Salary Talk During the Job Interview – What is the best way to respond?

Even though you may have gone through a phone screening that involved answering questions about salary, the subject may come again as the interviewer becomes more interested in hiring you. At this point the

interviewer wants to know whether they can “afford you.” This is a very tricky part of the interview and could even break your chances of getting the job. Tread lightly and protect your information is the rule.

Here are some sample questions and answers to assist you in formulating your own answers to questions about salary during the interview. Some of the answers are stronger than others and some will fit certain

situations better than others. You will want to use your own words to answer this type of question however these examples will provide words to use that may be more affective in answering these difficult questions.

Q  “What are Your Salary Expectations?”

A#1 – “I was making $60,000 at my last job, plus bonuses. I would be expecting at least that and a 15-20% increase.: (This is not a good answer)

A#2 – “I’m sure whatever you offer will be a fair amount for a person with my qualifications.  Salary is not the most important factor to me.  I’m looking for opportunity.”(This is a somewhat weak answer)

A#3 – “I really need more information about the job before we start to discuss salary.  I’d like to postpone that discussion until later. Maybe you could tell me what is budgeted for the position, and how your commission structure works.”(This is the best answer)

Q. “What Do You Expect in the Way of  Salary?”

A#1 – “Before I answer that question I’d like to ask what you typically pay someone with my experience and education in this type of position?” (Good Answer)

A#2 – I’m sure when the time comes and I know more about the facts of the position and how it fits into the bigger picture, we can come to a mutually agreeable figure.” (Good answer)

A#3 -  “I really need more information about the position before I can begin to discuss salary. Can you tell me the range budgeted for this position?” (Good answer)

Q. “What Salary Range Would You Require to Take This Job?”

A#1 – “From the research that I have done it appears to be in the $60–70,000 range. Is that the range you had in mind?” (This is a good answer if they insist on a figure from you).

A#2 – “Based on my previous experience and education and the ‘going rate’ for this type of position, I would like to be in the mid to high 70s. Is that a range that fit with your compensation structure?”(Good answer if pushed for a figure – give an acceptable range.)

A#3 – “I would need to know more about your salary structure and how often you review salaries as well as your entire package before I could discuss salary ranges. Could you provide me with more information before we discuss this subject?” (Good answer to push back the discussion to them.)

Q. “What Salary Are You/Were You Making at Your Last Job?”

A#1 – “It would be very difficult for me to compare my last salary with this position for various reasons – primarily because I don’t have enough information about your whole package. I’m sure we can discuss this subject and your entire package before an offer is made.” (Good answer)

A#2 – “That would be like comparing two jobs that are entirely different in responsibilities and in the base and bonus structure. I would be more interested in hearing what the package you offer is, before I compare the two jobs.” I hope we can postpone this subject until we both have more information to discuss salary and benefit comparisons.” (Good answer)

A#3 – “I had an unusual situation at my last job where I took less salary to own a share of the company. I also had a bonus structure that I was receiving. I would have to look at the entire package that you offer before comparing the two jobs or salaries.” (Good answer)

Q. “Would You Consider Taking Less Pay Than You Made in Your Last Job?”

A#1 – “I would really need to know more about the opportunity and your whole package before I can give you and answer to that question. You may offer extra perks that my last job may not have had – or vice versa. Basically, I need more information before I decide.” (Good answer)

A#2 – “While my highest career value is not money, it is important to me that I be fairly compensated for the work I do. I would be willing to listen to a fair offer based on what I bring to the position in the way of experience and education.” (Good answer)

A#3 – “Opportunity is valuable to me.  I am always willing to look at the bigger picture. I would want to be paid according to what I bring to the position, but would be willing to be somewhat flexible.” (Good answer)

You will notice that most of these examples attempt to defer the subject until you have more information and a better idea of whether this is the right job for you. When you have that information you will be able to assess whether this is a job where you have something to offer and what the value should be. In other words, what you deserve to be paid.

NEVER TRY TO NEGOTIATE ANYTHING – UNTIL THERE’S AN OFFER.

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Networking For Your Next Job – How’s Your Network Working?

Seeking a job and networking are a lot like trying to meet new people at any event.

I recently moved to San Diego – knowing only my family and no one else in the area. It was like I was starting all over and seeking to find new contacts.

One of the things I had to do – and job seekers will have to do – is decide that I was going to have to stretch and be assertive if I was going to meet new people.

Even though I am an out-going person, doing this sometimes takes me out of my comfort zone. If you are an introverted or shy person this will be even more of a stretch and takes you into a zone of major discomfort at times.

My advice – Get over it and do it. If you want results, then you will have to move forward. Sitting still and sending out resumes and hoping – will offer a slim chance of results or change. You are going to have to be assertive if this is going to work.

The next problem is where do you meet the “right” people?

I happen to have a passionate interest in movies and film. By attending local events I found out that there was a Cinema Society in my area and knew that I would find people of like-interests. I became a member and have enjoyed every meeting and event. Sometimes I make a new friend and sometimes I don’t, but I am around people who are interested in what I am interested in and have a far better chance of meeting someone than in going to a place where I have no connection. The people in this Society and I have a common bond.

The job seeker can use the same principle. What area of interest could you find a group of “like-minded people?”  The more specialized your experience the easier this will be.

For instance if you are an Engineer – The National Society of Professional Engineers would be an organization where you would find people who are in the industry that you have an interest in pursuing.

When your background is more of a generalist you will have to find “job seeker” groups that fit your situation. An example is a group called “Forty-Plus” – a group of people who support  people who are over the age of 40 and are seeking jobs. Right away there is an instant bond and goal. There are many job groups in every city and area if you do a little research to find them. You would be amazed at what you can find if you “Google” a question. Once you start researching, you will find that there is an association or group for almost anything -including the Ultimate Frisbee Association.

The really difficult challenge comes when you begin to think of walking into a room full of strangers and introducing yourself. Now things can get really uncomfortable.

How do you walk right up to someone and just start talking. Not so easy. But, “doable” if you are determined. The situation will determine the approach. One way to start a conversation is by asking a question — “Does the event usually start on time? – This is my first time here.” Or, “Hi, I’m Carole and I’m new to this group would you mind if I ask you a few questions about what goes on here?” You may find that the person you just approached is new as well and hasn’t known how to “break the ice.”

The general rule is to find groups of three or more people standing together versus two people so that you are not interrupting a private conversation. On the other hand, sometimes two new people are meeting for the first time and hoping that someone will join them. You will have to use some judgment before you approach the situation.

Some people will be more accepting and friendly than others so don’t beat yourself up if you get a “cold shoulder” once in a while. Dust yourself off – and get back in there. Don’t get discouraged. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth taking a risk.

Like most things in life, it takes time to get “good” at networking and attending group events and making new contacts and friends. If you don’t try, you lose. If you try – what did you have to lose? You probably learned what “not to do” if nothing else.

Hopefully you will get lucky and connect with some really nice folks who are willing to share leads or include you in an effort to find a job.

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“Why Did You Leave (Are Planning To Leave) Your Last Position?”

This is a question that you can almost count on being asked at your next interview. What the interviewer wants to know is, “Why are you available?”

The answer you give could set the tone for the rest of the interview. For instance, if you were to indicate that you were bored or burned out at your last job, the interviewer would quickly become concerned about your performance at this company. The question can be especially tricky if you’ve had less than favorable conditions regarding your departure from a company. Regardless of the circumstances that have caused you to move, or are causing you to think about moving, you should be prepared to answer this question.

Below are examples of possible answers to this critical question. After reading them, try to determine which is the strongest answer.

(A). The company had a re-organization, and my department was eliminated. The work had begun to dwindle so it was not a complete surprise. I liked my job and the people I was working with so I had been hoping that it wouldn’t affect us but unfortunately we were all let go. I would like to find a job similar to the one I lost.

(B). I am looking for a new challenge. I have been with my current company for two years now and don’t find the work as interesting as I once did. I am looking for a company where I can take on new challenges and grow. My current job is dead-ended for me.

(C). Since there are no advancement opportunities within the company, I have decided it would be a good time for me to look outside. I have set some career goals for myself that I could not achieve at that company. What I am looking for is a job with a bigger company where I can contribute, but also move on a career path that has more responsibility.

Have you selected the strongest answer? See if you agree with the advice. Click Here to find out..

(Excerpts taken from “Boost Your Interview IQ” – Carole Martin – McGraw-Hill – Second Edition 2012)

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Your Turn To Ask Questions In The Job Interview “Do you have any questions?”

When this question is asked in the interview, surprisingly, the most common answer is “No.” Not only is this the wrong answer, you have missed an opportunity to find out information about the company. It is important for you to ask questions; not just any questions, but questions relating to the job, the company, and the industry.

Example: Two candidates are interviewing for the same job. They are both asked the same question – “Do you have any questions?”

Henry asks, “I was wondering about benefits, and when they would become effective? Also, what is the yearly vacation allowance? And, does the company match on the 401K plan?”

These are not the best questions to ask at this time. Assuming that this is the first interview, it is premature to ask about benefits. This is a “What’s in it for me?” question, and could be interpreted as self-centered, and lacking interest in the job itself.

The next candidate, Chris, says, “No, I think you just about covered everything that I wanted to know. I’m sure I’ll have more questions if I get the job.”

This is a very passive response, which doesn’t demonstrate interest or imagination. Once you get the job, if you get the job, it may be too late to ask questions.

It is important for you to ask questions to find out about the challenges of the job and the company. In some cases the interviewer will be listening to hear the types of questions you ask.

The best questions will come as a result of your listening to what is asked during the interview. A good answer would be:

“Yes, I do have some questions. From what you’ve been asking me during the interview, it sounds like you have a problem with customer retention. Can you tell me a little more about the current situation, and what the first challenges would be for the new person?”

This answer shows interest in what in the problem presented in this position – and how you could be the possible solution. It is also an opportunity to get a sense of what will be expected.

By preparing ahead of time you can think about what information you need to know before you consider working for this company.

You will have to use your judgment about the number of questions you ask, or when to ask them. Think of this as a conversation. There will be an appropriate time to ask certain types of questions, like those about benefits and vacation. To be on the safe side, it is best to concentrate on questions about the responsibilities of the job and your fit for the position, until you get the actual offer.

Appropriate questions to ask depending on the timing and the person interviewing you:

About the Industry

• What do you consider to be this industry’s biggest challenge now and in the future?
• Where do you see this company advancing in the next three to five years?
• What do you see as the new trends in this industry? How will these trends effect the industry?

About the Company

• Why would someone want to come to work for this company? (Could be turned around to you – Why would you like to come to work for this company?)
• How would you describe this company’s culture?
• If I asked one of your employees, “What is the best thing about working for this company?” what would he/she say?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of this company/organization?

About the Position

• What qualities do you look for in people who join this firm?
• What would be the challenges I would face in the first three months in this job?
• How has this job been performed in the past? How would you like to see that change?
• What are your concerns about this job and the person you hire?

When you change your thinking and begin to think of the interview as a two-way process you will see that it is important for you to find out as much as possible about the company. Questions will give you the opportunity to find out if this is a good place for you to work before you say “Yes.”

Is Your Job Search Feeling Hopeless?

Here are some tips to keep your spirits up when you’re feeling down during this process.

1. Don’t give up.

You may have heard some of these stories before but they remain inspirational.

• Thomas Edison patented 1,093 inventions in his lifetime, but it took him 10,000 attempts to make an electric light bulb work.

• Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse series failed to become an instant hit, but he kept trying and in 1928 he added sound and made it an electrifying success.

• Milton Hershey failed several businesses before he became the “Chocolate King” and built Hershey town. He even went bankrupt in his first business venture.

These are great “successes-after-failure stories” that couldn’t have happened if these people hadn’t continued to pursue their dreams. Anyone can give up – that’s easy! The challenge is to pick yourself up after a failure and move forward. That is what will set you apart from “the pack.”

2. Accept the ups and downs

It’s not unusual to have highs and lows during your job search. Some days you may even feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster. Everything looks hopeful one moment with a job prospect ahead, and then it changes to dark and dismal in the next moment when you receive a rejection. Accepting the fact that this is a stressful time you are going through and that a great deal of it is out of your control will help you put things into perspective.

3. Give yourself permission to fail.

It is very disappointing when you feel like you “aced” the interview and then wait for the promised call that never comes. Be realistic – you aren’t going to get a job offer after every interview. Think of it this way, you didn’t marry every date you ever dated (at least most of us didn’t), and you aren’t going to get a job offer after every interview. And maybe that’s a good thing, at least some of the time. Remember, you are interviewing “them” as much as they are interviewing you.

4. Work on controlling stress

Stress becomes a problem when it begins to affect your lifestyle and health. Are you waking up in the middle of the night or skipping meals because you are feeling really down or upset? You may need to talk to someone who is a professional to get some advice about relaxation techniques. Park and Recreation departments in most cities offer relaxation courses of some kind – yoga, pilates, aerobics, or stress control exercises – for a nominal fee, that could assist you in getting back on balance.

5. Continue to get “out there”

Study after study published continues to indicate that “networking” is still the number one way to land a job. Take advantage of every opportunity to be with groups of people. This encompasses everything from your child’s soccer game to a Chamber of Commerce event. Informal networking can happen at any moment and when you least expect it. An example is of a man waiting for a bus. He struck up a conversation with another man also waiting for the bus and ended up getting a job lead and an eventual offer. No one can predict when an opportunity might come your way.

6. Prepare yourself

Preparing ahead of the interview will give you a definite advantage. What this means is getting focused about what you want the interviewer to know about you. You are presenting a picture of you with words. It is important to identify what makes you unique and what added value you can bring to the position. Reading through the job posting you are applying for and getting a sense of what it will take to do this job will help you look at the process from interviewer’s point of view. You want to let the interviewer know that you are the “solution to the problem,” and the best person for the job.

7. Keep in mind – you are not alone

Remember, it is an extremely tight job market and that for every job opening there are four or five equally qualified candidates standing in line behind you. It is essential that you are prepared, focused, and able to tell the interviewer what makes you unique and why you are the best person for the job.

Keeping upbeat is a part of your job right now. When you begin to give into the dark side you will project that to others. You want to stay as upbeat as possible, particularly while interviewing. Bringing confidence and energy to the interview are the two most important ingredients to connecting with the interviewer.

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Assessing Your Job Skills – What Makes You Different From All The Others?

If you have been reading articles or listening to news reports about the job market, it becomes obvious that the number of people currently seeking jobs outnumbers the jobs that are now available.

If you happen to be one of those job seekers, you realize that you are competing against the odds. The question is, “How can you make yourself stand out when there are so many other candidates looking at the same job?” The answer is to “focus” — focus on what makes you unique.

Let’s assume that you have an outstanding resume and that you make it to the top of the stack of resumes of people to be called for an interview. You, and maybe nine or ten other equally qualified people for the position, that is.

Because companies have so many candidates to choose from, they are interviewing more people so that they can select the “best.” When you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview, it is essential that you be ready to sell yourself, to let the interviewers know what makes you unique, what added value you can bring to the position–in other words, why you are the best person for the job.

By doing some basic preparation, you can determine your uniqueness and where you should focus your attention. The first step in this process is to identify your five strengths. These strengths are the areas where you do very well.

This may take some thought on your part. What are your strengths? Think about previous performance appraisals – what was said or written about you? What would your co-workers or ex-bosses say about you?

• List the skills and experiences you have that would be required in the type of job you are seeking. For instance, a technical job would focus on programs, languages, and platforms, etc.

• Give some thought to those skills in which you excel, those that are referred to as the “soft skills.” These skills can be viewed as transferable– you can take them with you to any job you hold. Examples of these skills are your communication and people skills, or your time-management and project-management skills, or your ability to build strong relationships, or your ability to influence others.

• Lastly, think of the personal traits that make you unique. Maybe you never miss deadlines, or perhaps you are willing to do above and beyond what is asked, or perhaps you have a great attitude. (Don’t dismiss these traits–many people have been fired for negative personal traits rather than for lack of knowledge).

When you have identified your five strengths, make a list of those strengths and some examples of when those strengths have helped you achieve results on the job. It will be essential that you can not only identify your strengths, but that you also have examples and stories of times when you demonstrated those strengths in the past.

The next step is to look at the job postings and ads. In fact, look at several job postings that would be of interest to you. Your goal is to find key words and phrases. For this exercise, don’t limit yourself to geographical location. Look at jobs of interest located anywhere.

When you have several postings, read each word and sentence carefully, taking notes as you do. What are they looking for? What words appear consistently in almost every posting?

Now, take a piece of paper and divide it in half. On one side of the paper write, “What they are looking for,” and on the other side, “What I have to offer.” Each time you apply for a position, it will be invaluable for you to know how you stand against what they are looking for. This exercise will help you see how close a match you are and where you should focus.

Your next step is to add your uniqueness to the “What I have to offer” list. Some postings will list additional skills required, which make it easier for you to see what is important to them. An example would be, “Must have excellent communications skills, strong organizational skills, and be a willing team player.” If these words appear in most of your posting examples, then make sure that these are a part of your focus. Can you work these words and your five strengths into the interview to demonstrate your fit — and then some? Some postings will be more vague about what it takes to get the job done and will require reading between the lines to determine what other skills are necessary.

In summary, by narrowing your uniqueness to these five basic points, you can guide the conversation to include this information. By focusing on five strengths, you will be prepared with examples of times when you have used these strengths.

Whenever possible, give examples to show how you have “been there and done that,” and can do it again. It will be necessary to demonstrate that you have what it takes, and then some, to be unique in this market.

A Job Interview Branding Tool will actually create your unique statement and give you examples to use. You add your experiences. The tool helps you with hints and ideas, and puts it all together in a final statement that you can use over and over again.

When you walk out of that interview room, your interviewers may not remember all five of your points; but if they remember even two of the points that make you unique, you will be ahead of the game!

I can’t go to the interview with you, but I can tell you want they are going to want at the interview.

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Explaining A “Survival Job” In The Job Interview

If you find yourself “under-employed” in a position that you are over-qualified for now or in your past, one of the questions you may be asked is how that situation came about. “Why are you working as a clerk when you are applying for a management position?”

The worst possible scenario is to not have any explanation or answer to the inquiry. Thinking of your situation and how you feel about being in a lesser job is important to prepare before the interview.

There a couple of ways to look at this situation. You can think of yourself as a “loser” who couldn’t get any other job and you had to take whatever you could get.

Or, you can think of yourself as a “survivor.” You’re a person who knows how to deal with adversity and to adapt to a bad situation. In other words, “When life gives you lemons you know how to make lemonade.”

If you approach the interview feeling embarrassed that you are currently employed in a lower-level position you will come across as a “loser.” But, if you can hold
your head high and feel good about the job that you are in due to circumstances beyond your control, you can appear to be a “survivor.” You’re out there working and making money in spite of a terrible job market.

Good for you!

When my client “Bill” came to me for coaching. He was embarrassed that he was in a position of supervising maintenance people in a hotel, when his diploma and experience were in project management. He was thinking of himself as a “loser.”

The first thing we worked on was his perspective. We made a list of the duties in his current job and found that many of the responsibilities he had in his hotel job were factors that most employers are seeking. He was a “Guest Services Supervisor” who was in charge of a staff of over 150 workers. That’s a lot of responsibility in any setting. We discussed all of the problems he dealt with on a day-by-day basis and how many skills he used to do a good job.

Working with the job posting and what the employer was seeking and then comparing that with what Bill had to offer, he was able to turn a negative into a positive. He made sure that the emphasis was on his accomplishments – not on where he had the experience. When we were finished, he felt very confident and proud of his accomplishments. Bill’s next interview went amazingly well:

“I thought I would let you know how my interview went. It went great! I followed your advice and talked about how my survival supervisor positions gave me valuable real life experience. My interviewer responded positively to my story and said that it was great that I learned things even though it wasn’t an ideal situation. My confidence was high for the rest of the interview and finished strong. I want to thank you for helping me see the value of my experiences and being proud about them, not embarrassed. It really changed my whole outlook on the interview and me personally.”

By realizing that any work is better than no work – even volunteer work – you can feel positive about having survived a bad time. To be adaptable and flexible are important traits to have in today’s ever-changing world of work.

Below are the top-five qualities employers look for in an employee:

1. Ability to Communicate orally /Relate well with others – customer service
2. Ability to Adapt and be Flexible to changing situations
3. Ability to Evaluate information/Make Judgment Decisions/ Problem Solving
4. Ability to demonstrate Honesty and Integrity
5. Ability to Organize, Plan, and Prioritize

Most of these skills are “transferable” skills. That means these are the skills and experiences that you have that you could bring to any job – regardless of where you obtained the experience.

The attitude you have during the interview and how you are able to feel about holding a lower-level position will make the difference between making an impression or feeling embarrassed by your situation. The choice is yours.

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How to Cut to the Front of the Interview Line – 5 Easy Steps

The question is, “How can you make yourself stand out when there are so many other candidates looking at the same job?”

The answer is to “focus” – focus on what makes you unique.

Let’s assume that you have an outstanding resume and that you make it to the top of the stack of resumes of people to be called for a job interview. You, and maybe nine or ten other equally qualified people for the position, that is.

Because companies have so many candidates to choose from, they are interviewing more people so that they can select the “best.” When you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview, it is essential that you be ready to sell yourself, to let the interviewers know what makes you unique, what added value you can bring to the position—in other words, why you are the best person for the job.

• Step 1.

- List the skills and experiences you have that would be required in the type of job you are seeking. For instance, a technical job would focus on programs, languages, and platforms, etc.

• Step 2

- Give some thought to those skills in which you excel, those that are referred to as the “soft skills.” These skills can be viewed as transferable– you can take them with you to any job you hold.

• Step 3

- Next , think of the personal traits that make you unique. Maybe you never miss deadlines, or perhaps you are willing to do above and beyond what is asked, or perhaps you have a great attitude. (Don’t dismiss these traits–many people have been fired for negative personal traits rather than for lack of knowledge).

• Step 4

- Make a list of those strengths and some examples of when those strengths have helped you achieve results on the job. It will be essential that you can not only identify your strengths, but that you also have examples and stories of times when you demonstrated those strengths in the past.

• Step 5

-The next step is to make a list of 5 points you want the interviewer to remember about you – the ones that combined – make you unique.

When you walk out of that interview room, your interviewers may not remember all five of your points; but if they remember even two of the points that make you unique, you will be ahead of the game!

If you want to put together your five points and do it with the help of a new, quick, software tool – at Job Interview Brand.

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Job Interview First Impressions – Make It The Best

That first impression can be a great beginning, or a quick ending to your interview. Three areas of performance, that should be considered dangerous and deadly:

1.Poor non-verbal communication image

• Show confidence by believing in yourself and showing it. (head held high – shoulders back)

• Good eye contact is essential. (Note the color of the interviewer’s eyes.)

• Connect with a good, firm handshake. (No limp noodles or bone crushers wanted)

• Posture is a key indicator of confidence. Sit and stand erect. (Slumping = lazy attitude.)

2. Poor verbal communication skills

• Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what they said.  (“Sounds like…”

• Observe your interviewer’s style and pace  -  match that style and  pace.

• Use appropriate language. (Beware of using slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics, or sexual preferences) No, “You guys…”

• Telling the interviewer more than they need to know could be a fatal mistake. (Too much information – particularly personal information – could get into some areas that are best not discussed in an interview.)

3. Not asking questions – big mistake.

• When asked, “Do you have any questions?” if you answer “No,”  -  WRONG answer!

• Asking questions gives you the opportunity to show your interest. (The best questions come from listening to what is said and asked during the interview. Ask for additional information.)

• Asking questions gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. (Your chance to find out what goes on in the company.)

What’s the best way to know whether you are breaking any of these rules – get feedback.  It’s important that the feedback be straight-forward and honest. Otherwise, you will keep making the same mistakes.

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Ten Tips for the Job Interview Follow Up

Not getting a follow-up call after a job interview when promised is a very common occurrence. Candidates are sometimes sure that they aced the interview and are perfect for the position, and, in fact, they are anticipating a call and an offer. But instead they get “nothing.” No offer; no call. They never hear from the company. This is not only frustrating, but reflects poorly on the company. In fact it is rude. What can you do about this situation?  Here are some tips on how to handle the follow up that may save you from some anxiety.

1. Try to find out about the decision-process before you leave the interview. Ask when you could expect to hear back. Take that date and then add a few days before you start to worry.

2. Always send a follow up, addressing any concerns you may have picked up or any thoughts you had about the position since the interview. Think of this as one more chance to put yourself in front of them.

3. After you have waited for a reasonable period beyond the date they stated, call and inquire as to the status of the position and whether you are still being considered for the position.

4. As a general rule, don’t call on Mondays – bad day to market anything.

5. If you leave a message inquiring about the status of the job, and no one calls you back after a couple of attempts – move on and forget about it. Don’t call back more than a couple of times. There is a fine line between being persistent and being a pest.

6. If you are told you are no longer under consideration, try asking for feedback (most of the time they won’t give you any, but it is still worth a try). Ask if there is any additional information that you can supply that will convince them that you are the right person for the job.

7. Don’t rely on one job interview. No matter what was said in the interview – continue your search. There have been too many bad examples of those who thought they were a shoe-in – only to get a reject letter.

8. Don’t take it personally! There are about a thousand reasons that could have affected your chances.

9. Accept the fact that not all companies are right for you. Just like blind dates – they are checking you out and you are checking them out. Sometimes it’s chemistry – and sometimes it wasn’t right for you – for whatever reason.

10. Try not to get discouraged by the rejects. It’s a numbers game and your turn will come if you hang in there.

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