Tag: interview advice | Page 7

Tips on What to Ask Your Interviewer–Or Not

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013|

Imagine it: you are at the job interview for the perfect role. You have charmed the hiring manager with your stories, remembered all of the quantifiable accomplishments on your resume, and answered all of her questions with confidence and style. It’s time to tie this one up with a bow.

Any questions?

You would think that the hard part is over. Here is where you don’t need to know the answers, only have good questions to ask. Do you have good questions? Have you planned them and run them by a trusted friend?

Here are some questions that will pass muster and some you should put aside:

Do:

Ask a question based on your research about the company. Choose two qualities of its culture and ask which is the most important.
Ask what changes they would like to see in the role going forward. Maybe something in your skillset will help that change take place.
Ask what the first priority will be for the person hired. If that person is you, you will have some training and orientation time, but a chance to think about what your first project could be should help you make the transition successfully.

Don’t:

Ask about benefits until you have an offer. I know and they know that benefits are an important part of the package, but in the interview, what you bring to the table is what’s under discussion, not what they bring. Wait.
Ask about telecommuting. Again, this is a significant factor for your work/life balance, but unless it is a deal-breaker, wait until you are settled in and know that you could make it work before asking if you can work offsite.
Decline to ask anything. Lack of curiosity about the company will turn off any interviewer.

This part of an interview generally comes at the end, so what you do here is the last thing the hiring manager will remember when it’s over. Don’t waste this opportunity to put your own spin on their impression of you.

Wendy Stackhouse for Artisan Creative

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Looking (and Feeling) Confident

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013|

One of my roles is Vocal Coach and I’m spending many hours working with some Middle School singers this month while they are preparing for auditions. Some of the work we are doing is very technical—breathing, tone, pitch—but some of the work is on their presentation. Especially with the exceptional singers. And this work is making me think about the presentation in other areas of life.

Whether you find yourself in an elevator with someone you want to connect with, in a job interview that you really want to ace, or even meeting with a client about a project, the level of confidence in yourself that you express could be the difference between success and frustration. Here are some tips for expressing yourself confidently (even if you may not feel it) in singing and in life:

Keep a level head. Literally. Your chin should be neither lifted nor pushed down but in a comfortable position. Try thinking of a string coming out of the top of your head that attaches to the ceiling. Ballet dancers use this image and it really helps to put your body in balance.
Turn up the volume. Not a lot, but speaking a bit louder than you would in a typical conversation will add more energy and timbre to your voice. Practice when you introduce yourself. Saying your name slowly and clearly is a great way to get in the right place.
Focus. Making eye contact alone is not enough; you must hold eye contact for three to five seconds to make an impact. Watch movie actors. The “great ones” don’t even blink while the camera is on them. It’s quite amazing and one of the reasons they are the “great ones.”
Make statements. Many people allow their voices to go up, the way we do when we ask a question, at the end of sentences. Practice your interview answers so that your sentences come to a definite conclusion.
Don’t hem and haw. Or um and you know. If you are in the habit of using sounds and repetitive phrases to give yourself time to think, practice your stories with trusted friends who will tell you when you do so. It’s hard for any of us to hear these things in our own speech, we are so used to them.

Thinking through these tips, I can see how they also apply to my Middle Schoolers. They need to sing well, sing strong, keep their focus, and project the emotions of their songs clearly and definitively. I know they can do it. Can you?

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Creativity in Wonderland: Tips from Lewis Carroll

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013|

We hope your workplace isn’t like the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, but when you are having trouble with a creative block, Lewis Carroll’s famous tale may have some good advice for you:

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?” Of course, it turned out there was no answer to this riddle, but setting yourself a nonsense question to ponder can get your mind out of a rut and into a more creative place.
“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” There’s a lot to be said for doing something—anything—to get your process started. Finishing has a lot to be said for it, too. Remember your first draft doesn’t have to be good; it’s always easier to edit than to write the first draft.
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” Setting short-term goals, even just for the next hour or two, can break your project up into manageable pieces that are easy to complete.
“Yes, that’s it! It’s always tea time.” Take breaks. Counterintuitive as they seem, even fifteen or twenty minutes of doing something different can give you a great idea of what to do next.
“It was much pleasanter at home.” A change of scene can do you a world of good, especially if your office walls are closing in. If you have the option, go work outside, at a coffee shop, or even in your living room.

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” It will if you let your mind and your body make a new path.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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5 Ways to Create a Standout Online Portfolio

Thursday, March 21st, 2013|

Every Creative knows that the interview process for them is unique. While the resume is still important to potential employers to see where creative talent has been and what they’ve been doing, the work produced is what matters most.

Whether you’re a designer, developer, copywriter, or producer, employers expect to see an online portfolio of work that emulates what they are trying to create.

Sadly, many creatives fail to follow these simple steps to improve their portfolios, thereby decreasing their chances of success in the freelance or direct hire job market:

- Keep work relevant – Portfolios could be a unique URL of work or a collection of work on one of the many portfolio sites. In either case – the work presented should always be fresh, current, and up to date. Outdated work is the quickest way to be overlooked for a potential job. Update it regularly. Our recruiters recommend at least every three months.

- Less is more – Remember to make the work the hero of your portfolio or site. Keep design clean, interface simple, and navigation to as few clicks as possible.
  - - Don’t include every piece of work you’ve ever done – Only include those of which you are most proud or that represent the work you want to be doing most. This might mean including screenshots of short-lived projects and even conceptual or personal work that was never produced.
    - Mention that additional samples of work are available upon request – A PDF of targeted samples can sometimes be more effective for some clients. Be sure to list the other industries or media across which you have worked.
- Organize your work – Depending on the nature of your work, find a way to display it most effectively. Should the work be categorized by industry, media type, client, or project? Whatever you decide, don’t forget to provide a short description that explains the company/agency for whom you worked, the client’s objectives for the project, your role on the piece, and (if applicable) the software utilized.

- Introduce yourself – While including your resume or past job experience is a must, be sure to also include a bio that explains who you are, your creative process, and even some personal trivia. Let your personality shine.

- Broadcast your brand – A portfolio of work is part of a creative’s personal brand. Make sure everyone can find your site easily. Include your URL on your resume and LinkedIn profile. If creating your own site – make sharing easy so people can easily follow your Twitter feed or blog. You might also consider a “Contact” form for potential employers to inquire about work.

Want to get a recruiter’s perspective of your portfolio? Send us your portfolio. One of our recruiters will get back to you soon with feedback.

Jessica Bedford, for Artisan Creative

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7 Interview Questions Every Employer Should Ask

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013|

Whether you’re a veteran interviewer or hiring your first employee, you’ll probably agree that the interview is the most important part of the recruitment process. Therefore it’s critical to ask the right questions. While our version of the Proust Questionnaire offers a few out of the box questions (designed in some cases to stump potential employees or just see how creative they can be), here are a few of the more typical questions every interviewer should be asking:

1. Tell me about yourself. – This type of open-ended question is a great way to start your interview and put your candidate at ease. It should be easy to talk about yourself! It also gives you an opportunity to witness both confidence and communication skills first hand.

1. Describe a time when something went wrong at work and how you dealt with it. – This question is ideal for learning about how your potential hire will handle the pressures of life and conflict in your office. Answers here also demonstrate problem-solving skills and culture fit.

1. How would your boss describe you? – This is a great way to ask the “strengths” and “weaknesses” question without actually asking it. It also provides some insight into how your working relationship with the potential talent might be. Does the answer describe a person that would fit well within your organization?

1. What role do you usually play in a team? – The answer to this question should complement the answer previously – is the way your coworkers see you the way you actually perform in your company? This question also provides insight on personality and autonomy.

1. Where do you see yourself in five years? – The perfect question for uncovering candidate motivations, answers help determine whether your company and the opportunity presented are a good fit for the interviewee. Will they still be with your team in five years or will they quickly outgrow your department or company?

1. Tell me about a favorite project you worked on and why it’s your favorite. – Resumes offer a list of responsibilities and accomplishments. Answers to this question should reveal the story behind the bullet points, the passion for the project, and the genuine interest for the work. If any of these are missing, perhaps the interviewee is in the wrong business.

Do you have any questions for me? – This is the perfect way to “end” an interview as you turn the tables, engaging the talent to then interview you. Not only does it demonstrate your company’s appreciation for open dialogue, but also lets you know whether the potential job seeker is definitely interested. If they answer “no” – then they are probably not the best fit.

Is there a question you like to ask during interviews? Why do you ask it? Share with us in the comments below.

Jessica Bedford, for Artisan Creative

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Preparing for Your Telephone Interview

Thursday, January 31st, 2013|

With fewer human resources professionals taking care of more hiring and hundreds, if not thousands of online applications, the telephone interview or “phone screen” has become ever more common as part of the job search process. But telephone interviews offer some challenges that are distinctly different from an in-person interview. Here are some tips for preparing:

Be ready—Don’t take a telephone interview any less seriously than you would an in-person encounter. Make sure you have practiced your pitch, run through your best stories and done your research.

Choose the environment—You need a quiet area where you will not be interrupted and preferably a landline phone. Bad cell service or a dead battery can be the death of an otherwise good interview.

Ask for clarification—Since you can’t gain information from non-verbal cues during a telephone interview, if you are clear about what the interviewer is asking, request that he or she repeat or rephrase the question. Better to answer well the second time than badly the first.

Speak clearly—Remember your interviewer is also at a disadvantage being on the phone. Slow down and speak expressively. Your whole personality is being conveyed by only one mode of communication—your voice.

Have your resume available—In an in-person interview, you can’t reference your resume for reminders, but on the phone you can have it laid out in front of you to remind you of your accomplishments.

Wendy Stackhouse, Consultant for Artisan Creative

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4 Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

Thursday, January 10th, 2013|

When the end of a job interview is approaching, any interviewer worth their salt is going to say, “Do you have any questions?” Candidates should be as ready for this one as they are for “Tell me about yourself.”

Keeping in mind that you don’t want to take too much more time since your interviewer is wrapping it up, research about the company should give you some good ideas. Here are a few questions to consider asking the hiring manager:

Could you describe a typical day or week on the job in this role? A job title and job description have a lot of information, but they don’t tell you how your day might play out. This could get you some important information about the culture of the company and how happy you might be working there.
Is this a new role? It’s good to know if you would be compared to someone they know and love (or hate) or be defining the job yourself. Have a story ready of another time you were the first person to take on a position or new project at a previous employer, just in case the answer is yes.
Why do you work here? We found this one in a Lifehacker blog this week as a way of finding out how your interview has gone. Their take is that if the interviewer is at ease answering, then the interview has gone well. If they get prickly and usher you right out, well, you may not get the nod.
Could I have your business card? It’s much easier to send a thank-you note when you have all of the pertinent information at hand.

We would love to hear from you about the questions you ask in interviews and what kind of responses you get. Is it worth the risk of asking a less typical question to get a less typical answer? Or do you go with an old standby like, “What more do you need to know about me to hire me for this role?”

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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That Awkward Silence

Thursday, November 8th, 2012|

There comes a time in every job interview…the awkward silence. No one is talking.

It’s okay. Let it happen.

With all the preparation candidates do for interviews—and don’t think we’re discouraging preparation!—one thing they don’t always take into consideration is how long their answers actually are. This is another good reason to practice interviewing with a friend or a colleague who is paying attention to the details.

Your answers in an interview should be between 1 and 2 minutes. Even if you’re telling a story, short and sweet is the best. A short story can lead to more interesting questions and more back and forth. If you talk for too long, the interviewer will tune out.

Sometimes, however, when you are pithy, you finish before your interviewer has prepared the next question. That’s really good, as it means he or she was engaged in active listening.

Don’t be tempted to fill the silence after your well-crafted answer is finished. It seems much longer than it actually is and puts the dynamic of the interview squarely in your hands.

So time out your stories. And your long-form answers to “Tell me about yourself” and “why do you want to work here?” Stay within two minutes and you will know if there is a little space between your answer and the next question, it’s because you’re doing well!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Any Questions?

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012|

There are many parts to a good job interview preparation process:

Research
Planning stories
Writing out answers
Role-Playing

…but one of my favorites is this one:

Preparing questions to ask the interviewer

Why do I like it so much?

This is the part of an interview where the candidate can really take control of the conversation. You’ve gotten (I hope) plenty of information already about the culture, the expectations and the role, not to mention about the interviewer him or herself and what kind of interviewer they are.

This is your chance to either:

Find out what is the most important quality they need in the role and pitch yourself as having it

or

Find out if the role has the most important element that you need it to have and determine whether you actually want the position.

You also have an opportunity to get inside that interviewer’s head a little bit and give them what they are looking for, but for that you have to be great at analyzing people on your feet. If you are listening actively, not only to verbal communication but also to nonverbal cues, then you have a lot to go on. What does the interviewer want to know about you that they have not yet learned?

This can be the most important—make or break—moment of your interview. Don’t throw it away!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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5 Tips for Handling Rejection after a Job Interview

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012|

I wish I could tell you how many applications, resumes, and job interviews it takes to get a job. For some candidates, it’s only one; for others, it could be hundreds.

But for most of us, the job search process will go on longer than we would like. When we don’t get the first job for which we interview, the rejections will follow – via email, phone, letter or simply by a lack of response at all.

What is the best way to handle it?

Don’t take it personally. It’s easy to decide the hiring manager hated you or had something against you, especially if you’re feeling a bit desperate. He didn’t. He could have found a candidate who was a better fit, been overruled by someone higher up, known another candidate before the process began, or even decided not to hire right now. You’ll never know why, so choose to be positive.
Don’t let it invalidate you. Your strengths are still your strengths and so are your skills. No hiring manager should be able to make you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. You still do, even if your skills weren’t the right fit for that opportunity.
Walk away right away. Your job at your interview wasn’t to get the offer; your job was to do well at the interview. Did you do your job? Now let it go and let the results be what they will be.
Evaluate. Take a look back at the interview before you forget the details and make sure you know where you did well and where you would like to improve. Let every interview be a learning experience.
Know you are not alone. There are thousands—nay millions—of people out there every day, just like you, looking for the perfect role. They are all interviewing. Some get offers and some do not. Get in touch with people in your network who are in a similar situation, ask for support, and give some yourself.

Rejection is always hard to take but is inevitable at times. The more information you gain from the experience, whether it ends positively or negatively, the better off you are. The more you know, right?

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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