Unless you’ve been living under a rock in an underground cave off the shore of Nova Scotia , you already know that the odds of getting a new job without putting in some serious effort these days are slim to none.
And slim just left the building.
So, if you’re one of the fortunate ones to score a job interview – whether you’ve already been laid off or you’re simply afraid your company will be downsizing soon – you need to take every step necessary to nail it. That’s why Joy Gendusa, entrepreneur CEO of marketing company PostcardMania – and author of the marketing advice column Ask Joy Gendusa (http://www.postcardmania.com/askjoyblog/) – has applied her savvy to the topic of “The Big Interview.” As the CEO of an Inc. 500 company in the client service business, Gendusa knows how to land the big contract, and she has also interviewed hundreds of employees for her company. She knows how to interview, and be interviewed successfully.
“Getting a new job is a lot like courting,” she said. “Smart and funny work just as well in the office as they do with friends. It’s a game of charm and disarm, using good humor to deflect objections and intelligence to demonstrate that you can handle anything they throw at you.”
Gendusa has assembled a list of qualities that are designed to help you score big when you’re in the new job hot seat:
- The Basics – These are lowest common denominator elements of the interview that so many people still find a way to botch. Be on time, meaning five to ten minutes early. Be prepared with extra copies of your resume, a notebook, examples of your past work and a list of references if they request it. If any of these elements are absent from your interview experience, you’re already starting the race a lap behind.
- The Look – The old adage “Don’t dress for the job you have, but for the job you want,” still rings true. If it’s been a while since you’ve worn the business suit, or your current ones don’t fit because you’ve either lost or gained weight, it might be time to invest in the new suit. No matter your body type, clothes that fit well always make you look more professional and capable. In business, we know that you have to spend a little money to make a little money, and that’s the case with your own career as well.
- The Smarts – When human resources managers consider you for a position, they research you. They not only read your resume, but they may also Google your name, do a background check or call former employers. So, why not return the favor? Research the company, Google them, look at current news items and press releases about them. When you walk in the door, you should know more about them than they know about you. That way, when they ask you relevant questions as a potential employee, you can answer them as if you were a current employee.
- The Confidence – There is a fine line between confident and cocky, and it’s a different line for everyone. Find yours before you interview. Also, avoid getting caught up in your own anxiety over the interview. A confident applicant sits in the waiting room and calmly reads a magazine while waiting. The nervous person sits there, rifling through dog-eared copies of their resume and anxiously bouncing their knee up and down. Take a breath before you walk in, relax and remember that the best way to get hired is to show them that you can relax under pressure.
- The Finesse – Sometimes the most important part of the interview comes after the interview. If you’ve done well in the interview, it’s still possible to spoil your chances by being either unresponsive or too eager. The follow up is a finesse play. After each interview, always write a polite “thank you” email to the human resources director. If they provide instructions for follow-up at the end of the interview, follow them precisely. If they say, “Give us a call Monday to see where we are,” that doesn’t mean to call Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
- The Honesty – Simply put, don’t lie. Also, before taking a job, make sure you are willing to give it your all and really be a team player. Don’t take a job that you know you are going to leave soon. This will not help you in the future.
Exhibiting these qualities will put you in the top 2 percent of job applicants, and ensure that your job search is a short and fruitful journey.
Joy Gendusa (http://www.postcardmania.com/askjoyblog/) founded PostcardMania in 1998, her only assets a computer and a phone. By 2005 the company did over $12 million in sales, employed over 100 people and made Inc. Magazine’s prestigious Inc 500 List as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the nation. She attributes her explosive growth to her ability to choose incredible staff and her innate marketing savvy.
To interview Joy Gendusa contact Rachel Friedman at (727) 443-7115 ext. 206 or email rachel@newsandexperts.comPlease include your name, publication, and mailing address with your request.
