The average interview is 45 minutes long. During that time, potential employers may ask you a variety of questions to determine your skill level, drive, and personality. There are a variety of common interview questions that hiring managers ask. In this article, we’ll outline 6 of the most common and offer advice on how to answer them. #1 Tell Me About Yourself This is arguably one of the most popular interview questions asked by potential employers. And what a loaded question it is! How exactly do you answer this? You should consider the following when you create your elevator pitch: For example, your elevator pitch could look like this: “For the last 10 years, I have been in the sales industry with a focus on IT solution selling. Throughout my time in the industry, I have discovered a passion for SaaS products and gained subject matter expertise in these areas. I also serve as a mentor to junior associates to help them improve their selling capabilities. I hope to progress through my carer into a sales leadership role.” #2 Why Are You Leaving Your Current Role? This is often a tricky question and it’s very important you never, under any circumstances, speak negatively about a previous company. It doesn’t matter if they set your house on fire, you do not speak poorly about a previous employer. Interested in learning about other interview mistakes to avoid? Check out our article on this topic! Instead, you can say something like this: “I actually wasn’t looking to advance my career just yet, but once I saw the opportunity (or was contacted by someone), I knew I couldn’t pass it up. This job aligns with my career goals and personal strengths. I hope to learn more about it during this conversation.” #3 What Is Your Desired Compensation? Before going into an interview, you need to research the average salary for your area. You can use this calculator to get an idea of what to expect. It’s important you remain open to negotiations during this discussion. Also remember that compensation isn’t just about dollars and cents. Your answer could be similar to this: “Based on my research, this job role has a salary between $XX and $XX. However, I understand that salary is based on many factors and the monetary number is negotiable. I believe we can come to a mutual agreement for a salary that will reflect my years of experience, education, credentials, and strengths.” Before ending your response, put the question back to them by adding this, “Does the company have a range or set salary schedule for this role?” #4 Why Should We Hire You? This is another of the most commonly asked interview questions. During your answer, you want to highlight how your personal and professional goals align with the company’s mission and vision. It’s also important that you comment on a few of the core job duties and your experience with them. Here is an example: “Based on the job description, I have the unique combination of education, skills, and experience that your company desires. After researching your company, I believe my personal beliefs and your mission are in perfect alignment. My past experience as a (job title you’re applying for) has prepared me well for the challenges I may face in this role. I have extensive experience in (list a few skills from the job description). After discussing the role with you, I am even more interested in the position and hope we can move to the next steps.” If you want to be a little more bold, at the end, you can say, “After discussing the role with you, I am even more interested in the position and look forward to moving on to the next steps in the interview process.” #5 What Are Your Strengths? What Are Your Weaknesses? Two of the most asked interview questions are about your strengths and weaknesses. When discussing your strengths, you want to highlight the skills you can do without issue or assistance every single time you’re asked. For example, if you are in the human resources industry and are exceptionally good at benefits administration, you could talk about that. An example response could be the following: “As an HR generalist, I was first introduced to benefits administration three years ago. While I struggled at first, I quickly adopted the skills needed to masterfully complete (specific job description skills). I am now confident that this is one of my best strengths.” As for weaknesses, you want to approach them a little differently. You want to talk about a weakness that doesn’t directly hurt the job you are applying for. It should also be a skill you are actively working on improving. Avoid trying to use a strength as a weakness (e.g., “I’m a perfectionist”) or faking an answer. For example: “I believe my greatest weakness is handling conflict in the workplace. This is a common issue that arises in the HR department and I am actively working on improving my dispute resolution skills with (a course, class, or book). This is something I work on every day to resolve issues without coming across negatively or aggressively. In the last six months, I’ve been able to resolve conflicts with ease and know I can bring that skill to my position here at ABC Company.” #6 Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years? This is one of the most typical job interview questions recruiters ask. For some people, this question is very difficult to understand. Many people can’t even see where they’ll be the next day, much less five years from now. It’s best to approach this question by referring to your past. For example, you could say, “Five years ago, I didn’t expect to be sitting here having an interview for this HR Generalist position. I’ve grown much faster in my career than I expected. With that said, I always set personal and professional goals that will propel my career
Were You Terminated? Learn How to Explain Being Fired During a Job Interview
Nearly 1.4 million people have been fired or laid off in 2022. If you are one of these people, you’re probably dreading your next interview. Answering, “why did you leave your last position?” isn’t an easy question after a termination. You’re in the right place. This article will educate you on how to explain being fired without making it a huge deal or the focus of the interview. Termination is a tough situation, but with our tips you can move on to your next role soon! How to Get a Job After Being Fired Job searching after termination is a trying time for most people. Not only do you not know how to address it in interviews, but most of the time you will have low confidence due to the situation as a whole. Getting a Job After Being Fired: Do’s and Don’ts You may be wondering what to avoid doing when discussing being fired. We have a few do’s and don’ts to help you stay on track when discussing the situation. Read more below: Don’t Speak Badly About Your Previous Employer Hiring managers do not want to hear you talk badly about another company. This makes you appear bitter and gives the hiring manager a bad impression about the type of employee you are. So, when discussing the termination, stick to the facts and try to keep emotion or too much detail out of it. Do Keep Your Response Simple and Truthful Without Too Many Details You don’t want to lie to a potential employer. This could backfire big time and in a bad way if you did try to lie about a termination. It’s best to keep it simple and truthful without dwelling on it for too long. For example, let’s say you were terminated because of a common mistake in a regular process. It doesn’t matter if the manager didn’t like you and was looking for a reason to let you go. It also doesn’t matter if everyone else in the company did it that way. Those details are not important and shouldn’t be included. Your answer could go something like this: “I was terminated due to an error in a (type of) process. I have since discovered the correct way to do it and feel strongly that the error will not present an issue ever again. In fact, the new knowledge I have regarding (type of) process will help your team with (skill, skill, skill).” PRO TIP: Always end any response, especially one that begins with a negative, in a way that shows what benefit you’ll bring the new company and its team. Don’t Avoid the Question or Lie When asked why you left your previous company, it’s not a good idea to try and avoid the question or to outright lie. Not only will the hiring manager see you are uncomfortable and likely know something is up, but it’ll mean you lose out on the job for sure when they realize what you are lying about. Be straightforward and honest. It’ll show the company you can own up to mistakes (if that was the reason) or handle a challenging situation with grace. How to Quickly Redirect the Conversation to Your Strengths When explaining the reason for termination, it’s vital you let the interviewer know that you have learned from any mistakes that were made and showcase a few strengths. If you were terminated due to a layoff or company closure, those discussions are much more understandable and likely don’t require a lot of redirection. It’s still important you discuss your strengths throughout the interview. For example, if you were laid off, the answer could be: “I was recently laid off at XYZ. While the situation has been difficult, I am confident in my ability to deliver exceptional customer service and help support your company in growing new business.” If you were fired, here is another way to redirect the conversation: “There was a miscommunication about a process and I messed up. I realize now I should have asked for more help on how to do the process correctly. Now, I’m far better at active listening and have become more attuned to my own failings. Being self-aware can certainly be something I use to fulfill the (skill, skill, skill) you require for the (position title).” Job Search After Termination Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful! Now you know how to explain being fired. We hope this article helped you feel more confident going into your next interview. If you haven’t started interviewing yet, you may want to consider a resume update! With a strong resume, terminations aren’t as difficult to explain. Working with a professional resume writer helps you showcase your strengths and abilities in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to know more. Don’t start your job search without an updated resume! Check out our packages and let’s get started today.
Tired of Saying “I Can’t Find a Job?” Discover the Most Common Reasons You’re Struggling
Did you know that 47% of interviewers will pass on candidates who know nothing about the company? Or that 65% of candidates don’t get a job because they don’t make eye contact? There are dozens of other reasons why people can’t seem to stop saying “I can’t find a job.” In this article, we cover the most common issues that pop up and prevent people from getting a first, second, or even third interview. Keep reading to learn more! #1 You Need to Improve Communication Skills Many times, when people interview, they get very overwhelmed or anxious and give long-winded answers to questions that could have been answered more succinctly. This is where practicing effective and clear communication is important. By improving this skill, you make your next interview run more smoothly and make yourself appear more confident. #2 You Aren’t Dressing to Impress While some people would argue it’s outdated to dress up for an interview, just as many people would argue it’s important to do this to make a good first impression. When in doubt, it’s better to wear something professional when interviewing. This shows the interviewer you took the time and effort to look presentable for an important meeting. #3 You Aren’t Researching Before Interviews Once you get an interview scheduled, you must research the company. You can go to the company’s website or social media pages to find out a few facts about when it was created or its mission. A great place to research companies is LinkedIn, it’s also a perfect platform for building your professional network. #4 Your Resume Needs an Update One of the most common reasons people state “I can’t get a job” is because their resume isn’t updated. In today’s world, your document must pass through the applicant tracking system (ATS) before it gets to the decision-makers. This means you have to tailor it to every job you apply for. It also means you need a professionally formatted document that can pass the screenings. Resumes with a lot of tables and integrated designs usually do not make the cut. The format should be clean with white space and clearly defined headings above each section. #5 You Aren’t Applying to Enough Jobs Applying for a new job often seems like a job. It’s a timely, but necessary, process. You must apply to many jobs to get interviews. Choosing two or three and calling it a day on the job search isn’t feasible. You should be applying to 10-15 jobs per week. #6 You Aren’t Preparing Enough During Each Stage Before the first interview, you need to research the company and practice answers to the most common interview questions. You should also think of a few questions to specifically ask the interviewer that relates to the company/culture/job. If you are going to a second interview, it’s important to think of specific examples that showcase your leadership, problem-solving, and customer service skills. Remember to demonstrate both hard and soft skills. If you are making it to the third round, you are so close! You’ll want to really prepare for this one because it often means you’re down to one to three candidates. Research the interviewer, have a game plan about your first few months in the job, and any other scenarios you may have picked up on in previous interviews. #7 You’re Overly Excited or Desperate A lot of people struggle with “I can’t find a job I like” and get overly excited when one does contact them. While it’s okay to be excited, you must contain it and remain professional during the interview(s). Candidates who seem desperate for the role are often overlooked because it’s a turnoff to interviews. Think of it like how you would approach a potential date…a desperate person isn’t as attractive as a confident one, right? #8 You Need to Work on Confidence Expanding on number seven, you may have a confidence issue. It’s easy to let the situation take hold and feel unconfident, but it’s important you don’t convey that during an interview. If you don’t feel confident, fake it until you do. The best way to gain confidence is through preparation and practice. #9 Your References Need a Check No one wants to be in this situation, but if you’ve worked on everything else and you still aren’t getting that call…your references may not be on your side. Take a look at the people you put down for references and make sure they are still solid contacts who will give you a good recommendation. It’s also a good idea to let them know ahead of time that a company may be calling them so they are prepared and know to answer the phone. Tired of Saying “I Can’t Find a Job” to Friends and Family? Resolve #4 Today Now you know a few of the main reasons why most people are constantly stating “I can’t find a job.” Many of these problems are easy fixes with a little practice, help, or dedication. If you are struggling because of number four, we are here to help! Working with a professional resume writing company can help you prepare an ATS-friendly document that wows readers. Check out our packages today and contact us to get started on improving your job search!
How to Send a Follow-Up Email After an Interview With Examples
Did you know job interviewers have about a 37% chance of getting an offer after one interview? Did you also know you can improve that chance by sending a follow-up email after an interview? It is not only polite, but it makes a good impression on the hiring manager/interviewer. Plus, it is an opportunity to get your name in front of the decision-maker one more time. Interview follow-up is often a daunting task because most people don’t know the rules around what to do and when. If you do it too quickly, you look desperate. If you wait too long, it seems like an afterthought. So, when do you send a follow-up? Keep reading to learn more about the guidelines for following up after your interview. And get an example you can use to follow-up after your next meeting! How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview Despite what many people think, sending a thank you note after an interview doesn’t take long to complete. While writing a letter may be simple and not take a lot of time, the gesture is loud and memorable with hiring managers. When writing your thank you letter after an interview, make sure you include the following: A personalized greeting Show gratitude for their time and effort Let them know once again how interested you are in the role Be specific when showing interest in the role; include the title Include a question about the next steps and/or status of your application Include any additional information that was requested (such as references) Thank them again for their time Let them know you look forward to hearing from them soon Sign it with your name and contact information You must proofread your email. You can run it through Grammarly’s free app or get a friend to look it over. You don’t want to get disqualified for a simple mistake. Example of a Job Interview follow-up Email A follow-up thank you note does not have to be a letter. It can be a few short paragraphs that express your gratitude and interest. Here is an example: Dear interviewer, I hope you are doing well today. I wanted to send a short note to thank you again for the opportunity to interview for the open role title with the company’s name. I enjoyed getting to know more about you, the company, and the team. I was hoping to follow-up about the status of my application and find out the next steps. I am extremely interested in the role and believe I am a great fit based on two or three qualifications discussed during the interview. I look forward to speaking to you soon. Sincerely, Your name email/phone number You can even use this exact template and fill in the bolded and italicized parts of it. When to Send a follow-up Email After an Interview You need to send a thank you note within 24-48 hours after the initial interview. You likely won’t have a decision in that amount of time, but sending it within that time frame is recommended in the resume-writing industry. This lets the interviewer know you are interested in the role and are professional. It is okay to send another email after 7-10 days following the initial thank you to check on the status of the application. You don’t want to send multiple emails in a short time or continue to send emails if you do not receive a response. Hiring managers are very busy, and some companies don’t follow-up with candidates who didn’t make the cut. Here’s What to do if You Have Completed Multiple Interviews The above rules are best followed after an initial interview. But what if you are past that interview and waiting for a final decision? If you get past the first interview, we recommend you ask the recruiter in person about how long they think it will take to make a decision. In fact, a great place to ask this question is at the end of your interview when they want to know if you have questions for them. Most companies don’t spend a very long time on this part of the process. In fact, only 43% of job postings close in 30 days. If you still haven’t heard from them after a week or so, it’s okay to send an email to check-in. Don’t panic if you haven’t received a follow-up in a week! You don’t know if other people had to be interviewed before a decision was made or if others were involved in the decision. These things take time, and while it makes waiting a pain, it doesn’t instantly mean you were passed over. Interested in improving your chances of getting your dream job? Check out this article about how to use LinkedIn and your network to improve your opportunities. Update Your Resume Today to Improve Your Job Search Results Now you understand when to send a follow-up email after an interview. While the email may be short and sweet, the impact could mean you land your next job. We hope you understand the guidelines for interview follow-up, depending on where you are in the candidate process. Are you not landing enough interviews? Your resume could be the problem. Contact us today to discuss your options for optimizing your resume so you get more interviews!
Applying for a job using LinkedIn’s Easy Apply Option Can Put You at the Back of the Pack
Applying for jobs can be a clumsy process. You could spend hours manually entering your work details into an online application form, uploading your keyword-optimized resume, and hunting the name of hiring managers for your catchy cover letter. Enter, the ‘Easy Apply’ button on LinkedIn and we move away from tedious to easy. The only bad thing is that applying for a job using LinkedIn’s ‘Easy Apply’ option can put you at the back of the pack. ‘Easy Apply’ equals quick fix, right? The short answer is, “No.” In short, you are trading the opportunity for customization and targeting by using this button. Yes, all you do is push/click the button, enter your phone number, and email address and you’re done! In some cases, you’ll be asked to upload your current resume, but most of the time it’s optional. This simplicity can be tempting! When a recruiter acquires an ‘Easy Apply’ request, all they get to see is a snapshot of your LinkedIn profile. Specifically – your photo, education, headline, past and present work experiences, and skills you’ve listed. That’s it! So, if your LinkedIn profile is very bare-bones, isn’t up to date, or doesn’t elaborate your complete journey you likely won’t be hearing from potential employers anytime soon. Check out this article, How to perfect your LinkedIn profile to get noticed by recruiters. Throw your resume at a bunch of jobs and hope something sticks Sad to say that the “Easy Apply” button is so much like mailing your resume to a hand full of recruiters and hoping to hear back from them. When you decide to apply without uploading your resume or cover letter, the hiring manager only has an approach to your LinkedIn profile. The message that pops into their email will say, ‘(Name) applied to (Job Title)’ and it will contain your headline, location, and profile photo. If your headline is like most people’s headline – with the title of your current role and present company name – you will blend into the sea of sameness. The main idea of applying for any job is to get their attention. If you look like every other candidate, you’re not doing that. What incentive does the hiring manager or recruiter have to click on your application? All hiring professionals have the question ‘So what …?’ playing in their minds Are you answering the ‘So what…?’ question or do you fall into the ‘Meh!’ category? Not only do you have to give them a reason to open your profile, but you have to do so in about 6 seconds. Your LinkedIn profile is only providing a high-level overview of your career experience with some achievements sprinkled in here and there. Originally, the format was laid out in a way that aided with networking. Did you know that about 80% of all jobs are landed through networking? Effectively networking using an optimized LinkedIn profile is a great way to open yourself up to recruiters and hiring managers. However, now that LinkedIn has created the ‘Easy Apply’ feature, the platform isn’t being used just for professional networking anymore. This means you must completely customize your profile so that it is specifically targeted to a particular job or job type. This helps to answer the ‘So what…?’ question. It shows how you add value. Use your LinkedIn profile together with your resume to complete your career picture Every resume writer everywhere will tell you to customize and tailor your resume to each job that you apply to. Your ATS-optimized resume calls attention to your career accomplishments as they are associated with a certain job. When you combine your resume with the information on your profile, you provide hiring managers, recruiters, and HR personnel with a full overview of what you have to offer. Additionally, because your LinkedIn profile is written in the first person, it helps you inject a bit of your personality into your job search. Never say never It sounds like you’re being told to never use the ‘Easy Apply’ button. There are two possible scenarios where you can get away with using the “Easy Apply” button: 1. When you intend to upload a keyword-rich resume: Don’t let the fact that you’re also sending your resume make you think you can neglect your LinkedIn profile. The profile is still going to be the first thing they see. When you use ‘Easy Apply,’ your uploaded resume is shown as a hyperlink at the bottom of your application. What happens if the hiring manager misses the hyperlink or if they simply decide to not click on it? If your profile doesn’t catch their attention, there’s very little chance they’ll spend more time on your application by clicking on the hyperlink. 2. When you intend to follow up: Companies know that applicants who use ‘Easy Apply’ are usually only glancing at the job descriptions. For recruiters, the Easy Apply button tells them that you just pressed a button and don’t have much information about the full extent of the job. Whereas, when you follow them up, it portrays that you’re truly interested in what they are offering. Take-away Theodore Roosevelt said, “Nothing worth having was ever achieved without effort.” Applying to a job may be a tedious, overbearing, and time-consuming drain on your time. It’s worth it in the end, though, isn’t it? Always remember the value you get out of the time you spend. When you find that you meet the qualifications of a role, it’s time to get your resume ready. You’ll need a document that gets past the Applicant Tracking System and impresses the hiring manager. Always Typing Resumes has been helping clients do this for years. It would be a great honor to be a part of your career journey, too. 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What is an applicant tracking system (ATS) and how do you get past it?
What do you know about Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)? Job seeking can sometimes be compared to throwing your resume into a black hole. You go through 100 listings on any job search website and complete the online application with zero results. Ever have that happen? The problem is that you’re probably not putting the correct keywords into your resume. When you hit “Submit” on an online application, it isn’t automatically emailed to the hiring manager. It goes through this computer system that scrubs your resume for specific keywords that are found in the job description posted by the company. It also looks for years of experience and education, among other things. Know your audience & have a back-up plan Your resume must be written to impress 2 audiences — the ATS and a hiring manager. Having a document that speaks to a computer and a human being can be a daunting task. Many resume writers will tell you that you need to stand out in the sea of sameness by adding some personality to your resume through design. The name of the game is to always have your resume at the top of the stack. What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)? An ATS is a software application used by the majority of companies to manage and streamline their recruitment process. Its primary function is to scan and assess the multitude of resumes and job applications received for a vacancy. The ATS serves as an automated screening tool, helping recruiters and HR professionals identify the most qualified candidates swiftly and efficiently. How Does an ATS Work? ATS systems work by parsing and analyzing the content of resumes and job applications. They are programmed to search for specific keywords, qualifications, and other criteria that match the job description. The system assigns a score to each application, ranking candidates based on their alignment with the job requirements. Some resume No-No’s related to the ATS Once you’ve narrowed down your target career path and are getting ready to apply for jobs it’s important to be sure your resume will not be rejected. Here are some tips to help make sure your resume won’t end up in a digital nowhere land: Jargon and buzzwords: (1) they are probably not lending any value to your resume that will get you past the ATS, and hiring managers hate seeing “experienced go-getter,” self-motivated,” and “dedicated, reliable individual.” Overly designed resumes: Many job seekers feel like they’ll stand out from the crowd by having a creative-looking resume. The fact is that ATS cannot properly parse information from these resumes as they can’t read the information in text boxes, graphs, charts, or tables, nor can they read images. If the ATS can’t read it, it will be rejected. Font & margins: Make sure you’re using the right font, keep the font size to at least 10pt, and have margins that are no less than 1/2″. Some acceptable fonts are Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, Tahoma, Trebuchet, and Veranda. Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume for each job application by incorporating relevant keywords and phrases from the job posting. Mirror the language used in the job description to increase your chances of being flagged as a strong match. Use a Standard Resume Format: Stick to traditional resume formats like the reverse-chronological style. ATS systems are more adept at parsing and understanding these formats, ensuring that your information is correctly interpreted. Optimize Your Keywords: Identify the essential keywords related to your industry and profession. Include these keywords strategically in your resume, especially in the skills, qualifications, and work experience sections. Watch Your File Type: Save your resume in a format that the ATS can easily process, such as .docx or .pdf. Avoid less common file types to ensure compatibility. Include Relevant Sections: Make sure your resume contains essential sections like contact information, a summary or objective statement, work experience, education, and skills. ATS systems may not recognize content placed in unconventional sections. Quantify Achievements: Wherever possible, quantify your achievements with specific numbers and percentages. This makes it easier for both ATS systems and human recruiters to assess your qualifications. Proofread and Avoid Spelling Errors: An error-free resume is essential. Spelling mistakes or typos can lead to automatic rejection by the ATS. Review your resume carefully to ensure accuracy. Mastering the ATS is Your Pathway to Unlocking Job Opportunities An Applicant Tracking System is a crucial element of modern recruitment, helping companies efficiently manage a large volume of applications. To succeed in today’s job market, it’s essential to understand how ATS works and how to tailor your resume to navigate it successfully. By customizing your resume, optimizing keywords, and following best practices, you can increase your chances of passing through the ATS and getting one step closer to your desired job interview. Remember, with the right approach, the ATS can become your ally in landing the job of your dreams. Let us help you not only understand the intricacies of ATS but also create a winning resume that breezes through these digital gatekeepers. Let us help you not only understand the intricacies of ATS but also create a winning resume that breezes through these digital gatekeepers. Contact Us Today