Many job seekers are concerned with resume writing issues: should there be an objective statement or summary, how to list freelance jobs, how many years of experience to include on a resume, and so on. And this is good - that's how they can increase their chances on getting hired. However, your resume will never land you a job directly no matter how awesome it will look to employers. The thing is that the purpose of a resume is to help you get a chance for an interview meeting - that is where hiring decisions are made. Obviously, without a well written resume you will never get an interview invitation but it is important to remember that a resume is not an end in itself. Whether you will be hired will be decided in the result of an interview meeting. So if you are really serious about the job search then you should think not only about your resume and cover letter but also about what you should do and say at a job interview. And that largely depends on what hiring authorities expect from the candidates or in other words, what really matters to employers.
Job Interview Tips
Lets talk about the basics first. In order for an interview to go well (for both parties), candidates should think about such obvious things as personal hygiene and professional dress. Although these things don't always reflect qualifications and skills needed for the job, they do say a lot about your attitude which is a huge factor hiring manager assess when selecting from the crowd of candidates. Research and preparation also play a big role as employers are not willing to hire people who were not even seriously interested in the job. HRs can always tell within several minutes whether a candidate has done his/her homework so researching potential employer and preparing for the meeting is a must for every job seeker. The preparation includes anticipating the employers' tough questions and how to answer them.
"Why did you leave your last job?", "What are your weaknesses?" or "What is your career plan for the upcoming 5 years?" - these kind of questions do need some preparation in order to handle them well. However, we don't believe that these basic things are the most important factors when hiring decisions are made. Yes, they help employers understand whether you are a good fit for the company and whether you can do the job, but that's not what really matters the most. Maybe not many hiring managers are ready to admit but the fact is that in most cases making a connection with a candidate is far more important for them than when job seekers get the basics right (preparing for tough questions, dressing right, etc.). The questions asked and answered don't matter as much as the actual conversation that happens after. First and foremost, hiring managers of successful companies try to understand what candidates are passionate about. Sometimes, employers may ask unexpected questions like "What was the craziest thing you have done in your entire life?" in order to get to the personality of the candidate. So what really matters for the interviewer is whether he/she clicks with the candidate and vice versa. It all boils down to your personality then and only when you stay true to who you really are without trying to appear better in the eyes of employer, you can click with the hiring manager.
