Interviews

I've recently started the hiring process again at our company. Every time I get stunned by applicants and their behaviors. I would like to bring some of them to your attention, I hope you learn from it or at least find it amusing.

What is up with the leather file folders? Applicants keep bringing them without actually using them at all! My tip for all applicants: Leave all the unnecessary accessories at home. What are you hiding in it after all? Your resume? What's the use in bringing that if it hasn't changed? If I'm not mistaken, you already sent your resume to me, and for that reason I invited you to this interview.

And talking about your resume. Do you even read it yourself? The amount of spelling and grammatical errors that I find in resume's is astonishing and sad at the same time. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm from the Netherlands and make a lot of mistakes myself in all sorts of communication, but NOT in resume's. Review your resume, not once, but multiple times, have your family read it, your friends or even your neighbor. But please..please... make sure you don't have spelling errors in it.

Another thing that stuns me every time. Social Media pages. Future Applicants: Please lock and/or review your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other social media pages! Tip number 3 for applicants: Google your own name! One of my tactics is to search YOUR name on Google and social media pages. And believe me when I say that I've seen it all; Newspaper articles about your DUI, the naked behind of a girl that likes to strip in her own time, a bunch of middle fingers, cross-dressing and more. Please, leave your private life... private.

And last but not least, know when and what you need to say and when you need to stop talking. Take hints, read the other person. It amazes me that some persons do not know when to stop talking, it's highly irritating and you'll lose my attention. Listen to the other person and DON'T interrupt, let the other person finish talking. Interrupting is not only annoying, but it's a lack of respect, a sign of low communication skills and it shows that you are not listening.

Don't be afraid, be confident. If you apply for a job, you do that for a reason. Don't waste your and/or anyone else's time.

Silvain Mak