[Ohio-talk] Great Article-- on 10 Tips To Land Your Next Job

Tue Oct 21 19:26:42 UTC 2014

Here is a great article for you, if you are seeking employment with OOD or
not!

Suzanne 

10 Tips To Land Your Next Job (From Someone Who's Interviewed 1,000 People)

By  <http://www.mindbodygreen.com/wc/martin-bjergegaard> Martin Bjergegaard 
October 21, 2014 

Have you ever left an important interview feeling unsatisfied with your
performance? Perhaps your nerves got the better of you, or you didn't
emphasize your accomplishments? Maybe you just didn't convey your excitement
about the job?

Over the past 10 years I have added countless members to my team, and as I
write this, I am due to listen to my 1,000th job applicant. I'd like to
share my top 10 tips that will help you secure that dream position. 

1. Dig deep: Do you really want this job? 

First of all,
<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15180/i-went-on-6-interviews-got-5-job-offer
s-heres-how.html> don't apply to jobs that you don't feel passionate about.
Understandably, you might need a salary, or are just desperate to start
working somewhere, but this mentality will not get you far. You want to
excel at your next job, as your drive and hard work will ultimately earn you
that promotion or raise. You will never stand out in a job that doesn't
excite or fulfill you, and you won't learn much, either. So keep looking
until you read a job description that gives you a fluttering feeling in your
chest. 

2. Do your homework about the company before you arrive. 

This step ought to be a no-brainer, but I am always genuinely surprised by
how often it gets disregarded! I've witnessed many applicants show up to an
interview without the slightest idea of who we are and what we do — they
spent zero hours studying our website, checking out our social media
channels, or reading articles written about us. 

I vividly remember spending the better part of a week at the university
library preparing for my job interview at McKinsey (how I hate the GMAT
exam!), and I am sure that without putting in the effort, I wouldn't have
gotten the job. 

3. Remember basic manners. 

Most of us are naturally shy, but unless we're seeking employment in the
gaming industry or as a hardcore programmer,
<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13654/3-ways-i-learned-to-thrive-as-an-intro
vert.html> we need to overcome our shyness and appeal to our extrovert side
during an interview. It'll just be a bad start to a conversation if you
can't look your potential employer straight in the eyes — he or she might
think you are hiding something. 

When introducing yourself, give a firm handshake, but be careful not to
overdo it — you don't want the interviewer to associate you with physical
pain! In short, you need to be pleasant and easygoing, with a good dose of
ambition and energy. 

4. Show interest and enthusiasm when you arrive. 

Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes: after conducting interview number
seven, he's probably just had enough time to scan through your résumé before
sending you in. His head is filled with personal data and first-impressions
from previous applicants. Help him snap out of it and engage fully in the
interview, allowing him to be completely present with you. 

The easiest way to achieve this is by showing interest in something that
matters to him — try asking, for instance, "This is a very nice office, did
you decorate it yourself?" or "I love this location, is it an easy commute
for you?"

By asking these questions, you signal that you consider yourself to be your
interviewer's equal, you have enough self-respect to do so, and that you
also notice the little things. 

5. Be alert, go with the flow of the conversation, and (most importantly) be
yourself. 

At job interviews, candidates are often so nervous, eager or strategic, that
it becomes hard to connect with them on a human level. You must prepare for
the interview, but avoid sticking to rehearsed answers — let go, immerse
yourself and be fully present in the moment. 

6. Give short and concise answers whenever possible. 

An interviewer often has many questions to ask. As an applicant, you need to
be sensitive to the style of questioning at hand: is he trying to tick
questions off, or is he trying to get to know you and understand how you
think? Particularly with the latter, it's fine to give relatively lengthy
answers, but refrain from rambling on too much on your disagreements with a
former boss. As a general rule: short and precise answers are always
appreciated in an interview. However, you need to avoid letting the
conversation dry out. This is where tip #7 comes in: 

7. Remember to keep the conversation going. Ask questions! 

Aside from familiarizing yourself with company facts, job details, and
personnel information, the most important preparation for an interview is
this: make a list of 10 questions you'd like to ask. Remember that time is
limited, so you probably won't get to ask them all. And that's a good thing
— you don't want to be perceived as someone who lingers. 

Use these questions as fuel to keep the conversation going, making sure that
they are all relevant in order not to get side-tracked. The more you get the
interviewer to talk, the better. We all like people who ask interesting
questions and then listen intently to our answers. 

8. Try to pick up on the interviewer's interests and excitement. 

Pay close attention to your interviewer: does she show signs of interest in
a particular portion of the interview? Perhaps it's to do with an area she
previously worked in, and therefore has strong attachments to. 

Personally, my weak spots are the mission, vision and values of my company.
If an applicant is clever enough to ask questions like: "Where do you want
your company to be in five years?", then I start to talk and dream, probably
really liking this person who asked such a nice question and who now listens
so attentively to me. 

9. Take deep breaths and try to enjoy the process. 

When McKinsey invited me in for a job interview, they gave me a valuable
piece of advice I have been using ever since. They said: "Try to relax, and
enjoy the process." At first I thought it was all nonsense: How could I
possibly relax during something as demanding as a job interview? 

Gradually, however, I started to understand: if I relaxed my body (
<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8863/so-how-do-you-just-breathe-3-tips-for-r
elaxation.html> for instance by taking deep breaths), became grateful for
the opportunity and planted happy thoughts in my mind, then the chances of
me delivering a high performance in such as stressful environment were much
higher. 

10. Remember to follow-up with a short email after your interview. 

When your interview is done, wait a few hours before sending a short email
along the lines of: 

Dear Susan,

It was such a pleasure to meet you today. I really enjoyed learning more
about your company and hearing more about the exciting role of Social Media
Manager. 

As we previously discussed, there are so many ways to capitalize on what you
and your team have already created, as well as many ways to take the results
to the next level. 

This is just to say that I am incredibly excited about this opportunity, and
eager to hear back from you regarding my potential future steps. 

Best regards,
Amy 

Keep the email short and sweet, making sure it's sent within 24 hours of
your interview. This simple act is very effective in making you stand out:
you might be surprised to hear that less than 10% of the people I interview
take the time to execute this simple task. 

Good luck landing your dream job! Always remember: you deserve a great job
that makes you happy,
<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13651/5-ways-youre-sabotaging-your-financial
-health-without-even-realizing-it.html> brings in the money you need, and
gives you awesome experiences. 

Life is short, so make it count. 

Photo Credit:  <http://www.gettyimages.com/> Getty Images

You May Also Enjoy

<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15488/how-to-survive-your-9-to-5-when-its-no
t-your-dream-job.html?utm_campaign=recommendation&utm_medium=interfeaturebot
tom&utm_source=feature>
<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15488/how-to-survive-your-9-to-5-when-its-no
t-your-dream-job.html?utm_campaign=recommendation&utm_medium=interfeaturebot
tom&utm_source=feature> How To Survive Your 9 To 5 When It's Not Your Dream
Job 

It's taken me six years, but I've finally figured out my life’s purpose: to
run a wellness retreat. However, until I can fully support myself by
following my passion, I have a 9-5 job to pay the
<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15488/how-to-survive-your-9-to-5-when-its-no
t-your-dream-job.html?utm_campaign=recommendation&utm_medium=interfeaturebot
tom&utm_source=feature> Read 

  _____  

To learn more about happiness, check out our video course
<http://www.mindbodygreen.com/course/how-to-create-more-happiness-meaning-in
-your-life?utm_source=mbg&utm_medium=featurebody&utm_campaign=coursehappines
s> How To Create More Happiness & Meaning In Your Life.

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3056 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20141021/0f051ec4/attachment.jpg>