A Clever Interview Technique

October 18th, 2010

3555228460_216541cd89

Other people’s clever ideas inspire me. In this case it was a guy looking for a tech job who wanted to be noticed above other talented pros looking at the same company. So what did he do? He wrote a song called, “Hire me Bazaarvoice!” and put the video on YouTube. Wouldn’t you know it – the video began circulating around the office at his target company. And voila, a few months later, Matt joined the team as an Implementation Engineer.

Now let’s back up and look at Matt’s process for getting the job.  He says, “when I was thinking about applying for the job, I knew a lot of other really smart people who were also applying. I heard stories about the interview process being rigorous. I knew that in order to make it I had to do something to stand out from the crowd. I was messing around on the guitar one night, and half jokingly played a song about Bazaarvoice to my wife, and told her I was thinking of putting it on YouTube. Her response was surprisingly very positive and she encouraged me.”

“So I scoured the Bazaarvoice website and wrote lyrics about the products and specifically how I could be an asset to Bazaarvoice. The combination of the song, YouTube video, and my website, made all the difference in the world. When I created it I expected that the recruiter and hiring manager would get a laugh out of it, and that would be the extent of it. Little did I know that it would end up spreading around the entire company and going viral.”

Matt’s video was an attempt to show his passion about working for the company and the importance of word of mouth—and in his case spreading a message about why he would be a good fit for the job. His idea worked and it’s great inspiration to others. Companies in all industries appreciate creativity. So be bold, be innovative and most of all be passionate-it can really help you succeed.

Thank you to Heather Henry for her original interview with Matthew Price.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u55mQEyWIAE

       

Stand Out!

July 26th, 2010

What resume is easier to sell – a vague one or a specific one?

Which job candidate will stand out more – dull Joe’s accomplishments or vivid story Sue’s accomplishments? Specific work examples and vivid stories about your work can and should be an integral part of your resume and interviewing efforts.  They make you more memorable to help get you in the door and could even get you hired.

Abstract and vague is the kiss of death on a resume. Instead find the pertinent talents and experiences you can extract from your work life. Use these specifics to develop concrete examples you can include in all your job search communications.

-Sunny Lurie, PhD, Fast Focus Careers

       

Social Skills Improve Interviews

June 20th, 2010

If you’re wondering what you can to do improve interviews, think about how you handle your social skills and body language. Are you likable — that’s extremely important.  A firm handshake of course, but are you aware if your body language is confident?

Body language reveals so much about you –it’s actually 55% of your communication. It has an impact that is more important than your words. And they will notice “the way” you say things. So if you are not smiling or your eyes do not look enthusiastic and happy, it won’t matter what you say. Show passion in the tone of your voice and with excitement when describing your accomplishments.  Nervous habits such as pen clicking or constant foot tapping will also reduce your ability to appear confident.

Do not underestimate the impact of good social skills on your career. Seriously. In fact, across the board, in all types of fields and companies, people would rather work with someone who is likeable and incompetent than with someone who is skilled and obnoxious.

To be likeable you must come across as sincere and authentic by always presenting “the real you.” Also, don’t use jargony words, like, “multi-tasker.”  Be specific. Instead of saying, “I’m a self-starter” and just leave it at that. You could say, “I was given a project without a lot of instruction and in the first 3 days I came up with a list of 10 people to seek advise from. I  met with them all in the first week and received a number of great ideas – I am a self-starter.”

Another suggestion to show confidence is to offer your help on a trial basis. You might say, “I know I have the best skills for the job and I’m so confident I would take on a  project for free.”

Depending on whether we like someone or not influences hiring decisions. So build rapport and make a strong connection through your body language.  People who lack social competence end up looking like they lack other competencies, too.  Don’t forget to keep smiling as you describe who you are.

- Sunny Lurie, PhD., Fast Focus Careers

       

How to Show Passion in an Interview

January 22nd, 2010

3362733777_3a4542630bHow can you show passion during your interview? In our workshops we talk about how personal stories help “prove” your passion. It might sound ordinary if you were to say, “I was passionate about creating a team environment in my last organization.”  But communicating a story about a time you put your sweat and tears and overcame a specific challenge is a more authentic and interesting way to describe your important impact. With a specific story, a hiring manager might feel more confident that you would repeat a similar experience in their organization.  Everyone has a story. Never say: “I just did my job; I didn’t do anything special.”

Your work history is unique to you. Try to focus on how you did your job effectively and what you have done differently than your colleagues. The specifics of the story are more important than the general information. In interviews, most people think they should talk about their skills in general terms, but it is the specific examples and facts behind those stories that prove your success. Interviewers are more likely to remember snippets of your personal story.  Your descriptive story helps to develop rapport and prove the things you have achieved in your past positions.

       

Quick Tip for an Interview

December 6th, 2009

For job interviewees: MAKE SURE THEY LIKE YOU. Make sure that by the time you leave the room, you’ve found a way to make the person like you. That’s it. Two arms, two legs and an MBA, being all fancy and important, are not going to get you there. Make that personal connection. Build instant intimacy.

This tip is brought to you by the master networker, Keith Ferrazzi.

       


Dr. Sunny Lurie photos by Perkoski