Getting Called for an Interview

Do you remember the days when companies were clamoring to offer the best and biggest perks to entice top candidates to join their firm?   You know, things like “Bring-Your-Cat-To-Work,” or Free banana splits, complimentary health club memberships for the whole family, $5,000 signing bonuses, 6 weeks vacation the first year, and on and on.

Well, the bad news is that these days are over. The OTHER bad news is that according to current statistics, 85 job seekers are out there chasing EACH position. The really bad news is that to even make the short list of those being seriously considered by an employer, you will have to do some things differently.

What, you may ask?  Well, first. you’ll have to ‘know your stuff.’  It isn’t any longer sufficient to have a passing acquaintance with Power Point—you almost have to be able to teach a class in it to even qualify for an interview!

The cover letter is the time to paint a picture of yourself and your skills. Tell the employer what it is that makes you different/special/distinctive.  Tell him, too, why he should hire YOU instead of someone else.  Make sure to spell out the things you’ve done previously that match the opportunity being offered. If you’re applying for a marketing position, discuss the fact that in your last position you increased product sales by 15%--and tell HOW you did that.

If you’ve received scholarships or awards, mention this fact as well.  Convey to your interviewer the fact that you are pursuing a post graduate degree. Or, if you do community work, find a way to ease that into the conversation.  (No surprises here--employers are looking for well-rounded individuals to join their team.) However, while touting your virtues, avoid the temptation to exaggerate your accomplishments as sooner or later this will catch up with you.

Triple check the spelling on your resume and cover letter and remember, that the spell checker on your computer will NOT catch any syntax errors you may have made.  (If you were the company president,  would you want a Director of Marketing who couldn’t spell?)

Arrive for you interview with a list of thoughtful questions about the company and the position. Make sure that you're familiar with their competitors and can ask intelligent questions. Avoid the ‘how-much-will-I-make’ dialogue, as this portrays you as self-serving and greedy. Instead, focus on the substantive nature of the position and on how you can best help the company succeed.