A Second Look at First ImpressionsWritten by Cheryl Ferguson
No matter how good you look on paper, everything you do – from how you treat each member of interview team, to what you’re wearing, to what you say or don’t say during interview – is noted, and taken into account in hiring decision. If you don’t believe me, listen to what I’ve heard recently from hiring managers about why they won’t be moving forward with otherwise qualified candidates.A Human Resources Director had this to say about a senior level candidate who was being considered for a high visibility position at her company: “He kept me waiting for several minutes while he finished a cell phone conversation in lobby, failed to recognize me from an earlier meeting, and didn’t treat me as a peer during interview process. A used car salesman came to mind.” Arrogance, or impression that “I’m more important than you, or my time is more valuable than your time,” screams “difficult employee” to everyone who comes in contact with this type of individual. A seasoned hiring manager will gladly keep a position open until a candidate with a more professional demeanor comes along. In category of “there’s no such thing as a sure thing”: A senior level executive, familiar with organization he was interviewing with, was referred in by CEO to interview for a Business Development position. He had all right stuff: industry experience, a golden rolodex, and a term sheet listing deals in U.S. and abroad. He was so comfortable that he didn’t ask any questions of people on interview team about their roles at company, their view of business, or how they might work together – and left them with impression that he was really not interested in them or company. Overconfidence can be misconstrued as indifference, and indifference suggests, well, it suggests you could take or leave a job offer. Nine times out of ten, you won’t get offer. The turn-off for a Quality Control Director and rest of interview team at one company: “The candidate, with elbows on table and toothpick in hand, picked her teeth at lunch.” In another instance, a Vice President of Finance heard back from six different people on interview team that a particular candidate “swore like a sailor” during each of her interviews.” Did your mother ever tell you to sit up straight, get your elbows off table, or watch your language? She did it for a reason. She knew that other people judge us by our behavior. Unsuspecting candidates step in this minefield all time, blowing their chance for an invitation to join a company.
| | Look Before You Leap: How and Why to Do Pre-Interview Research to Snag a Job of Your DreamsWritten by Cheryl Ferguson
I got a call from a friend other day who had been approached by a recruiter with a lead about a position at a hot company rumored to be going public shortly in a sexy business space. Later that day she called me and asked, “What, if anything did I know about XYZ company?”While it is always flattering to be singled out for a lead on a great new opportunity, you can avoid a lot of surprise, heartache and frustration by doing your homework before making a move. Here are three suggestions to help you decide whether to pursue a new opportunity or stay where you are. 1. Learn all you can about company. Visit company website. Does business interest you? Why? Has management team been successful in past? Has company raised money, won an award, or signed an exclusive agreement with a key business partner? And finally, company website is a great place to find out what industries and universities they’ve tended to hire from. Are you an alumnus of CEO’s alma mater? 2. Get a sense of company culture. Find out if somebody in your circle of friends or a business colleague knows of someone who works at company, or has worked with any of these individuals at one of their previous companies. What’s company’s reputation like? Is this kind of environment you can thrive in? 3. Contact local chapter of industry association. This is especially important if you are new in town, new to industry, or don’t know anyone connected to company. Find out when local chapter of industry association is having their next meeting and go. Introduce yourself to someone during pre-meeting reception or at your table, explain that you’re considering a new position in industry, and ask for their advice. If you’ve already got a particular company in mind, see if someone from that company is attending event or is on program. Introduce yourself to that person and ask them why they enjoy working at company. Get person’s business card and send a note, thanking them for their time immediately after meeting. If you decide after doing this preliminary research that this is company and industry for you, then by all means go on interview if invited. Prepare yourself for day by asking person setting up interview what interview process is like: how many people are on interview team, what are their titles, and how long will each individual interview will be.
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