Interview tip: Don't criticize
previous employers and co-workers even if you are right. Nobody likes complainers and
interviewers often assume that some day you may be complaining about them if they hired
you.
Future possibilities: As many as
50% of the speculative letters can lead to job offers. Speculative letters ask about
future possibilities rather than a specific advertised job. Such letters should be
addressed by name to the head of a particular department or division in a company. State
that you're interested in an appointment to talk about future possibilities for positions.
It's often best to then follow up in a couple of days with a phone call.
Reference letters: A
good reference letter gives specifics, rather than just saying that the person is good in
general. Whether you are having friends write references or whether you are receiving
them, look for specifics that tie the person to the skills needed in the job. Also look
for the overall picture created by the reference letters as a whole. For instance, one may
cover technical skills, one leadership ability, and a third professionalism.
Networking: Career counselor
Locke Holland says, "We are 500 conversations from finding a career or position that
is a match for us." If you're looking for a position and have actually talked to 500
people, you will find something.
Increasing your odds: Candidates
who already have a job or job offer do much better than ones who desperately want a job.
While it's good to be enthusiastic about the potential of the job you're interviewing for,
coming across as desperate works against you. Whether looking for a job or hiring someone,
here are three attributes of successful job applicants:
- Showing a track record of meaningful accomplishments.
- Energy, self-confidence, and honesty.
- Showing how they can meet the company's needs by giving specifics of
how they can help in particular areas such as customer service, productivity, or
operations.
