What Kanye West Can Teach Job Seekers

Mulling at Work brings you a special series on interviewing for a job. Nothing is more important, or more nerve-wracking, than a job interview. This week’s articles will help you prepare. The third article in the series is about watching what you say when you're being interviewed.

Over the last few days, we’ve watched as three well-known celebrities let their mouths get them in trouble. First, Representative Joe Wilson shouted out in the middle of President Obama’s speech on healthcare. Next, at the US Open, tennis superstar Serena Williams cursed at a line judge. And finally, in a headline-making and head-shaking move, music celebrity Kanye West rushed the stage at MTV’s Video Music Awards, grabbed the mike from award-winner Taylor Swift, and announced that someone else should have won.

While all of these outbursts were certainly memorable, the backlash and negative publicity has been tremendous, and you can bet that all three of them wish they had taken a minute to think before they spoke. The lesson for job-seekers? Don’t allow your desire to stand out overwhelm your good sense about appropriate behavior.

The following anecdotes are all true stories gathered through personal experience and discussions with human resource professionals. While some may seem far-fetched, there’s a lesson in each horror story.

Going for the gusto: One candidate was escorted into the interviewer’s office and asked to sit wherever he wished. He proceeded to sit at the interviewer’s desk, much to the surprise of his host! Career advancement experts often say to dress like the position you desire, but sitting in the seat of your potential boss is a premature expression of your ambition.

Here’s the pitch: Another candidate was interviewing for a sales management position in a Fortune 500 corporation. In the middle of relaying a success story, he asked for a flip chart and marker. He then spent 15 minutes drawing charts and pacing the room. Yes, the goal is to sell yourself and your skills, but it’s best to remain seated throughout the interview.

Something smells fishy: A colleague once interviewed a candidate whose cologne was distinctive and overly apparent. Unfortunately; the interviewer was allergic to the cologne and she had to cut the conversation short. Looking back, she could remember nothing of the candidate but the smell.

A resume celebration: Not only are candidates creative with the look of a resume, they are often creative in its presentation. One young woman applied for a job in a marketing department of a large corporation. Her resume was delivered in a tube filled with confetti that spilled all over the HR Director’s desk. The candidate clearly had not researched the company or she would have known its conservative culture. The resume went directly to the trash without even a quick glance.

Casual day: A marketing company was hiring under a tight deadline, so interviews were held on the weekend and candidates were told to dress informally. However, one candidate showed up in jeans and a t-shirt. Even if told to dress casually, a candidate should wear something that presents a professional appearance. You want to be sure that your physical appearance sends the same message as your qualifications.

There’s a moral in these anecdotes. As a job candidate, you should do everything possible to stand out from the crowd. But in general, you should let your experience, skills and personal aptitude – not a flashy presentation or gimmick – be the factors that set you apart. Can someone tell that to Kanye West?

photo by Pyrator

It’s More Than What You Say

Over the next two weeks, Mulling at Work brings you a special series on interviewing for a job. Nothing is more important, or more nerve-wracking, than a job interview. This week’s articles will help you prepare. The second article in our interview series discusses the non-verbal part of interviewing.

It's more than what you say.

Giving all the right answers in an interview is only one element of how you’ll be evaluated. Even before you sit down for a discussion, your interviewer likely has formed his or her opinion of you. Presenting a positive impression from the first to the last moment of the interview is the key to landing the job you want. There are several things you can do to project the right image without saying a word.

Appearance. Your outward appearance is the first clue a prospective employer has to your overall persona. If you are unsure of the dress standards at a company, it’s best to go conservative. A dark suit is a safe bet for both men and women. Keep jewelry and distracting accessories to a minimum. Don’t carry too much with you because you’ll look sloppy. Bring only a neat binder holding a note pad and a clean copy of your resume.

Before the interview. You never know who might be watching, so remember that your interview starts when you arrive in the parking lot. Don’t fix your hair or makeup in the car, or sit in the car to kill time if you’re early. It’s also advisable to make a trial run to the office a day or two before your interview so that you’re familiar with parking and other intricacies of the property that could cause you to be late for your meeting.

Meeting and greeting. Introduce yourself to the receptionist clearly, especially if you have a difficult name. Either sit or stand in the lobby, but don’t pace. Make eye contact with and smile to all who pass you so that you appear friendly and approachable. When your contact comes out, greet him or her with a firm handshake and energetic smile.

Small talk. Become familiar with buzz words in your industry. Stay current with news so that you can respond intelligently if the interviewer asks your opinion about a specific topic.

Body language. Keep good eye contact at all times to show that you are honest and interested. Smile during the interview to calm your nerves and show enthusiasm. Sit forward in your chair and maintain good posture; poor posture comes across as a lack of energy. It’s acceptable to “talk with your hands,” but movements should be natural and focused in front of your body. Keep your feet planted on the ground or crossed at the ankles.

Closing the interview. Be alert for hints from your interviewer that the meeting is coming to a close. Some interviewers give obvious clues such as standing or thanking you for coming while others may seem to get distracted. It is important to end the interview just as you began it, with energy, a handshake and a smile.

Practice these physical elements of the situation so that you appear natural, confident and in control. You’ll encounter enough stress responding to questions; don’t let an unpolished image destroy your chances before you open your mouth.

Tell Me about Yourself

Over the next two weeks, Mulling at Work brings you a special series on interviewing for a job. Nothing is more important, or more nerve-wracking, than a job interview. This week’s articles will help you prepare. The first article in our interview series deals with how to respond when your interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself.”

Tell me about yourself.

90% of all interviews begin with this question, but it’s one of the most overlooked when it comes to interview preparation. Many candidates talk for five or ten minutes, boring the interviewer and failing to communicate any key points that sell themselves.

What’s the solution? The Two-Minute Drill.

Make bullet points for the different phases of your life, and touch on each area in the following order:

· 10-15 seconds on your formative years. If you are over 35, the first 22 years of your life are of little importance. This should be covered in 10 seconds by saying: “I grew up in _____ then went to college/trade school and majored in ___. I then began my career in ___.”

· 10-15 seconds on your educational credentials. If you are a recent graduate, you should emphasize your coursework, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs.

· 30-45 seconds on the progression of your career, highlighting one or two major accomplishments.

· 10-15 seconds on why you are in transition (your “parting line”).

· 10-15 seconds on what you want to do next.

· 10-15 seconds to wrap up with a comment on family status if appropriate.

You must practice in advance to make answer concise. Practice ten or 15 times out loud; maybe call yourself and record it on your voicemail so you can hear how it sounds. You should sound comfortable and clear, without babbling. If you practice your Two-Minute Drill, you’ll save yourself the awkwardness of struggling to think of what to say.