There are certain aspects of your career that seem to change on a daily basis thanks to advancements in technology, work flow, etc. One thing that remains constant is the job interview. While the process can vary from company to company and within various industries, the interview is here to stay. Although these same advancements are influencing the process, job seekers will continue to “dress for the job they want” and pitch themselves to the company. The experience gained from interviewing can make the process easier for some job seekers, but for others, these nerves can have a negative impact on their chances. Luckily there is a multitude of interview advice available to job seekers. As with any industry, trends have an effect on job interviews as well, so it is important to stay on top of them.
In an article for Entrepreneur.com, Hayden Field asked career coaches, branding experts and human resources professionals about the latest job interview trends. They provided a few tips to consider before your next interview.
Cut Out Overused Resume Buzzwords
Sometimes we use words or phrases that we think make us sound more professional. Did you know these words can actually hurt your resume? Each year, LinkedIn releases a list of the top 10 most overused “buzzwords” that you should avoid on your resume and LinkedIn profile. These words are diluted over time as more and more people use them, often incorrectly. Our friends over at the VIKTRE Career Network published an article highlighting overused phrases to remove from your resume, as sometimes employers and hiring managers consider their use a red flag.
Instead of falling into this trap, Field suggests focusing on powerful action verbs that point out concrete details in order to “show, not tell” employers reviewing your resume (and LinkedIn).
Ditch Resume Objectives In Favor of Soft Skills or a Professional Summary
According to TopResume, hiring managers and recruiters only spend six seconds reviewing a resume before deciding a job seeker’s fate. To put yourself in the best position, it is important to make your resume visually appealing. Field says, “the top third of your resume is prime real estate, so it’s important to think critically about what deserves that spot.” A common rule is that until you get your first job post-college, your education should take up the top spot.
The top of your resume is also commonplace for job seekers to include resume objectives or a professional summary. However, thanks to the cover letter resume objectives are becoming outdated and quite frankly, a space-waster. Instead, you should consider including your soft skills or a professional summary, which allows the hiring manager to catch a glimpse into your credentials before diving into your resume.
Practice a Fresh Answer to the Age-Old “Weakness” Question
One of the most difficult questions in an interview has nothing to do with the position or the company at all. Instead, it comes in the form of “what are your weaknesses?” There are a variety of ways to approach your answer, but regardless of the method you choose, it is sure to be anxiety-inducing. The recommended approach is that of honesty. You can spin your response to make this “weakness” into a positive by reflecting on a time that you struggled but took action on how you managed. The best answers to this question are those that showcase your problem-solving ability and ability to learn from experiences.
Wrap Up
Interviews and interview advice seem to go hand in hand. In the competitive job search, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” certainly applies. However, to take it a step further, “who you know gets you in the door, what you know allows you to take that step.” In order to stand out in the interview process and adapt to the ever-changing trends, consider these tips! To read the full article and the rest of the great tips, click here.
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