1. Interviewing: Do’s & Don’ts to Get You the Job
Ronnie Duncan
President
TimelyText logo is a hyperlink to YouTube video. Stop video at 1:10 mark (right after the young guy with dark hair says “Actually that reminds me, so exactly what do you guys do here?”)
Link:

2. Resumes

3. Do’s Triple-check Someone else review 2 pages max Resumes
Triple-check your work. Even a small update – such as adding a recent job – can result in an error. Carelessness speaks volumes about your writing capabilities
Have someone else review your resume!
Keep the resume to 2 pages or less

4. Don’ts Be careless Forget the relevant info Forget your experience
Resumes
Be careless Forget the relevant info Forget your experience
Carelessness speaks volumes about your writing capabilities
Include all relevant info in the resume (not just the cover letter!)
List your experience in tools, protocols, documents, and media

5. Interviews

6. Do’s Build relationship in 1st interview Interviews
Before the Interview
Interviews
Build relationship in 1st interview
Do your homework: research the company, review the website, articles that mention the company
Remember, the first interview is usually about building a relationship. You’ll get to the nitty-gritty details in the second.
Dress to impress, even if you know the company has a, “no bare feet,” dress code
Focus on your 1st impression: Remember: first impressions are key.
Be on time, check your teeth, have fresh breath, smile, look the interviewer in the eye, and repeat your name with the handshake

7. Interviews
Homework
Do your homework: research the company, review the website, articles that mention the company

8. Dress Better
Dress to impress, even if you know the company has a, “no bare feet,” dress code
(from Wendy: elaborate on ‘significantly better than their culture’, explain the suit vs. khakis)
Photo credit: Kenchu
Image credit: Kenchu

9. 1st Impression Remember: first impressions are key.
Be on time, check your teeth, have fresh breath, smile, look the interviewer in the eye, and repeat your name with the handshake

10. Do’s Interviews Remain aware of your body language
During the Interview
Do’s
Interviews
Remain aware of your body language
Tell the interviewer you’ve done research, but…
Give concise answers
Ask clarifying questions
Remain aware of your body language (from Wendy: just mention now, next slide elaborates on body language)
Tell the interviewer you’ve done research, but you would like them to start by giving you an organizational and position overview so that you have their personal, in-depth context.
Give concise answers. No “war stories”. Keep it crisp
Ask clarifying questions to verify understanding. (from Wendy: just mention now, the slide after body language elaborates on clarifying questions)

11. Body Language
Remain aware of your body language (handshake, lean forward, both feet on ground)
Choose a chair instead of a couch, if possible. It will help you keep a confident posture
Put down your notes and lean forward slightly with both feet on the ground

12. Don’ts
During the Interview
Interviews
Talk salary/benefits Speak negatively Lie Apologize Interrupt
Talk salary/benefits: Don’t ask about salary or benefits in the first interview
Speak negatively: don’t speak negatively about your former employer or any former coworkers
Lie: don’t dodge questions or fudge the truth
Apologize: don’t apologize for your liabilities
Smoke before interview
Interrupt

13. This slide is animated—the X appears on the mouse click.
Don’t smoke before the interview

14. Do’s Interviews Close with impact Everyone is ‘interested’
After the Interview
Interviews
Close with impact
Everyone is ‘interested’
Say it loud and clear: “I want this job!”
Follow up
Close with impact
Say this at the end of the interview:
(This is the next slide) “I appreciate your time and am impressed with the company, particularly A, B, and C. I understand you’re looking for someone with A, B, and C skills. I have those skills and I want to go on record saying I want this job!”
Then leave!
Everyone is ‘interested’:
Everyone says they are, “interested,” even if they are not. Interviewers can be skeptical if you say you are just, “interested.”
Why is that? People base actions on personal feelings and they fear rejection. People make decisions emotionally and justify them logically.
If an interviewer senses you may reject an offer, they may not make one.
Say it loud and clear
Follow up

15. Thank you for this opportunity.
After the Interview
Interviews
Thank you for this opportunity.
I am impressed. From what I understand, you’re looking for someone with A, B, and C skills.
I believe I have those skills and
I want this job!
(from Wendy: mention that this is a huge thing that people have trouble with. Mention that they can use their own words, that the key is summarizing what they’re looking for and what skills you have and that you want the job [or something similar to this])

16. Don’t talk pay/rates with client
Agency Interviews
Agent is your ally
Just 1 interview
Don’t talk pay/rates with client
Build relationship with the agent
The agent is your ally
You need to sell you to the agent so the agent can sell you
You must sell the agent on yourself or the agent can, “fire,” you before you get an interview with the actual client
If you mistreat agents, you can dramatically limit your opportunities in the area where you live
An agent can be a powerful ally
How agency interviews are different
Agent and contract interviews are normally only one meeting
Never discuss pay or charge rates at a contract interview with the client. If they ask you, always defer the question to your agent

17. Negotiating
salary

18. Negotiation Tips Their goal is to hire you for… If they… Negotiating
…ask about previous income
…ask what salary you’re looking for
…give you a figure
The rules
They are looking to hire you for the least amount of money possible without losing you
The only number they will remember is the lowest number you give them
So, write, “open,” in the salary requirements blank on the application
If asked about previous income, say: “One of the reasons I’m leaving is I felt underpaid,” or “That is one of the reasons I’m looking now”
If asked what salary you’re looking for, say: “It’s difficult to respond because it depends on the total package of responsibilities, benefits, and perks. What would the company expect to pay a person with my qualifications in this position?”
You’re in your best negotiating position once you have an offer
If they give you a figure, don’t respond. When they ask if it’s acceptable, say, “I’m looking for something between (their TOP figure) and (that figure plus $5000)”
If they break eye contact, say, “I understand this is negotiable”
While some of these ploys may feel uncomfortable, they can only help. It’s extremely unlikely that frank questions will cost you a job once you have an offer!
At the offer, say: “That’s not quite what I was expecting. Can I have a few days to think it over?” This gives them a chance to make you a better offer.
One or two days later: “Is there any chance this offer can be increased?”
When they counter: “Can I sleep on this? I want to speak to my significant other.”
Next day: “I think this offer is fair. However, I did note you’ll be asking for a lot of overtime. Can a bonus be put in place at review time? Can I be reviewed in 6 months? Can vacation be increased from 2 to 4 weeks? There is no severance: can one be included?...”
When the offer is accepted
Ask for a letter outlining all the agreements
Respond to the letter with a confirmation of everything included
Add anything that was omitted: “I assume this was an oversight and unless I hear differently, I’ll assume they are included”
Photo credit: Liaj,
Image credit: Liaj

19. Thank you
Best of luck!