[acb-hsp] Tips for Jobseekers

[peter altschul]

Tips from the Lead Recruiter of Veterans United Home Loans

  1 Know the Company
  Even though I probably shouldn't be, I'm still surprised by how 
many people fail to conduct basic research on the company where 
they hope to work.  There's no excuse for coming into an 
interview cold.  Scour the company's website and the web at large 
for information and insight.  Know who you're meeting with, what 
the company does and why they're successful.  When a job 
applicant references our company values or our employee-driven 
foundation, we take notice.
  2 Craft a Solid Cover Letter
  Avoid adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy for your cover 
letters.  A generic letter that sounds cookie-cutter will not 
impress the HR staff.  Take it seriously and be specific.  Think 
carefully about what you can provide and what the company can 
offer you.  Be succinct and have multiple people proofread it 
prior to submission.  Spelling and grammar errors are a simple 
way to thin a stack of applications.
  3 Apply Online
  Paper resumes are on the path to extinction.  Apply for the 
position online or send your materials via email.  Loose paper or 
even a pocket folder is likely to get lost.  It also just looks 
increasingly antiquated.  Delivering your resume in person or 
dropping off materials unannounced is a gambleeatoo.  Most HR 
people are extremely busy.  While I generally take the time to 
talk with people who drop by, I'm most likely rushed and 
unprepared for more than a five-minute talk.  If I was in the 
middle of something, it's very possible that I won't remember the 
conversation in any meaningful way.
  4 What to We
  While I work at a company with a very casual dress code, it 
doesn't mean I want to interview someone wearing a t-shirt and 
flip flops.  Your default should be to dress up.  To me it shows 
that you're serious about getting the job and you took the time 
to prepare for the interview.  Your wingtips will set off the 
"Interviewee in the building" sirens, but that's not necessarily 
a bad thing.
  5 Interview Time
  There is such a thing as too early.  Be there on time or a few 
minutes early at most.  Being notified that my 10:30 is here at 
10:00 somehow puts me on edge.  I start wondering what the 
applicant is doing in the lobby while I finish up what I was 
doing.  Punctuality is to be prized, but you also don't want me 
feeling disjointed.  I'm usually ready for my interviews five to 
10 minutes early.  If you're there waiting, we're already off to 
a good start.
  6 Ask Intelligent Questions
  I always ask applicants to describe a day in the life at their 
current job.  This is a fair question for the hiring manager as 
well.  If possible you should try to directly relate your 
experience to what the job entails.  If you can't do that, 
contrast your current job with the job for which you're 
interviewing.
  Consider something like: "That sounds great.  You know, in my 
job now as a sandwich artist I don't get the opportunity to make 
soup.  I've always thought how great that would be.  I'm really 
seeking true expertise in soup making."
  7 Stick to the Script
  Meandering and rambling answers and anecdotes are not your 
friend during the job interview.  Provide clear, real-life 
examples as succinctly as possible.
  And make sure to actually answer the questions you're asked.  
I've been in countless interviews where the person winds up going 
in three or four different directions without ever addressing the 
question I asked in the first place.  Don't put your personality 
on lockdown, but focus on saying exactly what you need and not a 
word more.
  8 Pushing for Promotions
  Be humble and don't ask how soon you can get promoted unless 
the interviewer brings it up.  In fact, if they do bring it up, 
that's also a good indicator of a competent manager with an eye 
for talent.  Once you get the job, there will be plenty of time 
to scheme and game plan your promotion.  There is a time and 
place for those things -- the interview is not one of them.  The 
caveat being that a good manager will raise those issues, and at 
that point you should feel free to discuss promotions and 
climbing the ladder.
  9 Thank You Notes
  Send a handwritten "Thank You" note within a day or two of the 
interview.  Talk about how much you enjoyed your visit, reiterate 
a couple concise points about why you're a perfect fit and feel 
free to reference something you discussed in the interview.  Good 
penmanship counts.  Write two or three and send the best-looking 
one.
  10 Taking the Job
  When I call with a job offer, obviously my hope is you're ready 
to accept.  Playing one company off another is tricky business, 
especially in this economy.  Competition is still fierce out 
there.  If I offer you a job but you're still waiting to hear 
from Company X, make sure you let the HR department at Company X 
know about my offer -- and that you'll turn it down in a 
heartbeat to come and work for them.  When I'm on the receiving 
end of one of those calls, it validates my faith in you and will 
usually spur me to get an answer from the hiring manager as soon 
as possible.