Artisan Blog

 

Many people have had the experience of being fired. Hopefully it was a long time ago, like mine. But maybe it was your last job and, as you’re interviewing for a new one, you are asked “Why did you leave your last job?”

What on earth do you say?  Read more

 
I came across an article written by Doug Hardy of Monster.com about the “6 Types of Interviewers" and thought you might be interested in Artisan's take on how to handle them.

Of course, the secret is figuring out what kind of interviewer you have as quickly as possible by assessing their body language - so that you can tailor your style to theirs.  Read more

A job seeker going to a job interview without preparing and practicing is like an actor performing on opening night without rehearsing. 

By researching the company, becoming familiar with the interviewer(s), understanding the job description and anticipating questions, interviewees can develop appropriate answers and "rehearse" them ahead of time - overcoming much of the anxiety of typical interviews.  Read more

It has been reported that potential employers are asking candidates for their Facebook passwords as part of the interview process or, alternatively, looking over the shoulders of candidates while they log in to Facebook to see their profiles.

Now, I haven’t actually heard from anyone who has been asked directly to supply this informaiton, but an officer of the Maryland Department of Corrections says he was asked for his log-in credentials. Someone could be testing the waters to see how asking for passwords would go over with the general public, but this report is being widely discussed. Even two US Senators have requested the Department of Justice and the EEOC look into the practice.

Whether this is becoming common or not, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place in case you’re ever asked. Everyone certainly has an opinion on how to react: Read more

 

Helping candidates prepare for interviews is a big part of what recruiters do each day.  However, in screening and qualifying candidates for a variety of positions, recruiters are usually also experts at how to interview too. Read more

 

In today’s job market, getting an interview - making it past the initial resume culling process - is an achievement in itself.  But where, in the past, making the cut would lead to a face-to-face interview, hiring managers often have too many qualified candidates for most positions.  As a result, candidates are more and more likely to get a phone screen or Skype interview first.

Whatever the type of interview you have, follow-up is the most important thing if you want to keep your name at the top of the “maybe” list.   It is the only way to be noticed when hiring managers are overrun, with so many people to consider.   Read more

 

Telephone interviews can be one of the most uncomfortable parts of the job-seeking process.  Many employers use them regularly in their hiring process as a way to reduce costs and save time.  Most often they are used to disqualify candidates early in the process, before further time has been invested by all parties.   Read more

 

Whenever I have an interview coming up, I go through my preparation process.  By the time the interview arrives, I know exactly what I want to say, at least to the standard interview questions I've encountered before, and I've prepared questions to ask - if the topics don't come up naturally.

However, it’s also a good idea to make a clear list of the subjects you would rather not discuss, and how you will handle the situation if and/or when these topics do arise.  Here are some ideas from the recruiters at Artisan Creative about things to avoid on your interview - and some positive alternatives: Read more