| When I asked a client recently how things were going, | | | | skills required to succeed in this position? How does |
| she replied that she was in a state of "grief relief." | | | | my experience align with your requirements? Link your |
| Grief, she said, over the daily list of colleagues being | | | | skills and traits to the needs of your prospective |
| laid off, and relief that she still had her job. | | | | employer during your responses. |
| Given the rising unemployment numbers, we focus this | | | | Show Your Style |
| newsletter on six essential interviewing tips. If you're | | | | Studies by cognitive psychologists Nalini Ambady and |
| experiencing "relief," consider these tips as you interact | | | | Robert Rosenthal confirm that we humans make snap |
| with senior leaders. If you know someone who is | | | | decisions when we first meet someone. Not only do |
| experiencing the grief of job loss, please forward this | | | | we form snap judgments within seconds of meeting |
| newsletter to them. | | | | someone new, those opinions linger, and rarely shift |
| Show Your Substance | | | | significantly from where they began. Whether we like it |
| Usually, your interviewer's first exposure to you comes | | | | or not, interviewers will quickly form an impression of |
| from your resume; however, your resume is | | | | us, so improve the first impression you project by |
| one-dimensional. During the interview, you must bring | | | | following these simple tips: |
| your three-dimensional self to life to increase your | | | | 4. Show up on time |
| prospective employer's interest and to help them | | | | While this tip seems obvious, a lot of thought and |
| envision you as the ideal person for the position. Follow | | | | effort go into arriving on time, looking composed and |
| these tips to add substance and dimension to your | | | | appearing relaxed. Consider your travel plans, |
| interview: | | | | especially if the trip involves traveling somewhere new. |
| 1. Skills & Strengths | | | | Check the weather forecast. Arriving wind-blown and |
| Identify your top three skills or strengths you've | | | | wet with no time to pull yourself together may rattle |
| developed or demonstrated in your past. Are you a | | | | your confidence and will make a poor first impression. |
| strong communicator, or great with details? Can you | | | | Finally, respect the employer's time. If the interviewer |
| manage complex projects? Avoid confusing "tasks" | | | | keeps you waiting, use the time to review your |
| with "skills." Once you've listed three skills or strengths, | | | | strategy; if you keep the interviewer waiting, he or she |
| jot down one or two stories you can share to | | | | may privately question your ability to arrive to work on |
| demonstrate them. With each story, begin with the | | | | time. |
| problem or challenge, then describe your specific | | | | 5. Smile and be friendly |
| actions and end with the positive outcome to your | | | | No one wants to employ a curmudgeon, so smile as |
| previous employer. Practice telling your story in two to | | | | you meet your interviewer, shake hands in a confident |
| three minutes.* | | | | manner, and always look your interviewer in the eyes |
| 2. Character Traits | | | | when you meet and when listening to and answering |
| The value of good character has never been more | | | | questions. |
| important. Employers want to feel confident that when | | | | 6. Attend to the small stuff |
| they hire you, you will serve the organization well. As | | | | Prospective employers want to know you can handle |
| you reflect on your best character traits, consider | | | | details. When you arrive looking well put together, right |
| sharing examples of your honesty, integrity or | | | | down to your shined shoes, you demonstrate that |
| creativity. Can you demonstrate that you are | | | | details matter to you. Political historians note that the |
| goal-driven, outgoing or a team player? The important | | | | momentum of Adlai Stevenson's 1952 presidential |
| thing to consider when selecting your traits is that they | | | | campaign slowed dramatically following the publication |
| must be true! Again, jot down a couple of stories or | | | | of a photograph showing Stevenson sitting on a stage, |
| collect a few facts and weave them into your | | | | legs crossed, with a hole in the sole of his shoe! (He |
| responses to the interviewer's questions. | | | | didn't get the job). Pay attention to every detail of your |
| 3. Value | | | | appearance; your interviewer will! |
| Telling stories during the interview will help you stand | | | | Finally, always follow-up with a well-crafted and |
| out from other candidates, but at the end of the day, | | | | personalized thank you note or e-mail and always |
| unless the interviewer sees that you bring tangible | | | | double check spelling! In your note, keep the tone |
| value to his or her organization, you may not get the | | | | cordial, remind the interviewer of one or two strengths |
| offer. How can you add value? In advance, research | | | | you bring to the position and close with a positive tone. |
| the company, the job and the skills and qualities they | | | | Never write in text speak. Thx 4 ur time 2day will not |
| require. If your pre-interview research falls short, | | | | land you the job! A well-written thank you note can |
| uncover this information during the interview by asking | | | | distinguish you from the pack. |
| open-ended questions such as: What are the critical | | | | |