How to Prepare for an Interview

Interviewing can be anxiety inducing. Making sure you’ve prepared yourself thoroughly can help though. Here’s some tips on how to get prepared for an interview to help set yourself up to show your best face.

Research the company offering the interview

This is extremely important. Here’s your chance to get ahead of the game and get familiarized with the specifics of the company in question: Their products, the services they offer, what makes them unique compared to other companies. This will allow you to be better prepared to show how your experience relates to the role, and develop your own questions to ask the employer.

Additionally, this is an opportunity to get a peek into the company’s culture to determine if this role is a fit for you.

Be prepared with relevant specifics

Make sure you review the job description thoroughly, and understand what purpose the role fulfills. Try to make sure you have some answers developed for questions that ask you to explain how you handled difficult situations, as some interviews will ask behavioral questions.

Additionally, make sure you have some accomplishments prepared. Whether this is your successful sales numbers, or how you improved the efficiency of company processes, make sure to be able to brag about yourself.

Be conscious of body language and proper attire

Yes, your body talks. You want to make sure that it’s talking about your professionalism and confidence. This means being attentive, making eye contact, having proper posture, and doing your best to speak clearly and with confidence.

Have an understanding of what is the appropriate attire for an interview with this company. Sometimes what is normal for one company or industry can leave you over/underdressed for another. See if there are staff photos on their website, or ask your recruiter or whoever contacted you for the interview what to expect.

And don’t forget about hygiene! Make sure you’re clean; fingernails, hair, etcetera. Try not to overdo it on the perfume/cologne, you may end up overwhelming your interviewer.

BE ON TIME (or if you can’t, make sure you reach out)

This is so incredibly important. Set yourself up ahead of time to make sure you have everything prepared that you will need for your interview so you aren’t left scrambling when the time comes.

If you have an in-office interview, make sure you have enough gas, have determined how long it will take you to get there (and which route you’ll take), and get there with time to spare.

If your interview is set to be conducted over video call, make sure that your computer, camera, and microphone are working properly, and that the space that you will be in will be free of distractions and clean.

And if something has come up and you aren’t able to make the interview, reach out to the company or your recruiter to let them know.

Things happen. They may be willing to reschedule the interview. But be sure to communicate, or you may lose your opportunity with the company for good.

Practice to cement your confidence and see what needs more attention

If you’re having trouble being confident in your speech, try practicing with a friend. Have them ask you questions that may come up in the interview. This will allow you to get comfortable with how you will answer, and identify any potential gaps or weaknesses to your answers.

Additionally, if you’re able to practice with someone who has experience in the industry you’re interviewing for, they may be able to offer you valuable feedback and insights that can help you.

Now that you’ve prepared yourself, go forth and conquer your interview with confidence.

Don’t forget to thank your interviewer for taking the time to speak with you!

Want to climb the career ladder?

Take initiative.

Today’s career requirements are highly developed and require much more than someone who won’t take risks. In today’s competitive career landscape, employers are looking for individuals who can bring fresh ideas to the table and take initiative, start new projects, pitch new solutions and create new opportunities for the business.

Be your own evaluator.

One of the best ways to achieve career success is to keep assessing your performance. Don’t wait for your annual appraisal – do it yourself. An ideal way to do this would be to identify quantifiable goals and set a timeline for achieving them. Start with setting short-term goals when you’re new to a job. Create a detailed plan to achieve these goals. Break the tasks down into weekly or even daily tasks and fill out a small form at the end of the week to assess where you’re headed and whether you need to change your strategy. You can even show your own performance report to your managers at some point to show how you’ve progressed. This will show that you understand the importance of constant self-evaluation and improvement.

Be ready to learn.

To excel in your career, you have to be willing to learn. No matter what university you graduated from or what grades you had, professional life will be very different from college. Be prepared to have a million questions pop up every day regarding what you’re doing. It might take you days to get a hang of your duties at your new job, so show management that you are coachable, paying attention and always willing to learn new things.

Anticipate needs.

To succeed in your new job and achieve career success, you will have to be well aware of what your manager needs. Stay a step ahead of your boss by asking yourself, “If I were my boss, what would I want done next?” By making sure you get things efficiently done in time, and take the initiative to do them yourself, you will be showing a positive, go-getter attitude to higher management.

Value of an inside referral

If you’re not seeking out referrals from employees within the company you’re applying to, you could be missing valuable opportunities.

Don’t forget to leverage your professional connections when it comes time to make a career change; they could prove more effective than you believe!
The network effect is significant when it comes to employee referrals. Since the average employee has around 150 social connections, a company with just 100 employees can potentially reach 15,000 candidates through personal networks​. This vast potential pool increases the chances of finding the right talent quickly, though the reverse can be true as well. Make sure to be intentional about building your network so that it can be a potential resource for you in the future. (GoRemotely)

  • Referral Effectiveness: Referred candidates account for 30-50% of all new hires, with referral applicants being 4 times more likely to land a job compared to those who apply through job boards​. While only around 7% of job applicants come through referrals, these candidates make up nearly 40% of total hires​.

    Candidates hired through referrals generally stay with companies longer and are more likely to fit into the company culture. Studies show that referred employees tend to stay at a company for at least a year (46%), and nearly 47% remain for over three years​. They also show higher job satisfaction, likely due to better cultural alignment, which makes them more engaged and productive​. (Enterprise Apps Today​, Erin, AttoTime, GoRemotely)

  • Faster Hiring Process: Referral hires typically start their roles in 29 days, compared to 39 days for those hired through job boards and 55 days through career sites​.
    Employee referrals significantly speed up the recruitment process.

    Referred candidates tend to get hired faster than those from traditional channels. On average, referral hires take about 29 days to start, compared to 39 days for job board applicants and 55 days for career site applicants. This acceleration is largely due to the pre-vetting that comes from the referrer and a shorter decision-making process​. ​(Enterprise Apps Today, Erin, GoRemotely)

  • Retention and Satisfaction: Referral hires tend to stay with companies longer—46% remain after one year, and nearly 47% stay for more than three years. They also report higher job satisfaction compared to non-referred hires​.

    Candidates hired through referrals generally stay with companies longer and are more likely to fit into the company culture. Studies show that referred employees tend to stay at a company for at least a year (46%), and nearly 47% remain for over three years​. They also show higher job satisfaction, likely due to better cultural alignment, which makes them more engaged and productive​. (Enterprise Apps Today, Erin)

  • Cost-Effective: Referrals not only result in faster hires but also save companies significant money. Organizations can save an average of $3,000 per hire when using referral programs​. Referrals are more cost-efficient than other recruiting methods. Companies report saving approximately $3,000 per hire through employee referrals. This is because there’s less need for extensive advertising, and onboarding times are shorter​. Recruiting costs through other methods (like job boards and career sites) tend to be significantly higher​. (GoRemotely, Enterprise Apps Today, Erin)

These statistics highlight the immense value that both job seekers and employers can gain from leveraging employee referrals. Not only do they speed up the hiring process, but they also contribute to higher employee retention and satisfaction, making referrals a win-win for all parties involved. Use this knowledge to your advantage and leverage your relationships to achieve professional success!

Do your research

Research Your Top Career Choices

Once you have a tentative idea of some careers worth investigating, then you will need to research them in detail to further assess their suitability. Begin by reading about each of the fields on your brainstorm list. Look for information on our online career information resources.

Try Googling each field like this: “Career Information Sales Accountant.” You will find that professional groups provide excellent sources of career information. Review the requirements for entering the field and make sure that you are prepared to complete any training, certificate programs or educational degrees which are required.

For your remaining options, the next step should be to conduct informational interviews with professionals in those fields. Reach out to college alumni, contacts in your personal and social networks, as well as local professionals to schedule in-person or telephone consultations.

Keep notes regarding what you have learned during your research and match it up against the list of interests, skills, and values which you generated during your self-assessment phase. Make a list of options which are still worth considering.

As always consider having a conversation with the recruiter’s at CareerPaths NW, we are always available to chat with you about your career options.

Developing an Elevator Pitch

Have you ever been in a situation where you had the opportunity to talk with a highly important person? Let’s say for example they’re employed in a company that you really want to work for, and one of the first things they say is tell me about yourself. Would you know how to respond?

You need an elevator pitch.

An elevator pitch is based on a premise where if you had only had 2-3 minutes to have a substantial conversation with someone, would you be able to? Here are some things that will help you build a great elevator pitch:

  • Create a positive first impression
  • Give a powerful and unique personal statement
  • Leave a positive lasting impression

Remember this is not an interview, you only have a few minutes, make sure you give the highlights that are of value to the person you are talking to.

5 Tips for a Successful Online Job Search

Effective Job Search Strategies Beyond Online Applications

Before the internet, job seekers often relied on classified ads in newspapers to find job openings. Today, job boards like Monster, Indeed, and SimplyHired make it easy to search and apply to dozens of jobs with just a few clicks. While convenient, applying exclusively through online job postings can be limiting and lead to a lengthy and frustrating job search with lower chances of success.

Consider this scenario: A job seeker recently shared that he’d applied to over 80 jobs on Indeed over several months, selecting only roles he felt were a good match. When asked about his results, he replied, “Nada. Zilch. Zero… not a single interview.” Unfortunately, this experience is common, as many job seekers don’t realize how intense the competition is for online job postings. Each online listing can receive hundreds of applications, and only a few candidates make it to an interview.

So, what can you do to improve your chances of landing a job? Here are some targeted strategies that often yield better results than simply applying en masse through job boards.

1. Build and Leverage Your Network

Networking, both in-person and online, is one of the most effective ways to find job opportunities. Attend networking events, join professional organizations, and practice the art of conversation. Every new connection you make expands your network and increases your chances of learning about job openings that aren’t advertised. Building a strong network can also lead to valuable referrals.

2. Focus Your Applications

Rather than applying to dozens of jobs, concentrate on positions where your skills and experience truly align with the employer’s needs. Avoid “Hail Mary” applications to roles you’re not well-suited for, as these are unlikely to result in interviews. Instead, focus on positions where you can demonstrate specific value to the employer.

3. Research Each Company Before Applying

Before applying, take time to research the company thoroughly. Check the latest company news, visit its website, and explore its LinkedIn profile to understand its goals and challenges. Use this information to craft a cover letter that shows how your skills and experience can help the company address its needs. A tailored approach shows employers that you’re genuinely interested and well-prepared.

4. Network Your Way In

Instead of applying cold, see if you can connect with someone inside the company beforehand. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for finding people who work at your target companies. Reach out to employees for informational interviews—not to ask for favors, but to learn about the company and build a relationship. This proactive approach often leaves a positive impression, and in some cases, they may offer to help when an opportunity arises.

5. Inquire About Employee Referral Programs

If you establish a connection within the company, find out if they have an employee referral program. Many companies value referrals, and employees are often rewarded for referring strong candidates. If they’re open to it, ask if they would be willing to submit your resume on your behalf. However, keep in mind that most companies won’t allow the referral if you’ve already applied, as the employee won’t get credit.

The Bottom Line: Quality Over Quantity

Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare—slow and steady wins the race. A job search focused on fewer applications, backed by thorough research, networking, and strategic communication, can yield much better results than mass applications. Though it may feel tedious, taking time to build relationships and present a targeted case for each job will ultimately improve your chances of landing a fulfilling position.

Educational Requirements for Jobs

Why Do You Need to Know About Educational Requirements?

Before you decide to pursue a particular career, you must make sure you are willing to fulfill the educational requirements that will allow you to get an entry-level job. If career advancement is important to you, you will also want to discover what you will need to do to move up in that field. If you are unwilling to meet the educational requirements, or if you must start working immediately and don’t have time to get the appropriate training, you will have to think about other options. On a similar note, you may not want a job that doesn’t require a certain amount of education, for example, a college degree.

How To Find the Training You Need

When the required education for an occupation is very precise, for instance, if you must get a particular certificate or a degree from an accredited program, you will have to decide what institution to attend. There are several ways to go about finding out where to get the training you need.

  • Professional Associations: Use any search engine to find the professional association for an occupation. Then go to the organization’s website and look for a section about education or careers. If you must get your training or degree from an accredited program, it will probably say so here. There will likely be a list of programs, as well, or links to resources you can use to locate that information.
  • Local Training: Search for training by location. Programs include colleges, trades schools, unemployment retraining and short-term programs.
  • Your Network: If you have contacts in your prospective career field, find out where they received their training. You may also uncover this information through informational interviews with people who work in the occupation you are researching.

What You Need to Know About Additional Qualifications

In addition to educational requirements, the state or municipality in which you want to work may require you to have a license or certificate. You may need a certain amount of experience and have to pass written and practical examinations to get licensed or certified.

You should be aware of the difference between mandatory certification, as discussed above, and voluntary certification. Some professional associations grant credentials to individuals who demonstrate competence in an occupation or industry. This is what is meant by voluntary certification. The state or municipality will not require you to get it but it could make you a more desirable job candidate. Some employers, however, may require it.

4 Things you need to know while searching for jobs in Seattle

  1. Find someone to refer you. You are missing out on job opportunities by not identifying someone inside the company to refer you for a job. While job boards are the primary source of hiring, 71 percent of HR professionals surveyed rated employee referrals as the best source for finding candidates, yet only 7 percent of job seekers surveyed viewed referrals as their top source for finding a job.
  2. Invest in learning technical skills. Job seekers self-reported that their top weakness was technical, computer or specialized skills. If this is your weak spot too, do something about it, because a quarter of employers rank these as top skills they are looking for. Take an online course to develop the skills you lack or need. More than 40 percent of job seekers have never invested in online training, but it is one way to improve your confidence and candidacy.
  3. Expect to meet several people during your interviews. It is unlikely you’ll be hired based on one interview. Almost 60 percent of HR professionals said the interview process involves meeting two to three people, and some employers will have you meet with as many as five people during the interview process.
  4.  Highlight these top three skill sets. Communication, adaptability and results-driven are the top skills HR is looking for in candidates. Unfortunately, job seekers miss the mark. While job seekers did list communication skills as a top skill set, they missed the mark in the other top skills they reported, which were leadership and teamwork.

Don’t forget these things while looking for jobs

When you’re on the job hunt, attention to detail can make all the difference. Here are some often-overlooked tips to keep in mind to present yourself professionally and leave a strong impression on potential employers.

1. Double-Check Your Facebook Privacy Settings

Your social media activity is more visible than you might think. Simply hiding tagged photos or wall posts isn’t always enough—employers might still be able to see events you’ve attended or pages you’ve liked, which may not always make the best impression. To ensure your privacy, go to Facebook’s ‘Timeline and Tagging’ settings. In the ‘Review’ section, use the “Review what other people see on your timeline” option to see your profile from a public perspective. Adjust as necessary to keep any content private that might not align with your professional image.

2. Keep Personal Websites and Portfolios Updated

If your resume, LinkedIn profile, or cover letter links to a personal website, portfolio, or blog, make sure these sites are live, accessible, and up-to-date. Domain names or hosting services can sometimes expire without warning, leading to broken links that leave a poor impression on hiring managers. Ensure your online presence showcases your latest achievements and skills, reflecting the very best of your work.

3. Inform and Prepare Your References

When applying for jobs that require references, let your contacts know they might receive a call or email from a potential employer. Brief your references on the positions you’ve applied for by providing a link to the job listing, a quick summary of the company, and an outline of how you’ve presented your experience. This way, they’ll be prepared to reinforce your strengths if contacted. A quick follow-up with them after each interview is also a considerate touch to keep them in the loop.

4. Respond Quickly and Professionally

Being responsive can set you apart. From promptly replying to interview invitations to sending a thank-you note after an interview, responsiveness demonstrates enthusiasm and reliability. Avoid delays, especially for emails that require specific responses, like interview scheduling or submitting requested documents. A lag in communication can signal disinterest, leading employers to consider candidates who appear more proactive and engaged.

Bellevue Hiring Managers Wish You Knew these 4 Things

  1. Focus on What You Want, Not Just What You’ve Done“Spend some time considering what you really want out of your next job, your career, and your life. Be honest with yourself, and try to get clear and specific. Then rewrite those ‘goal’ and ‘objective’ sections (yes, they’re OK in some cases) with newfound clarity.”
  2. Don’t Include Everything“Focus on the person coming across in your resume. If you want to be ‘the social media guru,’ anything that doesn’t at least tangentially relate to social media should be de-prioritized. If you want to come across as ‘the academic research all-star,’ by all means put your educational experience on top, throw in your GPA, and get in-depth about your awards and publications. Feel free to leave off your real estate experience.”
  3. Use Numbers“You increased recruiting? Give us the percent increase. You raised money for charity? Tell us how much you raised! This can turn average-looking experiences into impressive head-turners and help distinguish you from other candidates.”
  4. Add Non-Work Work“Volunteer work, particularly if it’s long-term or if it gives you the chance to lead a project from beginning to end, can be a great substitute for full-time work. Some organizations give titles or recognition to regular volunteers, so find out if there are any formal credentials that you can use (if not, just use “Volunteer”). Just like you would for a paid job, list bullets that show your major accomplishments and what you learned during your involvement.”