Career Marketplace Blog

In her article for Forbes.com, Susannah Breslin warns, How to Fail at a Job Interview. 

Below is an excerpt of Breslin’s article. Read Full Article 

I’ve been on more job interviews this year than any other year in my life.

This is a good thing (theoretically, at least) because it forces you to figure out who you are and sell it.

Can’t do that? You lose.

TIP #1: Miss the point.

Earlier this month, I hired a young female journalist to write a guest post on this blog for $100. (Expect to see it soon.) As a hirer, I was forced to confront the real reason why people hire you.

Because they like you.

This has been said elsewhere, but it is the single truth people fail to grasp about interviewing. It’s not about your skills, it’s not about your resume, it’s not about if you answered the questions right.

Do they like you? If they like you the best, they will hire you. If they don’t, they won’t.

People tell themselves their “experience,” their successes-filled resume, and their above-par interviewing skills are what will get them the job. That’s simply not true. It’s what people want to believe because if that were true, they could quantify why one person gets hired and why another does not.

Interviews are like two dogs sniffing one another’s butts. Either you click. Or you don’t.

Read On

Who should you choose as a reference? Joanna Boydak from LiveCareer has a few Secrets to Passing the Reference Check.

Read an excerpt from Boydak’s article below. Read Full Article

Would you be excited to eat at a restaurant that has a mediocre review? An unenthusiastic reference may hurt more than help, so choose your references carefully and make sure they are prepared. With just a little extra planning, you can guarantee your references help you win the job.

Follow these steps to prepare for a reference check:

1. Make your list- Ideally, you will want to use your most recent supervisor as a reference. Former clients, employees you have supervised and co-workers are acceptable as well. If you are an entry-level candidate with little experience, list a mentor such as a professor or family friend. All of these types of references can provide valid insight into your character and abilities as a future employee.

2. Get their permission- Never submit your references before getting their permission first. Describe the type of job that you are looking for and request that they be a reference. If you sense hesitation, consider asking someone else. Having a great reference requires the individual to be prepared to vouch for you with enthusiasm.

Read On

In her article for Forbes Magazine, Susan Adams explains How To Ace Your Interview.

Below is an excerpt of Adams’ article

Do not curb your enthusiasm. Win Sheffield, 56, a coach for the last seven years with the career counseling firm The Five O’Clock Club, says a lot of job seekers forget that one of the most crucial parts of interviewing is convincing the hiring manager that you truly desire the job. Interviewers don’t just look for applicants who have the requisite skills and will fit in with a company. Now more than ever, they want candidates who want them.

Sheffield is absolutely right, says Cynthia Bragdon, owner of Urban Indigo, a gift store in Oakland, Calif. “I don’t know why some candidates miss this,” she adds. “Maybe because they think it seems desperate.” She says the most eager applicants quickly make her A list. “If they seem aloof, I get very worried, because any job requires a full commitment,” she explains. “And if they are aloof in an interview, they will probably be aloof to my customers, which is a very bad thing.”

Read on to learn how your illustrate your strengths and enthusiasm

About.com Guide, Alison Doyle writes, Who to Ask for a Reference

Below is an excerpt from Doyle’s article. Read Full Article

In her article for Forbes Magazine, Susan Adams writes, Two Myths About Résumés

Below is an excerpt from Adams’ article. Read Full Article

Over eight years as a career coach in New York City,  Win Sheffield has observed the myths his clients tell themselves about the challenge of finding a job.

In this piece, he lays out some facts and some fictions about résumés. (I’ve edited his words a bit.) He writes:

Résumé Myth #1: Putting together my résumé is the most important part of my job search.

The thinking behind this:

Every ad requires a résumé. Everyone who wants to assist me says that they can forward my résumé to HR. To get a job I need to interview and before an interview, interviewers ask me to send my résumé. The only way people will know who I am professionally is by my résumé. It is therefore the most important part of my search.

The appeal – why we want to believe it:

Read On

In this video from the Chico State Career Center, learn how to negotiate your salary during the interview and job offer process.

Career Center – How to Negotiate Salary

Yahoo! Contributor Aly Adair shares, First Person: How a New Approach Helped Me Land a Job in This Economy.

Below is an excerpt from Adair’s article. Read Full Article

I spent five years searching for a career job that would last until I retire. Like millions of other Americans in the bad economy from 2006-2010, finding a job was nearly impossible. Despite following all the advice of headhunters, human resource consultants, friends or family members, it was what I term “The AND Factor” job search strategy that finally landed me a job. I am over 50, had a failed business, and an MBA from 1981, when most of my interviewers were not even born! Most human resource professionals looked at me and said, “AND why should I hire you?” Or, “AND what makes you better than these 2,000 other young applicants?”

Many older job seekers share similar backgrounds: we all have some level of college degree; we all have years of supervisory/management experience with a major Fortune 500 company; we have families to feed, we have not had to look for a job in 20 years; we are old-school thinkers when we prepare resumes, go on job interviews, and network. After watching a television show that profiled other older professionals trying to find a job, I realized that we all do a couple of things wrong in our job search.

I decided to try some different strategies to see if I had better results. I call these new job search strategies “The AND Factor” job search strategies. My supervisor told me they received 105 resumes for the management job I applied for at the state agency. How is it they hired me for the job? It is critical to give the hiring manager your “AND factor” – they want to know why you are the best person for the job! “AND what makes you so special?” “AND why should I hire you?” Here are the “AND Factor” job search tips that helped me land a career job against all odds.

Read On

U.S. News and World Report On Careers article, The 10 Most Common Job Interview Questions, Alison Green helps you to prepare for your next interview. In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to anticipate what an employer will ask you during the interview process.

Green lists common interview questions and gives you advice on how to become comfortable in your answers. Read Full Article

Common Interview Questions from Green’s article:

• What do you know about our company so far?
• Tell me your strengths?
• Tell me about a time when…
• What has been your biggest professional achievement?

Read On

U.S. News and World Report article, Great Interview But No Offer: Why You Didn’t Get the Job, Lindsay Olson explores possible reasons you didn’t get the job.

Reasons to look for in Olson’s article:

• You didn’t sell yourself
• The job specifications changed
• You sounded desperate

Read Full Article

The Wall Street Journal’s Elizabeth Garone encourages readers not to exaggerate job responsibilities, titles, or experience on their resume.

Garone gives advice to a job seeker who is nervous about an upcoming job interview because they exaggerated on their resume. Read Her Response.