Smart employers don’t expect job candidates to be perfectly polished interviewees, but some turn-offs that might seem minor on your end can be deal-breakers on the employer’s end, like rambling, playing coy about tough subjects, and minimizing concerns about your fit for the job. At U.S. News & World Report today, I talk about these […]

A reader writes: I recently was invited for an in-person office manager interview with a large, non-finance company in the private sector. I was genuinely interested in the company, but I was surprised when I arrived for the interview and was asked to fill out an application that requested my social security number and date […]

A reader writes: I was contacted yesterday by a recruitment agency that was looking to fill a position at a company I like, and it seems as if it would be a great fit for me. I Skyped with them today and they’ve set me up an interview for tomorrow. The recruiter just called me […]

You’ve spent hours prepping for your job interview and you arrive ready to impress. But in an instant, your careful plans can fall to pieces if you’re thrown off by a change in the interview that you didn’t know to plan for — like discovering you’re interviewing with a different person, or that your interview […]

A reader writes: I am interviewing for a management position where I would be overseeing the retail operations of an historic site, a fairly significant source of income for them. I used to work there as a volunteer, so I have a (positive) history with the organization and am familiar with a lot of their […]

A reader writes: Over the past several months, I have been lucky enough to make it to second and third round interviews. At one recently, I was told unequivocally that I was one of two remaining candidates. Everyone was so nice that I was shocked when I wasn’t offered the position. Currently, I am awaiting […]

A reader writes: Here’s a new one that is baffling me. I’m seriously looking for work, and generally get called to interview every few resumes I submit. I treat every interview seriously, and prepare, bring work samples, dress professionally, arrive 5 minutes early, make good eye contact, firm handshake, ask great questions (they respond with […]

A reader writes: I recently quit my job in February to stay home with my daughter. I parted with my company on very good terms and have a great rapport with my old boss. We still talk frequently; I send updates on my daughter and we have plans to meet up for drinks at the […]

Do you need to wear a suit to a job interview? Probably. But maybe not. But if you’re unsure, then yes. Here’s the deal with suits and job interviews: You need to know the norms for interview dress for your own field. And not just your field in general, but your field in your particular geographic […]

Interviewing for a job at your current company might sound easier than interviewing at a strange company where you don’t know anyone. But internal interviews can be just as hard as external ones, and they come with some additional pitfalls of their own. At U.S. News & World Report today, I talk about what to expect […]