Yesterday I brought you the first part of my talk with recruiter Jack Farrell in which we discussed his most valuable interview tips for today’s job market. Today we’re talking about the worst things you can do in an interview. Read on for Farrell’s tips for avoiding rejection due to careless mistakes. 

1. No whining. Nobody wants to hire a whiner. Be careful about how you relay the information from your resume and be sure to spin it positively. Never run down someone you used to work for. Even if it is factual or deserved, the only takeaway for your interviewer is that you might be a problem waiting to happen.

2. Don’t ignore the competition. You need to remember that you’re competing against other qualified candidates. Make a case for yourself. You can’t be complacent. Even if you think the interview will be easy, you have a connection at the company, or feel like the position is yours for the taking, you still need to show enthusiasm and ambition. Don’t be passive.

3. Don’t be shy. Share your work. You might be sending around a resume that you think is wonderful. You might have spent hours or even days perfecting it. But another set of eyes could be the difference. Have a friend or colleague you trust edit for you. Remember that less is always more. Use bullet points and keep it to the point and conversational.

Many thanks to Jack Farrell for his advice this week! Jack Farrell & Associates is a recruitment firm that offers career coaching, resume repair, and interview assistance.

Happy hunting!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Alex France via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Interview Tips – Part Two appeared first on Law Street.

I had the opportunity to discuss the topic of job searching with someone who knows it best. Jack Farrell, recruiter-extraordinaire answered my questions from his insider perspective and I’m sharing his wisdom with you in this two part edition of Capitalista Careers.

We’re starting with his advice for the five best tips to keep in mind when you’re interviewing. Here they are! Straight from the horse’s mouth. Recruiters see the good, the bad, and the ugly.

1. THE STORY. Go into the interview prepared with the story of how you ended up there today. How is this job, and this interview, a culmination of all the other things you’ve done, places you’ve worked, and spots on your resume?

2. SUCCESS STORIES. Use success stories from different parts of your career to demonstrate your resume. Use examples. Practice these. It’s important to rehearse a few of these highlights before the interview so you don’t forget and leave them out when the time comes.

3. WHY YOU? Remember that people are selfish creatures and at the end of the day, employers are no exception. They want to hire someone who will make them look good. Don’t be afraid to express how you’ll be an asset to the company.

4. THE SCRIPT. Think of the resume as a script and memorize your lines. Internalize not only the points on your resume, but how to make them work for you. Why did you leave that job? Why are you transitioning? Tie it into the story in a positive way. You want the resume to be conversational and fluent. Do mock interviews. Rehearse in front of the mirror. Put in whatever preparation time needed to make yourself stand apart from the competition.

5. BODY LANGUAGE. Keep this in mind. How you present yourself is very important for making a good first impression. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Smile and maintain eye contact. Keep your phone off and away.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Capitalista Careers when Jack tells us the biggest mistakes you could make in an interview.

Jack Farrell & Associates is a recruitment firm that offers career coaching, resume repair, and interview assistance.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Alex France via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Interview Tips – Part One appeared first on Law Street.