—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Dump the Young-Person Baggage
Are you defensive? Insecure? Always worried about how you look to others? Cut that out!
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Ooze Confidence, Not Arrogance
Cocky is never O.K. During interviews, don’t use superlatives such as “great at” or “wonderful” when describing yourself.
—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Try This Little To-Do List
1. Let people underestimate your abilities. 2. Vastly exceed their expectations. 3. Get promoted and enjoy the last laugh.
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Come on, Get Real
Please don’t waste your valuable time applying for jobs for which you fit none of the qualifications. This will only demoralize you when you get no response.
—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Help, Don’t Opine
Co-workers don’t value your input nearly so much as your cooperation. It’s all about how you make the other person feel about him- or herself.
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Turn Rejection into Enlightenment
Didn’t make it past the initial phone screen? Don’t take it to heart; try to get feedback on why. Always strike a friendly, open, positive tone when probing for feedback.
—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Take the High Road
The simplest and most elegant way to stand above the crowd will always be through the virtue of your actions. It means taking individual responsibility, making good on promises, not exaggerating, always having your mouth and your heart in perfect agreement.
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Prepare for the Big Interview Question
The most frequently asked question is, “Tell me about yourself.” The wrong answer is, “What do you want to know?” This tells the prospective employer you’re unprepared for the interview.
—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Watch Your Words—and Tone
Real life is like high school. Get ready to be judged on popularity. Recognize that how you say things is often more important than what you say. Above all, don’t tell people what’s “wrong” with them.
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Put Real Effort into Cover Letters
Generic cover letters are a big no-no. They turn off the prospective employer as they demonstrate that you didn’t even have enough interest to research the job or hiring firm.
—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Turn a Negative into a Positive on the Interview
Instead of saying, “No, I’ve never done that” and feeling miserable afterward, try, “You know, I haven’t had the opportunity to do that before but have always wanted to learn. Would I be able to here?”
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Go Traditional
What is the new look for interviewing? The old rule remains true: dark suit with plain shirt or blouse. You’d be surprised how many candidates get this wrong.
—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Let Interviewers Reach Their Own Conclusions
Your next boss wants to be enamored, not assaulted. In business as in love, infatuation rarely results from a hard sell or a soft-shoe routine. Always explain, but resist the urge to exclaim.
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Explain Résumé Job Gaps Skillfully
Make it brief, honest, and positive. For example: “I felt I would be doing my employer a disservice by staying on once I decided it was time to move on and decided to make the job search a full-time endeavor.”
—Tara McKernan, DHR International
Do Like a Boy Scout
A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Need we say more?
—Mark Jaffe, Wyatt & Jaffe
Write a Can-Do Résumé
A good résumé advertises not what you’ve done but what you can do for your future employer.
