#accountingandfinancerecruiter

Staff Accountant – Northwest Houston – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

Staff Accountant

Who wouldn’t want to work for company that has been in business for almost 100 years! Talk about stability! This company also offers a laid back environment,  a family culture and is number two in the nation!

Overview:

• Posting, balancing, and reconciliation of the general ledger. Reviews entries to the ledger to assure accuracy.
• Performs bank reconciliation monthly. Verifies all deposits, withdrawals, and wire transfers. Addresses questions and problems from banking institutions.
• Performs account analysis and reconciliation, and sets up new accounts.
• Reconciles daily cash flow to monthly bank statements. Reviews daily cash bank reports and analyzes as required.
• Verifies, posts, and reconciles payroll.
• Assists General Accounting Manager with year-end audit.
• Maintains control over and distributes sales force incentive spreadsheets for all sales divisions.

Requirements: 

  • Bachelors in Accounting or Finance
  • 1 to 2 years of Reconciliations experience
  • Advanced Excel

Contact:

dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

 

Healthcare Collections & Billing Manager – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire
Healthcare Collections & Billing Manager – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

#jobs

JOB SUMMARY
Supervises billing and collection staff and oversees the day-to-day operations of billing and collection departments.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES
  • Supervises billing and collection staff and expedites the day-to-day operations of both departments.
  • Continuously evaluates workflows for billing and collection departments. Recommends and initiates improvements as identified.
  • Develops and maintains policy and procedure documents for billing and collection functions.
  • Works with operations to collaborate on business policies, procedure, objectives, and problem solving.
  • Monitors, documents, and provides feedback to staff on performance and contribution. Administer performance plan and/or disciplinary action as needed.
  • Motivates staff to perform at optimum levels and creates a positive and productive work environment.
  • Ensures practices are in compliance with HIPAA and all other regulatory rules and regulations.
  • Responsible for staffing processes to include recruiting, interviewing, hiring, new employee orientation, and training for billing and collection departments.
  • Prepares, analyzes and interprets daily, weekly, and monthly billing reports for management use. Makes recommendations for group performance improvements based on information from reports.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
  • Required: High school diploma or equivalent. Undergraduate degree preferred but will substitute experience in lieu of degree.
Experience:
  • Required: Two or more years of accounts receivable leadership experience in healthcare industry.

Don’t have much experience? Here’s how to boost your resume via http://advice.careerbuilder.com/

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

http://advice.careerbuilder.com/posts/dont-have-much-experience-heres-how-to-boost-your-resume?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=US&linkId=18626670

Don’t have much experience? Here’s how to boost your resume

4 SURE-FIRE WAYS TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR RESUME.
http://advice.careerbuilder.com/

It’s one of the most frustrating experiences any job seeker faces: After a rigorous search, you’ve found a job that you’re really excited about, where you’ll work on interesting things with like-minded people and in a great location. The catch? The job requires experience, often more than a recent college graduate has under his belt. As disheartening as this situation is, it isn’t necessarily the end of the line.

Here are some ways you can boost your resume to help you secure your dream job:

Become an intern
Many colleges and universities require students to complete an internship prior to graduation. This might lead some to believe that internships are only for students, which is untrue. Some internship programs do require that their interns receive class credit, but those typically are unpaid and rely on the class credits as compensation. Many paid internships have no student-status requirements or age limitations. Internships offer excellent experience and networking opportunities, and they can often lead to a full-time job offer.

Volunteer
Experience doesn’t have to come from the private sector. While volunteer work is mainly associated with altruism, there’s no reason it can’t benefit your career as well. Doing nonprofit work that is associated with your education and your desired job is a great way to hone your skills, gain real-world experience and help others in the process. Many companies encourage their employees to volunteer their time, which is a great opportunity for you to network with professionals and show how you’d fit in with the corporate culture.

Keep learning
Just because you’ve graduated, it doesn’t mean that you’re done learning. One question employers commonly ask in a job interview is how you’ve been spending your time since graduation. Telling them you’ve been sleeping late and filling out the occasional application isn’t going to make you stand out. However, talking about continuing-education classes or industry-related seminars you’ve attended, and discussing how they relate to the position, will likely make a lasting impression.

Strengthen your cover letter
The cover letter is your opportunity to explain to an employer how your experience measures up to the company’s needs. Highlight similarities between work you’ve done and the work that will be required in the open position. Smart employers don’t make their hiring decisions based on years of experience alone. This is your chance to sell them on why your specific experiences make you uniquely suited for the job.

#JOBS

#dianedelgadolemaire

3 Steps to Improve your Resume by Erica (Wezner) Tew, CPRW via http://www.social-hire.com/

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

Personally, these are the things I like: 

  1. Chronological Resume
  2. Bullet Points (please don’t write paragraphs)
  3. Summary NOT objective (showcase your strengths)
  4. If you have graduated in the past 5 years (Education on top)
  5. Certifications, such as the CPA listed behind your name!
  6. Software section….detailed excel skills…lets face it I work with Accountants and Finance Professionals
  7. Achievements – What have you done to save time or money? Can you quantify that? Again, I work with F&A Professionals
  8. A brief explanation of what the company does and their annual sales, i.e. 300M publicly traded Manufacturer of Widgets

Now on to the article…….

3 Steps to Improve your Resume by Erica (Wezner) Tew, CPRW

http://www.social-hire.com/career–interview-advice/4880/3-steps-to-improve-your-resume?utm_content=bufferd9024&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Writing a quality resume will take some time. For best results, do not rush this process. Spend time in your job search researching an employer before sending a resume. It is better to have three value-driven resumes sent in one week than it is to send 30 of the same document at the click of your mouse. The goal of your resume is to get an interview, so if you haven’t been receiving invitations, try out some of these modifications:

  • Don’t hide important information – You may be changing careers or industries, and may be prone to try out a resume that is more functional in style than most. However, all recruiters and hiring managers want to see your work history. If you bury your work history and dates of employment, or choose not to include them at all, you will be raising red flags. To mitigate this, state clearly up front which field you are transitioning into and focus on your results. Although your work history may be outside of your target field, refusing to mention it at all will lead the employer to draw their own conclusions about a potential gap in employment.

Hiding recent dates or work history will also make your resume unclear or even confusing.  At a time when recruiters are reviewing resumes anywhere from within 30 to 6 seconds, you need to make sure the sections they want to scan towards are readily available.

  • Show your results – Not everyone will have executive level achievements, but if you only state your job duties, you are missing a chance to impress a hiring manager. Figuring out your achievements can be tricky. You may not have gotten any formal recognition for a particular event, or maybe you just think you simply “did your job” every day.

To start, think of a time you improved, or helped improve, a work process and describe it. Did you ever go above and beyond for a customer? Did that customer become a regular customer because of your service? Did you see a way the company could save money and either implement a solution, or successfully raise the idea to your manager? Any of these items could be incorporated into your job descriptions, and they will add more weight to your work history. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see your results, so show them what you have done. The job search isn’t the time to be modest: own your achievements.

  • Customize the resume – This one is huge. Most job seekers that work with a resume writer or career advisor know they have to customize their resume for each position, however, this means more than just editing your Headline or Objective. Achievements, Education, Areas of Expertise, and Work History descriptions: if a section does not relate to your target job at all, modify it.

For example, although many people may be proud of their collegiate accomplishments, these should not take space over your work history and results.  Turning a solid one- or two-page resume into three or four pages because you want to include names of companies or school awards from over 10 years ago will not effectively market you.  Further information can always be provided upon request, but focus on keeping your resume concise and to-the-point for your initial contact.

Say you were using a dating website and you sent the same message to every person that said something like, “Hi, I read your profile and you seem interesting.  You would be perfect for me.  Call me at 555-555-1234.”  Would you call that person?  Or would you think they were a bit presumptive (and maybe a little odd, coming out of left field)? Most people would rather respond to the person that said something that shows they really read your profile, and wanted to get to know you more. Although the job search isn’t dating, both are the beginning of potentially long-term commitments. Focus on finding a match for you and then do your best to create a positive first impression.

Use the job posting as your guide and make sure you try to match each qualification or skill called for in the advertisement. Try to make the recruiter’s job easy and show you have the qualifications, then see Step 2 and emphasize your results.

If you don’t know where to begin with customizing your resume, showing results, or determining the best format for you, then I recommend getting in contact with a resume writer or someone within your field.  Conduct research on job search sites such as this one, and you can be better prepare yourself on what it takes to draft a resume that will capture attention and secure an interview.

Is it OK to Bend the Truth in Your Resume? By Sophie Deering Via www.theundercoverrecruiter.com/

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

Is it OK to Bend the Truth in Your Resume?

Is it OK to Bend the Truth in Your Resume?// // 3e3):(d.fillText(String.fromCharCode(55357,56835),0,0),0!==d.getImageData(16,16,1,1).data[0])):!1}function e(a){var c=b.createElement(“script”);c.src=a,c.type=”text/javascript”,b.getElementsByTagName(“head”)[0].appendChild(c)}var f,g;c.supports={simple:d(“simple”),flag:d(“flag”)},c.DOMReady=!1,c.readyCallback=function(){c.DOMReady=!0},c.supports.simple&&c.supports.flag||(g=function(){c.readyCallback()},b.addEventListener?(b.addEventListener(“DOMContentLoaded”,g,!1),a.addEventListener(“load”,g,!1)):(a.attachEvent(“onload”,g),b.attachEvent(“onreadystatechange”,function(){“complete”===b.readyState&&c.readyCallback()})),f=c.source||{},f.concatemoji?e(f.concatemoji):f.wpemoji&&f.twemoji&&(e(f.twemoji),e(f.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings);

// ]]>// //

Bending the truth in your resume can be a double-edged sword. It may help you get the job you apply for, while getting caught bending the truth can come back to bite you years later. Depending on the truth you bend, you might cause legal issues for yourself, especially if you are bidding for a project as a contractor.

It’s sometimes a temptation to exaggerate your experience or give your job title a slight upgrade, but I suggest you think twice before “embellishing” your skills or experience, or you may find yourself looking over your shoulder for years to come.

Background checks are common practice when making hiring decisions, so it is likely that you will be caught out, and it’s foolish to put the effort into applying for a job and going on job interviews, just to lose out because you’ve been dishonest to try and make your resume look more impressive.

Fake it ‘til you make it:

What’s wrong with this strategy? If you are experienced and knowledgeable and you just need a little boost to your confidence to help you get your dream job, you are not really faking anything. This strategy may actually benefit you as it gives you confidence and motivation to move forward. However, if you are really faking your qualification and knowledge when, in reality, you have little or no capability or experience to back up the way you represent yourself on your resume, this will not end well. You will come across as disingenuous and deceitful, and will likely shoot yourself in the foot.

Leave out certain information:

Although you never want to outright lie on your resume, you do want to present yourself in a favorable light. This could mean leaving certain information out. If you are applying for a technical position and you have worked as a shelf stocker at a grocery store, you don’t have to include this in your resume. Doing so will just waste valuable space on your resume that you can use to elaborate on the achievements you had at the relevant jobs.

In addition, sometimes you may want to leave out information that make you seem overqualified for the job you are applying for. The bottom line is you want to leave out information, no matter how impressive, that makes you look like the wrong candidate for the position.

Don’t exaggerate your position:

While you might have done more than your position required and think that you deserve a more senior position, you don’t want to lie about your position. For example, you worked as an intern at a company but worked as hard as your manager. You can’t change your job title from intern to manager on your resume. You can still explain your achievements at the job and demonstrate to your prospective employers that you are a hardworking candidate.

Sometimes it is tempting to stretch the truth a little on your resume. However, if you don’t want to be worried about someone in Human Resource decides to audit their files, don’t lie on your resume.

Get the job without lying:

If you are well-qualified and your skills are in demand, it’s likely you will be able to overcome some obstacles to the land the job you want. Referrals are a good way of boosting your chances of getting hired, even if you do not fit the exact criteria for the role, as a good recommendation goes a long way; so do your best to impress anyone who has influence over the hiring decisions.

If the job you want requires a degree, instead of fabricating one and risking getting caught out, look into how you can actually attain one. There are lots of options available for working professionals to study from home, so why not take up a course in your free time?

E&P Revenue Accountant – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

Responsibilities:

Record revenue, remit royalties and pay taxes for oil/gas sales associated with properties.

Record associated gas balancing entries and reconcile production versus revenue recorded.

Review and process division of interest changes received from Land Administration and if necessary, reverse and rebook revenue associated with such changes.

Monitor and reconcile accounts receivables. Analyze and reconcile general ledger accounts and prepare accounting entries. Invoice various purchasers for gas sales.

Record Pipeline Imbalances and Cashouts.

Reconcile Intercompany accounts related to assigned properties.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting desired. A business degree in a related field will be considered.

CPA a plus, 2+ years of oil and gas revenue accounting experience required.

Working knowledge of and ability to apply generally accepted accounting principles.

Proficient in MS Excel.

Ability to gather and communicate data logically, accurately, and concisely.

Position requires sound analytical ability.

Must be able to meet rigorous deadlines and work effectively with others.

Must be able to perform most assignments with minimal supervision.

April 2015 Newsletter for Accounting & Finance Professionals in Houston by Diane Delgado LeMaire @ CFS

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

April 2015

Industry News and Updates
First things first. Please make sure that you have added my new email address to your contacts. It is dlemaire@cfstaffing.com.

With Q1 behind us lets jump right into the update for Houston. I am sure everyone is curious about the oil & gas prices and what impact they are having  on the job market in Houston. I have been in the recruiting industry for almost 14 years and have already been through 2 full blown recessions. 2015 has been an interesting year so far.  I feel like our local economy has taken a hit from the drop of Oil & Gas, but it’s not as severe (knock on wood) as I thought it would be. Some might beg to differ but, let me explain!

Obviously, Houston has been impacted by the depressed prices. Most Exploration & Production companies are not hiring at all. Some are even laying off, but downstream and midstream companies are still hiring. They are actually benefiting from the drop in price. Not to mention the back log of construction projects that are still on the books. We are also seeing increased demand from consumer products based companies (retail, restaurant, healthcare). Houston has gained nearly 570,000 residents in the past 5 years!

Just imagine the resources they will need from housing, healthcare to groceries and cars!

So, is the job market as good as it was last year? The simple answer is no, but there are still a lot of opportunities out there in several other industries outside of “oil & gas”.

Until next time..

Local Statistics:

  • National / Houston Unemployment rate:8/4.3
  • Price of Oil:$56.71(last year $100)
  • Oil Rig Count:1109 (last year 1803)
  • Industries hiring:Manufacturing, Construction, Consumer Products related companies, Real Estate & Homebuilding, Healthcare
  • Positions in demand:Controller, Financial Analyst, Tax, Internal Auditor, Payroll,

Local Searches

NEW!!!!!

– Property Accountant – Staff or Senior

– Treasury Analyst – Heavy Cash Management

– Treasury Analyst – Must speak Spanish

– Treasury Accountant – Must speak Spanish

– Controller – WIP / POC a MUST

– Full Time – Consultant – Transactions Advisory Services – All Levels!!!!

– Full Time – Consultant – Financial Advisory Services – All Levels!!!!!

– Hyperion Financial Analyst – HFM, Hyperion or Smartview experience – 1 to 2 years of experience!!!!

– Staff Accountant – work under 3 amazing controllers and learn from the best!!!!! no more than 2 years of experience needed.

– Internal Audit Manager – Pre-IPO company!

– Sales & Use Tax Accountant – staff and senior

– Payroll Manager MUST have Canadian payroll experience

– Financial Planning and Analysis Manager – HEAVY acquisition based

– AP Manager – SAP experience!!!!!

Still Looking For:

– Controller with domestic & international accounting experience (SEC too!)

– Controller, CPA with SEC

– AP Manager – bringing AP in house!

– Senior Accountant – Corporate accounting

– Director with International and Federal Tax experience – Partnership too

– Senior Auditor (less than 10% travel)

– Operational Auditor – 50% travel

– AP Supervisor – small company, family atmosphere

– Senior Accountant – Oil & Gas – Right hand person to the Controller

– Tax Analyst – Federal & State – Amazing tenure in this group!

– CFO – San Antonio – retail background preferred

– Budget Analyst – banner experience preferred

– Billing Clerk

– AP Clerk MUST speak French

News and Resources

What To Say In A Thank You Card Besides ‘Thank You’ via www.careerealism.com By Rosa Elizabeth Vargas

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

http://www.careerealism.com/say-thank-you-letter/

Have you ever felt frustrated after an interview? Sure you have! I know you’ve mentally gone over your interview answers and you remember what you DID NOT say, and you realize you missed an opportunity to REINFORCE your candidacy. Well, this is what to say in a thank you card.

Related: Mastering The Art (And Science) Of Thank You Letters

Of course, it all depends on how badly you’ve screwed things up. Sometimes, there is no backpedaling, but let’s assume for a moment you can recoup or cement your candidacy… what then do you say in your thank you letter besides thank you?

The problem with most thank you letters is they are usually prepared as just a nice gesture.

Saying thank you is a very nice thing to do; it does go a long way, but if written as an ordinary thank you, it is not strategic enough to add another dimension to your candidacy… it leverages not an additional qualifier and doesn’t elevate your interview performance.

In other words, use your thank you opportunity as a last marketing tool in order to gain a competitive distinction.

What To Say In A Thank You Card

Here are a few things you can do to take advantage of the follow-up (thank you) opportunity. Remember, now you have “insider” information you didn’t have prior to the interview – don’t waste it.

When Your Interviewer Shared A Concern

If during the interview process you were told the perfect candidate must meet XYZ and you discussed your lack in one of these areas – you need to talk about this again! Concisely bring it up, reiterate why this would not be a problem, and, in fact, promote how, despite this “weakness,” you are the PERFECT candidate.

When You Did Not Say What You Should Have Said

At times, we reflect and in retrospect recognize where we failed. Well, this is your opportunity. Bring up the topic and say you would like to elaborate, you would like to expand; you had time to think about this and want to convey the following.

When You Think You Sensed Apprehension

This is a bit risky because you could be wrong. Yet, what is life if not risky? If you are very good at ascertaining needs and you KNOW you identified a problem, “smooth” it out! Please do not say you think the interviewer did not understand… you NEVER want to convey you assume to know what others think but you can discuss what YOU failed to communicate.

You can state you would like to clarify a point you wish you had emphasized.

When You Really Just Want To Say, ‘Thank You’

There are times when you were FANTASTIC during an interview and you sincerely just want to say, “Thanks!”

Nevertheless, you don’t know how your competition performed and you are not privy as to what kind of thank you letter they are preparing. So, in this case, thank them but fortify your candidacy even further. You could…
•Accentuate three of your top qualifications as discussed during the interview. Now you have more information than you did prior to the interview – put it to work for you! Connect your qualifications with employer needs expressed during the interview.
•Bring up information they shared about the company and express how much more interested you became.
•Sell them again on the bottom-line goal they need to achieve via your employment. Seal the deal by promising to deliver.

Keep This Thank You Letter Concise

While a sales tool, it does not have to be as elaborate as your resume or cover letter.

Remember, the entire job search process is a strategic marketing effort; leverage every tool and maximize every opportunity.

9 Surprising Interview Tips to Help You Clinch Your Dream Job via http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/ By James @ StaffBay

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

9 Surprising Interview Tips to Help You Clinch Your Dream Job

Your dream job is within your grasp. You have swotted up on the company – you can name its Chief Executive Officers all the way back to the day it started. This is an important job; the job you have been aiming for all your career. You have had the tour, you know the premises inside out. You know the product. You KNOW the company. Now all you need to do is clinch it. Your time is NOW.

And then, it could all go pear-shaped, as they say. An epic fail of gargantuan proportions. You dry up. Your mouth is not connected with your brain, or even worse in some cases, there is no off button. Everything in your brain comes tumbling out, in a completely random order.

You are making a mess of it. It is a nightmare. But you can wake up from it with these 9 rather surprising interview tips, amassed over the years from thousands of interviews across all sectors.

A word of caution:

You need to gauge the panel sat in front of you and you need to measure the risk of how some of these tips will go down with them. In some interview situations, they can work a treat but in others they can fall completely flat.

You only have seconds to create a favourable impression and faffing about telling jokes may not be the way you want to start the conversation. However, during the interview, as you feel more comfortable, you may feel you need to add some zest and zing so that they see a different side to you.

Hence, proceed with caution – it is your responsibility how well you come across.

Let’s begin.

Tip 1- Breaking the ice:

There is sometimes a tricky question or two thrown into an interview and one of them is this: what are your biggest/greatest weaknesses? It sends a trickle of sweat running down the back of any interviewee, but there is an answer.

You could name your favourite film star and then add further to the chuckles hopefully coming from the panel with something faintly ridiculous such as ‘persistent lateness’. However, once you have done this you need to answer.

Drawing a blank?

You need to turn this negative question into a positive one. Think of it as what would you like to improve in the next year? What are your goals, etc?

Tip 2- Two-way conversation:

Everyone likes to feel that they are taking part in a conversation and it shouldn’t be any different when it comes to interviews. Many candidates turn up, assuming that the interview is a one-way process – they ask the questions, you answer.

Try this – research, research, research will throw up some interesting information about the company. Why not ask them about their new product, service or a part of their history? Be proactive and encourage a two-way exchange.

Tip 3- Appearance is tactical too:

You really do need to dress for the job. Having said that, if it is a role that requires a uniform or protective clothing of some kind, clearly turning up dressed ready to begin work will not make the best of starts.

If it is a ‘suited and booted’ position, then wear a suit; if it is not that formal, then opt for conservative, block colours rather than bold, dramatic patterns. Keep colours rich and elegant, rather than patterned and over the top.

Tip 4- Be nice to EVERYBODY:

You will be amazed at how much sway the receptionist can have in telling a panel member how rude/ignorant/uncommunicative x candidate was when they arrived, etc.

Wherever you go in the building, whoever you talk to, assume they have the authority to hire or fire you – and treat them as such. It pays to be nice.

Tip 5- Honesty works:

Many interviewees are nervous and anxious, which is understandable. In some cases, it can help to ‘admit’ to these nerves. But, before you think this will make you look like a dribbling wreck, turn it on its head; by acknowledging some of these anxious behaviours, you will make yourself more comfortable…and people hire people they are comfortable with!

Tip 6- Don’t be bombarded:

Allowing the interviewing panel to take complete charge can make you feel that you are being bombarded so make sure that you retain partial control of the interview too. The best way to do this is to have some key questions prepared beforehand. Try these:

‘What is the company’s long-term vision?’
‘Is there anything from my previous experience you would like me to elaborate on?’
Tip 7- You WANT the job:

Remember, you do need to give them signals you want the job.

Tip 8- Résumé:

Always have several copies of your résumé, and anything else you feel could help with your application and interview for the job. This shows you are professional and prepared, two key abilities that many companies would give their right hand for.

Tip 9- Follow up:

95% of candidates, if they are unsuccessful, leave it at that, but rather than phoning and asking why you didn’t get the job, write to them thanking them for interviewing you and outlining what you gained from the experience. You never know, if a job arises in the near future, they may just contact you.

Author: James from Staffbay

10 common sense interview tips too many people flub Via Careerbuilder

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

http://advice.careerbuilder.com/posts/10-common-sense-interview-tips-too-many-people-flub?linkId=13206234

EVER BEEN GUILTY OF BREAKING ONE OF THESE SUGGESTIONS? STEP UP YOUR INTERVIEW SKILLS AND CHECK OUT THESE TIPS.
When we refer to something as being “common sense,” we usually mean that it is something we think everyone should know. Often, though, it turns out that what may seem like common sense to one person isn’t always so to someone else. For example: Veterinarians spend their days around animals, so they might consider it common knowledge that cats sleep about 18 hours per day; hence the reason your vet seems so amused when you bring Muffin in for a checkup, concerned about her inability to stay awake. Similarly, because human-resources professionals constantly screen and interview candidates, what may seem like a common-sense interview tip to them might not have crossed a job seeker’s mind. Following are “common-sense” interview tips straight from the experts’ mouths.

1. Be presentable
Wear a suit that fits, and don’t cut corners when it comes to ironing or dry-cleaning, says Monique Honaman, CEO of leadership development company ISHR Group. “I knew one guy who was in such a rush the day of his interview that he only ironed the front of his shirt. Later, during the course of his interview day, it was hot and he was encouraged to remove his jacket and get more comfortable and it was clear that he had cut corners and only ironed the front! He was very embarrassed,” Honaman says. Also, while you should always wear deodorant, try to avoid perfumes and colognes. You never know who will be allergic or just downright averse to your scent. “A hiring manager once told me a story of how he didn’t select an incredibly well-qualified candidate for a role because she wore the same perfume as his ex-wife,” says Danielle Beauparlant Moser, a career coach with Blended Learning Team. “He said she walked in the room and his only thought was how to get her out of his office as quickly as possible.”

2. Don’t be too early
While you should always arrive at your interview a few minutes early, try not get there more than 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time, advises Ben Yeargin, a manager at Spherion Staffing. “[Arriving early] will lead to anxiety on the candidate’s part because they have to sit and wait for an extended period of time, and it will lead to frustration on the hiring manager’s part because they will feel rushed with the project that they are trying to accomplish prior to the interview,” he says. If you find yourself getting to the building earlier than you thought, wait in your car or take a walk around the block until it’s closer to your interview time.

3. Know whom you’re meeting with
“Know the name of the interviewer so that you can ask for that person at the receptionist’s desk,” advises Cheryl Palmer, president of Call to Career, an executive coaching firm. “It’s embarrassing when the receptionist asks, ‘Who are you here to see?’ and you can’t remember. Have this information either in your head or write yourself a note that you refer to prior to arriving in the waiting area,” Palmer says.

4. Remember: You are being interviewed as soon as you walk in the door
“Most people would never think of the receptionist as being an interviewer, but it’s true,” Palmer says. “It’s fairly common that the receptionist will report back to the hiring manager how candidates behaved in the waiting area. Don’t be remembered as the one who ate all the candy out of the candy dish or spoke disrespectfully to the receptionist.”

5. Make proper eye contact “One of the most obvious mistakes interviewees make is with eye contact, and it costs a lot of people a lot of jobs,” says Barry Maher, who owns a California-based career coaching firm. “Eye contact is simple,” he says. “Any given eye contact should last about five seconds at a time. And if there’s one interviewer, make eye contact with him or her about 40 to 60 percent of the time. More than 60 percent is intimidating. Less than 40 percent comes off as shifty and perhaps insincere, even dishonest.”

6. Eat before the interview, not during it
Duh? Not according to Yeargin, who has experienced interview-snacking firsthand. “I was in an interview, no more than 10 minutes into it, and I got called out for two minutes to answer a question,” he says. “When I returned, the applicant was eating some sort of granola or other snack bar. Needless to say that individual did not get a job with my company.” No matter what the candy bar ads have to say, your hunger can wait.

7. Make sure that what you do eat beforehand does not involve onion or garlic
You want to be remembered for your professionalism and outstanding skills, not for what you ate for lunch. Advises Palmer, “Don’t eat anything that has a strong odor before the interview.”

8. Don’t look at your watch
Block at least two hours of time for the interview, says Cindy Loftus, co-owner of Loftus O’Meara Staffing. Loftus also advises keeping your schedule relatively clear on the day of the interview, to avoid feeling the need to rush. “Don’t create distractions to your interview,” she says.

9. Tell the interviewer you are interested
Don’t forget to tell the recruiter you want the job. “If you truly feel the position is a fit, let them know and tell them you would like to get to the next round of interviews, and be prepared to tell them why,” Loftus says.

10. Get business cards from your interviewers — and use them
“Ask for the business cards of all of the interviewers that you have met and make sure you take a second or two to read their card,” Loftus says. This will not only be helpful in remembering each person you met with, but will make it easier to send proper thank-you notes and follow up e-mails, which should always be done within 24 hours of leaving the interview.

Via: Careerbuilder

17 Phone Interview Tips to Guarantee a Follow-Up By Larry Kim via www.inc.com

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

http://www.inc.com/welcome.html?destination=http://www.inc.com/larry-kim/17-phone-interview-tips-to-guarantee-a-follow-up.html?cid=sf01001

Today I’m telegraphing over some top tips for owning the phone interview.

1.Find a good location. Make sure you are in an area with good cellphone reception (or, ideally, use a landline), where it’s quiet enough to hear and calm enough to give the interview your full attention. So, definitely not a Trader Joe’s on a Sunday afternoon or a Starbucks during school vacation week.

2.Do your research. Take time to familiarize yourself with the company–check out their website, take a look at their blog, and get a general sense for what they’re all about (pro tip: if you can mention a specific recent company blog post and explain why you liked it, you’ll get major bonus points for doing your homework).

3.Stalk your interviewer on LinkedIn. Add your interviewer on LinkedIn and see what they’ve been up to. What school did they go to? What were their past jobs? Do you have any similar interests in common? You never know, you may find a great point of connection. Most people won’t mind if you bring up this LinkedIn-sleuthing directly–in fact, they may appreciate that you took the time to learn more about them. It’s not like you found them on Tinder.

4.Prepare notes (and keep them handy). One great thing about phone interviews is that you can create a little cheat sheet for yourself, just like that coveted 3×5 index card you were allowed to bring to your high school final exams. Go ahead and jot down questions, and outline answers to common questions or other info you want to make sure you mention.

5.Practice your answers. In many ways you’ll want to treat the phone interview as you would an in-person interview. Consider your answers to common interview questions beforehand (your best/worst traits, occasions in which you faced a challenge, where you see yourself in five years, etc.)

6.Dress the part. The image we project of ourselves doesn’t just communicate through appearance–it shows in our mannerisms, speech, and other subtle cues. Dressing up for a phone interview may sound silly, but the right clothing will put you in the right mindset. At the very least, change out of those pajamas. Please, that Ninja Turtles T-shirt is starting to smell weird.

7.Keep your weapons handy. Have your resume, cover letter, and the job description handy, whether in paper form on your desk or a few clicks away on some Chrome tabs.

8.Smile like you’re in Disneyland. Your interviewer (or, as I like to think of her, quizmaster) will pick up on your tone. In fact, she will be paying even more attention to it, since she doesn’t get to see your lovely face. People can hear your smile, which makes them smile and think positive thoughts about you on the other end of the line. So go ahead, grin big!

9.Keep it conversational. Remember, quizmasters aren’t just looking for the perfect candidate–they want to find an employee they will enjoy working with too; someone they can chat with about the latest Game of Thrones episode. That’s why you’ll want to use a friendly, conversational tone in your interviews, rather than robotically answering the questions put forth to you like you’re being held at gunpoint.

10.Speak clearly. As moms around the world will forever remind you–annunciate! No mumbling is allowed around these parts. Speak clearly so your quizmaster can hear you properly, and keep water handy in case your mouth gets dry.

11.Show enthusiasm!! Ask about different aspects of the job and express genuine interest and excitement about the opportunity. Like, wow! Don’t be afraid to dig for more details about the position–we all know how vague and horrifically bland job postings can be, often packed with tech garble that’s difficult to decipher. You need to get a real sense of the job to know if it’s a good fit for you.

12.Avoid etiquette awkwardness. When dealing with an initial phone interview, it’s best to sit tight about benefit and salary questions. This first interview is about impressing your quizmaster and showing all that you can offer the company. Save the nitty-gritty dollar billz questions for later discussions. On the other hand, if your interviewer brings the salary issue up, go ahead and serve a fresh hot cup of honesty.

13.Show off your smarts with Alex Trebek-esque questions. When the interviewer asks what question you have, that’s your big chance to shine. It’s good to always have a few questions prepared beforehand, but don’t be afraid to let the natural flow of the conversation inspire you. Questions show interest, so don’t skimp! (One fan favorite is: What will be the biggest challenge of this role in the next six months?). It’s also smart to do a little research into the company’s competition, and ask how they’re different or why they’re better.

14.Ask if they have any questions for you. Once you’ve finished up your Q&A with the quizmaster, end things by asking if she has any more questions for you. It’s a nice way to cap off the conversation and gives her a chance for any last-minute concerns.

15.What are the next steps? As the interview wraps up, make sure to ask what the expected next steps are regarding the position and when you can expect to hear
about a follow-up. Not only is this valuable info to have, it also reinforces that you’re truly interested. You can skip this step if the interview went really badly–like, if you involuntarily yelled some racial slur or got into talking about your porcelain salt-and-pepper shaker collection. In that case, just make some fake static noises and hightail it out of there.

16.Follow-up with thanks. Always shoot your interviewers a quick thank you note. It doesn’t have to be a notarized letter of excessive acclamation–just a brief email of thanks will do (although sending a snail mail letter would certainly make you memorable). Sending a word of thanks simply shows that you appreciate the quizmaster taking time out of her busy day to chat with you. And who doesn’t appreciate appreciation?

17.Don’t phone it in. Treat the phone interview with the same seriousness and preparation that you would give to an in-person interview. Remember, this could be the first step to the best job you’ve ever had!

Those are my best phone interview tips. Do you have any to add?

Published on: Mar 24, 2015