Interview Thank-You Letters

Writing a thank-you letter after an interview is always a good idea. Some employers think less of interviewees who fail to follow-up promptly. It's easy to follow up after an interview with an email, note, or formal letter. Taking the time to do so will help leave your interviewer with a good impression.

Thank-you letters allow you to sell yourself as a candidate. You can reference specific questions that may have come up in an interview. Use your thank-you letter to highlight the ways your skills and experience are a good match for the position.

Review over 30 sample thank you letters here.

Handling the tricky job interview questions

Some recruiters and hiring managers love asking interview questions that put candidates on the spot. Consider the current job environment with a mix of onsite through 'home alone' possibilities. Always take time to understand the question and the personal implications.

As you hunt for a new job, here’s an updated list of 'tricky' interview questions specifically tailored to today's environment. See some insights and motivations' behind the interviewers questions .

Find the best ways to respond here behind the interviewers questions .

Find the best ways to respond here

Send a Thank You Letter

 A professional thank you letter, whether hard copy or email, helps build and maintain relationships in the professional world. It’s important to let colleagues, employers, vendors, networking contacts and other contacts know that you value their time and efforts.

Sending a thank you letter is a good way to build rapport with your network and communicate your future intentions. Situations that warrant an acknowledgement:

Being provided with a new networking contact.
Getting a lead on a good job possibility.
Following an in-person or video interview

See an outline of a typical letter contents here.

Questions to ask in your interview

You’ve passed the initial applicant screening process and made it through the toughest bits of a job interview: details about your work history, maybe even uncomfortable discussions around salary and compensation.

But when the exchange is turned over to you, do you have good questions to ask the interviewer about the job? Asking the right questions can not only leave a hiring manager with a stronger impression, but also help you identify whether the role you are chasing and the team is a good fit. Be ready with insightful questions.

See sample questions and topics here.

Waiting Long for an Interview Response?

In a competitive job market it may take longer than usual to get a reply from an interview. In an employer's market waiting for the perfect candidate can extend the response time.

Additionally there are more applicants for open positions, requiring time for reviewing. There is a surplus of talent available, companies can wait and pick and choose.

See a more detailed explanation of delays here.

What's in a Job Title?

Organizations rely on specialization and hierarchy to organize people and teams in order to achieve collective goals. The two most common elements of a job title relate to function and seniority.

A title shows a person's function or seniority in a company, but it doesn't  picture a worker's value. Organizations depend on clear demarcations between who is responsible for tasks and responsibilities and who is accountable for them. 

For insight into 'Titles' components, find a discussion here.

Important Company Culture Considerations

Pay is important. But pay only goes so far. Higher wages don’t cause employees to automatically perform at a higher level. Commitment, work ethic, and motivation are not based on pay. They are based on the culture offered by the employer.

When changing companies or in hiring on, pay attention to the softer characteristics of the business operations. Conversations with potential fellow employees or more subtitle inquiries during an interview might enlighten characteristics such as: Freedom, Targets, Mission, Expectations, Input, Connection, Consistency and Future.
 
See more details on these characteristics here.

Overqualified for a Job and How to Handle It

Being overqualified for a job might be a good thing, is there anything better than feeling confident and self-assured? A job would be a step back for you if desired experience, role expectations, organizational structure are far exceeded.

Being overqualified is if you need to focus on things in your life other than work, like your family. If so, then mention your intentions in your cover letter and explain to potential employers your reasoning for wanting the position.

See how to explain your overqualifications here.

How to Handle Being Overqualified

It’s easy to think that being overqualified for a job might be a good thing. Sometimes it’s not obvious that you are overqualified for a job. It takes more than meeting the job checklist, it takes a self evaluation of qualifications and future objectives.

Whether you’re deciding if you want to apply, or are feeling uncertain in the middle of the interview process, there are six factors to look for.

See how to handle overqualifications in a job interview here.

Company Culture: Finding the Right Company for You

Job seekers take the time to tailor applications to the job they are applying to, providing specific examples that show how their skills match the job description. While the right skills and experience are essential, being the right cultural fit, and proving your values match those important to the employer, can also be important.

Finding a great company extends beyond just finding a position that matches your skills. For an interviewer, an interview gives them insight into the type of employee you will be. For the job seeker, this is an opportunity to access an employer’s culture and beliefs. 

Find out if you are a fit with the company’s culture here.

Education vs Experience: What Do Employers Want?

 Given that college costs are on the rise, many people question the wisdom of pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Does it make sense to spend time and money getting your degree when you could be working and gaining practical work experience?

While there is something to be said for that argument, what really matters when it comes to getting a job is what employers think. How do they feel about education versus work experience on a resume? The resume gets you the interview.

See a discussion of the value of education and experience here.

Identify Your Career Accomplishments

In a competitive job market, you need an edge to make your application materials stand out. You can do that listing your career accomplishments from each key position in a resume and cover letter.
  
Career accomplishments offer concrete examples, often based on data points, showing how you contributed to your company in your particular role.
  
Find three tips on identifying your career accomplishments here.

Five Tricky Interview Questions

Interviewers often ask some questions to catch you off-guard so they can assess how you react to unexpected situations. There are even some questions that are intended to get you to reveal things you may have otherwise concealed. 

Digest the question and stay composed. Give yourself time to think, especially if the question is not directly to the point regarding the position you applied for.

Get the flavor of this questioning style here.

Two Methods of Answering Interview Questions

A type of interview question that isn’t easy to predict is the kind that begins with “Tell me about a time when . . .”  Just like numbers resonate better with a hiring manager than claims of “proven results,” stories resonate better than claims of “proven ability.”

There are two techniques for telling those stories that can be used for all manner of questions in such a behavioral interview.

See the strategies and examples here.

How to Explain Gaps in Your Work History

Do you have gaps in your work history? If so, you are not alone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 6 million Americans are unemployed. Many of these people will have to find a way to explain this gap in their work history, just like you. So, don’t think that having a gap in your work history will prevent you from landing the job you want.

The trick is to push prospective employers to look beyond your work history gap and see the potential you bring to the table.

Here are some tips for how to explain gaps in your work history. Click here for these tips.

Showcase Your Winning Personality

Likely your resume (or possibly a personal recommendation) got you an interview. While the resume presented the 'facts', the interview will present the 'you' that will hopefully be hired.  The interaction, the presentation of 'you' is key. In the interview it is yours to win or loose. You need to be yourself but a few hints to carry you forward can be beneficial.

See seven points on your personal presentation here.

Beat Those Interview Nerves

Interview nerves, if you don’t feel nervous, the chances are the position you’re going for isn’t that important to you. We get nervous about things because we care about them. In that way, nerves are good.

It’s easy to say, “Don’t worry, everyone gets nervous,” but if you’re in the midst of nerves, this phrase does not help. 

Stave off those shaky feelings with 7 tips here.

Use Work Experience Stories in Your Interview

To make the most of your hard fought for interview, you need to be prepared. You won't know the questions until they are asked. So prepare by building a set of responses to typical questions; be able to tell a story about ...

Have those in your hip pocket as a backup to an off the wall question. If you are at a loss, pick the best fit story and give it. Follow with 'Does that apply to what you are looking for?'.

See five soft objective questions here.

Use Work Experience Stories in Your Iterview

To make the most of your hard fought for interview, you need to be prepared. You won't know the questions until they are asked. So prepare by building a set of responses to typical questions; be able to tell a story about ...

Have those in your hip pocket as a backup to an off the wall question. If you are at a loss, pick the best fit story and give it. Follow with 'Does that apply to what you are looking for?'.

See five soft objective questions here.

Men: Guide to Dressing for an Interview

Many men think they don’t have to put as much thought into their work wardrobe as women do. The basic principles of menswear don’t change as markedly across generations, and a traditional style is always preferable to trend-chasing. 

It’s important for men to know why those principles are what they are, especially when it comes time to dress for a job interview. This is when fit, cleanliness, and attention to detail matter most.

See five points on dressing here.