Tag Archive for: interview tips

Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid

The interview process can be scary and nerve-wracking. Making yourself familiar with the following mistakes can help you prepare for your own interview! At Esquire, we interview people daily, so we know how daunting interviews may be! No matter how many interviews you have gone on, there is always room to improve your skills. What mistakes should you avoid during an interview? Continue reading below to find out!

You Don’t Make Eye Contact

In the midst of your nervousness, you might forget to make eye contact with your interviewer. Try your best to avoid this! Making eye contact with them during the course of your interview shows that you are engaged. Eye contact is an easy way to show you are present and being an active listener. Maintaining eye contact, especially during the hard questions, shows your confidence!

You Don’t Have a Good Attitude

Are you too enthusiastic or too monotone? It’s important to find a balance between those two extremes. Being overly enthusiastic can give the interviewer vibes that you are putting on a show. You might not seem sincere if you overcompensate. Avoid being monotone during the interview as well. This can show that you might not be interested in the job or company, which will be a red flag for the interviewer.

You Avoid Tricky Questions

There are so many aspects to interview questions. Make sure you don’t dodge the tricky questions. Answering the hard questions thoroughly can show that you are adaptable and will be able to problem solve. Also, don’t forget to ask the interviewer some questions! If you ask them questions, they will know you care about the position and company, and you will look prepared and be taken seriously.

You Don’t Show Your Personality

Be yourself! While there are many things that aren’t appropriate to say or do, it is important that you show the interviewer who you are. The interviewer needs to know what you are like so they can imagine if you are a good fit for their company or team. Be confident and don’t fidget.

Familiarize yourself with these common mistakes so you don’t make them! Interviews can get easier if you feel prepared and confident.

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

What should you do if you’re late to an interview? Find out here!

5 Tricks for a Successful Interview

Interviews are a huge stressor in the job search process. Not being prepared can be a hinder to making your interview successful. It’s your first impression with the company and you want to do everything you can to make sure you ace it. Continue reading below to find 5 tricks that will help you succeed!

Interview Tips

  1. Show Confidence: Walking into your interview and owning the room will show the employer that you are confident! Show your confidence through your body language and eye contact. Maintain good eye contact when listening and speaking, being sure to talk slowly and calmly. Sitting in a power stance will make it seem like you aren’t nervous, even if you are! 
  2. Be Candid: Show that you are straightforward and truthful with your answers to the questions. Communicating candidly opens up the conversation and shows that you aren’t afraid to speak about your weaknesses or shortcomings.
  3. Showcase Your Potential: While talking about what you have already accomplished, make sure you include what you can do in the future. Employers like to see potential in candidates and hear about what you will be able to do.
  4. Effort Over Success: While you should definitely talk about your accomplishments, share about the effort it took to make those things happen. Organizations want to know that you are a hard worker, and if you discuss your efforts and difficulties, it will show them you value hard work.
  5. Say Thank You: Sending a note or email to the organization, within 24 hours of your interview, thanking them for their time is a considerable way to show your character. A simple thank you won’t get you the job, but it can help you make a great impression.

Utilizing these tips in your interview should help you make a great impression!

Feeling unprepared for an upcoming interview? Read our article here to brush up on interview questions!

Searching for a new position? Read through our open jobs list!

How To Find a Job in Chicago

According to USPopulation.com, Chicago has one of the world’s biggest and most expanded economies with no single industry utilizing more than 14% of the workforce. That combined with the over 2.7 million inhabitants, can cause major competition for finding a job in Chicago.

Chicago also has the 4-the most Fortune 500 Corporate Headquarters in the US. And where there are headquarters, there are jobs. So while there is competition, there are opportunities to land your dream job in Chicago. The trick? Partnering with a staffing partner who can tailor your specific experiences, qualifications, and personality to a career and culture that will ensure

Why use a recruiting firm to find a job in Chicago?

  1. A recruiting firms job is exactly that: to connect eager potential employees with employers who are looking for top talent. While looking for a job, may be a side hobby or an activity you do in your spare time, finding jobs and connecting people is a recruiters job- and guess what? They’re really good at it!
  2. Hiring managers and HR Professionals have a lot of other responsibilities on their plate, meaning devoting the time and energy it takes to find the best candidate for the job can sometimes fall to the end of the list. Whereas finding a candidate is the primary responsibility of the recruiter, making it always a top priority.
  3. Recruiters are outsiders of your immediate circle. How is this an advantage? They are able to ask the hard questions, like salary you’re your personal goals. This helps candidates looking for employers to be vulnerable and honest to recruiters instead of crafting answers based on what a company may want to hear.
  4. Recruiters are so successful because they have the time, resources and dedication to finding the best jobs available. Recruiters have access and relationships with many people and companies, ensuring that you will receive the best experience and access to jobs as possible.
  5. Recruitment agencies and recruiters have an expansive network. This helps you find a job because they can get you access and responses in a timely manner and connect you with individuals you would not have had access to otherwise.
  6. Secret Tip: Recruiters have access to jobs have not been posted yet. With experience in the agency and connections of clients, often times companies give agencies the exclusive first look at positions that are not available to the general public.
  7. Recruitment Agencies are free of charge for candidates!

While it is totally possible to land a job meaning traditional means, in today’s day and age, connections are everything. Utilizing a recruiter who can devote their time, resources, and connections to helping you find a job in a busy metropolitan area like Chicago is the easiest, most time effective way to land a job in Chicago.

Looking for jobs in Chicago? Click here to see how partnering with a staffing firm, like Esquire Recruiting, can help.

Why do you want to work here?

It’s one of the most dreaded interview questions, right after “what are your biggest weaknesses?” Especially for those applying for only mildly interesting positions, it can be hard to answer. Conventional wisdom often focuses on the organization’s work, reputation, and growth. While this advice is good, it’s still conventional: it won’t make you stand out if every other candidate has prepared properly too. The following are ways to spice up your answer—to be used in addition to conventional wisdom—to show that you’ve done thorough research on the workplace and that you’d be an especially good fit. So, why do you want to work here?

1. Programs held

Many companies offer opportunities to educate or empower employees and increase their good PR. Feel free to mention your genuine interest in one– but don’t get caught up in what the company can do for you. Make sure to include how you intend on strengthening that program or applying your new skills back to the position you’re applying for. For example:

Why Do You Want to Work here

Educational and creative opportunities through the workplace are great reasons to want to work for a company.

  • “I noticed you sponsor computer programming/ language/marketing classes for
    long-time employees. I’d love to learn how to use x program and maybe apply that to a future position doing y for your company.”
  •  “I appreciate your green initiative/community service weekend/ women’s network. It’s  something in which I can see myself both participating and pursuing active leadership roles.”

2. Past/current employee reviews

Signal a personal connection to the company by relaying a friend or relative’s good experience there. Similarly, show that recruiter you were paying attention during your preliminary phone interview by repeating their comment and expanding upon it. Say something like:

  • “Sandra mentioned the office-wide Halloween contest earlier. I like that kind of welcoming company culture and commitment to creativity and morale.”
  • “I’m looking for a company with not only opportunities for advancement but the tools to help me get there. My cousin, who used to work here, says your leadership training program is truly committed to  supporting employees’ personal growth. ”

3. Types/ Ages of Employees

In certain fields, employees may generally trend toward one end of the labor market. Acknowledge

Why Do You Want to Work Here

The people you work with and around can affect whether you want to join a company.

this, then either sell yourself as the perfect fit or justify why they should hire you outside the box. Are employees generally:

4. Company Size

The number of people you’d be working with in the office isn’t always your first priority when job searching. However, you can emphasize your preparedness or excitement about the work with a small comment about office size. For example:

  • “The small size of your office presents a great opportunity for more personal training and mentoring,”
  • “I love that the headquarters are large because I welcome the opportunity to constantly work with new people.”
  • “As someone new to the industry, I like having only a few coworkers with whom I can develop personal relationships. I want to learn more about what they do to figure out where I fit best within the organization.”

 

One cheerful comment on a highly specific aspect of the organization will exude enthusiasm. Add your own well-researched, personal answers in an interview to emphasize that you’re particularly well-suited for the position and stand out of the interview crowd.

What Happened to the Esquire Blog? Updates, Recruiting and Employment Advice

Welcome to the new and improved Esquire Recruiting blog: your one-stop shop for company news, job-search updates, interview tips, recruiting and employment advice, and more! With decades of varied experience between our small staff, we know the details of recruiting and the specifics of each industry we serve. Whether you’re a job-seeker or employer; in accounting, marketing, manufacturing, law, or sales; we can find you the right connections or guide you to the right strategies to make each new position filled a success!

 

Some of the content you can expect to see in the next few months:

– Esquire news and staff features

– New technological advancements in employment practices

– How to answer tough interview questions

– How to write your best resume, now and later

– New takes on old tips

– How to make the most of unemployment

– Advice on employment in various industries and fields

– Whatever you want! Leave feedback and requests here on the blog, by email, and on our social media pages!

 

Esquire Recruiting Employment Advice

Follow Esquire’s blog for the latest employment advice from the experts.

 

A little bit (more) about yours truly:

As a recent graduate of Emory University, I joined Esquire’s team as a part-time blogger working remotely from Georgia. This virtual link between my hometown in Illinois and my work from halfway across the country is far from unusual. Instead, it encapsulates Esquire’s balance between its boutique-style organization and nationwide clientele.

What kind of recruiting and employment advice can a freshly employed college grad give? You’d be surprised. For one, I’ve lived, breathed, and researched the job search for about a year. Like most college graduates, I have been scouring the web and the world for workplaces that need my talents. Similarly, my generation has taken the best of traditional wisdom and added new technology and resources. So we know how to identify the best practices in job searching and cover letter writing. Furthermore, as an employee of a recruiting firm, I can share inside information about what we seek and how to make yourself more presentable to recruiters and higher-ups alike.