Career Confidential » Interview Coach

What to Look for In a Great Interview Coach

Job Search Expert — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:22:55 +0000

Today’s job search is unlike any we’ve seen before. Competition is especially fierce in this economy, and candidates get weeded out quickly. If you’ve landed the interview, you need to bring your best game right off the bat and knock the socks off the hiring manager. One of the most effective ways to become an all-star candidate is to hire an interview coach. Individualized coaching takes your personal work history and talents into account and customizes solutions for you.

How do you find a great interview coach?

Look for someone who’s specialized in your field with lots of experience. Look for testimonials from other clients, and take advantage of the consultation that they (should) offer. If you find someone with the right credentials that you feel you can work with comfortably, you’re good to go.

What should you look for? A really great interview coach will get to the bottom of your problem as quickly as possible. They won’t want to waste your time or money, and will be interested in helping you land the job you want. They’ll want to help you identify your goals and pinpoint the areas you need to improve.

You’ll probably get some homework to do on your own, like books to read or specific changes to make to your resume. It’s great if they can help you arrange a job-shadowing experience, and help you incorporate the keywords you’ll gain from that experience into your new resume.

But the best thing about interview coaching is that it’s personalized. A great coach won’t have a standard plan they make everyone adhere to—they’ll customize the plan to what you need to be a winning candidate.

A good coach won’t make you crazy promises, but he or she will want you to succeed as badly as you do, and will give you the tools, training, and expertise to make it happen.

Check out this link to see more about what you can expect from a good interview coaching experience.

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Most Important Question in the Job Interview is the One You Ask.

Job Search Success — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:41:56 +0000

If you’d like more information on how to land the job you want, check out our FREE, one-hour webinar:

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Job Interview and Preparation Coaching

Job Search Expert — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:44:40 +0000

Did you ever wish you had the “inside track” at your interview? Or that you knew exactly how to explain that slightly difficult/embarrassing/sensitive situation in your job history? Or even the very best way to explain who you are and what you do in a compelling, “hire me” kind of way? Maybe you’re getting interviews, but you know that something’s not going quite right because you’re not getting called back for the second one.

What’s your solution?

Hire an interview coach.

Interview coaching is an unexpected alternative for many people. There are so many articles you can find online about job interview preparation (including everything on this blog) that it can seem just as easy (and cheaper) to just do it yourself.

But, an interview coach can take you beyond what you can accomplish yourself—providing an expert, unbiased insight addressing your individual situation, examining your job history and personality to help you devise the best way to position yourself in the interview, and even role-playing interview questions with you. It’s important that you get one who knows your field and that you’re comfortable working with….but once you do, you’re set. It is an investment, but it’s one that will pay off as soon as you land the job you’ve been chasing.

Maybe you’re not having too many problems but you realize you could be just a little bit better. It’s gaining that extra edge that turns a competitor into a champion. Pro athletes know that—that’s why they hire coaches, too.

Interview coaching can help you with confidence and presence, communication skills, your wording and emphasis in your answers to typical job interview questions. You’ll learn to customize your answers to fit your individual situation and stand out from the “standard” answers everyone else gives. Coaching can also help you master the all-important closing (asking for the job) at the end of the interview.

Don’t spin your wheels trying to handle this difficult job market on your own. Get smart, and get a coach who can help you get on the road to success!

You can check out what I offer as a career coach here: http://www.phcconsulting.com/interview-coaching/. I’m not saying you have to hire me, but you can get more ideas on what an interview coach can help you with. I’ve helped many candidates land great jobs faster than they could have imagined with just a little career coaching help, and I really believe it’s a great solution for every candidate. Best of luck.

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Is “no experience” stopping you from getting your dream job? Listen here.

Job Search Success — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:19:55 +0000

If “no experience” is stopping you from the dream job that you desire?
Listen to this short audio clip about how to overcome this objection…..

Want more job-getting advice? Check out this free training on “How to Get a Better Job Faster”

2: Click here to register for this no charge webinar.

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How Interview Coaching Can Help You Get the Job

Job Search Expert — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:27:52 +0000

Are you going to interviews, but not getting the offer? Or not even getting called back for a second interview?

Maybe there’s some issue you don’t have a great explanation for: a gap in your employment history, why you’re willing to take a pay cut in a new job, why you’ve been out of a job for so long, you’re overqualified/underqualified, or something.

Maybe you don’t even know why–you think you’re doing a great job, but you’re not getting the call back.

It’s time for you to invest in interview coaching. Great interview coaching can help you with confidence, communication, presence, wording, emphasis, and other areas that are stopping you from getting the job offer you want and deserve. It focuses on your particular situation and your individual personality and style to give you the boost you need.

In this video, I’ll give you some examples of how I helped real candidates with roadblocks in their job searches that gave them a breakthrough and got them job offers. And we did it in less than an hour.

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How a Career Coach Helped Jennifer Get a Great Sales Position!

Job Search Expert — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:24:39 +0000

Jennifer had little experience in sales and was having trouble getting a job offer. She was doing what everyone thinks of as “all the right things”: networking, had her resume professionally done, and applied to more than 50 positions online, with no success. With a 1-2 hour coaching session, we tailored her resume, taught her how to use social media, and more….within weeks, she received many offers and landed her dream job. See her story for yourself here:

Career coaching works!

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Use a 30/60/90-Day Action Plan for Non-Sales Job Interviews

Job Search Expert — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:26:19 +0000

If you’ve read this blog at all, you’ll know how important a 30/60/90-day plan is to your job interview success. In most cases, we’re talking about sales jobs. But I often get questions from people who aren’t in sales jobs and want to know if that kind of plan can help them, too.

The answer is absolutely YES.

A 90-day plan is critical to bring to every job interview. It works for marketing, technical support, operations, and more.

Why?

Watch the video and I’ll tell you:

How the 30/60/90-day plan demonstrates that you understand the job and can do it

Why the 30/60/90-day plan makes you stand out from the pack and showcases your drive and initiative

A hiring manager’s secret fear and why a 30/60/90-day plan makes him much more comfortable hiring you

I would never go into any job interview without a written plan outlining for the hiring manager how I would attack the job and be successful at it. It’s that important. I’ve worked with hiring managers for over 10 years now (and been one myself), and they never fail to be impressed with a candidate who can create a good, well-thought-out plan.

Want a shortcut to success? Check out the brand new 30/60/90-Day Action Plan for Non-Sales Jobs kit at Career Confidential.

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Typical Phone Interview Questions

Job Search Expert — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:33:26 +0000

Phone interviews can be deceptively casual to some job seekers–maybe because it doesn’t feel like the “real thing”…and they can’t see you anyway. But not taking the phone interview very seriously is a huge mistake. If they called you, they like you, and they are screening their top candidates to decide who deserves the time and expense of a face-to-face interview. They’re looking for a reason not to like you. Don’t let them screen you out.

Beyond the basic phone interview survival tips of dressing professionally (it’s an attitude thing), reducing distractions, smiling, and keeping your resume and notes in front of you (hey, you might as well take advantage of the one benefit of phone interviews), you should prepare for it just like you would prepare for a face-to-face. Research the company thoroughly. Think about what questions you might be asked, and practice your answers so that you’re smooth and confident.

What are some typical phone interview questions? Since this is really the first step in the hiring process, they are essentially the same questions you might hear in a normal interview. Like these:

Tell me about yourself. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s a social question to break the ice. It isn’t. All your answers should relate to the job.

Why are you interested in this job? Relate it to your skills and what you can do for them.

Do you have the right educational/work background? However they ask this question, they’re looking to see if you have the skills and/or education to be successful at this job.

Are you in the right location? Is relocation going to be an issue for you? Are you willing to move? It could be a factor when deciding between candidates.

What’s your greatest weakness? It’s OK to admit to a real weakness, as long as you can turn it into a positive for the job. “Perfectionism” is overdone, though.

How do you handle conflict? This is a great place to use a story. The STAR technique–the Situation you faced, the Task at hand, the Approach you took, and the Results you got–is a fantastic way to answer this question.

Who would serve as your references? If they ask this, they’ll probably check them before they call you in. Choose great references like past managers or other high-level execs who can speak to your work skills, and prep them before they’re called.

One more thing: Never hang up without asking a few questions of your own, just as you would in a normal interview. Clarify, ask questions about the company, and ask for next steps. Active, engaged conversation and questions make a great impression on the interviewer. Prepare well and you’ll be on your way to acing the phone interview and getting to the face-to-face.

If you’d like an objective, expert evaluation of your phone interview style, consider a phone interview coaching session. It’s an investment in yourself that will pay off in more job offers.

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Job Interview Tip: Closing for the Offer

Job Search Expert — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:31:20 +0000

If you want an edge in your sales interview, here it is: today’s video covers closing the interview. When to close, what to say, and how to deal with objections or non-answers.

The most important thing to remember about closing is to do it. No hiring sales manager is going to hire someone who can’t navigate a closing process. The thinking is, if you can’t close on something as important as your job, which is in your own direct self-interest, you aren’t going to be able to close a sale for the company. But really, everyone has to do it. If you’re interviewing for a job, it’s the biggest sales call of your life. Close the deal.

How do you close?

The most direct way is to ask for the job: “I appreciate your time today, and I am so excited about what I have learned about this job. Based on our discussion, I see this job as the perfect opportunity. Do you see me as a productive member of this team?” If that’s not your style, go for the Assumptive Close. Assume they want to hire you and say something like, “What’s the next step?” Or, “What will my training be like?”

One of the most important reasons to take this step is to uncover any objections they have to hiring you. Get them out into the open so you can deal with them NOW, while you still have a chance to speak up in your own defense. If they have a specific concern about your background, you can ask, for instance, if they’ve ever hired anyone with your same experience, or, what are the qualifications of your best salesperson? Maybe they have the same qualifications as you, and then you can uncover the “real” reason. Or maybe they’ll rethink their position.

Remember, you are pushing for an answer now. That may feel uncomfortable for you, but it’s better to get an answer you can deal with now. If you push and the answer is “no,” ask why. I’ve had candidates get a “no” and once they found out why, dealt with the objection and wound up with the job.

If they are on the fence about you, you can ask for another conversation in a few days. I will be telling you how to ask, and what to plan for during that second conversation.

Ask for advice…if you get it, that’s a “buying signal,” which is a good sign for you.

Knowing how to close will not only help you in interviews, but also (obviously) in sales processes, project management, and any negotiations. Watch the video. It’s 10 minutes long, but it’s packed with the best advice I have for closing, including exactly what to say in a variety of situations.

Your thoughts?

Listen to these tips from a career coach on how to close for the job in the interview–exactly the words you need to say to the interviewer.

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What You MUST Ask Before You Leave The Interview

Job Search Expert — Thu, 27 May 2010 10:30:42 +0000

To prepare for a job interview, you have to make sure you’re ready to answer both common and tough interview questions, and know how to frame your answers to highlight what you’re going to bring to the company (a great way to do that is to structure your answers in the form of stories that spotlight your skills). You also have to have some interview questions of your own ready–after all, you’re interviewing them, too. You want to know if that company’s a good fit for you, and is going to be a place where you can succeed. But there’s one question you should absolutely remember to ask before the interview ends.

It’s “Do you see any reason why you wouldn’t hire me for this job?”

I know…there are many who would disparage that question, finding it too canned and predictable. So ask it another way, then. But ask it.

Uncover the hiring manager's objections.

Why? The interview is your best shot at securing a job offer. You don’t want to leave any doubts in the hiring manager’s mind about hiring you. You need to uncover those doubts and objections while you have a chance to address them. And many legitimate objections can be addressed simply by giving the interviewer a different perspective on whatever it is that’s bothering them. Or maybe you’ve forgotten to highlight some experience in your job history. The answer to that question will show you the weak spots in your interview, and give you another chance to shore them up.

Although this advice applies to any job interview in any industry, it’s especially true for sales. If you can’t even close the deal during your interview, what’s going to make the hiring manager think you can close the sale when you’re on the job?

If you have any doubts about your ability to ask this question in the interview, PLEASE consider hiring an interview coach to role-play interview questions with you. Practicing asking that question with a coach will make it easier and more natural for you to ask it in an interview. You deserve to know the answer.

And getting it could make the difference in whether or not you get the job offer.

Listen to these tips on how to close for the job in the interview–exactly the words you need to say to the interviewer.

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