Job Application: Fired?

Kate, a life coach, asks: How should a client answer an interview question/fill out an application if they have been fired? The person I am working with feels they were wrongly fired from a company due to a personality conflict with a manager. When asked at a job interview why he isn’t currently working, what does he say to be truthful but not scare the potential employer? Or how does he fill out an application that asks if he was fired and why? “Joe” felt the manager was disrespectful and treated him differently than other employers. So “Joe” asked to transfer to a different manager. A day later, “Joe” was let go and was told the reason was because his breaks were too long & broke company policy. If “Joe” is able to prove that he was fired inappropriately, how would he include this information in an application or interview? If a potential employer wants a reference from his previous manager, with whom he had a conflict, how should my client approach this?

In answer:

Employers simply want to know you can do the job, and that any issues that you have had previously are well in the past.

The answer is: focus on what was learnt over the details of what went on. The moment you get into the details of what went on, it is much like a running length of yarn unwinding a jumper: it never ends, and you keep digging yourself into a deeper hole!

Job Application: stick to the facts!

Stick to the facts by echoing what ever a reference will say, eg: “I was dismissed for minor infringements on company time keeping. I didn’t get on with my boss, and that was core to to me leaving the company. I learnt that I needed to make sure I could get on with my boss as much as I could do the job required of me in being successful, so now check that aspect of any potential employer or offer. I also like a mix of informal as well as formalised communication, to make sure everything is going in the right direction. Can you tell me Mr potential manager about your format of staff communication?”

Job references due to legal cases these days will come down to: start date, end date, reason for leaving. Only if the sector is regulated (eg: financial services, anything involving children/the vulnerable), will it go any further.

Focus on the what was learnt over the what went on: one is history, and should always be left back there.

Good Luck!

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Many job interviews, no job offers

Mary asks: I am a teacher, and am having no luck in landing a job. I am getting a good ratio of job interviews, but in 10 so far have not been offered one job. What am I doing wrong, what could I do to improve my performance?

In answer:
Firstly, congratulations. Getting interviews in this economy is tough, and it means you have past the first three tests of getting a job:

1. Knowing yourself
2. Finding and applying for the right jobs
3. Getting through the telephone interview

There is a different measure in success in job interviews, in that after three you should be hitting job offers. But I am guessing that you have attended more than three interviews, and hence the concern.

Job Interview

The problem normally is nerves related, with too many leading to over verbalisation. Candidates tend to speak too much, and about that situation, not relating it eventually to the job on offer.

Like any conversation, an interview is a two way process: you are not expected to do 90% of the talking. When any question is posed, make sure you understand the question and its objective: always seek clarification “did you mean, what are you trying to find out” etc. Speak with gaps between your sentences/key points, allowing the interviewer to ask points of clarification. Never speak, unless you are presenting, for more than a minute, two minutes absolutely maximum. Try also to make three points in piece of speech – certainly no more than five. And finally, always come back to closing the circle, by showing how that experience relates to answering that question.

All of these tactics break down the conversation allowing the interviewer to seek clarification, and direct the interview. The fact you can then pick up the though train after allowing intervention shows to the interviewer that the claimed experience os real and strong.

One point as a trained interviewer I am always told to mark down on, is candidates who have done little research on the organisation I am employing for, and secondly have no questions of their own about the organisation/position. You need to have done and show your research (place it on the table when you first go it), and have at least 10 questions about the organisation/position that couldn’t be answered by reading their own literature/website. You want to be able to ask three questions at the end of an interview, and a few will be answered through the process, so 10 is always the number I recommend.

Job Interview questions and answers

My tips points Job Interview questions and answers:

• Keep answers to the point, say what you need to cover it. Initially, you shouldn’t speak for more than one minute in any answer. If you find yourself going over that then think hard about why – and don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer if they need more detail.
• Be honest. If you don’t know something or haven’t got a specific example of something then say so, don’t try to make it up!
• Answer the question as asked. Don’t do the politician trick of answering a different question you wish had been asked.
• Always always always have a good set of questions to ask about the job & company – too many people prepare one, so if it’s already been covered they have nothing.
• Find out as much as you can about the company beforehand. In these days of the web there’s no excuse not to know.
• Take a small but effective portfolio in with you, papers that you can produce to prove and illustrate major achievements. Rarely will you have to show one in detail, but just opening it to show you’ve got these ready is a big demonstration of professionalism.

Job interview tips

If you can afford it, get a professional to do mock interviews with you and give feedback. Many finds major gaps, improvements or tweaks to make themselves better. If you can’t afford this what about a friend who does recruitment and is willing to do this for you – anything they can suggest might be the one thing that makes a difference.

One last point: if you do get rejected, always phone in for feedback. Make it clear when you make the call that you know the job has gone to someone else, but that you would like feedback on how you could improve your job interview performance could be improved. You will hence always improve your job interview performance, and possibly even get that job: 1 in 10 successful job seekers are not at the organisation that employed them 30days after starting there, and the first candidates you always seek as an alternate are the ones who showed greatest interest.

Good Luck!

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CV Writing: toasters?

What always surprises me when reviewing Professional CV’s – either as a recruiter or from candidate inputs to our free CV Review service – is how when people are CV Writing, they don’t consider how they are presenting themselves. If they considered how they would buy toasters, then perhaps they would make more progress in creating a compelling CV?

When you go to buy something for your home – lets for the sake of this debate choose toasters – what do you consider first? Some will start with looks, some with function, or some with the good/bad experience they have just left smouldering in the kitchen. But eventually, you end up with a specification for the “ideal” toaster.

CV Writing: what do employers buy?

This is where the marketing spin of the product manufacturers comes in. As much as though they don’t know you personally, they do know the top five reasons people buy toasters, and the top five reasons why consumers buy their toaster. These then are listed in order, and often have a tick by them: you want easy clean, tick – we do easy clean.

Now that you know by looking at the toasters on display in the shop that these have all the functions you require, then you will want to handle them. Do they look and feel right, or is it all function or all show? The individual combination you seek will be wholly individual to you, but – eventually you get down to two or three you really like. And then you buy one.

CV Writing: what are you offering/selling?

A CV is a focused and factually based sales document – pure and simple, no more and no less. It is written to get you a job interview: again, no more and no less.

So, when you read a job advert, do you think:

• Tick – I have the core Skills, Qualifications and Experiences to do this job? Because that’s the first question in a recruiters or employers mindset
• Do I make it easy for the employer to find that I conform to their specification requirements? As the employer has spent 100+ hours and around £1000 in direct costs and advertising, just sending in a CV won’t do. Writing a Cover Letter with a “you want, I offer” list confirms your capability to do the job
• Do you add in something about yourself? How you approach tasks, what you consider important results, how you prioritise things? You mange money, manpower materials and time, so how do you prioritise those?

CV Writing: you are not a toaster!

You are not a toaster, but if:

• You don’t position yourself
• Your don’t sell yourself
• Or you don’t tell employers what they want to hear

Don’t expect them to treat you much more than the office toaster which needs replacement.

Good Luck!

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Social media job rejection

Have you ever been rejected for a job, through what your social media profile says about you?

Think not, then think again. Media research shows that 70% of employers now deploy social media searches on post-CV skimmed job applicants.

Social media recruitment

Finding your Google CV is normally done after the paper CV sift (making sure you have the right Skills, Qualifications and Experiences combination for that job), but before the telephone interview (therefore generating more background and possible questions). Background checks, which cost from £30 to £500, are now only done just before/after a successful job interview.

Social Media mistakes

One of the reasons I wrote a guide on this for our Professional CV clients was because of the number of social media mistakes many job applicants are making. Here are some examples from actual job applicants to real jobs.

The simplest examples of mistakes can often be found in Yahoo! Answers, where many sub25 years olds ask free questions of the community. The most common questions are about CV structure, and what to write in the sections. This is where “what should I invent to put in” questions are often asked, and the answers are almost literally copied in to their CV. The worst example I have seen was a young lady who claimed to be a gym-bunny on her CV. But her open Bebo profile stated she was the local chip eating champion, with a link to a local newspaper article where she extolled the virtues of regular pub food.

The next step is factual inaccuracy, most commonly mistakes in not having consistent employed from/to dates in all of your profiles. Aside from regular slight quarterly mistakes, the best case I have ever seen was a chap who offset his technology experience by seven years, just to claim it was more recent than it actually was. Not quite sure how we would have got a reference, as the company had gone bust and someone had knocked down the building he claimed to work in.

The third example is being too open with regards choices in your personal life. I am a middle aged male Christian, but I am neither a prude or unaware that other life style choices are available: smoking was never my thing, and I hate needles, but as a DJ I took the occasional tablet in the booth, and there is still not a lot that can keep me from a pint of real ale. But no employer wants to hire a drug addict or an alcoholic. For an HGV job we had advertised, I checked a profile of an applicant to find his online name was spliffboy. To get an HGV license, you need to pass a compulsory DVLA drugs test. We had him in for interview, got him to confirm he was clean of drugs for a second time, and then showed him his social media profile. Sensibly, he withdrew his application for the job.

Rejection now from a job application may not be because you didn’t have the right combination of skills, qualifications and experiences, but simply that you self incriminated yourself in your social media profile.

Good Luck!

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Job Application: always think Job Interview

If there is one mistake that the majority of job applications make, it is focusing serially on their job application, over success in the final aim: the job interview

Why is focusing on the job interview a more successful strategy over focusing serially on:

• Finding jobs
• Job Application
• Telephone Interview
• Job Interview

The tendency to focus serially on the task of getting a job is brought about by a lack of experience. Probably, the last time you applied for a job, was at least 18months ago,  if not most commonly at present over ten years. Hence, thinking about the end game, and thinking about being dressed up in a suit as you will see it, being grilled by two former members of the Spanish inquisition will seem – daunting!

Therefore, just take it step by step.

Now, in most tasks, when in doubt or in fear this strategy would work. So why does it not work in job search or job application, or at least bring far less success?

Job Application

Simply because in a job application, you need to keep the story consistent and building along the employers job application process. Taking several serial steps means there is most often a disjointed story, resulting in the employer finding out no more about you than being a desperate job seeker. As I have said before, desperation = unemployment

Now, you could expect the employers process to build the picture for you. But the reality is, until you are in the interview room, the majority of employers recruitment processes are built around rejection over inclusion. Secondly, all employers processes will be built around assessment to a set of standards, over people interaction. One of the key concerns for executives applying for positions with large corporates, is that the Human Resources team will most often use the same basic level of entry employment tests and procedures for a school leavers as they will for a Chief Executive – if not initially, then at least at some point. If that is the mentality of the HR department, where only the fittest of job applicants will succeed, why believe they have your best interests at heart and will extract unknown skills from you for their benefit?

To build a consistent story and momentum through your job application, the only choice is to focus on the job interview. The key to a good job interview, and why most employers will engage a job applicant as a new member of staff, is answering the question “why should I employ you?”

Think Job Interview

In other entries on this website and blog, you will find the key solution to employment success for candidates is being able to tick three employer issues:

• Functional fit – do you have the right skills for the job?
• Social fit – will you fit in with our team?
• Magnetic fit – do we share the same medium term vision, and hence will you stick around for more than 5minutes?

Magnetic fit is where the definitive answer is found to the employers question “why should I employ you?” If you can answer that question, then an employer will know you are their person, and want to employ you. The sooner in the job application process you answer that for them – perhaps in a subtle way in your Cover Letter – then the more likely your are to be employed.

Hence, if you are just staring out on your job search, think job interview and how to answer the question “why should I employ you,” and not how to complete their forms.

Good Luck!

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Elevator Pitch

You may not have heard of it before, but I know from the results we see through our Professional CV service, that creating an Elevator Pitch is the most important step you can take in CV Writing or winning your Job Search. Why? What if you had a statement – known as an Elevator Pitch, or a Lift Pitch – that communicated to your target prospective employer what your skills and capabilities are, and why you are suitable for that position? It would be an instant answer to the Job Interview questions of “Tell me about yourself?” It would also allow you to quickly:

• Write your CV Personal Statement
• How to write a Cover Letter
• What to say in opening a conversation in a Telephone Interview

The second benefit is that the exercise of coming up with a succinct Elevator Pitch, would help you focus on your own strengths, and understand just what market you’re in, as well as how to sell yourself. If you had a statement like that, then you have an engaging piece of conversation you could expand on, which kept you and your capabilities (ie: personal brand) consistent throughout your entire job application. Hence simply, if you don’t have an elevator pitch, you won’t get hired: because you couldn’t sell yourself, or keep your brand consistent through the job application process.

What is an Elevator Pitch?

The term Elevator Pitch originally comes from the home of US advertising, New York. The idea is to be able to communicate to another “knowledgeable but not knowing of your product” person, in the time it takes to go up a one floor flight of elevators (aka Lift Pitch – three floors in a lift), the product or service and its features or benefits, so that at the end of the elevator pitch they know what the product or service does, the key benefits to them, and have enough interest to take action to learn more.

My offer to you…

As a result of seeing on a daily basis, too may people with too foggy and imprecise view of themselves, writing about “great team worker” or being “self motivated,” I wrote out a book that we use in the process for our clients to create a Professional CV for them. Together with a few other tactics we use, the book has proved very effective in turning job seekers into employees, simply through them understanding what they bring to a prospective employer.

So, we have decided to offer the book out to the general public. We are quite happy to sell you the book, short though it is, for £9.97. But you could alternatively get it for free by signing into our Newsletter, where you will also get weekly tips on a better Job Search and hence get employed quicker.
The only reason I have agreed to give this away, is that this simple book seems to quickly change peoples lives. I hope you also find it useful.

Good Luck!

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Job Interview: kept waiting

Graham, an engineer asks: What do you do when the employer kept you waiting? You waited patiently for your interview. The PA told you the person in charge is out for a meeting and will be back. After 30 mins, there is no sight of them. You checked with the PA and she said she couldn’t reach them. Do you continue to wait? Why?

In answer:
Great question, which appears simple – but there are many drivers and hence outcomes:

• How important is this job/employer to you?
• How important are you to this person/company?
• Were you applying against an advert, your/their own direct approach, or an introduction?

The great thing about failure in organisations is that it shows you how they work at the worst level. How good are they at coping/recovery and most importantly communication?

You have to accept that things and crisis happen in life: it can not always be planned for and perfect. But, it is in answering the first question (the compelling need to stay), and the second question (could I work in a place that handles this amount of crisis in this way?), that tells you whether you have social fit with the organisation, and hence want to work there.

Once you have concluded that the answer to the second question is no, then leave when ever you want to. While the answer to the first remains compelling enough, and the second unanswered, stay until they go home.

Good Luck!

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Job Interview: Cross Dressing

Claire asks: I’m a cross dresser, and am wondering what to wear for my first job interview? I’ve been cross dressing for a number of years now, making regular trips out for shopping, the cinema, etc. I haven’t confided in my close friends/family about my gender identity issues, but feel like I want take some further step. I recently started submitting my CV to various retail outlets and several hair salons looking for receptionists, never expecting to be asked for an interview, but a couple have responded asking me to attend! I want to be open from the start and explain to them that this is who I want to be, although I don’t pass as femme totally at present. I don’t want to attend looking ridiculous like some drag queen, but rather just an understated femme look, so they realise. The things is I’m really struggling for an outfit. I was thinking on just smart bootleg trousers, a two-in-one shirt with simple ballet flats. I’m just so nervous and desperately want the job, but don’t want to make it all about “Oh look I’m a cross-dresser!” What would you suggest re. an outfit, shoes and what type of make-up?

In answer:
What an interesting question to answer! If only more job interview and job search candidates would be themselves, and listen to learn – they could learn a lot from you.

Receptionists are the friendly welcoming face of the business, so you have to be both friendly, professional and wholly comfortable in yourself. They best easily engage in conversation, can pick up instantly on nuances in tone, are great administrators, and have the energy to do that consistently all day much like the energizer bunny!

Job Interview clothing

The rules of dressing for an interview are:

1. If in doubt, go more formal over less
2. Wear “comfortable and known” over new
3. Think base colours and neutral tones over rainbow colours – unless you are an artiste
4. If you need to colourise, do it in the accessories!
5. Layout your proposed clothes at least 2days before the interview
6. No distinct additional smells – ie: neutral shower gel, deodorant, make-up, etc.
7. Gentlemen: shave or neatly trim facial hair; No after shave
8. Ladies: no overt cleavage! No heavy perfume
9. Polish thoroughly both your shoes and your teeth
10. Always pack a mint or two: breath is as distinct as clothing

So, and in part accepting you “don’t pass as femme totally at present,” I would aim for something which melds the two parts of your self together in the dress sense, and makes the casual observer conclude:

1. You are wholly smart and presentable in your style choice – a must for all job interviews!
2. But the style could be male or female: now which is it?

To answer the second question, the answer will always be concluded in the cut of the cloth. Hence, as for all interviewee’s, go with the smart casual classics in neutral colours over formal lines – the later would define you as male or female. Think white blouse or large shirt, choose slacks over skirts, fitted jacket and a few colours touches in accessories. As for all women interviewee’s, keep the make-up to a minimum and again neutral – if you have to wear a perfume, keep it light.

I think you will find that once you get a job with a hair dressers, they will help you play with your style for the effect that both you and they want. Hair dressing saloons are infamous “dens” of style debate and testing – best place that a job search candidate should go if they don’t know what suits them.

Being yourself should always be your first choice as a job seeker, and I really wish you luck.

Good Luck!

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Job Application: Unpaid Wages and HMRC!

Penelope, a shop worker, asks: What should I do? Should I put this on my CV? I worked six months for a shop. The guy in the end wasn’t paying taxes and stole my money. I found out that he hadn’t even registered his company with the revenue so there is no record of my having worked there, so I am presently taking him to the small claims court. I have had another job since then, but the problem is I am applying for other jobs now, so do I put that work experience down or not? I am thinking:

• If I put him down, they will ask for a reference (they always ask for the last two places) and then I have to explain why I can’t give a reference
• If I take him off, it looks like I was unemployed for over a year. I took a break before and after getting that job so that accounts for 5months of unemployment, and then without that position on the CV it looks like a year

What should I do? Thanks

In answer:
Sorry to hear about all of your problems, but glad that they are heading towards resolution. I would normally suggest that you leave job applications well alone until you have resolved former employment or personal issues. But there is always the exception to the rule, and in this case you have actually worked since.

The simple answer is: put down the employment on your CV – that’s the fact, that’s the truth. Explain your role, what you did/achieved – and leave it at that. No recriminations, and no need for explanations in your CV.

If you are asked about the position in your job interview, explain in very straight language what happened, and what the current situation is – i.e., it is heading to resolution. Then explain that’s why you changed job so quickly, and hence why you check out potential employers as cautiously as they check you out.

I also don’t think technically that you need to sue him in the Small Claims Court. Just report him to HMRC to do it for you if he provided you with pay slips showing tax and NI deductions. The fact he showed tax and NI deductions and didn’t submit them to HMRC is fraud, and is often followed by an arrest and some time in jail: ouch!

Good Luck!

Penelope’s response:
I guess honestly is the best policy. He has been reported to HMRC, but as was recommended by the commissioner, I still need to take him to small claims as he hasn’t paid me money he owes me.

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