Find and land best job for you

It’s about passion and finding a company that’s a good fit
By ELIZABETH DAVIES

There should have been a class about this stuff.

There are so many etiquette rules and communication tips when it comes to job interviews, it’s nearly impossible for the novice applicant — and even many veterans — to know them all.

A growing number of people are dusting off resumes as hiring posts its most positive numbers in six years. Of companies surveyed by Manpower Inc. in a quarterly employment checkup, 43 percent expect to hire in the second quarter. Only 3 percent expect layoffs.

But interviewing goes beyond simply being a qualified candidate. Most of the people companies interview are qualified.

How will you stand out?

Tom Furst, an executive recruiter who runs Furst Group in Rockford, tells applicants to use examples. He wants them to not just answer, but elaborate on, a question.

“One thing we talk to people about is being able to go beyond the resume in discussing their talents,” he said. “Many times, you want to be able to use the questions that are asked to enhance the qualities you bring to the job. You could answer the question and say, ‘That reminds me of a time when … ‘ ”

“You’re selling yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Applicants who can convince interviewers they will be invaluable to that company are those most likely to land the job. Often, human resources representative Mary Freeman has applicants who focus too much on their own needs, and not the greater needs of the company.

“A lot of applicants think that, if they express to you how much they need a job or how broke they are, you will just hire them based on that,” said Freeman, who works at Servicom LLC. “Applicants need to let the interviewer know what they can offer the company, as well as what they are seeking to gain from employment.

Source: Furst Group

Source: ResumeDoctor.com

Source: SearchSouth, an Alabama-based search firm

How will both parties benefit?”

Companies also are looking for candidates with a good attitude and a desire to make the company they work for better.

“They need to have a passion and a true interest in what they’re pursuing,” said Fran Morrissey, president and chief executive officer of Staff Management. “If they don’t, a good interviewer will find out.”

Above all, experts say, job candidates should be choosy. Rather than snapping up the first offer that comes along, hold out for a company you believe in. Getting that good “fit” is key to long-term job satisfaction.

“Getting a job might be easy in some ways,” Morrissey said. “But if it’s not a match, it won’t be a good situation.”

The following items, ranging from a list of likely interview questions to dos and don’ts of resume writing, may help you get your dream job.

Do I have to answer that?

There are certain questions interviewers shouldn’t ask. There are even some that are illegal to ask.

That doesn’t mean someone won’t ask them.

Questions about your religion, health, birthplace, marriage or kids are supposed to be off-limits. But how do you deal with the awkward situation that arises if your interviewer ignores the rules and asks anyway?

Option No. 1: Answer and hope for the best. With any luck, maybe your answer — that you’re recently divorced or plan to have a baby next year — won’t turn the interviewer off.

Option No. 2: Politely change the topic, saying you would rather focus on questions that have to do with the job at hand.

“Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with saying, ‘I would prefer not to answer that question,'” said Fran Morrissey, president and chief executive officer of Staff Management in Rockford.

Option No. 3: Re-evaluate whether you want to work for a company that would ask you these kinds of questions at an interview.

“You have to make a decision if you want to go further,” said Tom Furst, president of search firm Furst Group. “It might just be a lack of knowledge or a lack of experience on the part of the interviewer. If it’s very personal, maybe that’s a red flag.”

No matter which option you choose, make sure you take the high ground.

“You have to be professional at all times,” Furst said. “Maybe you can open up the question to a situation you’ve had … that would enhance the interview on your behalf.”

Questions to expect

Job searcher Web site ResumeDoctor.com surveyed more than 2,000 recruiters and hiring managers in a range of industries to find out what questions are most frequently asked of candidates. Here are the top 15:

1. Describe your ideal job and/or boss.

2. Why are you looking for a job?

3. Why are you leaving your current position?

4. What unique experience or qualifications separate you from other candidates?

5. Tell me about yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

6. Describe some of your most important career accomplishments.

7. What are your short-term/long-term goals?

8. Describe a time when you were faced with a challenging situation. How did you handle it?

9. What are your salary requirements?

10. Why are you interested in this position? Our company?

11. What would your former boss/colleagues say about you?

12. What are the best and worst aspects of your previous job?

13. What do you know about our company?

14. What motivates you? How do you motivate others?

15. Are you willing to relocate?

How to answer key interview questions

Here are a few rights and wrongs regarding how to answer interview questions.

QUESTION: Tell me about yourself.

The wrong way to answer: I’m 35 years old, a native of Chicago and I have three kids. I got into the plastics industry because my college roommate got me a job with my first company. I want a job in management.

The right way to answer: I have three years’ experience as a top-ranked sales representative who handles 25 major accounts for a company that specializes in plastics. I was part of a team that was responsible for doubling the number of new accounts for the company last year. Now, I am looking for a management position with a midsize firm that would allow me to share my sales expertise with others.

QUESTION: Describe a situation in which your work was criticized.

The wrong way: I spent three months last year working on this big project for the company. I was there nights and weekends to put it together. In the end, my boss said it wasn’t what he was looking for. He should have given me more specific instructions to begin with. It’s not like I can read his mind. I did the best I could.

The right way: A project I spent three months working on last year didn’t turn out the way my boss expected. I asked him some very detailed questions so that I could identify exactly where we weren’t matching up and how to fix it. In the end, after a little more work, we got the project to a point where we both were happy with it. From that experience, I learned to ask those detailed questions up-front so we can be on the same page from the beginning.

QUESTION: Why are you interested in this position?

The wrong way: I’ve heard this company is really good to its employees. It pays more than my current job and sounds like something I would really enjoy.

The right way: This position calls for someone who is detail-oriented and a good communicator, both of which are among my strongest characteristics. I’ve been lauded internally at my present job for being a good team motivator, and I’m the one everyone comes to for the final look at their presentations because they know I’m good at catching mistakes.

I also really believe in this company’s mission to provide exemplary service to its customers. That’s such an important stand for companies to make because the customers are really the reason why we’re here every day.

Jose Carlo “Eski” Feria

Job: Physical therapist

Company: SwedishAmerican Hospital

Started: March

QUESTION: What advice would you offer someone about to walk into an interview?

ANSWER: Try to be yourself. The employer usually just wants to get a feel for how you are as a worker, how you are as a co-worker, how you are with patients.

QUESTION: What interview question do you never know how to answer?

ANSWER: “What’s your biggest weakness?” I say that I tend to be forgetful.

QUESTION: What makes that question awkward?

ANSWER: You’re trying to tell them a weakness and they’ll say, “Aha! We won’t take him because he’s forgetful.”

QUESTION: What one thing about interviewing do you wish they had taught you in school?

ANSWER: How to get over being nervous. During the interview, the tough part would be not really talking to the interviewer; it’s more the nerves when you come into the interview room and not knowing what to expect.

QUESTION: What is one thing you make a point to do when interviewing?

ANSWER: I want to show them my personality and look the interviewer in the eye. I try to have a smiling face that shows you’re open. That calms everyone down, especially me. Once I get a smile from the interviewer, then I’m set. That takes away a lot of the anxiety.

Sending the right signals

Nervousness in an interview might mean your body isn’t sending the right signals to interviewers. Body language is key in this situation, so pay attention to yours.

“You want to send the message you’re very interested in this job,” said Tom Furst, president of Rockford search firm Furst Group.

Consider these suggestions from Furst:

www.hireveterans.com
www.hireveterans.com