Uncategorized Archives - Page 15 of 15 - The Voice of Job Seekers

We can learn wrong job interview strategies from highly exaggerated television shows. Even subtle idiosyncrasies can mislead our intentions, focus, and results. Although these situations are exaggerated (or not) and reach beyond the scope of realism, all three have valuable lessons:

The job interview lesson from this video from Murphy Brown has several take-a-ways:

Too much information is an immediate turn-off
A cordial interviewer does not validate your interview performance
Emphasize skills and how you can serve the people who will work with you

This episode from Home Improvement has two major take-a-ways:

Don’t respond to your competition’s credentials hastily without researching the employer, and their expectations.
Creating assumptions in your mind about your employer is a lack of common sense.

Editor’s Note:

Please follow the below link to You Tube for the clip, the scene starts around the 2:15 mark.

http://youtu.be/2Xjyy7mg4v4

In this episode of the “Mary Tyler Moore” show, Mary moves to Minneapolis and interviews with Mr. Grant. Note the two main take-a-ways:

Notice that Mary was direct without being disrespectful when Mr. Grant asked several inappropriate questions
Always focus on giving positive answers and reactions to rude and obnoxious behaving employers. Sometimes employers will test of your character using inane antics

I’m sure you didn’t mind wading through the ridiculous situations to see the main lessons. For as many tools available on the web, there is no excuse for ignorance. Give interviewing 100% effort, to receive 100% rewards.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

Michelle Lederman has written a book that coincides with whom she is, and effortlessly offers advice that she epitomizes. I imagine if I wrote a book called, “How to be Huggable, Lovable, and Squeezable” people will have a pretty high expectation for me to be, well, lovable. I can assure you that I won’t write that book. There are several takeaways from this interview and The 11 Laws of Likability.

Linked In

One attribute that impressed me is her ability to connect with people online. When you look at her Linked In profile she has over 500 connections and has spoken to each person at least once. I asked her during our interview her thoughts on job seekers use of Linked In:

The Law of Authenticity

There are job seekers that I have coached over the years who attempt to become someone else whenever they interview, or during networking events. In Lederman’s book, she says that “Tapping into likability does not mean making everything all perky and bright and constantly being happy. On the contrary, she says to, “Take a deep breath and reconnect with that part of you that feels authentic and honest…”.

Approach People Where They Are

We also talked about how people can really hurt their networking success by approaching awkwardly that appears strategic. This could potentially wear out people who can be helpful. She says that you are “Networking for life, not just for now.”

Go Ahead, Google Yourself

Before I interviewed Ms. Lederman three weeks ago, I had known that she wanted job seekers to “Do enough research that you have a solid base of background knowledge, but don’t go overboard.” Listen to how she responded to me when I told her that I Googled her:

Overall, I have enjoyed talking with her, and tweeting with her. You can reach her via Twitter at @mtlederman and also check out her blog at michelletillislederman.com

DON’T FORGET

Friday is the last day to qualify for a copy of Michelle Lederman’s book, The 11 Laws of Likability. To qualify this week, comment below what you liked about this interview, or Re-Tweet this post via Twitter. I will announce the winner on Monday’s special afternoon post.