interviewing

28 Days Q+A | When the Job Ad Asks for an Innovator, What Do They Really Mean?

Allison Hemming on March 13, 2013

Today’s question comes from an anonymous but thoroughly frustrated digital innovator:

Companies often advertise for “thought leaders” and “game changers,” but during the interview process, they usually reveal that they really just want to build incrementally on what they’ve already got. In a second interview with a major company, I realized that although they want to be recognized as an innovator in their industry, their major focus is on building the adoption for their current technologies across the company. I can do this, but I have the skills, insight, and passion to build the next generation. Is it worth continuing the conversation with them? Do I stand a chance of convincing them to innovate?

That’s a great question. It’s actually pretty rare for prospective employers to be guilty of outright false advertising. It’s way more likely that they’re “aspirational innovators,” meaning that they want to innovate. Someday. When the stars align and everything is perfect, they’ll take that leap. Unfortunately, that’s not quite your timeline, is it? Read More →

All the 28 Days to a New Job Links In One Place

The Hired Guns on March 11, 2013

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve received a boatload of requests for a post with all the 28 Days links in one place. Ask and ye shall receive, friends. Here they are! Read More →

Day 28 | Saying Goodbye: How to Resign On a High Note

Ryan Galloway on February 28, 2013

Here we are, friends. The final day of 28 Days to a New Job. By now, the ink has dried on your offer letter and you’ve got a firm start date at your company. With any luck, you’ve also gotten all your salary and benefits wishes, too. But amid all the joy of landing a new job, there’s still one more difficult task to handle: resigning from your current job.

Whether you love or hate your current gig, there’s no excuse not to leave on as positive a note as possible. Burning bridges won’t benefit you at all. You’ll need to keep your current boss and your coworkers in your network for years to come. They’ll be references and valuable networking contacts. They might even be friends. Whatever they may be, it’s best to keep them close. That means there’s way more to resigning than just submitting a two weeks notice. Read More →

Day 24 | Try Before You Buy: How to Hire Your New Boss

Allison Hemming on February 24, 2013

You’re finally at the offer stage. You’re thrilled by the role you’ve been handed. You adore the company. And know you can make an impact there.

But do you love your new boss?

Before you accept that job, you need to really ask yourself this question (and — for once –listen to your spider sense). If the answer is no, then you need to press on and find a boss you can jibe with.

Not picking your boss is a J.V. move that can negatively impact your career for years to come. Today, tenures may be short, but memories and reputations are long and back-channeling is just one click away. These days, it’s essential to show meaningful impact in your first 90 days. To achieve that, you need to have a boss under whom you can thrive, not just survive. Read More →

28 Days to a New Job: Week Three Checklist

The Hired Guns on February 22, 2013

You probably never thought you would make it through the dreaded interviewing stage, but you did! Hopefully, this week’s posts made you realize that interviewing is a chance to show off your skills and personality, and not just a necessary bullet to dodge. Interviewing mode is difficult for everyone — especially if it’s been a while – but being a star interviewee just take a little prep work so you can present your authentic self in a polished and articulate manner. Before we move into the ever-delicate hiring process, let’s tick off some boxes before we abandon interviewing for the light at the end of the tunnel. Read More →

Day 21 | Double Your Chances: How to Write a Post-Interview Thank You Note

Ryan Galloway on February 21, 2013

Today is the final day of Week Three, and the final day of our Interviewing section. Naturally, we’ve saved the final step in the interviewing process for last. Writing a post-interview thank you email is an absolute must after every interview, and it may make all the difference when it comes to progressing to the second round. It will also be the simplest task in your entire job search. Here’s how to do it well.
Read More →

Day 20 | Your Secret Interviewing Weapon: The C.A.R. Technique

Allison Hemming on February 20, 2013

On Day 19, we covered why good story telling is essential to boosting your candidacy when it comes to interviewing. This, my friends, is easier said than done. That’s why it’s time to introduce the C.A.R. technique: a fantastic way to supercharge your interviewing chops and leave the competition in the dust.

So what does the acronym C.A.R. stand for? C = Challenge, A = Action, and R = Result. Together, they form a framework for your work experience that is logical and useful to the recipient. It’s easy to master, and it can be your best tool for making an impact during an interview. Read More →

Day 19 | Good Interviewing Starts with Good Storytelling

Allison Hemming on February 19, 2013

Throughout our 28 Days to a New Job Series, we’ve been putting a modern perspective on mastering the job hunt. While today’s topic may not be the most modern invention, it’s something that’s become more relevant than ever.

I’m talking about storytelling. Storytelling is something that humans have been doing for millions of years. It’s the simple act of repeating a narrative from person to person. When a story is repeated, it gets remembered. And when a hiring manager is able to repeat your story to colleagues and other key decision makers inside an organization, you get hired. Here’s how. Read More →

Day 18 | What Top Candidates Know About Interviewing That You Don’t

Allison Hemming on February 18, 2013

Believe it or not, hiring managers want every interview to go quickly and smoothly. And yet, they rarely do. The process usually drags on because of a nasty combination of unrealistic expectations — made up of wanting skill sets that are too broad and target salaries that are too low — and an initial unwillingness to make trade-offs, even though they always do after fatigue and reality set in.

Combine all of that with an interviewer who’s inexperienced and/or ill-prepared, and it’s a wonder anyone gets hired. Yet people still do. Every day.

The best candidates — and by that I mean the best prepared — are skilled at sizing up each and every hiring manager that they meet. They know what’s going on by asking questions early and by paying attention to clues dropped by the interviewer throughout the process.

Here’s what they know that you don’t. Read More →

Day 17 | Nightmare Scenario: Preparing for the Three Worst Interview Questions

Ryan Galloway on February 17, 2013

You’ve got your suit pressed. You know your resume backwards and forwards and you’ve got an anecdote at the ready for every one of your accomplishments. You’re poised. You’re prepared. You’re master of all you survey. You’re ready to walk into an interview and absolutely crush it.

Great. So tell me about yourself. Read More →

Day 16 | It Never Hurts to Be Reminded: How to Dress for a Job Interview

Jennifer Pugh on February 16, 2013

A face to face interview is the ultimate goal of any job search. It’s your chance to reinforce the already stellar impressions you’ve made with your cover letter and resume, and a golden opportunity to demonstrate all the ways you’d be perfect for a position. You’ve got all of two seconds to make a great first impression, so make sure you look your best when a potential employer first lays eyes on you (Facebook and Google searches notwithstanding). This is also the last first impression you’ll get to make in this process. And, while first impressions can be based on just about anything, the clothes you wear can have a major impact on how you’re perceived. Read More →

Day 15 | Blow Them Away: How to Ace an Interview

Allison Hemming on February 15, 2013

Only 4.7% of online applications actually converts into an interview. Given how dire that is, if you actually get called in for an interview based on an online application, you’ve earned a hearty pat on the back. But don’t bask in the glow for too long, because it’s time to get your game face on. The competition is on, baby! The next seven days in our 28 Days to a New Job series are going to be devoted to nailing the interview and getting to the fun part: the offer process. Read More →

Lies Can Cost You Your Job, Unless You’re a Politician

Bruce Kasanoff on November 7, 2012

Can he count on your vote in 2016?

In an editorial yesterday, the Columbia Journalism Review suggested that political fact checking is at a crossroads, pointing out that for all the media’s efforts to keep candidates truthful, the results were “less evident than one might hope.”

In other words, candidates continued to distort, exaggerate and flat out lie, even when they knew they’d get caught. Read More →

Salary Negotiation Isn’t Just About the Money

Jim Hopkinson on October 29, 2012

Let’s be clear. If I took a poll of all the students I’ve worked with and asked them why they signed up for my How to Negotiate Your Salary Like an FBI Agent class, the number one reason would be: “I want to make more money.” But when I talk to them after the course and ask them what they took away from it, they tell me so much more. Read More →

The Debates Are Rigged. Your Job Interviews Can Be, Too.

Allison Hemming on October 17, 2012

Stan Honda / AFP / Getty Images

Yesterday, we tweeted that you should watch the #debates from a hiring perspective. @dbenk replied: “Well, yeah, that’s what we’re doing, right?”

Totally right. Americans are in the process of hiring the next president. And instead of being the job hunter, we get to play the role of the hiring manager. But I had an epiphany during last night’s debate: in America, presidential candidates definitely have it easier than job candidates.

A Must-Have You Probably Don’t Have
In a debate, the candidates get to stop answering questions and then turn to the audience and offer their closing remarks. They’re saying, in essence: “Here’s why you should hire me.” In the real world of getting hired, most candidates never do this. And that’s a mistake that I’d like to correct. Read More →

How the VP Debates Can Make You Better In Job Interviews

Joel Schwartzberg on October 12, 2012

AP Photo Pool/Michael Reynolds

Last week, I wrote about what the first presidential debate can teach public speakers. This time around, I decided to switch gears a bit and consider the vice presidential debate with an eye toward those in Guns-land who are currently (or hoping to be) interviewing for gigs. Because I found myself traveling home via NJ Transit during the debate itself, I was forced to follow the whole thing on Twitter using a CNN hash tag. But being left to my devices gave me a great perspective on what TV audiences found most affecting, effective, distracting, and annoying – much of it focusing on Joe Biden and Paul Ryan’s presentational styles. When it was all said and done, I came away with four themes interviewees can learn from. Read More →

There’s Still Time! Submit Your #Presentastrophe and Win a Free Seat at This Week’s Academy Course

The Hired Guns on October 1, 2012

Last Friday, we sounded the call for your worst presentation horror stories. While we certainly don’t take any pleasure in your pain (okay, maybe one of us does), we do want you to keep submitting them! The winner of our #presentastrophe contest gets to be the Guest of Honor (and Guests of Honor attend for free) at Joel Schwartzberg’s Nail That Presentation! class this Wednesday, October 3. Submit your #presentastrophe by midnight tonight for a chance to win! You can leave it in the comments below or tweet @TheHiredGuns if you can fit your tale into a tweet-sized nugget of presentation horror.

Tomorrow, we’ll ask Joel to pick the winner and we’ll post it, along with the best of the rest, here on the blog.

Share Your #presentastrophe, Win A Seat At Our Public Speaking Class

The Hired Guns on September 28, 2012

You know that dream where you have to give a presentation and you’re woefully unprepared? The one where everyone laughs at you? The one that makes you wake up in a cold sweat?

Of course you know that dream. We all do.

That’s where Joel Schwartzberg comes in. Joel, our resident Hall of Fame public speaker, is hosting a class on that very subject this Wednesday, October 3 at The Hired Guns Hive. He’ll rework your sentences, polish your posture, and give you some invaluable tips to warm up, calm down, and get focused before a speaking engagement. Better still, you can go for free. Tell us about your worst #presentastrophe. The Gun who shares the most dire presentation moment will be given a free seat at Joel’s upcoming seminar.

Tweet your story to @TheHiredGuns using #presentastrophe or leave your tale of public speaking woe in the comments below. We’ll round them up, have Joel pick his favorite, and announce our winner on the blog next week. We’ll also share the best of the rest with the Guns’ very sympathetic audience.

More Than Hot Air: The Presidential Debates, Public Speaking, and Presenting Your Personal Brand

Joel Schwartzberg on September 27, 2012

Joel Scwhartzberg is the Michael Jordan of public speaking. Sure, that’s a cliche that gets thrown around a lot these days (“My uncle is pretty much the Michael Jordan of dishwasher repair”), but in this case the comparison is apt. He won the U.S. National Championship in after-dinner speaking. He won the Massachusetts State Championship in persuasive speaking. He was ranked among the top ten public speakers overall in the US. The man is in the National Forensic Association’s Hall of Fame for his public speaking.

Let that sink in for a moment.

We asked Joel to share his thoughts on the upcoming presidential debates (the first of which occurs the night of his Guns Academy class) and what the Guns’ audience can learn from them. Below is the first of several posts on the debates and career management.

The upcoming presidential debates aren’t real debates at all, of course, but a series of well-rehearsed, carefully-worded, tiny speeches written by committee. (So much for candid truths). But while not much new can be learned at this point about Obama and Romney’s policy positions, a lot can be learned from their public speaking styles. Read More →

What the NFL Referee Debacle Can Teach Us About Salary Negotiation

Jim Hopkinson on September 27, 2012

via Gawker.com

The first three weeks of the 2012 NFL Season brought lots of excitement, with rookie Robert Griffin III tossing bombs, the Arizona Cardinals starting 3-0, and receiver Calvin Johnson already hauling in 9 touchdowns.

But none of that compares to the largest underlying theme of the season: the dismal job performance of replacement NFL referees, some of whom were fired from the Lingerie Football League (yes, that’s a thing and no, we’re not linking to it) for incompetence. The replacements botched call after call on national TV while the league negotiated a new contract for their regular full-time officials.

As the league finally reaches an agreement to end the embarrassment, what can we learn from their negotiation? Read More →

How to Build a Team That Builds Great Products

Wyatt Jenkins on August 2, 2012

Today we are pleased to welcome Wyatt Jenkins, VP of Product for Shutterstock, to the blog. Wyatt shares his insights on breaking into the product management game and how he built a world-class team.

Hiring is a topic I’m passionate about because I like to work with bright, enthusiastic people who challenge me every day. I’ve spent the last decade building teams (most recently a product organization that includes designers, researchers, and product owners), and I’ve learned a number of lessons in that time. Let’s focus specifically on product ownership — a role that many gravitate toward, but few do well. I’ve seen many different types of people find success as product owners — from former developers, English majors, designers, and project managers, all the way to former CEOs and small business owners. (I prefer the term “product owner” to the more well-known “product manager” because managers manage and owners own, and building great products demands ownership.) I want people who are technical enough to dig deep with the development team and at the same time enjoy interacting with customers to discover value. Finding the right person with the right combination of customer focus, consensus building, and technical savvy isn’t easy, so I’ve put together a few things to look for during the interviewing process. Read More →

Pre-Interview Research: It’s Easy, and You’ll Reap Big Rewards

Allison Hemming on July 17, 2012

Want to know the quickest way to end an interview early? When the hiring manager asks you, “So tell me what you know about our company,” just stare at her blankly, and then make up a bunch of bullshit. (True story: a newly minted MBA we know was in and out in five minutes.)

If you think you’re too busy in your current job to do your homework, you’ll stay busy in your current job for a long time to come. Because you’re missing a golden opportunity to impress the hiring manager, set yourself apart from your fellow job-seekers, and (no less important) get under the hood and see if a company is really for you (or if they’ve just fired their whole management team, missed a key launch date, and delayed their IPO for the third time).

The best part is that it’s just not that difficult to be the golden boy or wonder girl when it comes time to wow the interviewer with how much you know. Here’s how to get your investigation underway … Read More →

Business Etiquette 101: The Thank-You Note

Mandy Gresh on July 17, 2012

Back when I was a hiring manager, it always amazed me when candidates didn’t send a thank-you note after an interview. In a time when communication is as easy as picking up a smartphone, there’s just no excuse not to. Read More →

Give ‘Em a Taste and Leave ‘Em Wanting More: Your Job Search and the Little Pink Spoon

Todd Cherches on July 12, 2012

Mint Chocolate Chip

It’s all about the Little Pink Spoon.

One of my all-time favorite summertime pleasures is going to Baskin-Robbins and trying out a few new flavors with those little pink spoons of theirs. Ninety percent of the time I just end up getting Rocky Road, but I always enjoy tasting a few other flavors before ordering my cone.

Why is Baskin-Robbins so willing to give away their product for free? It’s obvious: they hope that by giving us a free taste, we’ll end up buying a cup or a cone or a pint or a gallon. So they gladly give away millions of little pink spoonfuls in order to make many millions of dollars more in return. It’s the same reason movies show trailers, cosmetics companies offer samples, and car dealers offer test drives: people want to try before they buy.

So, how do you bring the Little Pink Spoon Principle into play in your job search? By giving a prospective employer a “free sample” of what you have to offer, you’ll dramatically improve your chances of success. Here are three ways to do it … Read More →

Bullet Points: Your Resume Has Six Seconds to Impress

The Hired Guns on March 26, 2012

The Ladders turned on the eye tracking for a study of recruiter behavior [PDF]. Turns out recruiters spend an average of just six seconds looking at a resume before deciding whether or not a candidate is potentially a good fit for a job. [MSNBC]
Some employers have gone on record as only wanting people who already have a job — or who at least haven’t been unemployed for long. And some states think it’s time to write laws outlawing the practice. [NPR]
Some good tips from the Boston Globe’s Job Doc about figuring out what to wear to a job interview — it can be important to mirror the company’s culture, after all.

Up for an Interview? Don’t Talk Yourself Out of the Job

The Hired Guns on March 21, 2012

You’ve got the great references, you’ve got your best suit on, and you’ve even done due diligence on the company you’d like to work for. But are you really ready for the interview?

John A. Challenger, the head of an outplacement firm, has some interview myths to keep in mind as you go about trying to impress HR, the hiring manager, and everyone else you meet. Read More →

Bullet Points: LinkedIn’s Hires; Post-It Wars in Paris; Performance Reviews Are Broken But Fixable

The Hired Guns on September 1, 2011

“There are only three interview questions in every job interview… Can you do the job? Will you love the job? Can we tolerate working with you?” More on what to ask job applicants from Fortune. Related: the seven most common interview mistakes and how to survive a bad job interviewer. [BNET]
“Let’s face it: Traditional performance reviews just don’t work for the modern worker.” Morgan Norman has some tips for getting reviews back on track.
5 Signs Your Competitors Will Steal Your Best IT Workers [CIO]
Paris office workers are taking up valuable company time to create amazing “pixelated” scenes on their windows using Post-Its. (Is it our imagination, or are the French colors better than the ones in our supply closet?) Many many more at postitwar.com.
LinkedIn wants to hire 1000 more people. How’s it going about it? [Fins.com]
A petition that aims to stop Monster.com and other job boards from accepting wants ads that exclude the unemployed from consideration has gathered over 90,000 signatures. (President Obama has indicated he’s in favor of a bill that would make this practice illegal, by the way.)

Bullet Points: Need a Job? Get One First; Hiring for Creativity; Job Hunt (the Game)

The Hired Guns on August 1, 2011

Hired Gun and UX designer Jeff Gothelf writes for Usabilla about a simple (and potentially entertaining) “squint test,” which helps ensure that web designs emphasize what they need to.
Working for more than one boss requires super-sized amounts of communication and other skills, but you can do it and still preserve your sanity. Forbes has some tips.
NPR reports on employers and employment agencies who won’t even consider candidates who don’t already have a job. Discrimination or just good business sense?
Inc. wants to help you hire creative employees. Tim Donnelly talks with creative directors and hiring managers to get their take.
Joyce Lain Kennedy lays it on the line: “Employers traditionally have paid every dime of a candidate’s travel expense to an interview . . . . If you agree to pay travel costs [for a job interview in a city that's far away], you look so desperate you may as well stand on a street corner and sell apples.” [Chicago Tribune]
“I WILL get rejected today.” What if you approached your job search like a game? [WorkWise]
Ready for a real break? Seattle’s Space Needle is running a contest whose very lucky winner will get to be sent into space.

Bullet Points: Getting to Know You

The Hired Guns on July 15, 2011

Tailgates, bowling, and other quasi-social campus meet-and-greets between companies and MBA students are still “recruiting interactions,” so don’t have too much crazy fun at them, OK? The advice holds for non-MBAers headed to similar events, too. [Businessweek]
Guy Kawasaki has some practical ways to make yourself more likable. Keep those handshakes vigorous and non-damp!
Are you stumped when people ask, “What do you do?” Penelope Trunk comes to the rescue. The first step is to realize that at the most basic level those questions to find out more about you—and that doesn’t necessarily have to mean your job.
Forbes compiles a list of the 100 best websites for women.

Bullet Points: Cheese Heads; iPhone Intel; “… so what did you make?”

The Hired Guns on June 24, 2011

The change in internet domain naming conventions may bring huge opportunities for brands [CNN]
How to turn questions about what you made at your last job to your advantage [JT and Dale]
An “optimistic” weather app—for Android. [FastCoDesign]
People carved from cheese…amazing [Behance]
The iPhone Rumor Mill Kicks Into High Gear [Mashable]
“The World of 100” infographics illustrate factoids about the world with crisp graphics. [via]

S.W.F. Seeks J.O.B.: Make Your Job Hunt Persistent, Not Pathetic

Judy McGuire on May 5, 2011

S.W.F. Seeks J.O.B. is our monthly career advice column penned by Judy McGuire, a sex and relationships expert who also happens to be hilarious. Judy will help us understand how the rules for dating and job hunting are a lot alike–and how the victories in one part of your life can be applied to the other.

Although I don’t completely buy the adage that we only want what we can’t have, it is a fact that whether you’re wooing employers or a trying to reel in a new special naked friend, holding back a little goes a long way towards drumming up interest in your ass. As that wise sage Madonna once sang, “It’s human nature.”

For example, following up a first date with a next-day call, text or e-mail is showing interest. It tells your date that you had a good time, you’re interested in seeing them again, and you’re not the type of mental midget who bothers living by some arbitrary three-day rule. Conversely, professing your undying love, purchasing bridal magazines, and changing your Facebook status after just one night out (even if you got lucky) reveals that you’re not only pathetic, but a sad sack with stalkerish tendencies as well. Read More →

The Haiku Resume: Boiling Down Your Career into One Line

Daryl Lang on May 2, 2011

Think First Then Type, a column by the copywriter par excellence Daryl Lang, comes with tips and techniques to help you use language more effectively at work. After all, even the best and brightest ideas won’t catch on if you can’t get them understood.

You’ve spent hours perfecting your resume. It glows with relevant skills and accomplishments, it’s optimized for keyword-crawling job sites, and it’s been PDF’d in perfectly kerned Helvetica.

Great work. But when somebody visits your website, your resume isn’t the “front door.” Your visitors want to see a few words that describe what you do. And if the first words that greet them are a boring biography (“an award-winning whatever with X years of experience”), you’re missing an opportunity.

You are a brand in the marketplace, and the best brands say what they do in a few concise words. You can identify many companies by their taglines alone. “The ultimate driving machine.” “Good to the last drop.” “What’s in your wallet?” You need a compelling tagline too. Read More →

Poll Results: Which Interview Question Did You Think Was the Worst?

The Hired Guns on April 29, 2011

Well, it seems you’re not too shy–in this week’s poll about irritating interview questions, “So, tell me about yourself” only got 11% of the vote. Most of you evidently have no problem with its deliberately open-ended tactics.

Much less popular, and a virtual tie, were questions in which human resources either tries to get you to spill your deep, dark secrets (“What is your biggest weakness?) or speculate wildly about the future (“Where do you see yourself in five years?”). Either way, we’re sure its no weakness to see ourselves having a great weekend, and we hope the same for you.

Hired Guns Poll: (Job) Interview with a Vampire–Which Question Bites the Most?

Allison Hemming on April 25, 2011

We’ve all dealt with interview questions that are predictable, unclear, or difficult to answer well. But a recent comic by The Oatmeal got us thinking about which interview question deserves to be ranked as the absolute lamest.

Did we miss an interview question that really torques you off? Put it in the comments. And if you found yourself looking for “all of the above,” check out our recent roundup of advice on interviewing effectively.

Bullet Points: Ace That Interview

The Hired Guns on April 21, 2011

Interviews with more than 70 leaders for the NYT’s Corner Office columns have shown some traits that successful executives share–they’re the same traits the execs look for when their companies are hiring. [excerpt from The Corner Office]
Saying that you were “”the only employee who did things right” at your last job is no way to land a new one. [FINS]
It’s from November, but these interview myths from “Ask Annie” remain just as useful a read. Thinking that interviewers will always be prepared and know all about you is a belief worth getting over as soon as possible.
We’ve all heard them, and now The Oatmeal’s drawn them: the 6 crappiest interview questions.

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