Not getting interviews or not getting through the interview process? Part 3: Be prepared/Follow up

I have a friend that I used to work with that says, "Stay ready so that you don't have to get ready". She is always prepared and very knowledgeable. Trust me she stays ready. You have to put in the work, so be job-ready!

Part 3: Be prepared/Follow up

A recruiter’s pet peeve is a prospective candidate who looks good on paper but cannot convey their job experiences and skills well or at all. Here is what you can do to be job-ready. Be prepared before and during a phone interview, video interview, and or in-person interview.

1. Be yourself,  be comfortable. Think positive, and smile when you are talking.
2. For every job for the past 10 years keep a list of the job duties you did. What did you do? What tools, programs, equipment, type of machines you used, etc. Explain your typical day.
3. Make sure your skills match what you are applying for. If you are trying to change careers let me help you change your resume so your skills can stand out. 
4. Practice your elevator speech and some basic questions.

Whether you are preparing for an interview, presenting your portfolio, or explaining intricate details about your business. Learn how to communicate to market yourself verbally as well. Business to business as well.

•  An elevator speech is a concise, well-practiced, and careful description of yourself, your profession, your business, or your product. It should be easy to convey in a short amount of time as it takes to ride an elevator just a few floors. 😉
• Write it out and say it out loud to a friend or family member to get their feedback. 

    5. Here are some basic questions you should be able to already answer:

• Tell me about yourself (elevator speech)
• What makes you stand out or why should we hire you? Talk about your qualifications, skills, and strengths.
• Tell me about a time there was an issue and how you fixed it? STAR question. Discuss a Situation or Task, then tell the Action or Result. Or take a weakness and explain how it is now a strength. 

6. Review the company or companies you are applying to. Make this a habit as you are applying not before the interview (STAY READY). Take notes about the company.

7. Ask questions. You will (or should) have the opportunity to ask questions. An interview is meant to find out and prove you are a good fit for the job as well as to reveal you are true to what your resume conveys. However, don't let the interview be one-sided. Once you have the opportunity (usually near the end), ask pertinent details about the position, work environment, management style, etc. 🤔🤗 Trust that recruiters and hiring managers love for you to ask the right questions about the job, it shows your interest. I suggest writing down 10 questions to bring with you to an in-person interview or for a video interview. 

• Bonus tip: DON'T ask about other positions you applied for if the interviewer didn't bring it up. It seems that you have no interest in the position you are interviewing for.

8. Look up the salary or hourly pay. I have observed people sell themselves short or ask for way too much and lose out on a job offer. Know your worth. You can use Glassdoor.com or Salary.com to help you figure out what pay range you should be earning in your market. Remember different states, different areas, have different market values. If you are relocating, look at a cost of living calculator.

9. Check your applicant status. Follow up after the interview but not too many times. Usually during the interview process, you will be told when to expect a decision to be made. If not, your opportunity is to ask towards the end of the interview.

• If the interviewer provided a business card with an email, follow up with an email after your interview or the next day. If you have not heard back within the time frame, email or give a follow-up call. The rule of thumb is 2-3x max but not consecutively. For example, 1 email after the interview and 1 call within a week.

10. Check your email spam folders/Check your status. You may be missing out on a job. If you haven't heard back from within a week after applying, go back to the job website how you applied to see if you can check your status and or email from there.

11. Change your search terms. For example, think about how many different titles there are for a secretary. Use administrator, office manager, coordinator, office assistant, or executive assistant in searching for available positions. Research the different titles for the position you are looking into. 

12. Sometimes, it's not you it can be the company. If it is a good reputable company, they may get thousands of applicants and not be able to review them all. One reason why it is good to network!!


Have any suggestions, ideas, or thoughts? Leave a comment.

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