LIAR, LIAR YOUR PANTS ON FIRE!

 LIAR, LIAR YOUR PANTS ON FIRE!

As the employment market shrinks and becomes more competitive, studies have found rampant lies (mini fibs)? on resumes among job seekers.

DON’T DO IT!

Screening out liars is one of the major functions of today’s Recruiters, HR, and Hiring Managers

BELOW ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE ONES

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATES: Many companies will confirm university degrees and technical certifications in their background checks.

EMPLOYMENT DATES: Don’t try to stretch your time to cover up gaps. While excluding months isn’t a lie, tacking on additional years employment to your resume is a big lie that can be easily caught by a basic reference check.

 TITLES: Don’t embellish to give yourself fancy titles. This lie is easily caught by a reference check – companies can and will give your official title as part of the reference process.

 CRIMINAL RECORD: Criminal background checks will uncover felonies . An increasing number of companies are using outside companies to do criminal background checks, even for non-financial jobs.

SALARY: Salary inflation can be caught by a thorough reference check – often using a service specializing in salary confirmation.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSE : Companies may confirm licensing with the appropriate state agency as a part of their background checks.

Today, companies don’t even have to do extensive background checks to catch you lying on your resume. That’s why over 90% of companies search social media sites like Linkedin, Facebook and Google as a part of their hiring process. Social media inconsistencies uncover a large percentage of resume lies.

You can thank your friends for that – because on social media, you’d also have to lie to all your friends. Do you think that when you put on Facebook that you “graduated” from Harvard in 1990, that you wouldn’t have 10 of your buddies crying “BS”? Or that you suddenly got a CPA?

THE TRUTH IS MORE POWERFUL

If you are applying for jobs you are qualified for, rather than lying to try for jobs you aren’t, then the truth is more powerful than lies. I’m not just referring to the truth about you – but if you can get to the truth about what’s happening inside the company, then you can express your experience to show you’ve solved similar problems, met similar goals.

When you can get to the truth inside the company and can adapt your resume to what’s happening about the company, your resume will be much stronger than lies, and you don’t have the risk of getting caught in resume lies.

HOW TO HANDLE THE SECOND INTERVIEW

HOW TO HANDLE THE SECOND INTERVIEW

You rocked the first interview and followed up with a great thank you note. Now it’s time to meet the other team members- possibly the whole department for the second round.

Do you feel you have covered everything in the first interview? What do you really want this department to know about you?

Try to remember all the questions you were asked, did you tell all that you could? Now is the time to go over all your answers. PRACTICE your stories again. Add details that you may have skipped, because chances are you will be asked the same questions again.

This is the time to introduce that all important 30/60/90 day plan to demonstrate just HOW you will advance the department within that time-frame.

It's important to keep all the notes you have made from your previous interview preparation, as it will help to remind you of the most important points to reiterate during the second interview. Take another look at your job description and at all the points you made in order to

sell your sizzle.

The Department is determining if you are the best candidate.
So your challenge is to set yourself apart, show your uniqueness, let the employer know that you are a great match for the position and that YOU have what it takes to do this job.

It is important that you leave them with something to make you memorable.

And never let them see you sweat.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PHONE INTERVIEW

HOW TO SURVIVE A PHONE INTERVIEW

AKA:

Just because you are home, doesn’t mean you should wear sweat pants!

You might think that being at home for an interview means a more laid back setting. But the key to a successful phone interview is being as attentive as if you are sitting in the Hiring Manager’s office.

I once conducted a phone interview where I repeated the question several times, because the applicant had Oprah on and wasn’t fully listening (to me, or Oprah).

Below, are 11 tips to ACE your phone interview

1. Shut your email, unplug your ears from the Ipod, close the magazines and books and don’t forget to turn off the TV. I will know if it’s on.
2. Answer the phone professionally- Good Morning, this is Deborah, is more professional than “hey what’s up”.
3. Smile while you speak. Smiling shows up in your voice.
4. “Dress Up” for the interview, if you look good, you sound good.
5. Try standing. This helps bring the energy UP.
6. Don’t put your interviewer on hold to answer an incoming call.
7. Yuck, don’t cough or sneeze into the phone.
8. Be prepared. Have your resume, job description, pens and calendar on your desk.
9. Avoid taking the call from a cell phone unless you're absolutely certain that your connection is good and that you won't get disconnected.
10. Always send a follow up Thank You note.
11. Be personable. A warm voice and a sense of humor will go a long way toward establishing a friendly rapport with interviewers.

You only have one time to make a first impression.

Like this? let me know. Deborah@getthatjobTODAY.com

Sorry, you are soo OVERQUALIFIED!


Don’t you get so frustrated by this response? According to Phil Rosenberg-Something isn’t being communicated, either the employer doesn’t understand that you really want to take a step down (for some good reasons), or because you don’t believe that “overqualified” is the real reason you’ve been turned down.

Employers are partially to blame for this, using overqualified in the same way that we will say “it’s not you, it’s me”, using passive-aggressive communication to avoid an uncomfortable situation but masking the true reasons.

If you’re sick of hearing this, I like some of the tactics that Robin Ryan suggests in this article, published a in TheLadders:


“How To Handle ‘You’re Overqualified’ In Interviews
What should you do if your qualifications outstrip the job?
By Robin Ryan



It seems I continually hear this complaint,’They aren’t hiring me because I’m overqualified.’ One man e-mailed me about this problem:

‘I have a lot of incredible extracurricular professional activities, publishing expertise, project management experience, board leadership skills, etc. I have an MBA, and am a CPA. All of this info is on my resume because it sets me apart. However, I am concerned that people are viewing me as overqualified for lower-level jobs and eliminating me. Yet, the jobs I am truly qualified for are fairly high up and there are only a handful of openings. Help!’

So what should you do if you’re credentialed with good experience and advanced education, are looking to become re-employed and are even willing to take a lower-level position? Here are a few tips:

Don’t Be Tempted to ‘Dumb Down!’

This strategy moves your career backward. You typically end up frustrated, not hired or worse — you find a new job you can’t wait to move out of. Most employers today actually want you working at your highest ability level since productivity is key to everyone’s success. They also want to retain you past the many months it takes to train you for the job, so you can begin to make a contribution to the company.

Do Some Soul Searching and Savvy Preparation.

Acknowledge that employers are reluctant to hire a person who is overqualified because they think the person is unlikely to be happy, won’t stay long, might want the interviewer’s job or may expect fast promotion. Remember that you can be threatening to the interviewer, especially if you are truly suited for the interviewer’s job! He may think you aren’t seriously interested in doing the job for which you’re being hired — nor do employers want someone who’s burned out or sees the job as an easy paycheck.

Examine why you want the position. ‘I need a job!’ is not a response that will endear you to him. You must use your communication skills to convince him why a demotion is a good option. You must create a reasonable explanation. Try this:

‘My current position as Regional Sales Manager requires me to cover 14 states, and the job had grown into 15 nights of travel per month. This has become an increasingly difficult sacrifice for my family. I have decided to seek a major accounts-rep position that allows me to focus on my strengths — selling, sustaining top-notch client relationships and up-selling — but also allows me to go home most evenings. This is not an option at my current job. It requires a lot of out-of-town travel to do the job, which I am no longer willing to do. I believe my extensive marketing and sales skills would greatly benefit your organization in a positive way. I see this as a win/win situation for both of us.’

Don’t Show Desperation.

You may feel it, but it will work against your getting hired if you show how frantic you are to get a job. Too often an executive says, ‘I’ll start at any job just to get my foot in the door.’ That won’t work — it’s an outdated strategy. Being willing to take any job often makes the interviewer disqualify you. She needs a competent person to perform the specific job she’s hiring for.

So, you must show not only that you can do it but also that you want to do it. You can offer some advantages, gained from your experience, such as: ‘My ability to solve problems and train others would be a major plus in the position.’ Many employers are slow to hire, yet pay well when they select someone for the position, so patience is essential.

Look Harder for Positions for Which You Are Qualified.

Employers want a good fit and an individual who delivers results. Customize every cover letter you write and tweak your resume to match the opportunity. Be sure to address the major needs required and demonstrate results you’ve achieved in line with the level requested. A former CEO at a smaller company might only be a midlevel executive at a larger organization, so be clear as to how you’re leveraging past experience and leadership to help a potential employer excel.

Networking Is Key to Hearing About and Landing a New Job.

Ask colleagues, friends, former employees, college alumni, and other contacts for referrals to new people who can help you uncover unadvertised positions. An introduction to a senior executive can open new doors and even create a job when no advertised one was available. Department of Labor statistics reveal that 63 percent of all jobs in 2010 were found through contacts, so network, network, NETWORK!

Like this article? email me at: deborah@getthatjobtoday.com and visit my website for more up to the moment employment tips.

ARE YOU "GETTING IT"?

Are YOU GETTING “IT”?
THE PACKAGE YOU DESERVE?
Yesterday, a client came to see me for employment coaching after a position she really wanted went to a different candidate. “Abby” thought she might have knocked herself out of the running- in fact, at the starting gate, by submitting her salary requirements along with her resume. I believe she committed a cardinal sin. In the bible according to Deborah Weiner and lots of other folks, “He/She who mentions salary first”….. LOSES.

Below are a few steps Abby could have taken to increase her own worth.

1. Empower Yourself
Gather outside information on the market value of your position using tools such as Salary.com. Now look at other compensation factors; Health insurance, bonus, stock options etc… What are these perks worth? Understand and monetize your total package.
2. Give to Get
Use your well-rehearsed story telling ability to cite specific examples of how your accomplishments added to the bottom line or generated new sales or growth to the firm. This will stick in your interviewers mind, helping you to stand out when they are remembering which candidate to invite back in for another round.
3. Postpone the 6 letter word discussion
Avoid a direct response to “what is your salary?” Instead, sidestep the question and ask to learn more about the position and company expectations before you get into detailed salary discussions. Or try a shifter or diverter such as: “The actual salary is secondary on my list, as I am sure we will come to mutually agreeable terms. My main priority is to (fill in the blank).
Additionally, NEVER fill in salary requests on employment applications. Because
without knowing about the benefits and potential bonuses for the position, the amount is meaningless.
4. Be Fair and Honest
The focus should be on achieving your desired outcome, not winning. Most firms have salary bands or benefit caps and may not be able to give you exactly what you want. Be flexible and trust your gut to let you know when it is time to thank the manager and accept the offer. Most companies want to make a good deal and will negotiate in good faith. Bear in mind, when the negotiations are over, you will have to work with your former adversary. So be kind and non-aggressive in your dealings.
5. Silence is potentially golden
The employer extends an offer of “X dollars” per year. Repeat the offer in a puzzled tone and then do not speak. This could make them uncomfortable enough to change the offer without your responding to the first offer.

I suggested this to a friend (who thought I was crazy-which I am anyway), but tried it on her next interview. The silence was killing her, but she held her tongue. I understand the hiring manager picked up his pen, scribbled some notes, and upped her offer by $2,500.00.

She owes me lunch.