INTERVIEWING IN TODAY'S MARKETPLACE

February 16, 2009

INTERVIEWING IN TODAY’S MARKETPLACE

WHY IN THE WORLD MIGHT I NEED THE HELP OF A CAREER COACH?


Well, perhaps you will decide not to go with a Coach. But let’s look at the big picture and see what factors might influence your decision making.

Particularly in this time of economic doom and gloom, with the media feeding us interview after interview about job loss, financial advice, and generally no hope—it’s tough to think about spending money on help.

Here, though, are some reasons why a coach might actually ultimately save you money—or even make you more income.

Let’s face it. The market is pretty competitive right now. Particularly with interviewing, it’s crucial to nail each interview on the first round. You may not get a second chance. Interviews have always been crucial, just more so now.

Prospective clients phone with stories about at least getting their Resumes and applications noted, and even get invited in for an initial interview. Sometimes it stops right there. Or occasionally after a second interview, everything comes to a halt. What happened?

Interviewing is a very emotional event. You, yourself, will not necessarily know what stopped the process, unless you know exactly how you blew the event.

Keep in mind, always, that the purpose of any interview is not to get a job—it’s to get the next meeting. That’s where lots of job seekers fall down. Further, the first interview may be conducted by someone who, while definitely not being a decision maker, has the task on passing on your suitability for fitting into the company environment. He or she will not be the person offering you a job at any time.

So your job is to be prepared, professional, charming, and especially enthusiastic. Enthusiasm goes a long way toward success.

How are your communication skills? Do you have excellent eye contact? Are your listening skills up there at the top? So many people are much too busy thinking about what they will say next, and they forget to listen carefully. Active listening is such a skill that it can sometimes tell you exactly what the interviewer wants to hear next.

Are you looking and acting the part? Are you dressed appropriately for the company culture? Have you done your homework, and are you prepared with questions to ask the interviewer when they say: “Do you have any questions?” You better have this list with you, because it indicates your sincere interest in the company, the job, and moving ahead in life and your professions.

What about those questions that you are so afraid they will ask? Well, they will indeed ask these things, and you better be prepared. We go over and over these questions in mock interview sessions.

So how does one prepare for an interview?

This is where a Career Coach can come in. It’s not rocket science to know that two brains are better than one—especially when one of the brains is not only able to be objective, but has years of experience in doing these things. A Coach may well see some pitfalls and detours that you, in the rush to get the job, might be overlooking or ignoring.

Doing the research to mount a supremely qualified search is essential. Know everything possible about the company, and the people interviewing you.

Be sure that a Coach’s background enables them to know and understand the current job landscape and its implications. What is their background and experience?—and how does it relate to today’s world of work?

Talk to several coaches before making a selection. Of course price is one thing to consider, but background and experience are really important. Are they certified as a Coach? What has been their prior professional background?

Many Executive and Career Coaches have a background as therapists of psychologists. I do not. My prior background is retained, executive search. I’ve been in the world of jobs and works for many years. I’m a pragmatic business person.

So what does all this mean for right now? If you can possibly round up the money to pay for coaching services—do it. Don’t wait until you find yourself in the ditch of interviewing—but no job. The money you invest will come back to you many times over.

Perhaps this is the time you have been waiting for, in that you can now transition to that which you love. It’s happening! Or maybe you decide you want to join the ranks of the permanent part-time, as many of my clients are doing—and loving it. The options are many, but having a partner in the process is just great.

Recently one of my clients wrote a piece on what he thinks the value of Career Coaching might be. One of the things he said was that there are many virtues of having an Executive Coach in a difficult economy. “Professional athletes have coaches, so why not me?” He says I help him connect the dots in a way that he couldn’t do by himself. He declares that I help him understand companies, and strategies for transitioning from the military (where he is now) to the outside world. I’m focused on winning, and so is he; and his confidence in this move is growing by leaps and bounds.

So remember that a Coach is not a luxury, it can be the vehicle that pushes you ahead in these tough times. The market will change, but we just don’t know when. Those achieving jobs now, even if they are bridge jobs to something better, are in good shape.

Figure out a way to get the best help possible to polish those interviewing skills. An interview is a performance, and you need to put forth a top professional effort.