Friday, September 16, 2011

What's behind that question

Interviews

When an employer says "Tell me about yourself," she's really asking "How will my business improve with you in it?"

If you can't demonstrate with examples that your experience or ideas can make (or save) her money, don't interview until you can.

Drive over to the office the day before the interview. This will solve any finding it problems and make you just a tad more confident the next day.

Another blogger says when they ask what you thought of your old boss--be honest but positive. Do these guys commute from Mars? As I write in my book, when the office is burning, I want a firefighter who can put out the flames. Not one who tells me how pretty the inferno is.

I want an intelligent employee who knows when he's being screwed and can articulate that. If the applicant is a yes person in the interview, what good is he going to be to me on the job?

"Yes, my last boss was Saddam Hussein. Wonderful man. Good control. Passionate about chemicals."

Online

A blog can show you know what you're talking about and are thrilled about your field--good things for an employer to find when they google you.

This guy says you can "easily" find a job in 10 minutes a day by using social media. Although if you can get through your LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook accounts in 10 minutes, do you have enough contacts?

I'm not sure why anyone on those accounts would work with someone who was so clueless (no time for research) or pressed for time (10 minutes). But, hey, try it and prove me wrong. (Though after a week on this vacation, you might want to devote some time to other techniques!)

Here's a good post on targeted phone calls. He says you have to "stop applying on Monster."

Numbers

The jobs crisis is contributing to the highest US poverty rate in almost 30 years--15.1%. That's from the Census Bureau, US Today says.

The national unemployment rate is calculated from 2,200 government employees interviewing 60,000 households.

The average job search today is longer than at any time in more than 60 years (since 1948).

Unemployed people spend less than 2 hours a day job hunting during the first week of being out of a job. The number declines after that, according to this study. Especially since they have the time available, that's not enough.

Noted

On the value of networking: getting a job is "nearly impossible without some inside help."

This author suggests writing a résumé based on skills rather than chronology. Susan Whitcomb (Job Search Magic) warns employers wonder what you're hiding when you give them this "functional" résumé.

An editorial in the Washington Post argues employers should be free to refuse applications from people who are unemployed. He denies Monster.com uses such ads, despite earlier reports.


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