That recruiter, Abby Kohut of AbsolutelyAbby.com, advised job-seekers not to rely on recruiters to land them the jobs of their choice. Below the executive level, she said, most companies prefer to choose their own candidates and avoid paying recruiter's fees.
That means that the job-seeker must be his or her own best salesperson. A good resume is the display window that gives the employer a look at the merchandise on offer - that is to say, the job-seeker's talents and capabilities. But the real sales job takes place on the visit to the store - the job interview.
Kohut had some pointers for job-seekers on how to make the interview work to their best advantage. Here are three:
1. Know your accomplishments and be able to articulate them confidently. "Most people develop amnesia on an interview, and when we ask for examples of successes, they can't think of any," she said. "Preparing a list of them in advance and memorizing them will enable you to think on your feet and answer practically any question."
2. Demonstrate your passion for the job and the company that you are interviewing for. "Recruiters" - and employers - "want to know that you are excited about this job, not just a job. You should research the company for at least an hour and then figure out why you truly want to work there."
3. Ask intelligent questions at the end. "Typically, the question I am asked at the end of an interview when I ask for questions is, 'What are the next steps in the process?' If that is the only thing you can think of to ask after an hour-long conversation, it may be perceived as a lack of interest in the job" by the interviewer. Kohut advises job-seekers to prepare a list of 20 questions on topics like the corporate culture, the company's mission, the work environment, and the managers and management style, that can be used on any interview to indicate genuine interest in and excitement about the job one is interviewing for.
Kohut's book "Absolutely Abby's 101 Job Search Secrets" has scores of other tips like these to make the job hunt easier and more effective.
By Sandy Smith
Sandy Smith has been blogging for FinancialJobBank.com since 2010. In addition to launching award-winning newspapers and newsletters at the University of Pennsylvania and Widener University, Sandy is a veteran writer whose articles and essays have appeared in several local and regional media outlets, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, and PGN, and on several Web sites. He is also an active participant on several discussion boards, including PhiladelphiaSpeaks.com, where he posts as “MarketStEl.” He has been supporting himself through a combination of freelance and part-time work and unemployment compensation since early 2009 and is himself an active job-seeker. Read more of his posts on FinancialJobBankBlog.com and follow him to Nexxt for more job opportunities.
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