Comments on: Yahoo column: 5 Ways to flub a job interview

By: BestInterviewAnswers

BestInterviewAnswers — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:28:45 +0000

An earlier commenter said that she had no presence 'on the web' other than social space like My Space. LinkidIn and others may be a place to give positive impression of individuals on the internet but for many people the social media is their downfall. Especially the twentysomethings and teenagers. Any casual look over many of the social media sites will show a plethora of comments that would shock most mothers. As someone who uses many tools to assess candidates I always do a web search on individuals and look for social media accounts specifically. Perpetual use of bad language, description of drunken nights out (and even pictures!) and many extremely personal situations revealed to all and sundry are a sure show stopper for many candidates. I don't think there is a real understanding of just how damaging social media sites can be. They are treated like private diaries but the reality is that many managers are very internet savvy and it is not hard to find peoples full details and reverse engineer into social media and other accounts.

By: houston wedding photograhy

houston wedding photograhy — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:17:27 +0000

Wow! You are quoting the most unpopular president in US history of how to impress people??

By: AxelDC

AxelDC — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:22:18 +0000

Wow! You are quoting the most unpopular president in US history of how to impress people??

People hate insincerity, and Bush and other politicians reek of insincerity. Their refusal to honestly answer questions and give only their rehearsed, stonewalling answers is one of the primary reasons.

If I were to asks someone a question and he gives a stock answer that refuses to address the question, it only makes me angry. Do I want to hire someone who won't be honest with me?

People can smell insincerity. Being sincere doesn't mean giving everything away, but it does mean believing in what you say.

By: CareerSolvers » Blog Archive » Mastering the Phone Interview

CareerSolvers » Blog Archive » Mastering the Phone Interview — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:17:21 +0000

[...] on the Brazen Careerist blog, Penelope Trunk has an informative post about the top five interview blunders. One of her blunders is not being prepared for a phone interview. Here are ten additional tips for [...]

By: CollegeRecruiter.com Insights by Career Counselors Blog

CollegeRecruiter.com Insights by Career Counselors Blog — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:31:14 +0000

Mastering the Phone Interview…

Over on the Brazen Careerist blog, Penelope Trunk has an informative post about the top five interview blunders. One of her blunders is not being prepared for a phone interview. Here are ten additional tips for mastering the phone interview…….

By: Dale

Dale — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:14:49 +0000

I find that in many – not all – situations, the face to face interview is simply a comparison of the front runner with two to five possibles. This means that for the all candidates need every edge they can get. Aside from the other four suggestions, the final on closing the deal becomes extremely important as it will help one candidate stand out from those who do not seek to allay reservations, and most won't in this direct manner.

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:35:45 +0000

Interesting advice, and like most of your columns, there is some that applies to everyone and some to just a few. I liked the advice about talking points; going through the job search process, this time around I have been determined to sell myself to a higher level, and I've been working hard on finding things to say about myself (particularly why I left my last job).

By: Recruiting Animal

Recruiting Animal — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:12:14 +0000

Penelope, you're right. You can control the conversation by having a lot to say about key issues.

But you still have to let the interviewer take the lead. This means that you have to prepare to stretch your message to encompass more than the most simple kind of boasting.

For instance, if someone asks what your biggest mistake has been, you'd better not say that you tend to be too dedicated. This kind of bluff is too obvious and irritating.

Instead, you'd better come up with a real error. But if you prepare correctly, you can discuss one that you managed to correct and you can tell the interviewer what you learned from it.

In this way, you can exert some control but not total control.

I once had a client who told me to ask potential candidates what they did when the project went off the rails. He told me that if the candidate said no project goes off the rails to rule them out because they were liars.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:14:23 +0000

I really like David Graddick's comment above! Those are points that matter to twentysomethings (at least to me), and maybe we wouldn't change jobs so much if we had that information beforehand.

Interviewers should think the candidate is truly serious and forward-thinking by asking these probing questions. While I can see how some interviewers might not want to answer some of them, that would be a good indicator that it's not a good place to work. If they can't be honest about what it is really like to work there, you don't want to work there.

By: Ginny Klemm

Ginny Klemm — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:02:12 +0000

Sorry folks, one last point.

I don't meet with a candidate face to face unless I love them from the phone interview. I will typically find out most if not all of what I need to know from the phone interview and won't waste my time on a face to face unless they nail the telephone interview.