I’ve found no matter how much I think I know about a topic, there’s ALWAYS more to learn! And, no surprise, the topics surrounding job transition are no different. Even though I’ve been around this topic for years and have experienced transitions several times, I continue to pick up some new insights from others.
Proverbs 1:5 reinforces this view with “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Proverbs 9:9 adds, “Instruct the wise, and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and they will add to their learning.” So, let’s be wise, dive in, and learn from some other sources.
Unspoken Job Interview Rules
An article in the Huffington Post entitled, “7 Unspoken Job Interview Rules That Everyone Needs to Know” popped up for me via the algorithms in my Google searches (article linked HERE). While there were not too many surprises for me, I liked the angle the author took to aggregate these “rules,” and I found myself immediately thinking of Crossroads Career perspectives.
Here’s a quick summary of the 7 rules and perspectives:
- “Interviewers want a highlight reel, not an exhaustive list of everything you have done” – Our recent blog entitled, “So…tell me about yourself” (linked HERE), outlines a great way to structure a brief (2 minute) and complete answer to this popular question. Being concise with your answers to interview questions is a great practice to allow the interviewer flexibility to go deeper with your answer or move on to another question.
- “To be a stronger candidate, you need to understand the role of each person you interview with” – Knowing the difference between a sourcer, a recruiter, an HR manager, the hiring manager, and potential peers can allow you both strategic and tactical advantages.
- “Your body language makes a big difference” – We’ve recommended for years doing a phone or video interview while standing up to maximize the positive energy you physiologically generate from that posture. While that may not be appropriate with an in-person interview, staying aware of how you’re projecting yourself and providing energy is essential.
- “You need to be prepared with more than one career story to tell” – We’ve emphasized this for years with coaching people on their STAR stories. Check it out HERE. 🙂
- “Following up is not going to speed up an offer” – We addressed a portion of this rule in our blog “Loooooong Job Interviews” (linked HERE). While I agree with their premise of not speeding up an offer, following up with a recruiter or hiring manager is not only good etiquette, but it can also definitely lead to positive outcomes on more than one front.
- “A thank-you note can be a networking opportunity, but it will not get you the job” – I disagree, because I’ve personally seen thank-you notes cause a hiring manager to shift their position on candidates. Now, this doesn’t happen most of the time, but it certainly isn’t as black and white as their rule suggests.
- “No matter how great the interview makes you feel about a prospective employer, check with people who actually work there” – We cover this topic in two different Crossroads Career blogs (linked HERE and HERE).
I’ve met many people in job transition who think they’ve got a plan all figured out only to realize there were hidden potholes that altered their course. Let’s keep learning to lessen that job transition time! Blessings!
