Tag: Featured

Well…. Now what? You prepared for the big day, followed all the tips for success, and have now completed the adrenaline pumping process that is the interview. All set, right? Wrong. Just as your job was to create the most favorable, professional image possible of yourself during the interview, the same goes for after.

The interview is just the beginning of a hopefully long and fulfilling career at a company. A good analogy is a great dinner, the best meals are the ones that impress at every point. The food, prepared with thought and care, is an impressive show of ambiance and substance, and finally, the dessert, similar to the “follow up,” provides the final element. It can leave you underwhelmed if it doesn’t match up or go above and beyond to offer the last of confirmations of a killer meal.

Allow your actions following the interview to be the warm apple pie that is your superior ability to fulfill the qualifications for this role. This post will let you in on the why, how, and when of your actions following an interview.

Why

The follow up of the interview provides an opportunity to present yourself as a professional again. You can use this to reinforce any elements you feel are essential as well as clarify certain aspects you felt did not get enough attention in the interview. You can elevate yourself as a candidate and keep your name fresh in the interviewer’s mind.

Additionally, showing eagerness for the job may be the deciding factor between you and another candidate. Some recruiters agree that the post-interview process is only as necessary as how you performed in the actual interview. Most interviewers expect at least a thank you note, so optimize this platform to make yourself a stand-out candidate.

How

At the end of your interview, it is helpful to ask the hiring manager about the process moving forward. To know what to expect and reduce anxiety, ask about a timeline on making their decision, with whom to follow up with, when to do so, and how. Analyze your interview and think about anything that you may need to clarify. Few notes for your follow up interview:

• Recap of your strengths and why the position is a match for you
• Welcoming the opportunity to join their organization
• Address any additional information that you weren’t able to answer fully at the time
• Appreciation for the opportunity and a personalized touch

It’s also a good idea to send a tailored LinkedIn request with a brief note about your interest in the position. Additionally, alert your references that they may receive a call or email and summarize your case for the job. Finally, stay calm. Don’t let the stress of time overwhelm you. Keep up the job search and remain aware of the employer’s timeline.

When

Typically, you want to reach out closely following the interview to reinforce yourself in the interviewer’s memory. It is best to send a thank you email the same or the next day after the actual interview. If you received information from the interviewer about when they would like you to follow up, then you should follow the timeline they provide. However, if not, then be wary of enthusiasm versus annoyance. After the thank you email, it is typical to follow up approximately one week after. Be patient and professional, and regardless of the outcome, remember to thank the interviewers for their time and consideration.

You have got what it takes to master the entirety of the interview process and secure that job. Be confident in your abilities and help yourself out by taking every step to emphasize your superior strength for the role.

Are you getting ready to venture out into a new career? You’ve managed to complete the first steps of the application process, and surely you know what’s coming, the daunting and oh so stressful: Job Interview. How you present yourself in this interview might land you that offer you’ve been waiting for… no pressure. As if interviews weren’t enough to think about, this pandemic has thrown us a bit of a curveball. However, just as a little training and effort provide the means to crush that curve, so does some preparation to knock a video interview out of the park. Here are a few tips and tricks to nail a video interview and take advantage of showing off your willingness to adapt to the times:

1. Set Up The Right Environment

Before the interview begins, you must set the stage. Consider your location. Ideally, you want to be in a quiet, private, well-lit place. Neutral colored, plain backgrounds such as a simple wall are best to show you are prepared and professional. It enables the interviewer to focus all their attention on you, not what’s going on in the background.

Dress professionally and avoid bright colors to aid in keeping the attention on you. To avoid any mishaps, take some time to familiarize yourself with different video conferencing platforms, (zoom, skype, etc.). Make sure you have a stable internet connection and test out your computer’s video and audio beforehand.

When the time comes, you should turn your phone on silent and put any computer notifications on do not disturb. Make sure you do everything you can to give yourself a good starting position and then build from there!

2. Be Smart About Your Movements

The video setting calls for a little bit of distraction. Do everything in your power to keep the attention on you and what you have to share. Use a pen and paper to take notes as typing can be distracting and is mistaken for multitasking. To avoid any doubts, hold them up to the camera before you go to write the first thing down.

You’ll also want a printed copy of your resume nearby, so you can answer any questions with ease. When you’re talking, look directly at the camera to mimic eye contact.

Try to position the video window as close to the webcam as possible because looking anywhere else on your screen seems like your attention is focused away from the interviewer. When you are listening, try to nod and smile to show you are engaged. Do your best to keep an upbeat mood and show confidence with your body language, like keeping good posture and doing your best not to fidget!

3. Practice Beforehand

A little practice is always a good idea before an interview, even more so now with the new aspects to navigate. Hit up some friends and family in the days leading up to the interview and practice your videoing skills. Make sure your connection is good and troubleshoot any issues you may have so that all you have to worry about in the moment is getting that job.

4. Remember to Treat it Like A Job Interview

Although it may be happening through a screen, remember that all the same rules still apply. Treat it as if you were meeting the interviewer face to face. It is your responsibility to create the most favorable, professional image of yourself possible and convince the interviewer you are qualified for the role. Research the company, market, key players, competition, etc. and make sure you show that you have the skills and abilities for the position. Just as you should practice with videoing beforehand, practice what you want to say out loud and have a clear idea of the messages you are trying to get across. Although far more complicated, try to use this platform to get to know the company culture. You may do so by asking questions such as, “What are the top traits of the most successful team members?” and “Can you give an example of a recent team conflict and how it was handled?” Just as much as they are interviewing you, you are getting to know the company that you may join.

5. Take Advantage of The Pandemic

Lastly, use this pandemic to your benefit by showing your exceptional reaction to the times. The odds are pretty high that you will be asked how you have handled work during Covid-19. This is a perfect opportunity to play to your audience and highlight skills that would be valuable for the hiring manager to learn about you. Be strategic in your answer and use it to demonstrate your positive attributes rather than wasting it by not thinking about your reply beforehand. Employers may use this to assess your leadership, creativity, and adaptability during a crisis, and you should do the same. Ask them how they’ve been getting on and know that showing resilience is favorable in the eyes of the employer.

You now have all the tips for a successful video interview. Don’t shy away from the new normal, learn, and adapt. You have what it takes to master this process and put it to use to lock in that next great job!

 

Raise your hand if you’ve been having trouble getting recruiters to respond to you?

Oftentimes, getting their attention begins with something as simple as keeping your search organized. Otherwise, you may find yourself reaching out to the same companies, multiple times, without even realizing it. Not to mention, forgetting to follow up on your applications, or even applying to the exact same jobs repeatedly. Big no-no’s in the eyes of recruiting teams and hiring managers.

Keeping your search organized with the help of our easy-to-use Excel template lets you keep track of the positions you’ve applied to, greatly increasing your chances of landing your next job – and future jobs to come!

But don’t stop there! It’s also important to make sure you are tracking when you’ve applied and when you will want to follow up on your applications, requesting status updates or inquiring about next steps in the process. Once actively interviewing with a team, keeping track of interviewers’ feedback and anticipated hiring timelines are known to help smooth the transition into your new role.

Be ready for your next search by keeping your template handy to help you remember which positions you were declined from, as well as the reasons, like a skills mismatch, or perhaps the position closed or was filled.

The template is completely free to use, and you can download it from here. We’ve included a few How-To Tips below to help you get started.

How To Use the Spreadsheet:

• Company: In this column, fill in the name of the company you’re applying to.
• Position: Here, fill in the specific position you are applying to (be sure to include a Job ID, if available).
• Contact Name: This should be your contact at the company, or the recruiter you are working with for the role. Common company contacts include: Director of Human Resources or the Office Manager. This could also be the person you addressed your cover letter to.
• Contact Email: Include your contact’s email (or telephone number) if applicable. This is important for your follow-up efforts.
• Date Applied: This is the date you sent in your application. If you haven’t heard back within a few weeks, don’t wait – see #6 for good follow-up practices.
• Application Follow-Up Date: Include the date you submitted (or will submit) any follow up materials such as a thank you letter or email. We suggest following up on your application within 2 weeks of your application date, and to continue following up for 3 months unless the company gives you an outright no.
• Applied VIA: In this column, record the application method you used. Some common examples of these application types include an in-person referral, an application through a recruiter, a LinkedIn connection, direct-apply on a company’s website, or using Job Boards. Be sure to record which one as the same job is often posted to multiple Job Boards by multiple agencies as well as the company itself.
• Interview Date: This is the date your interview is scheduled for, or if you’ve already interviewed, the day it was on. (Success Tip: Remember to send a Thank You email within 24-hours of your interview.)
• Application Status: Update this column with the current status of your application (such as if you were accepted, rejected, or asked in for a second interview).
• Notes: This is a place for you to record any relevant information about the company, position, application, etc.

Feel free to reach out with any questions, we’d love to hear from you! Email works best. recruiting@quardev.com. For more information and new job opportunities, click here.

Happy job searching!