Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

5 tips to interview to land the job

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Interviewing is really an art as much as it is a science. Being successful depends on a combination of preparation, know-how and the ability to connect with the audience. Something most job seekers don’t consider – your interviewer HOPES you are the best candidate for the job. Think about it – who wants to interview and interview and never find a great fit for the job?

Some ideas to help turn your interviewer into a FAN!

1. Convince yourself that the interviewer really WANTS to hire you.
The fact is, it is tough to hire a quality employee. I can say from experience that your interviewer hopes that you WOW him or her with your answers and give fabulous reasons to hire you.  In essence, the interviewer is rooting for you!

2. Know what to say. 
Prepare in advance.  A lot.  No, you don’t have to memorize answers to 100 interview questions, but be sure that you spend time thinking and practicing what you will say in response to topics that will come up:

  • Think of your key points (as they relate to how you fit into the job).  These points are your message.  They answer the question:  Why should we hire you?
  • Create several stories that illustrate your points and describe how you are able to fill the organization’s needs.  Stories should demonstrate successes, a time you overcame obstacles and examples of how you interact with colleagues and employers. Use the STAR technique to describe these situations.
  • Incorporate the fact that you’ve conducted research on the organization, their goals, values, accomplishments and needs in your answers.  Your interviewer will be happy to know that you spent some time on the organization’s website or reading up on them.  It’s flattering to know that you’re interested enough in the job to prepare.  Interviewers love prepared candidates.

3. Listen carefully and answer the question. 
You won’t believe how many candidates reply to a direct question without actually answering it.  It can be a little painful for the interviewer.  Ask for clarification if necessary, even think for a few seconds before replying.  (Not too many seconds, though.)  If you don’t answer the question, you’ll lose your fan.

4. Don’t keep talking and talking (and talking)…
There is no quicker way to lose your audience than by droning on and on before you get to the point.  If it doesn’t seem that you’re getting to the point, you will lose your audience quickly.  Even if you do (eventually) answer the question, your interviewer will be busy making mental notes about what to pick up for dinner by the time you get to the point.  Be succinct.  Your interviewer will love it!

5. Follow Up
Send a thank you note.  It matters.

If you follow these tips, you’ll increase the likelihood of keeping a fan on the other side of the interview table.  That fan is much more likely to become a colleague if they like you as much when you leave the room as they did when they invited you to interview!  It’s in your hands – interview to seal the deal and GET THE JOB!

Stay tuned for some additional tips from Keith Ferrazzi!

photo by woodlywonderworks

Resources for those considering a career in healthcare

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Yesterday, I shared the story of Terry Ramey, the auto worker studying to become a nurse from Encore.org, a resource for anyone thinking of making a change to a satisfying career that will allow them to help others. If Terry’s story inspired you to consider a career in healthcare, I am delighted to share extensive advice Andrea Santiago, about.com’s guide to health careers.

I asked Andrea to comment on what people should think about when considering a shift to a career in the health field. This is her very generous response!

Immerse yourself in the medical practice environment as much as you can – e.g. volunteer at a hospital, get a job answering phones at a local doctor’s office, anything you can do.  This will help you to (a) learn about different roles before you invest in additional education etc (b) begin learning about the industry – picking up skills, “lingo” etc. and (c) begin meeting people in the industry who can help you network and/or serve as mentors, guiding you through the process of applying to schools or certification programs if needed, and/or applying for new roles etc, and (d) get on-the-job training etc.  I know many people who start out answering phones at a doctor’s office, who then are trained on billing/coding, back office functions, OR who are given on the job training to work as medical assistants, etc.  Most offices do not require certification for medical assistants especially if they know you have been trained etc.

Some of the more entry-level jobs to look for (in terms of not requiring a great deal of advanced education) are: medical assistant, medical receptionist, medical translator (usually Spanish is the most in-demand language needed – so obviously must be bilingual for that), phlebotomist (person who draws blood – can also get OJT for this but can take a short course to learn it if you feel more comfortable doing so), and home health aide (one of the top fastest growing segments of the healthcare industry is home health – expected to grow in # of jobs by over 50%!  That is huge)

Also, LVN/LPNs (licensed vocational nurse/licensed practical nurses) are going to be one of the fastest growing careers of the decade, according to the BLS (more info on my site – stats, details etc) and this only requires a high-school diploma or equivalent and a relatively short course.

Most of the above jobs are examples of jobs you can get relatively easily, and/or work while you go back to school for something more advanced/more lucrative, if that’s what your goal is.  Also, this is a great time to go back to school, especially if you don’t have your bachelor’s degree yet. There are many government programs right now for people to get assistance with tuition, and some of the programs are not even needs based, so definitely check those out – one program is for people who have been laid-off from a job, or have some other qualifying event.

Another tip – look for transferable skills and focus on obtaining additional education/experience to supplement/target for the health care industry – for example, if you are in IT, start studying/learning about healthcare IT (another rapidly growing segment of healthcare, due to EMR) and/or look for a way to get experience or knowledge that would make you marketable in healthcare IT – network from people in health care and find out what skills/certifications their facility is seeking etc.  The same goes for accounting/finance, administrative professionals, salespeople, etc – look for ways to transfer your skills.

That being said, you can’t just jump into the new field (healthcare) without putting forth the effort to learn the ropes either through a few classes or via networking etc – for example, if you’re in sales, you can’t just start blindly applying for medical sales jobs and expect that to work in this market – you’ve got to have an edge, find some way to get medical experience or knowledge, even if it’s on a volunteer basis.  Go on a ride-along with a medical sales rep, start networking with medical industry professionals, maybe even get a job working in a doctor’s office so you can show the interviewer that you understand the client because you worked in a doctor’s office for 6-12 mos, or whatever – also by working in a doctor’s office you’ll meet the reps who are coming through selling various drugs and equipment and you can start networking with them etc.

If you do want to go to school for an advanced degree to be a nurse or doctor, there are many great resources online – lots of nursing scholarships and other ways to pay for med school – I have a couple articles on my site about it:

But also you can check out the ANA (American Nurses’ Association) for additional resources on nursing and for med school info, one of my favorite resources is the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).
And here are a few other general articles/resources on my site relative to breaking into the healthcare industry:

Other resources for allied heath careers:

ExploreHealthCareers.org – resources and information about ALL types of health careers as well as links to resources for funding.

American Medical Association – provides a directory and a list of accredited educational programs

Do I need a college degree for a health career? Terrific advice and resources from About.com’s Health Careers expert, Andrea Santiago

Allied health career profile, what to expect in allied health – more from Andrea at About.com.

photo by oedipusphinx

Thinking about making a change for a career in healthcare?

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As part of my new “Altruistic Tuesdays” series, today, I am pleased to highlight a story from Encore.org:

Terry Ramey started working on an assembly line at a Ford plant outside Ann Arbor, Mich., when he was in his 20s. “I’m third-generation auto,” he explains. Like his father and grandfather, he figured he would retire from the same job.

But after more than 13 years, the monotony of the line, the physical toll it took on his body, and the auto industry’s uncertain future started Ramey thinking about leaving. “The quality of life, even though I made a good living, was terrible.”

Not too long afterward, Ramey happened to be the first on the scene of a highway motorcycle accident. He was calm, able to help the injured man – and surprised that he got so much satisfaction from doing it.

When Ford offered an “education buyout package” – a chance to attend school for four years and receive up to $15,000 in annual tuition money and half his annual wages – Ramey jumped at the chance.

Even though he had never been to college and he was 40 years old, Terry enrolled in a four-year nursing program. He plans to become a nurse by age 44.

Have you ever thought of making a change – a big change – in your career? The healthcare industry consistently ranks in the top growth fields year after year. Is this a field of interest to you?

Andrea Santiago, about.com’s guide to health careers, reminds us, “There are lots of health care jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree, and some don’t even require an associate’s degree.” She cautions, “However, keep in mind that generally, the more education is required for the job, the higher it will pay, just as in any other industry.” (Stay tuned for much more advice from Andrea about transitioning to a health career tomorrow!)

Encore.org offers a variety of resources if you are considering making a change to a career in healthcare. Follow THIS link for details about jobs in high demand, information about being an RN and resources for scholarships and financial aid.
Healthcare is not your career of choice, but still think a major change to a non-profit is on the horizon? You may want to visit:
Stay tuned for more stories that may inspire you in my next “Altruistic Tuesdays” post!
photo by interplast

What to tell your job references

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My colleague, August Cohen (@resume_writeron Twitter) tweeted about preparing your references to talk about you should a prospective employer call. This is an often overlooked topic. Job seekers are so busy trying to get interviews, often thinking ahead to the next step (references) is an afterthought. Some things to think about..

Many job seekers overlook this important part of the job hunt. Especially if you have often reached the final stages without landing the job, touching base with those who may hold the keys to your next position is a great idea!

Whom to Ask? Ideally, you should have a current or immediate past employer as a reference. Co-workers and trusted subordinates may also be references, but most hiring managers will want to hear from employers. If you are a student or recently graduated, faculty members may serve as references. If you have had a leadership role in a volunteer organization, “supervisors” from that organization may be good references for you.

Ask permission. Once you have in mind who you’d like to serve, ask their permission. If they seem hesitant or hedge at all, allow them to bow out gracefully. You don’t want to browbeat your references into helping you. (They may hurt more than help.) The best references are those who are enthusiastically supportive.

Prepare your references to support you! Be sure they have the most updated version of your resume and a cover letter for the position if you have one. Let them know if you expect they will be called, and offer suggestions of topics they may want to emphasize.

When I was applying for one of my jobs, I knew that teamwork and the willingness to pitch in when necessary were crucial for my potential employer. I emphasized how I was the perfect match (I really was!) in the interview. I also asked my current supervisor (who knew about my search and was my #1 reference) if she could mention some examples of my teamwork when she spoke to my potential boss, who offered me the job as soon as he spoke to her!

Hopefully, you will have a strong relationship with your references and will be comfortable making them partners in your search. Let’s face it - you can get right to the job’s door by having a great resume and interviewing well. The key to get in is in the hands of those who are willing to recommend you for the job!

 

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Finding the silver lining in job search – Altruistic Tuesdays!

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If you look hard enough, you can find a silver lining in this economy for job seekers. Many people have been trudging along in careers that didn’t suit them, but leaving seemed impossible and risky.

Taking advantage of a layoff and turning a difficult situation into an opportunity is not always easy, and it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when making plans for the future. Let’s face it, if you have always done a certain type of work, it is easy to think that your “next” thing needs to be that same thing. If your field does not seem to have much of a future (or even a present!), making a change is obvious and necessary, but I hope my new series of posts will remind ALL job seekers that this may be a good time to take a different path!

I recently reviewed Alexandra Levit’s new book, New Job, New You – A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career,where she highlights stories of people who have made career changes for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Family requirements
  • Need for independence
  • Desire to pursue additional learning
  • Financial aspirations
  • Pursuit of a passion
  • Personal or health setbacks
  • Honing a talent or skill

There is no doubt that layoffs can lead to a second career. (Take a look at this piece from NBC Nightly News that highlights people who made big jumps.) It is no surprise that Marci Alboher commented in this story. An authority on career changers, Marci is a senior fellow at Civic Ventures, the author of One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success and creator of the popular Shifting Careers blog and column for The New York Times. I’ve had a chance to talk to Marci about her work for Civic Ventures and the resources they offer via Encore.org. (Learn more about Civic Ventures and Encore.org HERE.)

My discussions with Marci and reading Alexandra’s book inspired me to create a new, ongoing feature here on my blog. I’m going to highlight stories of people who have made big career changes. To start off, I will share information and resources for and from those who have shifted to not-for-profit careers. I will call this feature “Altruistic Tuesdays” and highlight resources, many from the Encore.org site, aimed at smoothing the transition.

If you have a story to share, please contact me! In the meantime, think about how you can use your skills in a different setting…What have you always wanted to do, but never thought it was possible? You can translate your skills (maybe along with some new training) into a whole new career.

photo by pranav singh