Category Archives: Interviewing

Be Polite, Send a Thank You to Those who Help You

Leave a reply

Sending a thank you letter is a no-brainer after an interview. But sending thank you letters or e-mails, or delivering verbal thank you messages are important when networking. I’ll have to admit that I’m guilty of not sending thank you notes to people who send me gifts. But I am better about sending thank you notes or e-mails to people who help me network.

As I’m gainfully employed and the nature of my job is about helping others find work, I can’t do it successfully without the help of employers who send me hidden job leads or other jobseekers who know of great opportunities.

A great networker I know. One quintessential networking jobseeker I know is someone who has been sending me job leads on a constant basis. So many, in fact, that I have a hard time posting them to our career center’s LinkedIn group. I don’t know if I’ve thanked enough, but he knows who he is.

In turn, I’ve tried to help him network. My efforts to help him have not been as profitable as I’d hoped. Many times I’ve driven home to work wondering how my friend has been doing in terms of the job search. He’s been very good about updating his progress, which according to all the pundits is the wisest thing to do. Keep those with whom you’re networking in the loop. This man has a will-not-die attitude, so I am confident he’ll eventually find a job.

A small act on my part: One day an acquaintance of mine who was laid off from a large defense company was here for an orientation. He updated me on his occupation and described his previous role at the company. A sharp woman who had switched from recruiting in the high-tech industry to the financial industry came to mind immediately, so I invited him into my office and gave her a call and they talked. Within a couple of days they had an interview planned, and within a week he had a job. I sent her a quick e-mail thanking her for her efforts in finding my acquaintance a job.

Why am I grateful for the time she took to interview and fight for my acquaintance? Because she was sincere and completely honest. I’m not stupid to think that she was being philanthropic—after all, it’s her job and she made some good money. All though, in the past she’s been a great friend to the career center by coming to speak about the job search. She wasn’t paid to speak at the career center, nor would she accept lunch from me, so her generous giving of time was much appreciated.

No big deal. Saying thanks, whether it’s in the form of a thank you card, an e-mail, phone call, or talking at a youth event is not hard to do; and the benefits are tremendous. Jobseekers who are frustrated with the job search must make a concerted effort to extend their gratitude to everyone involved in their job search, including the convenience store owner who says, “I was talking to someone who is looking for a MarCom writer. He was telling me the other day….”

Even though a lead might come from the most unlikely source, e.g. perhaps no one in your official network, you still must consider these folks part of the overall equation. What does it matter where you get your help from, as long as you get help? Thank yous all around, I say.

Do You Know Yourself?

Leave a reply

At a recent workshop I lead called Interview Boot Camp, I asked the question, “Can you tell me something about yourself?” It was the very first question of the morning. The participants were sitting next to each other in a U-shaped configuration, and there were eight of them. This question seemed simple enough, but they were naturally nervous and self-conscious. Interview Boot Camp is not advertised as the name implies; rather it’s intended to be a friendly and educational workshop.

I asked this question of the first attendee, who began with “This is tough. I guess I’d answer by saying…”

Oh no, I thought, there is no narrative allowed, just answers. I predicted this would be a long morning.

The next person was no better prepared for the question than the first. She began by talking about where she lived and upon seeing the look of disapproval on my face, she said, “I’m not doing this right, am I?”

At this point I called a time-out. I was noticeably perturbed—uncharacteristic of me in a workshop. I regained my composure and said, “No, you’re not. Look, here’s what I want. You have to focus what’s important at an interview, which isn’t talking about your personal information. It’s about telling the interviewer about experience, skills, and accomplishments. And it’s about telling the interviewer information that is relevant to the job for which you’re applying.

“But since you’re not applying for an actual job, your answer today will be more general. I want to hear about your previous position and maybe one before that. What were some of the outstanding skills you demonstrated? I’d like to know about some outstanding hard skills. Give me an accomplishment or two. Wrap it up with some strong adaptive skills, such as the energy and enthusiasm you demonstrate in your work.”

They were taking notes while I was talking. The person who prompted me to explain what was expected in the answer regained her composure and started afresh. She did beautifully in all aspects of her delivery.

One of the participants brought up another one of my workshops she had attended called Personal Commercial and how it would be helpful in answering this question. I agreed, telling them that in this workshop they would write a commercial, recite it to their peers, and then get some valuable feedback.

Another said that maybe Personal Commercial should be a prerequisite. They all agreed. From that point forward the remaining six nailed the question like pros, which is what they are. They just don’t know it.