Hire Power

As if looking for a job isn’t already hard enough, try looking for a job AND being pregnant. Disclaimer: I am not speaking from experience on this one, so as usual, this is just my opinion. Let me start by saying, it’s completely illegal for a hiring manager/recruiter to ask you if you’re pregnant. However, if you are obviously showing, it’s usually best to address the topic (you’re not fooling anyone).

As is the case in all industries, there can be some shady business in the staffing world, too. Today it’s my mission to help you recognize shady recruiters and shady job-seekers. First, it’s best to learn what a recruiter should do before you understand what they shouldn’t do.

The purpose of a personal pitch is to get the person hooked and eager to learn more about you. This pitch is often called an elevator pitch as you should be able to get your point across in a short amount of time as if you were on (yes, you guessed it) an elevator! Here are the three most import things to remember when preparing and perfecting your pitch:

Job seekers, how often have you taken advantage of the information on Glassdoor.com? For those of you who are unfamiliar with the information-packed website, Glassdoor.com is a compilation of reviews about companies, bosses, salary ranges, etc. Past and current employees go online and rate their companies and offer details on the reasons for such ratings. Another huge benefit? Past interviewees share some of the oddball questions you can expect during an interview with a particular company!  

Last week’s blog discussed “The Rise of the Video Interview.” For a variety of reasons, many hiring managers are now choosing to do virtual interviews. Part two of the blog series focuses on the best ways to prepare for your small-screen debut!

Welcome to our two-part blog series about video interviewing. This week’s blog discusses when employers should use video interviewing versus other forms of interviewing, while next week’s blog will talk about how to best prepare for these video interviews.

You are well aware of the importance of a first impression, which is why you wear a suit to a job interview. Right? Well, then why do so many job seekers dress casually when attending a job fair? We are frequently amazed by the number of candidates we see at job fairs who come in wearing t-shirts and torn jeans. It’s extremely important to come to a job fair well prepped and well groomed. Here are a few tips:

Interviews can be nerve-racking, but don’t let your anxiety get the best of you. Your body language can be just as important as the words that come out of your mouth.

We love this article we found on www.HowToNailAnInterview.com!  See below for great ways to prep for your big interview:

1. 10 seconds to sell or say so long

Have you ever thought of doing something creative after the interview to improve your chances of landing that job?  There are so many ways to access client information over the internet, making it easier to contact the people that have interviewed you……but be warned, honor the interview process and protocol and drop the creativity. 

In the ‘old’ days, you typically sent a Thank You letter to the hiring manager after your interview.  While technology has changed dramatically over the course of time, the protocol has realistically remained the same.  I speak with hiring managers all the time and they are surprised at how many people do not send a simple “thank you” note after an interview.  Not surprisingly, some of these managers screen out the candidates that don’t send something.

 The big debate amongst interviewers today

When applying for a new position or starting the interview process, most experts would advise to not discuss salary until the hiring company brings up the issue.  Generally you will want to avoid quoting your salary requirements until you learn more about the company, the position,  the responsibilities, the growth opportunities, etc.  You don't want to leave money on the table by indicating a figure that is below what the company was prepared to offer and on the other hand, you may not want to overprice yourself for a lower paying position that is otherwise attractive to you.  In a typical negotiation scenario, you want the hiring company to give you their range first and the hiring company wants to get your salary requirements first.  Some say the first to blink (to name a figure) loses, but that doesn't  have to be the case.  You may have to  establish a salary range as a basis for understanding to keep the interview process moving forward, but don't try to negotiate until a firm offer is in hand.

So let’s say you get to the interview and the interviewer asks, "So what are your minimum salary requirements?", or "What will it take to get you to join us?"

A response might be, "Too be perfectly honest, I have not set any fixed, firm salary requirement.  I'm looking for the right job, a good challenging opportunity that fits my background and interests.  And while salary is important to me it is secondary to finding a good match for my skills and interests."

Or you might say something like, "I'm fairly open on salary and will consider competitive offers.  What is the range for this position?”

But the interviewer presses on and says, "Well you must have some idea, some number which you won’t go below."

And you reply, “No, as I said I am open and flexible on salary"

 So you are sitting in the interview, looking professional in your suit and answering all the basic questions with ease. Judging by the interviewer’s body language and responses to your answers you know it’s going well. Just as you are about to relax a bit, your potential new boss asks that dreaded question,