Interviewing

Austin Belcak’s Advice on Using Action Words in Your Resume

From his 02.24.25 email Austin Belcak is the founder of www.CultivatedCulture.com, which provides advice on resumes and other aspects of job search. In an 02.24.25 email, he provided the following advice on using action words in your resume. Picture this. You’re at an event and two startup founders are talking about their company growth from last year. Founder A says, “We had a really nice year of growth in 2024!” Founder B says, “Man, our growth absolutely skyrocketed in 2024!” Whose company do you think grew more? When I share this story in the resume workshops I run, almost everyone chooses Founder B. But neither founder shared any numbers, right? That’s the moral of the story: the words you use matter. And if you’re using the wrong language on your resume? It’s negatively impacting the way your value is being perceived, which means you’re not landing as many interviews as you should. So, with that said, here are 7 words and phrases you might be using on your resume that you need to change if you want to land more job interviews: 1. Responsible for Anyone can be “responsible for” something.  Instead, use more specific, action-oriented language like: – Developed – Spearheaded – Overhauled – Generated Pair those with measurable outcomes for a winning resume bullet: Responsible for customer retention → Generated 30% increase in customer retention via overhauled customer service strategies 2. Hard Working Simply claiming to work hard doesn’t convey tangible results.  Replace this with: – Increased – Delivered – Optimized – Exceeded – Improved Hard-working customer service representative → Improved customer retention by 30% through enhanced service strategies. 3. Results Driven Being results-driven doesn’t mean you actually drove any results. Prove that with better language and metrics.  Replace this with: – Generated – Produced – Reduced – Increased Results-driven marketing specialist → Produced a 200% increase in website traffic through a targeted SEO strategy. 4. Detail Oriented Claiming you’re detail-oriented is meaningless without evidence. Show it through actions and accomplishments instead.  Replace this with: – Audited – Identified – Improved – Enhanced Detail-oriented project manager → Enhanced project documentation accuracy, reducing errors by 30%. 5. Team Player Employers don’t just want someone who says they’re a team player. They want to see the results of those collaborations.  Replace this with: – Collaborated – Partnered – Led – Mentored Team player in marketing → Partnered with cross-functional teams to develop and execute a campaign, boosting lead conversion by 40%. 6. Self Motivated Rather than saying you’re self-motivated, show it with results.  Replace this with: – Initiated – Led – Launched – Created – Developed Self-motivated team lead → Initiated a mentorship program, increasing employee engagement scores by 20%. 7. Communicator (Great Communicator, Excellent Communicator) Don’t just say you’re a “great communicator” or have “communication skills.” Show them!  Replace this with: – Presented – Negotiated – Advised Consultant with excellent communication skills → Presented 30+ workshops to client teams resulting in 37% improved operational efficiency.

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How to Structure Your “Success Stories”

by David Marwick, KempMillJobAssist 02.24.25 Great “success stories” can lead to great resumes and great interviews. There are three ways to structure your success stories–whether in your resume or in your interviews. Two of these, CAR and STAR, are tried-and-true.  The third way, CAAR, was developed by Andy LaCivita. CAR STAR CAAR Challenge:  What was the problem you were asked (or volunteered) to solve? Situation:  What was the context of the problem?  What were the dimensions, preferably using numbers?  Why was it significant? Context:  What was the problem you were trying to solve?  What were the dimensions, preferably using numbers? Why was it significant?  Task:  What specifically were  you asked (or volunteered) to do? Approach (overall):  At a general level, how did you approach the problem? Action:  What specific actions did you take? Result:  What was the positive outcome of your action and why did it matter?What was the specific (preferably quantifiable) result of your efforts?  And who cares?Try to relate the results to Andy LaCivita’s “Great 8” goals:Generate revenueImprove market awarenessAttract customers (generate leads)Increase customer happiness (retain customers)Facilitate company growth (position, scale)Increase employee happinessReduce costsImprove process efficiency To learn more Add These Metrics to Your Resume | 40 to Choose From (33-minute podcast), by Andy LaCivita, 07.23.24 Best Job Interview Method | CAAR Not STAR (37-minute video), by Andy LaCivita, 06.18.24 STAR Method: How to Use This Technique to Ace Your Next Job Interview, by Kat Boogaard 5/14/2024 https://www.themuse.com/advice/star-interview-method Know What Employers Care About | The GREAT 8! (first 40 minutes of 90-minute podcast), by Andy LaCivita, 12.21.23 How to Get More Results With a C.A.R. Resume, by Tyler Omoth, October 20, 2021

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Andy LaCivita’s Career Achievements Journal

by David Marwick, KempMillJobAssist March 29, 2022 Keeping track of what you have achieved at work is very important. It can help you craft a resume, get ready for an interview, and prepare for a performance review.  Andy LaCivita, a highly regarded career coach, has compiled a free Achievements Journal to help you capture 14 relevant elements of each achievement. He suggests that you complete this journal for every project, whether it took 1 day, 1 month, or 1 Year. When you’re deeply involved in a project, you have all of the details at your fingertips, but–with the passage of time–the details may become fuzzy, and it may be hard to reconstruct them later, especially under pressure. Therefore, he suggests that you capture this information as you go, because this helps assure that it is fresh in your mind and accurate. To illustrate the level of detail in this Journal, here are three elements: STATISTICS: Identify anything quantifiable. This includes budget, timeframe, number of resources, number of customers, etc. Capture anything that shows magnitude and impact. BUSINESS PROBLEM: Identify the high-level business problem you and your company are trying to overcome, improve, and so on. THE PLAYERS: List everyone involved from stakeholders, contributors, key team members, units within your organization, partners, and vendors to customers or companies who are benefiting from your project. For example, in an interview, you will likely be asked to talk about (that is, tell stories about) various tools you used, obstacles you overcame, and goals you accomplished. These stories will be more compelling, and credible, if you include the specifics of the situation. You can download this great resource at: https://www.milewalkacademy.com/andrew-lacivita-career-achievements-journal-free-download Who is Andy LaCivita? After earning his B.S. in Electrical Engineering, he worked for Accenture for 10 years. He then became an executive recruiter, and in 2015, he started the Milewalk Academy, which provides career and leadership coaching. You can learn more about him at www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlacivita In addition to various for-pay programs, he provides lots of free content through his website, www.MileWalkAcademy.com and his YouTube channel. If you have comments or questions about this article, please email KMJobAssist@gmail.com

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“Tell me about yourself”–How to answer

by David Marwick, KempMillJobAssist February 29, 2024 In an interview, the first question is likely to be “Tell me about yourself” or “Walk me through your resume” or something similar. Do not take this question at face value. The question is really “Why should we hire you?” A company wants to know whether you can meet its needs and whether you are a good fit for the company’s culture.  On a deeper level, the company may want to discern whether you are a serious candidate; whether you have figured out how to “play the game.” To convince a company that you are the right candidate, you need to be very selective about what you say.  For example, they are not interested in where you were born, which clubs you joined in high school, and what your favorite Italian restaurant is.  Instead, they care very much about your education (especially if you are relatively new to the workforce), accomplishments, career path, and aspirations. The process offered by Scott Barlow, founder of www.Happen to Your Career.com, can help you develop an effective response. Barlow advises his clients to use what he calls “the ‘Present/Past/Future’ framework.” Interviewer: “So, tell me about yourself.” You (smiling internally):“Well, currently I ____________. (present) Before that I ___________________. (past) In the future I _______________. (future)” In constructing your present/past/future answer in advance of an interview, carefully analyze the vacancy announcement to determine the target job’s requirements.  Next, determine how your education, experience, and accomplishments match up against their needs.  Then, choose concrete and easy-to-understand examples, preferably with quantified results, that demonstrate what you’ve done and accomplished. Finally, try to define what makes you better than the others interviewing for that job. Imagine that a hiring manager is interviewing you and four other people whose resumes look like yours. If you were asked why you and not the others should be hired, what would you answer? Answering this question for yourself should take time and introspection.  Perhaps your contribution was internal to an employer (for example, you recognized a problem and came up with a solution that saved money or processing time).  Perhaps your contribution was external to an employer (for example, you smoothed over a problem with an important client, which helped the company retain that client). Bottom line: You know it’s coming, so prepare for it carefully.  Combine Scott Barlow’s three-step approach with your experience and accomplishments that most directly relate to the target position, and make sure you stand out from the crowd. True story #1 A client who was completing a master’s level program was advised toanswer the “Tell me….” question by saying that she was from New York and liked to bake. That suggested answer was dreadful. Using that answer would have deprived her of the opportunity to “sell” herself to an employer. (This incident prompted me to write this article.) True story #2 I was working with a recent and highly-qualified college graduate (good degree = engineering; good school; good grades).  She was selective about where she wanted to work, and was finally invited to a full day of interviews with a great employer.  Before her interview, we discussed how she might answer the “Tell me . . .” question and developed an answer that highlighted her very impressive credentials. Her full day of interviewing consisted of seven people interviewing her, one after the other, and each one of them began with: “Tell me about yourself.”  Later, she was told that she had made an excellent impression on the interviewers.  I’d like to think that her well-prepared answer helped. For further reading Scott Barlow, “Tell Me About Yourself” in Three Simple Steps If you have questions or comments about this article, please email KMJobAssist@gmail.com

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2022 Articles on Interviewing

Introduction:  This compilation lists articles and podcasts, nearly all from 2022, on interviewing.  These articles and podcasts appeared in sources that we consider generally reliable, but we cannot vouch for each one. How to Ask for an Informational Interview (and Get a “Yes”), by Elliott Bell, 9/30/2022 https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-ask-for-an-informational-interview-and-get-a-yes 5 Easy Steps to Answer “What Motivates You?” in an Interview, by Stav Ziv, 11.21.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-motivates-you-interview-question-answer-examples How to avoid the 5 worst virtual interview mistakes, by Amanda Augustine, 11.14.22 https://www.fastcompany.com/90809907/virtual-interview-mistakes 3 Body Language Hacks That Will Change Your Sales Videos by Rachel Cossar / Nov 14, 2022 How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?” (Plus Examples!), by Aja Frost, 11.01.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-ways-to-answer-whats-your-biggest-weakness-that-actually-sound-believable The Secret Formula to Answering “What’s Your Dream Job?” in an Interview, by Lily Zhang, 08.02.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-secret-formula-to-answering-whats-your-dream-job-in-an-interview? How to negotiate a job offer, by Dawn Wotapka, October 14, 2022 https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/oct/how-negotiate-job-offer.html 3 Things Interviewers Always Say—and What They Actually Mean, by Richard Moy, 10.05.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-things-hiring-managers-always-sayand-what-they-actually-mean What Interviewers Really Want to Know When They Ask “How Do You Stay Organized?,” by Stav Ziv, 09.27.21 https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-do-you-stay-organized-interview-question-answer-example How To Answer 11 Common Types of Job Interview Questions (18-minute video), by Andy LaCivita, 09.27.22.  Includes a link to a free ebook, “Ace Your Job Interview” on the best answers to the 14 most effective job interview questions! 10 Remote Job Interview Questions You’ve Got to Be Ready to Answer, by Jaclyn Westlake,10.12.21 https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-remote-work 5 Steps To Ace A Panel Interview, by Laura Smith-Proulx and Jenna Arcand, September 15, 2022 https://www.workitdaily.com/how-to-ace-panel-interview How to Answer “Tell Me About a Conflict or Disagreement With a Boss,” by Jenna Jonaitis, 9/14/2022 https://www.themuse.com/advice/conflict-with-boss-interview-question-answer-examples How to Answer “What’s Your Greatest Strength?” (Plus Examples!), by Lily Zhang, 09.02.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-smart-strategies-for-answering-whats-your-greatest-strength 6 Things To Do When You Don’t Know What To Say In A Job Interview, by Ashley Stahl, Aug 12, 2022 https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2022/08/12/6-things-to-do-when-you-dont-know-what-to-say-in-a-job-interview 20+ Phone Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer in 2022, by Alyse Kalish, 8/5/2022 https://www.themuse.com/advice/phone-interview-questions-answers How to follow up after a job interview, by Dawn Wotapka, August 9, 2022 https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/aug/how-follow-up-after-job-interview.html How to Tactfully Answer “Why Are You Leaving Your Job?” in 2022, by Lily Zhang, 07.22.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-better-ways-to-answer-why-are-you-leaving-your-job 4 Ways to Handle Interview Questions You Don’t Know How to Answer, by Lily Zhang, 08.03.21 https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-ways-to-handle-interview-questions-you-dont-know-how-to-answer 4 Easy Steps to Answer “Tell Me About a Time You Failed” (Plus Examples!), by Lily Zhang, 07.01.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-steps-for-answering-tell-me-about-a-time-you-failed How to conduct an informational interview, Jenna Arcand and Kristi Johnson, July 19, 2022 https://www.workitdaily.com/how-to-conduct-informational-interview/2-find-them-on-linkedin How to Prepare for a Job Interview So You’ll Convince Them You’re the Right Hire, by The Muse Editors, 06.24.22 https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-ultimate-interview-guide-30-prep-tips-for-job-interview-success Body Language: How to Look Great in Virtual Meetings, by Gary Genard, Feb 27, 2022 https://www.genardmethod.com/blog/body-language-how-to-look-great-in-virtual-meetings-0 The STAR Method: The Secret to Acing Your Next Job Interview, by Kat Boogaard https://www.themuse.com/advice/star-interview-method The Ultimate Guide To Ace Your Job Interview, by Caroline Ceniza-Levine, January 13, 2021 How to Answer “Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake” in an Interview, by Regina Borsellino https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-rules-that-guarantee-youll-nail-the-answer-to-tell-me-about-a-time-you-made-a-mistake 13 Questions Hiring Managers Love to Ask in Phone Interviews (and How to Answer Like a Pro), by Alyse Kalish https://www.themuse.com/advice/phone-interview-questions-answers A Complete Guide to Providing References During Your Job Search (31-minute video), by Andy LaCivita, 06.10.22 Presenting with Confidence (12 short podcasts, 26 minutes total), by Diana YKChan, May 23, 2022 https://www.linkedin.com/learning/nano-tips-for-presenting-with-confidence-with-diana-yk-chan/welcome?autoplay=true A Quick Guide to Conducting Stress Interviews, by Jessica Day, June 6, 2022 10 Red Flags to Watch Out for in a Job Interview, by Rebecca Zucker, June 07, 2022 https://hbr.org/2022/06/10-red-flags-to-watch-out-for-in-a-job-interview What to Say When Your Interviewer Asks “Why Do You Want This Job?,” by Lily Zhang https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-steps-for-answering-why-do-you-want-this-job The Cheat Sheet You Should Fill Out Before Every Phone Interview, by Regina Borsellino https://www.themuse.com/advice/phone-interview-cheat-sheet Here’s How You Answer the Illegal “What’s Your Current Salary?” Question, by Stav Ziv https://www.themuse.com/advice/answer-illegal-salary-question-right-way Your 2022 Guide to the Most Common Interview Questions and Answers, by The Muse Editors https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers How to manage severe job-interview anxiety, by Carolyn Hax, 04.19.22 https://www.washingtonpost.com/advice/2022/04/19/carolyn-hax-manage-job-interview-anxiety/ Going on a job interview? Say this, not that, by Cortney Moore, 04.18.22 https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/job-interview-tips-questions-answers The Perfect Formula for Answering “What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment” in an Interview, by Rebecca Kraus https://www.themuse.com/advice/greatest-accomplishment-interview-question-answer-examples Quit your job after less than a year? Here’s how to discuss it in interviews, by Jennifer Liu, Mar 21, 2022 https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/21/quit-your-job-after-less-than-a-year-how-to-discuss-it-in-interviews.html Signs that a potential employer may be ‘trying to hide something,’ and other interviewing red flags, by Gili Malinsky, Mar 21 2022 https://grow.acorns.com/job-interview-red-flags-and-warning-signs/ Why workers and employers are ghosting each other, by Alex Christian, 03.15.22 https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220311-why-workers-and-employers-are-ghosting-each-other How to Get A Job: Get the inside track, by Nick Corcodilos, 03.07.22 Best Practices for Conducting Video Interviews, by Sean Fahey, March 3, 2022 4 Better Ways to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?, by Lily Zhang https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-better-ways-to-answer-why-should-we-hire-you Definition of a Cognitive Interview and Tips for Acing One, by Glassdoor Team, June 29, 2021 https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/cognitive-interview 8 Questions To Ask An Interviewer, by Glassdoor Team, September 23, 2021 https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/questions-ask-an-interviewer A Shy Entrepreneur’s Guide To Being Charismatic, by Jodie Cook, March 1, 2022 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2022/03/01/a-shy-entrepreneurs-guide-to-being-charismatic/?sh=38b4254f3b40 The Informational Interview Thank You Note Smart People Know to Send, by Alyse Kalish https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send 8 Signs You Aced That Job Interview (and 4 Signs You Didn’t), by Kat Boogaard https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-know-if-an-interview-went-well Exactly How to Follow Up on a Job Application Without Being Annoying (Use This Template!), by Alex Cavoulacos https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-follow-up-on-a-job-application-an-email-template This Is the Email Smart People Send When They’re Rejected for a Job, by Kat Boogaard https://www.themuse.com/advice/this-is-the-email-smart-people-send-when-theyre-rejected-for-a-job How to Pitch Yourself to an Employer, by Starla Sampaco, 07.02.21 https://hbr.org/2021/07/how-to-pitch-yourself-to-an-employer THIS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE POST-INTERVIEW THANK YOU EMAIL, by Austin Belcak, 01.06.22 Job interviews ‘need to be a two-way street,’ says chief strategy officer: How to respond to ‘Any questions for me?,’ by Ryan Ermey, 02.02.22 https://grow.acorns.com/job-interviews-how-to-respond-to-any-questions-for-me/ Where Automated Job Interviews Fall Short, by Zahira Jaser et al., January 27, 2022 https://hbr.org/2022/01/where-automated-job-interviews-fall-short Summary:  More and more companies are using automated interviews, particularly for hiring younger workers. But what effect is this technology having on job seekers — and how can HR departments and technology companies improve on the interview experience? This early research points to several flaws in the interview process that leads young job

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ADVICE FOR (ZOOM, SKYPE, AND SIMILAR) PRESENTERS

by Ron Sheinson, April 1, 2020 More people are communicating via video imaging. As a nerdy photographer, I offer these comments on using a camera for displaying a speaker / head-plus shot. This was written after recently viewing many internet presentations, from many different sources. 1. Have the lens at face height or slightly above. Many times, the lens is significantly lower (especially when placing a smart phone or laptop close by on a desk.). The face perspective is then not so good, including a view up the presenter’s nostrils. This can best be handled by placing the phone or laptop on blocks or books; laptop screen NOT tilted upward. 2. Do not have the camera very close to the speaker. This distorts the face’s appearance. If you are using a video camera, place it further away and fill the screen by using a longer focal setting on zoom lenses. Do the same for zooming in on smart phones if you have the capability. Be aware, the closer you are to the camera, the more your motion towards and away from the camera is magnified. Minimize rocking back-and-forth as it can be disconcerting. Such motion to/from the mike also causes your voice sound level to vary. A lapel or headset mike is better, but not necessary. 3. Stability. Do have your device securely positioned. Do not use a hand-held phone or video-capable camera. Do use a tripod or accessories that allow for stable placement. 4. Background. –Do not have a distracting background. The person’s image should be what the eye is drawn to. –Do not have a background that is brighter than the person; darker is less distracting. –If you are using a busy background, move further from it. Depending on the type of camera / lens, you can have the person in focus with the background blurred. This provides separation and diminishes the attention drawn to the background. You may also be able to select a digital file photograph to be inserted as your background depending on the video program being used. Useful as your busy or messy background will not be seen. 5. Lighting. Do have light on your face, preferably from behind the camera. Fairly even (flat) lighting from larger diffuse sources is best and helps minimize wrinkles. Do not overexpose your face and do not use side lighting that overexposes one side of your face or background. “burned out” areas lose detail. For specific occasions when you want high contrast or dramatic appearances, one might want to experiment with uneven lighting. 6. Auto-exposure. Except for high-end (expensive) video cameras and video-capable still cameras under manual control, the automatic exposure system assumes the entire field of view is best imaged as intensity equals gray on average. If there are bright areas, the system will turn down sensitivity (equivalent to ‘volume’ control), resulting in your face being too dark, in extreme going to a silhouette. Watch out for bright light in the camera field of view or uneven from the side. These are general considerations, not hard rules. Specific circumstances can have different optimums, depending on what you want to emphasize. Details matter, but are not as important as content. Do not abstain from “Zooming” or creating videos. Experiment. Additional hint for head-shot photographs Stretch (sticking) your head out (forward) looks weird from the side, but from the front it helps minimize double chins. Please address comments and questions to Ron Sheinson, owner, A Sheinson Image–Simcha Photography, Silver Spring, Maryland, at ronald.sheinson@alum.mit.edu

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EXPLAINING YOUR LAYOFF

WRITTEN BY DAVID MARWICK FOR KEMPMILLJOBASSIST ON 30 MARCH If you were laid off — that is, lost your job through no fault of your own — unfortunately you have lots of company. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1.6 million people are laid off nationwide in a typical month — that’s more than 70,000 each business day. You may have lost your job because your company downsized to cut costs, moved jobs to Tennessee (or Mexico), or merged with another company. There are multiple possibilities. In theory, your layoff should not reflect negatively on you, and it should not hamper your ability to find another job. (If you lost your job because of unsatisfactory performance, misconduct, or interpersonal differences with your employer, that’s a different story and much harder to navigate.) In practice, however, the fact that you were laid off may raise questions in the mind of a prospective employer. In terms of interviewing for future jobs, it is critical that you know why you were laid off and the scope of the layoffs. In essence, you want to demonstrate that the layoff was not about you, but rather that you (through no fault of your own) were caught up in broader trends. The more you know about the circumstances of your layoff, the stronger the case you can make to a prospective employer. Know how many people were laid off at the same time. The more people, the better for you. The fewer people, the more a prospective employer may wonder whether the layoff was a disguised firing. Try to obtain relevant documentation, such as a company press release or newspaper article, that describes the extent of and reasons for the layoff. Know how your employer selected which people to lay off. Was a whole division or other unit disbanded because of a corporate restructuring? Was the layoff due to a lack of orders? Were the layoffs based on seniority and you were a newcomer? In a 2015 article for the Washington Post, Rita Trehan — a former senior executive and Chief Human Resources Officer with more than three decades of progressive career experience — suggests some steps you can take in an interview to minimize the fallout of being laid off: Address the issue upfront. Deal with the layoff early in the interview. It’s better to address it upfront. Focus on the positive. Explain briefly why you’re in the market for a new position without lingering on the details. Describe what you achieved in your prior role and how those capabilities relate to the job at hand. Never badmouth your former employer. Even if you harbor resentment about how the layoff was handled, resist the urge to speak negatively about your former boss or the company. You want to be seen as a positive person and a team player. *   *   * For Further Reading: “5 Ways Microsoft Employees (and You) Can Prep for Layoffs” by Caroline Ceniza-Levine (SixFigureStart.com, July 14, 2014). “How to Explain Your Layoff During an Interview” by Rita Trehan (Washington Post, Sept. 10, 2015).

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DEAR RECRUITER, WHERE DID YOU GO?

WRITTEN BY DAVID MARWICK FOR KEMPMILLJOBASSIST ON 16 AUGUST 2018. Consider this common scenario: A recruiter reaches out to you about a great job. You agree you are well qualified, and you like the location, salary, and company. You submit your resume, but then hear nothing. Or you get the interview, but then hear nothing. Or you are a semifinalist, but then hear nothing. Now you’re baffled and frustrated — not only did you not get the interview or job, but you don’t know why. You contact the recruiter but get no reply. You wonder why the recruiter is so rude. All you want is a few minutes of her time to help you understand why you didn’t get further in the process and how you can be more competitive next time. Lack of feedback throughout the hiring process — the “ghosting” of the job-hunt world — has long frustrated job seekers and, recently, recruiters. (It is an issue for human resources specialists and hiring managers as well.) Remember that a recruiter normally works for the prospective employer, not for you, and usually has little or no incentive to provide feedback, much less candid feedback. Here are three possible explanations why you didn’t hear from the recruiter: No time: If you applied for a job, others did, too — perhaps another 20, 200, or even more. For a few, their resume was good enough to earn them an interview; for a very few, their interview was good enough to land them on the final list; but only one of them was offered the job. Why would a recruiter want to spend even a few minutes explaining to each of 20, 200, or more unsuccessful applicants why they didn’t get an interview, a spot on the final list, or the job? A recruiter is typically paid to whittle down a large pile of applications to a manageable number for the hiring unit to interview and make a final selection. Once she completes her work on one opening, her priority is the next opening. She is not paid to speak with unsuccessful applicants, and every minute spent with them is a minute not spent on the next opening. Lack of information: Perhaps the recruiter did not make the final decision and, therefore, cannot discuss it in-depth. Moreover, recruiting professionals caution against taking at face value any explanation offered by a recruiter; it may not be the whole truth. The risk of being sued: You didn’t get to the next step in the process because you were not as appealing as another candidate. Perhaps the other person went to a better school; had better grades, more relevant experience, or stronger references; or seemed to be a better “fit” with the company’s culture. Many things that a recruiter might tell you about why you didn’t get the job might appear to you to be based on age discrimination or some other prohibited practice, and therefore may seem potentially actionable. Why would a recruiter want to expose herself to that risk? On the other hand, there is one reason to provide feedback. If you are an excellent candidate, but not the best candidate for this job, the recruiter may want to stay in your good graces and may therefore be willing to provide feedback. Ironically, in the current hot labor market, the shoe is increasingly on the other foot, as recruiters have trouble connecting with job seekers. There are stories of excellent candidates who “ghosted” recruiters by not answering phone calls, texts, and emails. Presumably, they “disappeared” because they found an even better job or were otherwise no longer interested.

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VIDEO (SKYPE, ZOOM, ETC.) INTERVIEWS

WRITTEN BY DAVID MARWICK  FOR KEMPMILLJOBASSIST ON 22 JUNE 2017. In the previous issue, we discussed phone interviews, and today we move on to Skype interviews. Skype interviews are increasingly used to vet candidates. Crystal Chen says that her company, Coursera, “uses Skype for a good 90 percent of our first-round interviews.” Perhaps this is an extreme example, but it is likely a herald of things to come. To convey the complexities, Chen says that a Skype interview is “like being on TV, except you’re filming, directing, and acting in this role.” The basic rules about preparing for an interview are the same whether it is conducted in person, by phone, or by Skype, but following the medium-specific tips below can make your Skype interview more successful. Setting Make sure that you will not be disturbed during the interview — by people or pets barging into your room, or by noise from another room. Have a neutral background that will not compete with your attire. Soft but adequate lighting is also important. Harsh lighting can make you look washed out. Equipment Have the right equipment. Chen suggests: “Don’t rely on the built-in microphone unless you want to sound like you’re in a bat cave. Get a dedicated microphone and test it out.” Michaela Gianotti adds that using a headset will help your audience “hear you more clearly and with less distracting background noises.” Similarly, make sure you have a solid internet connection, because a dropped call distracts from the interview and may reflect poorly on you. Lisa Rangel of Chameleon Resumes suggests: “Test yourself by filming yourself answering some sample questions.” It’s good to have a backup plan in case your internet connection fails you. Options include a landline, cellphone, or Google chat. Rescheduling the interview is a last resort. Attire “Avoid standing out,” advises “Ace Your Interview” author Lisa B. Marshall. “You want them to remember what you said, not what you wore.” As Rangel notes, “Prints and patterns can overpower the screen and make it hard for the interviewer to watch you.” She also suggests: “Full dress for the call.” That means dressing head to toe, not just head to waist. Wearing your comfy Hawaiian shorts with your collared shirt and suit jacket is fine — unless you need to stand up for any reason. Marshall provides extensive suggestions, especially for women, on colors, makeup, and jewelry. Body Language You want to keep your eyes on the camera, not on the view from your screen. Chen quotes a tip from Paul Bailo, author of “The Essential Digital Interview Handbook,” for helping you appear to be looking right at the interviewer: Download a photo of the hiring manager, print it, and make a hole in the photo to allow the camera lens to see through. “Now you can look at the photo, which makes it more human to conduct your digital interviews,” says Bailo. Moreover, make sure your body language expresses that you’re engaged. “As you’re communicating, lean forward,” suggests Bailo. “This will show interest and concern and will engage your audience. It will also convey eagerness and willingness to listen.” Just be careful not to overdo it. “Even more so than in an in-person interview, avoid excessive physical movements.” “Put on your best newscaster face,” says Rangel. “You have to be a little more animated and expressive than you would in person to convey your enthusiasm.” Additional Tips You should have all backup materials (job description, cover letter, resume, etc.) readily accessible on your computer, so that you don’t need to riffle through a stack of papers to find something. Also, turn off all notifications, so that you won’t be disturbed during your interview. Bottom line: Check out everything ahead of time: the background and lighting, the microphone and computer connection, your attire, and your “look” on camera.

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