The other day, I sat down to lunch with some of our Search Executives and, after a bit of small talk, we started discussing the ways that candidates approach technical interviews. One recruiter, without naming the company or the two programmers involved, gave an example of two drastically different ways to approach a preliminary coding test.

In this scenario, programmers had to prove their coding proficiency with the Python programming language. Each finalist’s portfolio was packed with examples of successful and complex Python projects. Unfortunately, there was only need for one person, so they would either have to distinguish themselves as the forerunner in the technical interview or look for another opportunity elsewhere.

Here’s how it all panned out. (more…)

One of the primary interview objectives of hiring mangers is to learn what skills you possess and how they relate to the job in which you are applying for. Elaborating on your qualifications is a must, but many job seekers leave out important skills that can set them apart from the pack. The trouble is that job seekers do not even know that they have a variety of experiences that can help them prove their worth to a company, and they don’t even have to be industry related.

After you have made it clear that you have met the basic requirements for the job, you can further help your chances by highlighting additional skills rooted in unrelated work/life experiences. These hidden skills can make you more a more unique and attractive candidate for any position, and can range from: (more…)

Most people imagine the job interview starts and stops when you enter and exit the interviewer’s office. In actuality, it can extend far beyond that and include more people than you even expect. Any person that you interact with once you enter the building can help to decide your fate, so it is always a good idea to generate a good first impression with everyone you meet.

The Receptionist:

As the first person you meet on your journey through the office, the receptionist is key to your winning job interview strategy. Important information can flow through this person to every key decision maker in the company. That in mind, everything you do or say before your interview can make it back to your interviewer. (more…)

Imagine that you have an interview today. You know that you want to make a good impression the very millisecond that you walk through the door, so you break out your professional best. You pick something that shows you take the opportunity seriously: an ensemble that is ironed, pressed, polished, & free of any trace stains. You even grab a bottle of your favorite perfume or cologne, spritzing on the fragrance to give you added appeal. Or do you?

Most people realize that their smell directly affects the way others perceive them. In general, they practice hygiene well enough to avoid reeking like fermenting wetlands or the mile radius surrounding a herd of water buffalo. Yet overcompensating in the opposite direction is not the right answer either. (more…)

The other day, I had two interviews scheduled with two promising candidates. On paper, they both had a good deal to offer and going into the interview, I was eager to hear their responses to my questions. In fact, I didn’t even think that I was going to be able to decide after only one interview.

Both arrived on time, were well dressed, and were friendly with everyone they met. Back in my office, we exchanged small talk and both seemed to be genuine, pleasant people. Then, we jumped into the meat of the interview. I started by asking both, “What are you most proud of in your career?” (more…)

The barrage of questions during job interviews can quickly drain your energy. While talking about ourselves comes naturally, being grilled about why we are the perfect fit for a company is not so easy to withstand. Fortunately, there is a simple way to turn the tide of any interview, and it all starts with the questions you ask.

Go from being the interviewee to the interviewer

A great way to go from being the interviewee to the interviewer is to consistently pose questions throughout the entire process. Don’t bookmark questions that pop into your head for later. An interview should not be set up like an interrogation, where they ask and you answer. It should be a conversation where you are posing queries of your own. If you approach a topic that you already had a question written prepared for, ask it. This will take some of the pressure off of you by focusing on the interviewer’s knowledge of the company, and grant your mind a much needed break from the barrage of questions being posed to you.

Of course the interview needs to remain about you, and you will want to tell them why you are the best fit for the position, but you can easily take control of the conversation by asking lots of questions that put the turns the spotlight on the interviewer. It will show that you are truly interested in the ins and outs of the company, and aren’t there solely because you need a job. The following are a few yes and no ways to go about this. (more…)

The good news? You just landed an interview for the job of your dreams! The bad news? You’re sick as a dog, just in time for that dream interview.

And so you’re faced with a choice. Do you put on your best suit and load your pockets with Kleenex and hand sanitizer? Or do you make that dreaded call and ask them to reschedule?

While we at Ashley Ellis have no official medical training, we can offer a few tips to help if this scenario ever becomes a reality for you. Good luck! (more…)

During a job interview, the reliable standard is to always tell the truth. We know that when asked a direct question, the response should be honest without any extra filigree or fabrication. If you lie, you will eventually be caught & let go, risking a permanent blemish on your job history. Does that mean you should approach interviews with your internal filters off, voicing every stray thought that comes to mind? Definitely not.

Like any professional interaction, there are certain things that should be left unsaid in the context of an interview. Aside from answering direct questions, you need to cherry pick only the best responses, aggressively preventing rotten ideas from ruining the rest. The following should be avoided outright. (more…)

As part of a recent trend, companies are beginning to use odd questions in their interview process, throwing job seekers for a loop. Now, you can decode the secrets behind these questions before you ever have the chance to get caught off guard.

During an interview, when you are blindsided with a baffling question (i.e. Which Beatle would you be? or How many stacked up MoonPies would it take to reach the moon?), your interviewer may not be experiencing a lapse in sanity. Big companies like Google, Amazon, and JetBlue are adding seemingly nonsensical questions to their standard interview questions with a method to their madness.

Peculiar questions can help break a job seeker’s well-crafted composure, revealing the core values, creativity, & psychology behind the prospective employee’s professional façade. Though preparing exact answers for these questions may be akin to predicting the next move of the Mad Hatter, you can at least prepare yourself to answer the subtext behind these types of questions. (more…)

When you receive a job offer with a hefty salary, don’t jump the gun and accept the job before giving some serious thought to the big picture. Ask the following questions and make sure that you will be satisfied with the end result.

When your long, exhausting job search brings you through countless applications, interviews, games of phone tag, and polite rejection letters, you may be tempted to jump at the first opportunity offered without giving it a second thought. Avoid that temptation. Accepting a job offer should not be a decision made on a whim. Even though the salary might be right, you need to ponder over the big picture, analyzing both the pros & cons as you build toward your final decision. To make sure you maximize your time throughout the hiring process, you need to find the answers to these questions before the offer is ever presented. (more…)