Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Job Seeker Interview Tips You Need to Know

If you are in the market for a new job, it is important you know how to prepare for and what to do doing any interviews you may procure. While writing your resume may have seemed like the most daunting task, it is often just the first step in your job hunt and, in reality, is only used to get your foot in the door. Once you do that, your goal becomes selling yourself to a point where you receive one or more job offers.

Although people have different ideas on what actions they need to take to prepare for a job interview, here are some job seeker interview tips you need to know:

Do Your Research and Prep Work Ahead of Time

It is always best to know before you go. Research your potential employer. Find out what the business is all about. Understand how the position you are applying for fits in to the overall company goals and objectives. Learn a little about the individual who will be conducting your interview. These actions will help you familiarize yourself and enable you to answer interview questions more intelligently.

You should also take some time and figure out how you would answer some of the more common interview questions. You don’t have to memorize your answers, but simply formulate what you may want to say ahead of time if you are asked to:

  • “Tell me about yourself.” aka give a succinct overview of you as a professional
  • Explain what interests you most about the position
  • Talk about why you left or are planning to leave your last job
  • Explain why you would be the best candidate for the position
  • Tell the interviewer what you know about the company
  • Give examples of times you used the particular skills required of the job (e.g. problem solving, handling patient issues, dealing with customer complaints, overcoming work-related obstacles, etc.)
  • Express your career goals (be sure to include how the position fits into your goals)
  • Give the interviewer your desired salary range

Doing your research and prep work ahead of time will help you be more at ease and minimize your chances of getting thrown off guard during your interview.

Be Sure to Dress for Success

You always want to be sure to dress for success regardless of where you are interviewing. Professionalism is a quality most employers look for in potential employees and what you wear has a significant impact on how you are perceived. Those who dress professional and carry themselves well are generally taken as more serious applicants than those who don’t bother taking the time.

Arrive to Your Scheduled Interview on Time

Arriving late to a job interview is never a good idea. In fact, you’ll probably want to arrive at least 10-15 minutes ahead of time to check in, complete any additional paperwork and get yourself settled. Allow for traffic and unexpected delays on the way to your interview. As long as you factor these in, you’ll be on time and ready to go. It is also wise to go to the restroom, check your hair, makeup and clothes, use a breath mint as needed, and turn off your cell phone before you head into your interview. Just make sure you do each of these without making your interviewer wait.

Make a Great First Impression

People tend to make judgements quite quickly and trying to change a person’s impression of you later on is much more difficult than going the extra mile the first time around. This is why most people are well aware of the importance of making a good first impression with the individual doing their job interview. Unfortunately, what they often forget is all of the other people they meet along the way. Be friendly to each person you encounter. Say hello. Smile. Make eye contact. How you come across in those first few moments can mean the difference between you being given an offer and you not even being considered.

Do Your Best to Avoid Bad Habits

It is not uncommon for people to develop certain bad habits over time. In many cases, we may not even be aware of these habits or how they come across. Making a conscious effort to avoid habits like slouching down in your chair, mumbling, tapping your nails, playing with your hair, biting on a pen, crossing your arms in front of your chest or daydreaming. Focus on:

  • Sitting up straight
  • Maintaining eye contact
  • Smiling
  • Staying attentive
  • Nodding
  • Speaking clearly
  • Expressing interest
  • Making natural gestures

You want to come across naturally, comfortable and professional. Don’t let your bad habits ruin what could be a potentially great career move.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Asking questions during a job interviews is often taken as a sign as to whether or not an individual is interested in the position. It is for this reason most interviewers want the people they are interviewing to ask questions about the job, the company, the role they will play, how job performance will be measured, expectations and what the future of the organization may hold.

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

When doing a job interview, you cannot assume your resume will do all the talking and the individual most qualified for the job (which you hope is you) will receive an offer. When you go in for a job interview, it is up to you to sell yourself. Highlight your best qualities and qualifications, and make sure your interviewer knows why you’d be the best fit. Don’t sell yourself short. If you’ve got the skills for the job and you want the job, it is up to you to make the sale by getting the job offer.

Get Help Finding Your Ideal Job

The People Link is a professional recruitment service which specializes in finding and placing qualified healthcare candidates in positions throughout the U.S. If you are looking for a job in the healthcare industry, please visit our website to review our current job listings and the job seeker services we offer. You can also call 888-773-0014 today for a free, no-obligation job consultation.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Importance of Checking References

Checking references is a vital part of the hiring process. While a candidate may look very good on paper, as most people will do what they can to highlight their positive qualities and make their resumes stand out, it is important to validate the information they provide.  In fact, one of the only ways an employer often has of verifying the employment history, experience and skills listed on a resume is through a reference check.

Failing to conduct reference checks could mean you and your company end up with employees who are unable to do the jobs they've been assigned, or who perform poorly, despite their ability to gloss through their initial interview.

How References Can Help Make Sure You're Getting a Good Candidate

Employers who want to make sure they are getting a good candidate should, at the very least:

  • Contact one reference towards the beginning of the recruitment process, so they know if they want to continue.
  • Follow up with a second reference prior to making an offer.
  • Contacting a third reference, if either of the two prior references brought into question the individual's work ethic or experience.

Be wary of fake referees. Sometimes people will list co-workers as previous employers to ensure they get a better review. Asking what the referee's relationship was with the candidate will help eliminate this problem. 

Types of Questions to Ask During a Reference Check

Knowing the right questions to ask during a reference check can determine whether you will learn anything about the applicant or simply have the wool pulled over your eyes. Consider each reference check as an opportunity to uncover the real story about the individual you are looking at hiring. Is this person reliable? What is his or her behavior like in the workplace? Does he or she have strong communication abilities? How are his or her decision-making skills? How does the person deal with time management?

In addition to gathering basic information to confirm dates of employment, duties performed, on-the-job performance and responsibilities held, you may also want to consider asking questions like:

  • What are the applicant's strengths and weaknesses?
  • Could the individual be held responsible for completing projects and meeting deadlines without extensive intervention?
  • How did the individual react after making a mistake?
  • What types of obstacles did the individual face on the job? What did he or she do to overcome these obstacles?
  • How does he or she operate as part of a team?
  • What was it like working with the person?
  • Why did he or she leave?
  • Would you work with the individual again if given the opportunity?
  • Is there anything else I should know about this person?

Keep in mind you want to elicit honest answers to your questions. Do not put words in the person's mouth as while this may give you a glowing review of the candidate, it could cover up more serious issues which should have been revealed during the reference check. 

Streamline the Hiring Process

The People Link is a professional recruitment service which specializes in finding and placing qualified healthcare candidates in positions throughout the U.S. If you are looking for top-of-the-line individuals to fill vacant positions, simply let us know what you are looking for and we can help you find it. We conduct interviews prior to sending you applicants, and help gather references on your behalf. To find out more about the services we offer, please visit our website or call Mya at 888-773-0014 for a free, no-obligation consultation.