Job Interview Research

Preparing for an interview? Need to impress your boss? Want to improve your lot in your career? Here are points to research, know and use accordingly. You don’t need to look far, but taking the time to consider these four points about a company you may want to work for will serve you well.

The Company’s Goal:  What is the company’s stated reason for being?  What do they need to accomplish and when?

1. What problem does the company’s products or services solve? This may have been easier to answer before the Internet and some of the social solutions we see today. But hey, Twitter gets the word out to followers fast and in many instances that can serve a purpose. Knowing this can help compare the company and industry to other opportunities you may consider.

2. What is the value of solving the problem? In other words, what audience is willing to pay for the products and services and if so how much and for how long? It doesn’t take a marketing whiz to Google and find the data or at the very least ask a few knowledgeable people and take your own swag. And, at the end of the day can help quantify the value of the opportunity.

3. What makes the company’s offerings unique? Compare to competitors own words, research analysts in the market and find out if the opportunity stands with the company or if you should set your sites on another.

4. Does the company have a defined culture known and accepted by the employee base? Almost all companies have grand statements describing their culture – great. Now call into the company or hang out at a lunch spot close by and question any employee about the company in question. If you ask three separate employees and get three different answers, you can bet the company is all talk. Or as we say in Texas, all hat and no cattle. Find the company where the culture is known by all and the prouder the employees recite and describe the culture obviously the better.

We all research a company before an interview or a chance at a promotion, and Glassdoor.com, a jobs and career community, is a great place to get opinions and insight from current and past employees. If you want to know more, show that you’ve done some research and have data that can help make the right decision.

Who Uses LinkedIn?

Many businesses are still unconvinced of how useful LinkedIn will be for them, whether employees should be encouraged to use it or whether there is any real business value in the site. I wanted to put together some essential stats that show just how big LinkedIn has become and why you can’t afford to ignore it. In addition to stats that show the reach of the site such as 100 million users, I wanted to delve a bit deeper to find out more about who’s using it and how.

Tech and finance are the leading sectors

Research compiled in July 2011 by Amodiovalerio Verde gives an indepth look at the demographic breakdown of LinkedIn users which is useful for people targeting other individuals or businesses, but most interesting out of this is the breakdown of industry sector. Tech is leading here at 15.3% of users, but interestingly this is followed closely by Finance at 12.9%. This shows that corporate social networking is also making its way into more traditional sectors, while others such as Media are coming in surprisingly low at 3.3%

More than 80% of members are decision makers

This is likely to get a lot of people’s attention, as it shows the potential to generate real business leads and referrals through LinkedIn. In an infographic released by LinkedIn to show the real make-up of LinkedIn members, they revealed that over 80% of members on there are the decision makers in an area of business in their organisation. Focused marketing efforts on LinkedIn can generate real results if you invest time in building relationships, evidenced by the significant amount of key decision makers on the site.

50% of Fortune 100 companies hire through LinkedIn

Showing just how pervasive LinkedIn has become in recruitment, this statistic, released just over 10 months ago, finds that over 50% of Fortune 100 companies now use LinkedIn for their recruitment strategy. It demonstrates the value in really using LinkedIn when jobseeking and the level of companies that use this alongside more traditional recruitment methods. In addition, top execs from all Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn, proving that it’s an invaluable business tool across the board at all levels

62% log in from home

This is an interesting stat, pulled together for the UK specifically. The findings released, revealed that the vast majority of time spent accessing LinkedIn is done from home – at 62%, with 38% logging in from work. This is not necessarily how you would expect LinkedIn to be used and it could suggest that there is a large mix of jobseekers and small business owners on the site, who would typically use it from home. I suspect what’s also at play here is people that are covertly looking for a new job without wanting to be caught at work, so they build out their profile and network at home.

Sales jobs lead the pack

As you might expect, sales is the leading job function on LinkedIn in terms of active members, as shown on the image below. There are 6,080,000 members on LinkedIn that work in sales, followed by academics at 5,277,000 and admin at 5,303k. To put it in the context of LinkedIn’s 100 million total members, over 6% of members are working within sales. As a b2b tool it shows there’s a lot of people on there looking for business in a crowded marketplace. If you want LinkedIn to work for you in terms of generating revenue, you’ll need to work hard on your relationships and community to stand out from the crowd :

Questions to ask at interview

Answering questions doesn't cut it anymore. While job seekers focus on knowing all the right answers and impressing their interviewers, knowing which questions to ask can tell employers much more about you than any answer you might have. We spoke with a number of career coaches, headhunters and hiring managers who couldn't stress this enough. What will stick with them is that you asked the right questions, paid close attention to the answers and really fathomed what their organization is all about.Here's a list we gathered of the best questions you can ask, how to ask them and the right time to do it.

1. What sort of candidate are they looking for?
It's very important to ask questions near the beginning of the interview. Why? "The key to a good interview is understanding what an employer needs, so you know what it is you have to sell." A good questions can be: "What is the most important thing that you need someone in this position to complete in the first 30-90 days at the company?"

2. Get specific: You want to ask questions as "a doctor or analyst might do while conducting a thorough exam"
You’ll want to hear where this organization has been, where they are today and what type of goals they’d like to achieve. "What’s the history of this particular role? How did they come to define it as such? How will they recognize top performance and by what method will they calibrate results?"

3. "If I started this afternoon, what would I be working on?"
You should have a 3x5 card with the three things you most want to tell them about yourself, and the three questions you have for them, says career coach Win Sheffield. Good questions would be: "If I started this afternoon, what would I be working on?" or "How would I be spending most of my day?"

4. Don't ask: "Where might I end up in three years?"
Stay away from questions on your growth opportunities in the company, says Neil. This will make your interviewer question your intentions.

5. DO NOT ask about benefits or vacation time
"It's kind of weird when someone gets into the nitty-gritty of the benefits," says Alison Green, from Ask A Manager. "I've had people ask me who the health care provider is, if we have dental plans, how many vacation days we offer." Sheffield agrees: "Nothing about payment, or any kind of question that is self-indulgent." Once you're offered the job, that's when discussion about payment starts.

6. And whatever you do, don't ask these two questions
A - "Do you drug test?"
B -  "When can I go home?"

7. At the end of the interview, you can finally ask: "I'm wondering where you are in your hiring process?"
Win says the questions you ask at the end of an interview are also equally important, but they all depend on your interviewer's reaction. This question allows you to know when to follow-up with your interviewer.

8. Then ask: "I'm very interested in this job, I'm wondering where I stand compared to your ideal candidate?"
This is a great question, Win says, because depending on what they say, you will know what to write in your follow-up message. In a second or third interview, or if you've developed a friendly relationship with your interviewer, you can reword the question to: "How do I stand against the people you have interviewed?" Like the question before it, their answer can give you clues as to what to write in a thank you note, or how to answer other questions better.

9. After you ask your questions, be sure to listen to your interviewer's answers -- and judge their reaction
"Listen to how they self-diagnose while you make your own private diagnosis. Consider whether your assessment matches theirs," says Jaffe. "Never mind whether you’re the right person for this role. You can think about that later, in the car on the way home."

10. Express concerns you have about the company (within reason)
"Hiring managers honestly want to flush out any questions you might have about the company," says Green. "One of our worst nightmares is having someone take a job and three months after realize that they're miserable and have to start all over again."

11. Your enthusiasm for the job should come across in your answers
Goldman Sachs' head of human resources once said that the most important thing someone can show her in an interview is enthusiasm for the job, according to Sheffield. "If you're not asking questions about a job you're interested in, then I wonder why you're interviewing for it in the first place," he says.

12. The worst thing you can do is wait until the end of the interview to ask your questions

"One of the greatest mistakes you can do is wait until the end of the interview," says Neil. "By then it's far too late."A good way to sneak in your first questions is after the inevitable "tell me about yourself" question at the start of interviews. You can do it by saying "I can talk about my experiences for hours, but today I want to focus on what's most important to you," Neil says, and then ask you can your interviewer a question.

However, phone interviews are different.
In-person interviews allow you to judge someone's reaction. Phone interviews, on the other hand, tend to be more structured, Green says, so it's fine to wait until the end to ask questions.

Taking a Lower-Level Job Position

It’s easy to conclude that taking a lower-level position means putting the brakes on the career track or even taking a step back, but in fact, there can be a lot to gain in such a decision. Sometimes you have to take a step back in order to take a step forward in your career. There are a number of practical reasons to why taking a lower position makes sense.

Career Changers: A large percentage of individuals changing careers will face the need to start near the beginning with entry level workers. If you make a drastic career change, such as going from ER nursing to accounting on the CPA track, you can’t expect an opportunity to jump right to the top until you have honed skills and subject matter expertise. Of course, if you have transferable skills from a previous career that may help to secure an opportunity above entry level.

Field of Practice Changers: There are many people who choose to stay in their profession, but make a change in their field of practice. For example, you may have started your career in marketing for the travel industry, but decided to switch gears to the pharmaceutical industry. A lateral move may not always be possible because, like the career changer, you may not have the necessary industry knowledge needed in the field, especially if it is a highly specialized sector. For instance, technical language used to market pharmaceuticals in the United States follow strict guidelines approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The approaches taken to marketing may be drastically different between two fields.

Job Changers: Job changers include individuals who want to make a switch in the type of company or organization they work for. Certainly, working for a non-profit is not the same as corporate and going from an agency to an in-house position has its differences. So, while you may take a lower position, the title and associated responsibilities may vary widely between employers – and it is important to consider the experiences and opportunities available with the open position. For instance, you may go from an agency to an in-house position at a lower level. Expectations for formal promotions also may vary given different corporate cultures involved. Essentially, you may start off in what is perceived as a lower position, but you wind up with far more advanced experiences that you might otherwise have.

The (Extended) Unemployed Candidate: The difficult economy has resulted in a large pool of unemployed individuals who are well-educated and qualified for positions. Under such circumstances, it’s not rare if you’ve been unemployed for over a year. There have simply been more qualified candidates than job openings available. So, it may come to a point where you have to make the decision to take a lower position in order to: a) bring home a paycheck to pay for essentials, b) maintain your marketability (after such an extensive period of unemployment, it may be a greater setback to remain unemployed – your marketability withers with time away from the market) and/or c) help secure a better job opportunity down the track (employers typically favor candidates who are already employed).

 

Regardless of the situation, here are key questions you should ask yourself to help decide whether taking a lower position is the right move for you and your career.

1. Does this type of job fit into my long-term career goal? Essentially, will it get me where I want to be down the road?


2. After taking this position and settling in, if I go back on the job hunting track, will I be able to communicate to a potential employer how the experience has helped me grow and evolve to be prepared for this next position?


3. Do I believe I can excel in the position and create realistic opportunity to advance within the company?


4. Will I be happier with the position? Most people spend a large part their life working, so it is important to be happy with what you do. Be wary of how dissatisfaction with a job can quickly lead to burnout.

If you answered yes to the questions above and can put your ego aside, making the decision to take a lower position can be a rational move to help steer your career forward. You can expect to be happier with life and your career. However, after taking a lower position, you need to maintain perspective on your reasons for the decision. It is easy to let pride get in the way of things.  Remember this decision is based on a long-term plan, not a short-term plan for your career.

How to Google Yourself Effectively and Edit your Online Footprint

There’s a reason that academics–and most everyone else–loves Google: it makes finding what you want just plain easy. Of course, that includes you. But what will someone find when they Google you? Is it what you would like them to see? Now’s the time to find out. Take the next 2 minutes to run a Google search (or Yahoo!,Bing, or your search provider of choice) and see what turns up. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

Now that you’ve seen what’s out there, is it what you want representing you? As I see it, there are three likely outcomes for what you’ve found:

1. Your name pulls up one or many other people who share your name


2. Your name pulls up some sites that you’d rather not have others see


3. Your name pulls up the information that you would like to see about you

The third option is the ideal, but how exactly do you get there if you find yourself in the first or second camps?

Grabbing Your Name


I recognize that not everyone is blessed with as such a strange unwieldy charming name as “Croxall.” But you are in control of what you want to name yourself online. If–to pick a name completely at random–you’re just one of several Jason Joneses out there, you might choose to include a middle initial for your online self. There’s quite a different result for searches on “Jason Jones” and “Jason B. Jones.” You could also adopt the strategy of Alex Jarvis, who has decided drop the vowels from his relatively common name and to be “Alxjrvs” online. The point isn’t so much which name or spelling you decide on so long as it’s still recognizably you and something that is as unique as possible. After deciding on your name, make sure that you use it as many places as possible. While you might not always want to be yourself online, your ability to be found will increase as you use one identity which is as closely linked to your real name as possible.

After you’ve decided on how you want to be known, think about buying the domain associated with your name.  I can speak from relatively recent experience to say that buying a domain and setting up a simple website is really very easy. I did it in just under two hours–and I imagine you can too. Once you have your website, it’s easy to provide others with exactly the materials that you want them–and Google–to find. If building a website seems out of reach, you could consider using a service such as Interfolio’s Portfolio.

Something else that you might consider along with grabbing a domain name is to make sure your name is on relevant social networking sites. For example, Julie tweets at@jcmeloni, but she also owns the @juliemeloni account. The latter has a message which points to her real account.

Finally, in the last year, Google introduced Google Profiles, which are intended to help people control how they appear in Google searches for their name. Since this is exactly what you were looking to do in the first place, you will do well to create a profile and use it to point those looking for you to other relevant sites.

Eliminating Undesirables

But what do you do if your problem isn’t that you can’t be found but is rather that what comes up in your search isn’t what you’d like others to see? I first began Googling myself religiously in my first year on the job market, and I was surprised to see that one of the first hits for my name was my Amazon wishlist. There wasn’t anything on that list that I wouldn’t necessarily want others to see, but…it was less than desirable. The fix in this case proved very simple. I had followed my own policy of being myself online and used my real name on Amazon. I simply changed my account name to a pseudonym and within a week the offending wish list was out of sight.

If your results cannot be altered by changing your username–perhaps there’s something outdated on your institution’s or previous institution’s website–you could simply contact the people in charge of administering the space and ask them to remove or update the material. There might not be anything that you can do to force this change to happen, but in my experience people have been very understanding and helpful in making such changes.

But what about those negative comments? Those won’t be removed except under extraordinary circumstances and you cannot change them to a pseudonym. In this case, feel free to exercise the nuclear option: namely, produce and manage content on other sites so that the less-than-ideal material will gradually fall lower and lower on the search results. This is not necessarily a quick solution, but consider it an opportunity to commit to writing.

Tips for Successful Salary Negotiations

Most job seekers I’ve come across are not comfortable with salary negotiation. Don’t be discouraged to negotiation a fair package when you receive an offer. Many employers actually expect candidates to negotiate and factor that in to the initial offer.  Successful salary negotiation generally takes place at a specific point – after a job offer is presented. So, don’t jump the gun and ruin your chance of obtaining a salary you deserve by setting the bar too high or low.

It is always best to let the employer bring up the discussion of salary. There are a number of drawbacks to discussing this point too early in the process. The first interview is generally used to inform you about the position and company and to discover how your capabilities and skills may apply to the employer’s requirements. By discussing salary before even making a positive impression with the employer, you may cut yourself short.  If you bring up the discussion, the next question from the employer may be about your expectations.  Now, you are in a position to set the bar, but what if the bar you set is lower than what the employer was planning for? There’s also the chance you may be too over the top from what the employer had in mind and they may decide to discontinue discussions with you before there’s even been a chance to help them realize the true value of your experience and skills for the position and company.

There are some general rules to follow to ensure you have the best hand when it comes time to salary negotiation.

 

1. Responding to Desired Salary: It’s a question that may appear on your application and what you may write is “Fair market value.” If you must specify an amount, offer a broad range, not a specific dollar amount. And if asked during an interview, the same rule applies. A generally good response to help you get out of specifying your desired salary is saying, “I am flexible and expect to earn what is fair market value for the position.” You can then follow up and ask for the salary range for the position, putting the ball back in the employer’s court.


2. Conduct Research: Research the field and determine what a competitive salary is. There are a number of online websites offering salary information on different positions by location, industry as well as years of experience. This way, when it comes time to negotiation you have supporting materials to show your request is reasonable.


3. Know What You Are Worth: If you have particular skills that are important to this position or have leverage over other typical candidates for the position, use it to your advantage to support your request for a higher salary. Negotiation needs to be focused on what you can bring to the table versus what you need.


4. Schedule a Time for Negotiation: Follow up with your contact to schedule a time for an in-person meeting to discuss questions you have related to the offer. Explain you are very appreciative of the offer, but believe a few terms fall short of your expectations and you want to discuss it to determine if changes are possible.


5. Ask Questions Rather Than Present Demands: In order to establish a professional and pleasant negotiation discussion, always present your terms in the form of a question, such as, “How negotiable is the salary?” And avoid questions that can lead to an easy response of “No,” such as “Is the salary negotiable?”


6. Present Clear Terms and Know What It Will Take for You to Accept: Present to the employer exactly what it will take for you to accept the offer and be gracious, professional and courteous throughout this process. Negotiation should be a streamlined process. Know your minimum requirements to accept a position if your terms are not met or are only partially met.


7. Create a Win-Win Situation: Negotiation is about creating a win-win situation. Everyone should come off happy with what is to be received. Employers do not want unhappy employees coming on the job feeling underpaid and an employer should not feel they have been left with the short end of the stick.

Never shy away from negotiating for better salary when you receive a job offer. Establish a professional discussion where you are courteous in your requests and ask based on terms that are reasonable within the market, and you will have a good chance of getting what you deserve and want.

What Your Interview Body Language Reveals about You

Poor body language can derail an interview regardless of how confident and well-spoken you are. Body language is as much a part of your communication style as what you say verbally – it’s really about how you say it. Impressions are made within seconds of reviewing body language.

Consider the first step to entering an interview – the handshake. While it may take less than 10 seconds to complete a handshake, in that time, the interviewer has already developed an impression of your character based on eye contact and the firmness of your shake.  A weak handshake and lack of eye contact can leave the impression that you are timid and insecure. A sincere and firm handshake with eye contact expresses professionalism and confidence. An overpowering handshake with a fixed gaze may come across as overconfident and arrogant. So, be cautious with your next handshake and start the interview off with a positive impression.

Posture:
Whether you are sitting or standing, your posture projects a level of confidence and engagement in the conversation. When one slumps, it implies to the interviewer a lack of confidence and interest. Sitting stiff as a rock implies nervousness and it creates an uncomfortable situation for building rapport. Sitting at the tip of the chair implies you don’t want to be there. Lying back on the chair with your ankle on top of your other knee may come off appearing unprofessional and too relaxed. In general, crossing your arms and legs may be interpreted as building a barrier.
To project professionalism, confidence and engagement, consider sitting on the chair with your lower back touching or close to the back panel while leaning 10 degrees forward. Keep your hands relaxed in your lap and feet grounded on the floor.  When standing, avoid crossing your arms or placing them in your pockets. The point is to project a balanced posture that is not limp or overly stiff.

Eye Contact:
Eye contact allows you and the interviewer to connect beyond words alone. However, there is a fine balance between good eye contact and when eye contact becomes a weird gaze or stare that can make the other person feel uncomfortable. When you stare without having breaks in between, a casual conversation can come across as a lecture.
Whether you are listening or speaking, maintain eye contact with your interviewer for a couple of seconds at a time (no more than 7 to 10 seconds) and then glance away before returning eye contact again. If you are looking down to take notes, look up occasionally, especially when it appears a special point is being made or when you are asked a question.

Voice:
Speed, tone and pitch combined presents an impression. Talking too fast can be hard to understand and appear as nervousness. When your tone projects apology or defense, you can come across as unconfident and insecure. When you don’t make changes between your tone and pitch, you can sound monotone, making it more difficult for the other person to stay engaged.
Learn to take control of your voice.  If you are nervous, it can come across in your pitch so take a breath to help you relax before speaking. Be conscious of your tone and pitch to offer variation and to help emphasize certain points. 


Bobble head:
 Some people have a tendency to bobble their head as a gesture of agreement, but when you nod in excess during a conversation, it becomes a distraction and can be interpreted as though you are agreeing on everything for the sake of wanting to please. You can lose credibility in such instances.
To avoid appearing like a bobble head, nod occasionally to show you are still engaged and have control over how you nod. You can also tilt your head slightly to the side as though you are trying to listen more carefully as another way to show you are engaged. 


Extremities:
There are people who do certain things out of habit, such as flaring arms while talking, twirling hair, playing with a pen in hand, rocking back and forth on a chair and shaking or thumping their feet. Many of these actions occur unconsciously, however, these are distractions to the person you are speaking to and may be perceived as signs that you are bored or have trouble focusing. Some people also touch their nose or face frequently when they are nervous.  An interviewer may perceive this as a sign that you are not being totally honest.

Be conscious of what you do with your hands, legs and feet and that will help you take control of your movements.
Be aware of your own body language and also read your interviewer’s body language to give you hints about how she is responding to you. The interview may start off very formal, but as you both become acquainted with one another, the mood may relax and you may adapt your body language to reflect what you sense from the interviewer.

There is no absolute rule around body language, but it would be wise to avoid any chance of being misinterpreted. You can properly prepare your body language before heading into an interview by watching yourself in the mirror act out how you introduce yourself and speak. Another helpful way is to have someone interview you and video record the entire session. Review how you present yourself and become aware of problem areas to adjust before your interview.

How to manage your online reputation

Over the past few years, several studies have been conducted looking at social media and employer hiring habits.  One of those studies, conducted by Microsoft, showed that 70% of employers in the United States screened out potential employees because of information found online.  The study also showed that the majority of recruiters and HR professionals indicated that they think it’s appropriate to consider personal information found online in screening potential job applicants.

This raised several questions in my mind: What procedures are in place to ensure that the information found online relates to the job candidate (there’s a Donna McNamara who was recently arrested and isn’t me)?  Do they differentiate between information voluntarily posted by an individual versus information someone else posts about them?  Is the information validated for accuracy?  Are there potential legal ramifications of online searching?

In several of my classes, we discussed the importance of having a digital footprint and using various types of media to convey your personal brand.  I’ve been to various speaker engagements that encourage job seekers to create professional websites and use Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. to build a personal brand online.  This way, when employers Google you, they find content you’ve created.  For some recruiters, a lack of digital footprint is viewed as a negative; suggesting the applicant hasn’t written articles, created a website, blog or LinkedIn profile.

For potential employees, online information can be especially troublesome as in the case of personal networking sites like Facebook.  Here, people openly post candid photos of themselves and allow others to tag them in photos.  This often means drunken escapes are captured for general public consumption (think Jackass star Ryan Dunn tweeting a photo of himself drinking hours before reports of a fatal car accident).  A potential employer may decide to

• Falsifying information about qualifications


• Poor communication skills (spelling and grammar count!)


• Discriminatory comments were found on posts


• Posts about excessive drinking or drug usage


• Provocative or inappropriate photographs or information posted


• Bad mouthing of previous employer, co-workers or clients


• Sharing of confidential information from previous employer

Issues with online search don’t just impact potential job candidates.  Recruiters and HR staff doing the searching can open themselves up for trouble by obtaining too much information.  For example, personal networking sites often include information about race, religious beliefs, age, sexual orientation and marital status; factors NOT to be considered in pre-employment screening.  By searching potential candidates’ personal sites, recruiters become exposed to information that does not pertain to the applicant’s ability to perform the job and may inadvertently consider factors such as age, race, etc.

I’ve experienced the use of waivers and releases at the point of application to circumvent such issues so employer concerns may become less problematic.  In addition, some organizations put blocks on social networking sites so that information may not even be available to them.  So what can you do to make sure your online image is what you want it to be?  Bottom line – clean up your social networking sites.

• Don’t have photos you wouldn’t want an employer to see.


• No drunken escapes, no profanity, or slurs.


• Don’t bad mouth former employers, bosses or co-workers.


• Make your social networking sites private.


• Sweat the small stuff. Your email address, spelling, and grammar speak to your maturity and communication skills.

 

Questions to ask at Interview

How frustrating when, at the end of interview, you get an opportunity to ask questions and you can’t think of anything! This happens to many candidates – Interviews are stressful situations, they can be emotionally draining and mentally challenging. So at the end of it, interview fatigue might set in and your normally sharp and inquisitive brain can freeze up when you are put on the spot.

This is an important moment in the interview, where you get to show serious interest and initiative. You can also gain critical information about the job, organisation, supervisor and colleagues by asking good questions, whilst also demonstrating your knowledge and research. Of course, don’t ask obvious questions!

Here are a few examples of things to ask – But remember, if the issue was already discussed don’t repeat the question! Take a few sample questions into the interview with you on a note pad to help you along.

What are the most important characteristics someone in this position should have?
What attracted you (The interviewer) to your current role or organisation?
What do you enjoy most in your job?
What do you expect from your staff?
What is your management style?
How would you characterise the management philosophy of the organisation?
What are the current strengths and weaknesses of the staff that would report to me?
How has the organisation changed in the recent past, and where does it expect to go in the future?
What is the top priority of the person that accepts this job? How would this be measured?
What opportunities are available for professional development?
Why are you hiring for this position?
What are the next steps in the selection process?
What is the timeline for hiring?
When can I expect to hear from you?

How to Write a Professional CV that Wins Interviews

You’ve found the ideal job vacancy. Now you need the ‘how to’ guide to write your professional CV. Most people are aware of the standard professional CV build: employment history, qualifications, contact details – but which key ingredients impress employers and win a place on their interview shortlist?

“Before you start to write your professional CV, write down your ten greatest achievements,” says Peter Appleby, Managing Director of Appleby Associates. “This should help you get in the right mindset, which is a marketing mindset. Your achievements demonstrate your proven abilities and what you have to offer. You’re a product being sold to a company, and the goal of your professional CV is to communicate what you can do for them. By considering your achievements first, you won’t fall into the trap of describing your skills without offering evidence to substantiate them.”

Many jobseekers know the basics of how to write a CV, but they don’t build a professional CV that’s a real killer. Linking key skills and abilities with real-life achievements when you write your CV, such as awards or work successes, is a sure-fire way to impress, according to the employers we spoke to. “It’s important that everything you say about yourself on your CV is supported by concrete evidence,” says Harry Freedman, Chief Executive of Career Energy. “So when you describe your key skills and abilities, make sure you back up these claims. Your professional CV is the only thing potential employers will know about you before they meet you in person, so it has to be convincing and sell you strongly.” And how not to write a CV? One of the things employers tell us they hate the most is CV jargon, which loosely means describing yourself as ‘a highly dedicated worker, with excellent attention to detail’ without giving any real life examples of how you’ve already demonstrated these abilities. Always make sure you back up your claims with hard evidence.

Tailor your professional CV to fit the employer. You should never send an ‘identikit’ version to multiple employers by email. Recruiters really object to being spammed by cut and paste CVs. Instead, find out as much as you can about what your recruiters want from your professional CV beforehand. Employers can be very subjective in their preferences, even if they don’t realise it. For example, Noel Marshall of recruitment agency Finance Professionals, categorically states that a personal summary including hobbies and interests gives recruiters a flavour of your personality. Whilst headhunter Andrew Baber of Planning for People believes unequivocally that personal summaries are ‘white noise’ which no-one ever reads.

Almost every employer we spoke to emphasised the need to keep a professional CV as short as possible: no more than two pages long, with plenty of white space and a good font size. A ‘stuffed’ looking CV was rated as very unappealing by employers and a warning sign that the potential employee can’t prioritise. Your goal is to communicate clearly and quickly that you’re right for the job, and this means keeping text to a minimum. “Your professional CV is a document that must be inviting to read,” says Freedman, “which means making it very easy on the eye. There should be lots of white space and you should only write what’s really necessary.” Most employment vacancies are oversubscribed, so you won’t be thanked for adding to a recruiter’s workload by sending pages and pages of CV material for them to wade through.

Essential items are clear, accurate contact details (including your email address) at the top of each page of your professional CV, details of previous employment and your qualifications. According to ‘Why You? CV Messages to Win Jobs’ author, John Lees, who carried out detailed surveys of employers, for each of your previous jobs you should write a brief overview of your position, and then a separate paragraph listing the key skills demonstrated during your employment.

Lees also notes that the majority of recruiters prefer employment histories starting with the most recent first and appearing before a candidate’s qualifications. According to Lees, only a third of employers were interested in GCSE and A Level grades, and professional CVs that begin with school qualifications, or other irrelevant qualifications, were cited as very unappealing.

Good presentation is very important. “You should use plain, white A4 paper and a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial,” says Appleby. “Absolutely no, shall we say, ‘artistic’ fonts.” Also proof read, double-check and triple-check for errors. Before you dismiss this as an obvious point you would be amazed how many ‘professional’ CVs employers receive with typos and spelling mistakes. According to a nationwide survey of recruitment professionals carried out by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, 47% said that out of all the professional CVs they received, over half (50%) contained grammatical errors, with the worst offenders in the 21-25 year-old age group. For a recruiter with a mountain of professional CVs to work through, even one little error is a welcome reason to file an application in the pile marked ‘dustbin’.

Stand out from the crowd. If your research indicates your recruiter may favour a creative approach, don’t be afraid to be different. With three hundred black and white two-page CVs to get through, a cleverly creative approach can brighten an employer’s day. Examples which have made it through the door include a standard, professional CV coupled with a doll of the potential employee marketed as a super-hero with their employable qualities written on the box. Whilst one creative applicant seeking work with an events company put together an ‘invitation’ to employ her, complete with party poppers and streamers.

Perhaps most importantly, get a second opinion. “It’s a good idea to get a professional to look over your CV once it’s finished,” says Nick Rous, a career coach for Learn Direct. “Career coaches at Learn Direct can check your CV for free and make sure it’s correctly structured and includes the right amount of detail. A professional CV is not about cutting corners, get advice and take the time to do it properly.”

Telephone interview tips

You might think that the best thing about a telephone interview is that, like a radio presenter, you don't have to worry about how you look. But, an interview is still an interview even if you don't have to go to their offices. You need to be as prepared and well presented as you would be for a face to face interview.

Initial interviews by telephone are more common than they used to be. It's an inexpensive way to screen candidates in the initial stages of a recruitment campaign. The recruiter may just be looking for a confident manner and intelligent responses to some set questions. But don't take anything for granted. You may find you are on the phone for an hour and a half and are expected to answer detailed questions about previous roles and achievements.

Don't allow yourself to be caught on the hop. If you're not able to make some quiet time when they call then set a time for the interview to take place. You have to be a bit more organised about the telephone interview because it's on your home turf. Make sure you won't be interrupted and be sure to charge your phone in advance. Keep a copy of your CV by the phone and all the other relevant information you might need. Prepare and compose yourself in advance. If you sound confused and disorganised you might not get a second chance.

You should have some information from the prospective employer about the role and company. Think about answers you might give to their questions, particularly with regard to competency based questions. Do your research and prepare some questions to ask them exactly as you would for a regular interview.

Smile when you talk on the telephone. You'll be more relaxed, you'll sound more confident and assertive. Seriously think about using a headset for telephone interviews. Apart from the fact that it will make it much easier to take notes you'll be able to concentrate on the conversation rather than on balancing the phone between shoulder and ear while you search for a pen.

In all other respects treat the interview as you would a one to one but remember that time tends to be limited for a phone interview. It's a good idea to ask at the start, if not before the interview, about the structure or sequence of the interview process so you know what to expect. If part of the process is going to be that you are offered a choice of topics to brainstorm you don't want to be taken by surprise.

A phone interview is likely to feel less spontaneous and flexible than a one to one. The interviewer may well have a set script of questions and while you may feel rushed, at some points, if the interviewer thinks they have the information they need they will want to move on. This is the tricky thing about the telephone interview - you can't judge reactions in the same way as when you are face to face with an interviewer. It's a little harder to engage the interviewer in a two-way conversation if she has a schedule of questions and a row of tick boxes. As you don't get the feedback or body language information that help in the face to face situation, it might be useful to ask questions such as "is that what you needed to know?" or "do you want me to go into more detail?"

Other things to bear in mind? Make sure you sound enthusiastic, the sort of person they want on the team. Pace yourself, a good interviewer knows you may need a little time to compose a good response, so do take time to think about answers. Be aware that they may be pushing you to answer as part of their interview technique. Listen carefully and if you don't fully understand the question, ask for clarification. Don't allow yourself to become flustered, especially if some of the questions seem either irrelevant or overly-specific. And remember the interviewer may need some time to make notes between questions so don't worry unduly about short silences, be patient.

Make sure you have the interviewer's email details so that after the interview ends you can write them a thank you note, so as to reiterate your interest in the role and outline key points discussed and what you think you bring to the table.

Advice for Common Job Interview Questions

The job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience for even the most seasoned workers, and even more so for a recent graduate fresh out of college. Here’s a secret: it doesn’t have to be! A little preparation can go a long way toward not only helping you impress your interviewer, but also giving you the confidence to go in and be yourself.

Before your interview, take some time to go through these and other common interview questions. Think about your responses, write them out, and practice them a few times in front of a mirror. Even better—practice them with a friend or family member. A few minutes spent rehearsing today will pay dividends when you’re sitting in a hiring manager’s office.

Below are some of the most common job interview questions, and our advice on how to tackle them.

Tell me about your previous job—was there anything you particularly loved or hated about it?

The main thing to keep in mind when facing this question is to avoid being too negative about your previous employers. Using this question as an opportunity to launch into a tirade about how your boss was an idiot and your coworkers were lazy will make you look petty and unprofessional.

Rather, use this as an opportunity to bring up positive points about yourself, and even the interviewing company if possible. Something like “I didn’t think my last job allowed me the creative freedom necessary to really make a difference in the company, and that’s a big part of the reason I’ve applied with you.” (A note of caution, however—use common sense and make sure you know what you’re talking about. For example, don’t say you’re looking forward to enjoying creative freedom in your new job if you’re interviewing for an assembly-line position.)

“Where do you see yourself in five/ten years?”

When asked about your future, be honest—but not too honest. If you want to start your own company or go back to school or travel the world, that’s great—but telling potential employers you’re not going to stick around isn’t the best way to land a new job.

At the same time, don’t pander to them. Saying that you’d hope to be working for your interviewer in five years will make you come across as presumptuous and sycophantic. You can imply it, however: give them your career goals—if there are any skills you’d like to gain, if there are any specialties or areas of expertise related to your field you’d like to learn, particularly if they’re related to the operations of the company you’re interviewing with.

And use this question as an opportunity to show your genuine interest in the company. After giving your answer, ask follow-up questions about the typical career path for people in the position you’re seeking, ask how long most people in the department have been with the company—if you feel comfortable with the rapport you’ve established with the interviewer, you can even ask them where they started in the company.

“What is your greatest weakness?”

Try not to give a pithy answer like, “my greatest weakness is that I’m too much of a perfectionist,” (even if it’s true!) or “I try to do too much and take on too much responsibility.” The interviewer knows you’re human, and knows you have flaws, and if the only flaw you’re willing to admit to is that you spend too much time being perfect and trying too hard, it’s going to come across as insincere and possibly even irritating.

Be honest in answering this question, but to a point. Don’t get into personal details, and don’t give say your greatest weakness is a crucial skill for the job you’re applying for. Before going into your interview, think about this question—think about something about you that you’d like to improve, or that you’ve already taken steps to improve, or something for which you’ve found tools to help with. You could say something like, “Personally, my greatest weakness has always been time management, and I’ve found that having a calendar that syncs between all my computers and my phone has been a great help—I’m still not perfect at scheduling my time, but I’m a lot better, and still improving.”

“How do you handle stress?”

Again: honesty is the best policy here—to a point. If you deal with stress by chain-smoking and screaming at anybody who tries to talk to you, it might be a good idea to leave that out.

Be mindful of the company you’re applying for, and the type of job. It’s sometimes helpful to break the question down into different kinds of stress. If you’re applying for a position that involves rigid deadlines and multi-tasking on several projects at once, hopefully you’re adept at handling that kind of stress—many people work best under tight deadlines.

You can give examples of how you try to minimize stress. Careful scheduling, planning, and communication between team members are the best way to keep unexpected stress at manageable levels.

Finally, you can mention ways you try to minimize stress in your personal life. Do you work out, do yoga, or meditate? Maybe you garden, or volunteer?

Breaking the stress question down into components can help clarify your answer, show your employer that you’re familiar with the ebb and flow of workplace stress, and that you’re comfortable handling it.

“Can you give an example of times you’ve worked within a team?”

Don’t overthink this question. Whatever your level of experience, whether you’re right out of college or you’ve been working for years, you’ve no doubt been in situations where you’ve had to collaborate with others. Talk about that experience, and discuss your role within the team, taking care to frame it within the job you’re applying for.

If you’re applying for a management position, talk about projects you’ve led, groups you’ve coordinated, or even sports teams you’ve captained. If you’re applying for a position that will entail working within a team but not leading it, try to discuss times you’ve contributed strongly to a team—and it’s worth mentioning even in this situation times you’ve led groups or shown leadership.

The point of this question is to figure out whether or not you’re comfortable working with others, and how you best fit into groups. Pick examples that show you can adjust to the work habits of others, that you can communicate effectively, and that you can work within a group environment to get things done.

“Tell me a little about yourself.”

This question is the most likely to make interviewees freeze up if they’re not prepared. How do you summarize yourself in a brief, concise answer? It’s not that tough if you think about it—so it’s best to spend some time before your interview thinking about this one.

There are two schools of thought, generally thinking, on this question. Some people ask it seeking to get a little better understanding of who you are outside of the workplace. They want to know what you’ve done that’s not on your resume. There are others who ask it looking for a brief summary of your professional qualifications and skills. So it’s best to have an answer in mind for both.

In certain instances, it’s best to mix it up. Give a brief summary of your recent experience touching on the skills most applicable to the job you’re interviewing for, and then spend 15-20 seconds talking about your interests outside of work.

If you’re not sure what your interviewer is looking for—ask them to clarify! You don’t want to ramble on about your love of windsurfing if they were looking for an oral version of your cover letter. Likewise, if your interviewer was hoping to get to know you a little better, you can come across as too stiff if you recite your qualifications when asked this question.

“What did you have in mind in terms of salary?”

The salary question is an uncomfortable one for most people, and understandably so. If possible, try to avoid being the first one to give an actual number. If you give a number that’s too low, you can devalue yourself—or get stuck in a job being underpaid. If you give a number that’s too high, you risk pricing yourself out of the running before the employer even gets a chance to really know you.

Before your interview, do some research into salaries in your industry and in your region; our career profiles can be great resources. Also, look at your own finances, and get a realistic idea of what you need to earn. If you absolutely have to give a number, try to give a range—say something like, “based on my research, it looks like positions in the area with similar job responsibilities as what we’ve discussed here usually pay between $X and $Y; is that about what you had in mind?”

“Do you have any questions for me?”

Always come prepared with questions for the interviewer. A flat “no” to this question makes it look like you’re not particularly interested in the job or the company, or that you’re not well-versed in the industry to understand what you should want to know about either.

Try to think about your last job—if you could do it all over again, what would you want to know about your position or the company before you started?

It’s also a good idea to ask general questions about the company, but take the time to investigate beforethe interview—asking a lot of questions about the company that you could have found the answers to by spending ten minutes on their website can make you look disinterested and lazy.

You can ask about the position itself—ask about why the position is open in the first place, or ask about the typical day or week in the job. Ask about what made previous people in the position successful or disappointing.

Finally, you can even ask the interviewer directly if he or she has any reservations about you as a fit for the job—this can give you a chance to polish up any rough edges in the impression you made.

The origin of Job Interviews

Humans may have evolved since the Stone Age, but Job Interview questions have not!

Weird Interview Questions

In an interview, you'll probably hear a lot of the same, overused questions: What's your biggest weakness? Why do you want to work here? Where do you see yourself in five years?  (You know the drill.) If you've prepared answers to these, you're golden.

But what happens if you're asked an oddball question that comes out of nowhere? There's always a chance you'll be asked a weird question that you weren't expecting. Lucky for you, we have collected a few; from the difficult to the bizarre.

Here are our 10 favourites:

1. "If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?" Asked at Goldman Sachs.

2.  "How many basketball[s] can you fit in this room" Asked at Google.

3. "If you could be any superhero, who would it be?" Asked at AT&T.

4. "You have a birthday cake and have exactly 3 slices to cut it into 8 equal pieces. How do you do it?" Asked at Blackrock.

5. "Given the numbers 1 to 1000, what is the minimum numbers guesses needed to find a specific number if you are given the hint 'higher' or 'lower' for each guess you make." Asked at Facebook.

6. "An apple costs 20 cents, an orange costs 40 cents, and a grapefruit costs 60 cents, how much is a pear?" Asked at Epic Systems.

7. "How many traffic lights in Manhattan?" Asked at Argus Information & Advisory Services.

8.  "How do you weigh an elephant without using a weigh machine?" Asked at IBM.

9. "You have 8 pennies, 7 weigh the same, one weighs less. You also have a judges scale. Find the one that weighs less in less than 3 steps." Asked at Intel.

10. "What would you do if you just inherit a pizzeria from your uncle?" Asked at Volkswagen.

Courtesy of:   http://blog.simplyhired.com/2011/03/weird-interview-questions.html

How To Ace A Job Interview On Skype

If you haven’t conducted an interview by Skype yet, I’m willing to bet that it’s coming to your laptop screen or iPhone soon. With gas prices skyrocketing and plane tickets more costly too, employers are increasingly looking to Skype and a handful of online interviewing sites and tools to conduct the first interview. Video interviews on Skype are used to “get more comfortable with the candidate” and see how they handle face-to-face communication and technology tools, said Matt Berndt, director of communication career services at the University of Texas.  Some also use a recorded video interview so they can be certain they’re using the exact same questions with all potential candidates.

“Telephone interviews are going to video interviews” via Skype or another mode, Berndt said. He offers some savvy suggestions for making Skype interviews sparkle:

• Try it out with friends. Ask them to critique how you look, whether the lighting washes you out. Check your Internet connection too; low signal strength could ruin your interview. If you’re using the webcam on your smart phone, make sure you have the battery charged and know exactly where to sit the phone so it captures you and your environment attractively.
• Have a backup plan. Know the interviewer’s phone number and email. Have them handy – just in case your Internet access gets knocked out or your camera malfunctions. Create a Plan B to show you’re proactive and know how to develop workarounds.
• Think about what the background says about you. Control the entire image. Create a great frame for the picture of yourself. Or keep it simple if you want to keep yourself neutral.  Berndt’s backdrop was a full shelf of books, a deep blue wall and a framed Kandinsky print. “It bugs me a little bit that my door’s open,” he said.
• Organize your notes in front of you. The interviewer cannot see all the desktop around you. So put it to good use with notes and prompts as well as material pulled up on your computer screen. The extra information could enhance the answers you give – and remind you to ask great questions too.
• Turn off your pop-ups and email. They slow down your computer a bit and they may distract you from the interview. “If you receive an email from a friend with a very very funny joke, it could be bad news,” he said.
• Know Skype’s features. One that may be useful: For example, you can share your screen with the interviewer which allows you to showcase your original graphic designs or your in-progress app or something else.

My experience with Skype has been interviewing executives, authors and experts for the articles I create. Here are three suggestions that apply to job interviews too:

• Give a dog a bone. If you have an affectionate or noisy pooch, give her something to distract her – so she won’t distract you in the middle of your interview. Or ask your roommate or partner to take doggy for a walk during the interview.
• Consider who will hear you. If you’re keeping your job search a secret, you may need to schedule the interview before or after work. Even if you have an office with a door, someone could overhear you – or just knock and come in as you’re telling the recruiter your best saved the day story.
• Videotape yourself during the interview. This gives you the chance to review how you did, to seek feedback on the interview – and to follow up on any question you mishandled.

The final tip comes from both of us:  Practice, and practice some more. “Reduce the variables in the job interview” by preparing to answer the question you dread, Berndt said. Practice for the awkward moments – a dropped connection, both talking at once or an interruption by dog or daughter. Practice with the tools so you can manage them effortlessly before the recruiter sets up your Skype screening interview.

http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/ace-job-interview-skype/

How To Ace A Job Interview On Skype

If you haven’t conducted an interview by Skype yet, I’m willing to bet that it’s coming to your laptop screen or iPhone soon. With gas prices skyrocketing and plane tickets more costly too, employers are increasingly looking to Skype and a handful of online interviewing sites and tools to conduct the first interview. Video interviews on Skype are used to “get more comfortable with the candidate” and see how they handle face-to-face communication and technology tools, said Matt Berndt, director of communication career services at the University of Texas.  Some also use a recorded video interview so they can be certain they’re using the exact same questions with all potential candidates.

“Telephone interviews are going to video interviews” via Skype or another mode, Berndt said. He offers some savvy suggestions for making Skype interviews sparkle:

• Try it out with friends. Ask them to critique how you look, whether the lighting washes you out. Check your Internet connection too; low signal strength could ruin your interview. If you’re using the webcam on your smart phone, make sure you have the battery charged and know exactly where to sit the phone so it captures you and your environment attractively.


• Have a backup plan. Know the interviewer’s phone number and email. Have them handy – just in case your Internet access gets knocked out or your camera malfunctions. Create a Plan B to show you’re proactive and know how to develop workarounds.


• Think about what the background says about you. Control the entire image. Create a great frame for the picture of yourself. Or keep it simple if you want to keep yourself neutral.  Berndt’s backdrop was a full shelf of books, a deep blue wall and a framed Kandinsky print. “It bugs me a little bit that my door’s open,” he said.


• Organize your notes in front of you. The interviewer cannot see all the desktop around you. So put it to good use with notes and prompts as well as material pulled up on your computer screen. The extra information could enhance the answers you give – and remind you to ask great questions too.


• Turn off your pop-ups and email. They slow down your computer a bit and they may distract you from the interview. “If you receive an email from a friend with a very very funny joke, it could be bad news,” he said.


• Know Skype’s features. One that may be useful: For example, you can share your screen with the interviewer which allows you to showcase your original graphic designs or your in-progress app or something else.

My experience with Skype has been interviewing executives, authors and experts for the articles I create. Here are three suggestions that apply to job interviews too:

• Give a dog a bone. If you have an affectionate or noisy pooch, give her something to distract her – so she won’t distract you in the middle of your interview. Or ask your roommate or partner to take doggy for a walk during the interview.


• Consider who will hear you. If you’re keeping your job search a secret, you may need to schedule the interview before or after work. Even if you have an office with a door, someone could overhear you – or just knock and come in as you’re telling the recruiter your best saved the day story.


• Videotape yourself during the interview. This gives you the chance to review how you did, to seek feedback on the interview – and to follow up on any question you mishandled.

The final tip comes from both of us:  Practice, and practice some more. “Reduce the variables in the job interview” by preparing to answer the question you dread, Berndt said. Practice for the awkward moments – a dropped connection, both talking at once or an interruption by dog or daughter. Practice with the tools so you can manage them effortlessly before the recruiter sets up your Skype screening interview.

http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/ace-job-interview-skype/

Weird Interview Questions

In an interview, you'll probably hear a lot of the same, overused questions: What's your biggest weakness? Why do you want to work here? Where do you see yourself in five years?  (You know the drill.) If you've prepared answers to these, you're golden.

But what happens if you're asked an oddball question that comes out of nowhere? There's always a chance you'll be asked a weird question that you weren't expecting. Lucky for you, we have collected a few; from the difficult to the bizarre.

Here are our 10 favourites:

1. "If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?" Asked at Goldman Sachs.

2.  "How many basketball[s] can you fit in this room" Asked at Google.

3. "If you could be any superhero, who would it be?" Asked at AT&T.

4. "You have a birthday cake and have exactly 3 slices to cut it into 8 equal pieces. How do you do it?" Asked at Blackrock.

5. "Given the numbers 1 to 1000, what is the minimum numbers guesses needed to find a specific number if you are given the hint 'higher' or 'lower' for each guess you make." Asked at Facebook.

6. "An apple costs 20 cents, an orange costs 40 cents, and a grapefruit costs 60 cents, how much is a pear?" Asked at Epic Systems.

7. "How many traffic lights in Manhattan?" Asked at Argus Information & Advisory Services.

8.  "How do you weigh an elephant without using a weigh machine?" Asked at IBM.

9. "You have 8 pennies, 7 weigh the same, one weighs less. You also have a judges scale. Find the one that weighs less in less than 3 steps." Asked at Intel.

10. "What would you do if you just inherit a pizzeria from your uncle?" Asked at Volkswagen.

Courtesy of:   http://blog.simplyhired.com/2011/03/weird-interview-questions.html

Follow Up After an Interview Without Being a Pest

Comparisons between job hunting and dating are common, and never are they more true than when it comes to the follow-up. After a date, you want to let the other person know you're interested, but you don't want to appear desperate. Plus, you don't want to feel foolish if he or she had no intention of contacting you again. On the other hand, what if he or she is waiting for you to make the call and if you don't, you'll miss out on a great romance?

So many questions and no definite answers to any of them. Ultimately you have to use your judgment and hope for the best.

Following up after a job interview is similar. As if you weren't nervous enough, you end up asking yourself a dozen questions and imagining hypothetical situations. "If I follow up now, do I seem desperate? If I wait too long, will they think I'm lazy? What if I'm the front-runner but I bug them and they cross my name off the list? What if I'm tied with someone else and my initiative gives me the edge?"

As with dating, job hunts don't have rules set in stone. At best, you can do what feels right and see what happens.

Here are three possible methods for following up with an employer and ways to know if you've crossed the line from eager to annoying.

1. The thank-you note is necessary after an interview, and no job seeker can afford to forgo it. Thank-you notes tell hiring managers that you respect their time. They have packed schedules and can afford to spend time interviewing only a select group of applicants, so your note acknowledges how grateful you are to get some face time.

Appropriate: An e-mailed note on the same day of the interview shows that you are courteous and don't dawdle. For most employers, an e-mail is an acceptable form of thanks because e-mail is a part of everyday business life and arrives quickly. A handwritten letter can be sent as a supplement to the e-mail if you want to stress your gratitude or you know the interviewer is old-fashioned.

Overkill: If you're going to follow up with a letter after your follow-up letter, think again. You already said thank you, so what else do you need to say? Both you and the hiring manager know that another letter is your way of asking, "Did I get the job?" Don't clog the hiring manager's inbox with more notes unless you want to be thought of as a pest.

2. The phone call is daunting and not the right move in every job situation. In fact, many job postings specifically state, "No phone calls." Unless you're feeling brave, you might want to skip it.

Appropriate: Unless you were specifically instructed not to call the hiring manager or another contact, you can make the call after an appropriate amount of time has passed. In this case, if you were given a deadline for when a decision would be made, let it pass and wait a few extra days and then make the call. Just once (unless instructed to call back).

Overkill: The phone call is one of the easiest ways to sabotage your image. Call once, when appropriate, and don't call again unless you've been told to. Phone calls are a nuisance in a way that letters and e-mails aren't. You can decline to open a message or just read it and ignore it. A phone call is harder to ignore if it requires the hiring manager to screen his or her calls once you become a repeat offender. If the company wants you, it probably won't forget to call you.

3. The pop-in causes you anxiety when your in-laws do it. Your place is a mess and suddenly you're forced to entertain people who you might not like very much anyway. Don't do that to an employer if you want to be considered for a job.

Appropriate: Stopping by to visit the company is rarely acceptable. Unless you have an explicit indication that you're welcome to show up uninvited, which would actually imply that you are invited, showing up in person is inappropriate. This follow-up is one case where once is almost certainly too much.

Overkill: When you show up and the hiring manager or receptionist gives you a look that says, "Why are you here?" you'll know you've crossed a line. Employers are busy -- they have schedules, meetings, clients and tasks. By showing up unannounced, you not only disrupt their routine but also imply that you are more important than their obligations and deserve their immediate attention.

Of course, you're bound to meet someone who broke one of these rules and impressed the hiring manager by his or her audacity. Perhaps going against etiquette will work for you. Just be aware that you're risking your professional reputation and could be removing yourself from the running for a job where you were a top candidate.

Courtesy of:  http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1605-Job-Search-Strategies-Follow-Up-After-an-Interview-Without-Being-a-Pest/