“So tell me a little bit about yourself.” This statement is one of the most challenging questions asked in an interview. This is a critical question that a savvy interviewer could potentially ask you, and you better have an answer. This question, presented as a statement can be the difference between you getting the job and someone else getting the job.
Don’t blow this question off, prepare for it and have an answer. Your answer should be at least 1-2 minutes, even better 2-3 minutes. It should be a brief overview of “who you are and what you bring to …read more

Do you dare lie on your resume, or in your interview? I am amazed at how easy it is for people to lie about their credentials, about their work or life experience and then when caught, they either attempt to perpetuate the lie or they get angry for the exposure. I am publishing this post I wrote back in July 2007. With some additional information added. As a coach, I am asking you not to lie. Don’t lie on your resume, don’t lie on applications. Don’t lie in an interview. Don’t lie about anything. It will not serve you in …read more

So, You’ve Been Fired is by far the most popular post I have written here at Interview Chatter over the last two years. I still respond to comments weekly. Which is why I am reposting it today. I want to hear from you. If you have recently been fired from your job and you don’t know what to do. I invite you to take a look at this post, read through the comments. You are in good company. If you have questions, again, scroll down and leave your question. I am looking for some stories. I would like to hear …read more

Closing the deal is the most critical part of the sales process – it should be your desired result from every interview you complete in your job search. Your ability to turn your interviews into viable job offers is important. In order to close the deal you must give the hiring manager a reason to buy – to hire you – the product! Before I go any further, let me make this disclaimer: There are no guarantees when you have an opportunity to compete for job opportunities. You can have an excellent interview and for whatever reason the …read more

“I don’t know” can’t possibly be an acceptable answer for an interview question and yet people use it everyday. So why is it that someone would use it? My answer to that question: “I don’t know.” I just know for a fact it is used. Wrong answer! The problem is people actually use it when they don’t know how to respond to a tough interview question. And then they wonder why they didn’t get the job.
One of my recommendations to job seekers is to ask for feedback whenever possible. Some organizations are willing to share reasons why you were not …read more

As I’ve said before, the questions you ask the interviewer are just as important as the answers you give to the questions they ask you.  Asking great questions is just another way that you can set yourself apart from other candidates who may exactly equal on skills and education required for the job.
Here are 5 examples of good questions to ask on your next job interview.

How has the troubled economy effected your business?
What kind of challenges is the organization facing right now (particularly important if you are interviewing for a management position)?
What do you think it takes for a person …read more

If you are unprepared for your interview, the first question will eliminate you from the hiring process. This morning I had the opportunity to sit in on an interview. The candidate was asked one question and within 2 minutes the interview was over. The answer given was poor at best.
How do you prepare yourself for the first question in an interview?
1. You must know who your are and what skills and abilities you bring to the table.
2. You must know more than the name of the organization – Find out about their culture, find out about their core business.
3. …read more

As Darlene said in her post on How To Prepare For A Phone Interview, phone interviews are about weeding out.  So, like every other kind of interview, it’s important to set yourself apart from the other candidates. 
How you answer phone interview questions should be no different from how you answer in-person interview questions.  Ideally you’ll need to do a few extra things to make sure that the fact that you are interviewing on a telephone doesn’t cause you to perform differently.  Here are some things to remember when you are preparing for your phone interview.

Make sure your telephone is in good …read more

Depending on the type of position you are applying for and the span of control of the hiring manager, it is very likely that they may have other open positions or they may know of other hiring managers with open positions that you’d be perfect for.  So, be prepared to answer the question “should you not be selected for this position, would you be open to considering other vacancies in the department?”  I do this frequently myself when I interview candidates.  It is usually because I have found the perfect person for the job but then another great candidate comes along that I don’t …read more

Even though I’m sort of an interview geek, I still learn new stuff about interviewing every day.  For example, I never thought too much about finding a common thread with an interviewer until I heard the story of my friend’s med school interview then published a guest post about it.  I was so impressed while he described how his interviewer perked up when they realized they knew some of the same people.  After that, I knew I needed to make sure to incorporate this technique the next chance I got.
Remember, during an interview you are trying to set yourself apart from the other …read more