ACE THAT INTERVIEW:
Advice from a Real Recruiter
By
Allison M. Keeton
Ace That Interview: Advice from a Real Recruiter
Allison M. Keeton
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Allison M. Keeton
This book and all of its contents are the property of Allison M. Keeton. Any duplication or use of any of this content without the written consent of the author is in violation of copyright law. As a licensing reminder, this e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy out of respect for the author. This content is registered with the Federal Copyright Office.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the job seekers of the world. May you have faith in yourself and the good fortunate to obtain the position you want. Remember your journey, and be kind to those who come after you
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Introduction: Why Read This Book and Why Listen to Me?
Chapter One: How To Get An Interview
Chapter Two: How To Prepare For An Interview
Appendix A: Sample Interviewing Questions
Who Am I and Why Should You Believe Me?
We are all experts in what we do the most. I have an accountant for my taxes and an attorney for my will. I go to a dentist for my cavities and hire a plumber for my broken pipes. Unless you are recruiting day in and day out, how can you know how recruiters and hiring managers think? I've been recruiting for positions at all levels for over twenty years in financial services, health care, and public utilities. I have also taught interviewing techniques to hiring managers and candidates alike. Despite all the technological changes, how we select the best candidates remains the same.
I have also been coaching friends and strangers, formally in my office or at the dining room table, or informally on airplanes, city buses, and grocery store lines. Over and over, I hear the same questions and see the same mistakes.
On social media sites, we recruiters read many naïve perceptions on how companies hire candidates. This book will help you understand how recruiters think so you can get through the initial screen. Then once you're in front of the hiring managers, you can ace that interview and get the job you want.
The TIPS sections are areas of advice from my recruiter colleagues or me. The TRUE STORY sections are actual accounts of what candidates have done. Sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
You CAN get a job, and most likely, the job that you want. It's a matter of timing and ambition. Is there an opening? And have you paved your path with knowledge and experience and now have what it takes?
It is my hope that this book strengthens your confidence, hones your ability to sell yourself, and helps you ace that interview for the job you want. Good luck!
Allison Keeton
Hartford, CT
HOW TO GET AN INTERVIEW
Yes, there are jobs out there. Good jobs. So, how do you find one, especially one that you really want? There is a formula of sorts for getting a job. Of course, the first key is getting the interview. Here's how.
The Importance Of Your Resume
I have always said, "Your resume gets you the interview, the interview gets you the job." Below are some key suggestions. Many you have heard before. So, why then do we recruiters still see these mistakes?
TOP TEN RESUME TIPS
1. No typos. NONE. Especially in your name, email address, company's name, and so forth. I repeat, NONE.
2. Include your contact information, especially your email address and best phone number. Triple check for accuracy.
3. Your work experience should be in chronological order with your most recent first.
4. You only have to go back 15 years on your work experience unless the older experience is extremely related to the position for which you are applying.
5. If you have been at a company for a while and have had multiple positions there, only list the company name once.
6. Don't include your photograph. While most companies want to increase their women and minority hiring, it also makes them nervous to see what you look like too soon.
7. Include near the top, a summary of your skills (if experienced) or an objective of the job you seek (if newer to the workforce).
8. Include accomplishments under each position, not just the tasks you completed. You managed a team of eight? Tell me about an accomplishment in managing them. Maybe two were promoted? Maybe you lowered absenteeism? Maybe you increased team sales? Ideally, you should have a minimum of THREE accomplishments for each job.
9. When you save an electronic resume in Word or as a PDF, save it as your name. Your whole name. Not Susiesresume. Not Resume3. Not ManagementResume. Not ResumeOct27. As recruiters, we often save your resume into a folder in order to email it to a hiring manager. By calling your resume something other than your name, you are relying on us to take the time to rename your resume. Otherwise, we will never find Resume3 among the hundreds (maybe thousands) of saved resumes. If we can't find it, no hiring manager will ever see it.
10. Missing searchable keywords. Think about your skills or the position that you are seeking. If it is an investment position, be sure that "investments" is somewhere on your resume. Is it in information technology? Customer service? Administrative services? Do you want to be a nurse? Put yourself in the recruiter's shoes. What keywords would you put into a search function to find you? If these words aren't in your resume, add them.
TRUE STORY #1-1
I had a candidate submit a resume with mismatched employment dates and an email address that bounced back as undeliverable. When I called her about it, she said that she hadn't sent me the latest version of her resume. It's one thing to have an outdated resume, yet quite another to have one with inaccurate information. Recruiters are suspicious of candidates who change dates and lack attention to details.
Knowing Yourself and What You Want in a Job
One of the very first steps in any job search process is to know who you are followed by what you want.
How to Find the Right Job for You
Just like there is no such thing as Mr. or Ms. Right, there is no such thing as the Right Job. However, there are some jobs that are better suited for you. If you don't know where to start, read below.
Let's first put jobs into two categories:
1.Possible immediate job (with your current skill set)