Interview Preparation Archives

Thank You Emails and Beyond: Tactics to Distinguish Yourself After the Interview

Posted on January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 by Alex Tallitsch

Navigating the post-interview phase can be a crucial part of securing that dream job. While the basics include sending a thank-you email, why not explore some unique and effective ways to set yourself apart? Here are a few unconventional tips to stay engaged and leave a lasting impression: 1. Personalized Email: Start with the basics but add a personalized touch. Send an em...

Creative or Traditional Resume?

Posted on May 25, 2023May 25, 2023 by Alex Tallitsch

Recruiters and hiring managers read hundreds of resumes a day. Only by quickly scanning for success indicators on each resume can they get through so many people. So one might think getting creative with your resume could be a good idea. But is it? Creative resumes can be a good idea in certain industries and for specific job positions, especially when you want to showcase your artisti...

[Podcast] How to Respond to Tough Interview Questions

Posted on December 2, 2021December 2, 2021 by caitlinhoward

It doesn’t matter how many sales interviews you’ve participated in, it can still be a nerve-wracking experience. And while you can come prepared with your own questions and information on the company, you’re not always going to know which questions they’re going to ask you in the sales interview. However, there are some common questions that come up in sales interviews that sal...

5 Questions Every Sales Candidate Should Ask During an Interview

Posted on March 15, 2021March 16, 2021 by caitlinhoward

Responding to an interview question with a flawless answer is not the only way to impress a hiring professional. Interviewers also take into account whether candidates are asking intelligent and thoughtful questions about the position and the company. Sales candidates should be especially concerned with which questions they ask during an interview. Asking the right questions will not only...

How to Interview For Your First Management Job

Posted on February 15, 2021February 15, 2021 by caitlinhoward

There’s no question that job interviews are stressful, but they can become even more nerve-wracking when you have an interview for your first management job. You somehow need to show off your leadership abilities and relevant experience, even when you’ve never held a leadership title. However, don’t get discouraged just yet. There are still ways you can impress the interviewer and prove w...

The Essential Job Interview Preparation Guide for Sales Candidates

Posted on March 9, 2018May 12, 2022 by caitlinhoward

Do you want to be better prepared for your next sales interview? Then find out everything you need to know for before, during, and after your interview. Get this FREE guide and discover: Common sales interview questions you will likely encounter How to prepare for an in-person interview or phone interview Tips to negotiate your best job offer A sample 'Thank You' email to send after the inter...

How to Impress a Sales Recruiter With Your LinkedIn Profile

Posted on March 1, 2017January 5, 2021 by caitlinhoward

The world of recruiting is changing. It’s no longer an effective strategy for recruiters and employers to only post job openings on Monster, CareerBuilder, or other online job boards. Instead, they’re using resources like niche job boards and social media to reach out to both active and passive candidates and LinkedIn is quickly becoming a go-to resource for recruiters looking to hire top sales pe...

20 Tough Questions to Expect in Your Next Sales Interview

Posted on January 31, 2017January 5, 2021 by caitlinhoward

No matter how much experience you have or how many times you’ve been interviewed for a new job, it can still be hard to remain confident and find the right answers to tricky interview questions. Sales interviews, in particular, are known to vary from direct questions to abstract questions to even very vague interview questions. As a sales candidate, you have to be ready for all types of intervie...

11 Questions to Ask During a Sales Interview at a Startup

Posted on July 15, 2016March 9, 2021 by caitlinhoward

Do you have a sales interview at a startup? Then congratulations! Working at a startup can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it’s also a big risk to work at a company that has no real track record of success. As a salesperson, it’s important to get an understanding of the company and the product before accepting an offer. Learn which questions to ask during the sales in...

3 Keys to Hiring a Successful Chief Marketing Officer

Posted on April 1, 2016April 8, 2024 by caitlinhoward

Companies are starting to see the value in hiring senior marketing leadership to help increase the success and growth of their businesses. In fact, 71% of Fortune 500 companies currently have a Chief Marketing Officer(CMO). The CMO role has become increasingly impactful and there can be some confusion about how the role is defined, what qualities the candidate needs to have, and how to...

5 Phrases to Omit From Your LinkedIn Profile and Resume

Posted on October 16, 2015January 17, 2023 by caitlinhoward

5 Phrases to Omit From Your Sales Resume

Social media profiles are often your first chance to make a good impression on prospective employers and can decide whether you get an email or call back to forward your resume. You should also make sure your resume does not have these phrases to ensure you go further in the process and get that interview. While you want your profile and resume to stand out, you also want to make sure it stands ou...

How To Answer Difficult Sales Interview Questions

Posted on August 20, 2015January 7, 2021 by caitlinhoward

Interviews are nerve-wracking enough on their own, but sales interviews are notorious for having outlandish questions, role-playing exercises and even the dreaded “sell me this pen” scenario. Even the most experienced sales reps can get caught off guard when trying to answer a difficult sales interview question if they’re not expecting it. Before your next sales interview, take some time to revi...

3 Ways Candidates Can Prepare for a Video Interview

Posted on May 8, 2015June 21, 2022 by caitlinhoward

Life in most parts of the world has returned to normal after more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Zoom grew by 2900%, making it one of the fastest-growing applications in 2020 and 2021. Video interviewing is one of the changes that are here to stay. So before you get on that zoom, be sure to prep so there are no problems with your technology. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS The best...

3 Strikes, You’re Out! – Tips for Post-Interview Follow Up

Posted on April 17, 2015January 7, 2021 by caitlinhoward

After completing an interview, your next step should always be to send a thank-you email to the interviewer or hiring manager. Since hiring managers are very busy people, sometimes it can take them a few days or even a week to respond to your email. But what happens when the hiring manager isn’t responding at all? How do you know when to stop reaching out? In honor of baseball being back, I’m goin...

5 Avoidable Job Interview Mistakes

Posted on April 11, 2014January 8, 2021 by caitlinhoward

You only have one chance to make a good first impression in an interview. You are being evaluated on the way you talk, dress, and even smell from the second you enter the room. What you do, and even what you don't do, can be the difference between landing a new job or heading back to the job boards. Before you schedule your next interview, consider these 5 common mistakes job seekers make in...

Practice Makes Perfect: How to Rehearse for Your Next Job Interview

Posted on August 13, 2013December 2, 2022 by KathleenSteffey

By Caroline M.L. Potter There are a lot of steps that usually happen before you get to the interview portion of your job search: writing a resume, networking, compiling your references. Most folks are able to put a lot of effort into getting the interview, but many fall apart during the actual interview. Why? Poor planning and a lack of practice. Instead of winging it, or relying solely on your pr...

5 Questions Great Job Candidates Ask

Posted on September 25, 2012April 4, 2023 by KathleenSteffey

By Jeff Haden, INC.com Be honest. Raise your hand if you feel the part of the job interview where you ask the candidate, "Do you have any questions for me?" is almost always a waste of time. Thought so. The problem is most candidates don't actually care about your answers; they just hope to make themselves look good by asking "smart" questions. To them, what they ask is more impo...

Didn’t Get the Job? Don’t Be Shy… Ask Why!

Posted on December 14, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

By Tim Estiloz, Posted Dec 7th 2010 AOL Jobs You go in for a job interview and do what you believe is a killer performance that should nail you the position, only to find out a short time later, after no call backs, that someone else got the position. Along with the natural disappointment at losing the job, it's also natural to wonder why your qualifications and presentation fell short. You can't ...

Seven Tips for Reentering the Workforce

Posted on December 7, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: By NicoleWilliams.com staff Reentering the workforce can be a challenge no matter how good your excuse is: volunteering, working or studying abroad, starting a family, caring for a sick relative or coping with your own illness, or investing in your future by completing a graduate degree. Your search can be made more difficult by the poor economy and a bias against people who have la...

What to Expect on a Second and Third Interview

Posted on November 23, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: By Darryl K. Taft, The Ladders “Understanding the typical schedule and purpose of each round can prepare you to face each and give you an advantage in the hiring process.” Before you hear the words, “You’re hired,” you will typically sit through three separate interview sessions … at least. You prepared for the first interview. So you’re prepared for the second and third interviews,...

What if They Want Me to Sign a Non-Compete Agreement?

Posted on October 5, 2010January 8, 2021 by KathleenSteffey

By Jack Chapman - Original Post: The Ladders.com Don't sign that non-compete agreement. A non-compete agreement may look harmless enough, but if you're not careful it can cost you a lot of time and money in the long run. Here's an example: A college student had an internship at an ad agency. She signed a routine non-compete and was subsequently hired as a full-time employee. Two years later a form...

Keys to Researching Your Next Employer

Posted on September 14, 2010May 11, 2022 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: By Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder Writer "I know right away when a candidate doesn't know the current news about our company," says Chris Brabec, director of leadership talent acquisition for Western Union. "If you don't know the CEO is retiring, or if a company made a big acquisition recently, that's not a good sign. If a candidate can't tell me what the company does (or think...

Are You Getting Interviews, But Not the Job?

Posted on August 17, 2010 by KathleenSteffey

Original Post: How to Diagnose Where You Might Be Going Wrong By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer Your resume has earned you interviews with several employers over the past year. That's impressive, especially in this economy. But none of those interviews has yielded a job offer. You've done the standard interview preparation. You've shown up on time and dressed in appropriate in...

Step-by-Step Guide to Negotiating a Great Salary

Posted on July 27, 2010May 11, 2022 by KathleenSteffey

By Kim Lankford, Monster Contributing Writer Here's a secret: Employers rarely make their best offer first, and job candidates who negotiate generally earn much more than those who don't. And a well-thought-out negotiation makes you look like a stronger candidate -- and employee. "We found that those people who attempted to negotiate their salary in a constructive way are perceived as more favor...

Author Dave DeMelo: How To Get Out of an Interview

Posted on February 9, 2010 by KathleenSteffey

I have been an executive recruiter for the past 5 years and throughout my tenure in this profession I have heard a plethora of excuses as to why a candidate cannot attend an interview. Often times, the cancellation comes the day of the interview, leaving recruiters like myself to scramble and put out the fire with our clients. There have been instances where a candidate has to cancel an intervie...

What not to do in your job interview

Posted on July 24, 2009January 28, 2015 by KathleenSteffey

Interviews can be stressful, especially if you’ve gone through a number of them with nothing to show for the time spent. We can all be quick to place blame on the “other” party, but more often than not the reason someone has endured a significant number of interviews without a positive response lies with the interviewee – not the interviewer. If this is happening to you, it’s time to take a clos...