Great Occupations

Career design colleagues in the UK talk about "The Johari Window" and how to use it for preparing for interviews. Greg and Tom of e2aplus say that you have "Blindspots" that can come out during an interview. These could be things such as unconsious body movements, "ums & ers," repeating words, etc. They also discuss "Masks." Apparently, this is what someone is keeping hidden during the interview. For example... Read the rest of this entry »

The video below (click here if you're not reading this at the GreatOccupations.com site) features Gabriel Bouchard, VP of Monster.ca, who talks about the "hidden job market" and says that in addition to looking for a job online, you need to leverage relationships in your network. In 2:38 minutes, Bouchard summarizes very well the most critical things you need to know about effective job hunting. In addition to networking to find jobs that aren't posted, he suggests you... Read the rest of this entry »

In my book, What You Need To Know To Get A Job Now!, I discuss interview jitters and encourage you to seek to understand the interviewer's point of view. Maybe they're nervous too. Here's the excerpt: Easy to say don’t be nervous. Hard to do, right? Sweaty palms and butterflies in the stomach are part and parcel of the whole trauma of meeting strangers and then trying to knock their socks off. But know this... the interviewer is possibly as nervous as you are. Have you ever stopped to consider that the interviewer is trying... Read the rest of this entry »

What a clever video - it takes what could be a dry subject and makes it fun! See below or click here.

They claim that 55% of a person’s first impression of you is based on how you look. The other 45% must come from the impression you make through your non-verbal communication, such as a firm handshake, good eye contact and a confident, walking-tall posture as you enter the room.

Enjoy!

How To Dress For a Job Interview on Howcast

Angela Loëb is an author, speaker and career coach. She and her partner, Jay Markunas, help people make successful career transitions through workshops, webclasses and 2×1 individualized coaching services. Listen to them on The Job Search Boot Camp Show on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Find out more at www.greatoccupations.com. Join us for a free teleseminar we’re cohosting at 7pm central on Tuesday, June 22! Details at www.careerfindermethod.info

Last night I spoke on salary negotiation to the career networking group I lead called The Compass Group. We had about 35 folks listening about the timing, tools, and tact needed to get between 10%-30% more in compensation. One of the audience members asked a great question: ”why is it easier to find a job when you already have a job?” Meaning…why does it seem like more interviews and job offers come when you already have a job?

It Really Is Like Dating The job search process if very much like dating. You find a pretty girl/handsome boy (the target company), and you approach them for a “date” (job). Then you “introduce yourselves” (initial contact/phone screen), “date” (interviews), and finally “marry” (offer/acceptance). There are many steps - and often mis-steps - that happen throughout the process. If you are too eager, it’s a “turn off”. If you are too needy, it’s a “turn off”. If you are a stalker (calling/emailing too often) = “turn off”. If you ignore (no follow up), huge “turn off”.

After initial contact, the fate of the process falls into your hands. Are you selling yourself properly? Are you confident in yourself and your abilities, skills, and talents? Are you asking good questions? Are you answering the questions well? Are you making a connection?

The Rich Get Richer Interviewing is one of my special skills. What I have observed is one reason job offers/interviews come easier when you are already employed is that you are far more confident in the “dating phase”. You already have confidence in your abilities (you’ve got a job based on your abilities already). Your past-due bills, mortgage, groceries, livlihood isn’t all wrapped up into this interview. When your physical needs are already met, you can go in with the attitude that you are simply there to see if this job might be better than the one you already have. You are in a very different space and mindset. This is an extremely hard mindset to have when you have the “weight of the world” on your shoulders and everything is wrapped up in this interview.

If you want to find a job easier, go in with confidence in yourself and your abilities, skills, and talents. Even if you aren’t employed, you should pretend you are for the sake of the interview. Go in with a mindset of “I’m just here to hear what you have to say”. Go into the interview with that dating mentality knowing that you will some day “get married”.

Jay Markunas is a Career Coach and has “dated” a lot of companies. Jay brings all that experience and expertise to The Job Search Boot Camp (now available on a 3-DVD set!).