Interviews are hard. You’re nervous. You’re usually in close quarters. You have to answer question after question with little recovery time. And your entire professional future seems to hang in the balance of this one encounter. It’s no wonder so many interviewees resort to clichés when answering interview questions. But panicked responses aren’t going to land you that job. So ...

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” — we all know the question. So why are we still stumped when someone asks this granddaddy of a ridiculous interview question in our interview? Here’s why – because most job seekers believe it has no relevance. The reason? No company can (or ever will) guarantee an employee a job for five years. ...

Being in the right place at the right time is all it takes. It could be that a friend happens to know that the company they work for is hiring and is willing to put in a good word for you. Sometimes, it is even the long shot opportunity you signed up for months ago, thinking it was worth the try. ...

Whether hiring for internships or full-time positions, most recruiters have heard statements like these from college students over and over again: * "I have strong communication skills." * "I'm self-motivated." * "I'm good at managing my time." * "I have excellent leadership qualities." * "I work well with others." When you make claims like these in your interviews -- perhaps in ...

Most people regard a phone interview as a mere formality on their way to a face-to-face interview. Although the phone interview is usually just a preliminary step to the formal interview, it is just as important. If you don't impress your future employer with your phone interview, you'll never make it to the formal interview. Are you nervous talking on the ...


Getting an interview is a really big deal. It means that you have achieved a level of confidence with your resume and cover letter and have made it to the next steps of the hiring equation. This is something that you should be proud of; this is also something you should take very, very seriously. The interview presents a lot ...

1. A Closed Body Whether sitting or standing, your body should be loose and open. Do not cross your arms. Do not cross your legs. While you may think it conveys a sense of ease, studies have shown that a people read a closed body differently: they subconsciously think you have something to hide. What's more, you're missing a golden ...

Looking for a job is, indeed, a full time job. And like any full time job, you probably waste a lot of time either completing tasks, or between them. The difference is, when you’re looking for work, you don’t have a boss to answer to. You are only accountable to yourself — and let’s face it, you kind of favor ...

How to Diagnose Where You Might Be Going Wrong Your resume has earned you interviews with several employers over the past year. That's impressive, especially in this economy. But none of those interviews has yielded a job offer. You've done the standard interview preparation. You've shown up on time and dressed in appropriate interview attire. But somewhere between the paper credentials ...

We all know that showing up late to an interview or dressing inappropriately can ruin your chances for a job. But what about the more subtle ways that could make you unexpectedly sabotage your job interview? Don’t let it happen to you! Keep in mind these 10 common subconscious mistakes that you probably don’t even know you’re making. NEXT | ...

The good news for recent college grads is that the job market is finally improving. Many companies are now hiring again. In fact, 28% of U.S. employers plan to hire fulltime, permanent workers during the next 3 months. The bad news? Before you get the job, you have to survive the interview process. Job interviews are never easy. But they’re especially ...

Congratulations, you landed an interview! In a lot of ways, interviews are like first dates. The goal of your interview, like the goal of your date, is to make the other person feel comfortable around you and excited to spend more time together. Obviously, it’s important that you don’t stink. March is National Nutrition Month so it’s a good time ...

Have you ever felt frustrated after an interview? Sure you have! I know you’ve mentally gone over your interview answers and…you remember what you DID NOT say and you realize you missed an opportunity to REINFORCE your candidacy. Well, this is why you write a strategic Thank You letter, which will position you back in the “game.” Of course, it all ...

In my previous post, I discussed the challenges for shy (or introverted) people in the job market. I offered some general advice, but in this post I'd like to highlight ten things you can do (or think about) that might give you the edge in the very situations you prefer to avoid. 1. First, stop apologizing for what being who you ...

You are what you eat, so when it comes time for your interview, what can you eat that will make you alert, calm, focused, and quick thinking? We’ve spoken to experts and done our share of research to compile a list of foods that are essential to interview success. Remember — be sure to eat your meal at least an ...

Everything was going so well. Your solid handshake was met with a warm smile from the hiring manager. The interview started off with some small talk that segued into some skillfully answered questions. You can already see what your desk is going to look like. Then, as suddenly as a lightning strike, the interview takes a turn for the worse. Whether ...

When I teach or present workshops about networking, interviewing, and other aspects of the job search, I can almost always count on at least one person approaching me privately at the end saying, "But I'm shy and these things make me uncomfortable. Isn't there something else I could do to find a job?" Whether you label it social anxiety, introversion, shyness, ...

Since you’ll almost always have to go through an entry-level job phone interview in order to get in front of actual people in a company, it’s important to nail it. Here are some tips for prepping and carrying out the interview: 1. Use your invisibility! Speaking on the phone carries the huge advantage of the interviewer not being able to see ...

The truth is most people sabotage their own interviews both for jobs and for internships. Instead of putting their best foot forward, they put off the interviewer by acting cocky, unsure of their talent, having bad manners, or by simply acting weird. Our sister site HRPeople has interviewed several recruitment experts to bring you unbelievable true stories of what actually ...

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. That’s great advice. But, the truth is: during a job interview or networking opportunity we do often judge a book by its cover. So, while it is important to say all of the right things during your job interview and networking opportunities; your actions and body language often speak much louder. Rather than bemoaning ...