Feature Article: Interview Callbacks: Why an Employer May Invite You Back Multiple Times
Bonus Feature: Do's and Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews
Special Feature: Closing the Interview
Quintessential Site: Featured Career Web Site of this Issue
Quintessential Reading: QuintZine's Review of Career Books
The Career Doctor: Answering Your Questions
What's New on Quintessential Careers: Latest Additions
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Tips to Guide Your Job Search
Notes from the Editor: About this Issue...
As we mentioned two issues ago, interviewing is such a big subject
that we have divided this year's Interviewing Issue into two parts. Here's the second part, which
includes an article on how to close the interview by interviewing guru Carole Martin,
an article about interview callbacks that is an excerpt from a book by Chandra Prasad,
a companion piece with Do's and Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent Interviews),
as well as a review of Prasad's book, Outwitting the Job Market: Everything You
Need to Locate and Land a Great Position.
It's not unusual for a company to invite a potential employee back for a second interview.
Managers often request second interviews to clarify information on a candidate or to introduce
him or her to other members of a department. Says a human resources manager at an
information technology company headquartered in California: "At my company, usually
there is a team of people interviewing. Some interviewers are [looking] for technical
expertise, others for personality and fit. The second interview might be someone following up
on a particular question. Or it might be someone on the team who wants to make a connection,
to see if the candidate would fit in." Another reason for a second interview might be that the
company wants to ask more in-depth questions or to provide more insight into its needs.
Do's and Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews
by Katharine Hansen
It's gratifying to be called for a second or subsequent interview because you are another
step closer to the job. Don't blow it now!
Read our second-interview do's and don'ts.
Special Feature: Closing the Interview
by Carole Martin
"When do I start?"
That's about as aggressive as you can get at the close of the interview. It may knock the
interviewer for a loop, and might appear to be overly aggressive, but some people think of it
as "closing the sale." And for some people it has worked. For others, this
approach may not be comfortable or have a negative effect.
Whether you are aggressive, passive and polite, or somewhere in between, will depend on your
personality, the interview situation, and the job for which you are applying.
The right attire is so important to a successful interview.
Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization that helps low-income women
by providing job-interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development -- in more
than 75 cities. Learn how to volunteer, how to donate, or how to get assistance.
The site also offers interview tips for the night before the interview,
the day of the interview, and Do's and Don'ts.
Have you read the Quint Careers Weblog (Blog)?
It consists of career and job-search news, trends,
and scoops for job-seekers, compiled by the staff
of Quintessential Careers.
The blog is a great way to stay posted on the most
recent events occurring in the career and employment fields.
I first stumbled upon this useful little book when the author emailed me to
ask if I would be willing to read an early proof of the book and provide some
feedback. As I read that version -- and as I reread the newly published version --
I was struck at how well Prasad covers all aspects of job-hunting in a very
easy-to-read style, with numerous tips and examples to guide the wary job-seeker.
For years now, my partner Katharine Hansen and I have discussed and debated
how we might develop a comprehensive book on job-hunting. There is definitely
a need for a definitive job-hunting book. The stumbling block for us always comes
down to the problem of how do you cram the voluminous job-search advice we want
to offer into a book that doesn’t scare off job-seekers because of its size.
I really was not sure such a book was possible until I read Prasad’s book, which
covers the whole gamut of job-seeking -- from identifying a career path and potential
employers to negotiating a job offer. Of course, in between, Outwitting the Job Market
also includes chapters on networking resumes, cover letters, and interviewing.
As she promises in the introduction, this book indeed provides the essentials for
succeeding on the job market.
Ida writes: "I haven't been having much success on interviews, and I don't know why. I seem to do well,
but I never hear back from the companies. And just yesterday, at the end of yet another interview, the interviewer
actually told me not to expect to hear back because I was not interested enough in the position to ask
for it. What did he mean?"
Marcus writes: "What should do if you have a high GPA, some solid references from your school and previous
jobs, but also have a criminal record from when you were 17-24. I never went to jail, but I did get a
suspended sentence for some felonies and had a couple of misdemeanors during that period as well.
Since then, however, I have really excelled being on the dean's list in my school and am sought after
by several companies who are unaware of my criminal past or my bad credit. Any advice?"
Heidi writes: "I am a 36-year-old female wanting to get a career. I have one semester of college
under my belt, as a history major, and have a 3.5 GPA. I would like to go into the museum field,
but it is very hard to get a job in museum studies.
Funding is bad, and most people have at least a
master's degree. I enjoy history, but I also love science and technology, computers, and have even
thought of business. I don't want to teach, and although I love science, I am bad at math! I am
an army wife and am not able to just relocate to any city I wish. Any suggestions? Are there Web
sites for finding careers based on some interest questionnaire?"
Stephen writes: "I am a college student thinking about becoming a college professor. My first question
is what is the minimum requirement for an entry level to become a college professor? As a follow-up,
I would like to know what type of college I could go to to become a college professor in criminal justice.
That is what I am going to school for. I would greatly appreciate any help you could give me. My other question --
what would be a good job that I could have to enhance my chances of looking for a
job as an associate or assistant professor in a college?"
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Retired Worker International -- a job site for U.S. and
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Find even more career and job site additions to Quintessential Careers by visiting our
Latest Additions section.
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
The employment interview is a critical step in the job-search process, but it's not always smooth sailing.
OfficeTeam, a staffing service for administrative professionals, recently asked its managers to describe the most unusual
occurrences in interviews they had ever heard of from clients and colleagues. The findings reveal just how
important first impressions can be for job seekers.
Managers were asked: "What is the most unusual thing you have ever heard of happening in a job interview?" Here are some of their responses:
"When asked about her motivation for working, the candidate said it was to feed her six dozen animals
at home."
"The applicant's reference sheet listed a person with the title 'Dad.' When the interviewer asked if
this was his dad, he said, 'No, but he is a dad.'"
"When asked how he liked working with customers in his past position, the interviewee replied,
'I don't like it when people hassle me.'"
"When asked about her proficiency with software programs, the candidate pulled out a photo of herself
standing next to a computer and said, 'This shows my familiarity with today's office equipment.'"
"When discussing why the candidate had been fired from several jobs, he said his previous employers had
conspired to place a curse on him, and he was conducting his own secret investigation."
"The candidate asked if his rabbit could come to work with him, noting the rabbit was focused and reliable,
but that he himself had been fired before."
"The interviewee abruptly halted a discussion about her previous work experience, telling the interviewer,
'There's no need to discuss this further. I've had these skills since before you were born.'"
"Responding to a question about his ideal job, a candidate said, 'To lie in bed all day, eat chocolate
and get paid.'"
"When asked about formal education, the candidate replied, 'I don't need any. I'm certified by the
school of real life.'"
In a recent article about job-interview questions,
Cord Cooper of Investor's Business
Daily pointed out some "zingers designed to catch candidates off guard"
and offered effective ways to respond:
"Tell me about a project in which you were disappointed with your performance."
Citing career-planning expert Peter Veruki, Cooper advises answering this question honestly but explaining
how you've moved beyond obstacles.
"If this were your first annual review with our company, what would I be telling you right now?"
Cooper suggests: "Work key leadership attributes and skills into your answer. Try something like this: 'You'd
probably be telling me how well I've fit into the department and how I've helped improve its performance
through _____ [list your skills and attributes].'"
"Tell me about aspects of your last job you'd never want to repeat."
"Be careful here," Cooper cautions. "Every job has grunt work, and this is a clever way for interviewers
to find out where the rubber hits the road. Tick off a few choice tasks you'd like to ditch, and you could ace
yourself out of the job. Instead, try this: 'Even the best jobs have their not-so-great moments. You take each task
as it comes and consider it part of the territory.'"
"What would you do if I said you were giving a poor interview today?"
Again citing Veruki, Cooper notes that this question may be the interviewer's way to see how
well you can handle stress. Ask politely for specifics of how you might be mishandling the interview and whether
you might have misunderstood some of the questions. The most important thing is to stay calm and not get flustered
by such a question.
"Who's the toughest employer you've ever had, and why?"
Cooper notes that the interviewer may be trying to get you to fall into the trap of trashing a past
employer, which you should never do. Instead, describe how a past boss's toughness was a plus.
"You have four minutes to convince me why you're the best candidate for this position. Go."
"Link the job's main duties to two or three of your greatest strengths," Cooper advises. "Give an example
from a prior job and a hypothetical regarding the new position."
Preparing thoroughly for the interview in advance can help make a positive impression. Diane Domeyer,
executive director of OfficeTeam, offers these suggestions to increase your likelihood of getting hired long
before you meet face to face with a potential employer:
Anticipate -- Read the job description carefully and create a list of questions that the interviewer will
likely ask about how your skills and experience match the position.
Research -- Review the company's internal publications, including annual reports, newsletters, and other collateral,
as well as media coverage and Web site content to learn more about its operations and industry position.
Practice -- Role-play your interview with a friend or family member who can act as the interviewer.
Pay close attention not just to what you say, but also how you say it. Voice inflection, eye contact and
friendliness demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and "fit" with the corporate culture.
Prepare -- Be ready for the interviewer to say, "Is there anything else I can tell you about the job?"
This is not the time to ask how many vacation days you'll get in the first year or if you'll get a window
office. Instead, ask questions based on your research of the firm, an approach that will demonstrate that your interest
in the company is genuine.
If your school, organization, business or other
entity has a Web site, we welcome you to link to Quintessential Careers.
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WATCH FOR feature articles on these topics in upcoming
issues of QuintZine:
* Dining etiquette
* Career Focus Quiz
* Pre-Employment Testing
* Exude Confidence in Interviews
* Reinventing Your Career at Midlife
* Working Beyond Retirement
* Workaholic Quiz
* Building Your Brand
* Pros and Cons of Nontraditional Careers
* Nontraditional Career Paths for Men and Women
* Make Your College Application Shine
* Changing Landscape of College Admissions
* College Admissions Annual Report/Panel Discussion
* Internet Jobhunting Annual Report
* Top 5 Networking Strategies
* Quintessential Career Profiles of YOU, our readers
* Q&As with well-known career experts
* Book reviews
. . . and much, much more!
Don't ever want to miss another issue of QuintZine? Get a free subscription to
the email version of QuintZine by completing our
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Quintessential Careers Announces Career Coaching
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