Prepare for Your Interview with a Certified Employment Interview Professional

Our tag line: Look your best on paper. Show your best in person.™

Randi Lewis, CEIP

How you present in your interview is as important, if not more important, than presenting a polished, impactful resume.  That is why the more you prepare, the better you are likely to interview. 

We can help you be your best in person.  Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you.

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Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP | Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resumes & Cover Letters | Strategic Interview Coaching

Office: 410.602.2500 | Cell: 410.340.3511 | rlewis@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/

Interview Tips for Millenials - Thoughts from a Harvard Business Review Blog Posting

The Harvard Business Review Blog (HBR Blog Network) posted an interesting article on March 16, 2012, "Digital Natives Are Slow to Pick Up Nonverbal Cues." In a word, the article posits that people who have grown up using digital media (referred to as "digital natives") may lack the interpersonal skills to perform certain jobs AND may have a more difficult time interpreting non-verbal cues in interviews.

Whether or not you agree with the post, the interview tips listed in the article are sound. Here is my spin on the three tips mentioned:

1. Eye contact is key. It starts at the moment you walk in the elevator. Say hello to people you meet there. They could be your interviewers. Continue the eye contact with the receptionist, when you shake the interviewers' hands, and during the interview.
   
2. Emotional intelligence is powerful. That includes checking your audience and understanding the impact of your posture, hand gestures, and manner of speech.
   
3. Face-to-face communications still rule the day. The clear majority of the "digital natives" we have counseled through the interview process would rather communicate by text or email rather than by telephone or in-person.  That is the way you are wired.  In an interview, however, you should demonstrate you understand that face-to-face communications are the most important way to be in relationships with colleagues, particularly when a difficult issue needs to be resolved.

Below is the link to the HBR Blog posting:

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/03/digital_natives_are_slow_to_pi.html?referral=00563&cm_mmc=email-_-newsletter-_-daily_alert-_-alert_date&utm_source=newsletter_daily_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert_date#.T2SINawEDYU.mailto

Randi S. Lewis, Esq.

Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resumes & Cover Letters| Strategic Interview Coaching

www.resumeboutique.com | rlewis@resumeboutique.com

Look your best on paper. Show your best in person.™

There is No Such Thing As LUCK in Landing a New Job

By Randi S. Lewis
Founder, Resume Boutique LLC
info@resumeboutique.com

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."  Ancient Roman Stoic philosopher, Lucius Annaeus Seneca.  Successful job seekers own the process.

In 2011, we worked with many people who were laid off or otherwise terminated from their positions.  The most successful of them took full ownership of the process, maximized their resources, and never gave up.  Each of them landed positions they wanted. 

Some successful job seekers will tell you it was just luck.  But landing a job happens only when you work hard to achieve your goal.  Here is one example of preparation + opportunity:

From Account Executive to Business Manager

This twenty-something professional (Dave) began searching for new employment in February 2011.  He was gainfully employed at the time but believed he needed to make a move to advance and began making inquiries of his mentors and contacts in the industry. 

One of those contacts referred him to Resume Boutique for a resume, cover letter, and job pursuit/interview/post-interview strategy.  We drafted the resume and several cover letters immediately.  In May, after learning about a position he coveted, Dave went into full gear.  The position was a stretch for someone with his experience.  But that didn't deter Dave.  He leveraged every connection to put in a good word with this prospective employer.  Dave also began utilizing our consulting services to help him navigate this position.  He had great instincts, including the knowledge that he should run his thoughts by those of us who were more experienced.  He regularly relied on a coterie of mentors during what turned out to be a 2 - 3 month process that culminated in a job offer and acceptance. 

We quickly recognized that Dave knew his strengths and understood how to compensate for his weaknesses.  His strengths were many, including:

1. Client Relationships - established rapport with clients; temerity and raw ability to ask connections for assistance (remarkably, he was able to secure a personal letter of recommendation from a high level executive of one of his major accounts - also a major account of the potential employer)
2. Industry Knowledge - keen knowledge of his industry
3. Emotional Intelligence - high level of emotional intelligence and ability to read people
4. Strong Personal Qualities - kind, genuine, outgoing personality, great sense of humor
5. Goal-oriented - tenacity in pursuing his goal with the understanding it was his responsiblity to manage the process 

Dave didn't have many weaknesses but writing wasn't his strong suit.  He knew it and made no apologies about it.  So, we drafted and revised all communications during the two-month interview process.  We also worked Dave to refine his "elevator speech."  Dave was mature for his age but, understandably, was not experienced in the employment process, particularly at the middle management level.  He consulted with us on communication strategies for each interview and follow up, including salary negotiations.   Dave prepared for every interview and every communication.  We worked as a team with Dave and used the advice of his mentors in the industry to refine our discussions. 

Dave always owned the process while leveraging his assets.  Congratulations to Dave and all of you who took control of your lives to land great positions in 2011.  

For those of you who are beginning your job search, we urge you to think about what is reasonably achievable, how you might begin your search, and how you can take control of your success. 

There is no such thing as luck in the employment process.  You have to use all available resources, including limitless patience, to achieve your goal.   

TMI: Think Before You Tweet About Your Job Interviews

By Randi Lewis

Employers have a laundry list of basic qualities they seek in prospective employees.  One obvious quality is an ability to exercise good judgment.  During the interview, interviewers use different means to determine that basic quality.  An ability to use good judgment in the use of social media has become increasingly important to employers.

With that in mind, here is a tip for those of you who are accustomed to “sharing all” on social media:

THINK BEFORE YOU TWEET

You should know that most businesses employ services that notify them by email whenever their business is mentioned on the internet.  For example, check out Google Alerts, which will notify you by email anytime a word of phrase you identify appears on the internet.  So, knowing that, you might think twice before you check in at www.foursquare.com or Tweet that you are interviewing at a particular company.  Why?

Last month, a Chief Marketing Officer shared this story.  She receives notifications on her email every time her company is mentioned on the internet.  At a break during a Board of Directors meeting, she checked her email and noticed an unusual reference to her company.  With a few clicks on her iPhone, she determined that a person had “checked in” at her company on Twitter.  So, the CMO emailed the Chief Recruiting Officer, who called the Recruitment Manager.  The young man actually had innocently “checked in” on foursquare, which was then posted on his Twitter page – something he does all the time – without thinking. 

Within an hour of the time the interviewee had announced he was interviewing at this company, the recruitment professionals had informed an impression of him – correct or incorrect:  THIS CANDIDATE USED POOR JUDGMENT.

So, the next time you think only your friends see your postings – think again.  Particularly in this job market, think twice before you announce you are interviewing on social media.

 

Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC

rlewis@resumeboutique.com | http://www.resumeboutique.com/

© Resume Boutique LLC 2011. All rights reserved.

Thinking Outside the Box: Your Approach to Finding a Legal Job in a Tight Job Market

By Randi S. Lewis and Ellen B. Feldman

The Current Reality:

The legal job market is slow. But remember, nothing in life is permanent. The market will change.

Dealing With Your Current Reality:

1. Prepare an updated, accurate resume to be able to provide to anyone at a minute’s notice.
2. Evaluate your skill set and determine the legal and non-legal market for your skills.
3. Research the job market via internet, legal newspapers, trade associations, peer groups, professional and personal contacts, and legal search firms.
4. 
   
   Determine your flexibility:
   

   (a) Are you willing to take a pay cut? (b) Are you willing to relocate? (c) Are you willing to take a non-lawyer position? (d) Are you in a position to take a volunteer position in a legal setting? (e) Are you willing to travel for your job?

5. Do not apply for specialized positions for which you are absolutely not qualified.
6. When applying for a position, apply once, follow up once by a phone call or email after time has passed. Don’t apply several times for the same position.

Networking & The “About Me” Speech:

1. Networking is very important. More people get hired because they have a contact somewhere (either the reference or the connector).
2. Force yourself to attend every personal and professional event to which you are invited. Prepare the “About Me” speech (otherwise known as the "Elevator Speech." It needs to be positive and confident - without bitterness or negativity.
3. Contact everyone you know: family; friends; colleagues. Give them your “About Me” speech and ask if they know anyone you might contact.
4. When you talk with people at a networking or other social event, be prepared with your “About Me” speech. Where appropriate, ask for their help AND ask for their business card and their permission for you to email them your resume. Email your resume the next day with a similar “About Me” transmittal email and make sure you are asking them to do something – either passing your resume along or providing you with names of others with whom you can connect.
5. If anyone offers you a courtesy or informational interview, TAKE IT happily. Conduct yourself like it is an actual job interview. The interviewers may be your next connectors. Also, when the organization’s needs change, you may be first on their minds to fill a position.

Job Search Tips:

1. Look at traditional ways employers advertise job openings. If you are not finding anything and you are available, you should consider doing contract legal work either by networking with people you know to work on short-term projects or by working through a legal staffing company such as Special Counsel. It has been a very busy time in the temporary legal world.
2. Look at federal and state government jobs.
3. Look at law & policy/analyst positions.
4. Look at other public interest positions.
5. Look for in-house positions either part-time or full-time, in legal or quasi-legal positions.
6. If you are trying to switch practice areas, invest in education and volunteer.
7. Take some CLE’s in that different area.
8. If you are really serious, get an advanced degree (i.e., LLM, an MBA, MPh, MPA).
9. Attend a meeting of your area of interest or practice group through the bar association.
10. Find volunteer work for an organization working in your area of interest.

Current Trends in the Job Market – Who/What is Hiring:

• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Federal Government Jobs
• Insurance Defense Litigation
• Business & Commercial Litigation
• Labor & Employment Litigation
• Estates & Trusts in smaller firms

Websites:

• Attorneys in Transition, http://attorneysintransition.com/
• American Bar Association Career Counsel, http://www.abanet.org/careercounsel/finding.html

This was adopted from a presentation prepared for the Bar Association of Baltimore City Young Lawyers' Division (http://www.baltimorebar.org/files/pdfs/JobSearchProgram.pdf). For more information about temporary lawyer positions, contact Ellen B. Feldman, Esq., Senior Search Director, Special Counsel, ellen.feldman@specialcounsel.com.

The Importance of Informational Interviewing in A Down Economy

It's June 2009. Jobs in most sectors of our economy are scarce. If you are looking for a job, it is likely you've experienced your share of "thank you but no openings" responses. Or what's worse, no response at all. You need a job now. "What is the point of setting up informational interviews," you ask.

In more prosperous times, you might want to set up informational interviews for two reasons: (1) to gain information you need to help in your career choice; and (2) to make connections.

But, in this economy, it's a buyer's market and you are the seller. You want to use the informational interview process as part of your long-term job search strategy. Your goals should be (1) to build relationships for the future, (2) to ask for advice and contacts for your job search, (3) and to leave a positive impression. Here is how you start the process:

• MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW THROUGH YOUR OWN CONTACTS, CONTACTS FROM FAMILY, AND CONTACTS FROM FRIENDS, with phone numbers and email addresses (placing the information in chart form with a column for comments/ follow up.
• MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET.
• PREPARE A SCRIPT TO TAILOR FOR EACH CONTACT.
• CALL OR EMAIL EACH CONTACT AND LET THEM KNOW: (1) your job status and area of expertise (or that you are a graduating student seeking an entry level position); (2) that you are looking for a position; (3) why you are searching; (4) where appropriate, the name of the person who referred you.
• TELL THEM YOU ARE NOT CONTACTING THEM TO ASK FOR A JOB, BUT RATHER TO ASK FOR 15 OR 20 MINUTES OF HIS OR HER TIME AT HIS/HER OFFICE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE CURRENT MARKET AND JOB SEARCH SUGGESTIONS.
• FOR THOSE CONTACTS YOU REACH BY TELEPHONE, YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION AND QUESTIONS PREPARED IN THE EVENT THE CONTACT SUGGESTS THAT YOU TALK AT THAT TIME.

Keep notes of your conversations, follow up, and the contacts recommended. Then, send a thank you note or email. Include something you found helpful during your conversation. Contact each person to whom your contact referred you, going through the same process.

Keep an open mind, cast a wide net, and maintain a positive attitude.

For more information on informational interviewing, contact Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC, at rlewis@resumeboutique.com or 410.602.2500.

© 2009 Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/

How and When to Accept a Job Offer in this Economic Climate

By Randi Lewis

~ ~ ~

It's the end of August 2008. The job market, like the housing market, has slowed considerably. Although there is more activity in some industries than others, this is not the best time to look for a job. It's a buyer's market - and you as job seeker are the seller.

~ ~ ~

Whether you are a college grad looking for that first job or a more seasoned professional who is required or just "itching" to look elsewhere, my advise from the employer's perspective is the for the most part the same. Although you don't ever want to look desperate, you should let employers know in an appropriate way, and especially if they ask you either directly or indirectly about your goals and priorities, that you are sincerely interested in the position with THAT organization.

~ ~ ~

If it's your first choice, let them know and tell them why. Here are a few other general tips - remember, your situation will vary - use your judgment and ask others for help in your process:

1. Think deeply, analytically, and clearly about which position would be best for you - if you had the choice - and prioritize your choices.
2. Be prepared to accept the job offer if it comes from your first choice - either on the spot or within short order. If you do not accept on the spot, let the employer know you are inclined to accept and let them know you will get right back to them.
3. If you receive an offer from your second or third choice, express your genuine excitement and enthusiam for the offer and then try to buy time.
4. In order to buy time, ask questions like: (a) What are the health and other benefits and would they be able to send you the information about the benefits; (b) Would they be sending you a formal offer letter; (c) What is their preferred timing for responding to the offer and for starting employment.
5. Then, immediately let your other interviewers know you received an offer and your time constraints. Inquire in an appropriate way whether they could let you know your status within your deadline.
6. When communicating with your first choice employer and you know you would accept the offer irrespective of the details - let them know that, if they gave you an offer, you would accept it on the spot. OR, if that is too bold for your style, let them know they are your first choice.
7. In any case, do not string any employer along very long. The manner in which you handle the offer process will make a difference, at least in the short term, in the manner in which your employer will view your interest in the organization and your honesty and maturity in the process.

In this economy, when jobs are scarce, don't play hard to get. Your enthusiam and professionalism will be remembered by your employer.

Randi S. Lewis Founder, Resume Boutique LLC ~ 410.602.2500 http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ info@resumeboutique.com © Resume Boutique LLC 2008. All rights reserved.

What Happened To The Handshake?

By: Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC

~ ~ ~

Can your handshake really make a difference? The answer is a resounding YES! Whether you are a high school student going on a college interview or a seasoned professional meeting with potential new business colleagues, the manner in which you greet others matters. A strong handshake coupled with eye contact and a proper greeting will create an initial positive impression. A weak handshake, on the other hand, is perceived as a sign of weakness.

Here are a few simple handshake tips:

• At the beginning of your meeting, stand tall, extend your hand, smile, look the person in the eye, shake his or her hand fully and firmly, and say, "Hello Mr. Smith, Randi Lewis. Nice to meet you."
• If you are a novice interviewer, practice this with someone else until you get it right.
• The handshake should last for about three pumps.
• You should maintain eye contact the entire time.
• If you have a strong handshake, your interviewer is likely to form the immediate impression that you are confident and invested in the interview. This sets the tone for the interview and the rest will be up to you.
• At the end of the interview, stand up, approach your interviewer, extend your hand, shake firmly with the three pumps and the eye contact and say something like, "Thank you, Mr. Smith, for meeting with me. I enjoyed our conversation."

For more information about the importance of handshakes, contact Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC, at 410.602.2500 or rlewis@resumeboutique.com.

http://www.resumeboutique.com/

© Resume Boutique LLC 2008. All rights reserved.

What They Don't Teach You In Law School About Job Search Etiquette

By Randi S. Lewis

Legal Recruiters of AmLaw 250 firms throughout the country have reported similar frustrations, disappointments, and other experiences in their dealings with second year law students during the fall interview process for summer associate positions. Below are a few tips for law students (applicable also to any job applicant in any field) interviewing for summer positions and full time associate positions.

1. Voicemail message - make it professional: The voicemail message on your contact telephone should sound professional. Your message SHOULD NOT start with the word, "HEY." A simple, "Hello, this is Joe Smith. Please leave a message at the tone," will do.
2. Returning phone calls and emails: Return phone calls and emails promptly from recruiters and lawyers from the firms with which you interviewed - even if you have no interest in working with that firm. You never want to burn a bridge because a few years after your law school graduation you might decide the firm to which you were unresponsive may be a better fit for you. It is likely there will be a note in your file about your failure to communicate that could hurt your chances of being considered as a lateral candidate.
3. Decline ASAP if you are not interested: And, if you are not interested in working with a particular firm and have at least another offer with a firm of interest, kindly decline with the other firm(s) ASAP - notwithstanding the NALP rules that allow you to hold a certain number of offers. You will not hurt anyone's feelings. This is a business. For every offer a firm extends, they have multiple applicants who WOULD BE interested in the position.
4. Accept as soon as possible: If you have an offer from your firm of choice, accept within a reasonable time. Don't hold on to the offer too long if you don't have a good reason. Firms like to receive acceptances early. The firm that gives you an offer remembers when people accept. If you are unsure, establish honest and frequent communications with the recruitment professional to continue reaffirming your interest while exploring other options.
5. All written communications must be ERROR-FREE: Proofread all emails, resumes, letters, deal sheets and thank you notes before sending them. Make sure correspondence is addressed to the correct person with the correct title.

© Resume Boutique LLC 2007. All rights reserved.

For more information on resumes, interviewing techniques, and summer associate success tips, contact Randi S. Lewis, Founder of Resume Boutique LLC. 410.602.2500 ~ rlewis@resumeboutique.com

http://www.resumeboutique.com/

THE A B C’s OF INTERVIEWING

By Randi Lewis

Interviewing is a learned skill. And the more you interview, the more skilled you become. When we work with professionals and students on interviewing skills, we tailor each session to the individual and the job focus. But, there are some universal do’s and don’ts that every job seeker should learn. If you remember nothing more, remember these simple A B C’s of interviewing:

• A = Appear professional. Dress in a conservative, dark suit.
• B = Be prepared. Research the company and interviewers.
• C = Communicate confidently your qualifications & interest.

Appearance.

1. It is of the utmost of importance that you look clean, crisp, and professional. Make sure you have showered, brushed your teeth, and that you are well-groomed. When in doubt, dress up. Wear a suit. It shows respect.
2. Men, wear dark suits with a white or light blue shirt and a conservative tie.
3. Women, wear a dark knee-length suit (not pants) with a light blouse or a dark dress with closed toe shoes and pantyhose.
4. No Distractions. The Focus is on YOU. Do not wear heavy cologne or perfume because your interviewer may be allergic to it or find it unappealing. Lose the nose ring, the purple hair, the black nail polish, and the short skirts. Lose the bow tie, the tattered shoes, and the polyester suit.
5. First Impressions Are Hard To Break. For each interviewer you meet, extend your hand, shake hands firmly, introduce yourself, smile, and look the interviewer in the eye. That’s a great start. Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview.

Preparation.

You should prepare for each interview as if you were studying for an exam. Find the company on the internet and study the site. Learn what is important to the company and how it positions itself. Find commonalities between the company’s philosophy and yours.

Learn about your interviewers if possible. Have they spoken at conferences, have they written articles; have they won awards? You are going to store this information and use it, where appropriate, during the interview.

Know Your Resume. Know everything on your resume. Prepare two talking points about the highlights of each prior job position.

Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses. Think about your strengths and the positive feedback you have received. Be prepared to discuss your greatest strengths, how you could add value to the company, and what your supervisors and peers have said about you. Be prepared to talk about your weaknesses. This is tricky. You don’t want to say that you don’t have any weaknesses because the interviewer might conclude you are unable to self-reflect. But you want to talk about a weakness very briefly and then turn the conversation into how you have managed to overcome it or how, with experience, the problem has become less of an issue. Don’t offer your weaknesses and don’t dwell on them.

Prepare Three Questions. Prepare three questions (or more) to ask each interviewer.

The Interview.

Take Your Cues From The Interviewer. Check you audience. Don’t talk too much, too fast, or too slow. Don’t answer in one or two word answers. Weaver your prepared strengths into the conversation. Talk about commonalities between the company’s needs and your experience.

Be Engaged During The Interview. Turn off your cell phone. Sit tall, maintain eye contact, respond appropriately. Show your knowledge about the company in your answers to questions and in the questions you ask. When it is your turn to ask questions, always ask a question from your prepared question list or one more appropriate to the conversation. The questions should be about the company, the position, or the interviewer’s career.

Behavioral Questions. You may be asked what are commonly known as behavioral questions. Some companies spend thousands of dollars on consultants who study the organization and determine questions that might elicit whether you have the right stuff to join the company. They may ask you how you have handled work-related situations in your current or prior jobs. The theory behind the questions is that the best way to determine an applicant’s suitability for a job is to learn how he/she has handled prior work experiences.

Sound Directed and Project Confidence. Be able to discuss your career goals, why you want this job with this company, and why you would be a fit for the position. Highlight your accomplishments and attributes in concrete examples. Keep the conversation focused on the company and your suitability for the position. Don’t talk about your personal life.

What You Do At the Conclusion of The Interview. Stand up, look each interviewer in the eye, shake his/her hand FIRMLY, smile, and thank him/her for taking the time to meet with you. Don't ask about next steps. You can call the HR person or recruiter later.

Send Thank You Notes. Take the time to send individualized thank you notes either by email, or in writing by hand or typewritten.

For more detailed information about interviewing, you can contact Randi Lewis at 410-602-2500 or by email at info@resumeboutique.com. © Resume Boutique LLC™ 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/