Do you need a job? You do? Alison Greene at Ask a Manager is running a special on her book, How to Get a Job: Secrets of a Hiring Manager. Put in this discount code and you’ll get a massive 40% discount: summer2012
Seriously, if you need a job, you should get this ebook.
And Alison didn’t even ask me to post this ad, I just saw it and knew I had to share.
Also, buy a copy for your brother-in-law that is currently sleeping on your couch.
Over a few decades I’ve interviewed well over 1000 job candidates at all levels and hired hundreds. Want to impress me in an interview? Then do these things:
– Show me that you understand that my business focus is to satisfy customers. Internal customers and external customers. Primary customers and secondary customers.
– Ask questions so you can learn what my business goals are. Show me that you have ideas how to achieve them.
– Show me “fire in the belly”. I want to hire people who will make a difference to the effectiveness of my business. I want to hear about your vision for melding your abilities with my needs. I won’t hire people who don’t want to make a difference.
– Show me that you understand the need to deliver results, and then show me how you deliver results day in and day out.
– Show me how you work as a team member, knowing when to lead and when to follow.
– I know you are intelligent. You already have a college degree or high school diploma. Show me that you have common sense and are wise. These traits are often more useful than intelligence.
– My reputation is to get a lot done probably faster than you’ve ever seen before at a very high quality standard. Show me how you are comfortable with that expectation.
– Show me how your education helps you deliver results. Then show me how you are continuing your education and what your future plans are to gain more knowledge.
– Tell me what really interests you professionally and personally. I can often tailor the job description to include aspects of candidates’ interests.
– Tell me how you handled problems and corrected your own mistakes. We all experience these situations, and I want to hire people who manage and recover from them well.
– If we are taking a tour through the facility, please realize that I am still interviewing you. Ask questions and show me how your experience will make a difference.
– Ask me how I train and develop people. That’s a reasonable demand to make of a hiring manager.
– Ask me about the company culture and my working culture. How you will fit into this working environment is extremely important. I won’t change the working environment to fit you.
Candidates at different levels will have different levels of ability and experience. I don’t have the same lofty standard for all candidates.
I have not had the chance to read this book just yet. But below is a link to an HR blog about 4 things to consider when hiring. It can also help applicants know a couple of things employers look for.
edited to remove Spammy link.
Hey, Dallas, I see that after I asked you to stop spamming my blog, you decided to spam this one.
I edited out his spammy link. I so love that he was busted by you.