We have another emergency e-mail, this time from reader M, who wonders how to get her resume to stand out from the pack:
There is a job opening in a creative field that is right up my alley at a company I’m very passionate about. Among other things, this company is a bit offbeat and irreverent. I want to apply with a creative flourish but want your and readers’ advice as to whether this approach has the potential to backfire.
I truly think the people making the hiring decisions would really appreciate the novelty of a bold move: I could find their favorite lunch delivery spot and have my resume delivered along with their regular order. A bit off the wall but is that what it takes to distinguish yourself these days in this economy? I’d love to hear about your hiring/interviewing experiences for some guidance.
This is an interesting question, and I hope the readers can offer you some interesting feedback! (Pictured: Cool Blog Sociale – 10 July 2008 – Creative hire Resume T-shirt by BlackBirdTees, originally uploaded to Flickr by SOCIALisBETTER. We might advise against wearing a t-shirt with your resume on the back, though.) For my own $.02, I’m normally against these kinds of gimicky things to get noticed because, in theory, your resume should speak the loudest. However, if the creative field has anything to do with getting people’s attention, your idea isn’t bad — it shows you’re resourceful (found their favorite lunch place), and determined to get their attention. (Although I might worry about your resume getting soiled by food stains or getting crinkly from steam… but that’s me.)
I think the best advice I can offer here is to figure out if you know anyone at the company, or if you know anyone who knows anyone at the company. Seriously, go as far into your connections as possible. Poll your friends on Facebook, scour your LinkedIn connections, send the query to your college listservs — you might even try giving the career office at your alma mater(s) a call to see if they know of any graduates working there. (Perhaps try your favorite professors, also, if you’re still in touch with any of them.) Ask your significant others/parents/best friends to do the same for you. Find a personal connection. Take care to be fairly vague in what you’re asking in case your current boss somehow sees your query.
Then, once you’ve got a connection, do your best to connect — everyone has time for a 15-minute phone conversation, or for someone to drop by their office for an informational interview for a friend. This connection will be able to tell you — far better than I will, or the readers will — how to get your resume to stand out, and how to ace the interview once you’ve got it.
Readers, what are your tips?
Tagged as:
how to get your resume noticed,
interviews,
resumes
We haven’t answered this kind of question in a while, so we thought we’d answer reader K’s question…
My dream job has requested an “informal” interview for this week. The purpose is for the potential new boss to become familiar with my communication style; a formal interview would follow if I am successful. He is looking to meet at a coffee shop anytime during the day, evening, or even on the weekend.
How do I dress for an interview that is labeling itself as low-key? I’m not a JD or MBA, but I do have an advanced degree in a profession known for being a bit more casual. I feel like a cardigan should be included, but beyond that, I am clueless. Thank you!
First off: congrats on getting the informal interview, and good luck on the interview whenever it takes place.
Second: Avoid the weekend interview at all costs. Talk about a confusing dress code! On a weekday interview, if you’re overdressed, then maybe it’s because of your current job’s requirements. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the evening or during the day, but the important thing is that you are coming or going to your job.
For my $.02, I would avoid a cardigan for a job interview. It doesn’t convey authority, competence, or intelligence — or really any of the general things you want a prospective employer to think about you. It might convey that you’re demure — it will definitely convey that you’re chilly. (I have no problem, obviously, with wearing a cardigan to work — I am wearing one as I type this.) I think that for an interview — particularly a first one — you want to make the best impression possible, and that, to me, means a blazer at the very least.
That said, were it my dream job, I would bust out a full suit. (Pictured, Elie Tahari Exclusive for Nordstrom ‘Ava’ Jacket, available at Nordstrom for $298. Also, be sure to check out our guide to interview suits here.) I’d probably stick with a pants suit for the “informal” interview — perhaps even in a “friendlier” color like a gray or a brown — and amp up to a skirt suit in a more severe black or navy for the “real” interview, but that’s me. If it’s a job that really, really does not entail any sort of professional wear then I might go with a sheath dress and blazer, or perhaps a pair of non-matching trousers, paired with the blazer. (Incidentally, I’m hard-pressed to think of a career that doesn’t require a suit occasionally — even a kindergarten teacher, who may be working on/near the ground with kids, would wear a suit from time to time. I often think of doctors as being fairly casually dressed in real life, but I would still think a suit would be appropriate for an interview.)
Readers, what are your thoughts for reader K’s informal interview attire? Can anyone think of a career where a suit wouldn’t be appropriate?
Tagged as:
informal interview,
informal interview attire,
informational interview,
weekend interview,
what to wear to a weekend interview,
what to wear to an informal interview,
what to wear to an informational interview
Here’s a question for the readers today: what is the best piece of interview advice you’ve ever received? (Or: What’s the best tip for interviewing you learned the hard way?) As millions of job-seekers flood career fairs at business schools and law schools, this seems an apt time to talk about it. (Pictured: Will Work for Cheese, originally uploaded to Flickr by walknboston.)
For my $.02, the best interview advice that I got was to figure out what wasn’t on your resume, but is a great employee trait. Are you a great team player? Extremely creative? Can you think outside the box but in a practical way? Lovely — now try to remember stories from your past that illustrate those qualities. Try to do this with two or three traits (and memories that illustrate those traits). I wouldn’t advise you to rehearse these stories — you never want to sound rehearsed in an interview — but you may want to spend 5 minutes and bang out an email to yourself putting the memory to words. Not only does this a) boost your confidence, but b) it gives you a go-to story if you get asked one of those odd questions that interviewers sometimes throw at you.
Ok, readers — what’s your best interview advice?
Check out all of our old interviewing posts here.
Tagged as:
best interview advice,
best interview tips,
interview advice,
interview tips
Last week, we had The Corporette Guide to Interview Suits. We thought we’d do a round-up of black pumps today, another must-have for the interview wardrobe. However, we thought we’d challenge ourselves by only rounding up good-looking shoes under $100…
  Love the side detail on these pumps — it adds a bit of texture and interest without detracting from the classic shape; also love the cushioned footbed. They’re available in black (patent and kid), beige, and navy at Zappos.com for $54. LifeStride – Haze (Black Premier Kid/Sherillo) – Footwear |
 For some reason, we love the look to these shoes. They strike us as classic and beautiful. We particularly like the rounded toe, the stacked heel, and the non-slip panel on the sole. They’re available at CalvinKlein.com for $98. Selene Leather Pump (Note — there’s a great taupe pair on sale at Shoes.com for $75; take an additional 15% off with code 15OFF.) |
 We like the stacked 2.75″ heel on these, as well as the promise of a “plush, cushioned footbed.” Nice! They’re available in black, a purpley “burgandy” suede, and a gray “pewter” leather for $99 at EddieBauer.com (sizes 6-12). Eddie Bauer Dress Pumps |
  This highly-rated shoe on Zappos has a bit of a platform to it, which can make the high heel (almost 4″) far easier to walk in — and in general we’ve had great luck with Franco Sarto shoes. They’re available at Zappos.com in black (patent and kid), gray, taupe, gold, and magenta for $80.10 (they were $89). Franco Sarto – Napoli (Black Kidskin Leather) – Footwear |
 This is a great pump with a classic look that, for reasons we can’t put our fingers on, almost has a slight vintage vibe to it. It’s available in red, teal, and “whiskey” brown at Endless.com for $89.95. Seychelles Women’s Code Pump,Black |
  Today only specials – 6pm.com has a ton of great black pumps on sale today, also, which we’d be remiss if we didn’t point you towards. We like the BCBG Generation Edith, pictured (BCBGeneration – Edith (Black Synthetic Kid) – Footwear , was $49, now $19.60 at 6pm.com for today only), as well as the a patent leather pump from Volatile (VOLATILE – Molly (Black) – Footwear, was $49.99, now $15) (pictured at the very top of this post), and the Sofft Rivoli (Sofft – Rivoli (Black Madras Kid Skin) – Footwear, was $99.95, now $34.95). |
Readers, what are your favorite inexpensive heels?
(L-16)
Tagged as:
black pumps,
comfortable heels,
inexpensive heels,
interview shoes,
pumps,
women's black pumps
With interview season for schools right around the corner, we thought now would be a great time to do a general guide to suits — where to get ‘em, how much to expect to pay, and what the general pros and cons of each type of suit are. In comments, please chime in — let us know your favorite brands, and why you like ‘em. Don’t forget to check out our guides to suits for petite women, as well as guide to suits for tall women and plus sizes, and to check out our general “what to wear on an interview” advice.
  Suit sets. These are often found in dedicated areas of department stores like Macy’s and discount stores like Filene’s — brands like Tahari, Kasper, Le Suit abound. These are generally sold as a set (you buy the jacket and the skirt together for one price). Prices may range from under $100 to closer to $350, and the suiting is generally made from polyester and lined. Pros: Price — with coupons and sales it’s not unusual to find extremely low-cost suits. Cons: Off-the-rack fit. The selection may include a number of very dated styles. Because they’re made of polyester, they can be sticky and hot in summertime; there may be other fun side effects like retaining smells even after dry cleaning. For my $.02, I’ve had great luck with Tahari skirt suits in basic black from this area of the mall — otherwise you generally do need to be very careful re: fit, particularly with pants. Pictured: Tahari by ASL Suit, Modern Classic Jacket & Skirt, available at Macy’s for $139. |
 Mall Suit Separates (Inexpensive). A number of brands do make inexpensive suiting separates — AK Anne Klein, Ellen Tracy, perhaps Nine West and Inc., as well. These separates will be far from the “suit department,” hidden among the brand’s regular clothes. Still, you can find great deals here, and because they’re separates, you can get a better fit if you prefer different sizes for your tops and bottoms. I’ve had good luck with the AK Anne Klein separates. Pros: Price, better fit. Cons: The suit may veer towards the trendy, or too casual — fabrics like linen, stretch denim, etc. should not be worn for interviews. Pictured: AK Anne Klein One Button Navy Jacket & Pencil Skirt, available at Macy’s for ~$210 (for jacket, skirt, and pants. |
  Mall Stores – Separates. Banana Republic, J.Crew, and Ann Taylor have been long-standing favorites for many women. Their fits are more modern, and a single suiting look may come with multiple options — different types of jackets, different cuts of pants. (Tip: If you’re trying to choose between a two-button and three-button jacket, consider your bust: if you have one, you’ll probably want to opt for the three-button.) At most of these places, a suit (or several parts of a suit) can be purchased for between $300-$500. Pros: Price is still really reasonable, but you can frequently see more natural fibers — wool, cotton — with a bit of stretch. Cons: You may walk into a conference room and find you’re wearing the same suit as another woman. Be sure to watch the trendier items at these stores also — at an interview you should avoid wearing things like a mini-skirt, a tulip skirt, or a ruffled jacket. Pictured: Banana Republic Tall lightweight wool black blazer , available at Banana Republic for about $375 (for jacket, pants, and skirt. |
  Better Department Store Brands: The next step up, for many, is Theory — their suit separates can be found in better department stores like Bloomingdale’s. Nordstrom’s carries a number of lines (Classiques Entier, Rebecca Taylor, Nanette Lepore) with the added bonus of, often, free tailoring — which can be great if, like me, you’re just a little bit too short for regular pants. We’d put Brooks Brothers in this category as well — better suiting materials, free tailoring. Pros: Much better fit because of the tailoring; better fabrics; the clothes last longer. Cons: Price point starts to creep up. Pictured: Theory ‘Gabe B – Tailor’ Jacket, available at Nordstrom for $620 (jacket and pants). |
 Designer. What better way to announce that you have arrived than with a classic designer suit? We still think of Armani as the “power suit,” but there are a ton of brands — both old and new — in this space. Pros: Fabric; a long wear with the clothes, the timeless benefit of someone seeing your tag if you take off your jacket. Cons: Price. Pictured: Armani Collezioni Lightweight Cropped Wool Jacket & Lightweight Wool Pants, available at Saks.com for $1610 (jacket and pants). |
Readers, what brands and tiers have we left out? Which kind of suits do YOU usually pull out for interviews?
Reader A, a CPAA with 12 years of experience, writes with some great questions…
How does one negotiate a good compensation package? I have only ever worked for local firms. The salary data online seems to reflect “big 4″ or equivalent pay scales. I have talked to a few headhunters and they all seem to think I should be making more than I am. What do I do when a prospective employer asks point blank what I am making now? I don’t want to lowball myself.
This is a particularly apt question in light of this post on the Bucks blog, calling attention to another blog posting wherein the author admitted to “bumping” her current salary up $5,000 when her interviewer asked what she was paid, and then asking for another $5,000 when they offered her the job with a “matched” salary. Long story short: it’s illegal to lie about your salary in job interviews! So… don’t try that tactic.
Pictured: Fossil – Weekender Checkbook Clutch (Bright Orange), available at Zappos for $48 in orange, black, camel, espresso, green, and fun florals. Love the colorful insides and all the pockets.
Our recommendation would be twofold. First, let’s say that you’re at Company X. if you can get TWO job offers from Company Y and Company Z, you can sometimes play them against each other — we would probably avoid naming names, at least unless pressed, and see if company Y will increase your salary to match what company Z is offering. Don’t leave Company X out of the mix, either, unless you’re looking for a new job because you hate your old one — rather than quitting outright, talk to the Powers that Be at Company X and say, “Company Y has offered me $__ to jump ship!” And see if Company X will match it… and then go forward from there.
A second recommendation would be to really look at what your lower-salary job is actually giving you. Do you get four weeks vacation? How are your health insurance benefits? Are there other perks, like discounts to a local gym, or on-site daycare? We would factor that into the discussion, once the interviewer raises the issue. For example: “I currently make $__ in dollars, but there are a number of perks that I’ve enjoyed for years and that you don’t offer. To be honest, I would probably put a pricetag of $5K on those perks.” Be totally honest — and KNOW what perks the interviewer does and does not offer. In fact, this discussion might be a good time to assess those intangible perks.
This great article from CBS MoneyWatch also suggests classics like asking for a signing bonus, a performance bonus, stock options, or asking for more perks.
Readers, what are your best tips for salary negotiation? Any great victory stories to share?
Tagged as:
higher salary,
Interviewing,
salary negotiation
