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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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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