Job seekers do many things to better understand what things must and must not be done to prepare for a job interview. Aside from preparing your resume and other credentials, you must also be ready for what could happen during the interview itself.
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Interesting job interview myths you should know
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2. be thrown to you so you could leave a really good
impression of yourself.
Job seekers do many
things to better
understand what
things must and must
not be done to prepare
for a job interview.
Aside from preparing
your resume and other
credentials, you must
also be ready for what could happen during the
interview itself. If you search the web or talk to
people who are more experienced in getting
interviews, you may actually get tips on how you
could eventually land the job you are applying for.
But do you know that some of the things you will
learn are just myths? Below are some of them:
1. There’s an open position if you are invited for an
interview. Job seekers often think that an invitation
for a job interview means being considered for a
position. The truth, however, is that companies
usually interview job applicants just to check out the
market. For them, this method is effective in looking
around for the best talents in the marketplace. As a
matter of fact, many employers conduct interviews
just to know what the average salary is expected by
the applicants in a particular field or job. This helps
them decide what offer to make for their desired
candidates.
2. Employers are always prepared for interviews. It
is possible that the hiring manager to conduct the job
interview is new in the position and actually has very
little experience in talking to job applicants. So what
does this mean to you as a job seeker? Well, an
unprepared interviewer can in fact give you a better
chance of controlling the interview. Thus, make sure
you prepare all your questions for the interviewer.
Also, be confident in answering all the questions to
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3. Your answers should be kept short. While it is
true that you should answer many of the questions in
a precise manner, there are instances also wherein
you have to give lengthy and detailed answers. If you
are asked about a specific task in your previous job
that you performed really well, be sure to elaborate
on your answer. Giving a short response means not
selling yourself well enough.
4. The job always goes to the most qualified
candidate. Surprising as it may be, the most qualified
job seekers don’t always get the job. According to
studies, employers are more likely to hire those
applicants that they like, in terms of personality and
what career pathways they are pursuing. Also,
employers think it is important to hire someone who
they could have some beer with. In short, you must
show the best side of yourself when doing a job
interview. Do not focus too much on your
qualifications, and try to show the recruiter why you
would be the best fit for the position and the entire
organization.
Every job
seeker has to
have a
particular job
hunting
strategy that
will help
them
overcome the challenges that come with searching
for a job. Using the right combination of techniques,
you can rest assured that your job application will be
on the top of employers’ lists. Among the many
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3. aspects of any job search strategy, there is one that
you have to take very seriously, and that is to prove
to your potential employers that you are the best fit
for the position. So what is it exactly that hiring
managers are looking for in a job candidate?
Personality. You cannot expect to get hired if your
personality doesn’t fit the job you’re applying for.
While it is impossible that you will be a 100%
compatible with the job in terms of your personality,
you need to be teachable so you could eventually
grow into the position within the company. Thus,
before you go to a job interview, it is best to think
about the positive traits you’ve got and be ready to
explain how relevant your traits are to the
responsibilities involved in the job.
Abilities. You should expect to be asked some
behavioral questions during an interview. If you
possess the abilities and technical skills needed for
the job, you will not find it hard to answer such
questions. Be sure to show the interviewer that you
are inquisitive, bright, and open-minded. This would
help you get closer to landing the job.
Work Experience. One of the important things
employers are looking for in a job seeker is the
relevant job experience they have had. But it is not
enough that you enumerate in your resume the
positions you have held in the past in relation to the
job you are currently applying for. More importantly,
you need to explain how similar your position in the
past is to the job the company is hiring for. This way,
you can make your potential employer confident that
hiring you will spare them from the expenses of
training new employees. Clearly, this is an edge you
have over other applicants.
When it comes to preparing for a job interview, don’t
pressure yourself to be the perfect job candidate
because it is almost impossible for you to possess
every single one of the traits employers are looking
for. Nevertheless, you must try as hard as you can to
show that your personality and the skills you have
are very suitable for the position they are offering.
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You may consult a resume and career services
professional if you think you need advice and
guidance on how to prepare for and be successful in a
job interview.
The truth is,
no job
seeker is
perfect. This
means that
every time
you apply
for a job, you are likely to commit at least one job
search mistake. There is nothing wrong with this, of
course, because everyone else does. What you don’t
want is to make the same mistakes over and over
again and let those mistakes ruin your chances of
landing a job all the time. By knowing what mistakes
most job hunters make, you will know what to avoid
to make sure you will eventually get the job you have
always wanted.
Here’s what you should not do as a job seeker.
1. Using the same resume for all the companies you
are applying to. In the process of your job search, it
is likely that you will try to apply to several
companies out there. This is a good strategy, but you
shouldn’t make the mistake of using only one resume
for all the jobs you apply for. Every single company or
organization you try to work in has their own
requirements and criteria for choosing an applicant.
Thus, you cannot assume that the resume you made
for a particular job opening will also be the one that
other employers would prefer. See to it that your
resume is customized to the particular needs of the
employers you are applying to.
2. Relying only on the internet to find a job. While it
is true that almost all companies are turning to the
internet to look for qualified job candidates, this
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4. doesn’t mean they no longer use other methods of
accepting job applications. If you want to increase
your chances of getting a job soon, it is important that
you make use of all the resources and methods
available to you so you could grab every opportunity
to be hired.
3. Not rehearsing job interviews. Many job seekers
believe they only have to be themselves in attending
job interviews. For them, as long as they have the
qualifications for a job, they don’t have to worry
about how the interview will go. Thinking this way is
a mistake. For every invitation for a job interview,
make sure that you spend time practicing how you
will answer their questions. This is the only way you
could be confident as you face your potential
employers.
4. Taking your network for granted. In any career
coaching centre, the importance of networking in
job search is always emphasized. Experts will always
insist that job seekers enhance their professional
network to increase their chances of getting hired.
Thus, you should take the time to go out and meet
people within the industry. There are just so many
benefits to having a big network, so this is something
you shouldn’t forget to do.
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