Upword Resume is pleased to partner with the career coaches at Job Seekers’ Edge. Founder Kathryn Justyn has worked with professionals in virtually every industry to help them land better-fit jobs. They bring a compassionate, common-sense approach to career development and job search.
Kathryn and her team focus on sourcing and applying for jobs, but they are equally passionate about interviewing skills.
A candidate sending out 25 customized, good-fit resumes can expect to land maybe 3 job interviews.
That means you need to take full advantage of every single interview opportunity.
Kathryn’s advice: Don’t wing it. Approach each interview with a carefully crafted strategy.
Here are their Top 3 tips for interview success:
1. Come prepared with stories
In advance of an interview, brainstorm the problems you can solve for a company. Then think of specific examples of when you’ve done just that.
Maybe you’ve optimized sales teams or figured out a way to get the right people talking to the right customers. Maybe you built the infrastructure that enables big projects to move forward. Maybe you created the incentive structures that keep your employees happy and engaged.
Form each of these examples into a clear, 2- minute scenario you’re prepared to share at your interview. This arsenal of success stories is excellent interview material.
2. Be prepared to go beyond your job history
You’re an expert within your career niche. Maybe you can talk all day about how companies should adapt to changing technologies.
But your interview is likely to include questions designed to reveal your problem-solving approaching, working style, and communication skills.
When was the last time you got in an argument with your boss?
Tell us about a time when you made a decision that turned out to be wrong.
How do you handle setbacks?
Don’t let behavioral or situational questions throw you for a loop. Again, it’s a great strategy to practice answering these types of questions in 2-minute story form.
3. Flip the interview script
Kathryn reports that as many as 70% of their coaching clients are gainfully employed professionals who are seeking new positions due to culture mismatch.
Misalignment with company culture and values is the primary reason many job seekers want to make a move.
So if you don’t consider workplace culture in your job search, you’re liable to re-create the exact same problems in your new workplace.
Don’t hop from the frying pan into the fire. To make sure your next job is a better fit in terms of culture and working style, create an interactive interview.
Ask questions to determine if the company is a good fit for you.
Remember, you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you—especially in today’s tight job market.
A successful job search begins with a strong resume. Come to the pros at Upword Resume for help creating a new resume that’s aligned with your current career goals. And for job search strategy and guidance, we recommend Job Seekers’ Edge.
