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15 Ideas for Planning Your Successful Career
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to...
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How To Ensure That you Get Call For Interview
How To Ensure That you Get Call For Interview
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Interviewing Skills: Presentation of Your Work History
Your work history becomes a key focus in a job interview,
usually right after the requisite pleasantries of whether you
had difficulty finding your way, comments about the traffic and
weather, and an offer of coffee or water.
As you settle back in your chair, trying to look a lot more
relaxed than you feel, the interviewer picks up your resume or
application and starts to ask for details about your prior
experience.
If you have a resume that specifies quantifiable results, now is
your chance to expand on that. If you increased sales by 20% per
quarter or completed a departmental reorganization that resulted
in a budget reduction of 10%, you are on your way. Obviously
such achievements outlined in your resume impressed the
potential employer enough to call you in for an interview, so
your amplification of the details of actions you took will be
eagerly welcomed.
Unfortunately, most of us perform work where the results are
less obvious. If you have worked in production or customer
service or retail, it is very difficult to tie your efforts
directly to company results. In such a case, try to highlight
any personal successes or management recognition that
demonstrates your competence.
Any promotion is excellent, even if only to a lead position or
being put in charge of a special project. Describe what you did
so that the interviewer can appreciate your prior employer's
belief in your ability to take on new responsibilities.
If no promotions were made (often none are readily available),
identify any situations where you were singled out for
recognition. That may range from being employee of the month to
being asked to train new coworkers or receiving a written or
verbal recommendation from a customer you assisted. If you
received positive feedback from supervisors, describe the
details.
While each job applicant tries to represent themselves as a
super-achiever, the fact remains that many of us work quite
competently for years without ever receiving a genuine promotion
or even much recognition. Employers are aware of that. In fact,
if the position is routine without much room for upward
mobility, they may be wary of an over-achiever who is going to
chaff against the lack of promotional opportunities. One
of "The
Apprentice" applicants looking for work in a manufacturing
environment would be viewed with more than a dose of suspicion.
If such is your case - a good solid worker (or even somewhat
marginal), find some personal strengths to describe. If you
seldom take sick leave or have a reputation for always being on
time, now is the time to focus on that. Perhaps you take off
time whenever you can and run perennially late, bring up another
aspect of your character such as an ability to work as part of a
team or outstanding relationships with coworkers (those jawfests
around the water cooler or the three beers after work with your
cronies, complaining about the management monkeys you have to
tolerate, are finally a positive reflection on you!)
If you have worked for one employer for an extended period of
time, you don't have to stress your stability, the interviewer
already knows that. Instead, concentrate on answering the
unasked questions in his mind, his fear that you are set in your
ways. Stress your flexibility and desire to learn new skills and
procedures. If you changed departments or job title or
responsibilities during your long tenure, give the details and
how well you adapted to change.
If your work history is varied with many jobs for short periods
of time, explain how much you learned from each separate job and
stress your current desire to blend your experiences into a
long-term, stable career. Describe how you are looking for a
company where you can hunker down and commit for the long haul.
It may take you some time and self-exploration to identify it,
but there are always some aspects of your work history that
carry a positive spin. Don't be afraid to dwell on your strong
points no matter how unimpressive you fear your prior jobs may
seem.
About the author:
Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years,
developing innovative job search techniques for disabled
workers, while serving as a Vocational Expert in Administrative,
Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive
and supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment
Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can
be reached at http://www.unemploymentblues.com
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