The 5 Dumbest Things to Say in a Job Interview

The 5 Dumbest Things to Say in a Job Interview

 

Job interviews can be stressful for everyone involved. The interviewer feels pressure to make the best hire, and the candidate can feel like they are being put under a microscope. It’s not hard to see why so many of us have horror stories of answers we botched, questions we forgot to ask, or a host of other things we’d love to do over.

In the pantheon of dumb things to say in a job interview, we all know the classics: bringing up salary right away, speaking poorly of your former employer, and the inexcusable “Excuse me while I take this call.”

Here are five more items to add to that list.
I just need a job.

Gaye Weintraub, a career counselor in Houston, says she’s been hearing this one a lot lately as more and more people search for jobs. “This is absolutely one of the worst things a candidate can tell a potential employer, even if it's true!” Employers are searching for new hires that genuinely want to work in that position with that company. Weintraub added, “They want employees who will thrive in the position and remain loyal to the company.”
What's in it for me?

This question, out loud, would obviously be a horrible thing to say in an interview. What if you’re saying this, however, without actually saying it? Management consultant Barry Maher was involved in an unfortunate interview like this recently. “The first three questions from the applicant were, in order: ‘How much vacation time do I get? How long do I have to be here before I'm eligible for a vacation? How long before I start to accrue additional weeks of vacation?’ What had looked like a great applicant, now looked like someone who couldn't wait to get out of work.” The same goes for questions about benefits, how soon you’ll get a promotion, or any other scenario that looks like you want to get more out of the job than you will give to it.

I'm also interviewing with ________.

According to Lauren Milligan, founder and CEO of ResuMAYDAY, you shouldn’t mention other interviews you’ve scheduled or other companies you might want to work for. “Letting the interviewer know that you are interviewing elsewhere immediately makes them less interested in you. Companies don't want to compete for your enthusiasm. Even if you are interviewing elsewhere, make them feel that you have a laser beam focus on them, and no one else.” Mentioning other interviews won’t make you seem sought-after; it will make you seem unprofessional.

Nothing.

There is no excuse for not having any questions for the interviewer. “Interviews are two-way streets. The company wants to know if you are match for them. You want to know if the company is a match for you. When that point comes in the interview, it's your chance to find out,” says Mic Fleming. The principal at YESShr suggests questions like: What do you like best about this company?, Is there anything else you need to know about my application that we haven't covered?, or something highlighting the company’s accomplishments. Fleming added, “At least flatter me that you've done some homework about the company.”

The wrong name.

Take the time to make certain you know the name of your interviewer. You don’t want to start off the interview process by asking the receptionist that you’re there to talk with “maybe David? Donald?” By the time he or she tracks down the correct person, everyone will know you weren’t prepared. This small step seems trivial but it is absolutely vital.

 

5 Resume Mistakes that Will Cost You the Job

5 Resume Mistakes that Will Cost You the Job

By Hannah Hamilton
Monster Contributing Writer

Your resume is often the first contact you make with a potential employer -- and it can make or break your chances of getting to the next step in the hiring process. Avoid these common resume mistakes that could cost you the job.
Failure to Demonstrate Results

The responsibilities of a role or position often can be reasonably implied in its name, says Laurie Berenson, CMRW and founder of Sterling Career Concepts. But "too often resumes focus on responsibilities when they can be a lot more compelling if they painted a picture of expectations and results.”

For example, the responsibilities for a Controller or a Director of Sales can pretty much be assumed, she explains, so the important thing to do is to emphasize how well you performed your job by giving the results you produced.

Forcing Keywords and Cramming Information

No one will be able to read your resume if you’ve tried to cram in too much information in eight point font, and no one wants to read that much anyway. If you try to stuff your resume with keywords, the live human recruiters who still have to scan it will not be impressed.

"By far the biggest resume mistake is overloading your resume with information. Keep it simple and focus on experience and accomplishments. Don't overload your resume with keywords in hope of passing a keyword search by a potential employer," says Aquility Group HR consultant Stephen Murray.
Making Spelling and Grammar Mistakes

Paying attention to your periods and commas could mean the difference between a call back and never hearing anything. Proofread it one more time before you send it off.

A perfectly written resume could even be your competitive edge, says Keith Wolf, managing director of Murray Resources. "As simple as they may be to avoid, spelling errors and typos are the most common mistakes we see in resumes. They're particularly damaging because they convey to potential employers that an applicant lacks attention to detail."

Straying Into the Irrelevant

You don’t need to put everything you’ve ever done in your working life on your resume. In fact, too much irrelevant work history could obscure the parts of your resume that demonstrate your worth and usefulness to an employer's company, says career management coachLaura Rose.

"One of the common mistakes is feeling that the resume has to include every job and task in chronological order,” she says. That’s especially true for people who’ve had many jobs across a number of industries.

Not Being Yourself

If your personality gets lost beneath all the business jargon and tired cliches, employers might be throwing your resume into the rejection pile because it doesn’t resonate with them and highlight that you’d be a perfect fit for their company.

"Re-frame your thinking for resume writing: Think of it as an instruction manual for how an employer can make the best of what you have to offer, or write from the context of already having the job and reminding the person of why they hired you,” says career counselor Sabrina Ali.

 

Is That the Best Question to Ask?

Any job coach will tell you it is a good idea to ask questions during your interview.  Questions that show you're interested in the position or to genuinely find out more pertinent information are great.

Lately, job applicants have asked me "Why are you interested in me?"  or "Why do you think my qualifications meet the needs of your company?"  Those are good questions if you are strongly qualified for the job and the interview is going well.

These questions can also draw attention to areas you are lacking and have your resume placed in the reject pile.   When faced with a simular situation it is better to ask about the ideal job candidate.  Then give examples of qualifications that may not be easy to pick up from your resume.

Employers are having trouble finding qualified candidates

Read the article below and see if you need to spend time       perfecting your writing skills. 

 

 

Can you tell a pronoun from a participle; use commas correctly in long sentences; describe the difference between its and it's?
If not, you have plenty of company in the world of job seekers. Despite stubbornly high unemployment, many employers complain that they can't find qualified candidates.
Often, the mismatch results from applicants' inadequate communication skills. In survey after survey, employers are complaining about job candidates' inability to speak and to write clearly.
On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were a net 204,000 new jobs created in October, though the unemployment rate rose to 7.3 percent. The numbers easily topped economist expectations of 120,000 new nonfarm payroll jobs for the month.
Experts differ on why job candidates can't communicate effectively. Bram Lowsky, an executive vice president of Right Management, the workforce management arm of Manpower, blames technology.
"With Gen X and Gen Y, because everything is shorthand and text, the ability to communicate effectively is challenged," he said. "You see it in the business world, whether with existing employees or job candidates looking for work."
Others say colleges aren't doing a good job. In a survey of 318 employers published earlier this year by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and conducted by Hart Research Associates, 80 percent said colleges should focus more on written and oral communication.
William Ellet, an adjunct professor teaching writing at Brandeis International Business School, says the problem starts earlier. He points out that when the Department of Education in 2012 published what it called "The Nation's Report Card: Writing 2011," just 24 percent of eighth and 12th graders were proficient in writing. From colleges on down, he said, "nobody takes responsibility for writing instruction."
Ellet, who previously taught writing at Harvard Business School, says the problem persists even into business school— and he believes the problem isn't related to technology. "Most new technology is text based," he said, adding that a majority of his students report working with people they have never met and communicating with them largely through email.
"Thirty or 40 years ago, using writing for that wouldn't have been possible," he said, and that makes writing that much more important. "Businesses get that, but I don't think universities do."
Luckily for Ellet, his students have plenty of motivation to improve. "Recruiters and companies are saying, 'Send us a writing sample, and if you don't meet our standards for communication, we are not hiring you,'" he said.
It's not just anecdotal: In a 2011 survey of corporate recruiters by the Graduate Management Admission Council, the organization that administers the standardized test for business school, 86 percent said strong communication skills were a priority—well ahead of the next skill. (When recruiters were asked in a separate question what changes business schools should make to meet employers' needs, the recruiters overwhelmingly called for something different: practical experience.)
Help from some companies
The good news for job seekers is that some companies are providing help with writing. Lowsky estimates that Right Management is seeing an increase of 20 to 25 percent in the number of clients investing in career development for employees, including improving their communication skills.
T. Rowe Price has been working independently on employees' communication skills for some time. With offices in multiple time zones and time sensitive investment decisions to make, the firm's leaders understand that clear communications are essential. A number of senior people at the firm may work with analysts and portfolio managers on their communications, but Garry Cosnett, head of global equity communications, does it full time.
Cosnett spends considerable time with newly hired analysts, helping them learn to organize their writing and make it clear and persuasive. Another part of his job is to read writing samples from prospective hires, often second year MBA candidates. "Sometimes we ask for writing samples even prior to the interview process, and I will take a look at that," he said. "I've been doing this for so long, I have a pretty good sense of what's fixable and what's terminal."
T. Rowe Price tends to hire graduates of the most selective business schools, along with some lateral hires from other firms – but even for this elite group, writing can be a challenge, Cosnett says.
"It's amazing, the frequent disconnect," he said. "These are people who all did the very best at the best schools, probably since preschool, but they really have not developed their writing skills to the degree that they would have to to succeed in this organization."
Some new hires are skeptical, he said. "People think when they first meet me that I'm going to grill them on semicolons." But in fact, he says, he is teaching them what they need in order to succeed at the firm. "You can be the smartest person here, but if you can't convince the portfolio managers to buy what you're selling, you won't be successful." (In Wall Street terms, that means you won't make much money.)
"So much," he said, "is driven by the written word."
—By CNBC's Kelley Holland. Follow her on Twitter @KKelleyHolland.

 

20 Companies Hiring Now

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's the time of year when many start thinking about what they're most thankful for. What would be on your list? Good health? Loving family and friends? Financial success?
Perhaps what you're most grateful for this year are the professional goals you've reached. You may have found your dream job, earned a promotion or gotten the chance to work on an exciting project. Or maybe you've decided to make a career change, and you're thankful for those who are supporting you in your decision to make a switch.
If you're looking for your next career, check out the below list of companies hiring in November, and you may just have one more reason to be thankful this year:
1. 1 & 1 Internet
Industry: IT
Sample job titles: Account executive, outside sales
Location: Maryland, Pennsylvania
2. Arhaus Furniture
Industry: High-end home furniture
Sample job titles: Interior design specialist, customer service representative, delivery dispatcher, interior design specialist, retail sales manager, relocatable retail sales manager
Location: Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Atlanta; Richmond, Va.; Troy, Mich.; Naples, Fla.; Wexford, Pa.; New York; Louisville, Ky.; Burlington, Mass.
3. C.R. England
Industry: Transportation
Sample job titles: Western regional truck driver, dedicated truck driver, intermodal truck driver
Location: Nationwide
4. Cross Country Healthcare
Industry: Health care
Sample job titles: Registered nurse, per diem registered nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist
Location: Nationwide
5. First Data
Industry: Banking, financial services
Sample job titles: Telesales, account executive, IT -- all levels, engineering, management
Location: Georgia; Nebraska; Maryland; New York; Arizona; California; Florida; Texas; Virginia; Colorado; Illinois; Tennessee; South Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Delaware; Iowa; Utah; Alabama; Connecticut; Michigan; Mississippi; North Carolina; New Jersey; New Mexico; Nevada; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Washington
6. Floor & Décor
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Customer service, retail store management, cashier, product sales specialist, designer, warehouse specialist, pro services representative
Location: Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, California, Colorado
7. GE -- General Electric
Industry: Technology, services and finance
Sample job titles: Engineering
Location: Nationwide
8. Green Tree Servicing
Industry: Mortgage
Sample job titles: Mortgage loan officer, collection representative, loan servicing specialist
Location: Nationwide
9. Greythorn
Industry: IT staffing/recruiting
Sample job titles: Software developer, Cerner clinical systems analyst, Web application developer
Location: Nationwide
10. In Terminal Services
Industry: Logistics
Sample job titles: Terminal manager, diesel mechanic, heavy equipment mechanic
Location: Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Oregon, Tennessee, Arizona, California, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, South Carolina
11. Interstates Companies
Industry: Electrical construction, engineering, automation and instrumentation
Sample job titles: Network engineer, manufacturing IT analyst, control systems developer, electrical engineer, apprentice/journeyman electrician, project coordinator, project manager, maintenance lead, instrumentation fitter, CAD operator, project executive, maintenance technician
Location: Sioux Center, Iowa; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Omaha, Neb.; Ft. Collins, Colo.; Cincinnati
12. J.D. Byrider
Industry: Automotive, sales and financing
Sample job titles: Sales, finance, technician
Location: Nationwide
13. Pace Payment Systems
Industry: Finance, banking
Sample job titles: Outside sales executive
Location: Nationwide
14. Rubio's Restaurants
Industry: Food service/fast-casual restaurants
Sample job titles: HR business partner, director of real estate, general manager, assistant manager, shift leader, cook, cashier
Location: California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada
15. Schneider Electric
Industry: Energy management
Sample job titles: Project manager, senior financial analyst, service coordinator, senior software engineer
Location: Nationwide
16. Sleepy's LLC
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Sales professional, distribution associate, customer service representative
Location: Connecticut; Delaware; Illinois; Massachusetts; Maryland; Maine; North Carolina; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Virginia; Vermont; West Virginia; Washington, D.C.
17. The Children's Home Society of Florida
Industry: Nonprofit/social services
Sample job titles: Dependency case manager, counselor
Location: Florida
18. Top Notch Quality Service
Industry: Construction, maintenance/repair, general labor, skilled labor
Sample job titles: Handyman, field service tech, maintenance tech, repair tech, general laborer, project estimator, construction supervisor
Location: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
19. UPS
Industry: Packaging
Sample job titles: Seasonal driver helper, warehouse worker
Location: Nationwide
20. Xerox Services
Industry: Business process outsourcing
Sample job titles: Customer care associate, customer service representative
Location: Nationwide

Common Interview Questions

Every hiring manager has a different set of go-to interview questions. In a recent survey by our company, we asked more than 650 managers in the United States and Canada to name the single question they ask that provides the most insight about a job applicant. Responses ranged from classic queries ("Where do you see yourself in five years?") to less-traditional ones ("How would you describe yourself in five words?").
While there's not always one right way to answer an interview question, some approaches are better than others. Here are some questions from the survey that you may face in your next interview, along with tips on how -- and how not -- to answer them:
"Can you tell me a little about yourself?"
Do: Prepare for this popular question -- which is often the first one asked -- by developing an incisive summary of your career. Your sound bite should be succinct but include enough detail about your pertinent skills, work experience, accomplishments and goals that the hiring manager can quickly see what you bring to the table.
Don't: Give your life story, discuss leisure pursuits or describe aspects of your professional background that aren't relative to the position you're interviewing for.
"Why do you want to join our company?"
Do: Walk into the interview with beyond-the-basics knowledge of the firm. Read the company's website, marketing materials and relevant news stories to gain a good grasp of its mission, history, reputation and corporate culture. The more information you collect, the more specific you can be about why you're an excellent fit.
Don't: Answer in the context of your financial needs. Saying "I hear you provide good pay and benefits" or "Frankly, I need a job" won't score you any points.
"What's your biggest weakness?"
Do: View this as an opportunity to demonstrate your self-awareness, sincerity and problem-solving prowess. Mention an area where you could improve and spotlight the steps you've taken to do so.
Here's an example: "In the past, I sometimes overextended myself. Reading time-management books has helped me, though. Now, I make prioritized to-do lists, I've learned it's OK to delegate and I volunteer for extra projects only when I'm caught up on core responsibilities."
Don't: Offer a transparently fake flaw ("I care too much about my work!") or pretend to be perfect ("Weaknesses? None come to mind."). And, of course, don't be your own worst critic by citing countless shortcomings.
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
Do: Position yourself as an ambitious but flexible realist. One way to do this is to speak of your desire to continually take on broader responsibilities and grow professionally no matter what role you're in. You also might emphasize your commitment to lifelong learning by mentioning your interest in attaining advanced industry certifications.
Don't: Focus on an overly lofty objective. For instance, boldly proclaiming you intend to be the firm's next CFO when you're an entry-level accounting candidate certainly shows drive, but it's not a practical five-year objective. In addition, steer clear of fanciful daydreaming ("I'll be counting my lottery winnings on a Hawaiian beach").
"Why are you looking to leave your current employer?"
Do: The interviewer is trying to figure out if you truly want the position, or if you're looking for any way out of a bad job. As such, reiterate what you like about the role you're seeking rather than gripe about the one you hope to vacate. Make it clear you're chasing a great opportunity, not running away from an unpleasant situation.
Don't: Speak ill of your current employer. Regardless of how unhappy you are with your job or company, never act bitter or resentful in an interview. Hiring managers seek candidates who are loyal, positive-minded and team-oriented. They aren't inclined to hire people they perceive to be potential headaches.
Finally, despite your best efforts, you can't anticipate every question you'll be asked.
"How would you define your personality in one word?" or "How will you behave if you get blamed for something you didn't do?" were just two of the unique questions that popped up in our survey of hiring managers.
If an interviewer throws you a curveball, maintain eye contact, take a deep breath and pause to consider your response. Many of your competitors will fluster easily. Set yourself apart by keeping your cool in the hot seat.