SJN - Scottsdale Job Network

Former Job Seeker Robert Scoble recently wrote an article about The Job Search Process and what to do if you get laid off in the impending 2008 recession entitled:

What to do if you’re laid off in 2008 recession

He makes some very good points about the job search process and the things you need to do to cut down the total amount of time you spend searching for a job.  Many of his points are exactly the sort of activities that regular participation in Scottsdale Job Network activities and events help you to excel at.

Highlights of his seventeen main points for job seekers are below and the entire article can be read at the link above.

1. Don’t get lazy.
2. Make sure you spend at least 30% of every day trying to find a job.
3. Start a blog on the field you want to work in.
4. Do things that will get you to be recognized as a world leader in the field you want to be in.
5. Learn from Loic Le Meur.
6. Do a video everyday on YouTube that demonstrates something you know.
7. Show your friends your resume and cover letter.
8. Do the basics.
9. Don’t feel bad about taking government assistance.
10. Go to any job networking session you learn about.
11. Go where the money is.
12. Take a little bit of time to work on family and health.
13. Volunteer.
14. Make sure you take advantage of any help your former employer is offering.
15. See if you can keep coming into the office.
16. Go to every business event you can attend.
17. Always have your suit ready.

Be sure to come ot the February 5, 2008 meeting where we are rolling out the new SJN JOB SEARCH PROCESS CURRICULUM

The new program will launch on February 5, 2008 and will be facilitated by experts in the training and career transition fields.  The training areas will be:Understanding the Emotions of a Career Change
Feb 5, 2008 – Facilitator:  Maria Wojtczak

Creating Your Vision and Personal Marketing Plan
Feb 19, 2008 – Facilitator:  Jim O’Hara

Developing Your Resume
March 4, 2008 – Facilitator:  Martha Rockwell

Creating Leads, Networking
March 18, 2008 – Facilitator:  Martha Rockwell

Interviewing Skills, Part I
April 1, 2008 – Facilitator:  Jim O’Hara

Interviewing Skills, Part II
April 15, 2008 – Facilitator:  Jim O’Hara

Negotiating the Offer
May 6, 2008 – Facilitator:  TBA

Ten Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview

Barbara Safani, M.A., CERW, NCRW, CPRW, CCM

Phone interviews are becoming more and more common as companies gain greater access to candidates and as more recruiters and hiring managers work from virtual office locations. On the positive side, with a phone interview you don’t have to worry about having your suit pressed and you can have your notes in front of you. On the flip side, it is much more difficult to establish rapport and get a read on the hiring manager during a phone conversation. Below are some tips for getting the most out of your phone interviews.

Schedule the meeting during a time when you won’t be distracted.

A phone interview should be scheduled like any other interview. At the designated appointment time, make sure the dog is in the backyard and someone else is watching the kids. If a recruiter or hiring manager calls you without advance notice and wants to interview you on the spot, use caution. If the interview “conditions” are not optimal at the time of the call, it is best to tell the interviewer that you are very interested in the position, but need to schedule another time to have a conversation. That time can be as soon as ten minutes later, just make sure that you can take the call without being distracted.

Conduct interviews from a landline.

Cell phones are a boon to modern communication, but the quality is still not the same as that from a land line. You don’t want to frustrate the recruiter or the hiring manager with a bad connection. Plan your interview from a reliable phone line.

Create an office space.

Dedicate an area as your office. This could be as simple as a card table with a phone and your documents. Conduct your interviews from your “office”. Being seated at a desk or table allows you to create an environment similar to an in-person interview.

Put a mirror in front of you.

This helps you focus and it anchors your conversation to the visual representation of a person.  Monitoring your facial expressions helps you see if you are communicating your enthusiasm to the recruiter.

Have a glass of water nearby.

If your throat is dry or you get a tickle you can take care of it before it turns into a cough and disrupts the flow of the interview.

Have your notes in front of you.

A phone interview is like an open book test. You can have your company research and answers to potential interview questions right in front of you. Try putting key information on colored index cards and organize by category.

Vary Your Voice.

Since the other person can’t see you, it is critical that you vary the tone and cadence of your voice to communicate interest and develop rapport.

Use pauses effectively.

Pauses in an interview situation are always difficult and they can be especially awkward during a phone interview. Rather than wondering what the person on the other end is doing or if they are still there, use the silence to ask a question. For example, if the interviewer has just asked you about your strengths and your response is met with silence, make that an opportunity to ask a question like “What are the key strengths of your ideal candidate?” This takes care of the silence and allows you to learn more about the position.

Don’t multi-task.

We have grown so accustomed to multi-tasking, however it can be counterproductive during a phone interview.  Don’t check your email or stick a casserole in the oven while you are engaged in a phone interview. Act the same way you would for an in-office interview and maintain your focus.

Practice.

Record some of your answers to prospective interview questions. Play them back and critique. Are you easy to understand? Is your presentation riddled with long pauses and “ums?” Do you communicate interest and enthusiasm? If necessary, rework your answers and your presentation.

Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, has over ten years of experience in career management, recruiting, executive coaching, and organizational development. She is a triple certified resume writer and frequent contributor to numerous career-related publications.

© Barbara Safani 2007