By Selena Kohng | Published: March 3, 2011 If you were invited for an interview, you’ve conquered half the battle; the recruiter already thinks you can do the job based on your resume. The next half, though, is about proving them right. Things like body language or your outfit play a part, but only a supporting role to what [...]

by Steve W. Martin  at Harvard Business Review If you ask an extremely successful salesperson, “What makes you different from the average sales rep?” you will most likely get a less-than-accurate answer, if any answer at all. Frankly, the person may not even know the real answer because most successful salespeople are simply doing what [...]

First, ignore the conventional advice to state a weakness that’s really a positive job attribute, such as, “I’m a workaholic and I spend too many hours at work.” Interviewers have been hearing that for years, and they see right through it. And the truth is, they are looking to see how you handle the question and what [...]

This question falls into the same category as “What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What would your boss say about you? Such questions have no value in predicting future job performance.  Interviewers really are interested in seeing how you respond. They really want to hear that you’re committed to your career, constantly improving your [...]

Be prepared – be very prepared. By that, I mean, prepare questions that show you’ve taken the time to learn about the company you are interviewing for and that you are interested in it. Don’t just tell the hiring manager your strengths; prepare stories that illustrate where you’ve used those strengths successfully in past work experiences. [...]

“Fit” is a subjective measure that takes into account the candidate’s abilities, as well as innate qualities such as sense of humor, capacity to learn quickly, maturity, and confidence. “Cultural Fit” is a combination of how the interviewer feels about you, and whether you seem like someone who will fit in well and complement the [...]

What’s the best way for a candidate to address employment gaps in their resume during an interview? As we’ve discussed, what a hiring manager cares about is your ability to do the job, do it well, and fit into the organization. A lot of people have gaps in their resume. Yes, I will question you about [...]

What do hiring managers / recruiters really want to hear when they say “Tell me about yourself”? Speaking for myself, I want a brief summary of your experience, highlighting the abilities that relate directly to the job. When it comes to the Hiring Manager, he also wants to hear that you know something about his [...]

Whether you’re writing a cover letter for a resume, approaching a contact for a referral, saying thank you for an interview, requesting a reference, or sending email messages, the basic rules are the same. Well written letters and email messages will help enhance your job search and boost your career.  These tips and techniques will [...]

Future employers often times do a background check as part of the hiring process, and there’s some information that cannot be disclosed without your consent. Here, see what information isn’t released during a background check. When employers check your background as part of the hiring process, there is some information that cannot be disclosed without your [...]