Recruitment
4. Tell them three things about your background that may make them interes- ted in interviewing you. 5. Thank them for watching the video and ask them for the interview!
DO check out your interviewer. If you know who you will be sending
a resume to or who will be interviewing you, conducting a little research in ad- vance of your communication can be a big advantage. “During an interview I conducted with
a candidate for my company, the candi- date began talking about how much he liked one of the books I had written,” recalls Kuzmeski. “He quoted from the book and offered a story of how he used the information in his career. He had me! I had spent a year writing that book, and the fact that he liked it and gave me informa- tion that proved he really read it made me remember him. And somehow he seemed smarter! After ten interviews in one day, people can start to blur. He never did. “We didn’t end up hiring him becau-
se he had little experience in the type of service marketing we needed, but I gave him a high recommendation to one of our firm’s clients and he was hired within a week,” she adds.
DO get face-to-face with potential employers! Find a way to get in front of your po-
tential employer. These days it is much harder to show potential employers what you are all about and to forge a connec- tion with them because so much of the pre-hiring process is done online and through email. That is why it is essential that you find a way to communicate with them face-to-face. Dropping off a follow- up note or resume are great opportunities for getting some face time with a poten- tial employer. Another great face-to-face opportunity comes after the interview. To show you paid close attention to everyt- hing your interviewer said, stop by her of- fice with an article that you think would be of interest to her or a small gift (e.g., a box of candy) based on some information you found out during the interview.
50 “Once you are face-to-face, in an in-
terview or otherwise, focus on having eye contact throughout,” says Kuzmeski. “Lean in, show them you are interested in everything they say, and think before you answer any question. Thoughtful delibe- ration can be difficult if you’re nervous, but it is critical in answering your poten- tial employer’s questions to the best of your ability. Establishing this face time is sure to set you apart from your job market competition.”
DO practice your interview answers with a friend or mentor. Don’t go into your interview cold.
There is too much competition for jobs to take anything for granted. Think of po- tential questions you may get about your previous positions and how you will ans- wer these questions and then go over them with a friend or mentor. Work on thought- fully communicating how you will deli- ver benefits in a given position, not just on what you know. Become an expert at clearly communi-
cating your strengths both verbally and in writing.
“Practice providing information that
is compelling, impactful, and clearly ex- presses how you will benefit the employ- er,” advises Kuzmeski. “Give your inter- viewers reasons to think about hiring you, not reasons to end the interview early!”
DO use words that connect. In interviews, try to scrap your memo-
rized job pitch in favor of a more natural conversation. You’ll seem more at ease and authentic—and your potential em- ployer will be more inclined to believe everything he’s hearing. In written com- munication, be sure to answer all parts of any questions you receive. And carefully read over the job description so that you can communicate your specific strengths based on the job’s requirements.
DO prepare in advance to follow up after the interview. Plan on sending an immediate thank-
you note through email or social media. Then, to ensure you are using every avai-
www.blackeoejournal.com
lable option to stay in front of your poten- tial employer, consider also sending a note in the mail. Yes, the mail. The note should recap what you discussed in the interview and reinforce what you can deliver to the company.
About the Author: Maribeth Kuzmeski is the founder of
Red Zone Marketing, LLC, which con- sults to Fortune 500 firms on strategic marketing planning and business growth. Maribeth has personally consulted with some of the world’s most successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals. An internationally recognized speaker, she shares the tactics that businesspeople use today to create more sustainable bu- siness relationships, sales, and marketing successes. Maribeth is the author of four books, in-
cluding The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Re- lationships and Win Clients for Life. She has frequently appeared on TV and radio, and has written articles on marketing stra- tegies for hundreds of publications inclu- ding BusinessWeek and Entrepreneur. She regularly speaks to audiences on topics relating to business development, marke- ting, and sales strategies. Maribeth graduated with a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and has an MBA from George Washington University. She lives in the Chicago, Il- linois, area with her husband and two teenagers.
About the Book: The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relati- onships and Win Clients for Life (Wiley, September 2009, ISBN: 978-0-470- 48818-8, $22.95) is available at booksto- res nationwide, major online booksellers, or directly from the publisher by calling 800-225-5945. In Canada, call 800-567- 4797. For more information, please visit
www.redzonemarketing.com and
www.theconnectorsbook.com.
The Black E.O.E. Journal
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