The absolute worst way to go to an interview is with the
attitude of: “Please, please - hire me.”

When you go to an interview with that attitude you appear
desperate. And even though you actually may be desperate in
a difficult job market, you don’t want to appear that way.

The demeanor and attitude that you bring to the interview
will set the tone for the entire interview.

Let’s look at it from the employer’s/interviewer’s point of
view.

You are the employer and are seeking a solution to a
problem. Your best sales person has just left and you have
no one to cover the territory. You are hoping that you can
find some who is capable to help you solve this problem.
You are tired of interviewing candidates who seem to fall
short. You would like to find a good person who can do the
job and take over the problem. This will allow you to get
back to your job to get on with your work.

And one afternoon a candidate walks in who appears to be
confident, has a lot of energy, and who seems to understand
your problem. This candidate is very personable and has a
great attitude toward the type of situation you need to be
filled. There is a real connection between the two of you.
He “gets you.”

The more questions you ask this candidate the more excited
you become about his qualifications. He presents himself
with confidence. He doesn’t just say he’s good at closing
sales, he gives great examples of times when he not only
closed sales - but he exceeded expectations.

You heart starts beating fast and you know that you have
found the solution to your problem. He looks professional,
he’s prepared, he has stories to back his claims, and he
has asked intelligent questions that demonstrate his
interest in what you do.

This is the man you are going to hire.

But wait, there are some problems: he has a higher salary
expectation than you budgeted for. You reason that you can
handle that by using your “fudget factor” and finding some
extra money somewhere else.

The other problem is this person has been out of work for a
few months. Could this be a problem? You already have a
problem - you don’t want to hire another problem. When you
question him he is sincere and honest. He’s going through a
tough time in a tough job market. You ask him why he left
his last job. He explains very forthrightly that the
company that he worked for went through several changes and
he no longer fit into the culture. He didn’t bad mouth the
company or doesn’t appear to be bitter about the situation.
Since you’ve had a similar experience you can relate.

After spending an hour with this person you are sure you
have found the right “fit” for not only you but for the
candidate. Everything you have asked him seems to work with
your company and culture. He seems to know what he is
looking for and what he wants when you question him about
his goals and why he wants to work for your company. This
is important to you because otherwise he won’t be happy
working at your job and you will have to repeat this
process again sooner than later - and you don’t want that
to happen. You want to hire a “solution.”

You decide to check out his reference and if the comments
are as positive as this candidate claims - then you will
make him an offer.

Looking at the job process from this perspective you can
see that when you appear desperate and aren’t prepared with
good answers, the interviewer will not get those positive
vibes about you being the person to solve his problems. A
desperate attitude and demeanor will work against you in
the interview.

Negative thinking such as: “I’m probably not the “perfect”
fit for the job, I’m over-qualified, or lacking in some of
the skills,” or “They probably won’t like me,” will
sabotage your efforts to make a good impression

There may be no such thing as the “perfect” job or the
“perfect” interview, but when you change your attitude
toward the interview, you have a better chance of having a
“near perfect” interview. And, a far great chance of
finding the job that will satisfy your values and your
needs.

—————————————————-
Carole Martin, America’s #1 Interview Coach has specialized
in the subject of “Interviewing” for the past 15 years from
both sides of the desk. She has produced a free practice
interview that shows you where you are going wrong in your
interview. See if your skills pass the test at
http://www.interviewcoach.com/interviewlogin.html . Don’t
be caught without the right answers, get your free 9-week
ecourse at http://www.interviewcoach.com

Scroll down if you want to read the Real 10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers, but first let me explain the article from earlier this week.

I posted an article titled 10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers in my Article directory. I get maybe 10-15 different articles a day and choose maybe 1 or 2 to post over there. My business readers appreciate it as it adds value to what they are looking for on the site. I didn’t Digg the post so don’t accuse me of splogging when you haven’t even checked out the rest of the site and what it has to offer.

Some people thought those questions were canned, along with the answers. And yes, they are. If you’re a large corporation you know that if you don’t have a method and documentation of your interview process you could get sued. Don’t worry, if you’re a large corporation that hasn’t been sued yet from a disgruntled interviewee, you will. Who wants to waste there time on a disgruntled interviewee? Disgruntled Interviewee!?

Whether you’re using the traditional interview style (directive style) or any other type of interview such as STAR, meandering style, stress interview, behavioral interview the thought process is the same. People can learn how to deal with each of these different interview types. As an interviewee you just have to play the game and get it right. As a large corporation, you have to document everything to avoid being liable in a lawsuit.

Small businesses have the flexibility to conduct interviews in different ways. The rules and laws against small businesses are much more open in regards to interviews and they can conduct them informally. I’ve received jobs over a couple of beers and BS’ing about last week’s football games. I’m sure many of you have similar experiences.

Now for the Real: 10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers

Q#1 - Are there really 10 killer job interview questions and answers to get me the job?

A#1 - No!…there isn’t. Since different companies use different interviewing styles there are no certain questions they will ask. If you know what type of style they are going to use, you can find information or read books that will teach you how to play that certain type of interview.

How about this, try networking more and skip the interview process entirely!

Yes, research says that over 80% of jobs are found through networking. If you’re looking to find a job through the traditional means of visiting Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, and Yahoo HotJobs and applying to open positions there you are missing out on over 80% of the available jobs. If you have skills that are valuable to a company and people know about it, you won’t need to go through and interview process but instead the companies will be trying to one up each other to get you to work for them. You won’t have to sell yourself because people have already seen your skills and the accomplishments that you’ve achieved in your career.

If you need help networking, check out Randell Hanen’s article “Networking Your Way to a New Job“.

I found my current job from networking and I love it. I’ll probably end my career with the company I’m at. Do you love your job? If not, start networking and find that job.

A weekly roundup of the best blog postings related to business issues:

Should CEOs Have Term Limits? - Transition of Power at Modern Magellans.

Estimated Tax: Self-Employed at glgcpa.blogspot.com.

Age and the entrepreneur, part 1: Some data at blog.pmarca.com.

Make Your Resume Pop With These Resume Writing Tips at The Frugal Law Student.

Tip: Measure Meetings With Action at Behance.

How Sales Managers Can Increase Participation in Sales Meetings at Landing the Deal.

Planning Your Career - What’s Important? at Alexander Hughes Selection.

Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership at BuildYourOwnBusiness.com.

What is Management Effectiveness? at Suite101.

The most meaningful way to say “Thank you” to your customers at Insightful Business Ideas.

ABC News just put out a great article about building a resume. For the most part, I agreed with the article.

Fortunately, I just wrote a post about the finding that job search times are getting shorter, so if it’s your time to find a job or if it’s your time to move on to another one, you can be optimistic.

However, just because companies are hiring doesn’t mean you’ll get the job you want so easily. You must create a well crafted resume that will sell your skills and demonstrate how they will incorporate it into the business.

The most important thing behind the ABC News article is making sure you have enough keywords on your resume for your particular industry. Companies have to filter hundreds of resumes they receive for each job posting and they’re using technology to help save time. They will do keyword searches on popular resume services such as Monster.com and HotJobs.com to filter the junk out of there. You want to make sure that you do not overdo it either, and make sure you can give examples and backup each keyword you use.

The only part of the article I didn’t agree with is The job search: It’s something everyone does but almost everyone dreads. I think everyone should enjoy the experience because you are about to change your life from the place you go to work to the people you interact with everyday. Have fun with it!

According to an article by Rob Kelly at CNN people are finding jobs much more quickly than they were before.

This is positive news for those looking to find a job or change careers. The other really good piece of information is that these new jobs that people are finding pay equal to or more than the job they had before.

People over 50 were able to find jobs quickly as well.

This is all good news because as employment rates decrease, competing companies must raise their salaries to attract new employees.

Is it better to resign or call in sick while looking for a new job?

-David, Oregon

That all depends on your situation. Many companies like to hire people from their competitors or someone still working at a new job. It’s a sign of accomplishment for them. That they were able to recruit you, show you a better offer, and you accepted.

So in this situation, it’s better to call in sick when you’re looking for a new job or take some vacation days and schedule interviews.

Plus, if you don’t get that new job, at least you have your old one.

On the flip side, if you dread going to work everyday and you’re looking for a new job resigning just might be the answer. This will give you a breath of fresh air and the opportunity to find a job you’ll enjoy.

Nothing is worse than spending 8 hours a day at a place you don’t enjoy being at. However, you’ll want to make sure you have the financial resources to be unemployed for a while. I’ve heard stories of someone quitting their job and finding a new one within a week and I’ve also heard someone take two years to find a new job.

Whatever your situation, make sure you find a position you’ll enjoy.

You already have that great job, or you’re interviewing for a new one.  Make sure you get the most for your salary.  Here are 5 tips to getting that higher salary.

1. Ask for it.  I shouldn’t even have to say this one, but I do.  To many people don’t ask for more money.  This is where negotiation skills come into play.  If you know how to ask, when to ask, and what exactly to ask for, you will have a better chance of getting more pay.

2. Polish your resume.  If your resume looks like a million bucks, you should command a higher salary.  However, if you just through it together and it has many typos and crap on it, don’t expect to be able to negotiate salary.  You should consider yourself lucky for even being at the interview.  A polished resume will allow you to use your negotiation skills to increase your salary.

3. Express interest.  If there’s a promotion at your current job, you need to express your interest to your superiors, or whoever it is that will decide who gets the promotion.  If you just sit there at your desk, nobody may know that you even want the job.  Then, when it’s given to someone else, you’d be pissed off (but you wouldn’t tell anyone).  You have to let others know that you want more money, more responsibility, and more out of life.

4. Leverage your interviews.  If you’ve received offers from 3-4 different companies, use that as leverage for a higher salary.  If you’ve positioned yourself properly and your skills are in high demand to can expect the big money to come through.  Just make sure you don’t pick the new job based entirely off of the money.  You want to be sure you will enjoy your new position.  Nothing would be worse than going to a job you hated everyday, no matter how much they pay you.

5. Have it in writing.  Whether your currently employed or getting that new job, make sure you have a clear understanding of when salary raises will occur.  That way you will be able to take on projects that will allow you to leverage your accomplishments when in a salary negotiation.  If you do not know when salary negotiations will take place, it will be hard for you to schedule the duties and tasks you take on.

Those are some basic tips to help you succeed in getting a higher salary.  If you want more help, check out Negotiating Your Salary: How To Make $1,000 A Minute or Secrets of Power Salary Negotiating: Inside Secrets from a Master Negotiator . Your salary will thank you for it.

Forbes recently had an article on the best and worst paying jobs. If you’re looking for a new job, you will want to be sure to check out their list:

Forbes

It looks like the best paying jobs is in the health care industry (that’s really no surprise). You will have to make sure you have your advanced degree or training to be involved in many of these positions. This is a case where you have to invest money in yourself and education before you can receive one of these high paying jobs.

You will also want to make sure you check out the worst paying jobs as well. You want to make sure that you steer clear of these (unless you have a passion for them) and let your friends know as well. As long as you’re out of school, the lowest paying jobs shouldn’t even worry you as they are more centered in the lower end of the service business.

Remember, it’s not only about how much you’re paid, but also your work environment and the benefits that are included. Many people wouldn’t take a job in the health care industry because it’s high stress, and they are happy with the career they are in.

Looking for that new job? Or just curious to know what else is out there?

Social Networking websites have taken on a storm the past couple of years. From the well known Myspace.com and Facebook.com to the many others that pop up daily.

Finally, there is a job seekers social networking website that is taking the recruiting industry by storm: BlueChipExpert.com/

However, BlueChipExpert.com is by invitation only. If you would like an invitation, please email me at damon@ceoconsultant.com

BlueChipExpert.com is unique in that it is not only looking for top notch consultants, software enginers, and creative directors, but it offers a referral fee to those that introduce these people to BlueChipExpert.com and get placed for a project.

Many high end job seekers do not want to post their resume on Monster.com or CareerLadder.com. Instead, they like to use their network of collegues and friends to find those positions. BlueChipExpert.com uses this network to provide high end jobs for those high end job seekers.

It’s a win-win-win situation for everyone involved.

To learn more how BlueChipExpert.com works, visit money.cnn.com

1. Prepare - When going into an interview, make sure you have throughly researched the company, and the position that you are applying for. There is nothing better in an interview than being able to speak well and intelligently in front of the hiring manager.

2. Dress Well - It’s never a bad thing to be over dressed for your position. A suit is always recommended.

3. Smile - Smiling shows enthusiam and let’s the hiring manager know that you are excited about the position. Hiring managers want people who are eager to work for the company.

4. Question - Make sure you have questions to ask the hiring manager. You should have enough knowledge from the research you already conducted to have 3-4 very detailed questions to ask.

5. Relax - If you have confidence in yourself, and have prepared, relax a little bit. Over thinking or stressing too much in an interview is a turn-off. Remember, talk to the hiring manager in a relaxed voice and have fun.

Remember, it’s all a game. Play it well.