Ok, I never hear anyone say those four words, not even recruiters 
When I recently looked through some Twitter feeds I unfortunately found a lot of people tweeting that they hate interviews. I think hate is a strong word but so is love. I don’t think people will all of a sudden start loving interviews but hopefully I can help people hate interviews a little less.
I hate interviews. Do I lack confidence or am I really not awell spoken person. #fml
— Kimberly Tiu Flores (@kim_winry) February 2, 2012
I hate phone interviews.I don’t think they get the full value of all myawesomeness
— Antoinette Russell (@AntoinetteR) January 31, 2012
I hate interviews because I hate talking to people I don’t know, and I hate when people ask me personal questions.
— Jeremy Dorsey (@TheJ_Do) February 16, 2012
Interviews
Job interviews can be stressful especially when you really need a job. Not all interviews are created equal and there will always be something that you won’t like about them but hopefully these 3 things will help you better prepare for job interviews and learn to hate them less.
Problem #1: Not having a Good Resume
When you decide to start searching for a job you need to get organized. You need to update or create a fantastic resume, which will hopefully get you the interview you need.
You can spend hours online searching resumes that you think are better than yours and trying to piece together something that you think will impress a recruiter. You can also save yourself a lot of time and ask a professional recruiter what they think about your resume and what you should change so you can get the interview for your dream job.
This is exactly what I offer. A resume critique costs only $20.00 and it provides you with the essential tips that can help you land an interview. I’m not your friend or family member who can’t really help you write a better resume. I am a professional recruiter who works with different companies and hiring managers and reviews and screens hundreds of resumes a month. I know what hiring managers are looking for and can help you get a resume that will be read and not tossed out.
Maybe you think your resume looks good. Maybe since you are getting some job interviews that the resume is actually really good. If you think your resume is great why not let a recruiter take a look at it and confirm that for you.
What does your track record look like? Have you ever really looked at how many interviews you’re actually getting compared to how many jobs you’re applying to? Are you really getting the most of your resume?
Problem #2: Never Feeling Prepared
Only when you have a great resume are you ready to start marketing yourself and begin your job search. Before you get your first phone interview you need to first create a document that will help you track all your job applications.
Here is a document that I have created that has helped hundreds of people. It’s a great tool that will enable you to keep track of all the jobs you apply to and where you are in the recruitment process.
The Job Tracker
Click here to view this document in a new window.
One of the worst things to happen to someone who is looking for a job is getting a phone call from a recruiter and you can’t remember the details of the job you applied to or where the company is and even if you are really interested in the job. This spreadsheet lets you track the following;
- The Date you Submitted your Application- This will allow you to track your submissions and help you move on once a few weeks or months have passed and you haven’t heard anything.
- The Posting Closing Date- This will help you anticipate when you’re likely to get a phone interview.
- Job Title- A great reference when a phone interview sneaks up on you.
- Company Name- Another great reference when a phone interview sneaks up on you.
- Brief Job description- It’s hard to remember all the jobs that you apply to especially when it takes an average of 7 months for a person to find a new job. This will help jog your memory but I would also create a separate document where you can save job descriptions.
- Your Relevant Skills & Experiences – This will remind you of the reason you applied to the role. A few points should remind you why you’re qualified for the job and a great help when you find yourself in a phone interview.
- Location- This will help you remember if it’s a local job or if it’s out of state.
- Commute to Work- This should help you decide whether you want this job badly enough to commute 30, 45 or over an hour to every day.
- Salary- Many postings will not include the salary but you can aslo make a note of the salary expectation that you provided if you were asked on the application.
- Comments- This is where you make notes on everything. If and when you had a phone interview, the name of the person you spoke to and their job title, when you should hear back from them etc.
- Questions- These are questions that you should not forget to ask at the end of a phone interview.
Problem #3: Nerves
Nervous people don’t get jobs. They just don’t. You need to believe in yourself, your skills and your ability to do the job. People want to work beside and hire confident people. Remember that the interviewer or panel is looking at you and asking themselves – Do I like this person enough to want to work with them 8 hours a day, 5 days a week?
I always think being yourself is really important. You don’t need to be an extrovert to get a job. People tend to think that they won’t get hired unless they are not “on” and the life of the party. You just need to show that you want to work for the company (enthusiasm) and that you are a great person to work with (positive, happy attitude) who has the qualifications to do the job.
I believe it’s just a matter of being comfortable with yourself and knowing how to communicate. If you’re shy but can communicate and are comfortable talking about yourself, past jobs and career goals than you’ll do fine.
You just need to learn that being you is ok. Employers don’t want an office full of extroverts and Type A personalities. They want to hire people who can do the job and more importantly know how to communicate and add value to the company and team with their skills and unique experiences.
At the End of the Day
The more interviews that you go through the more confortable you will be. I believe that having a great resume that really represents you and your accomplishments helps build confidence. Once you have a well written resume you feel more confident about your background and your abilities. You start to really believe in yourself and start to plan and reach your career goals. Your confidence also increases when you start getting responses from your resume.
Many readers have told me that they feel flustered during phone interviews. The pressure to answer every question perfectly so you can get to the next stage of the interview process is too great. Well, personally I have never found a perfect candidate. It’s not all about giving the right answers so stop putting so much pressure on yourself and focus on the job description. Focus on demonstrating key skills that are required for the role and how your skills and experience match the criteria.
Photo By *_Abhi_*
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