Do you feel it? The work world is shifting. Some of the change is fairly dramatic, and some more subtle. But one thing’s for sure: It’s a different market for job seekers than ever before.
In this month’s newsletter, why you don’t have to be afraid of resume gaps any longer, how to perform better in job interviews, and how to approach the most typical interview questions. Read on.
A New Approach to Resume Gaps on LinkedIn
Conventional wisdom has always been that gaps in a resume are bad. Job seekers would take great pains to hide them. But after two years of a pandemic, when a lot of people took breaks either on purpose or by default, the collective attitude has changed.
Hence, LinkedIn’s new feature: Career breaks in the spotlight! LinkedIn members can now add a “Career Break” to their profile in lieu of a job, with a creative description of how you spent your time away from work: “Full-time parent,” “Unplanned sabbatical,” “Productive mental breakdown,” etc.
We’re no longer going to diss resume gaps; we’re going to glorify them!
Listen More. Talk Less.
A lot of the job seekers I work with as a Executive Recruiter ask me for tips for acing job interviews, and they’re often surprised at one particular piece of advice I give:
Talk less.
Anyone who’s read an advice book about negotiation knows that silence is your ally. The less you say, the fewer the opportunities to say something wrong. Talking less during negotiation generally gives you more control. But job interviews, of course, aren’t negotiations — they’re “getting to know you” opportunities. So what’s the right balance between divulging about yourself and keeping wisely silent?
Some say that you should never talk for more than 60 seconds when answering an interview question, and that’s probably about right. In general, be as brief as possible without being curt or rude. Above all, give the interviewer plenty of chances to interject. You’re looking to engage in a dialog, not a monologue — on either side.
Read more on Entrepreneur
Answers to the Obvious Job Interview Questions
The pantheon of job interview questions is somewhat predictable.
"Tell me about a time you overcame a problem? What's your greatest weakness? If you could be one animal, what would it be?"
But knowing the questions in advance doesn't necessarily mean you've got great answers at the ready.
In my 12+ years of experience coaching job seekers, one thing I can tell you is this: the person interviewing you wants to hear something you didn't include in your CV or cover letter. So don't just regurgitate the highlights of your career or your one-liner value prop.
In fact, sometimes, a memorable interview is one in which you insert the unexpected. When the interviewer asks you how you overcame a challenge, perhaps you talk about a personal obstacle you've surmounted.
As for "What animal are you?" Bird of prey might seem like a smart answer for a sales position — and "sloth" is definitely the wrong answer under any circumstances.
Recommended Reading
How to Respond to Recruiters When You're Not Interested on MakeUseOf.com
Study Shows 74 Percent of Introverts Don't Want Full-Time Remote Work. They Want This Instead. on Inc.
The Emotion Missing From the Workplace on The Atlantic
If you’d like to pick up the pace on your job search, contact me today!
James Johnson
Johnson Recruiting Group