About Career Blog

Start Writing Your Acceptance Speech, Kid

In an interview setting, having the upper hand over your interviewer is a rare occurrence, so when it happens, don't play the diffident know-nothing -- take advantage of the situation. When an interviewer gives you an opening, it's probably not out of incompetence or disinterest; chances are, it's a test. Follow Seymour's advice and gently but firmly take the reins and steer your potential employer in the right direction. To blow an interview could be to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so even if, at that moment, you're not particularly interested in the outcome (and your interviewer seems just as indifferent), pretend you're going for an Oscar and convince them that you, and only you, are the person for the job. You may be surprised by what your acting chops earn you.

Posted by Brian on 9/24/2009 08:37:00 PM
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Taking Control of Your Destiny… Starting One Interview at a Time!

The job is absolutely perfect for you. So, you’ve researched, crammed, and rehearsed for hours prepping for this once-in-a-lifetime interview. You arrive early, but the interviewer shows up late. He appears disorganized. He has misplaced your resume, but forges on – claiming he doesn’t need it for the interview anyway. You, however, begin to wilt. After all, you worked hard on that resume and he should be using it as a springboard for a meaningful conversation about your skills and experience. Things aren’t getting off on the right foot, but what can you do?

Take control of the interview and blow that hiring manager away with your accomplishments, capabilities and enthusiasm. Here are a few tips:


  • Be self-assured. Tell the interviewer that you can help him understand your background and accomplishments without your resume. Then, walk him through your experience and encourage him to ask questions along the way.
  • Focus on the highlights. Keep your story it short and sweet, while emphasizing your unique skills and experiences. Summarize your accomplishments, highlighting only those things that you want to delve into further. This will allow you to take control of the interview.
  • Don’t be a control freak. Interviewers hate long, drawn-out monologues. You have to strike a balance between letting the hiring manager ask questions and you answering them thoroughly. If you’re not being asked many questions, you are probably talking too much. And, if you are being asked a ton of questions, you are probably not talking enough.
    Encourage certain questions. You can help guide what the next question will be with your answer Leave your answer open-ended with a statement that will likely spur another question you want to be asked. For example: “I was also asked by my boss if I’d lead a special project which required a whole different skill-set.” The next logical question would be, “What was the project and what were the skills that you learned?”
  • Learn from the masters. Leaders rarely directly answer the questions they are asked. Instead, they provide an answer they want to give. To do this, you must carefully respond with an interesting point that is relevant to the question that was asked. But, make sure you don’t appear as if you didn’t hear the question. In an hour interview, you must make the most of that time – but do so carefully.

When you walk into an interview, expect anything. The hiring manager may be direct with his questions, or totally scattered. But, be careful! Wide-ranging, unrelated topics can eat away at your hour. So take control, stay on message, and leave a good impression. Good luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 9/23/2009 12:24:00 PM
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Being Cautious of Bad Advice

If you're stubborn like I am, then you probably have a hard time taking advice from others. I am skeptical of the help that people want to give, because I have been burned a time or two from tips that were not beneficial.

Help yourself in weeding out advice from excellent to unhelpful, first by considering the source. Don't allow yourself to feed in to someone's sage opinion on your resume if they themselves have never held a job.

If your closest friends are the type of people that would rather hurt themselves than offer blunt, up front advice about your job prospects [which isn't a bad thing, except in this situation], then consider going to someone who can be more subjective and hit you with the hard facts.

Once you have figured out who to seek counsel from, also remember that your gut instincts are almost always right. Even if the person is knowledgeable on the subject, your core gut will usually tell you whether or not to listen.

These tips, ironically enough, are just my opinion. It is up to you whether or not to follow them when tailoring your resume and looking for jobs. Best of luck!


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Posted by Amanda on 9/10/2009 09:56:00 PM
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It's all about how you work it!

Having that perfect degree is not necessarily going to get you that perfect job. You have to be a well rounded employee with a well rounded resume to boot. Experience, internships, and volunteer work all factor in when getting that job. Like Seymour said, do your research. Get to know anything and everything about your industry and think outside the box. It's not about the degree you have, but whether or not you know how to utilize all the skills you've got to offer.

Posted by Jen on 9/04/2009 07:58:00 AM
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Research, Rinse, Repeat

As college graduates head into the working world, they should definitely research where they are going. One of the most embarassing things you can do as a potential employee is to say something like, "I am really impressed with the new endeavors the company is taking on," and then be unable to explain yourself.

In addition to the company's current work, be sure to research their history as well. By being knowledgeable about how it was started and what its founding principles were, you will also be able to relate your own values to their organization.

Taking simple steps like these and the ones Seymour and Brian mentioned can help put yourself above your competitors for these positions. Keeping an open mind, while balancing your own needs and priorities for your job can certainly aid in landing your perfect job.

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Posted by Amanda on 9/03/2009 11:04:00 PM
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Don't leave college behind once you graduate

The professors, peers, and employers who have followed you throughout your college career will still be available once you're ready to start your real one. Take advantage of this! Social networking sites, blogs, and alumni organizations can help you keep in touch with them once you begin making your way in the real world. You should stay abreast of these and keep yourself available -- someone you may have otherwise forgotten could be your golden ticket to the career you've always wanted.

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Posted by Brian on 9/01/2009 08:44:00 PM
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My resume can beat up your degree, nah-nah

You've slaved a considerable portion of your life away in your quest for a degree, and now you finally have one. Congratulations! Unfortunately, simply having earned a college degree is not necessarily a gateway to gainful employment ((unless you majored in something highly technical and esoteric (you nerd)). It's the qualities and achievements that we've mentioned throughout this blog that will separate you from the pack. Though that degree was no small feat, it's the things that you accomplished in order and in addition to attaining it that you'll need to capitalize on in your resume, during interviews, and in other situations that bring you into contact with potential employers. Your degree is just a document -- it's the brain that earned it that matters. Put it to work in your job search, and somebody will put it to work for them in no time.

Posted by Brian on 9/01/2009 12:09:00 AM
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