Hi Erin, great video 😊. May I ask what you say at 0:21? “…to not have _[tempers?]_ on your resumé.” Many thanks. Edit: TYPOS! It’s typos. Thanks anyway, Eron!
Hi Erin. What is the best response for when the interviewer has already answered all of your questions by the end of the interview? I went in for my second interview for an entry-level position today, and I had 4 questions prepared as follows: 1. In this position, would I be working more independently or as part of a team? 2. What are some main takeaways you would like to see the new hire implement in this position? 3. Can you tell me a little bit about the company culture at this location? 4. What are some pitfalls you commonly see in this position? My first interview went extremely well, and it ended with the interviewer basically saying that I had the job so long as the second interviewer agreed. I do have a lack of experience in the area I'm applying for, but in both interviews, the interviewers had explained that it is a position they would need to fully train the new hire in anyway, and I have all the soft skills they are looking for and then some. However, the second interview went more like a meet and greet with a walk-through of the office, and the interviewer had explained so much to me he ended up answering every single question I had prepared. He explained how I would be part of a large team and the job is very straightforward once I become trained. With that, he walked me through the main job responsibilities and said that as long as I paid close attention to details I shouldn't have any problems, as that's the most common area of mistakes he sees, and he commented how that shouldn't be a problem for me as I stated a strong attention to detail as one of my top skills. He also talked about the company culture at this location and how it's work-casual and fairly laid back compared to other companies of this caliber. When he finally got around to asking me if I had any questions, all I could think of for a response was that all my questions had been answered, and I'm looking forward to this position. Was there a better response I should have prepared in case something like this happened, or was that the best response? Whatever the case it did seem like they had already made their decision before I walked through the doors to the second interview, but it was impossible to read which way they were leaning. Apologies for the long comment, I'm just eager to get this right for future interviews.
What you’re talking about is called “the hidden curriculum.” This is when your family/social class teaches you social/professional norms that are not explicitly stated/known to the masses.
I would give a slight caveat to #5. There have been times where I've gone into an interview with a list of questions and by the end of the interview they've all been answered. I always have the questions written down and I also write their answers down when they come up. Sometimes I'll ask the questions, sometimes they naturally come up throughout. But at the end when they ask, "do I have any questions for them?" if I don't then I will say that. "You've actually already answered all the questions I wanted to ask..." and then go back through the list of questions with a summary of their answers. This shows that you were prepared, you were listening, you take notes, and it lets them clarify any answer they gave if they want to. At the end of the day the point is to do your research, stay engaged with the interview, and make sure you walk away with any information that you needed... PS - A good final question that's always acceptable is "What is rest of the hiring process from here? Are their additional interviews? What's the timeline?" Etc.
Robert, I find the idea of taking notes during LIVE face-to-face interview extremely helpful!! Was the mentioned interview an online interview? If not, did your interviewer comment on the fact that you were taking notes? If yes, how did you reply on that comment?
thanks for the idea to sum it up at the end! It happened to me more than once, that all my questions had been answered during the interview, and at the end I didnt know what to ask (or asked overly specific question that might not be that great) xD Giving them a summary like that sounds awesome, thanks!
Interviews remind me of the SAT. It feels like having to do this kind of “dance” back and forth in the interview. Little ridiculous rules that you could trip on.
I guess you could also see it as a test that you understand social clues and can read the room. If you don't have a feeling for what's appropriate in a job interview, you might have the same issues in a client meeting.
Yes. Getting a job these days has become quite the game. When my mother was young and had just graduated nursing school, she went to a hospital and wanted told an employee she wanted to work there, and it was easy as that! Times have changed.
@@st.michaelthearchangel7774 you're right, it's almost like I need to keep refreshing and watching these videos every single week so that it's in mu muscle memory and when an interview were to come up (which has only been far and few between for me), I don't accidentally screw myself up.
#6. The one question employers always ask in an interview is, “Tell us about yourself.” They don't want to know your life’s history. They are asking, “What can you bring to this job?” In all the different years I have job searched, no one has told me they aren't asking for your life history. Why?!? Please don't make the same mistake.
Recruiters usually print out your CV beforehand so if you are asked to tell about yourself it's because of several reasons. There a couple of people at a proper interview and all want to be on the same page for once. On the other side that's your opportunity to show your best side and tell them which of your experiences YOU think matters for this job and how.
1. What does this company do? 2. My last boss/job was terrible! 3. IDK. 4. I want this job because I’m looking to learn 5. I don’t have any questions for you.
I have what I call my interview notebook. It has my most important questions written on the first page, and notes for/during individual interviews on all the other pages. So far it’s been really helpful.
@@istrajnapersevere5670I'm not the person who originally posted but I do this as well. I use a digital tablet to take my notes but it's very visible to the interviewer what I am doing. Usually the interviewer doesn't comment on taking notes however I did follow up with my current boss after the fact and he was very impressed with the notebook and the questions I asked. As a result he encourages all employees to follow my model and have a notebook with them when they're interviewing.
Great video! The fact that #5 genuinely demonstrates your interest in the company makes it underestimated. Because I had 6-7 prepared questions that took up the final 20 minutes of an interview, I was able to land an internship for this coming summer.
I just had my 3rd interview with a company, after being unemployed for 8 months. This final interview was with 2 of the people doing the exact same job, so I hope I made a good impression! I'll know for sure in a few days. Fingers crossed for me!
I did! I start on the 26th. I am so excited to be back to work and so thankful! I also used Erin's advice on what to say when negotiating the job offer, and they accepted my counter offer! She really does know what she's talking about!@@ciaopersik69
If I had a bad experience at a previous company and am asked why I left, I usually say “the company culture was not a good fit. I’m looking for a company with a culture of…”
They always answer my questions. So, I have started asking things like "In the past year what has been the hardest challenge for your company?", "During the height of the Pandemic how were you and your employees taken care of to ensure health and safety?", and "What do you like about working here?"
All of this is true! Only one caveat with #4: some companies are looking for entry-level employees that have a “student mentality.” They’re looking for someone they can teach the ropes to easily. I mainly see this for entry-level retail/customer service positions, entry-level sales positions, internships, and leadership/management development programs. Also be aware, for anyone going into an entry-level sales position and the company says that they want a candidate with that student’s mentality, make sure it’s not a pyramid scheme. I kept seeing that over and over. Reason why it could be a red flag is because they’re looking for someone who doesn’t know any better, can manipulate, and run into the ground for little benefit.
Great Tips! Even after more than 5 years if work experience, I usually use, I have a learning attitude. Thank you for pointing that out. I will talk more about how I can bring value to the company. Thanks a ton Erin!
On the last example she mentioned ('im going on a cruise next week, can I still go on that?) - I actually asked this while changing jobs (but more politely XD) and after I was hired I learned that they only let me go for that vacation, because I told them from the very start that I had these plans. More context: I have a summer 1 week vacay planned every year, to go for an art festival (im an artist and that was the role i was applying for). Unluckily, it fell one week after my start date (so one week in new job, then 1 week vacay), and I had it all booked one year in advance and its pretty important time for me. So I told recruiter "I'm aware that this is pretty bad timing and I'm extremely sorry for the trouble, but I have this vacation planned year in advance, is there any chance I could still take it? If this is an issue, I'll cancel the vacation, as this job is more important to me, but in case there was a chance I could still take it, I would be very grateful. And I promise I will not be using more vacation during my probation time" And they agreed and hired me :)
THANK YOU so much for providing examples in your video, compared many youtubers who give advice about job interviews and resumes with a lot of vague lip service. Very helpful.
4:38 this is me in every interview, I forget everything I've ever done in my 33 years on this earth. Do you have any tips on remembering scenarios in interviews please??
My advice is to do some prep before hand. Search the web for the most common interview questions, (Erin probably has a video on those) and prepare some answers on your own time where you are not under the pressure of an interview. Then review and refine your answers as well as practice reading them out loud. Then when it comes time to interview, you will have answers at the ready. I also find that if you prepare answers\stories ahead of time, they will typically apply to multiple questions. For example, if there was a project you worked on with a team that went really well, you could use that story for "Tell me about a time when you succesfully worked in a team." as well as "Tell me about an accomplishment at work that you are proud of.".
i have a question about example 4. it makes sense, however, I have been seeing many job ads where the employer expresses, " are you looking for a place to learn and grow ?" This leads me to saying "yes I am looking to improve my skills and become more valuable" would this be wrong?
For number one- a question I always ask and phrase is: “can you take me through a day to day in this role?” I feel like asking this gives you an idea of how your days will go.
One of my hardest interview question was giving different examples of problems I had with my previous manager or team and how I handle it. I thought I bomb it but out of other 5 people they interview, I was chosen because I came prepared to nail the rest of the other interview questions.
I'm desperately looking for another job but I don't want to speak poorly about my company or my position (even though I hate it) so when they ask why I'm leaving I say "I'm looking for a position that more closely alligns with my preferred career path at a company I can grow with", they always ask me to explain, and that transitions into why I want the job I'm applying for
What about "do you have more questions? Do you have more questions? What other questions? You didn't know you'd be interviewing me. What questions do you have?" when you've already asked 20
Erin, so thankful for you. Your videos have helped me gain so much more confidence as I am having many interviews and I felt unprepared to succeed. Thank you a million!
I have question about the "what do you do". What if you are headhunted to a job in a company, or are called in without having sent off an application? How would you tackle that scenario?
Wow. The part about applying at the NBC is actually true for me haha! I can ACTUALLY use this word for word lol Thank you Erin! (My boss is actually just awful now. He’s trying to prevent me from moving to a better position. Maybe a video on how to deal with that is a good idea? My HR rep said that unfortunately this isn’t uncommon.. :( )
I will say, there have been interviews where my prepared questions already got answered in the conversation we had leading up to that point. In that case, I refer to my notepad, indicate that I’m reviewing them, and sort of look surprised that I have no more questions and feel comfortable with my understanding of the position.
I always say #4!! 😳 I thought it would show how I'm always willing to improve myself to suit the job more... I won't say that again because I always am in the top 2-3 candidate but don't get the job in the end... maybe that's the reason why 😥
I’ve heard in the UK or Europe, they’ve already investigated you completely prior to the interview and the in-person interview is to see if you like their workplace and will fit in. No suits!
For the 5th, I always have technical questions, which end's like "I dont know, you should ask those in the technical interview" for me this is a redflag when I get tortured in 3-4 round interviews, I want the HR to know things about the position. Not some bullshit psychological small talk shit, which I don't really care.
Yeah, number 2 I screwed up, I think it risked the opportunity buuuuut also because I don't have enough experience, but I always say if there it doesn't work out, there is always a better opportunity out there.
I have experienced some cultures find great offense to ask questions at the end of an interview, they want it to end when they say it ends. They have a mindset of "you are the one here to impress me and not the other way around". Sadly, I find that this is the case for most interviews I have been at, and I can't afford to move.
Uff the learning one...its just that i never fit 100 percent to the role so i have a lot to learn on the job. So i always told them that im a fast learner thats why i succeeded at so many different jobs but i need to learn that particular lab method bc i never did that. There are Thousand of different lab methods.
I hear you. I used to work in a genetics lab. Now I work in a hi-tech job that loves to "stay up to date with the latest tools" to do something. Software tools and platforms go in and out of style regularly and then there are the fads that don't catch on or the companies using that 25 year old software you didn' tknow still exists. To help preempt stupid questions, I added a sort of tag line in my resume that tools are just tools to help get you somewhere. Da Vinci can create a masterpiece with a piece of charcoal. A chimpanzee cannot.
Yes science jobs are a nightmare for expecting yrs experience on a particular technique. Even with a PhD and plenty of molecular biology experience they want you to have that exact technique under your belt. Would be interesting to see if Erin has videos on how to handle thos sort of thing - when you have a supposed "skills gap" but actually it's something you can learn easily.
The “do you have any questions?” Question… I have been interviewing with a great organization this week and both interviews, I ask questions, they answer, we discuss, and then they will ask if I have more questions, to which I’ll feel a little pressured to ask more questions… and on and on lol. I finally stopped asking questions and I feel they were relieved 😅
Correct me if I'm wrong, but 'I have no question' can pass if you elaborate it, like 'I wanted to ask you about X and Y, but we gladly discussed that during this i terview which leaves me with no more questions'
(applies for 100+ jobs in a week whilst working 12 hour days with overtime plus doing most of the household chores, caring for relatives etc) "so... what drew you to this position?" "... sorry, what position was this again?"
Erin as someone with hidden disabilities, when is a good time to let the employer know. Its not like you can put it on your resume and when I bring it up, I never get called back. I usually bring it up in the last 3 question period. " so, I understand this company has allowances for people with disabilities, can you expand on this..."
No one says the truth..that interviewers expect you to place them on a pedestal, kiss their ass and act like their Company is a slice of heaven..even if you're interviewing for a lowly entry level underpaid job ..Or you're overqualifed or their work culture is toxic and they never say It's always one way..they judge you no matter what but make excuses for all their Company's shortcomings They expect you to act like a begging slave They all act perfect on an interview panel and thinks nobody knows they're all wasted nasty drunk after work everyday while trying to steal somebody's husband they're working with!
I'm desperately looking for another job but I don't want to speak poorly about my company or my position (even though I hate it) so when they ask why I'm leaving I say "I'm looking for a position that more closely alligns with my preferred career path" and then they always ask me to explain and that transitions into why I want the job I'm applying for
I know that this is an old video, but i was wondering for an interview for a cadetship (where i am still a student) how do i show that i enjoy learning while also showing that i have the potential for professional development? Thanks Erin.
My current employer does not follow the contents of the contract and/or twist the words in the contract (or what is not in the contract) to whatever benefits her. How should I explain this to the interviewer of Company X which I declined before but is now reconsidering accepting it?
Is it okay for me to bring notes to my interview re my past work experience etc? I get so terribly tongue tied and literally forget words so it would be really helpful.
I get caught with "no further questions" at the end of the interview because I end up asking my questions in conversation during the interview. I usually end up saying some thing like "we covered all of my questions during our conversation" Is it better to work my questions in organically, or wait till the end?
I have a question, if I genuinely don’t have any questions for the company at the end, say the ones I had prepared were already answered earlier on, the company is a really good fit, they explained everything I’d need to know perfectly and I understood everything, can I say no without sounding unprofessional? Maybe something like “I don’t think so at the moment, but if any come up I’ll be quick to ask” ?
Probably just "well all of the questions I had, were answered throughout the interview," then review the Qs & As and maybe asking for more clarification with the answers if you need. (Someone posted the sickest comment about this)
How would I say that I would leave my job two jobs I currently work in order to stay afloat and pay bills for a full time position that would pay much more and would be more beneficial for my family because it has better hours and pay.
I'm not sure why you'd need to say anything about those particular details. Perhaps something about how the role you're applying for appeals to you because the work pattern represents important stability which is a priority to you and you are looking for a role that you can settle into for the long term? Edited to add: an employer doesn't necessarily care about your family but they DO care about keeping people around once they've trained and that's the benefit you would bring to their business
Absolutely! I always go to an interview with a portfolio or some such so I can take notes, and keep the questions I want to ask in front of me. You could certainly just do this with your phone or tablet as well. Which, now that I think about it, I will now be doing instead of the paper pad.
@@wendyannh I prefer my paper pad over a computer for interviews. There's less of a chance for technical difficulties or distractions. It shows that you are totally dedicated to this conversation. It's just you, paper, and a pen(cil). But I also have cute, nerdy stickers on my clipboard that often start conversations... which is nice
@@robertstull8759I prefer pencil and pad too because it's something to clutch in my hands for security. Also I work in an old-fashioned industry that doesn't tend to have many modern attitudes or ways of working so it's very likely that having a phone in my hand during an interview would count against me. Context is important
I've slowed the beginning of the video down to 0.25x and i still cant understand the hard and fast rule. To not have... temples? Tempas? Tempest?...on your resume?
About "do you have any questions for us" at the end of an interview. I've had interviews where I have a list of questions and either it gets addressed in the interview by them before I ask or in the flow of the interview and discussion I already asked it. So at the end I said something like "no, we've already addressed all the questions I had". Is that a decent response? Should I try to hang back from a question or two so I have it at the end?
man hole covers????, its because a round plate/ lid won't fall into a round hole. having said that you can put a round plug in a square hole if both the diameter and square are the same size, sidways...but great question, stupidest question, whats your biggest mistake and what did it cost the company.... my answer, I been in aviation for 20 years, everything has training, procedure, and 'circle back' to see you understand your job, if I screwed up I would need help, I couldn't screw up on my own, then there is an investigation, video evidence, a conversation, I apologise, can you be more specific, both of us had a glazed look on our faces, and yes , I have had a couple of conversations.
I don't know if you already have a video on this, but how to approach the fact that you want to change jobs without coming across the wrong way? I didn't get a job and I suspect it's because I admitted in the interview that I was currently working, and I thought that not being honest would be worse since eventually that info would come up either way, but I don't know if I should have said that? I didn't speak badly of my employers, since to be honest I'm just looking for another job because they just don't have enough workload to maintain my position for much longer. I feel it's a bit unsafe for me to wait until I'm unemployed to find a new job, but how do I approach this situation in future interviews? I think tip number 2 kinda would apply but it's not the same to be asked why you left than being currently employed but searching for other options...
A lot of people applying for jobs are currently employed. I respond by saying "I am looking for the next chapter in my career and a company where I can grow. Unfortunately at XYZ company I cannot move further up in any position" or something along those lines. I've been asked by employers when is the earliest start date, considering you must give 2 weeks notice (unless you are unemployed).
@@michelleg.9934 That's what I thought, like it is normal to look for a different job while still employed but the topic on an interview it's so awkward still... Thanks for your detailed response :)
As someone who did handle a couple roles for NBC when they were a client, if I was the recruiter screening you on the phone I would be thinking “girl I get you and I understand completely. But stay classy queen❤” but say “okay when are you available for an interview with my hiring manager?” Lol
"I want to learn" is not too bad in my book, but saying something like "it would look great on my resume" is an automatic red flag to me as an interviewer. You're basically saying that you'll hop off as soon as we've trained you and something better comes up, and as an interviewer I'd say you do you, but please do it somewhere else.
There is one question I have been asked countless times: "So, where do you see yourself in five years?" To date, everyone makes jokes about it, but no one has ever actually given me a structured answer. Any ideas?
I believe she said that the only hard and fast rule is to not have templates on your resume (as in the stylized kind that looks really good to the human eye, but would confuse an ATS system).
The more you talk about how perfect we should be as perspective employees the more I want to do all of these things in an interview. It's exhausting to keep trying to effort with companies and s***** little managers and weirdos that have to have everybody that walks in the door be super human . It's not interesting it's not fun I don't want to work in that environment. Managers need to grow up get people in offer training. Do their part. Naked leader and then I don't have to show up like a robot .
Interviewer: So do you have any questions for me? Me: Not anymore, I can see the door from here, and that's my only goal at this point. Byeeee!! Interviewer:.. Me: It's when you said we need someone who can hit the ground running, and then added that I can get to my target pay in a year or two. This is code for we're understaffed (why might that be?) and we don't pay requisite value for what our employees provide, so instead we have them work toward promises. I step into a role with more confidence when it begins within the range I originally discussed, and there is a period of reasonable ramp up to ensure that I will be successful in the role, shall I continue?
I, personally, would not discuss that in initial interviews. I'm diagnosed bipolar, and currently being assessed for ADHD, and I would leave that to later discussions, either in later interviews or even not until after you've been given an offer. After all, they can't legally NOT hire you because of medical issues, but they can choose to just not hire you for any other excuses they can come up with. If you're worried it's going to affect your performance than read up on the American's with Disabilities Act (if you're in the USA) to know what your rights and protections are. Then find out if any state/local laws alter those in any way. Form there I would first discuss it with an HR rep and then your supervisor. But I also admit that I'm very cautious with this information because it's been used against me in the past. There are, however, company cultures where it's not as much as an issue. If you get a sense that is the case then use your own judgement on how early you disclose personal, medical information.
@Robert Stull Everything you said is true. My own strategy is to mention it by turning it around. I had an interview 2 days ago and was asked about how I would contribute to company culture. I divided it up, "Profesionally I bring x, y, and z. In terms of office culture, diversity is something I highly value, blah, blah... Ultimately, I'm a queer neurodivergent woman and I'm proud of all of those things." This is definitely something not everyone can do and not for every interview. I'm in the SF Bay Area, so I'm pretty reliably able to use it to score brownie points.
The UK has the Disability Confident Scheme but I personally don't usually mention being ASD until I've started the job. It helps with my imposter syndrome and the sector I work in plays to my ND strengths anyway luckily.
"I've literally never worked, I can't remember anything, um what's my name" This is me. I feel like I've been shot with that nuerolizer from Men In Black.
It brings me rage that we have to have these robotic, fake a$$ conversations, just so we can make a living. Just once I want to be brutally honest in an interview. Because you're hiring, and I need money to live, GD it!! Nevertheless, i have several of your video saved, Erin. Great work.
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Hi Erin, great video 😊. May I ask what you say at 0:21?
“…to not have _[tempers?]_ on your resumé.”
Many thanks.
Edit: TYPOS! It’s typos.
Thanks anyway, Eron!
I always thought saying “I’m eager to learn” or “I want to learn” was a good thing to say. Thank you for opening my eyes.
@@TPRM1 I watched it with captions on and it reads as 'the amount of typos on your resume'.
I do
Hi Erin. What is the best response for when the interviewer has already answered all of your questions by the end of the interview?
I went in for my second interview for an entry-level position today, and I had 4 questions prepared as follows:
1. In this position, would I be working more independently or as part of a team?
2. What are some main takeaways you would like to see the new hire implement in this position?
3. Can you tell me a little bit about the company culture at this location?
4. What are some pitfalls you commonly see in this position?
My first interview went extremely well, and it ended with the interviewer basically saying that I had the job so long as the second interviewer agreed. I do have a lack of experience in the area I'm applying for, but in both interviews, the interviewers had explained that it is a position they would need to fully train the new hire in anyway, and I have all the soft skills they are looking for and then some. However, the second interview went more like a meet and greet with a walk-through of the office, and the interviewer had explained so much to me he ended up answering every single question I had prepared. He explained how I would be part of a large team and the job is very straightforward once I become trained. With that, he walked me through the main job responsibilities and said that as long as I paid close attention to details I shouldn't have any problems, as that's the most common area of mistakes he sees, and he commented how that shouldn't be a problem for me as I stated a strong attention to detail as one of my top skills. He also talked about the company culture at this location and how it's work-casual and fairly laid back compared to other companies of this caliber.
When he finally got around to asking me if I had any questions, all I could think of for a response was that all my questions had been answered, and I'm looking forward to this position. Was there a better response I should have prepared in case something like this happened, or was that the best response? Whatever the case it did seem like they had already made their decision before I walked through the doors to the second interview, but it was impossible to read which way they were leaning.
Apologies for the long comment, I'm just eager to get this right for future interviews.
What you’re talking about is called “the hidden curriculum.” This is when your family/social class teaches you social/professional norms that are not explicitly stated/known to the masses.
I would give a slight caveat to #5. There have been times where I've gone into an interview with a list of questions and by the end of the interview they've all been answered. I always have the questions written down and I also write their answers down when they come up. Sometimes I'll ask the questions, sometimes they naturally come up throughout. But at the end when they ask, "do I have any questions for them?" if I don't then I will say that. "You've actually already answered all the questions I wanted to ask..." and then go back through the list of questions with a summary of their answers. This shows that you were prepared, you were listening, you take notes, and it lets them clarify any answer they gave if they want to.
At the end of the day the point is to do your research, stay engaged with the interview, and make sure you walk away with any information that you needed...
PS - A good final question that's always acceptable is "What is rest of the hiring process from here? Are their additional interviews? What's the timeline?" Etc.
Robert, I find the idea of taking notes during LIVE face-to-face interview extremely helpful!! Was the mentioned interview an online interview? If not, did your interviewer comment on the fact that you were taking notes? If yes, how did you reply on that comment?
thanks for the idea to sum it up at the end! It happened to me more than once, that all my questions had been answered during the interview, and at the end I didnt know what to ask (or asked overly specific question that might not be that great) xD Giving them a summary like that sounds awesome, thanks!
Interviews remind me of the SAT. It feels like having to do this kind of “dance” back and forth in the interview. Little ridiculous rules that you could trip on.
I guess you could also see it as a test that you understand social clues and can read the room. If you don't have a feeling for what's appropriate in a job interview, you might have the same issues in a client meeting.
Yes. Getting a job these days has become quite the game. When my mother was young and had just graduated nursing school, she went to a hospital and wanted told an employee she wanted to work there, and it was easy as that! Times have changed.
@@st.michaelthearchangel7774 you're right, it's almost like I need to keep refreshing and watching these videos every single week so that it's in mu muscle memory and when an interview were to come up (which has only been far and few between for me), I don't accidentally screw myself up.
#6. The one question employers always ask in an interview is, “Tell us about yourself.” They don't want to know your life’s history. They are asking, “What can you bring to this job?” In all the different years I have job searched, no one has told me they aren't asking for your life history. Why?!? Please don't make the same mistake.
I suppose it saves them time having to trawl through people's resumes.
Recruiters usually print out your CV beforehand so if you are asked to tell about yourself it's because of several reasons. There a couple of people at a proper interview and all want to be on the same page for once. On the other side that's your opportunity to show your best side and tell them which of your experiences YOU think matters for this job and how.
My sentiments exactly. It's clearly evident that all inquiries are business related! What can you bring to the table.
@@EssentialBlueintriguing
I’m scared to watch this in case I made these mistakes 😅
Edit: Yes, yes I did.
We all have!!
1. What does this company do?
2. My last boss/job was terrible!
3. IDK.
4. I want this job because I’m looking to learn
5. I don’t have any questions for you.
I have what I call my interview notebook. It has my most important questions written on the first page, and notes for/during individual interviews on all the other pages. So far it’s been really helpful.
Amazing! Do you take that notebook with you to live face-to-face interview? Did an interviewer commented on the fact that you were taking notes?
@@istrajnapersevere5670 I do take it with me, and so far no one has commented on it! Interviews are a two way street, after all.
@@istrajnapersevere5670I'm not the person who originally posted but I do this as well. I use a digital tablet to take my notes but it's very visible to the interviewer what I am doing. Usually the interviewer doesn't comment on taking notes however I did follow up with my current boss after the fact and he was very impressed with the notebook and the questions I asked. As a result he encourages all employees to follow my model and have a notebook with them when they're interviewing.
I've said the "I'm always learning" phrase so many times in my emails 🤦🏻♀️
I thought it showcased enthusiasm to keep up with whatever task I get
Great video!
The fact that #5 genuinely demonstrates your interest in the company makes it underestimated. Because I had 6-7 prepared questions that took up the final 20 minutes of an interview, I was able to land an internship for this coming summer.
I just had my 3rd interview with a company, after being unemployed for 8 months. This final interview was with 2 of the people doing the exact same job, so I hope I made a good impression! I'll know for sure in a few days. Fingers crossed for me!
Did you get the job?:)
I did! I start on the 26th. I am so excited to be back to work and so thankful! I also used Erin's advice on what to say when negotiating the job offer, and they accepted my counter offer! She really does know what she's talking about!@@ciaopersik69
Sup, I'm the second dude that will ask you "did you get the job?", but 8 month later.
@ lol thanks for asking! I did not and in fact I’m still kind of unemployed? I have a temp job that’s ending at the end of this year
@@ariannecollman1972 🫡
If I had a bad experience at a previous company and am asked why I left, I usually say “the company culture was not a good fit. I’m looking for a company with a culture of…”
They always answer my questions. So, I have started asking things like "In the past year what has been the hardest challenge for your company?", "During the height of the Pandemic how were you and your employees taken care of to ensure health and safety?", and "What do you like about working here?"
All of this is true! Only one caveat with #4: some companies are looking for entry-level employees that have a “student mentality.” They’re looking for someone they can teach the ropes to easily. I mainly see this for entry-level retail/customer service positions, entry-level sales positions, internships, and leadership/management development programs.
Also be aware, for anyone going into an entry-level sales position and the company says that they want a candidate with that student’s mentality, make sure it’s not a pyramid scheme. I kept seeing that over and over. Reason why it could be a red flag is because they’re looking for someone who doesn’t know any better, can manipulate, and run into the ground for little benefit.
#4 is questionable for certain roles, especially in tech, but generally a good guideline.
I was actually asked at an interview " what would you bring to a potluck?" It was a government job.
I took a Buzzfeed quiz as part of a grad school interview. 😂
#4 this UNLESS. its a company specifically hiring students (i have an interview coming up with campus ink)
Yes I was about to say this!
Great Tips! Even after more than 5 years if work experience, I usually use, I have a learning attitude. Thank you for pointing that out. I will talk more about how I can bring value to the company. Thanks a ton Erin!
On the last example she mentioned ('im going on a cruise next week, can I still go on that?) - I actually asked this while changing jobs (but more politely XD) and after I was hired I learned that they only let me go for that vacation, because I told them from the very start that I had these plans. More context: I have a summer 1 week vacay planned every year, to go for an art festival (im an artist and that was the role i was applying for). Unluckily, it fell one week after my start date (so one week in new job, then 1 week vacay), and I had it all booked one year in advance and its pretty important time for me. So I told recruiter "I'm aware that this is pretty bad timing and I'm extremely sorry for the trouble, but I have this vacation planned year in advance, is there any chance I could still take it? If this is an issue, I'll cancel the vacation, as this job is more important to me, but in case there was a chance I could still take it, I would be very grateful. And I promise I will not be using more vacation during my probation time" And they agreed and hired me :)
So many job interviews that didnt work flashed through my eyes😢
THANK YOU so much for providing examples in your video, compared many youtubers who give advice about job interviews and resumes with a lot of vague lip service. Very helpful.
This is why I love your channel❤ As a first generation, I always feel heard when you talk about classism
Did you ever do a video for people with disabilities? I struggle with answering questions about my accommodations.
4:38 this is me in every interview, I forget everything I've ever done in my 33 years on this earth. Do you have any tips on remembering scenarios in interviews please??
My advice is to do some prep before hand. Search the web for the most common interview questions, (Erin probably has a video on those) and prepare some answers on your own time where you are not under the pressure of an interview. Then review and refine your answers as well as practice reading them out loud. Then when it comes time to interview, you will have answers at the ready. I also find that if you prepare answers\stories ahead of time, they will typically apply to multiple questions. For example, if there was a project you worked on with a team that went really well, you could use that story for "Tell me about a time when you succesfully worked in a team." as well as "Tell me about an accomplishment at work that you are proud of.".
i have a question about example 4. it makes sense, however, I have been seeing many job ads where the employer expresses, " are you looking for a place to learn and grow ?" This leads me to saying "yes I am looking to improve my skills and become more valuable" would this be wrong?
For number one- a question I always ask and phrase is: “can you take me through a day to day in this role?” I feel like asking this gives you an idea of how your days will go.
You helped me so much, and you are also so relatable! I could listen to you the whole day!
One of my hardest interview question was giving different examples of problems I had with my previous manager or team and how I handle it. I thought I bomb it but out of other 5 people they interview, I was chosen because I came prepared to nail the rest of the other interview questions.
I'm desperately looking for another job but I don't want to speak poorly about my company or my position (even though I hate it) so when they ask why I'm leaving I say "I'm looking for a position that more closely alligns with my preferred career path at a company I can grow with", they always ask me to explain, and that transitions into why I want the job I'm applying for
What about "do you have more questions? Do you have more questions? What other questions? You didn't know you'd be interviewing me. What questions do you have?" when you've already asked 20
I have my first job interview today and I have been watching your videos to prepare. thank you for making such informative videos!
Hope it went well for you!
Erin, so thankful for you. Your videos have helped me gain so much more confidence as I am having many interviews and I felt unprepared to succeed. Thank you a million!
I have question about the "what do you do".
What if you are headhunted to a job in a company, or are called in without having sent off an application? How would you tackle that scenario?
Just came across your channel. This video was full of great suggestions. I am a new subscriber as of now and I forwarded the video to others.
Wow. The part about applying at the NBC is actually true for me haha! I can ACTUALLY use this word for word lol
Thank you Erin! (My boss is actually just awful now. He’s trying to prevent me from moving to a better position. Maybe a video on how to deal with that is a good idea? My HR rep said that unfortunately this isn’t uncommon.. :( )
I have a phone interview in about 2 1/2 hours and am binging your interview videos. Wish me luck!
I will say, there have been interviews where my prepared questions already got answered in the conversation we had leading up to that point. In that case, I refer to my notepad, indicate that I’m reviewing them, and sort of look surprised that I have no more questions and feel comfortable with my understanding of the position.
I always say #4!! 😳 I thought it would show how I'm always willing to improve myself to suit the job more... I won't say that again because I always am in the top 2-3 candidate but don't get the job in the end... maybe that's the reason why 😥
You are so good. Can you direct me to a video of how to handle getting let go from a previous job and what to say in an interview why I left. Thanks
I’ve heard in the UK or Europe, they’ve already investigated you completely prior to the interview and the in-person interview is to see if you like their workplace and will fit in. No suits!
For the 5th, I always have technical questions, which end's like "I dont know, you should ask those in the technical interview" for me this is a redflag when I get tortured in 3-4 round interviews, I want the HR to know things about the position. Not some bullshit psychological small talk shit, which I don't really care.
Yeah, number 2 I screwed up, I think it risked the opportunity buuuuut also because I don't have enough experience, but I always say if there it doesn't work out, there is always a better opportunity out there.
I have experienced some cultures find great offense to ask questions at the end of an interview, they want it to end when they say it ends. They have a mindset of "you are the one here to impress me and not the other way around". Sadly, I find that this is the case for most interviews I have been at, and I can't afford to move.
There's resume skills, job search skills, interview skills....etc. Too damn many skills! Oh, and then there's the job skills!
Uff the learning one...its just that i never fit 100 percent to the role so i have a lot to learn on the job. So i always told them that im a fast learner thats why i succeeded at so many different jobs but i need to learn that particular lab method bc i never did that. There are Thousand of different lab methods.
I hear you. I used to work in a genetics lab. Now I work in a hi-tech job that loves to "stay up to date with the latest tools" to do something. Software tools and platforms go in and out of style regularly and then there are the fads that don't catch on or the companies using that 25 year old software you didn' tknow still exists. To help preempt stupid questions, I added a sort of tag line in my resume that tools are just tools to help get you somewhere. Da Vinci can create a masterpiece with a piece of charcoal. A chimpanzee cannot.
Yes science jobs are a nightmare for expecting yrs experience on a particular technique. Even with a PhD and plenty of molecular biology experience they want you to have that exact technique under your belt. Would be interesting to see if Erin has videos on how to handle thos sort of thing - when you have a supposed "skills gap" but actually it's something you can learn easily.
I always had questions to ask 😁 (but I never asked about the salary😄)
The “do you have any questions?” Question… I have been interviewing with a great organization this week and both interviews, I ask questions, they answer, we discuss, and then they will ask if I have more questions, to which I’ll feel a little pressured to ask more questions… and on and on lol. I finally stopped asking questions and I feel they were relieved 😅
You have such good advice. Just wish you would slow down a little.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but 'I have no question' can pass if you elaborate it, like 'I wanted to ask you about X and Y, but we gladly discussed that during this i terview which leaves me with no more questions'
(applies for 100+ jobs in a week whilst working 12 hour days with overtime plus doing most of the household chores, caring for relatives etc)
"so... what drew you to this position?"
"... sorry, what position was this again?"
Great video. Trying to brush up. Ty!
Erin as someone with hidden disabilities, when is a good time to let the employer know. Its not like you can put it on your resume and when I bring it up, I never get called back. I usually bring it up in the last 3 question period. " so, I understand this company has allowances for people with disabilities, can you expand on this..."
Thank you for this Erin!! Im in the job hunt and when I'm at interviews I remember these pointers you share.. You are a LIFESAVER!
Great channel Erin! I needed this. I’ve had interviews that went great and others that didn’t lead to much. This helps me to understand why.
Great video and suggestions, Erin; thank you!
What about an internal job interview where you're applying for a lateral position?
No one says the truth..that interviewers expect you to place them on a pedestal, kiss their ass and act like their Company is a slice of heaven..even if you're interviewing for a lowly entry level underpaid job ..Or you're overqualifed or their work culture is toxic and they never say
It's always one way..they judge you no matter what but make excuses for all their Company's shortcomings
They expect you to act like a begging slave
They all act perfect on an interview panel and thinks nobody knows they're all wasted nasty drunk after work everyday while trying to steal somebody's husband they're working with!
I'm desperately looking for another job but I don't want to speak poorly about my company or my position (even though I hate it) so when they ask why I'm leaving I say "I'm looking for a position that more closely alligns with my preferred career path" and then they always ask me to explain and that transitions into why I want the job I'm applying for
5:35 This was a personal attack
I know that this is an old video, but i was wondering for an interview for a cadetship (where i am still a student) how do i show that i enjoy learning while also showing that i have the potential for professional development? Thanks Erin.
Thanks Erin!
I adore you and find your information very helpful! Thank you again! ❤
my own personal experience; never say 'obviously'
My current employer does not follow the contents of the contract and/or twist the words in the contract (or what is not in the contract) to whatever benefits her. How should I explain this to the interviewer of Company X which I declined before but is now reconsidering accepting it?
Is it okay for me to bring notes to my interview re my past work experience etc? I get so terribly tongue tied and literally forget words so it would be really helpful.
I just bring my printed resume - one for me and for them.
Thank you, this is so helpful ❤
The Opening 💛🩵🩷
The colors of hearts you picked look so happy 😊
Amazing. Thank you!
I get caught with "no further questions" at the end of the interview because I end up asking my questions in conversation during the interview. I usually end up saying some thing like "we covered all of my questions during our conversation" Is it better to work my questions in organically, or wait till the end?
I have a question, if I genuinely don’t have any questions for the company at the end, say the ones I had prepared were already answered earlier on, the company is a really good fit, they explained everything I’d need to know perfectly and I understood everything, can I say no without sounding unprofessional?
Maybe something like “I don’t think so at the moment, but if any come up I’ll be quick to ask” ?
Probably just "well all of the questions I had, were answered throughout the interview," then review the Qs & As and maybe asking for more clarification with the answers if you need. (Someone posted the sickest comment about this)
This is SO helpful! I subscribed instantly and now I’m gonna go binge your other videos, see ya later! 🙏👍🤩
What questions are bad to ask? Should you bring up accommodations that you need?
I LOVE, THANK YOU
What is the program you do that help with new job? I do not have a degree and I have call center experience working from home.
How would I say that I would leave my job two jobs I currently work in order to stay afloat and pay bills for a full time position that would pay much more and would be more beneficial for my family because it has better hours and pay.
I'm not sure why you'd need to say anything about those particular details. Perhaps something about how the role you're applying for appeals to you because the work pattern represents important stability which is a priority to you and you are looking for a role that you can settle into for the long term? Edited to add: an employer doesn't necessarily care about your family but they DO care about keeping people around once they've trained and that's the benefit you would bring to their business
In an interview can you bring little index cards of questions you want to ask of them?
Absolutely! I always go to an interview with a portfolio or some such so I can take notes, and keep the questions I want to ask in front of me.
You could certainly just do this with your phone or tablet as well. Which, now that I think about it, I will now be doing instead of the paper pad.
Sure! As long as you just use them for reference :)
@@wendyannh I prefer my paper pad over a computer for interviews. There's less of a chance for technical difficulties or distractions. It shows that you are totally dedicated to this conversation. It's just you, paper, and a pen(cil).
But I also have cute, nerdy stickers on my clipboard that often start conversations... which is nice
@@robertstull8759I prefer pencil and pad too because it's something to clutch in my hands for security. Also I work in an old-fashioned industry that doesn't tend to have many modern attitudes or ways of working so it's very likely that having a phone in my hand during an interview would count against me. Context is important
Is it a good idea to ask the interviewer what they dont like about working there?
I've slowed the beginning of the video down to 0.25x and i still cant understand the hard and fast rule. To not have... temples? Tempas? Tempest?...on your resume?
Typos!
I couldn’t understand what she said either! I replayed it four times 😂
THANK YOU!
Same 😅
About "do you have any questions for us" at the end of an interview. I've had interviews where I have a list of questions and either it gets addressed in the interview by them before I ask or in the flow of the interview and discussion I already asked it. So at the end I said something like "no, we've already addressed all the questions I had". Is that a decent response? Should I try to hang back from a question or two so I have it at the end?
Is it appropriate to ask what an average day on the job looks like?
I thought that was kind of a standard question
man hole covers????, its because a round plate/ lid won't fall into a round hole. having said that you can put a round plug in a square hole if both the diameter and square are the same size, sidways...but great question, stupidest question, whats your biggest mistake and what did it cost the company.... my answer, I been in aviation for 20 years, everything has training, procedure, and 'circle back' to see you understand your job, if I screwed up I would need help, I couldn't screw up on my own, then there is an investigation, video evidence, a conversation, I apologise, can you be more specific, both of us had a glazed look on our faces, and yes , I have had a couple of conversations.
I don't know if you already have a video on this, but how to approach the fact that you want to change jobs without coming across the wrong way? I didn't get a job and I suspect it's because I admitted in the interview that I was currently working, and I thought that not being honest would be worse since eventually that info would come up either way, but I don't know if I should have said that? I didn't speak badly of my employers, since to be honest I'm just looking for another job because they just don't have enough workload to maintain my position for much longer. I feel it's a bit unsafe for me to wait until I'm unemployed to find a new job, but how do I approach this situation in future interviews? I think tip number 2 kinda would apply but it's not the same to be asked why you left than being currently employed but searching for other options...
A lot of people applying for jobs are currently employed. I respond by saying "I am looking for the next chapter in my career and a company where I can grow. Unfortunately at XYZ company I cannot move further up in any position" or something along those lines. I've been asked by employers when is the earliest start date, considering you must give 2 weeks notice (unless you are unemployed).
@@michelleg.9934 That's what I thought, like it is normal to look for a different job while still employed but the topic on an interview it's so awkward still... Thanks for your detailed response :)
As someone who did handle a couple roles for NBC when they were a client, if I was the recruiter screening you on the phone I would be thinking “girl I get you and I understand completely. But stay classy queen❤” but say “okay when are you available for an interview with my hiring manager?” Lol
Value value value!!!!
"I want to learn" is not too bad in my book, but saying something like "it would look great on my resume" is an automatic red flag to me as an interviewer.
You're basically saying that you'll hop off as soon as we've trained you and something better comes up, and as an interviewer I'd say you do you, but please do it somewhere else.
There is one question I have been asked countless times:
"So, where do you see yourself in five years?"
To date, everyone makes jokes about it, but no one has ever actually given me a structured answer.
Any ideas?
"I don't."
0:22 "the only carrer advise..." and then fast mumbling. I can't hear what u said was the most important! pls what's the advise
I believe she said that the only hard and fast rule is to not have templates on your resume (as in the stylized kind that looks really good to the human eye, but would confuse an ATS system).
@@jennahilton8259 can u provide maybe an example or youtube link, cause i see it as smth very important, but didn't quite get it
Okay but can I bad mouth them if they stole 10,000 dollars?
Whatttt what what, I lost the most important part! 0:23, "the ONLY RULE IS TO...??????"
Put 10% on your resume?? (Eng is not my main language I'm lost!)
0:19
The more you talk about how perfect we should be as perspective employees the more I want to do all of these things in an interview. It's exhausting to keep trying to effort with companies and s***** little managers and weirdos that have to have everybody that walks in the door be super human
. It's not interesting it's not fun I don't want to work in that environment. Managers need to grow up get people in offer training. Do their part. Naked leader and then I don't have to show up like a robot
.
Interviewer: So do you have any questions for me?
Me: Not anymore, I can see the door from here, and that's my only goal at this point. Byeeee!!
Interviewer:..
Me: It's when you said we need someone who can hit the ground running, and then added that I can get to my target pay in a year or two. This is code for we're understaffed (why might that be?) and we don't pay requisite value for what our employees provide, so instead we have them work toward promises. I step into a role with more confidence when it begins within the range I originally discussed, and there is a period of reasonable ramp up to ensure that I will be successful in the role, shall I continue?
Should you tell your employer if you have an intellectual or neurodevelopmental disability like autism or ADHD, etc.?
I, personally, would not discuss that in initial interviews. I'm diagnosed bipolar, and currently being assessed for ADHD, and I would leave that to later discussions, either in later interviews or even not until after you've been given an offer. After all, they can't legally NOT hire you because of medical issues, but they can choose to just not hire you for any other excuses they can come up with.
If you're worried it's going to affect your performance than read up on the American's with Disabilities Act (if you're in the USA) to know what your rights and protections are. Then find out if any state/local laws alter those in any way. Form there I would first discuss it with an HR rep and then your supervisor. But I also admit that I'm very cautious with this information because it's been used against me in the past.
There are, however, company cultures where it's not as much as an issue. If you get a sense that is the case then use your own judgement on how early you disclose personal, medical information.
@Robert Stull Everything you said is true. My own strategy is to mention it by turning it around. I had an interview 2 days ago and was asked about how I would contribute to company culture. I divided it up, "Profesionally I bring x, y, and z. In terms of office culture, diversity is something I highly value, blah, blah... Ultimately, I'm a queer neurodivergent woman and I'm proud of all of those things."
This is definitely something not everyone can do and not for every interview. I'm in the SF Bay Area, so I'm pretty reliably able to use it to score brownie points.
The UK has the Disability Confident Scheme but I personally don't usually mention being ASD until I've started the job. It helps with my imposter syndrome and the sector I work in plays to my ND strengths anyway luckily.
I didn't hear a thing because of echo :(
I love you so muchhhhh
Thanks to your advices I passed my interview ❤️🥹
"I've literally never worked, I can't remember anything, um what's my name" This is me. I feel like I've been shot with that nuerolizer from Men In Black.
Me: I have an interview this week
Erin: Don't say these things
Me: well now that's all I want to say...
It brings me rage that we have to have these robotic, fake a$$ conversations, just so we can make a living.
Just once I want to be brutally honest in an interview.
Because you're hiring, and I need money to live, GD it!!
Nevertheless, i have several of your video saved, Erin. Great work.
Uh oh, I just 💩myself? One of THOSE phrases?
She is talking very fast in the beginning…not have what on your resume? Tempos?
0:15 all made up😂😂