Written by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP
Your Job Search … Statistically Speaking
- “On the average, each corporate job offer attracts 250 resumes. Of those candidates, 4-6 applicants will get called for an interview, with 1 applicant getting the job.” – Glassdoor
- “1 out 6 candidates who applied for a job were asked for an interview.” – Jobvite 2017 Recruiting Funnel Benchmark Report
- “Recruiters take an average of 6 seconds to scan a resume.” – The Ladders
- “Job seekers will spend an average of 11 hours a week looking for work.” – CareerBuilder
- “91% of employers prefer their candidates to have work experience, & 65% prefer the candidates to have relevant experience.” – NACE Job Outlook 2017
- “51% of recruiters noted there were 3 interviews before an offer.” – 2017 Recruiter Sentiment Study MRI Network
from “Top 99+Recruiting & HR Statistics HR Pros Must Know in 2018” by Natalie Severt
Keynote
“Expert Tips on Performance Interviewing” – Martha Rockwell
You found the perfect job. You crafted a cover letter and resume that promoted your skills & experience. Eureka!!! You get a call from the company’s recruiter for an interview. It’s now time to rock the interview! Are you ready?
Martha shared with the group the types of interviews to expect. Among them are the pre-screening/third party, one-on-one, sequential and panel.
ADVANCED INTERVIEW PREPARATION CHECKLIST
As you prepare for the interview, Martha encouraged us to do the following:
- Introduction/Elevator speech: Be sure to tailor your speech to meet the needs of the company. Rehearse, but do not come off as not being natural.
- Create answers to interview questions & practice, practice & practice. Write out the answers, since most of us are visual learners, this will help you learn your answers.
- Research the company: Review details for the company by visiting its website, Glassdoor, LinkedIn & recent press releases.
- Research salary: Determine the salary range for the open position.
PRE-PLAN YOUR INTERVIEW
- Pre-plan prior to the phone call: Use flash cards to record anticipated questions & answers. Have four questions ready to ask during the interview.
- What to wear: Determine what you will wear to the interview. Dress professionally.
- What to bring: Extra copies of your resume. Be sure to have enough for all participating in the interview. Carry the resumes in a professional portfolio. Have paper to take notes.
- During the interview: Take notes so you can track the context of your conversation.
CHANGE YOUR THINKING
Frame your attitude or thinking in a positive manner! Including ….
- Business discussion of areas where there is a mutual interest.
- Company wants resolutions in areas of potential concern.
- Rather than looking for ways to disqualify you from the process, think in terms of what you can offer the employer.
- The hiring decision is mutually depending on whether it’s a good fit.
- Rather than emphasizing your meeting as an “interview”. Refer to it as a “business discussion”. Doing so will release emotion!
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
- Have a good introductory statement. “Tell me about yourself.”
- Know the difference between negative & positive questions. Think of those interview questions you might be asked & identify them as negative or positive. Your responses should be positive.
- Be ready for the weakness question. “What are your weaknesses?” Think of a good positive answer. Highlight what you learned & what you changed. Limit your response to “1”!
THE PAR SYSTEM
Your responses should be established using the PAR system.
- P = Problem or project
- A = Action
- R = Results
Include what you learned or how you changed.
HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER
Always…..
- Have a list of good questions to ask the interviewer.
- Make sure to research & ask a question using information found on the company’s website.
CLOSING THE INTERVIEW
Ask for a timeline.
- Will there be a second interview?
- When is a decision expected to be made?
Follow up on established timelines!
INTERVIEW POST ANALYSIS
After the interview, go to a quiet place to debrief & analyze how the interview went.
THANK YOU
Send a thank you within 24-48 hours! Pre-screen interviews should also receive a thank you, along with each person that participated in the interview.
“Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure – it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.” – Robert H. Schuller
HIRING COMPANIES
Shamrock Foods Company
Brianna Juarez, Talent Acquisition Specialist
Nicole Heckaman, Executive Recruiting & Development Manager
Shamrock was started 95 years ago as a family business. Today Shamrock remains family owned & is the 7th largest foodservice distributor in the US. Business segments are represented in foodservice distribution, dairy production, cooking oil production & retail stores. Shamrock strives to “treat customers as friends & associates as family”. The average tenure for employees is 20 years. The company’s culture & growth opportunities are key factors making Shamrock a desired employer.
Benefits are robust at Shamrock. Open positions include: Sales, Bid Specialist Contract Pricing Analyst, Sr. Financial Analyst, Credit Manager, Director of Finance, Cost Analyst, Executive Asst., Customer Care Specialist, & Sr. Software Engineer. To apply go to Shamrock’s website.
Choice Hotels
Pauline Crone, Talent Acquisition Manager
Choice Hotels “connects the world through hospitality”. Choice Hotels are franchised, individually owned & operated. The organization has over 6,800 hotels located in over 49 countries. 2017 provided revenues over $4.1 billion & 22 million customers. Choice also is recognized for SkyTouch which is a comprehensive hotel operations platform. The company was recognized by Forbes for being a 2018 America’s Best Mid-Size Employer & values its employees. Benefits include: health, fun & fitness, life, wealth, community & employee recognition. Some of their current open positions are: Software Engineer, IT Programs Manager, Customer Support Specialist, & Sales Force Business Analyst. You can find a complete job listing here.
Allstate
Steve Morin, Senior Sourcing Consultant
Allstate was established in Chicago in 1931 & has been in business for 80 years. Allstate is #81 on Fortune 100 list & has an employee population of 70,000 employees in the US and Canada. The SW region is composed of AZ, OK, NV, NM and UT. Allstate is one of the most recognizable brands in America & has 47 products to help serve its customers’ needs.
Available positions in the Tempe Regional Office include IT, Human Resources, Product, Claims, & Sales Management. Other opportunities are Financial Specialist, Agency Owner, & Licensed Sales Producers. The company is military friendly & offers free education to veterans & a bonus award of $500. In addition, Allstate has a $10,000 referral award. To learn more about their careers, visit the Allstate site.
CLOSING
Sheila Coulam, Vice President of Operations, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking Highlands Church & the volunteers. Career Connectors & WESTMARC will be presenting the West Valley Healthcare Career Expo on September 20, 2018. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Gilbert on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 & features Norris Thomas, as speaker for the topic “Your Why Defines Your Try.” For additional information on this event & future events, please visit the Event Schedule.