What To Do When Interviewers Dont Know What They Are Hiring For

What To Do When Interviewers Dont Know What They Are Hiring For Last week I was talking to a friend of mine, a senior technical recruiter. We were talking about a scenario like this: You read the job description and think: Yep, thats me. I master all of those, except one, which I can learn quickly (and is probably not as important as the others) You have your first interview: It is mostly aligned with the job description, but focuses on one or two functions (ignoring the rest) You have the next interview: This is a little different, as the interviewer focuses on a different function (barely mentioning what the first interviewer focused on) By this point you think ah, two different people, who both understand the job, and each person will interface with you (or want something from you) in a different way than one another. Your next interviewer surprises you: This is a higher-level person and they ask you questions that have nothing to do with what you understood the job to do, or what the other interviews focused on. Its almost as if they are asking you about a completely different role. Again, they know what they are doing, right? This is just a broad assessment, with each person tasked to focus on different things. No big deal. Actually, it is a big deal. This scenario could lose you the job. My recruiter friend said Jason, this happens ALL THE TIME. In almost every job that we recruit for. How could this be? When I interviewed at Bamboo last year, I printed off the job description from their company website. Oh wait, theres another description on LinkedIn print that, too. Oh my, theres a job description I was emailed. OH MY. They are all slightly different. Slightly, but materially. Which is the right one? There are at least three major parties involved in the job description creation and approval: The hiring manager: This person knows exactly what (and sometimes who) they want. However, they might not be very good at communicating what they want. The recruiter and that whole team: The people who are many times responsible for the final written job description, posting it, and sometimes having the first interviews with you so they can know who to weed out. The approver, some higher-up: This person has their own understanding of what the role is and who will be right and what they will do. They arent as close to the team as the manager is, but they orchestrate a lot of teams and know how teams fit together. Imagine each of those people have a tiny misunderstanding of the role. And you, the job seeker, has a specific and perhaps a little bit wrong understanding of the role. Multiply those tiny misunderstandings by imperfect communication and assumptions, and now we have well, a mess. It might feel like you are interviewing for three or four different jobs. It happens all the time, said this recruiter. So, what can you do about it? I have two ideas. First, read, understand, and internalize the job description. 1. Learn everything you can about the job description. Go through it again and again, line by line. Understand what they are asking for. If you need to, make notes on it. Heck, rewrite it in your own words! You should be able to talk about every single part of the job description. Be careful to not latch on to one or two parts of the job, and redefine the description by just those parts. If you have doubts or questions, email your contact (maybe the recruiter, or a friend, or someone you have networked with at the company) to clarify. In my interview last year I said I understand all of this, but why does this person also need to be an expert in Photoshop? What?? Oh, that must have gotten there from a copy and paste from a different job description.   Oops. I spent time wondering if I needed to learn Photoshop, and it had nothing to do with the actual job. Just ask and clarify. Be ready to go into this job interview understanding (or at least having great questions) the job description. 2. Point the interview back to the right role. As the interview gets further and further away from the job description, you can bring it back, without dancing around it. Recognize, of course, that some questions that seem weird or outside of the job description might be strategic, to uncover how good of a fit you will be on the team or at the company. But generally, you should be able to tie every single answer back to the job you are interviewing for. To do that, though, you have to go back to #1, and totally understand the job based on the description (or your digging). It would not be inappropriate to ask a clarifying question, such as: Based on the job description, I thought the role of this job would do more of [THIS:________] than [THAT:_________]. Is that what you understand? Feel free to dig down on this part of the discussion. Being precise about the role and expectations is not bad at all. In theory, you are there to evaluate the company and opportunity and team as much as they are evaluating you (but emotions are way different, depending on which side of the table you are sitting!). You could also ask: What would success look like (or, how would you measure success) in the first 3 6 months? I find this to be not as effective as the question above, but it could help you get more clarity for the role. Besides, its a solid interview question for candidates. I know that we, as candidates, assume the people who bring us in know what they are doing. Look, people have been saying recruiting is broken and hiring is broken for decades. Theres a reason for that. You cant assume they know what they want, or that they communicate well with one another. Go in ready for some obvious poor communication and assumptions on their end that have preceded you. The two steps above should help you be more prepared in that situation. What To Do When Interviewers Dont Know What They Are Hiring For Last week I was talking to a friend of mine, a senior technical recruiter. We were talking about a scenario like this: You read the job description and think: Yep, thats me. I master all of those, except one, which I can learn quickly (and is probably not as important as the others) You have your first interview: It is mostly aligned with the job description, but focuses on one or two functions (ignoring the rest) You have the next interview: This is a little different, as the interviewer focuses on a different function (barely mentioning what the first interviewer focused on) By this point you think ah, two different people, who both understand the job, and each person will interface with you (or want something from you) in a different way than one another. Your next interviewer surprises you: This is a higher-level person and they ask you questions that have nothing to do with what you understood the job to do, or what the other interviews focused on. Its almost as if they are asking you about a completely different role. Again, they know what they are doing, right? This is just a broad assessment, with each person tasked to focus on different things. No big deal. Actually, it is a big deal. This scenario could lose you the job. My recruiter friend said Jason, this happens ALL THE TIME. In almost every job that we recruit for. How could this be? When I interviewed at Bamboo last year, I printed off the job description from their company website. Oh wait, theres another description on LinkedIn print that, too. Oh my, theres a job description I was emailed. OH MY. They are all slightly different. Slightly, but materially. Which is the right one? There are at least three major parties involved in the job description creation and approval: The hiring manager: This person knows exactly what (and sometimes who) they want. However, they might not be very good at communicating what they want. The recruiter and that whole team: The people who are many times responsible for the final written job description, posting it, and sometimes having the first interviews with you so they can know who to weed out. The approver, some higher-up: This person has their own understanding of what the role is and who will be right and what they will do. They arent as close to the team as the manager is, but they orchestrate a lot of teams and know how teams fit together. Imagine each of those people have a tiny misunderstanding of the role. And you, the job seeker, has a specific and perhaps a little bit wrong understanding of the role. Multiply those tiny misunderstandings by imperfect communication and assumptions, and now we have well, a mess. It might feel like you are interviewing for three or four different jobs. It happens all the time, said this recruiter. So, what can you do about it? I have two ideas. First, read, understand, and internalize the job description. 1. Learn everything you can about the job description. Go through it again and again, line by line. Understand what they are asking for. If you need to, make notes on it. Heck, rewrite it in your own words! You should be able to talk about every single part of the job description. Be careful to not latch on to one or two parts of the job, and redefine the description by just those parts. If you have doubts or questions, email your contact (maybe the recruiter, or a friend, or someone you have networked with at the company) to clarify. In my interview last year I said I understand all of this, but why does this person also need to be an expert in Photoshop? What?? Oh, that must have gotten there from a copy and paste from a different job description.   Oops. I spent time wondering if I needed to learn Photoshop, and it had nothing to do with the actual job. Just ask and clarify. Be ready to go into this job interview understanding (or at least having great questions) the job description. 2. Point the interview back to the right role. As the interview gets further and further away from the job description, you can bring it back, without dancing around it. Recognize, of course, that some questions that seem weird or outside of the job description might be strategic, to uncover how good of a fit you will be on the team or at the company. But generally, you should be able to tie every single answer back to the job you are interviewing for. To do that, though, you have to go back to #1, and totally understand the job based on the description (or your digging). It would not be inappropriate to ask a clarifying question, such as: Based on the job description, I thought the role of this job would do more of [THIS:________] than [THAT:_________]. Is that what you understand? Feel free to dig down on this part of the discussion. Being precise about the role and expectations is not bad at all. In theory, you are there to evaluate the company and opportunity and team as much as they are evaluating you (but emotions are way different, depending on which side of the table you are sitting!). You could also ask: What would success look like (or, how would you measure success) in the first 3 6 months? I find this to be not as effective as the question above, but it could help you get more clarity for the role. Besides, its a solid interview question for candidates. I know that we, as candidates, assume the people who bring us in know what they are doing. Look, people have been saying recruiting is broken and hiring is broken for decades. Theres a reason for that. You cant assume they know what they want, or that they communicate well with one another. Go in ready for some obvious poor communication and assumptions on their end that have preceded you. The two steps above should help you be more prepared in that situation.

How Online Dating Can Bridge Cultural Barriers

How Online Dating Can Bridge Cultural Barriers There was a time when online dating was regarded with a certain amount of disdain. Surely going online to find a partner was the last resort when all other options had been exhausted? We can tell from the popularity of dating websites nothing could be further from the truth. People date online for all sorts of reasons, but one interesting aspect of this activity is the way it can break down international barriers. Why have a relationship with the guy who works in accounts when you could introduce yourself to some fabulous French vineyard owner, or an Australian scuba diving instructor? The possibilities are endless. So how do you get to know someone from foreign climes via your keyboard? Why a foreign partner? Having experienced relationships with partners on our own doorstep, a natural aspiration is to expand your horizons. There could be any number of reasons for doing this. Perhaps you are learning a foreign language and would like to have someone you could web chat with to hone your skills. Some people might be interested to find out more about a certain country from someone who has local knowledge. If you intend traveling to a particular location, nothing would beat having your own dedicated tour guide to meet you at the airport, then provide you with free accommodation for the duration of your stay. Registering with a site The first step in your quest for global romance should be to sign-on with a dating website.   The good news is there are many of these to choose from. You can fine-tune what it is you are looking by considering whatever criteria are most important to you, whether thats the best dating site for over 40 romance or one that is popular in numerous countries. It is often free to join and once you have become a member you can begin to check out the profiles of other site users. Its very easy to set the parameters for the type of person you are looking for.   Geographical location is certainly one of these, enabling you to ensure you get access to a wide cross-section of potential partners. There are chat rooms in these sites where you can introduce yourself and get involved in group discussions. But for the type of connection youre seeking, a one-on-one chat would probably be more useful. These sites are set up to accommodate informal get-togethers in a relaxed and discreet environment. In some instances, you can instigate a conversation with someone whose profile you are drawn to by sending a wink. This is the equivalent of smiling at a stranger across a crowded room to let them know someone is interested. Once you establish contact you can start exchanging text messages, gradually getting to know more about your prospective partner. Of course, the obvious drawback is that you cant exactly arrange to hook up for drinks anytime soon if the person lives in a different timezone. But you can always make the most of the existing technology to arrange regular web chats. Cultural differences You always need to be wary of cultural nuances. Behavior acceptable in certain parts of the world may be deemed inappropriate in others. The good news is many of these dating sites are so much more than a platform to arrange to date. They offer all sorts of interesting guidance about dos and donts when it comes to communicating with a foreigner. A lot of these differences are more likely to cause a chuckle than offense.   So getting used to each others backgrounds can be part of the fun. The more chemistry you establish, the more you might feel like arranging your next holiday with your new friend.

How Small Businesses Can Slash Costs

How Small Businesses Can Slash Costs Small Businesses and new start up companies face a difficult task when they are starting out in fact it is estimated that over half of these companies fail within five years with the majority citing finances as one of the main reasons. So what can small businesses do in order to remain competitive and continue trading? Join us as we take a look at some of the best cost cutting methods that could help keep many small businesses alive. Recruitment Costs What is a company without any employees? Once you have started your business you are more than likely going to need some help to run it, but where do you find these willing people? Many traditional recruitment firms can charge a lot of money and if your staff turnover is particularly high then this can lead to large costs. Help is at hand though as specialist recruitment company eRecruit Solutions are able to assist small business owners by lowering the overall cost of find staff. With a dedicated online team and a flat fee recruitment service they are certain to save you money! Buying As Well As Selling When running a new or small company it is important to get your price points right for your products and services or no one will purchase them. However it is equally important to make sure that you do your research and negotiate equally good deal for the products that you are buying in. Making sure that you get the best deal on all computer hardware can save you quite a bit of money in one go, but also consider looking at your on-going costs like stationery and utility bills. Getting the best deals here can really save your company money in the long run. Lease Equipment Starting out can seem like a daunting task so keeping your overheads down is essential to survival â€" one great way to do this is to lease certain equipment. If you require a vehicle to travel to appointments or get from place to place then renting one could save on an initial outlay of cash and in the event of breakdown or repairs it wont be your business that is forking out. Go Paperless Not only will you have the financial benefits of saving money on printer ink costs and paper you will also have a host of environmental benefits for your company as well. Transferring information or invoices digitally can cut down the amount of time it takes to send information to people and will also allow you to store a digital copy for reference. 1

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Be More Productive When Youre Crazy Busy

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Be More Productive When You're Crazy Busy If youre not able to self-regulate to shift gears when necessary then you may find yourself burned out and unproductive. A new book looks at how to find the right gear at the right time in order to thrive. Next time you dont want to beinterrupted while working, try posting a 5 on your office door or cubicle. If your co-workers are familiar with the idea that this means you are in fifth gear and are totally immersed in what youre doing and shouldnt be distracted, then they will leave you alone. Could it really be that simple toeliminate distractions at workand be more effective? According to a new book, 5 Gears: How to Be Present and Productive When There is Never Enough Time, authors Jeremie Kubicek and Steve Cockram say that if everyone would learn the various gears and what they mean, then they could operate in a communication shorthand and help everyone be more productive. Much like the gears in a car, the authors say their gears are: 1stgear:This is your time to fully rest and recharge. 2ndgear:You take time to connect with family and friends without an agenda or pressure to work or be productive. 3rdgear:This is your time to socialize. While you may believe this isnt important at work, Kubicek says that you must be really, really good at it to be productive. Thats because if you shut yourself away in your office and dont interact with your team members, you canmake the entire team more unproductive. 4thgear:Youve now moved into the work gear. This means checking off your to-do list and often multitasking. Most people spend their day in this gear. 5thgear:As mentioned earlier, youre in the zone andthinking strategically. The reason its important for teams to learn these gears(read more here)

11 powerful ways to bounce back from generic email rejections - Debut

11 powerful ways to bounce back from generic email rejections - Debut This post is written by a member of the Debut Student Publisher Network. Read on for  Hirans  advice on sticking it to generic email rejections. The job market can feel like a lonely, unforgiving place,  especially for grads who are treading these shark-infested waters for the first time. When it comes to applications, everyone tells you that rejections are simply a part of the process (and theyre right). But its still pretty shit. And the worst ones are  definitely generic email rejections. Sometimes they can be absolutely brutal, but in others there are actually good reasons why you receive them. Nevertheless, recruiters have tried to give advice on how to deal with email rejection, but sometimes keeping your chin up doesnt cut it. With links to scientific research, the best guides on the internet and some great advice from people who have been there, heres  a great list of proactive methods to help you bounce back from those dreaded Dear Applicant, we regret to inform you emails. 1. Do some exercise When you first read that email, it can feel like a kick in the stomach. There is actually a scientific reason for that. However, research suggests that this can be counteracted by physical activity, releasing endorphins that make you happier. Dont worry, you dont need a run a marathon (!), but a quick 7 minute all-around workout can be all it takes to make you feel  immediately better. 2. Create a comfortable, social distraction Have you ever felt like you wanted to crawl into bed and shut the curtains after receiving a number of these dreaded emails? Thats totally natural. However, psychologists have shown that doing something social can remind you that that you are loved and connected. It might be a struggle and dont force yourself, but going out for a drink or having a night-in with loved ones could provide the right distraction. 3. Celebrate your courage Speaking of bravery, dont forget to pat yourself on the back for getting through the application process. Applying for jobs is gruelling, and with the volume of applications youre doing you might not realise that youre pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Rejection is a sign that you are getting there, dont give up. 4. Thank them and ask for feedback This probably sounds like the last thing you want to do. Remember, recruiters are HUMAN.  Even if they use a bot to send you an email, most will have read through your application and given you a piece of their time. Thanking recruiters  takes five minutes with a template, will be much appreciated and could provide  you with a gem to make your next application a hiring one. Feedback is golden. 5. Dont over-analyse Try not to keep going through the highlights of an application or interview gone wrong. Over-analysing scenarios can draw our attention to insignificant details and forget about the more important things. Try to focus on the big picture  and identify  one overarching thing you would have done differently. Build with baby steps. 6. Be honest with yourself This is always the hardest one, but the most rewarding if done properly. Whilst generic email rejections, especially by email, can be crippling you can use the learnings to your advantage. Take the fear out of it by making a plan of action. Write down a list of areas you are confident on, and others you want to improve. Set yourself progressive deadlines and evaluate your development. (And dont forget to reward yourself!) 7. Make a bragging rights list Once you have done some introspective, inject some positivity into your job search. This rejection doesnt define you and there are plenty of things you are amazing at so make a list. Claim bragging rights over skills, qualities and actions that you think are unique to you. Affirmations are a great way to do this and you can repeat these every day. 8. Be a maker, not a faker The world belongs to the people who choose to make things. This fantastic statement and  blog post  by James Clear emphasises the point that rejection shouldnt discourage you from creating things. If you are a creator or distributor, then keep doing your thing. These days, everyones got a side hustle and thats whats making them different. 9. Become rejection proof If you are feeling really adventurous, then you can try and become rejection proof. This cool experiment from Jia Jiang shows how tackling fear and hearing the word no can help to build the confidence to prepare for an eventual yes. Jiang got rejected for 100 days straight before he finally got the youre hired finger pointed in his direction. 10. Stand out from the crowd (with minimal effort) Sometimes generic email rejections can come from your application not standing out in the initial stages. Luckily, there are some great tools  to make your CV pop online, even if you dont have a developed LinkedIn profile. This developer even hit the headlines for his Mario-style visual resume. And remember,  dont compromise on quality and clarity substance is definitely more important than style. 11. Get back on the horse, champ It sounds like a cliché, but you are only one application away from getting a yes. Hopefully these tips will have boosted your mood, helped you to take the learnings, developed confidence in your ability and changed your attitude towards rejection. Youre ready. You got this. And who knows, when you are  really successful, you might even be putting these generic email rejections  on the wall to remind you where you started from! Feature image ©  TopResume.com Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Hiran on Twitter @Hiran_Adhia Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter