Janice Worthington MA, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP Send Janice a Question

Overcoming Interview Sand Traps Overcoming Interview Sand Traps My experience has taught me that there are two kinds of candidates, those that are terrified of being asked specific questions and those that are over-confident believing they can spin their way past delicate issues into any job offer. The first group of folks can and will take instruction. The second group normally terrifies me because they are doomed to fail. Solid, strong responses to interview sand traps require an awareness that, if caught off-guard, you just may under-perform or blunder yourself out the door. So what do you do? There are two big secrets to smoothly articulating good answers to tough questions...knowing yourself and knowing the company before whom you are appearing. Here are some common interview sand traps and ways to prevail: Tell Me About Yourself - This normally innocent inquiry from perhaps an untrained interviewer makes candidates shiver in fear. With no hint at what the employer wants to hear, responses without strategy can be disastrous. ("I was raised in Florida; my dad was a doctor.") However because you have been given the freedom to answer however you wish, this opportunity is really a gift! The clients I coach are all taught to develop signature statements: two-minute infomercials detailing their professional backgrounds and targeting on specifics such as past work environments, relevant areas of experience, skill sets and other information directly useful to specific employers and those specific positions for which they are applying. Here is a well-developed signature statement: "I am a 30 year career professional, 14 years in executive recruiting and 16 years in job search coaching. I specialize in career planning, résumé preparation, résumé distribution activities, and interview methodologies. I am especially sensitive to successfully directing clients and penetrating job opportunities in tough markets. I have recently made tremendous strides with chemists, the very people you are down-sizing." Why Are You Leaving Your Current Employer? - (Note: This is a question obviously directed at the currently employed. Reason for leaving one’s former employer demands an entirely different strategy.) If answered improperly this can be an invitation to negativity, one of the main ingredients that eliminates good candidates. I have always encouraged candidates to divert this question toward a "Why do you want to work for us?" response. Not only will this strategy assure you don’t speak badly about the company that provides your paycheck but you can actually strengthen your credibility regarding why you should be the candidate of choice. Observe the following: "My goal is not to leave Convecto as much it is to join Genesis International as your Business Development Manager. I researched Genesis and learned that you were about to penetrate the seven seas market, my market of specialty for over a decade. While with Convecto, I successfully broke into this market and cultivated/maintained every client in our portfolio. I very much want to bring that track record to your company where I can again begin on the ground floor but this time in a management capacity." Folks, this is not rocket science and anyone with acceptable communication skills can avoid sand traps. The key, as always, is to take an inventory of who you are and what you bring to a company, making sure you conduct strong research regarding employer goals and needs. Then configure your answers. Write this verbiage down and don’t be surprised how little you are able to spontaneously produce unless you initiate this process. Finally...practice-practice-practice. And oh yes... Happy Holidays! From all indicators in my little corner of the world, 2004 will rock!

Janice Worthington is President of Worthington Career Services, Ohio’s oldest resume preparation firm and one of the oldest in the U.S. With 14 years of corporate recruiting experience, Worthington Career Services opened its doors focused on applicant empowerment in 1973. She is known for advising some of America’s highest-ranking industry leaders. Please send Janice your questions at janice@worthingtonresumes.com .  For more information on Janice, please visit her website at http://www.worthingtonresumes.com/!