Why the Valley Girl Sound Is Sabotaging Your Job Interviews

If there are 2 candidates for a job in which one sounds like a Valley Girl and the other does not, I guarantee that the candidate who speaks with normal inflection will win that battle. When your answers, remarks, or statements are on the upswing, it sounds like you are asking a question. This is the reason questions are posed with the pitch of the voice on the rise. (Incidentally, pitch refers to the highness or lowness of sound and is not similar to volume which deals with the loudness or softness of sound.)

One of the most important characteristics employers are seeking in their employees is confidence. If you sound like a Valley Girl, you are defeating that prerequisite because you not only sound silly and immature but you do not instill confidence in your communication skills or your abilities. When I discovered my real voice, it got me the jobs I wanted (and even those I wasn't seeking) because I sounded mature. My voice exuded confidence.

The best way to break the habit of ending your statement on the upswing is to record yourself so that you can begin to 'hear it' and recognize when this is happening.

Your next step is to practice taking the end of your sentences down in pitch. Try the following exercise.

1. Record yourself saying the following statement as if you are asking a question.

I have a master's degree in business from Johnston University.

2. Now record yourself again saying the above sentence as a statement, taking the pitch of your voice down as you finish the word university.

3. Play back the recording. Did you hear a difference between the two statements? If not, do it again until you are successful.

4. Practice talking out loud in which you say a sentence as if it is a question and then say it again as a statement. Your goal is to retrain your inner ear to begin to recognize the difference.

5. Every time you speak, think about your inflection. While you probably cannot achieve this goal 100% of the time, even if you are successful 50% of the time, you are moving in the right direction.

If your objective is a job, it is in your best interest to sound more mature than the next candidate. How you answer the questions posed to you - both in content and in your means of delivery - speaks volumes. If you respond to every question on the upswing, it is a surefire method of telling a perspective employer that you are not ready to handle the position.

Devamını oku...

Seven Tips for a Successful Interview

The first ten minutes before the interview you are already making a first impression. The receptionist notice whether you are confident or not. They observe the way you are dressed for interview, the way you walk and carry yourself. They notice whether you are running on time and well prepared for your interview. I spoke with a receptionist who has made assumptions on whether it was the right candidate for the job or not. She made these assumptions simply through observing the candidates' body language before the interview, and she has been right in her assumptions most of the time. More importantly, sometimes the Receptionist's opinion on the candidate affects what the interviewers think of the candidates as well. So never underestimate who you meet at the interview location.

1. Make the First Impression Count

You can only make the first impression only once so ensure you make a lasting positive first impression. Dress for success. Be on time, ensure you use the rest rooms before hand to check that you are well-groomed and your hands are clean and dry. Be five to ten minutes early and not any earlier as HR and Recruiters are generally busy people, it is hard for them to see you any earlier than the scheduled time.

When you shake hands with the interviewers, greet them with their first name with a firm handshake and confident eye contact. Ask them how their day is going or simply thank them for the opportunity to interview for the role. Walk confidently to the interview room and wait for the interviewers to take a seat first before you sit. Interviewers do make initial judgements about you in the first few minutes of meeting you.

2. Be prepared for the initial Interview Questions

As much as the first impression counts, your initial interview answers give a positive or negative impression of you. Take some deep breaths, be confident in yourself, give eye contact to all interviewers and smile. Interviewers understand that candidates can get nervous at an interview so they try to relax you first so you can be less nervous and perform well. Be prepared for questions such as; "What do you know about our company? Why are you interested in this job? Why do you want to work for us? Tell us about yourself?"

These questions are the initial questions to put you on the spot and see how good you are at thinking on your feet. How you respond to these questions gives the interviewers an idea whether you are a strong candidate or not. For example, if you gave a good overview of the company then the interviewer can see that you are keen to work for this company as you are well prepared.

3. Bring in Interview Notes

Write some key notes and you can use your notes in the interview as a reference guide. In fact, it looks impressive as it clearly shows that you have been well prepared for the interview and you are using visual aids which help you communicate more effectively.

4. Use effective Body Language

According to Allan Pease body language expert, keeping your arms and hands open, sitting forward appearing as you are interested and good eye contact are essential in a successful interview. After all, the three elements of face to face communication are: 55% of communication is body language, 38% is tone and 7% are words (Mehrabian, 1971). So use effective body language in an interview.

5. Use a good Tone of Voice

Many of my clients who are Accountants or IT professionals speak with a monotone and they are unaware of this monotone. Listen to successful motivational speakers and sales people, you will notice their tone is varied and there is energy, positivity and enthusiasm in the way they speak. By changing the tone of the words and emphasizing on certain words helps the interviewer stay interested in what you have to say. Especially in behavioral interviews in which you are required to give examples. The key is to tell a good story in each of your examples and have the interviewers walk away remembering you and your amazing stories. Remember every example you give in an interview can help you get the job.

6. Be Positive and Smile - Employers want to hire Positive People

Being positive is so important in your career and in the job search process. When you are a positive person, you show it in the way you speak and how you carry yourself. Positivity is contagious. I walked out of an interview recently and the candidate had such a positive attitude that I thoroughly enjoyed the interview and certainly felt positive after the interview. Before your interview, read and or write your key strengths and recall how you felt when you made a significant achievement. You have an hour to impress the interviewer so recalling a positive event before the interview is very important.

Also remember to smile. When you smile you usually bring out the best in your face and the interviewers usually smile back. I guess interviews are usually perceived so seriously that sometimes people simply forget to smile. Remember to be yourself and relax. After all, the employer is trying to get to know you to make the right decision in hiring who they want as part of their team.

7. Be Confident - Confidence is the key to a Successful Interview

Confidence is probably one of the main personal attributes that interviewers can see in an interview. If you are confident in yourself than employers would more likely have confidence in employing you to represent their company. If you don't have confidence in yourself, how can you expect others to have confidence in you?

Alternatively, find a specialist like myself to coach you in your interview skills. You will be surprised at how much more you can achieve. It will definitely increase the chances of you winning the dream job you have been waiting for. Since 2011, 80% of my clients secured work after they received interview coaching through my business.

Devamını oku...

How To Answer The Interview Question - How Do You Work In Teams?

You know those exciting and invigorating interview questions you get when you apply for a job? One example is, "How do you work in teams?"

This is a common and almost ubiquitous question in interview rooms across the world. Employers must want to know the answer to this question for a reason. But what is this reason? Why does your potential employer care about whether or not you can work well in teams? Why does he or she care if you find it hard to work with others? Well the answer is usually pretty simple. You will most likely be working in teams in your new potential job.

This could mean that you are specifically part of a team or a department, like grocery or general merchandise for instance. This could also mean you are often working with others in general and must learn to get along and be part of a good team to get a good job done. The employer is really trying to understand how you will react when you are put in a setting where you are working with others. The employer wants to know you will not be anti social or unhelpful when working with others. If this is what the employer thinks, then you are unlikely to make a good impression.

The way to answer this question positively is to answer it with a positive attitude toward teamwork and teams in general. Tell a story about a time when you had to work with a team and you did well. Tell the interviewer that your team did well and that you did well within your team. This is a sure fire way to prove yourself to your new potential employer. Avoid saying that you work better alone, or that working with others is hard for your. This is the wrong answer in all situations. You do not want to come across as anti social or unlikable. You also do not want to come off as not liking other people or not being able to work with other people. These are important skills for most jobs.

A good response would be an example as stated. A positive example, of course, would do best. A response like this would work well, "In previous jobs I have worked on teams frequently and have found that we have been able to easy compromise and work well using out collective efforts." This highlights your good points and shows that you do indeed work well in teams.

Devamını oku...

Answering the Interview Question - How Much Do You Want To Make?

On every job interview, comes the moment when the interviewer makes a reference to the salary that you will earn in the position that you are applying to. How much do you want to make is an important topic, however it is important to treat this subject carefully. To get some advantage in this area it is important, before the interview, to investigate the economic situation of the company (specifically, how much they pay people working in the position you are applying for) and preplan how you are going to respond to offers or questions that may be asked during the interview on this subject.

One of the possible questions related to salary, which can be asked by the interviewer, is "What is your salary history?" Behind this question, the interviewer wishes to know how your performance and how have you been rewarded in previous jobs. A useful answer on this case would be "My salary has been incremented gradually" which reflects an ascending tendency of your salary, however if the interviewer requires more details like dates and increment amounts, you could reply "I need to check on my records to provide you a more accurate information" if you do not have the specifics on hand.

Another question related to this subject would be "How much are you earning today?", and your reply should be honest in order to avoid any mishap in case they ask you for proof of your current salary. Finally the interviewer can ask you "How much do you want to make?" the answer should be simple, however it is recommended that you to try to make the interviewer present you an offer, with that goal in mind you can review with the interviewer the requirements and obligations of the job, then you could ask "How much does the company typically pay people in this position?" or "What is the normal range for a person with my skills and achievements?"

If you are asked to provide an exact amount for a tentative salary, you should be happy that you previously investigated the job salaries and companies that you are applying to, however do not mention your investigation with the interviewer, you could use a reply such as "With my skills and achievements I think I could earn (complete with the amount), do you agree?".

If the interviewer offers you an amount, which is lower than the salary that you used to have on your previous job, or an equal amount, feel free to immediately reply with a "yes" or "no" and rationale.

Devamını oku...

How to Write a Thank You Letter for an Interview

Find a sample guide and overview of how to write a thank you letter below. Illustration and analysis included in the article.

Your Name

Your Address

Your City, State and Zip Code

Your Telephone Number

Your E-Mail Address

Today's date

Name

Title

Company

Address

City, State and Zip Code

Dear (Mr. or Ms. Last Name):

I greatly appreciate having had the opportunity to meet with you regarding the (describe position) position at (insert name of company). I very much enjoyed the interview, and am hopeful that you will choose me as your new (describe position).

As expressed to you during the interview, I have all of the qualifications that your company requires, including but not limited to (set forth qualifications), plus the ability to (set forth abilities discussed).

Other areas in which I have expertise are (describe areas of expertise that you did not get a chance to talk about). I feel that my experience in these areas, can be of great benefit to your company.

Again, thank you very much for having taken the time to meet with me. I am very impressed with (name of company) and would very much like to join your team. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Very truly yours,

Your Name

Synopsis:

A thank you letter should be e-mailed to the prospective employer as soon as possible after the interview. Assume that the company will be making quick decisions. A hard copy should be put in the mail them as well.

Make sure that your contact information is at the top of the letter.

Make sure that you address the letter to the person who interviewed you, including their title and the name of the company in the address. Make sure that you spell their name, and set forth their title correctly.

In the salutation, be sure to address them as Mr. or Ms. and to use their last name (never their first name - even if they asked you to call them by their first name during the interview).

Start out by expressing your appreciation for the interview. Be sure to include the position that you interviewed for and to indicate that you are interested in being hired.

In the second paragraph, reiterate your qualifications as described to them during the interview, plus any other abilities that you had the opportunity to discuss. Do not merely refer back to your resume.

In the third paragraph, let them know about any areas of expertise that you did not get a chance to talk about when you met with them, but keep those abilities within the parameters of the job offering. If you are applying for a position in an accounting firm, the fact that you are a singer-songwriter in your spare time is irrelevant to them, while your experience in copyright law and residuals may be a plus.

In the final paragraph, thank them again, reiterate the fact that you are very much interested in the position, and that you hope to hear from them soon.

In the closing salutation, be sure to set forth both your first and last name.

Devamını oku...

How to Write a Better Thank You Email After Your Interview

Here is a sample thank you letter for an interview, with a synopsis afterward of important points.

From

Shane Warne

Address

City and its zip code

Date:

To

Ricky Ponting

Human resources manager

XYZ Company

Address

City and its zip code

Dear Mr. Ponting

Sub: Interview for the post of... on... 2013... reg.

I thank you for having interviewed me on... I am also grateful to you for having spent some time to tell me about your organization so that I can understand the job that I would be doing if selected.

In this context, I do feel confident that I can do the job because I have learnt how to use... machines in my previous job at... I am also familiar with... , so I know how to...

The prospect of working for larger organization is exciting because there will be more challenges, and more opportunities for growth. If you do have any more questions to ask me, please do not hesitate to call on my mobile no... or you could send an email at my gmail address which is...

I thank you once again for your time and effort. It was a pleasure meeting all of you.

Best regards,

Shane Warne

As you can see, it is partly formal and partly social letter. When the letter is typed, details such as address for communication and date of thank you letter are necessary. However, when the letter is sent by email, such addresses are not to be included. Some people include the sender's address at the end of the mail, i.e.,, after their signature.

The subject line in such case, however, needs to clearly mention "Kind attention: Ricky Ponting - regarding Interview for the post of... on... 2013."

Note the subject line. It specifies the post for which interview was held, and the date on which it was held. These are two important components of this thank you letter because the person receiving the thank you note should be able to correlate the person sending the thank you note with the job he'd applied for.

The first paragraph explains the reason for sending this thank you note, email, or letter, as the case may be.

The second paragraph jogs the interviewer's memory so that he or she recalls who has sent this thank you note. Quite often, business owners and its managers interview several candidates for different posts on the same day. Therefore, they may not remember a person off hand. A thank you note following the interview can help to keep the candidate in focus.

Devamını oku...

Job Interview - Fast Phobia Removal Technique

If you have a real fear of interviews, not just a feeling of anxiousness but I mean a real phobia, this next technique will help you eliminate your phobia in a matter of minutes for ever. Read through the exercise first and repeat it three or four times embedding it into your unconsciousness.

1. In your mind's eye, imagine walking into a cinema and see everything you can see from the eyes of the you in the cinema, imagine you are there now, what can you smell, what can you hear and what can you see?

2. Walk into the cinema seating area and choose a seat in the front row of the cinema, as you walk in you notice you are alone. The film you are going to watch is a film of you in a job interview, as you look up at the screen you can see a still image of yourself in black and white, before your interview phobia incident took place - this is a safe place before you become phobic.

3. Next, imagine floating up and out of your body, as you float up, head towards the projection room at the back of the cinema, once there you can view yourself in the cinema waiting to watch the you on the screen.

4. Remaining in the projection room watch yourself watching the you in the interview - press the play button and observe the you watching the black and white film of your phobic inducing interview incident.

5. When the film reaches the end scene you are once again in a safe place after the interview has ended, pause the black and white film and turn it into a stilled black and white image.

6. Leave the projection room and float back towards the you in the cinema seat, pass over yourself and step into the image of you in the cinema screen at the end of the phobic interview incident (in the safe place after the interview)

7. Change the picture to colour and ensure you are fully associated by seeing the world from the you in the film. Run the film backwards like you would if you press rewind on a video player. Rewind the film so you see the interview running backwards; imagine you can see everyone moving backwards, even hear the voice of you and the interviewer in rewind. This should only take 1 or 2 seconds.

8. Repeat this process several times until you can think of a job interview without feeling scared. If you feel any discomfort repeat the exercise 3-4 more times.

9. While rewinding the film for a 3rd or 4th time add in step 2, 3 and 4 from destroying negative interview memories technique.

Devamını oku...