News

Want to land that job interview? Here’s how.

With the right tools and a few tricks, you can land the super important interview that could lead to your dream job. You’ll just have to shine brighter than the rest as the skilled, likable person you are.

To land your next job interview (and really ace it), you’ll want to have:

A solid resume

Most job-seekers know that landing the interview begins with writing a great resume. The best resumes are easy to read, clearly present your career journey, and show your quantitative achievements and results. Keep things concise–bullet points, not paragraphs—and you’ll give your interviewers meaty morsels to discuss when you’re in the hot seat.

Plenty to talk about

Fortunately, you’ve laid the groundwork in your brain by preparing that resume. You should run through all your key projects and achievements, so you’ll have those talking points ready to go. The thing is, you never know what you’ll be asked during an interview. You might hear technical, personal, abstract, or pop culture questions. You might even get weird ones, like, “How many pencils would fit end-to-end along the Empire State Building?” So just prepare like you’re auditioning for Jeopardy! and you’ll be fine.

Knowledge of the company

That’s not just what’s in the About Us section of the website—anyone can read that. The candidate who really wants this job will know about the company’s mission, the kind of work it has done, and the latest press about products, finances, or new hires. Use this information to prepare thoughtful questions, or to tie in how it all fits with your skills and objectives. Really think about how you can connect with the company’s goals and values, and prepare good answers for your interview.

A shining personality

Be yourself! Everything you do should say YOU, from the words in your resume, to the initial phone screening, to the interview itself. You might even be able to bond over the baseball jerseys on the conference room wall, or the Dr. Who figurine on the manager’s desk. Your personality starts with a stellar cover letter, which you can write more conversationally to tell your story. YOU were called in for a reason. Sell the YOU these people want to work with. And be consistent! A light-hearted, conversational cover letter will contrast unpleasantly with one-word, monotone interview answers.

So now you have the tools you need to land that interview! But before you go, brush up on these questions you didn’t think to ask during an interview (but should). And good luck!

YES! News

The “better” way to conduct layoffs

Layoffs are hard on everyone. Even as business leaders and HR professionals, layoffs are one of the hardest things we have to do. Regrettably, many of us remember this from the all-too-recent pandemic layoffs. Layoffs are a reality we may soon face again as the threat of recession looms. And while we may not have […]

Resolve conflict like a champ

We’re hard-pressed to say conflict resolution is a fun or glamorous part of a Human Resources or leadership role, but it’s one of the most critical parts. How you mediate conflict impacts employee morale and retention, and also shows your leadership abilities and your willingness to tackle the tough stuff. Your conflict resolution skills can […]

Stop! and hire this candidate

It’s easy to criticize potential hires and spot reasons why we shouldn’t hire them. That one is too arrogant, that one lacks technical skills, and that one knows nothing about the company. Process of elimination, right? But too often we fail to recognize the positive reasons why we should hire someone. Positive flags can be […]

Client Testimonials

"Kathi has been an extremely reliable, knowledgeable and indispensable resource for our growing business. Anytime we had a difficult issue or needed to refine, replace or upgrade our HR communication, Kathi provided outstanding support and feedback. She is a wonderful person and an outstanding, solution oriented communicator. I can't recommend her enough to businesses who need assistance with HR strategy and support."

"Kathi is reliable, knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator. She has always been readily available to help us with all of our immediate needs, from handbooks to policies, and notices. We highly recommend her. A great team player."

"SPMD has been partnering with Kathi for almost 4 years. She is a fantastic partner to our design firm. Her experience, knowledge, professionalism and ability to problem solve is the perfect package to fit our business. Over the years she has helped us navigate many employee situations quickly and re-wrote our Employee Handbook. Kathi is always there in a heartbeat when a situation arises and has the answers and advice we need. We highly recommend Kathi!"

“Kathi provided Senior Human Resources leadership to Orqis Medical for over six years. Her effectiveness is immediate, her contributions substantial, and her ability to integrate into the employee base as a consultant outstanding. I highly recommend Kathi to any company looking for senior management help in the HR arena, without the ability to hire a full-time manager. This is a go-to person for any small, medium, or start-up company.”

    Shine Video Star Job Interview

    Free Consultation

    Contact Us

    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.