over-qualified
Under-qualified
Ditsy or naive
Unprepared for the interview (so not really very interested)
Simply a risk for the company

Most people talk about what they know, ramble on about where they live, kids, likes/dislikes, but, remember, THIS IS A JOB INTERVIEW. Sharing details about your personal life is not appropriate or smart.

An employer isn’t going to select to hire you because you have such cute children (causing you to miss work), a wonderful husband or wife (causing you to miss work), or interesting hobbies (causing you to miss work).

Your goal is to avoid answers that give away personal information about yourself, particularly because some of that information might take you off the top-candidates list.

The Bottom Line on Responding to “Tell Me About Yourself”

With advanced planning and practice, you can know your target employer and how to sell yourself for the job. “Tell me about yourself” then becomes a positive and fun exercise in demonstrating your value and getting one step closer to winning that great new job!

Your preparation for this question will also work well for the “Why should we hire you?” question.

More About Successful Job Interviews:

Answering the Common Job Interview Questions:

Questions About You:

Handling Special Career Situations:

Questions About Them:

Questions for You to Ask Them:

Do You Have Any Questions? — choose from 50+ good questions to ask them
5 Absolute Must-Ask Questions for the End of Your Next Interview
The Second Interview: 5 Key Questions to Ask
45 Questions You Should NOT to Ask in Job Interviews

Interview Preparation:

About the author…

The post How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in Your Job Interview appeared first on Job-Hunt.

How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work Here (Examples)

Laura DeCarlo — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:28:11 +0000

The question of, “Why do you want to work here?” is not limited to job interviews.

You’ll find it knocking on your door in networking, informational interviewing, and even at job fairs.

When you are asked this innocent-sounding question, you must have a strong, relevant answer.

Your answer should demonstrate your knowledge of the company and the skills, talents, experience, and strengths you have that are a match for their culture and the targeted position/department.

Sample Answers to “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”

If you have researched the company thoroughly, the reasons you want to work for this employer should be clear. For in-depth company research strategies, and to make sure this is the right employer for you, read on. You can reference your company research in your answer, which should impress the interviewers.

The quality of the employer’s products, for example:

I have used your software products for many years, and always been very impressed with the innovations and consistent concern for helping your customers learn how to use them effectively. With the high quality of your products, marketing them almost feels like a public service. I would greatly enjoy helping you to continue to innovate and to increase your market share.
The quality of the employer’s reputation as an employer, for example:

This company has a wonderful reputation as a great place to work. You place high value on your employees and encourage them to learn, grow, and innovate inside the company. This means that employees happily work here for many years, far beyond the average length with one employer. And, according to your customers, the high quality of your products and services reflect your high employee satisfaction, which is not surprising. This feels like a win-win-win for stockholders, employees, and customers, and I would be very happy to join this organization.
The employer’s business reputation, for example:

This firm has the reputation of being one of the leading accounting firms in this state, with a list of impressive customers as well as high customer satisfaction rates. Your partners are frequent speakers at national conferences, advocating strong security measures to protect financial transactions and information. These are signs that this firm is a leader, not a follower. With my background in cybersecurity, I’m very interested in applying the newest technology plus common-sense practices to keep this sensitive information as safe as possible.

Put your answer together based on your research and your interest in the job. Don’t be insincere, but do clearly let the company know about your interest in working there.

[MORE: Smart Answers to Interview Questions.]

Bad Answers to “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”

It’s not about you. Until you get to the point of receiving an offer, employers are just looking for reasons to eliminate you.

Here are some answers you never want to find coming out of your mouth:

For the money.
It seems like a nice place to work.
My cousin Fred works for you, and he says the benefits are great.

All three of these answers are similar, and may be absolutely true. However, they share the same problem – they are all about what you want. However, they do not make the employer interested in hiring you.

Generic answers don’t make you stand out either:

Because I know I can make a really good contribution.
Because I know you have an opening for ______________, and I am qualified.”

While these may seem better, they err in the similar manner of being vague, “vanilla” answers that anyone could give to any employer for any job.

For more bad answers to avoid giving, read 30 Bad Answers to Job Interview Questions.

Best Answers Should Include Employer Details as to “Why Did You Choose the Company?”

The examples of bad answers above don’t stand out to the employer because they aren’t about the employer and why you chose them. The answers make one of two mistakes:

Those answers focus on the benefit of the job to you.
While the employer probably wants you to be happy in the job, they don’t care about the benefit to you at this point. They want to know the benefit to them if they hire you.
Those answers don’t demonstrate your understanding of the employer’s needs. The employer wants to know that you are really interested in this job, and a vague or self-focused answer doesn’t show that interest.

With these answers, you fade into the woodwork and get lost among the other job seekers who have not done their homework either. These answers will never get you far with an employer.

How to Make Sure You Want to Work for the Hiring Company

Do your homework. When I say, “homework” I am referring to company research and preparation in four key areas:

Know yourself
Know the company
Know the position
Know the interviewers and hiring manager (if possible)

Let me walk you through these:

1. Know Yourself

Before you talk to employers, or even network for positions, you need to have a strong grasp of what you can offer them. (What’s the return on investment you provide to the employer? Why are you the person they should hire?)

Analyze the job description, point-by-point. What are they looking for? Write down the job requirements, one by one.

Then, determine how do you match — or exceed — those requirements.

Write down your matching accomplishments or skills for each requirement.

You should be able to talk about your strengths and your accomplishments, and to readily give concrete answers to questions such as “What are your greatest strengths?” “Why should we hire you?” and “Tell me about yourself.” as well as “What do you know about us?” and “Why do you want to work here?”

[For more details on analyzing a job description to see how well you match it, read 3 Steps to Interview Success: Build Your Interview Checklist.]

2. Know the Company

Get to know the companies you will be talking to (or talking about, if networking). When you know details about them, their culture, their goals, their products, and their challenges, you are then able to talk about yourself and your fit into the company.

Visit LinkedIn, and read the company profile information. Search for current/past employee profiles. Read Job Interview Preparation with Smart Google Research for more tips.

Google the company, and read all you can. Visit their company website to learn more about them.

[Read 50 Google Searches to Avoid Layoffs and Weak Employers to research any problems that may exist.]

3. Know the Position

Don’t appear to be shopping for “any job you find me qualified for.” Instead, you need to know where you would fit into the company, whether there is a current advertised opening or not.

Again, resources like LinkedIn will let you search profiles for staff in target departments. Use the information to learn more about their job responsibilities and to identify LinkedIn Groups they belong to (and join them). Also, using Google and viewing the company website will allow you to learn more as well.

4. Know the Interviewers

Hopefully you know the name(s) and job title(s) of the person or people who will be interviewing you. If you do know their names, you can Google them and also check out their LinkedIn Profiles to learn more about them.

Perhaps you share something with one or all of them, from a previous employer to a school, certification, professional association, hobby, or hometown. Any information you learn can help you build rapport with the person by mentioning it. Or, the information can help you be prepared for the person’s approach or reputation, without disclosing the commonality you share.

[MORE: The Winning Difference: Pre-Interview Preparation and Interview Preparation with Smart Google Research.]

Bottom Line with Answering the Question “Why Do You Want to Work Here?”

Play the game, and realize that even if this job is not a match, if they like you and want to hire you, they may find the right place for you (at the right salary) in the long run. As long as you’ve done your homework in advance and demonstrated your knowledge, expertise, and interest in this employer, you should make a great impression.

Answering the Common Job Interview Questions:

Questions About You:

Handling Special Career Situations:

Questions About Them:

Questions for You to Ask Them:

Do You Have Any Questions? — choose from 50+ good questions to ask them
5 Absolute Must-Ask Questions for the End of Your Next Interview
The Second Interview: 5 Key Questions to Ask
45 Questions You Should NOT to Ask in Job Interviews

Interview Preparation:

About the author…

The post How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work Here (Examples) appeared first on Job-Hunt.

How to Handle Chronological In-Depth Structured (CIDS) Job Interviews

Laura DeCarlo — Fri, 21 May 2021 16:59:00 +0000

What Is a Chronological In-Depth Structured (CIDS) Interview?

CIDS is an interview style that focuses on “top grading.”

Developed by consultant, Brad Smart of TopGrading.com, it involves focused questions covering 50 competencies in six categories, which include: intellectual, personal, interpersonal, management, leadership, and motivational.

In his book, Topgrading, Smart states that any size organization can use topgrading to weed out underachievers and focus on “A” players. By avoiding the often-used bird shot technique of scattering divergent questions, interviewers instead, “probe the patterns of how this person developed competencies throughout his career.”

The CIDS interview approach is significantly tedious. As a job seeker, you must be prepared to answer numerous questions about every job you have ever had coupled with extensive background checking. The process can take on average as long as six months per employee.

How to Handle CIDS Job Interview Questions

It is a good idea for you to familiarize yourself with the CIDS methodology, preparing yourself not only for CIDS, but for the commonly used exploratory interview as well. This will allow you to prepare for common pitfalls and to craft stronger answers.

You should prepare yourself by exploring every facet of your life up to that point, emphasizing strengths, weaknesses, job expectations, and job contributions throughout your career. Hundreds of questions will begin very early during the education days and will cover every job, every success, and every failure.

You should also be prepared to talk about all of your bosses over the years. Plus, you should be aware that every former boss is contacted during this process. Therefore, it is important that what you say, while being as upbeat and positive as possible, is truthful as well.

A common question to expect in a topgrading interview is, “If I were to ask you to arrange an interview with your former boss, what would he or she say were your strengths, weaknesses, and overall performance?”

Helpful tips on evaluating if a job seeker will make the grade in a topgrading analysis, according to the article, “The Smart Way to Hire Superstars” article by Hank Gilman and Lori Iaonnou, in Fortune Small Business:

“A players are the top 10% of talent available at going rates for a particular position in an industry niche. Such people are the best of class. Some are visionaries, others are great team leaders and salesmen–it depends on the job. For instance, an A player controller has a different skills set than a VP of marketing. All have rock-solid integrity. B players are those that fall in the next 25%, and C players are below that. “

Bottom Line on CIDS Interviews

In a poll conducted by Career Directors International as a part of their annual Career Industry Expert Trends, 20% of surveyed human resource professionals worldwide stated that they had used or planned to use this type of interview. To learn more about CIDS visit www.topgrading.com. Therefore, chances are not great that you will experience a CIDS interview, but, if you prepare for the worst you will shine in a traditional interview venue as well!

About the author…

Laura DeCarlo is recognized as the career industry’s ‘career hero’ making a difference to both job seekers and career professionals as the founder of Career Directors International. She possesses 11
top-level certifications in resume writing, career coaching, and career management; 7 first place resume and job placement awards; and has written three books on interviewing and job search including Interview Pocket RX, Interviewing: The Gold Standard, Resumes for Dummies,and Job Search Bloopers. Follow Laura on Twitter at @careerhero.

More about this author…

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How to Handle Job Interview Simulation Exercises

Laura DeCarlo — Fri, 21 May 2021 16:50:00 +0000

The concept of “try before you buy” is never more evident in interviewing than in job simulations or “inbox exercises”.

What is a Job Simulation Interview?

By putting you to the test and having you actually perform in the job with mock assignments frequently termed “job simulations” or “inbox exercises,” an employer can gain a strong sense of whether you can walk the talk and be a talented employee.

How to Handle Job Simulation Interviews

As this method of interviewing becomes more frequently used, it will not matter what level of job you are seeking. In short, all job seekers should be prepared to prove themselves in a day-in-the-life simulation.

You should be excited by this opportunity because you do not have to be a good interviewee. Rather, you just have to be good at what you do.

It will be important that you work toward honing your ability to provide optimal performance, follow directions, exercise smart decision-making and prioritization skills, and meet the assigned goals in the time provided.

Most often a simulation can involve answering a series of emails and/or phone calls relevant to the targeted position. A job simulation is any task that gives you a preview or assignment for what you will be doing on a day to day basis. Job simulations are becoming increasingly popular among employers, as they help companies more accurately predict whether or not candidates would be successful if hired.

The best strategy is for you to request access to company policy and procedures and/or a job manual before beginning (if available). Then, use a strong dose of common sense when you are unsure of how to respond to an issue, take good and thorough notes, and make record of important data.

Lastly, even if you do something wrong, it doesn’t have to signify the end of the opportunity for you. Stay open to the feedback that is provided to you, even taking notes and asking questions.

I can personally attest to failing miserably at my first job interview as a desktop publisher because I had never used the software the company used. However, I was eager, open-minded, took those notes, and asked questions. They realized I could learn a program with all the others I already knew, and hired me anyway!

So, don’t give up when things seem to go wrong! Remember, employers frequently hire people they like and who they believe will fit in over those who are a perfect technical fit but not a personality fit.

Bottom Line on Job Simulation Interviews and Exercises:

How common are job simulation interviews? In a poll conducted by Career Directors International as a part of their annual Career Industry Expert Trends, 22% of surveyed human resource professionals worldwide stated that they had used or planned to use this type of interview.

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How to Ace a Speed Interview

Laura DeCarlo — Tue, 11 May 2021 17:14:45 +0000

First, there was speed dating.

Now there is speed interviewing.

This may be the first interview the candidate has for a job with an employer.

Typically, it takes place at that employer’s location.

When the interview is scheduled, ask for details about the interview, like the names and job titles of the people who will be interviewing you. This should help you in your preparation and follow up.

The goal of speed interviews is to save everyone’s time, and to interview as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. It also gives employers a chance to see how the candidates respond to pressure and competition.

What is a Speed Interview?

A typical speed interview meeting could include up to 10 to 15 job seekers and sometimes the same number of interviewers. Each candidate moves along to a new interviewer at the commencement of a bell in a series of mini-interviews:

Several candidates are interviewed for the same job with the same employer.
Each mini-interview is one-on-one with a single candidate and interviewer.
Each mini-interview usually lasts a maximum of 15 minutes; some are as short as 5 or 10 minute interviews.
When one mini-interview ends, another begins with a different interviewer.

Often, the candidate moves from table to table or room to room where different people conduct brief interviews. Or, the job candidate remains seated at a table and different interviewers take turns sitting opposite the candidate.

Collect a business card from each interviewer (and give them a copy of your business card), or ask for the names of each person who interviews you. You need this information for your follow-up (thank you note, etc.).

When the speed interview is over, each candidate has been briefly interviewed by each interviewer. In total, these interviews may take up several hours of everyone’s time.

Entry-level candidates will often find themselves in these types of interviews. They may also happen at job fairs and at college career centers, with a single employer or several employers. Tim Cork, president of the Toronto career transition company Nexcareer, Inc., believes, “Speed interviews should be used in recruiting at every level, all the way up to senior executives.”

What is the rationale behind this type of interview? In addition to saving time on first level evaluations, Malcom Gladwell, author of Blink, the Power of Thinking Without Thinking, believes that, “The human brain is capable of making instant judgments with great precision.” In his book, he presents evidence that, “A decision made in literally the blink of an eye can be just as correct as months of mental analysis.”

Employers now may put Gladwell’s ideas to work in speed interviews for at least the first level of candidate screening.

Tips for Speed Job Interviews

When you prepare for the possibility of a speed interview, you need to realize the importance of making an immediate positive impression, like in speed dating.

Be dressed for success. As you meet each new interviewer, start (and end) with a firm handshake, a smile, and solid eye contact. Repeat the person’s name, if you are introduced, as in “Nice to meet you [name].” Then, be ready to answer the first question.

Be ready with your own questions to ask them. Your questions demonstrate (to them) your interest in the job and also help you decide if you want the job if they decide to make you an offer.

Also, have “networking cards” ready (your non-work “business” card) to give to each interviewer in exchange for their business card. Or, very carefully write down the names, job titles, and email addresses of everyone who interviews you.

Have Your Elevator Pitch Ready

You may be asked what you do or to simply introduce yourself. Regardless, be prepared with your elevator pitch, focused on this employer and opportunity:

How you meet the requirements of the job.
Your relevant qualifications and accomplishments.
The reason you are interested in this employer and opportunity.

This needs to be a short introduction, so make every word count. Don’t expect more than 30 to 45 seconds for your pitch.

Do Your Standard Interview Preparation

As usual, you must always act and look professional and well groomed. Even if the time with each interviewer is very short, you are interviewing for a job.

Do your standard preparation. Review the website and annual report (if any), looking for news, product/service names, what they say they do, locations, and anything else of interest to you.

Google the employer and the senior members of the staff for the reputation (see 50 Google Searches to Avoid Layoffs and Bad Employers). Check out the LinkedIn Profiles for the employer, the interviewer names (if you have them), and the staff names you find in LinkedIn and Google (see The Winning Difference: Pre-Interview Preparation for Your Job Interview).

According to the Globe and Mail article, “Quick Encounters of the Hiring Kind” by Wallace Immen, as a job seeker you should always:

Familiarize yourself with what employers want to know — Smart Answers to Interview Questions.
Bring extra copies of employment documents, such as résumés and references
Make eye contact, and exercise good posture.
Act mature and professional yet positive and enthusiastic.
Pay close attention and listen carefully in order to respond appropriately in the time allotted.
Furnish complete answers but limit them to a maximum of two minutes each
Be prepared with a listing of questions to ask about the company.

Be well-prepared by doing your research in advance.

Follow Up

Even though you only spent 10-15 minutes with each individual, demonstrate your professionalism and follow-through by sending a thank you to each interviewer. Write a thank you card or email that sells you for the position.

Bottom Line on Speed Interviews:

In a poll conducted by Career Directors International as a part of their annual Career Industry Expert Trends, 2% of surveyed human resource professionals worldwide stated that they had used or planned to use this type of interview. Therefore, chances are not large that you will experience a speed interview, but, if you prepare for the worst you will shine in a traditional interview venue as well!

More About Job Interviews

Smart Answers to Interview Questions with Sample Answers
Writing Thank You Notes After an Interview with Sample Thank You Notes (and Emails)
Top Tips for Lunch Interview Success
Ace Your Video Interview
12 Keys to One-Way Video Interview Success
10 Keys to Success in One-Way Video Interviews
5 Tips for Acing Your Video Video Interview
Audition / Group Interview
Behavioral Interviews
How to Interview for a Temporary Job

About the author…

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Interview Investigation: How to Research a Company in Advance

Laura DeCarlo — Tue, 11 May 2021 17:14:45 +0000

The most successful job seekers approach the process of interviewing like an entrepreneur. To do that, they realize they are a product that is for sale and that they must sell themselves.

In your interview, demonstrate to the employer how you can meet the goals and needs of their organization. To do this, you have to know about the company before you go to the interview.

Pre-Interview Research and Preparation

If you don’t show knowledge about the organization and key management during the interview, they will assume you aren’t really interested in them or the job. So they won’t be interested in you. Even at an entry-level, research can truly set you apart from the competition.

Some of the key information you should know includes:

Company goals and mission
Products and/or services they offer
Recent changes in the organization such as emerging technology, new products, expansions, mergers, etc.
Company history

Also, for your own information, it is a good idea to check financials on the company to ensure their stability and solvency.

More: Guide to Company Research and Understanding Annual Reports.

By researching into these areas, you can gain a knowledgeable edge on positioning yourself during the interview.

As a matter of fact, this extra work will increase your confidence, and will keep you from walking blind into your interview!

Sources of Information

This research process does not have to be difficult. Sometimes, you won’t have to go to lengths in your research. You might not have the time between scheduling and attending your interview, or perhaps you are already familiar with the organization that in-depth research is not required.

Use your off-line and online network of contacts to find information about the company (and even the interviewer).

We are currently living in a world of information availability.

Company websites. Be sure to check out the employer’s website. Most companies, both big and small, have a website. That website will most likely have much of the information you are seeking about their products, service, history, and goals. Be sure to look through all the pages including their press announcements as those represent their big announcements.
Search engines. Use a search engine such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo to perform a search on the company. You can find articles written about them, press announcements about them, complaints and lawsuits, and much more.[Related: 50 Google Searches to Avoid Bad Employers.]
LinkedIn. LinkedIn.com is a great place for finding information about the company because you can find people who have worked there, read their profiles, and job descriptions, and even contact them. LinkedIn also has “company pages” for many organizations.
GlassDoor. Glassdoor.com offers current and former employee “reviews” of many employers.

Other sites and resources that can be helpful for finding additional information include:

Ratings sites. For a tiny, local company you may have to look no further than Yelp.[Related: How to Use Yelp to Research Companies.]
Online yellow pages. Sites like SuperPages.com online yellow pages will provide at least basic contact information, but may also have customer ratings, too.
Local Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and area newspapers.
Reference librarian at your local library who can guide you to resources on companies.
Websites such as Dunn & Bradstreet, Business.com, Hoovers.com, and Vault.com.

Caution: Do be careful about ratings sites and negative information about a potential employer. One or two negative items could be wrong or the result of someone seeking to hurt the organization. However, if you find a great deal of negative information about a potential employer, proceed very carefully!

Bottom Line:

Once you have your research completed, you will be much more educated about the company – what their goals are, what products and services they offer, and potentially what challenges they face. You will then be able to use this information in your interview to show your knowledge and interest. Instead of entering the interview blind you will be informed and ready to show your commitment to the company, which will make you shine!

About the author…

The post Interview Investigation: How to Research a Company in Advance appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Job Interview Thank You Notes Tips

Laura DeCarlo — Tue, 11 May 2021 17:14:45 +0000

Fewer than 25% of interviewees send a thank you after a job interview, according to a CareerBuilder study.

Eighty-six percent of employers view candidates who do not send thank you notes as clearly not good at “follow-through” — which is a big negative.

So, sending a thank you — if done reasonably well — will definitely not hurt your chances at a job.

Best case, your thank you will improve the impression you left after the interview, making you stand out from your competitors.

Worst case, your thank you will be ignored but will not hurt your chances at the job.

Before you leave the interview, collect names and addresses. You need the correct spelling of each interviewer’s name as well as their email and postal addresses.

When possible, exchange business cards with each person who interviews you. If you can’t collect the business cards in-person, confirm name (with the correct spelling) and contact information with the recruiter or HR staff or someone else on the staff before you leave or end video or telephone connections.

Writing Your Best Thank You Note

Regardless of how the interview happened — in person, over the telephone, at lunch, or via an online video — a prompt thank-you note, to each participant, is appropriate.

When you get home from your job interview, hang up the phone, or disconnect from technology, look at your job interview notes, dig in, and write your thank you immediately.

In most — but not all — circumstances, email is acceptable. More on that below.

Find examples for phone interviews, Skype/video interviews, second interviews, and more in the Guide to Writing Thank You Notes After a Job Interview including Sample Thank You Notes (and Emails).

The Value of Thank You(s)…

Of course, a lot of job seekers think that writing a thank-you letter is a waste of time, and, hopefully, the job seekers you compete with have that attitude — because it is wrong.

A recent CareerBuilder survey showed that 22% of employers are less likely to hire a candidate who does not send a thank you, while 91% like being thanked, according to an Accountemps survey.

So, you can be reasonably confident that sending a thank-you note will not hurt your chances at the job.

Let’s look at the value of this thank you:

Impresses employers with your follow-through.
Shows courtesy toward the interviewer.
Shows your understanding of professional courtesy.
Conveys your interest in the position.
Provides you an opportunity to get back in front of the employer again, in case you have faded from the memory of an employer who met too many people too quickly.
Allows you to introduce information that you neglected to mention in the interview.
Allows you to clarify anything that you don’t think you communicated well during the interview.
Demonstrates your skill at written (or emailed) communications.
Meets your competition so you don’t lose an opportunity simply because your competitor sent a thank you.

In the end, you have much more to gain than to lose by writing the thank you notes. And, if you don’t write the thank you, you may blow the opportunity nearly 25% of the time (yikes!).

Choosing the Right Thank You Method

We have four options now:

Emailed thank you’s (see the Sample Job Interview Thank-You Email).
Traditional hand-written thank you notes (see the Sample Formal Job Interview Thank-You Note).
Word-processed notes that are printed (also in the sample formal thank you format, above).
An emailed thank you immediately followed with a physical version (either hand-written or word-processed) sent via regular mail.

Email is acceptable to nearly 90% of employers according to that Accountemps survey referenced above and linked at the bottom of this article. However, more traditional people often prefer a hand-written or, even, a word processed thank you.

Your choice of communications method depends on what you feel most comfortable doing and what you think the people who interviewed you will prefer.

For example:

If the job you are pursuing requires skills with email, send an emailed note that demonstrates your email expertise.
If the job requires extensive use of word-processing software, creating and sending a note (with address printed on the envelope) demonstrates your word-processing skills.
If all of your communications with the employer have been via email, sending an emailed thank you may be most appropriate.
For formal organizations like law firms and accounting firms, a hand-written thank you sent via snail mail may be the most appropriate.

If you use email, do NOT send one email message to everyone you interviewed with. Make each message unique, based on your notes, and send each to only one individual.

Yes, you need to write different letters that reflect the different discussions and points made (or not made).

Remember, you never know who really holds the influence on the hiring process! Thank everyone who interviewed you.

Don’t think you know who is most important and write one thank you, only to them. You could do yourself damage if you choose the wrong person, so don’t take that risk.

Creative Thank You’s

Be very careful, because this can backfire badly if you send it to the wrong person or the wrong organization.

Sometimes there is room for creativity in the process:

A desktop publisher might “design” a flyer selling graphic skills while marketing personal strengths for the job.
A marketing person might write a mock press release for getting the job or develop a marketing plan for an idea they have for the company.
A web designer might develop a CD letter or a videographer might create a video letter. Of course, include a text letter just to be safe…
A shoe salesman might send a shoe with a letter in it that starts out, “Now that I’ve gotten my foot in the door…”
A chef might bake something exquisite, and send it with a letter that says, “Now that I’ve shown that I can put all the right ingredients together…”

If you opt for something clever, make sure that it is suitable and relevant, not just a neat idea.

For More Information About What to Do After a Job Interview:

Job Interview Follow-Up — the next step in the process
The Waiting Game After the Interview — by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
After the Job Interview, What Is Taking So Long?
Turning Rejection into Opportunity — IF you don’t get the job, but you did like the employer

Sample Job Interview Thank You Notes

Job Interview Thank You Note Guide
Sample Job Interview Thank You Letter — for formal organizations and people.
Sample Job Interview Thank You Email — acceptable in most situations.
Sample Telephone Interview Thank You Email
Sample Job Interview Thank You to the Person Who Referred You — if you were referred to the opportunity by an employee
Sample Job Interview Thank You to the Recruiter — if an external recruiter referred you to the opportunity.
Sample Thank You Note After a Bad Job Interview — if you feel that you performed badly in the interview.
Sample Thank You Note After a Rejection — if they hire someone else for the job.

About the author…

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