Archive for Interviewing
Interview Etiquette – Part 2
Posted by: | CommentsToday’s post is a continuation of another post from one of our rock star interns & future PR pro, Jamie Hogan, on interview etiquette. You can read the first part here, but read on as she goes through some of the obvious (and some not so obvious) tips on how to be successful in your next job interview:
- Bring an extra copy (or two) of your resume printed on nice paper.
This is an “old school” rule of thumb, but one that should be followed. I don’t feel like this is stressed as much these days, but keep in mind that more often than not, you probably aren’t being interviewed by a millennial. If you’re asked for a copy of your resume and you have one on hand, you look mature and prepared.
- Speaking of prepared…PREPARE.
I once referred a friend for a job because she had been out of work for a bit and her past experience was a perfect fit for the position. I found out later that when asked why she was interested, her response was, “Because I need a job.”
Not only was this embarrassing for me (I referred her!) it was a blatant act of being unprepared for certain questions. You should always show up with a good response for the following:
“Why do you think this position would be a good fit?”
- “Because I need a job” is not going to work”
“Do you have any questions for me?”
- Do your research on the company. Have at least one (but hopefully more than that in case they answer it during your interview) question that you can ask.
“What is a negative quality that you possess?”
- I think this one is key. It’s easy to get caught up in singing your own praises (that’s what you should be doing!) but if asked, you don’t want to say, “I don’t have any negative qualities.” If that’s your answer, your negative quality is that you show up unprepared for things. On the other hand, don’t give an insincere response. They will see right through an answer like, “I work too hard, that’s always been my downfall.” Come up with something that’s realistic, but punctuate it by saying that it’s something you’re working to improve.
- Be yourself, but within reason.
Show off your winning personality, but maintain a level of competence and professionalism. If you get hired, you can (maybe someday) share stories of what happened when you went out last night, but during an interview is probably not the time. A personal anecdote here or there is fine if the situation really calls for it, but don’t go overboard.
A good interview is not just about being qualified, outgoing and coming in with a 4.0 GPA. While all of that can definitely help you score the job of your dreams, sometimes the devil is in the details.
And please, remember to forget that you own a cell phone.
Any tips and tricks you’ve learned along the way that Jamie should add to her list?
Interview Etiquette – Part 1
Posted by: | CommentsToday’s post is one of two from one of our rock star interns & future PR pro, Jamie Hogan, on interview etiquette.
The end of the academic year is rapidly approaching and the hunt for jobs is as competitive as ever. As someone who has been on both sides of the interview process at one time or another, here are some of the obvious (and maybe not so obvious) tips for representing yourself positively in an interview.
- The moment you walk through the door, pretend the interview has started.
The first impression can begin as early as your arrival. If you’re waiting in the lobby, sit up straight, look confident and keep your things (coat, folder, purse) in order. A great trick to remember is that the receptionist is also their employee! I worked at the front desk of a company for a couple of years and I would be asked how a person conducted themselves while they waited. If someone was rude or acted in a way that was really unprofessional, I was truthful about it.
Also, forget that you own a cell phone. Even better, turn it off. I cannot stress this enough. Yes, it can be boring to wait for someone without checking email quickly or updating your Facebook status (“Job interview, wish me luck, yay!”), but if management rounds a corner to collect you and you’re scrolling through your phone, it shows disinterest on your part and that you might not have the capacity or attention span to do the job you’re there for.
- Dress appropriately for a job interview.
This does not always mean a full suit, but it does mean you should be neat and pulled together. See Repman Cody’s blog for some sound advice.
- Shake hands like you mean it.
The limp, or “dead fish” handshake may not make or break an interview, but I think it’s worth mentioning. No one’s going to report back that you shook hands well, but sometimes a bad handshake gets scrutinized. Be sure to make eye contact and have a firm, meaningful grip.
It’s such a simple thing to correct, so don’t let this become a strike against you!
- Keep your hands to yourself (when you’re not shaking someone else’s).
On a recent interview that my husband conducted, the person who was brought in nervously played with a telephone cord that was on the table during the entire meeting. This act raised a red flag and while this wasn’t the only reason, the individual did not end up getting the job.
If you know you’re a fidgety person, discreetly sit on your hands if you have to. Just don’t touch anything that isn’t yours. And if it is yours, like a pen or a notepad, be reasonable when handling them.
And, again, forget that you own a cell phone.
Stay tuned for the rest of Jamie’s advice on interview etiquette.
The Job Search
Posted by: | CommentsWe’re always asked about the process for interviewing for internship and entry-level positions. Essentially, sometimes the process seems to be a bit longer than one would imagine because we’re looking for the best fit for the position and Peppercomm.
To get more of a glimpse into what is happening across the board in terms of hiring, check out this article in The New York Times: With Positions to Fill, Employers Wait for Perfection.
Do you agree with the assessment?
Don’t be boring in life, don’t be boring when applying
Posted by: | CommentsToday’s post is by fellow Peppercomm Intern Committee member, Jason Green.
If you operate under the assumption that no one strives to be thought of as boring, it is hard to figure out how we end up sifting through so many indistinguishable cover letters and resumes during hiring season. The content contained in each cover letter and resume is not always uninteresting, but I am talking about how it is presented.
We differentiate for a living – when positioning our clients and when it comes to our personal brands. So it is no surprise that we are looking for someone that can demonstrate the ability to differentiate themselves from the e-mail above and below them in the intern jobs inbox.
A few words of caution, there is good differentiation (let’s flag this e-mail and make sure to call them) and bad differentiation (forward this cover letter and resume to the agency e-mail distribution because it is wildly inappropriate). The faux Amazon site job application that garnered serious buzz on the web this week is a prime example of the type of thinking that we look for at Peppercomm for interns and full-time positions.
This application says a few things to me and my colleagues on the intern committee. This applicant is:
- Very creative
- Willing to take risks
- Tech-savvy (design and development)
- Likely to have a solid sense of humor
- Hardworking (he took the time to transform his resume into something awesome)
When we get the standard “to whom it may concern” e-mail it is equally telling. This candidate has likely not thoroughly browsed our website (we name the intern coordinator), probably does not understand the Peppercomm culture and might not have the ability to work in the integrated environment that Peppercomm transformed into.
There is a plethora of resources on our new website that would lead a truly interested candidate to send us an eye-brow raising application – our acquisition of creative services firm H20 (this isn’t traditional PR anymore, folks), our use of comedy training throughout the agency and with clients, the Audience Experience service offering that we recently launched, etc.
It could be a witty subject line, it could be a link to a blog that you maintain or a website / app you helped code, it could be a video submission, comment on our Facebook page, comment on one of our Instagrams, or go back to the future and send us something that is hand-written. I won’t give up too many ideas here, but you get the point.
Show us your skills and make it interesting and I can guarantee you will be hearing from us. Our industry has evolved and the way you apply for jobs changed right along with it. We look forward to hearing from you. The Amazon guy has reportedly received over 100 job offers…
Attached is my . . .
Posted by: | Comments
To start this post off, I took the liberty of looking up the term “cover letter” in the dictionary—and it was not there. So, I went to Wikipedia and found this nifty description:
Job seekers frequently send a cover letter along with their CV or employment application as a way of introducing themselves to potential employers and explaining their suitability for the desired position. Employers may look for individualized and thoughtfully written cover letters as one method of screening out applicants who are not sufficiently interested in their position or who lack necessary basic skills . . .
In short, a cover letter is the first thing you want your potential employer to see. So why are so few young people actually putting this into practice?
The amount of intern/entry-level applications we receive, which are almost solely via email, consists of a note that says: Blah blah blah “attached is my cover letter and resume”.
That note is the absolute first thing we see from an applicant, so why would you attach your cover letter, rather than using it the way it was intended? It may sound silly, but by having to open an attachment, it’s another step an employer has to take to find out about you. You want to make it as easy as possible for someone to learn about you and your intentions with a company.
One surefire way to make yourself standout to an employer? Try not attaching your cover letter and actually putting it into your initial email. Among the sea of applicants employers receive, this simple adjustment could make a huge difference.
Top Interviewing Tips
Posted by: | CommentsWe’re all about providing the latest, greatest and most unique interviewing tips to help you secure that dream position. But check out Kerry Hannon’s “Want An Unbeatable Interview?” in Forbes for a great reminder on the tried, tested and true tips that can land you that job.
Getting your resume noticed
Posted by: | CommentsMy favorite thing to say to students, recent grads and anyone looking to get into the communications industry when discussing resumes is: Don’t make it look like the Rosetta Stone.
It sounds like I’m joking when I say that, but it’s overwhelming to look at a resume with the margins widened to make room for more copy, the document goes on past the first page and the copy on the page is so cramped it looks like hieroglyphics inside a pyramid. With a resume like the one I described, it’s hard to get the attention of any HR or hiring manager when their eyes can’t focus on any of the words on the page.
But don’t just take our word on resumes. Check out this piece on commPro.biz “10 Tips to Keep Your Resume Off the ‘Resume Trash Pile’” and let us know what you think.
Thriving in your job search
Posted by: | CommentsLooking for a job but all you’re getting are rejection letters? In today’s increasingly competitive job market, it is easy to get frustrated after months of ”no’” from employers and feel like you’re never going to find a job that is right for you. With that said, it is increasingly important and expected that you find ways to differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicant pool during your job search.
In this article, career and workplace expert Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter lists five ways on how you can increase your chances of winning over a prospective employer, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-timer on a job hunt. In addition to having a clean and well-written resume, having the right mindset and focus during your search may just give you that little boost you need to land your dream job.
How rude
Posted by: | CommentsThere are many things in life that annoy me and other people who hire for his or her respective companies, including, but certainly not limited to:
- Spelling errors on a resume/cover letter
- Using a different company name when mentioning the place you’re applying to
- A resume that’s on two pages—especially when you’re entry/mid-level, there is no need for a resume that long and if you do, make it two FULL pages; not a page and a half . . . or a page and a quarter
While these are pretty big errors, sometimes they can be saved by a follow-up note apologizing, etc. However, one faux pas that you can never save yourself from (without having a very legitimate excuse) is having a set interview time and not showing up/picking up the phone when you are called by the person who has set that time aside.
There is nothing more disrespectful to an interviewee and someone who coordinated a meeting time than to simply not show up. Of course, things happen and some people take different positions at other companies, but you should alert the person you’re meeting with to withdraw your application.
Many may think this is just common sense and the first rule of interviewing etiquette, but you would be surprised. It’s one action that will make me remember someone in a negative light. Cue Stephanie Tanner’s catchphrase.
What are your thoughts on this behavior? Do you think this is the kiss of death with a potential employer? Or is there something worse?
Five Tips in Five Minutes- For Your Next Interview
Posted by: | CommentsApplying for an entry-level job can be a full-time job in itself. Between the resume tweaks, the endless cover letters and hours of company research, it can be daunting.
In our newest PRiscope series, we’re going to help you navigate some of the trickiest parts of the job-search process, as well as what to do when you land that dream internship or entry-level position. Better yet? We’ll do it in bite-size posts.
Here are five tips in five minutes for your next interview:
- Dress appropriately- Technically, this should be a no brainer. Still, you’d be surprised how many candidates fail to err on the side of formality, especially during the summer months. Someone once told me, “Dress for the job you want to have in five years.” It’s never too early to get a head start.
- Don’t forget a firm handshake- My father was in sales and he passed this tiny tidbit along to me at an early age. A firm handshake exemplifies confidence- and why shouldn’t you be? You’re their ideal candidate, remember?
- Cite key examples- The interview is the perfect time to elaborate on all the points you mention in your resume and cover letter. Did the Twitter account you managed increase in followers? Great! Oh, and did you mention that the interview you arranged for your client led to a Wall Street Journal article? AND 1,000 unique visitors to the website? Perfect!
- Know the industry- PR Week. PR News. There are publications you’ll come to know as a PR professional. Mention an article you read in a recent issue and see if the interviewer has a strong opinion on it- which leads us to the next tip.
- ASK QUESTIONS- Nothing hammers the nail in the coffin worse than stone silence at the end of an interview. Remember, you’re interviewing the company in a sense as well. Make sure that it’s the fit for you. In case you’re stumped, take a look at this Inc. article that offers some excellent examples.
