We’ve all been in a job interview that goes wrong. It can start with something small — getting momentarily stumped on an interview question, for example. But once the spiral starts, it seems like there’s no pulling out of it.
Don’t despair. As with all things interview-related, the key is to be prepared. This week’s roundup looks at some expert advice on stopping the bad-interview spiral. Plus: a quick quiz that can tell you if you’re a workaholic and seven resume trends to know about this year.
Alison Green at Ask a Manager: Can You Save a Bad Interview?
A reader writes in to ask:
I had my first-ever phone interview earlier this week, and it was a total disaster. A few minutes after the appointed time, my phone rang and I answered “Hello?” to which he said “Hi Anne, this is Eugene from ABC Corp.” and then I said “Great, thanks so much for calling.” He responded, “Did you forget about our appointment?” I was really confused — no, I hadn’t forgotten, we had agreed via email that he would call me, and I was sitting in my car in the parking lot (so I wouldn’t be bothered by coworkers in the office), reviewing my notes when he called. I said, “No, not at all. I’m here, ready to go!” His reply: “You just sounded so surprised when you answered.”
The interview, the reader says, went downhill from there. The question: is there anything you can do in these situations, to get back on track? Green’s answer will help you prepare to save most disastrous interviews. (Although, as she points out, if the interviewer is a jerk, as this one seemed to be, you might want to reconsider taking the job.)
Dawn Rosenberg McKay at The Balance: Are You a Workaholic?
The concept of the workaholic has been with us for some time, but determining who fits the label in today’s always-connected workforce is tricky. Are you a workaholic if you check email every night before bed, or does it only count if you’re still in the office when you do it?
These measures aren’t scientific, but it doesn’t mean they’re without worth. If you don’t decide how much is too much at work, it’s likely that no one else will. For some food for thought, take McKay’s quiz, Are You a Workaholic?. If the question about hiding from your loved ones to work during vacation makes you wince with recognition, it might be time to rethink some things.
Lisa Rangel of Chameleon Resumes at The Savvy Intern: 7 Resume Trends You Need to Know About in 2017
If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, now’s the time to give it an overhaul. Resume writing is subject to trends like any other aspect of job hunting, and you want to make sure that your CV looks current.
One example, from Rangel’s list:
Speak to Benefits (Not Just Experience)
Want to be hired on merit? Do not lead with education or years of experience.
For example, “Reduced operating expenses by 23% in six months” is much more interesting to an employer versus, “I have five years of sales experience.” The latter elicits a yawn. But the former piques one’s interest. More important, it leaves the person wanting to see where else you’ve made a tangible impact.
More trends, here.
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