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(All material on
Your Office Coach is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre. All rights
reserved.)
Job Search Topics
Office Insights: What Are Employers Looking
For?
When looking for a new
job, people often feel the need to dazzle interviewers with their
technical brilliance or extensive knowledge. While it’s certainly true
that employers want qualified and competent people, they may actually be
more interested in who you are than what you know. Personal attitudes
and attributes often play a greater part in the hiring decision than the
specific accomplishments on your resume.
According to a survey
conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, hiring
managers are seeking these traits in prospective employees: (1)
motivation and excitement about the work, (2) effectiveness as a team
member, (3) good written and verbal communication skills, (4) ability to
adjust to change, (5) leadership skills, and (6) a willingness to tackle
problems and make things happen. So when preparing for interviews,
consider how best to convey these traits during the conversation. Of
course, you must also show that you know how to do the work! (Source:
Atlanta Journal Constitution, May 2007)
Helpful links related to this topic on Your Office
Coach:
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Who Gets Hired:
Suck-Ups or Braggarts?
Job
interviews provide an opportunity to showcase your talents and highlight
your accomplishments. Applicants can also use their interview time to
say positive things about the interviewer, the position, or the
company. If you could only pick one, which would be the better strategy
for getting the job?
According to the results of a study by Chad Higgins, a management
professor at the University of Washington, suck-ups stand a better
chance of landing the position. When he studied interactions between
job applicants and recruiters, Dr. Higgins found that flatterers
received higher ratings than braggarts. Why? Because the interviewers
believed those applicants shared their beliefs and attitudes, causing
them to conclude that the person would be a good fit with their
company. (Source: Psychology Today)
So,
during your next job interview, consider finding something positive to
say about the organization or the person asking the questions. But be
sincere – fake compliments are usually perceived as manipulative.
Helpful links related to this topic on Your Office
Coach:
§
“Do’s &
Don’ts for Job Interviews” at
http://yourofficecoach.com/Topics/do's_don'ts_interviewing.htm
§
“Five Key
Job-seeking Skills” at
http://yourofficecoach.com/Topics/five_key_job-seeking_skills.htm
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