lesson 5: avoid career self-sabotage
this is a topic very close to my heart. i've spent a lot of time interviewing candidates over the past few years, from interns to VP's and i have noticed some patterns that i have to share, to help you avoid the same pitfalls. i am known to move quickly in my work, especially in hiring. it doesn't take that long to tell if someone "has it" or "they don't". here are a few things i've seen from job-seekers that just kill me. to some of you these may sound like common sense, to others they may sound harsh, but when you're working towards your future, wouldn't you want to cover your bases?
#1. there are no dumb questions, but when you're interviewing, there are. don't ask questions whose answers are readily available:
- with a quick google search (how many Instagram followers do you have? who are the founders?),
- or, a breeze through my LinkedIn profile (how long have you been at this company? where did you work before here?),
- or on the company's website (when was the company founded? do you sell books?)
asking questions like these only suggest that you aren't that interested in the company, or maybe you are but aren't resourceful (also a fail), or that it just didn't occur to you to prepare differently (in which case, there are no words).
#2. you must send thank you notes. my personal preference is an email note within 24-hours of any and every interview, followed by a handwritten thank you note. very few people do handwritten notes anymore so i don't hold that against anyone, but let me tell you, the ones that do, are memorable. some tips for thank you notes (email or handwritten):
- if you meet with multiple people, send each person their own personalized note. include something unique in each, based on your conversation with them. it shows you were really listening (and you should be if you want the job).
- if you copy and paste the same note to multiple people, and edit one word or one sentence, that will feel lame. be more creative than that. put in the effort.
- make sure to get basics like the persons' name and email address correct. attention to detail is a real thing.
- typos suck. period. this includes the correct use of they're v their v there, a v an, its v it's. this is especially important for the brand name. one trick i use is to read my emails out loud to make sure i didn't miss anything. i find this helpful for times when the typo is still a correct word, so spell-check doesn't pick it up. like a v an, or hole v whole. take your time and read your work before you send it.
#3. personalize the process. whether it's the phone screen, the in-person interviews or the follow-up, make the company you're meeting with feel special. don't be a robot. it's easy to spot a candidate who doesn't want the job for the right reasons.
- bring a few creative ideas to the table. what would you do differently? how would you contribute?
- if you write a cover letter or an introductory email, you must include the company's name you're applying to, and also what you can do for them. this is actually not all about you. as someone on the hiring side, i'm looking for someone to say "hey, i want this job because i'm obsessed with your brand and think it would be fun to dive into these five projects". it doesn't matter if they're the right projects, just that they have energy, drive and ideas that they can bring to the table.
- ask good questions. not ones that are google-able. what's the biggest challenge you see in the next 6 months for whoever gets this job? what's most exciting to you about this role? what characteristics would make someone successful in this role?
- anyone and everyone you meet is part of the process. whether it's the office assistant who offers you coffee, the doorman in the lobby, or a random teammate hanging out in the same waiting area you're in, treat every interaction like it's part of your interview. everyone talks.
#4. the administrative stuff.
- make sure your resume and/or cover letter both print perfectly. yes, people still print paper sometimes and when they do, it's annoying if it gets all chopped up onto multiple pages or has funky lines running through it.
- bring clean (not crumpled with streaked ink) copies of your resume. i'll be honest, i much prefer using LinkedIn profiles and then just getting to know someone, rather than resumes and cover letters, but most people still like to see a fresh copy of a resume at an in-person interview.
- unless you've been working for a decade, keep your resume to one page.
- be flexible. most hiring managers will do their best to accommodate before or after work appointments, but giving very few options of when you can meet is a turn-off. ultimately, if you want the job badly enough, you'll find the time.
anyone good at interviewing will look for all of these characteristics. i can eliminate over 50% of applicants just by people not doing the above. no one wants to waste time. if you're going through the motions, or not being diligent throughout the process, it will show. i really really really hope this helps you!
photo cred: bill stauffer @ staatsburg, ny
