That’s the easy part:  err on the side of conservative, pay attention to the details, do your homework, and don’t forget your resume.

The key here is that every serious candidate will address these basics.

If you want to stand out, then you need to start going beyond the basics:

• Include a 30/60/90-day plan and a brag book in your interview arsenal.  The brag book is a historical look at what you’ve accomplished in your career; the 30/60/90-day plan is a forward look at what you can do for your new employer.
• Learn to ask questions of your own in the interview to make it more of a conversation.  Not only will you learn more, you’ll seem more engaged, confident and enthusiastic about the job.
• Hire an interview coach to help you polish your skills.  You will be surprised at what an experienced coach can pick up on in your behavior or interview answers that can make a huge difference in your results.

It’s certainly possible to get a job offer without going the extra mile…but you improve your chances dramatically if you do.

In response to that, the smart candidate will prepare, refine their job search and interview techniques, and give it all they’ve got.  But there’s one other trick you could have up your sleeve: 

your own personal interview coach.

Why an interview coach?  Well, the best-of-the-best are competing for these jobs.  Think of it like the Olympics (the job interview competition).  Yes, Olympic athletes have talent, but what else do they have?  They have excellent coaches who fine-tune their skills and get from them that extra few seconds that make the difference between a really talented athlete and an Olympic champion.

How does that translate into your job search?  A great interview coach will

• take into account your individual history and talents and show you how to shape them into job-winners for you.
• customize your resume and 30/60/90-day plan.
• help you construct compelling, individualized answers to standard interview questions so that you’ll stand out in a big way.
• help you figure out what makes you unique in the job market.
• help you improve your closing skills so that you can ask for the job (a critical skill).
• show you how to negotiate your job offer.

The real beauty of individualized interview coaching is that it’s customized.  It’s whatever you need it to be.  You’ll discuss that with your coach, who can also point out things you weren’t even aware of.

What are the biggest things to keep in mind?  Find a coach who’s an expert in your field, who knows what the hiring managers in it are looking for, and who is excited to be on your team.  Make sure you’re comfortable working with your coach, too.

It’s difficult to get a job in this economy, but it’s not impossible.  Find a coach who can help you reach your goals.

I offer interview coaching, but you don't have to work with me.  Find someone you're comfortable with and make the investment in yourself.  It will be worth it. 

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.

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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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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Career coaching works!

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.