The Question Everyone Hates

“What is your biggest weakness?” This question is asked in almost every job interview. It is the question that makes most candidates lie, or at least give a very weak answer. This can be a dreaded part of any interview.   

I am about to drop a truth bomb on you, so prepare yourselves. Everyone is flawed. I know, it’s crazy that you are not the only not perfect person, but it is true. I realize that everyone knows this, but that raises the question why do we feel like we all have to be? It is perfectly fine to not be perfect. It makes you human, and it might even make you more likeable.

Being honest when you answer this question shows you have humility and know that you can make improvements on yourself. If you can talk about your goals to fix your weaknesses, that is even better. Now if you really want to impress the interviewers, tell them how the role you are interviewing for will help you fulfill your goals towards improvement.

It’s okay to have flaws, and it is okay to admit them. Whether you need some work on time management, procrastination, or even need to improve your planning skills, that is okay. The important thing is to be aware of your flaws and strive to become better. Play on your strengths and use them to help you in your weaknesses.

Next time you get the dreaded question, you will be ready to answer with confidence. Admit your flaw, explain your goal to fix it, outline your plan to meet the goal, and tell them how the new position will help. You will knock it out of the park!

For tips on how to better answer interview questions, contact us at info@connorcaitlin.com.

Tips and Tricks for Skype Interviews

Skype interviews are becoming more and more prevalent as of recently. They are halfway between a face to face interview and a phone interview, so it’s understandable to have questions about them. Many often wonder how they should dress or if they should look at the interviewer on the screen or the camera that is recording them to give the impression of eye contact.

Don’t try to get too comfortable just because you are in your own home. Since the Interviewer can actually see you during the interview, you should dress as you would for a face to face interview. You still want to present yourself as professionally as possible.

Make sure you are mindful of your background. The focus of the interview should be on you, so having things like a television on or children running around can be distracting for the interview. Remember to also make sure the interviewer can see you, if you have a bright light or a window in the background, you end up looking like a dark blob.

In a normal interview, eye contact is very important, so it is important to give the interviewer the impression of eye contact. This means looking at the camera rather than the screen. It may seem awkward, but the interviewer won’t be able to tell the difference.

Electronic interviews are rapidly becoming the standard for first time interviews.  Polishing up your presence on camera not only helps you land that job, but also gives you confidence in making presentations.  These skills are highly desirable, regardless of if you are working in a lab or customer facing. 

If you have any questions, or want more information regarding electronic interviews, please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions.

www.connorcaitlin.com

Nailed the interview… What’s next?

Often times after an interview you might be asking yourself “what’s next?” It’s always important to be proactive instead of just sitting around waiting for that phone call. The first thing you should do, no matter what, is send out a follow up email or letter to the hiring manager. This shows that you are serious about the job and considerate of the time spent with the company you interviewed with. 

Prior to your potential second interview, make sure you research salary. This way when the hiring manager puts an offer on the table you won’t be unprepared. Preparing for that next step is vital.

           

You might consider working on a sample project or assignment for the company to impress them with your work ethics. In other cases, employers deliver a scenario and ask the candidates to create a proposition or solution for it. This usually helps the company make their final hiring decision. Before the final step you should contact your references and keep them updated with your progress. Remember, you can also ask the employer for references from people who currently work or have previously worked as well. 

The next time you meet with the employer you could even suggest an offer yourself, however this is only in certain circumstances. You could create a proposal that states a need they have, your services, the time you would dedicate, and the results they can expect. Next time you have an interview, remember to

be proactive in order to set yourself apart from the other candidates.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information.

Who’s Interviewing Who?

As the interviewer, you should always be aware that your potential employee could have several other offers. You are doing more than just interviewing your candidate; think of it as you are selling them the job. During the interview process your candidate is likely (hopefully) taking mental notes about you as well, and the company overall. Therefore, it’s important to not only ask questions, but also inform them about yourself and your position within the company.

            

When it comes to the interview process, always be respectful towards your candidate and attentive when they are speaking. This will make your candidate feel more comfortable and important. Let them know about your company’s culture and how your executives make an effort to get to know their employees on a personal level.

Your candidate should also be informed that their opinions matter and their feedback would always be considered. Also, knowing that there are competitors, it’s critical to make a better offer. This way your candidate can compare salaries, healthcare insurance, benefits, and hours. If your candidate brings up a counter-offer they received from another company, always counter the counter-offer.

Aside from being the interviewer, always be prepared for your candidate to ask you some questions of his or her own. They will often ask about their career path, which you should always answer in a long-term perspective in order for them to feel secure at your company. Make sure you are also well informed about your co-workers and what they do because your candidate may ask what they are like to see if they will fit in.

This is a candidate-driven job market, which means top candidates can afford to be particular about which offer to accept, so always make a good case because they are interviewing you too.

For more information please contact Connor|Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com

The After-Graduation Black Hole

Congratulations Class of 2015!

Now that you've hit the major milestone of graduating from college, it’s time to enter the working world.  Some of you may already have job offers, and some may still be discovering themselves, but we can all benefit from job/career advice. 

Business professionals have long since stated the importance of networking, and that is still a large part to the success of many careers today.  Networking, meeting people from all specialties and industries will open your eyes to opportunities that you never even thought about, or knew existed.  Plus, down the road, you never know when one of those connections you made will come in handy.

 

Here’s a fun one.  As a recent college graduate, learn to let your parents help you find the right position.  Parents always want their kids to succeed, and will do anything in their power to help.  While this may seem like you are reverting back to your childhood, trust me, it will help in the end. They know people that they can trust, and people always love to help others.

Forget about your age.  Present yourself as you want others to see you.  Never say “I know I’m young, but…”  This will only get the interviewers thinking about how young you really are, and if you have what it takes to make it at that company.  Instead, present yourself as a professional.  Leave them wondering how old you really are, because you present yourself as a seasoned professional.  Don’t be intimidated by those who are older and wiser, and learn from their experiences that they are willing to share.

Read articles, google the company you are interviewing for, and meet everyone you can.  You will find your niche.

If you want help discovering your career path, please contact Connor|Caitlin. 

Well...I just didn't like her.

Normally I like to touch on interviewing from a candidates perspective, but today I’m going to take a look at it from the other side of the table. Interviewers can be the first closed door that a great candidate may face, and in all reality, that closed door may be the result of a bias on the interviewers’ part.

We've always been told that your first impression means everything.  In this case, it’s very true. If you are an interviewer, or just someone meeting another for the first time, keep these things in mind.

Bring your bias to a conscious level.  This is the first step in neutralizing bias; recognition.  Even if you have an instant reaction, try to do the opposite of what you first feel, such as leading with a positive question if you have a negative feeling about a candidate. 

Measure your first impression at the end of a meeting.  Objectively use what you've learned within the interview to determine if the candidate would be a right fit.

Make sure to listen to all the evidence before making a conclusion. Then, use evidence, not emotions, to assess.  “I feel” and “I think” and “My gut tells me” are all statements using emotions and not hard evidence.  

Use your team to objectively study your candidate.  Have everyone share their evidence to help decrease the emotional bias of the hiring authority.

These few tips will help ensure that you are giving each candidate a complete and fair shot.  And who knows, it may even be helpful on a first date.

If you need help standardizing your hiring practices, or help finding top talent, contact Connor|Caitlin.

I got the interview...now what??

Congratulations, you landed the interview.

Now what?  You haven’t been to a job interview in fifteen years.  What has changed?  What do you need to do differently now with a new generation of hiring managers?  These are all valid concerns for someone who hasn't been actively searching for a job in years.  And unfortunately, seasoned professionals could be hurting their chances of getting hired by not interviewing properly.

While there is a myriad of interview tips on the web, there are just a few items that I want to point out.  Seasoned professionals are most likely going to be interviewing for higher level position, as well as leadership abilities.  Your best bet is giving examples of successes, but successes where you worked with a team and gives proper credit to those who worked with you.

Authority vs. Humility

Experience and skill level are always going to be selling points, but not as far as to get you that dream managerial position.  Showing that you are interdependent on your team and employer will win you big brownie points with the hiring manager.  Having confidence in your skills, as well as answering in a way that says that you are a team player and able to be flexible will get you farther than just throwing your co-workers under the bus.

If you need help learning some new interview tips and tricks, or want to find that person who can fit the bill for your company, contact Connor|Caitlin.