Ask the Coach #1 Recovering from a Bad Interview Experience

Ask the Coach #1 Recovering from a Bad Interview Experience I blogged about this about a month ago, but I wanted to put this in front of a group of job search and career coaches and get more qualified thoughts on this question and issue, which Im sure a lot of people have dealt with. So, lets launch a new series called Ask the Coaches, where I present a bunch of coaches with questions from job seekers (SEND ME QUESTIONS :)), and theyll answer it with their years of experience.  Lets jump into it. The question I sent the coaches is: I had an interview and the feedback I got was that I was too low energy. You can imagine that was a problem since this was for a sales role. I am a pretty even-keeled guy, and Im not super high energy, but I am very good at sales. His only hangup was my energy level?   How do I respond to the interviewer, and what do I do going forward? John Sattler, Certified Personnel Consultant and Certified Professional Resume Writer Sales is about numbers and people, therefore, any question about your  perceived  energy deficit can be squashed easily via a dialouge where you turn it into a unique asset and show how you use it to your advantage. Im assuming you made it to a face-to-face interview by showing proof of your sales performance in numbers.   It’s best to evoke/uncover and address an interviewer’s concerns  during the interview. After the fact can be done via phone or, as a last resort, email. If the job is ideal, try to set up another face to face appointment to discuss.   SAMPLE DIALOGUE:   Interviewer:  Do you have any final questions?   You:  I’ve learned a lot today, and, although I was upbeat on the position prior to this interview, I am now positively enthusiastic. Based on what you know right now, are you ready to hire me?     Interviewer:  No. I am concerned because  Im sensing a lower-than-normal level of energy from you.   You:  That is really interesting, what makes you say that?   Interivewer:  You speak at a slow paceand just your general aura. I feel little or no enthusiasm coming from you.   You:  Do you have any other concerns? (you MUST uncover ALL concerns and deal with them one by one)   Interviewer:  Not at all, I feel strongly, however, that a sales representative must transfer feelings of energy in order to be effective..   You:  I understand. As sales manager, of course you want a team of high peformers who get along reasonably well, are helpful, and represent the company is a professional and positive way.     I bring  all  of those assets to the table at least my employers think so and I have found my personality to be a huge asset. You’re right, though, few would readily think someone they perceive as calm, introverted, and speaks with a slower-than-normal cadence would turn out to be a top-performing salesperson. But the fact is, I am just that, as my performance record indicates. I use this initial perception of me as an advantage by focusing the entire presentation on the prospect: I demonstrate how I will solve their problem,  robustly and directly address their concerns, and communicate  trust.  The prospect is reassured that I am talking substance wholly unaided by big personality, if you will.  Im not saying it would work for everyone it  does  work for me and the proof is in the numbers.   So, I don’t blame you for stating your concern at that moment you didn’t have all the information. Though now that you  dohave plain proof, in quantitative and qualitative terms, that I can deliver top-tier performance and be an asset to your team, would you be ready to make the offer?  (DO NOT SPEAK until they do).   Frank Pomata, Labor Tech/Suffolk County Dept. of Labor I would urge the candidate to take the feedback seriously and perhaps engage in some mock interviews with others to see if they have similar perceptions.  Thank the interviewer for the feedback, but emphasize that many customers prefer not to be sold in an aggressive/high energy manner and how your track record in sales demonstrates the success of your approach. That being said, consider being open to trying new techniques to show your energy level is at least equal to other sales personnel. Melvin Scales, Senior Vice President, Meridian Resources, wrote: In my opinion, having a perceived low energy level when interviewing for a sales role has everything to do with what is being sold. In non-tangible sales such as consulting for example, being a high energy salesperson can backfire because the salesperson is seen as pushy. Of course this can happen in tangible sales such as automobiles, major appliances, computers etc. This is clearly an issue of preference demanded by the hiring manager. He or she is looking to hire someone like themselves. It has been my experience that the best salepersons are excellent listeners and remain focused and balanced throughout the client relationship. Cheryl Lynch Simpson, Career, Job Search LinkedIn Coach | Executive Resume Writer Assuming you have shared your sales achievements with the interviewer, then his low-energy comment indicates to me that he has a pre-conceived idea of what he views as a desirable candidate personality. He clearly equates high energy with sales success despite evidence of an exemplary sales record. Moreover, because he seems to be insisting that all of his hires must have the same sales personality, I believe he is probably a micromanager. Is that the kind of person you want to work for? If its not, then I suggest you move on, but clarify for yourself what kinds of personality and leadership traits you are seeking in an immediate supervisor and make every effort to screen your potential managers going forward. Lucie Yeomans,  Certified Career Services Professional and Job Search Strategist Don’t take the feedback too hard. Your personality has led you to what sounds like a great sales career. Going forward, here are a couple of strategies you may not have considered. Recent studies show an overwhelming majority of interviewers today are looking for a cultural fit as much as they are looking for the right qualifications and experience. To show your enthusiasm and energy, do your homework on the hiring company. Go beyond just reading the company website. What are the industry trends, opportunities, and challenges? Have thoughtful, engaging questions and your accomplishment stories ready to discuss with the interviewer(s) regarding these topics. You want the interviewer to notice how impressive your up-to-date industry/company knowledge is, which will bring out more of your personality and enthusiasm as you engage them in meaningful discussions. Also, many candidates never consider whether the hiring company is a good fit for them. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Check out the company’s social media platforms and engage with employees. What are the employees tweeting about? What is their culture like? Is it a good fit for you? Too many clients have come to me after they jumped at a job only to find out within a few months the company was not a good fit. The trick is to not be one of them. Denise Taylor, career coach, Chief Inspiration Officer, the 50 Plus Coach, responds: It sounds like you were interviewed by an extrovert, high energy person who was looking for someone similar. You want to be ready with all the examples of how you are successful in sales, and how you adapt to different potential customers. That’s the experience bit, but this person wants to see and hear your energy. Here’s some suggestions for next time. Let’s think about what’s going on inside and outside. Inside you know you can do it, and are enthused but it’s not coming through so find inside you the energetic enthused you from a previous, possibly non work situation and hold that thought. How did you feel act â€" was there more passion in how you spoke? More energy? Changes in how you hold your body? Now take that and make it come to the outside â€" make some changes to your voice tone and posture and let this energy shine through. You’re not looking got a radical change but a shift of maybe 10%. Gina Bartosiewicz,  Professional Resume Writing Consultant Never sacrifice who you are and what you stand for, personally or professionally, for any role or any company.   If you are getting feedback on an interview (which, by the way is great!), that you are not a particular fit for that company’s culture, then this feedback is extremely valuable and not to be taken lightly.   One of the most important things you can do for your well-being and your career is to take on a role with a company where you will feel like you mesh well with the culture, and can effortlessly fit in, and therefore, find it easier to contribute and make a difference! Always attempt to do your research on a companys culture prior to the interview, if possible! I have been hearing more and more about this type of feedback, or feedback in general pertaining to an interview candidates skills or qualifications being brought to the attention of the interviewer  during  the interview itself.   Although, most are not prepared for this type of feedback during an interview, it is becoming more commonplace, and I think it’s a positive thing.   Historically, you receive a letter or email after the interview with a simple “thanks, but no thanks” and not a lot of reasoning behind it, but having something to actually think about and have hard facts and reasoning behind the “no thanks” walking out of an interview can be enlightening   It may not be what you wanted to hear, but any constructive feedback can be helpful to you in your job search.   Additionally, it helps YOU weed out the company.   Remember, you are also interviewing the company.   This particular company wanted high energy sales.   This was not the candidates style, and it may ha ve just been an uncomfortable fit for everyone. Elva Bankins Baxter, Certified Master Coach When the feedback is low energy, it can be a matter of fit as it relates to the high achievers on the current sales team  or  it could be a reference to the age of your friend. Your friend may be older than the sales teams high achievers and potentially exude less energy.  Either way, the interviewer perceived a cultural mismatch.  While this feedback is frustrating to hear, when the candidate has proven successes and high achieving sales, its an Ah Ha moment for the candidate.   My advice for this candidate moving forward  is to  tell stories about his key wins, not just state the statistics about a win.  He or she should  give specifics about these key wins and what made him or her successful  in beating the competition.   Told early in the interview,  these stories must  be brief and should be rehearsed well before the interview.  I recommend using the  S.O.A.R  method  for story  telling.  Most people like to hear a good  story that has a beginning middle and a highly suc cessful ending.  The telling of the story will demonstrate the candidates passion,  credibility, energy, and fit and enables interviewers to see the potential value that this candidate brings to the sales team. Ron Auerbach, Author of Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success Even-keel can be used to describe those who let things just roll off their backs. Translation, things just dont bother or get to you. This is a good thing because it says to interviewers that youre somebody who will not get very upset, lash-out, or give up. But when its used to describe somebody who is less motivated or dedicated, that is an extremely bad thing! So less energy = less motivation, dedication, and/or desire to achieve or succeed. And with sales, this is a job killer! Sales is a profession where candidates need to be seen as highly-motivated and extroverted. Somebody who is extremely personable that can relate well to new prospects and existing clients. And a person who will be able to handle the pressures and rejections that are commonplace in sales. So to be successful in a sales interview, an interviewer must perceive you as displaying these qualities. Now you dont want to go overboard! Being seen as too aggressive can turn off an interviewer just as easily as being too shy. So you need to avoid crossing over into arrogance or cockiness territory. So extroverted and personable enough to say prospects and clients will feel very comfortable with you. And cool enough to say pressure and rejection wont get to or bother you. Sadly, it is too late for this questioner to do anything about that interview because it was after-the-fact. And the time to have been seen the right way has passed. So speaking up now wont change their minds. But going forward, is is crucial that he be seen in a very positive light. So learn from this by displaying a more animated and extroverted personality. One that says youre outgoing, personable, can handle pressure, and dont let things bother or stand in your way. Those are the KEYS to success in a sales interview! Rich Grant, online career course instructor for Peak-Careers Your response to the interviewer (ideally the hiring sales manager) is your opportunity to demonstrate your competencies as a sales person, primarily overcoming objections and highlighting the benefits of your product or service in terms of the customers needs. A good sales person is a good listener and asks good questions. By the way, this might be a test to see how persistent you are. You want to make the point that being low key does not mean low energy.  Ask  some questions to find out more about the personalities and temperaments of the customers. Do they expect a hyper, high energy sales approach or would they prefer a serious, less pressurized, consultative approach? You overall point is that you get results. Youre good at sales. Your even-keeled demeanor provides a benefit to the customer because you listen and theyre comfortable with you. Gavan Ambrosini, Executive Coach, Career Consultant First off, congratulations on getting the interview.  Your resume and/or your connections are working for you, and that is a great start.  Second:  Try not to take it personally when you get feedback that isnt 100% positive. Use it to your advantage to work on your interviewing skills, and be sure to thank them for the useful feedback (yes THANK them) It shows you have a growth mindset and are open to learning.  It could keep the door open to continued dialogue with them.  Perhaps send them a few testimonials from happy customers to illustrate your point that you dont need to be super outgoing to be successful or to please your clients. The next time you interview, tune into the body language of your interviewerand mirror the person you are talking to. If they speak with a more energetic tone match their pacing with yours.  If they talk slow and deliberately, then slow down your pace down.  People are naturally unconsciously biased towards those who are like them unless they are trained specifically to recognize it when it pops up.  Remember, feedback is subjective and tells you more about the person giving feedback than it does about you. The only reason feedback may bother you is if you think there is some truth in it.  If not, it wouldnt bother you.  If so, then there are ways to work on it to present yourself differently for the next time. Dr. Heather N. Maietta, Master Career Coach Addressing the feedback in the moment would be ideal. This is easier said than done, especially when caught off guard. In part, the interviewer wants to see how you respond to unconventional questions or feedback, so how you react is as important as how you respond. In this instance, letting the interviewer know thats your signature approach to sales and it has brought you much success to date. People respond well to your easy going, laid back demeanor, as supported by your excellent sales record. Mention this is a question she should pose to your references when he calls so he can be rest assured your energy level is a non-issue. Wym Bumgardner, Career Services Representative Every interview is different.   Being too low energy means different things to different people.   And, kudos to the interviewer for pointing this out.   This is a gold nugget for you to consider, and also to engage your interviewer in a discussion about this. It sounds as if the interview is over.   You have an opportunity to follow up with the interviewer, thank him for his comments, get specifics about what low energy means to him and what a high energy interview would be.   Let him know that you are flexible with your style, and that your excellent sales results speak for your skills.   Offer to meet with him again, demonstrating a high energy level.   Practice with a trusted colleague for this high energy interview before you go.   Being prepared both with energy and strong sales accomplishments could lead you to a new position. And thats it for our FIRST Ask The Coach Question click here for more! Ask the Coach #1 Recovering from a Bad Interview Experience I blogged about this about a month ago, but I wanted to put this in front of a group of job search and career coaches and get more qualified thoughts on this question and issue, which Im sure a lot of people have dealt with. So, lets launch a new series called Ask the Coaches, where I present a bunch of coaches with questions from job seekers (SEND ME QUESTIONS :)), and theyll answer it with their years of experience.  Lets jump into it. The question I sent the coaches is: I had an interview and the feedback I got was that I was too low energy. You can imagine that was a problem since this was for a sales role. I am a pretty even-keeled guy, and Im not super high energy, but I am very good at sales. His only hangup was my energy level?   How do I respond to the interviewer, and what do I do going forward? John Sattler, Certified Personnel Consultant and Certified Professional Resume Writer Sales is about numbers and people, therefore, any question about your  perceived  energy deficit can be squashed easily via a dialouge where you turn it into a unique asset and show how you use it to your advantage. Im assuming you made it to a face-to-face interview by showing proof of your sales performance in numbers.   It’s best to evoke/uncover and address an interviewer’s concerns  during the interview. After the fact can be done via phone or, as a last resort, email. If the job is ideal, try to set up another face to face appointment to discuss.   SAMPLE DIALOGUE:   Interviewer:  Do you have any final questions?   You:  I’ve learned a lot today, and, although I was upbeat on the position prior to this interview, I am now positively enthusiastic. Based on what you know right now, are you ready to hire me?     Interviewer:  No. I am concerned because  Im sensing a lower-than-normal level of energy from you.   You:  That is really interesting, what makes you say that?   Interivewer:  You speak at a slow paceand just your general aura. I feel little or no enthusiasm coming from you.   You:  Do you have any other concerns? (you MUST uncover ALL concerns and deal with them one by one)   Interviewer:  Not at all, I feel strongly, however, that a sales representative must transfer feelings of energy in order to be effective..   You:  I understand. As sales manager, of course you want a team of high peformers who get along reasonably well, are helpful, and represent the company is a professional and positive way.     I bring  all  of those assets to the table at least my employers think so and I have found my personality to be a huge asset. You’re right, though, few would readily think someone they perceive as calm, introverted, and speaks with a slower-than-normal cadence would turn out to be a top-performing salesperson. But the fact is, I am just that, as my performance record indicates. I use this initial perception of me as an advantage by focusing the entire presentation on the prospect: I demonstrate how I will solve their problem,  robustly and directly address their concerns, and communicate  trust.  The prospect is reassured that I am talking substance wholly unaided by big personality, if you will.  Im not saying it would work for everyone it  does  work for me and the proof is in the numbers.   So, I don’t blame you for stating your concern at that moment you didn’t have all the information. Though now that you  dohave plain proof, in quantitative and qualitative terms, that I can deliver top-tier performance and be an asset to your team, would you be ready to make the offer?  (DO NOT SPEAK until they do).   Frank Pomata, Labor Tech/Suffolk County Dept. of Labor I would urge the candidate to take the feedback seriously and perhaps engage in some mock interviews with others to see if they have similar perceptions.  Thank the interviewer for the feedback, but emphasize that many customers prefer not to be sold in an aggressive/high energy manner and how your track record in sales demonstrates the success of your approach. That being said, consider being open to trying new techniques to show your energy level is at least equal to other sales personnel. Melvin Scales, Senior Vice President, Meridian Resources, wrote: In my opinion, having a perceived low energy level when interviewing for a sales role has everything to do with what is being sold. In non-tangible sales such as consulting for example, being a high energy salesperson can backfire because the salesperson is seen as pushy. Of course this can happen in tangible sales such as automobiles, major appliances, computers etc. This is clearly an issue of preference demanded by the hiring manager. He or she is looking to hire someone like themselves. It has been my experience that the best salepersons are excellent listeners and remain focused and balanced throughout the client relationship. Cheryl Lynch Simpson, Career, Job Search LinkedIn Coach | Executive Resume Writer Assuming you have shared your sales achievements with the interviewer, then his low-energy comment indicates to me that he has a pre-conceived idea of what he views as a desirable candidate personality. He clearly equates high energy with sales success despite evidence of an exemplary sales record. Moreover, because he seems to be insisting that all of his hires must have the same sales personality, I believe he is probably a micromanager. Is that the kind of person you want to work for? If its not, then I suggest you move on, but clarify for yourself what kinds of personality and leadership traits you are seeking in an immediate supervisor and make every effort to screen your potential managers going forward. Lucie Yeomans,  Certified Career Services Professional and Job Search Strategist Don’t take the feedback too hard. Your personality has led you to what sounds like a great sales career. Going forward, here are a couple of strategies you may not have considered. Recent studies show an overwhelming majority of interviewers today are looking for a cultural fit as much as they are looking for the right qualifications and experience. To show your enthusiasm and energy, do your homework on the hiring company. Go beyond just reading the company website. What are the industry trends, opportunities, and challenges? Have thoughtful, engaging questions and your accomplishment stories ready to discuss with the interviewer(s) regarding these topics. You want the interviewer to notice how impressive your up-to-date industry/company knowledge is, which will bring out more of your personality and enthusiasm as you engage them in meaningful discussions. Also, many candidates never consider whether the hiring company is a good fit for them. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Check out the company’s social media platforms and engage with employees. What are the employees tweeting about? What is their culture like? Is it a good fit for you? Too many clients have come to me after they jumped at a job only to find out within a few months the company was not a good fit. The trick is to not be one of them. Denise Taylor, career coach, Chief Inspiration Officer, the 50 Plus Coach, responds: It sounds like you were interviewed by an extrovert, high energy person who was looking for someone similar. You want to be ready with all the examples of how you are successful in sales, and how you adapt to different potential customers. That’s the experience bit, but this person wants to see and hear your energy. Here’s some suggestions for next time. Let’s think about what’s going on inside and outside. Inside you know you can do it, and are enthused but it’s not coming through so find inside you the energetic enthused you from a previous, possibly non work situation and hold that thought. How did you feel act â€" was there more passion in how you spoke? More energy? Changes in how you hold your body? Now take that and make it come to the outside â€" make some changes to your voice tone and posture and let this energy shine through. You’re not looking got a radical change but a shift of maybe 10%. Gina Bartosiewicz,  Professional Resume Writing Consultant Never sacrifice who you are and what you stand for, personally or professionally, for any role or any company.   If you are getting feedback on an interview (which, by the way is great!), that you are not a particular fit for that company’s culture, then this feedback is extremely valuable and not to be taken lightly.   One of the most important things you can do for your well-being and your career is to take on a role with a company where you will feel like you mesh well with the culture, and can effortlessly fit in, and therefore, find it easier to contribute and make a difference! Always attempt to do your research on a companys culture prior to the interview, if possible! I have been hearing more and more about this type of feedback, or feedback in general pertaining to an interview candidates skills or qualifications being brought to the attention of the interviewer  during  the interview itself.   Although, most are not prepared for this type of feedback during an interview, it is becoming more commonplace, and I think it’s a positive thing.   Historically, you receive a letter or email after the interview with a simple “thanks, but no thanks” and not a lot of reasoning behind it, but having something to actually think about and have hard facts and reasoning behind the “no thanks” walking out of an interview can be enlightening   It may not be what you wanted to hear, but any constructive feedback can be helpful to you in your job search.   Additionally, it helps YOU weed out the company.   Remember, you are also interviewing the company.   This particular company wanted high energy sales.   This was not the candidates style, and it may ha ve just been an uncomfortable fit for everyone. Elva Bankins Baxter, Certified Master Coach When the feedback is low energy, it can be a matter of fit as it relates to the high achievers on the current sales team  or  it could be a reference to the age of your friend. Your friend may be older than the sales teams high achievers and potentially exude less energy.  Either way, the interviewer perceived a cultural mismatch.  While this feedback is frustrating to hear, when the candidate has proven successes and high achieving sales, its an Ah Ha moment for the candidate.   My advice for this candidate moving forward  is to  tell stories about his key wins, not just state the statistics about a win.  He or she should  give specifics about these key wins and what made him or her successful  in beating the competition.   Told early in the interview,  these stories must  be brief and should be rehearsed well before the interview.  I recommend using the  S.O.A.R  method  for story  telling.  Most people like to hear a good  story that has a beginning middle and a highly suc cessful ending.  The telling of the story will demonstrate the candidates passion,  credibility, energy, and fit and enables interviewers to see the potential value that this candidate brings to the sales team. Ron Auerbach, Author of Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success Even-keel can be used to describe those who let things just roll off their backs. Translation, things just dont bother or get to you. This is a good thing because it says to interviewers that youre somebody who will not get very upset, lash-out, or give up. But when its used to describe somebody who is less motivated or dedicated, that is an extremely bad thing! So less energy = less motivation, dedication, and/or desire to achieve or succeed. And with sales, this is a job killer! Sales is a profession where candidates need to be seen as highly-motivated and extroverted. Somebody who is extremely personable that can relate well to new prospects and existing clients. And a person who will be able to handle the pressures and rejections that are commonplace in sales. So to be successful in a sales interview, an interviewer must perceive you as displaying these qualities. Now you dont want to go overboard! Being seen as too aggressive can turn off an interviewer just as easily as being too shy. So you need to avoid crossing over into arrogance or cockiness territory. So extroverted and personable enough to say prospects and clients will feel very comfortable with you. And cool enough to say pressure and rejection wont get to or bother you. Sadly, it is too late for this questioner to do anything about that interview because it was after-the-fact. And the time to have been seen the right way has passed. So speaking up now wont change their minds. But going forward, is is crucial that he be seen in a very positive light. So learn from this by displaying a more animated and extroverted personality. One that says youre outgoing, personable, can handle pressure, and dont let things bother or stand in your way. Those are the KEYS to success in a sales interview! Rich Grant, online career course instructor for Peak-Careers Your response to the interviewer (ideally the hiring sales manager) is your opportunity to demonstrate your competencies as a sales person, primarily overcoming objections and highlighting the benefits of your product or service in terms of the customers needs. A good sales person is a good listener and asks good questions. By the way, this might be a test to see how persistent you are. You want to make the point that being low key does not mean low energy.  Ask  some questions to find out more about the personalities and temperaments of the customers. Do they expect a hyper, high energy sales approach or would they prefer a serious, less pressurized, consultative approach? You overall point is that you get results. Youre good at sales. Your even-keeled demeanor provides a benefit to the customer because you listen and theyre comfortable with you. Gavan Ambrosini, Executive Coach, Career Consultant First off, congratulations on getting the interview.  Your resume and/or your connections are working for you, and that is a great start.  Second:  Try not to take it personally when you get feedback that isnt 100% positive. Use it to your advantage to work on your interviewing skills, and be sure to thank them for the useful feedback (yes THANK them) It shows you have a growth mindset and are open to learning.  It could keep the door open to continued dialogue with them.  Perhaps send them a few testimonials from happy customers to illustrate your point that you dont need to be super outgoing to be successful or to please your clients. The next time you interview, tune into the body language of your interviewerand mirror the person you are talking to. If they speak with a more energetic tone match their pacing with yours.  If they talk slow and deliberately, then slow down your pace down.  People are naturally unconsciously biased towards those who are like them unless they are trained specifically to recognize it when it pops up.  Remember, feedback is subjective and tells you more about the person giving feedback than it does about you. The only reason feedback may bother you is if you think there is some truth in it.  If not, it wouldnt bother you.  If so, then there are ways to work on it to present yourself differently for the next time. Dr. Heather N. Maietta, Master Career Coach Addressing the feedback in the moment would be ideal. This is easier said than done, especially when caught off guard. In part, the interviewer wants to see how you respond to unconventional questions or feedback, so how you react is as important as how you respond. In this instance, letting the interviewer know thats your signature approach to sales and it has brought you much success to date. People respond well to your easy going, laid back demeanor, as supported by your excellent sales record. Mention this is a question she should pose to your references when he calls so he can be rest assured your energy level is a non-issue. Wym Bumgardner, Career Services Representative Every interview is different.   Being too low energy means different things to different people.   And, kudos to the interviewer for pointing this out.   This is a gold nugget for you to consider, and also to engage your interviewer in a discussion about this. It sounds as if the interview is over.   You have an opportunity to follow up with the interviewer, thank him for his comments, get specifics about what low energy means to him and what a high energy interview would be.   Let him know that you are flexible with your style, and that your excellent sales results speak for your skills.   Offer to meet with him again, demonstrating a high energy level.   Practice with a trusted colleague for this high energy interview before you go.   Being prepared both with energy and strong sales accomplishments could lead you to a new position. And thats it for our FIRST Ask The Coach Question click here for more!

Where to Get Help Writing a Resume

Where to Get Help Writing a ResumeIf you are looking for where to get help writing a resume, the first place to look is your job application. Resumes are part of your job application package, as they are an important part of getting your application into the hands of a professional editor. If you want to help yourself stand out from the other applicants, it is vital that you get your resume in shape before you send it out. It is often difficult to create a resume that is perfect for the needs of the job application package.You should have a sample resume in front of you that you can use to help you get started. When the editors read your resume, they will want to see how you intend to promote yourself. They will want to know what your educational background is, and alsowhat particular job experience you have. This information is imperative to them when they are making their decision to hire you.The thing that will separate a great resume from a mediocre one is the people behind it. A n experienced resume writer will take your educational background and professional experience and group them together into one section. They will show that your professional experience is worth attention, and also, what type of work you have done. Of course, you should also include other aspects of your life that could be relevant. Your resume is only as good as the knowledge that it contains.A good way to organize this is to break it down into major skill areas. For example, you might write, 'Has a Master's Degree in Accounting and/or Financial Management.' A professional resume should have that in the title. You may then go on to include in the title of the section, 'Capable of Meeting All Business Requirements.'Once the resumes are organized, you can start to make suggestions about the various sections of the resume. For example, if you have a Master's degree in accounting, but you do not have any of the experience in financial management, you can list that as another area of exp ertise. You can also include details about where you went to school if this was an online program, or if you attended school at a technical college.You can use the technical resume as a guide, but your employer is probably going to want more than a list of your educational qualifications. It is essential that you have several examples of your work experience as well. Some employers may actually ask you to show some examples of your work. A professional resume writer will be able to create samples of your work for you, as well as cover letters that you can use to help you build your resume.A professional resume writer will give you a great deal of information on their website. You can find details about different types of writers and what they offer. You can also use the professional resume services of companies that specialize in online writing. These writers can provide you with an amazing amount of information on the topic of your resume, as well as the help that you need to creat e it.Where to get help writing a resume may be the most important part of your job application package. Remember that these are people who are judging your qualifications to work in a particular position. This means that you should make sure that you take the time to make a good first impression. You will be surprised how much your employer will learn about you from your resume.

December is a great month to find a job

December is a great month to find a job A lot of people decide to put their job hunt on hold between Thanksgiving and New Years, but thats a big mistake. There are a lot of extra job openings in December. New budgets take effect in January, but human resources received the job requisitions for the budgeted new jobs in November, and they are filled before January 1. At the same time, you have less competition than usual, because people think its a bad time to hunt. These factors combine to make December one of the best times of year to find a job. To find out the best ways to leverage December cheer for the job hunt, I talked to Cynthia Shapiro, former human resource executive and author of Corporate Confidential. (Thanks to Kay for recommending her.) For one thing, the rules for follow-up are different in December, according to Shapiro. You should not contact a hiring manager to follow up. Its so annoying, that youre better off sending a second resume than making a call. But you can send a holiday card as a sort of follow-up. Everyone loves a holiday card. They can put it up in their office to show how popular they are. Heres an example of what the card should say: I wish you the best in the holiday season. From Samara Kattal, marketing manager hopeful. Also, send a holiday card to a hiring manager who didnt hire you. A lot of people dont work out within the first 90 days, says Shapiro. If thats the case with the person who got the job you didnt, you might get a second chance by being at the top of the hiring managers mind Corporate holiday parties are also a good time for job hunting. Shapiro suggests that if you have a friend who works at a company where you want a job, get your friend to bring you to the party. At the party, go right to the head of the department you want to work for and say something very short and effective like, Happy holidays. My friend always tells me how great this company is. I am [your name]. Please call me if you are hiring. Here is my card. The beauty of this tactic is that not only is it face time with the hiring manager, but the context makes if feel like you are one of them, even though youre not. Some of you might read this and say to yourself, So what? I need a break from the hunt and Im really busy during the holidays and Ill start up again in January. Dont do that: Youll have more competition in January, because thats when everyone who stopped for the holidays starts up, and its when people who make a resolution to change jobs start their hunt. January 1 is a crush that is comparable to the June crush from new graduates, says Shapiro.

Advice from the top Marry a stay-at-home spouse or buy the equivalent.

Advice from the top Marry a stay-at-home spouse or buy the equivalent. I just hired someone to take care of my house for $50,000 a year: A house manager. This is in addition to the full-time nanny I have. And the cleaning service. And the assistant I have at work. I know the first thing going through your mind is that Im loaded and Im lucky. But Im not either: for instance, the house I live in is so small that I sleep in the kids room. I chose a house like this because I think having money to pay people to help me maintain a sane household is more important than having tons of space for tons of possessions. Having to make choices like that is what makes this topic worth writing about. But I wasnt sure if I was going to write at all about hiring a house manager, so I tried telling someone in person first, my friend Jason Warner, who is a director at Google. He said that that every high-level woman hes ever worked withat Microsoft, Starbucks, and Googlehas had to pay for tons of help at home or had a stay-at-home husband or has been literally falling apart at work. For the past year, at least, I have been in the last categoryfalling apart. Its clear to me now that to be a woman competing at high levels in corporate life, you have to have people helping you. Serious help. Most men who make a lot of money and have kids also have a stay-at-home wife. She holds their world together while he focuses on work. So I want you to know what its really like to be a woman competing with the men who have stay-at-home wives: Expensive. There are jokes about the hyperbole of the annual study that says that housewives are worth six-figures. I think it is not hyperbole. Those men are getting not just a house manager, but someone who adores his kids, is there all the time, and someone who is willing to have some sort of regular sex life. For all that, the estimate of $100,000 a year seems very low. My new house managers specialty is families with moms who have very time-consuming jobs. I told the house manager that Im worried that she will not be able to deal with how eccentric our family is. She says she has only dealt with eccentric families. She said the last family used to have birthday parties at breakfast instead of dinner because the mom couldnt get home for dinner. I told the house manager that I am always home for dinner. And violin lessons. When Im not traveling. I felt smug. For a minute. But really, I dont think there is an honest mom in the world who works full-time and feels smug. I am hiring a house manager because I dont think there is any way I can compete in my profession if I have to do things like clean up gummy bears for an hour a night, or make a toy-store run in the middle of the day for a last-minute birthday party after school. Jason was telling me that his wife went out of town for five days. She told him he had to take time off from work. He said he didnt want to use up vacation. He said hed be fine. But by the second day, he was going nuts. He said, Penelope, its unbelievable. I am telling the kids Ill be there in a minute and then I send an email. And I instant message chat while Im driving. And I take phone calls when the kids are in the other room waiting for me. This is crazy. Its so hard. But I have been doing this every day for years. Thats really what convinced me to hire the house manager. Because Jason was doing my life for four days and he thought it was crazy. And Jason is the type of guy Im competing with in business. He has a housewife. They are a good team. When Jason was writing guest posts on my blog I was talking with him all the time. He asked about the time stamps on my emails, he asked me when I slept (for about six months, when I started blogging, I basically stopped sleeping), and he asked me when I relaxed. Mostly I was jealous that he had someone at home taking care of so much stuff. So now Im not jealous. But, I have to confess something. Im jealous of all the guys who kept a family together while they built up their career. I wish I could have done that. So heres my advice to women who want a big career and a stable family: You need to earn a lot of money to make that happen. I dont know a stay-at-home dad who is seriously taking care of kids full-time, over the course of five-to-seven years, without a lot of money in the bank. And I dont know a woman who has a huge career without money to support a bunch of people to take care of things at home. For women, the difference between success and failure at the top of the ladder is, I think, a house manager.

Writing a Resume to Get Your First Law Firm Job

Writing a Resume to Get Your First Law Firm JobIf you are looking for ways to improve your chances of getting a job, one of the best methods you can use is writing a resume. A good resume will have your experience and education listed in the proper order and on the correct page. Doing this correctly will help your resume to show you the strengths you have and allow you to stand out in the job listing.As a new lawyer, it can be a little confusing to know where to begin when it comes to writing a resume to get your first law firm job. While many people consider the first step to getting a job to send out their resumes, this is not a wise decision. Asking for an interview at the law firm that you are applying to is the right way to start the process.To make sure you do not fall behind on getting your first law firm job, make sure your resume includes the basics such as the name of the firm you are working for, the year you graduated, and the legal area that you are hiring for. Having th is information on the application will give a potential employer a better idea of who you are and what type of lawyer you are. Also, ensure that your contact information is included and that you know the hours you can work and any special circumstances that would allow you to work outside the normal hours.After you have completed your law firm job, the next step is to look for employment with that same law firm. Another excellent way to get your first law firm job is to find a different firm and take on the client who has an opening in that same office. To find out if you can get a job with that firm, request a free case evaluation from the firm. This will let you know if they have a need for a new lawyer in that area and can determine if the firm is hiring or not.If you have applied for a job in the past, be sure to submit your resume and cover letter to the law firm where you were originally hired. While many law firms will no longer be in business, there will still be opportuniti es for jobs in the same legal field. The new attorney will be required to fill out and submit a resume and cover letter to that same law firm and be interviewed for the opening.You should never wait until you get your first law firm job to apply for another position. While the new attorney may be recommended to the firm for the opening, there may be someone who was recommended to them by a previous attorney in the same field. By starting out in your first job by having your resume and cover letter submitted for an opening, you will have an even better chance of getting the next job.When you have been assigned to an opening in a law firm and found that you were not recommended, do not be discouraged. There may be a new opportunity in the same area that you were hired for. Again, submitting your resume and cover letter to the law firm where you were previously employed is a great way to obtain another job in that same field.As you can see, the process of writing a resume to get your f irst law firm job is actually quite simple. The best advice that you can follow is to start with the basics and to follow through with the process until you have the job.

5 effective ways to stand out when youre writing emails - Debut

5 effective ways to stand out when youre writing emails - Debut When it comes to job hunting, the more you put yourself out there the more successful you’re going to be. Far from sending a couple of applications and hoping for a positive response, the vast number of students straight out of university applying for jobs means that employers are looking for a little bit more â€" and its down to you to make yourself known. Thankfully, universities offer plenty of networking opportunities, and nowadays its even easier to contact potential employers via the internet and social media. However, as if it wasn’t nerve wracking enough to reach out and put yourself on the radar of those you hope to one-day work for, the danger of committing a grammatical faux pas is a lingering worry. With just one fell swoop, your chances of securing that dream job could crumble around you. So, we’ve put together our top 5 tips for you to follow when writing to any potential employer, to help you stand out from the crowd and help you along the way into the job that you always wanted. Start as you mean to go on You only get one chance to make a first impression, so tailor the opening of your email to the person you’re writing to. If you’re writing to someone from a law firm, “Hello” is probably not the best start; if its someone from a niche magazine, however, “Dear Sir” is going to be too formal. Think before you click send. There are two main factors to consider: the person and the company. Do your research â€" know the company, check their social media, endlessly pour over their website. It sounds superficial, but tone is everything, and if you get off on the wrong foot you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Flattery gets you everywhere It’s a cliché, but its true. And, it shows your interest in the company. If there’s one way to stand out, its to look like you’ve been obsessing over their website/history for at least a week and then some! Cite specific articles or details that you enjoyed, and always relate it back to why you’re getting in contact. It not only shows your interest, but also lets them know that you fit right in with what they’re doing. Its win-win, really Keep it real As we said, tone is everything when you’re writing to someone for the first time, and if you’re putting it on its probably going to stand out a mile off. Yes, sometimes you have to be a little more formal that usual, but if you lay it on too thick its going to work against you. Again, this all depends on the person that you’re talking to, but even ‘formal’ has its limits. A few pointers: • Long sentences won’t make you look good â€" it just looks like you can’t use grammar! • Same with big words, just don’t do it! You just know you’ll use one in the wrong context and look a fool. • Show an interest in the work, but don’t pretend that you live and breathe it! You’re speaking to a real person, with a life outside of the office â€" they’ll see right through it! Hyperlinks Its always good to evidence work that you’ve done, but be sure to be neat about it. Endless lines of blue URLs will do you no favours â€" not only does it look unappealing, but it also looks like you don’t know how to embed hyperlinks into the body of your emails. A far tidier way is to attach the link to certain words (probably the title of what you’re referencing, or the name of the website on which its published). This way, the email reads coherently, and its clearly signposted to the reader where the link occurs. “C Ya” Much like beginning your email, the ending is the last thing the reader will see, so its essential that you get it right. And, again, it all depends on who you’re speaking to. As a rule, if you’re acquainted with the person, you can probably be a little more colloquial. Similarly, if it’s concerning a job that requires you to be a little more sociable, you don’t want to be too rigid. On a simple level, “Regards” or “Best” are probably safe bets, especially if you’re reaching out on a personal level. Its all about being approachable, and making that person want to be in contact with you. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Making the Most of Co-Working

Making the Most of Co-Working More people than ever before are working from home. Some of these people just work a few days a week at home, instead of in their office, still working for an employer. Others, run their own business out of their house, often working around family commitments. Then, some work as freelancers. They use their skills to make money online or in the real world. They work doing something that they enjoy, providing clients with their abilities, to help them to get a good job done. Freelancers work as writers, photographers, designers, editors and in many other fields. The growth of the internet means that more people are able to make money in this way and it can seem like a dream come true. Before you get started, working from home can feel like the answer to all of your problems. You’ll be able to work more flexible hours. You’ll be able to work around your family. You’ll be able to sit on the sofa in your sweats, working as and when it suits you. Then, for many, reality sets in and it’s rather different. Many people that work from home fall into two camps. The first, procrastinate. They are distracted by home life. They find it hard to focus and instead spend their time watching Netflix and eating cake. They gain weight, their work suffers, and they aren’t able to make as much money as they’d like to, because they don’t focus on their work. The second camp become obsessive workers. They work all day and into the night. They take on extra projects, they never take time off, and they work much more than they ever would as an employee in an office. They spend less time with their family and friends, and much less time outdoors. Work takes over their lives, and they feel constantly stressed out and anxious. Despite the appeal of home-working, most truly struggle to find that perfect work-life balance that they are looking for. This is just one of the reasons that co-working spaces are becoming more popular. Working from a shared office can be an excellent solution to all of your problems that offers you the best of both worlds, and it can make a very real difference to your working life, and the success of your work, even if you only use your shared office for a day a week. But only if you make the most of it. Here are some tips to help you to do just that. Choose Your Office Well One of the main appeals of using a co-working space is that it gets you out of the house and helps you to avoid cabin fever. It also helps you to get more done and make the most of your time. But, only if you choose your office wisely. If you pay for a co-working space or membership that’s miles away from your home, or too far away from your children’s school or childcare, you won’t ever make the most of it. Even if you do use it, you’ll waste that much time commuting that you won’t get as much done as you should. That’s why location should be your primary consideration when choosing an office. That said, the location shouldn’t be your only consideration. You’ll also want to be realistic with what you can afford. If your funds allow, a more luxurious coworking space could offer you better facilities, more comfortable space and a better place to hold meetings. It’ll also give you a chance to make more successful contacts. Co-working offices are in every major city all over the world. Some, you just pay for when you use. Others, offer a membership which allows you to use any of their offices at any time, and others still let you hire a desk for a monthly fee. These can all be great options, but look at cost, location and the facilities on offer before committing to any. Get to Know People Another appeal of co-working is that you’ll get to be around people. One of the only downsides of home working or freelancing is the loneliness. Many people find that despite all of the benefits, they miss being around people. They don’t enjoy working alone all of the time, and they find that without people to share ideas with, the ideas stop coming. Even those that enjoy working alone can discover that they feel lonely and they miss the social aspect of working with others. But, co-working spaces aren’t quite the same as working with colleagues. You’re around other people, but you’re working on different projects, for various companies and even in different fields. It can be easy to sit at your desk, get your head down and get on with your work without ever communicating with those around you. If you want to make the most of your co-working space, you need to put yourself out there. You need to speak to the people that you are sharing an office with. Chat with them around the coffee machine, ask them what they are working on and get to know them. Socialize Getting to know the people that you are working around is great. You can share ideas, let off some steam and learn from them. But, that’s still not the same as making friends at work. To do that, you need to spend time with them away from the office. Go out for lunch together, start a group or just go for a drink once you’ve finished for the day. You might be working in different fields, but you are all working remotely away from a traditional environment. That’s something that you’ve got in common that could be used to build a friendship. Collaborate Collaboration is a great way to learn, to grow and to develop your business. You can use collaboration to attract new clients, to reach a new audience and to advance your business. In a co-working office, you are surrounded by talented professionals. By people that are keen to explore new ideas and work on different projects. Make the most of it by pitching ideas to your new friends. Find ways that you can work together for the good of everyone. Make the Most of the Facilities You could just go in, use your desk, chat with the people next to you and get on with your job. But, most co-working spaces have so much more to offer, and you should make the most of it all. There might be a coffee shop or kitchen facilities. There might be sofas or even a games room and TV. Some offices have meeting and conference rooms that you can hire when you need to meet clients or host networking events. Change Things Up Working at the same computer, within the same four walls every day can get boring. This can cause you to procrastinate, to become distracted and to lose focus. Your work and your productivity levels will suffer. Having a co-working space helps. It takes you out of our usual environment and helps you to feel fresh. But, you can do more. Change things up within the office. Swap desks, work in another area and move around as much as you can. Organize Your Time Wherever you are working, a lack of organization can be a terrible thing. You’ll never get as much done when you don’t have a plan. Go into each day with a list of things that you want to get done before you go home. Then, manage your time. Either assign each task a set amount of time or break it down into “before lunch” and “after lunch.” You’ll get much more done by simply taking a little time before you start to organize your day. Take Regular Breaks Most of us can only give something our full focus for around 30 minutes. After this, our minds start to wonder, we slow down, and our work suffers. You might be able to keep going for an hour without distraction, but after that, you won’t be working at your best. So, instead of working for hours before taking a lunch hour, why not take a lunch half an hour and give yourself a few more 5-10 minute breaks throughout the day. Go for a walk, get a coffee and have a chat with someone in the office. You’ll work more productively for it. Do the Right Work Some things, are easy to do at home. There are some small, manageable tasks that you can easily do sat on your sofa while the kids are running around or the TV is blaring. Don’t waste your new workspace on these tasks. Instead, use your time in the office to do the work that you’d struggle to focus on at home. The critical or difficult tasks that you need to give your full focus and can’t tackle when surrounded by distractions. Look After Yourself The key to making the most of your time is looking after yourself. Get plenty of sleep, give yourself time off to relax, eat well, exercise and generally take good care of your physical and mental health, as well as your mood, and you’ll be able to work much more productively, wherever your desk is.

The Most Important Interview Questions -

The Most Important Interview Questions - Photo by Alexander Drachman Whats the question that every interview includes? It may be phrased in a number of ways, but it is the underlying question in every single interview query: Why should we hire you? After all, interviewers want you to sell yourself. Its not up to them to figure out if you are a good match; it is up to you to draw the lines, connect the dots between your skills and their needs. If you dont know why they should hire you, you certainly wont be able to convince anyone else! Whats the other most important interview question? Tell me about yourself. Even if you are an experienced or seasoned professional do NOT consider this question an opportunity to launch into your life story. If you cant zero in on a few brief autobiographical details and connect them to the position, you will be wasting your time and the interviewers patience. So, how should you prepare to address these questions? Refer to your elevator pitch. Your pitch, which should contain information about you and your skills (customizible to individual targets) will focus on what problem you can help solve, include specifics about your abilities and accomplishments and demonstrate your expertise, interest and enthusiasm for their organization. Of course, all of these will be focused on the organizations needs. Your answers should NOT focus on what they can do for you make sure you demonstrate how you can impact them in a positive way. I invite you to refer to some of my earlier blogs for more advice about how to respond to interview questions to GET the job: 5 Tips to Turn Your Interviewer Into A Fan Behavioral Interview: Have STAR Stories to Share Keppie Careers will help you figure out why the interviewer should hire you and give you the tools and information to make sure that you can do it! Do you need a resume? A mock interview? Keppie Careers can help: www.keppiecareers.com.