Good morning Dinks. Are you looking for a new job? If so let me help you nail your next job interview. I recently attended a career training session with my employer and I was shocked to learn a few key facts that interviewers hate from potential job applicants.
I always knew that I was being judged in a job interview, but I didn’t know that employers were actually looking for mistakes.
What recruiters want to see and hear in a job interview?
Recruiters are looking for candidates that are team players and who are likable. If you have a great personality (but are still professional) you will easily integrate into your new job and the odds of you remaining an employee are very high when you fit well into the work environment.
Nowadays people can change jobs every two years and that is a red flag for employers. Recruiters are looking for candidates who will be loyal to the company. No workplace is perfect but if employees leave at the first sign of unhappiness it can be very costly for employers.
Be good on paper and in person
With the job market being ever so scarce recruiters want to know what you have done in your career to warrant the new position and why you are looking for a new job. You should have really good answers, meaning not text book answers, to these questions because they may just be a deal breaker in your job interview.
I learned that a good resume is the key to getting called for a job interview, but once you are in the room your personality accounts for 90% of the job interview evaluation. Basically your resume will get you the interview, but your personality will get you the job.
So what does that mean? It means that you need a killer resume to showcase all your skills on a maximum of 2 pages and you need to shake off your nerves to really let your personality shine in the job interview.
Here are 3 questions that interviewers will always ask during a job interview:
What are your career goals? (I.e. where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?)
ANSWER: To use my experience to develop my skills with this company. Eventually I would like to (your long term career goal) but for now I want to excel at this current position.
Why do you want to change jobs right now? (Don’t say bored, awful co-workers or money)
ANSWER: I have been with my employer for a while and I am looking for a new challenge or I am looking to make a career change into a new field. I feel that I am a perfect fit for your company because….
How long do you plan on staying in this new position? (New question that is popping up in job interviews and I personally think it’s a trick question)
ANSWER: I researched several employers and I want to work for your company because of the internal growth opportunities within this company. I also like the fact that your company has a program to cross train employees and encourage personal learning with external courses because I like learning new skills and taking on new tasks.
Photo by MikeLicht
Kristina Tahnyak
Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.
Am not in the position to ask for a job anymore, since I run my own business, but these are clearly great tips for prospective employees. I applied for 3 jobs in my life (and got them all) and, as you said, showing a nice personality and really being qualified helps a lot.
I am not job hunting at the moment because of a medical condition that requires I just stay home ( wish the doctor would cover for my expenses) but I can clearly see the great points you shared. I believe anyone who follows all these is sure to land a job and has you to thank.