40 Posts found for Publisher: WetFeet

Following these steps will help you get back to work as quickly as possible.

• Don’t Burn Any Bridges
  This is the number-one post-layoff rule, and it applies to almost every layoff-related situation. In all your dealings with the company, your supervisor, your human resources representative, and your former coworkers, use “don’t burn any bridges” as your personal mantra. You never know when contacts you

… [ Read more ]

Author: Jennifer Rae Atkins | Source: “What to Do When You Get Laid Off” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subject: Miscellaneous

• Who are the key players in the industry?
• What is the history of the industry, and where is it heading in the future?
• What are some of the major industry trends?
• What skills are required to succeed in and contribute to the industry?

Source: “Gear Up for Fall Recruiting” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Interview Preparation, Interviewing

• What role does the company play in its industry?
• What are the company’s key products, and what is its market share?
• How has the company made money in the past, and what will its sources of revenue be in the future?
• What skills are in demand at the company–marketing, engineering, finance, sales, product development?
• What types of jobs are available for recent college and MBA grads?
• Does the company

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Source: “Gear Up for Fall Recruiting” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Interview Preparation, Interviewing

Behavioral interviewing is still the most popular approach to assessing a candidate’s worth. Essentially, the premise is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. In my work as head of recruiting for a bank, consumer products company, and retail company, and in advising many recruiters while at Stanford, I have found these to be my favorite frequently asked questions across industries:
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Author: Sherrie Gong Taguchi | Source: “Decoding the Interview and Evaluation Process” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Behavioral Interview, Interviewing, Questions Recruiters Ask

There are numerous state and federal antidiscrimination laws designed to assure that employers hire based upon skill, rather than stereotypes. Therefore, there are some things an interviewer isn’t allowed to ask. How do you know what’s fair game? Here are some questions that should raise red flags.

1. “What’s your race?”
   It is illegal for an employer to ask you questions about race or skin color.

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Author: Michelle Provorny Cash | Source: “Ten Questions You Should Never be Asked in an Interview” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subject: Interviewing

Generally speaking, interviewing helps employers know the three things they need to know before they make a hiring decision…

1. Are you capable of doing the job? Do you have the necessary skills and experience or can you be easily trained?
2. Are you motivated to do the job? Will you take the trouble to do the job well, ask for guidance when appropriate, and make the necessary

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Author: Aparna Kumar | Source: “What to Do before the Big Interview” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subject: Interviewing

Before you even think of heading off to a first-round interview–or mass-mailing your resume–you’d better do some detective work. Recruiters constantly stress the importance of doing adequate research before you start interviewing.

While there are no easy answers when it comes to the job search, recruiters say that one factor clearly distinguishes the best candidates from the also-rans: their knowledge of the company … [ Read more ]

Source: “Gear Up for Fall Recruiting” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Interview Preparation, Interviewing

Source: “How to Stay Graceful in a Stress Interview” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subject: Interviewing

Most commonly used in investment banking, stress interviewing is the deliberate creation of an uncomfortable situation in order to test how the candidate reacts to pressure.

The ethics of this kind of interviewing are questionable, and it is far from certain that the stress created is similar to what would occur on the job. However, it’s also true that one person’s stress situation … [ Read more ]

Source: “How to Stay Graceful in a Stress Interview” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: How to Stay Graceful in a Stress Interview, Interviewing

If the interviewer ignores you when you walk in the room, just dive in with something like, “I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you why I think I’m the right person for this job.” After a long pause, you might say, “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear.” Then explain your previous response.

If the manager ridicules your background, … [ Read more ]

Source: “How to Stay Graceful in a Stress Interview” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: How to Stay Graceful in a Stress Interview, Interviewing

Author: Eric Wilinski | Source: “What to Expect in I-Banking Interviews” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subject: Interviewing

Your interviewers will be trying to learn three basic things about you.

1. First, they want to learn about your personality, and whether you’d fit in with the people you’d be working with. Expect questions that get at your strengths, weaknesses, leadership skills, ability to work in a team, professionalism, and work ethic (see Behavior Interview section)
2. Second, your interviewers will be looking for evidence

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Author: Eric Wilinski | Source: “What to Expect in I-Banking Interviews” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: I-Banking Interview, Interviewing

1. The First-Round Interview
   The first of the three basic steps in the I-banking interview process usually takes place with a recruiter who screens candidates to make sure they have the basic technical skills and personality profile to make it in the job they’re interviewing for.
2. The Second Round
   If the I-bank still finds you an attractive candidate, you’ll be invited back for a second round of

… [ Read more ]

Author: Eric Wilinski | Source: “What to Expect in I-Banking Interviews” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: I-Banking Interview, Interviewing

Finally, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know the answer to a question. Your interviewers will be able to spot a half-baked answer from a mile away. In fact, many interviewers deliberately ask difficult technical questions to see whether you can admit you don’t know something. Once you’re on the job, after all, it might cost the bank millions if you screw up because … [ Read more ]

Author: Eric Wilinski | Source: “What to Expect in I-Banking Interviews” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: I-Banking Interview, Interviewing

• It is less formal than an interview, so both you and the person you are meeting with will feel free to have a conversation rather than a cross-examination.
• You define the agenda, and so you can learn about the broad issues and needs of the person’s organization. This will help you discover opportunities still in the making–as well as those that are already defined.
• If you

… [ Read more ]

Source: “The Advantages of Informational Interviews” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Informational Interviews, Interviewing

Take the initiative to set up informational interviews with people in your network (alumni, people referred to you by your career center or your personal network, or other people you have identified in companies or industries you are eager to learn about). They should last about 30 minutes and be held in a place convenient to the interviewee.

During the informational interview, ask … [ Read more ]

Source: “Gear Up for Fall Recruiting” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Informational Interviews, Interviewing

Are recruiters just being polite when they ask if you have any questions for them? NO. Are there questions you can ask that don’t sound totally canned? YES.

Asking questions is a key part of the interview process. It shows the company how interested in it and its industry you really are. But there’s an artistry to not asking too many questions, or annoying ones, or … [ Read more ]

Author: Sherrie Gong Taguchi | Source: “What to Say When it’s Your Turn to Ask Questions in an Interview” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: “Interviewing” Companies, Interviewing

Following are ten tips to help you be your best as you interview.

1. Research the industry and company beforehand; over-prepare. Use every resource to your advantage: fellow students, professors, career-center resources, informational interviews with alumni of your school, the company’s recruitment literature and website, WetFeet’s Insider Guides, and databases and websites such as Lexus/Nexus, the U.S. Business Browser, and Hoovers.
2. Know what you’re looking for,

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Author: Sherrie Gong Taguchi | Source: “Surviving and Thriving in a Tough Job Market: Acing the Interviews” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Interview Skills, Interviewing

The types of questions you are most likely to encounter in your first-round interview include:

1. “Tell me about yourself.”
   The perfect opening for your two-minute presentation! Describe your educational and work background, identify your key strengths and provide a couple of illustrations, and state your intended career direction. Usually, this is the first question asked. If it isn’t, you can usually defer answering a different

… [ Read more ]

Source: “How to Handle Your First-Round Interview” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Interview Skills, Interviewing

Here are some examples of body language cues and their possible interpretations.

• Crossed arms—closed off or defensive
• Fidgeting, running tongue along teeth, playing with hair or jewelry, or tapping feet—nervous or bored
• Lack of eye contact or, conversely, staring too intently without breaking a gaze—untrustworthy
• Leaning back—uncomfortable
• Clasping hands behind the head while leaning back—looking to gain power
• Leaning forward—interested in the conversation
• Smiling or attempting to be humorous—friendly
• Eye contact

… [ Read more ]

Author: Jennifer Rae Atkins | Source: “What Your Body Language Tells Interviewers” | Original Publication: WetFeet | Subjects: Interview Skills, Interviewing