Effective Interviewing

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THIS WEEK’s Event: In-sync Personal Marketing Materials, 8:45 AM at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison

The implementation of a well-thought out, Personal Marketing Plan, has always been built around productive and pro-active networking toward your next appropriate employment…getting your message out to potential employers!  Most of us refer to this activity as a job search. To be efficient and to avoid confusion in the marketplace, it is important to develop your message around those keywords that define your candidacy… your communication strategy.

Further, it is important to be consistent and regular in delivering your message to the marketplace, always BEST in a “target rich” environment.  Because you will be using multiple distribution approaches for your message, it becomes important to assure that those approaches are in-sync with each other.  In other words, your written collateral materials (resume, bio, a networking profile, and all job search correspondence–including email), your verbal collaterals (all permutations of a well-thought out 2 minute commercial, elevator pitch, qualification statement, and self-introduction), AND your digital “footprint” (social media branding) need to be developed using the same strategies.

This may seem overwhelming to some job seekers, especially those attempting to be everything to everybody.  Rather, it simplifies the process, making it easier to create “top of mind awareness” with potential employers.  These communication strategies are actually built on 3rd Grade Grammar!  Read on…

(Key)Words, like “problem solving”… every professional is a problem-solver!

Phrases, like “practical problem solving” (adding an adjective that fits you) or “solving problems professionally” (adding an adverb that fits you) allow you to add your uniqueness to your message.

Sentences, like the accomplishment bullets of your professional experience, allow you to showcase your experience, supporting your ability to perform to an employers expectations.  When this ‘proof’ is well designed, it can trigger the right questions to set up your use of…

Paragraph(s), like your best W.A.R. stories to support your candidacy and address behavioral questions.

Words that build phrases, sprinkled in to your message within your accomplishment sentences, create your opportunity to get your message across to potential employers!   And that, my friends, we all learned in 3rd grade grammar!  When applied through your communication strategies, you, too, can become an effective job seeker!

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Successful Interviewing and your next OFFER

Answering questions effectively

The key to being successful in an interview is to answer each question well, with strong content and credible delivery.  To do this, you must anticipate and practice what to say, display confidence and enthusiasm and show that you have a positive attitude.  The way you deliver your responses can be just as important as what you say.

PRE-Offer negotiation requires practice and the ensuing confidence during networking and interviewing process.  It is a good example of Guideline#3 in answering questions effectively…

At least address the issue of the question before…

  • Blocking
  • Turnaround
  • Answering in your terms
  • Confronting or changing the subject!

Thursday, July 23rd, we will be focusing on actual interview TACTICS that work well within our interview strategies learned in Closing The Deal I.  This will include a POST-Offer Negotiation Approach.

POST-Offer Negotiation

What is your position worth?

  1. Base Salary
  2. Any money structured enough to be paid in a regular/ frequent paycheck
  3. Unstructured or discretionary bonuses paid to you
  4. Benefits (budgeted as a ratio of base salary)
  5. Perks (becoming extinct, but not completely yet)
  6. First year vacation (what is your sanity worth?)
  7. Starting date (especially when employed -or- coupled with significant salary movement)

Under ‘normal circumstances’ you should have a salary increase as one of your objectives in career transition… NEVER sell yourself short!  Remember, you will be hired for your potential, not for what you’ve already accomplished.

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

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THIS Week’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL II-Interview TACTICS…Thursday, July 23rd@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

We meet at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison.  Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging interview issues.

Thursday, July 23rd, we will be focusing on actual interview TACTICS that work well within our interview strategies learned in Closing The Deal I.  This will include a POST-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

Answering questions effectively

The key to being successful in an interview is to answer each question well, with strong content and credible delivery.  To do this, you must anticipate and practice what to say, display confidence and enthusiasm and show that you have a positive attitude.  The way you deliver your responses can be just as important as what you say.

Look directly into the interviewer’s eyes; give short, crisp, smooth answers that don’t sound memorized.  Put energy in your voice. Consider one of the following guidelines in answering questions relative to your communication strategy…

  • ANSWER the question….
  • Highlight strengths, giving examples as appropriate… plays to behavioral interviewer style and tactics. Minimize weaknesses.
  • At least address the issue of the question before
    • Blocking
    • Turnaround
    • Answering in your terms
    • Confronting or changing the subject!

PRE-Offer Negotiation

Become knowledgable of ‘MoneySpeak’ as it relates to your salary requirements.  Be confident in ANY discussion of your salary, either past or future (NOTE: There is no present tense where money is concerned!).  Remember…

“He who mentions money first, LOSES.”

PRE-offer negotiation is a very common use of guideline#3 in answering questions effectively.  And, as alwats, answer the question and then STOP TALKING.  You will feel pressured to defend or explain, compensating for your nervousness and emotion at this moment.  This is definitely worth practice time with your accountability partner.

POST-Offer Negotiation

What is your position worth?

  1. Base Salary
  2. Any money structured enough to be paid in a regular/ frequent paycheck
  3. Unstructured or discretionary bonuses paid to you
  4. Benefits (budgeted)
  5. Perks
  6. First year vacation
  7. Starting date

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

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THIS WEEK’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL-Interview STRATEGIES…Thursday, May 14th@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

For years, CORPORATE Recruiters have relied on access to that special stack of resumes or a ‘Rolodex of top candidates’ to recruit from for hard to fill positions. Since the 80s the drive behind recruitment technology has been an effort to replicate and scale this activity by storing these resumes in databases making them available through key word search.

That ‘systematic approach’ is dysfunctional… It hasn’t worked!  Enter the assistance of third party recruitment professionals, headhunters, who charge a fee to the hiring organization to find you and get you placed.

If you are not willing or able to conduct your own personal negotiation with an interested hiring organization, the key is to know how headhunters think. They want one thing: to close the deal.  This is hopefully in synch with your motivation, but not always.  Remember they are already working for the Company who pays them.

What headhunters like least is a passive candidate who doesn’t state their requirements clearly. They want to know exactly what you want. They may not always be able to get it for you, but if it’s reasonable, they will try to satisfy you (and the employer) to get the deal closed. So, if you make things black and white for this headhunter, its easier to work on your behalf.

Pre-Offer Negotiation Tip:  Work with the headhunter… suggest, “This offer is attractive, but I want to make the right decision, here. I’d have to take some time to think about. I’m not sure I’d accept it. If it were 4% higher, maybe $5k more, I’d accept it on the spot. In fact, if you can get the offer raised by $5k, you don’t even need to call me back. You can tell them I accept… What do you think?”

Remember, your placement costs the Company real dollars when they work through a headhunter… make them earn it! 

– The Careerpilot

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Thursday, May 14th, we will focus on Interview concepts and strategies, including MoneySpeak and interviewing–including a PRE-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

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NEXT WEEK’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL II-Interview TACTICS…Thursday, March 26th@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

Thursday, March 26th, we will be focusing on actual interview TACTICS that work well within our interview strategies learned in Closing The Deal I.  This will include a POST-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

We meet at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison.  Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging interview issues.

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

by

THIS WEEK’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL-Interview STRATEGIES…Thursday, March 19th@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

Thursday, March 19th, we will focus on Interview concepts and strategies, including MoneySpeak and interviewing–including a PRE-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

We meet at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison.  Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging interview issues.

This week only…two for one:  Immediately following the session, Bob will be driving over to Grapevine to present “Networking WITH The OTHER Job Market” to the Healthcare-oriented networking group.  Please consider the ‘field trip.’

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

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THIS Week’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL II-Interview Tactics…Thursday, January 8th, 2015@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

As it is important to be prepared for pre-mature discussion of salary…

“He who mentions money FIRST, loses!”

As important, is to help the Interviewer to interview you effectively, building rapport and a relationship… working them toward that coveted OFFER.  This week’s session will include POST-Offer negotiation to help you optimize your offers.

We meet at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison.  Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging interview issues.This coming week…

Thursday, January 8th, we will focus on Interview tactics, including MoneySpeak and the aforementioned POST-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

by

NEXT WEEK’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL II-Interview Tactics…Thursday, January 8th, 2015@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

We meet at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison.  Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging interview issues.This coming week…

Thursday, January 8th, we will focus on Interview tactics, including MoneySpeak and a POST-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

As it is important to be prepared for pre-mature discussion of salary…

“He who mentions money FIRST, loses!”

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

by

NEXT WEEK’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL-Interview STRATEGIES…Thursday, December 18th@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

Thursday, December 18th, we will meet as usual, focusing on Interview concepts and strategies, including MoneySpeak and interviewing–including a PRE-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

We meet at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison.  Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging interview issues.

This week only…two for one:  Immediately following the session, Bob will be driving over to Grapevine to present “Embracing the OTHER Job Market” to the Healthcare-oriented networking group.  Please consider the ‘field trip.’

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

by

NEXT WEEK’s Event: CLOSING THE DEAL II-Interview Tactics…Thursday, October 23rd@ 8:45AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

Please SHARE THIS POST with your network.

This coming week… Thursday, October 23rd, we will focus on Interview TACTICS, including MoneySpeak and a POST-Offer Negotiation Approach.  This stuff is worth your practice time in anticipation of that terrific offer you’ll get!

We meet at The Egg and I Restaurant (NW Quadrant of Arapaho and Montfort) in Addison.  Come prepared to work on YOUR most difficult or challenging interview issues.

As it is important to be prepared for pre-mature discussion of salary…

“He who mentions money FIRST, loses!”

When an offer is extended to you, you should feel prepared to respond appropriately AND consider optimizing the package offered.

Who should attend?

  1. Those who want to perform more effectively in actual interviews–get to the offer!
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to conduct any interview and discussion of salary;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session with which to supplement your job search effectiveness!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨