The Wooden Group

By: Randy Wooden
www.WoodenGroup.com

Here are 8 great ways to make a good first impression in an interview.

 1.     Preparation.  This takes many forms, but make sure you understand what the employer’s looking for and cite examples from your past to show you meet their needs.

2.    Resume.  No typos, one or two pages in length, include key words which match with those listed in the requirements or qualifications.

3.    Stand up in the lobby.  Make sure you’re standing when the employer pops his head into the lobby.  Why?  People first look to other people at eye level.  By standing you appear enthusiastic and ready for business.

4.    Dress appropriately.  This can mean different clothing for different jobs, but always err on the dressier side when in doubt. 

5.    Appearance.  Don’t detract from your message of being a competent professional by exhibiting poor hygiene or inappropriate hairstyles.

6.    Body language.  This includes everything from maintaining good eye contact to a firm handshake to sitting up to avoiding nervous fidgeting. 

7.    Ask good, open ended questions.

8.    Relax.  The interview is an exchange of information.  It’s a chance to convey why you’re a fit for the position.  The employer’s not simply hiring a robot with skills, they’re hiring a personality.  Let yours be one of enthusiasm and confidence.

To learn more, call us at (336) 793-8040 or visit www.WoodenGroup.com!  

STAY CONNECTED!
       

How long have you been looking? Long enough to stop and ask yourself, “Am I doing everything right?”

Come to our free workshop, find out how to do everything right…and receive a complimentary resume critique!

The Wooden Group’s one-hour “Get Hired” workshop is every Thursday at noon where we’ll discuss how you can improve your marketability,  make your resume stand out,  figure out the best way to network, improve your interviewing skills…and more!

We cover all aspects of a job search.  Workshop content is largely driven by you – the attendee.  So bring your questions!

The Wooden Group’s office is located in the Broyhill Office Suites on Clemmons Road next to the Clemmons Public Library.

Seating is limited, so call 336.793.8040 or email randy@woodengroup.com to confirm your spot.

Learn more about us at www.woodengroup.com.

STAY CONNECTED!

By: Randy Wooden

As I take on new clients, one of their most common concerns deals with networking.  Sure, there’s the “how to” part of networking most people fail to effectively master, but it’s the “I’ve burned through my network and have no where else to turn” issue I’ll address today.

If you feel you’ve burned through your entire network you have, essentially, three options.  The first is to revert to answering online job postings and forego networking for the most part.  Don’t do that.

The other two options include expanding your network and revisiting those with whom you’ve already made contact. 

Let’s talk about that last option.  First, why are we hesitant to “go to the well” again?  Fear?  Embarrassment?  Uncertainty about what to say?

I suspect it’s all those things, yet I find the hesitation can be largely overcome if we feel confident about our approach.  Fear and embarrassment tend to diminish once we’ve arrived at a realistic process. 

Consider yourself not as a beggar with your hands outstretched, hoping for someone’s kindness.  Rather, look at yourself as a solutions provider… a giver, not a taker.  Seek to help others first.

Next time you want to recontact John Doe to see whether he’s “heard of anything new,” why not instead present John with a link to an article of interest to him?  Or, find his company mentioned in an article and bring it to his attention.  Find something of value or interest to your contact.  I wouldn’t necessarily mention I’m still looking.

In fact, if you avoid mentioning your job search it’s likely your contact will ask you about it.  Then you can feel free to share your status and ask for additional input. 

I find people feel more comfortable and, possibly, compelled to help you when you try to help them first.  Look to be a resource first, a job hunter second.

Learn more about us at www.woodengroup.com.

STAY CONNECTED!

Get the help you need to take your career search to the next level! Come to our workshop and receive a complimentary resume critique!

Come to The Wooden Group’s one-hour “Get Hired” workshop every Thursday at noon where we’ll discuss how you can improve your marketability,  make your resume stand out,  figure out the best way to network, improve your interviewing skills…and more!

We cover all aspects of a job search.  Workshop content is largely driven by you – the attendee.  So bring your questions!

The Wooden Group’s office is located in the Broyhill Office Suites on Clemmons Road next to the Clemmons Public Library.

Seating is limited, so call 336.793.8040 or email randy@woodengroup.com to confirm your spot.

Learn more about us at www.woodengroup.com.

STAY CONNECTED!

By: Randy Wooden
www.WoodenGroup.com

The other day someone asked me what was the biggest mistake I’d ever made during an interview.  Well, as a human we live and learn, but one thing stood out. 

I’d failed to ask for the job.  Not once, but twice.  Big mistake…let me explain.

Years ago I’d interviewed for a sales position selling textbooks to colleges.  The interview occurred in Ohio during January, so I kept thinking of lugging a suitcase on rollers up some hill during the snow and slush of a mid western winter.

As the interview wrapped up, there was the perfect opportunity for me to share my enthusiasm for the position.  To “ask for the job,” so to speak.  But I failed to do that.  I didn’t ask for the job because I truly didn’t want it, but that’s not my point.

The employer told me the next step.  I was to phone her the next day for the result.  My pride wanted her to want me, but my honesty couldn’t bring me to ask for a job I really didn’t want.

I called the following day.  She said, “Randy, you were by far the best candidate I spoke with, but you never asked me for the job and I’ll never offer a job to someone who doesn’t ask for it.”

That’s been over 20 years ago, but I recall those words clearly.  They came up a second time, but in that case it was a foregone conclusion I would get the job.  Still, when my future boss said, “Well, Randy.  Do you want this position?” It brought back memories of a previous mistake – a mistake I will never make again.

If you have a reasonable amount of interest in a position, NEVER leave an interview without reaffirming, in no uncertain terms, your interest in the position.  I’d also add that you should leave with an understanding of the next step in the hiring process.

It’s not enough to merely show up for the interview.  Employers have many candidates to pick from.  The hiring decision largely rests on two factors.  First, do you have the skills to perform the job?  And second, does the employer “like” you?  Do they like your attitude, enthusiasm, etc?  Asking for the job can go a long way toward showing a positive attitude and enthusiasm.  Try it next time!

To learn more, call us at (336) 793-8040 or visit www.WoodenGroup.com!

STAY CONNECTED!
      

If you’re tired of looking and ending up with nothing but dead-end leads…perhaps it’s time to take things to the next level.

We want to help you…for FREE!

Also, if you come to the workshop you’ll receive a complimentary resume critique!

Come to The Wooden Group’s one-hour “Get Hired” workshop every Thursday at noon where we’ll discuss how you can improve your marketability,  make your resume stand out,  figure out the best way to network, improve your interviewing skills…and more!

We cover all aspects of a job search.  Workshop content is largely driven by you – the attendee.  So bring your questions!

The Wooden Group’s office is located in the Broyhill Office Suites on Clemmons Road next to the Clemmons Public Library.

Seating is limited, so call 336.793.8040 or email randy@woodengroup.com to confirm your spot.

Learn more about us at www.woodengroup.com.

STAY CONNECTED!

By: Randy Wooden

I typically ask workshop attendees and my clients which questions tend to give them trouble. The two I hear most often center around compensation and ‘tell me about yourself.’ Both are difficult, but for different reasons.

Let’s tackle the most common and, likely, the most difficult question of all because it’s somewhat vague and is usually the first question asked in a typically nerve-wracking setting: Tell me about yourself.

Keep your answer to under one minute, remembering the question is merely an ice breaker and not the time to unload your entire life story. The employer is as often less interested in what you say than how you say it. How do you come across? Concise, professional? Or rambling?

Thank them for having you in for an interview, then give a brief summary of your education and relevant experience, then transition to asking the interviewer to tell you more about the position.

Asking them a question keeps you from rambling and directs the conversation to where the employer wanted it to go anyway - him discussing the company and describing the opening.

Also, by asking a question early on you establish the freedom to ask questions throughout the interview. That’s important in establishing somewhat of a peer-to-peer relationship and also doesn’t leave you hanging when they ask, “do you have any questions for me” at the end of the interview.

Call our office at 336.793.8040 or visit www.woodengroup.com.

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