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Author: Rebecca Metschke

“I wish I would have said….”

We’ve all had that moment (or, as the case may be, those moments). Whether 5 minutes later or the following day, the amazing comeback or witty response pops into your head after the fact. Too little, too late.

Obviously, lapses like this aren’t limited to everyday conversations; they happen during interviews, too.

You’re asked a question, your brain freezes up - so you stumble and give a weak response.

Later, when you’re more relaxed and you’ve had some time to think it over, the right words pop into your head. You know exactly what you should have said. Why did this not come to you when you needed it? You just know it would have been a slam dunk answer!

But you blew it. And there are no do-overs when it comes to interviews.

You’ve got one chance to make the right impression…one opportunity to convince the person you’re talking with that you’re the person they ought to hire.

You need to try to anticipate everything you might be asked and know how you’re going to respond. You must be able to articulate what’s unique about you - why should they hire you and not the next person? (They’re not going to coax it out of you…) You need to be able to speak to and support every line on your resume. You’ve got to do your homework and thoroughly research the company.

The better prepared you are, the less likely you are to fumble your responses. Or worse yet, find yourself at a total loss for words.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Don’t let it happen to you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/interview-regrets-the-great-reply-that-comes-too-late-884306.html

Author: Julia Penny

Telephone job interviews are becoming more and more popular. Organizations are receiving increasing numbers of job applications for each opening and the phone interview provides a cost-effective and time-efficient means of initially screening out unsuitable applicants. Using phone interviews allows employers to be selective about the candidates they invite for a face to face interview. Use these important tips to get the most out of the phone interview.

Be prepared

Unlike a planned face to face interview telephone job interviews can come at any time. Sometimes you will get a call to schedule the interview but often they call hoping to interview you straight away. Prepare an interview portfolio that you keep with you. It should include details of the job opening, a copy of your resume, background research information, some key words you have prepared for answering likely phone interview questions and a list of good questions to ask the interviewer.

Practice your phone skills

If you don’t feel confident about how you come across over the phone you can practice answering questions with a friend over the phone. Ask for honest feedback and work on any areas for improvement. Or you can record yourself and listen to how you sound. Check your voice pattern, the level of enthusiasm in your voice, the clarity and pace of your speech. It is common to talk too quickly during the phone interview. Take a conscious pause before you answer the question and between sentences.

Pay close attention to the interviewers verbal message

You have no non-verbal cues from the interviewer to help you to understand how you are coming across. Instead you need to pay close attention to their voice pattern and tone. Listen very carefully and maintain a high level of concentration throughout the call. If you sense that the interviewer’s attention is wandering bring them back with a well-timed question.

Make sure the place you take the call is free from any distractions. Preferably sit at a table where you can lay out your portfolio documents and take notes. A relaxed but upright posture helps you to breathe properly and improves voice clarity.

Monitor your rate of talking

Speak slowly and clearly. Avoid interrupting the interviewer and make sure they have finished their question by waiting a few seconds before you answer. Give yourself time to organize your thoughts before answering. You can rephrase or repeat the question to give yourself time to think about your answer. People fail in telephone job interviews because they tend to dominate the conversation and speak too fast. Don’t feel you have to fill the silences. Breaks in conversation happen and are usually because the interviewer is making notes are referring to you resume. Allow time for this.

Close the call

Ask the interviewer if there is any other information they require. Restate your interest in the position and find out what happens next. Get the correct name and title of the interviewer for your thank you note. Follow up with a thank you within 24 hours of the phone interview.

The goal of the phone interview is to get the face to face interview. Be well prepared for the call and stand out from the competition.

The Telephone Interview Guide includes common phone interview questions, phone interview tips and techniques and helps you to succeed in your phone interview.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/win-in-telephone-job-interviews-823667.html

Author: Leslie Kearney

If you are a more experienced worker your resume should be more definitive than a new grad. Obviously a new grad’s resume is going to be more general in nature while yours the “more experienced” should showcase to your potential employer what you can “bring to the table”. After all you have a proven track record and you want to show it in the best possible light.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

· Give a summary, not an objective. Select three or four skills that match the employer’s needs and specify these. These highlights can appear in a short paragraph or quick “bullet” format.

· Lead with experience, not education (the exact opposite of what a new graduate should do).

· List your accomplishments, not just your responsibilities. Don’t just tell employers what you did; tell them the outcome. For example: “Proposed and tracked $500,000 annual departmental budget. Only division to meet deadlines and operate within budget during past three years.” Making such a statement reveals your problem-solving abilities.

· List activities that relate directly to your self-improvement efforts, e.g., continuing education, and the position you’re seeking. Don’t include hobbies.

· Your resumes length should be determined based on your accomplishments. An experienced candidate often has enough relevant accomplishments to expand his or her resume to a second page. That does not, however, give you license to spell out every award, membership, or accomplishment in your resume. It’s one thing to boast of your accomplishments but you don’t want to dilute the focus.

· Tailor each resume to include the accomplishments that relate to a particular employer’s needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/resumes-articles/resume-tips-for-the-experienced-candidate-777741.html