The Art of Interviewing

Are you nervous about your upcoming interview? Do you hear your heart beating like a stampede of elephants in the distance. Wondering if you will miss or score? You can rewrite your resume, and proofread your cover letter many times over, but in the world of interviewing, most people get one shot to make the right impression.

So how does one prepare for the unknown? Is there a science or art behind a good interview? Yes, and more important than the interview itself is the preparation for the interview. Below are 5 tips to help you succeed in the interview process.

1.   Get your mind right. Your psyche can either bring negative or positive energy, which may be recognized by the interviewer. Avoid stress and anxiety when possible.

2.   Research the company and read in between the lines. Out of 2000 bosses surveyed 47% stated the most common mistakes job seekers make during interviews is having little or no knowledge of the company.  Along with factual information, get a feel for the corporate culture, the interview process and how their values and mission fit your personal ones. This will also help you formulate smart questions discussed later. LinkedIn, Glassdoor & Twitter are great sources to help you gain insight.

3.   From head to toe, appearance matters. This is more than just about the clothes you wear. This is the time to sweat the small stuff.  70% of Employers claim that they don’t want applicants to be fashionable or trendy (unless it’s part of the company culture). Be neat and yet simple. Avoid any potential distractions (i.e. covering tattoos and skipping the cologne) because before you have a chance to say a word, your appearance (or odor, whether nice or not) will certainly be observed.

4.   Practice your responses, but do not sound rehearsed. Avoid clichés at all cost. You want to not only sound original, but genuine in your responses as well. Even if you have prepared a good answer to a tough common interview question, pause before responding as if giving thought to your response.

5.   Ask smart questions. Many of us may prepare for questions that may be asked of us, but fail to think about what questions that you may ask. Smart questions demonstrate your interest and knowledge. For example you may ask, “I understand that the company has a mission to decrease its carbon footprint, what role does this position play in that initiative.” Normally you are given the opportunity to ask questions towards the end of an interview so this may be your moment to make a lasting final impression.

Moving You Forward,

Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

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How to Apply for an Internal Position without Burning Bridges

You’re at the office browsing through your company’s intranet site and found that the job of your dreams is available. “Eureka” you say to yourself as you hear the soft sound of the heavens opening up, because the stars are finally aligned and your moment has arrived. Pause; you just realized that may involve telling your manager.  Although you may like your current position, you know in your heart that you’ll have greater satisfaction moving on and you don’t want any hard feelings. So how do proceed with applying for an internal position without burning bridges? 

Here are points to consider before applying for an internal position.

Know your company policy. Have you met the tenure requirements? Do you need approval from your manager?

Inform your Boss. If you have a less than hostile relationship with your direct supervisor, I encourage having a conversation about how you would like to career path with the company prior to pursuing internal positions. This also puts them in a better position to put in a good word for you.

Reach out to your connections. This could be your direct co-workers who may have insight or those already involved in your department of interest. And if you don’t have any current connections you don’t have to wait until there’s an open position to form them. Be proactive; introduce yourself perhaps in the break room or at a company affair.

Act like an external candidate. Do not assume because you’re an internal candidate that you’re a shoe in for the position. Prepare like you would for an outside position. Leverage the advantage you have as an internal candidate by freshening up on the necessary knowledge and prepare your best presentation ever. 

Do your best work. While you currently may not be in your position of interest be mindful that your reputation precedes you. Don’t make it hard for your current coworkers (or supervisor for that matter) to say something positive about you.

Making a move forward in your career doesn't always have to involve burning bridges instead see it as an opportunity to create new ones.

Moving You Forward,


Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

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Go From Fired to Hired: Reflect, Learn, Take Action

So let’s get straight to point, no chaser; you’re on the rocks and you feel the burn; you got fired. I’m not referring to those who got laid off due to company restructuring or someone who blatantly assisted with his own dismissal, although you can stay tuned if this applies to you. I’m specifically referring to those who got the proverbial pink slip, the ax, the boot; simply because you were not a good fit for the position you were hired for. Perhaps you meant well, but just weren't cutting it. Getting fired may have left you feeling defeated, embarrassed, sadden or downright mad. Allow yourself a brief moment to grieve, then pick up the pieces, reflect, learn and take action.

Reflect. Guess what, it happened to me some moons ago, so you’re not alone. I was working in a sales position for a major multimedia company and was approached by a much smaller company looking to expand their magazine franchise in the United States. I was impressed. I wasn't even looking for a position at the time and they wanted me to work for them. But hindsight tells me that they interested in my connections and I was reeled in with an offer for higher pay. The informal interview went well and I even made a sale on my first day. Unfortunately, that was my first and only sale and 2 months later I was on the job market.

Learn. Failure teaches us a hard lesson, so take heed unless you want to do a retake. I learned that I really didn't understand what I was getting myself into. Being young, naïve, and overly optimistic I didn't realize how much tougher sales can be when working with a new brand versus an established brand. And essentially, I was hired to do hardcore grassroots direct marketing; not what I anticipated. Remember an interview goes two ways, so while you prepare for potential questions, be sure to prepare questions to ask. Do your due diligence and research as much as you can about the company and the position.

Take Action. Begin making preparations for your next step. Be prepared to answer the question on why you separated with the company. Be honest without giving too many details. Explain that the position or the company was not a good fit, perhaps what you've learned and transition to what you want and how it aligns with the company’s needs. It could sound something like, “I quickly found out that phone sales wasn't a good fit for me and that I enjoy face-to-face sales, which is what attracted me to this retail sales position.” Notice by the end of the statement you just refocused the conversation and plugged in why you’re a good fit. (I’m not a bad salesperson after all…wink.)

And you’re not so bad yourself. Good people get fired all the time, so don’t let the experience kill your confidence. Take the lesson for what is and move forward by taking action and go from fired to hired!

Moving You Forward,


Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

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Tapping into the Hidden Job Market: Get ahead of the competition

Let’s face it, it’s a tough time for job seekers today and with unemployment rates at record highs across the country the competition can be furious. Some may wonder how they can get ahead of the pack. It’s bigger than having a stellar resume and saying the right things at the interview, although important. It’s about seizing the opportunity before anyone else has a chance to; tapping into the hidden job market. 

According to CollegeRecruiter.com 80% of jobs are not listed anywhere. You will not find these opportunities on indeed.com or in your local classifieds. It may be a position in the process of being created, at a start-up or where the hiring manager is too busy to post the opportunity.

There are a number of avenues that may give you access to the hidden job market and it starts right under your nose. And no pun intended; literally. The first thing you need to do is open your mouth and spread the word that you’re seeking.  Don’t be shy and don’t be ashamed because closed mouths don’t get fed; literally. Instead of just asking for a job, have conversations about what you’re looking for and ask for referrals or advice. Reach out to your network of friends, family, former coworkers, anyone within an earshot and their networks. And with technology this can be done through a number of channels such as social media via LinkedIn or Twitter.

I can recall how I got my first job out of college when I decided to move back to my hometown after graduating. I was having a casual conversation with a former classmate about my job search. She provided me with a referral to a human resources manager at the company she worked for and the rest is history. When coaching a student who graduated and after sometime did not have a job in her field of study, I encouraged her to introduce herself to office managers at medical offices in her local area. I was thrilled when she called to tell me she was offered a position. And something tells me if she was waiting on that same office to post an ad online, the opportunity may have slipped her by.

I’m not at all suggesting efforts applying to jobs online or through your local newspaper are futile. However, coupled with networking and making real connections you can find your way to your next job exponentially faster. Explore the opportunities that may not be readily recognized by others. And remember looking for the right job may be a matter of finding the right person to connect you to it.

Moving you forward,

Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

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The Hidden Paycheck : What you need to know before you accept your next job offer

It’s Payday! …at least for some of us. Perhaps your check looks a little weak and you’re seeking new employment opportunities this year. However, when comparing job offers be careful not to just focus on the salary in determining the financial benefits or disadvantages. The following are factors to consider that may make your paycheck bigger or smaller.

Distance. For many this may be an obvious factor, especially in terms of fuel cost and commute time. However, be careful not to dismiss an opportunity solely on the basis of distance. Explore other factors such as the location’s access to public transportation, employer’s transportation benefits, and opportunities to carpool and telecommute which may significantly decrease the cost.

Benefits.  Accepting an offer without knowing the cost of the benefit plans, particularly health, especially if you have a family can be detrimental. I've made that mistake when I accepted a position which appeared to be a pay raise from my previous position. Unfortunately, that stack of cash with the googly eyes I thought I was getting by switching to another company was negated by the high insurance premiums. Also, find out if there are benefits that could potentially lower the cost of things you already spend money on such as child care or pet insurance, which could stretch your paycheck.

Perks. Did anybody say “free lunch?” Did you know that Google provides free breakfast and lunch for its employees? I know, old news for some, but only to make the point that discounts are nothing to sneeze at. It’s estimated that Google pays about $20/day per employee and as the old saying goes, “A penny saved is a penny earned!” I once worked for a telecommunications company and only had to pay $10 a month for my cellphone bill, which saved me $80/month for comparable service at full price. That equates to $960 a year! Now for those of you who are current students or thinking about returning to school, you should definitely inquire about any tuition discounts or reimbursements. This could save you thousands and help give you a competitive edge that’s priceless.

These are factors to consider with your current employer as well, which may prove to be helpful in determining if jumping on another opportunity will be a leap forward or a dive off a fiscal cliff. Either way, look before your leap; there might be a hidden paycheck. 

Moving you forward,


Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward


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Reality TV: Trashy TV or Lessons to Treasure?

Yes, reality television is one of my favorite guilty pleasures; Real Housewives of Atlanta, Chicagolicious… and Shahs of Sunset might be growing on me. I don’t get a kick out of the cat fights or the wig tugging. But, I do have an appreciation for the more subtle moments where career and business transactions are being made, and lessons are being learned. I’m especially more interested in the characters that are driven entrepreneurs and live for the actual real moments, even if it’s just some nuggets of knowledge. Oh, and the drama… just keeps it interesting. So I’ve taken some snippets of real moments that you can apply in real life to achieve career success.

Make Real Connections.  No, the faux friends you have on Facebook don’t count. Not to discredit social media (love it!), but remember it’s a bridge for real connections to be made. Please do not get confused, I’m not necessarily talking about rubbing elbows with Donald Trump or Bravo TV’s Andy Cohen, who both by the way attributed themselves to Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Nene Leakes’ success (she stated otherwise). What I am saying is, foster positive relationships by starting with the people around you, like your neighbor across your cubical and in your community. Because you never know where a real connection may lead you. 

Be Likable. Again, not as in the 20 “likes” on your photo planking on top of the stove. Being likable goes hand-in-hand with making real connections. It’s hard to keep connections with an "all-about-ME” attitude. We all know there’s no “I” in TEAM and you’ll need a great one around you to achieve success like the team at AJ's Salon of Style Network's Chicagolicious. Even if you’re confident in what you do, embrace your talents graciously or end up in the NFL (no friends left) zone.

Give Back. Let’s keep it real, not all of us need to start a foundation at once, because you know that’s popular in Hollywood. We can all give back in small ways, such as sharing best practices with your team, giving a colleague a good referral, and sharing your gifts with the underserved. Some people may remember and one day return the favor, but do not give to receive, which goes back to the first point about making real connections.

So the next time you're getting ready to have your reality TV fix, put down your smartphone, bring out the pen and paper, and get ready to be schooled. It's lesson time!

Moving you forward,

Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

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Getting the Career You Want: Applying the Law of Attraction

Independence Day 2011, I was enjoying fireworks downtown a city outside the greater Washington D.C. area. I was in awe to see generations of families together, which was much different from the party scene in downtown Miami I was accustomed to. I love my hometown Miami, but I found myself falling for a new city and thought to myself, "I want to raise my family here." And so the journey of my new job search began.

Ask. Embracing my "sometimes" impulsive nature, upon my return home I submitted for a transfer to a position in the D.C. area after only being at the company for just barely 5 months. And I heard nothing (cricket, cricket); however, I didn't take it as a "bad" sign or defeat. I just came to the realization that it was going to take some time and of course strategic planning to uproot my family from the sunshine state to the suburbs of greater D.C. So the end of summer 2012 was set as my target move date.

Believe. By early winter I was eagerly searching for possible positions and companies that I would apply for when the timing was right. I stalled on posting my rèsumè on CareerBuilder because I was certain employers would call me and did not want to be offered a position prematurely. But by February 2012 I could not contain the excitement and posted my rèsumè. One company I was particularly interested in called me before I had even applied! Even though the opportunity stopped short with a phone interview with HR (I'll write about that experience later), it was truly a sign that I was sending the right messages to the universe.

Receive. Then the universe responded. I received an email to confirm my attendance for a group interview the very next afternoon! My stomach was in knots; here I am at my office desk wondering what should I do and how will this work. In short, I was out the next morning on the first flight to D.C. I arrived to the group interview to find that I was up against 5 other candidates for 3 available positions, however still left with certainty that one of the positions would be mine. It was March by then and I was told a decision would be made in 2 weeks, so I awaited my call.

I flew back home excited about the possibility of a new opportunity and drafted my resignation letter. However, 2 weeks came and went and I didn't get a call from the hiring manager, but in faith (mixed with some fear) I submitted my resignation letter anyway. My boss thought I was crazy, while deep down inside I believed an opportunity would come my way. And it did; by the third week I got the phone call I was waiting for. I started April.

The journey to my dream job wasn't without some natural fear and anxiety. There were certainly barriers along the way, but choosing to focus on the opportunities kept them coming my way while I took action. If you don't believe, it's easy to give up when your faith is tested. Ask for what you want, Believe with persistence and Receive with joy. Apply the law of attraction and watch the universe respond!

Moving you forward,

Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

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