Your resume is sensational, and you fielded questions about your experience with aplomb. Excellent! You breeze out of the office confident that the job is yours…

But, then it isn’t.

A post-mortem of the interview reveals that while you were turning on that winning smile and explaining where you see yourself in five years, you were also making 6 Fatal Interview Flubs:

1. Seeming disinterested.

This can be an immediate opportunity killer. If you aren’t interested in them, they certainly aren’t interested in you.

A blasé attitude has the interviewer thinking you’re not taking the interview seriously. It’s an interview not a funeral, but you must delicately balance formality with easy-going confidence.

You want to be at ease and still show the interviewer that you’re taking this opportunity seriously.

Demonstrate your interest in the job and the employer by being well-prepared. Know the job and what the company does.

Have good questions ready to ask about the job that demonstrate your interest. [Read the 70+ Good Questions to Ask in Interviews for ideas.]

2. Dressing inappropriately.

Your attire leans more on the “casual” side of “business casual.” First impressions are based largely on appearance. You want to project the professional that you are. Remember the old saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

[For details, read Dress for (Interview) Success.]

3. Assuming your resume and LinkedIn Profile explain everything.

When you get to the interview, don’t expect that your resume and LinkedIn Profile will have answered all the questions about why you can succeed at the job. Many people don’t understand that they have to draw a picture for the interviewer.

While it might be readily apparent to YOU why you’re the best choice, it might not be so apparent to the interviewer. TELL them why, and back it up with examples and statistics whenever possible.

4. Talking too much.

You explained every aspect of your experience. In detail. At length. For the ENTIRE interview. You definitely want to get across that you’re the right candidate for the job, but you don’t want to dominate the conversation.

Listening is just as important as speaking.

5. Asking inappropriate questions.

You jumped right into the discussion on salary, bonuses, raise schedules… Pay is a big factor in whether or not you take a job, but focusing too much on the money is a red-flag to the interviewer. That’s for later in the process, when they make you an offer. NOT for your first interviews.

Concentrate on showing them how much value you’re going to bring to the organization, not how much money you want in return.

[Read 45 Questions You Should NOT Ask in a Job Interview for examples.]

6. Trashing your last employer.

You didn’t mince words when talking about your last boss. Sure, your boss might’ve been a jerk, but your interviewer doesn’t want to hear that. Trash-talking your last boss will make the interviewer question if you’re going to be a positive influence in company environment or someone who operates under a cloud of negativity.

More About Job Interviews

• Answering: What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
• Answering: Tell Me About Yourself
• Answering: Why Do You Want to Work Here?
• Answering: Why Should We Hire You?
• Answering: Do You Have Any Questions?
• Answering: What Do You Know About Us?
• 30 Bad Answers to Job Interview Questions
• Guide to Successful Job Interviews — more articles to help you succeed at job interviewing

About the author…

Michelle Yozzo Drake is the author of the book, “From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Uncovering Mom’s Leadership Secrets.”.

The post How to Avoid 6 Fatal Interview Flubs appeared first on Job-Hunt.

They know your “research” on the Internet looks a lot like wasting time on Facebook or bidding on eBay. They know you always swipe the last donut in the break room.

They’re your colleagues, peers and even your supervisors. And when you aim for a higher position in the organization, they’re also your interview panel.

Yikes!

Moving to the upper ranks usually requires more than just a sparkling track record and charming personality; you often have to submit a resume and endure a series of interviews just like a first-time applicant off the street.

Your advantage? The interview panel is well-versed in your qualifications, your successes and how your innovation and hard work have helped move the company forward. Your disadvantage? See paragraph 1.

Package yourself for success

How do you package yourself as the right candidate for the job when the interview panel knows all about your flaws, your weaknesses and your penchant for sugary pastries?

First, you have to know who you’re up against for the job. Do a little digging and find out as much as you can about the competition. How do you measure up? What weaknesses of theirs can you exploit while simultaneously highlighting your strengths in those same areas?

Next, think about the panel itself. How do they like their information? Are they detail-oriented or do they focus on “the big picture”? What kind of relationships have you had with them in the past, and how would that change with this promotion? Use this inside scoop to tailor your answers to their questions, ensuring that you’ll connect with each panel member.

Differentiation and marketing

Create a three-slide presentation that will tell the panel who you are, showcase what an asset you’ll continue to be, and expound on the many benefits of hiring you for this position. Frame everything from the perspective of: what’s in it for them? Wow them with your “100 Day Plan” – tell them what amazing things you are going to do in the first hundred days in this new position.

Leave behind more than just your resume. A “one sheet” of your accomplishments, a statistical analysis of your contributions to the company, or a brief report on a solution to a problem or issue plaguing the organization is an excellent way to demonstrate your capabilities and commitment to this new job.

About the author…

Michelle Yozzo Drake is the author of the book, “From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Uncovering Mom’s Leadership Secrets.”.

The post How to Succeed at Internal Interviews appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Even though it’s only you and the interviewer in the room, you’re in the spotlight. You’re there to make a sales presentation about yourself and to convince the interviewer that you’re the best candidate for the job.

Sometimes we let our apprehension get the better of us, and all the fidgeting and stuttering and nervous habits we have when we’re tense come bubbling to the surface and ruin the opportunity to put our best self forward.

Fight the fear and get those behaviors in check!

1. Breathe.

Start by BREATHING. It seems simple enough, but it’s alarming how often we forget to breathe when we’re overcome by nerves.

Slow, deep breaths will help keep the oxygen moving into the brain, allowing us to retrieve the answers to the tough questions.

2. Be prepared.

Be militant about practicing the points you want to get across. Review your resume and make sure you’re well-versed in every item listed in the job description and how your experience and accomplishments like up with them.

CAUTION: while rehearsing is a necessity, sounding rehearsed is a no-no. Memorize specific ideas and topic points, not scripted words.

3. Speak well.

Exercise your speaking voice. Pay attention to keeping your rhythm even and relaxed, and practice your annunciation, proper volume and the tone of your voice. Don’t be Mr./Ms. Monotone!

4. Stay on message.

Keep your message clear and concise. Irrelevant details will cloud your message. If you start to rambling, pause to collect your thoughts. After the interviewer poses a question, think about the most important thing you need to say to answer it. Start with that and then elaborate when necessary.

5. Use professional language.

You’re not a Valley Girl so don’t talk like one! Silence is preferable and more professional than “um,” “like,” “you know,” and “uh.”

6. No joking.

And last but not least, do NOT make a joke. A joke will break the ice, right? WRONG. Usually it does just the opposite. Stay away from humor, especially if you’re the type that laughs when they’re nervous. The only thing worse than dead silence after a joke is filling that silence with your own uncontrollable giggling.

Bottom Line

You know that you have the skills and experience to make you a valuable member of this organization. Let your inner professional shine through so the interviewer knows it, too.

More About Job Interviews

• Answering: What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
• Answering: Tell Me About Yourself
• Answering: Why Do You Want to Work Here?
• Answering: Why Should We Hire You?
• Answering: Do You Have Any Questions?
• Answering: What Do You Know About Us?
• 30 Bad Answers to Job Interview Questions
• Guide to Successful Job Interviews — more articles to help you succeed at job interviewing

About the author…

Michelle Yozzo Drake is the author of the book, “From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Uncovering Mom’s Leadership Secrets.”.

The post Battling Nervous Behaviors in Job Interviews appeared first on Job-Hunt.