The first rule of doing anything during a job application process is “Don’t lie!” And I think we’d all agree. We all know how to lie on applications, our resumes and in interviews, and we choose not to do it because we’re not stupid. We know better than that. That being said, there are ways to lie… and you don’t realize you’re lying.

The Sweaty Dude Example
Let me demonstrate. As I was sitting at work yesterday, a guy comes in for an interview. So there he is standing in the room, in baggy jeans and an untugged short-sleeved plaid shirt. At least it was a button down. And while I wouldn’t ever recommend dressing like this for ANY interview, I suppose he was forgiven as he applied to a creative agency. So here he is, hunching his back (dude, stand up straight!) and has this goofy smile on his face. So there he is, this guy I was already pitying, completely nervous and probably sweating. And I was quietly thinking: “He’ll never get the job. I hope he doesn’t get the job because I cannot see myself working with this dude.” (Yes, maybe I am currently being a bit TOO honest!! How ironic!)

So my boss gets up and they go to the conference room to have their interview. As I keep working, I try to listen, but I couldn’t hear. Well, I didn’t have to try for long because just about ten minutes later, they emerge again. Sweaty dude first (Fauxpas). My boss right behind him. As he is walking in front of her, she glances over at me with disaster written all over her face. Thank goodness, I thought, I will not have to work with him. So the dude walks out and my boss comes back to sit at the desk.

What Got Him Fired Before He Was Hired
She immediately proceeds to tell me what was wrong with him. To my surprise, it wasn’t his perceived stupidity. Even though, admittedly, he didn’t seem to know very much about the job he applied for. But that’s not what didn’t get him the job! What didn’t get him the job, what was the breaking point for my boss, was that he lied about knowing more than he actually did. He pretended to have a professional background in the field, when he just kept talking about doing it very low budget for his friends. So he basically took his bit of experience to make himself look like he knew it all. And then my boss tells me that had he said he was really interested in the field and would love to learn more, she would have considered him. But he chose to lie about his background.

Something to ponder about:
He may have been hired for the job – even not knowing much about the field – had he only shown passion. But he lost his chance because he lied.

To HIM, it was probably not lying. He never thought of what he was saying as lying. In his mind, it was probably more like trying to look good or justifying or inflating at the most. But he was perceived as lying. And then I was thinking: Well, don’t we all do that? How often have we walked out of an interview and it went great. We gave all these great examples of our work, and we pointed out all these great numbers and achievements… and we never heard from the interviewer again.

What's One Man's Treasure Is Another Man's Trash
Here is what we can’t forget: As much as we make up numbers/inflate numbers (no one is ever really going to check), we tend to forget one thing: We are entry level or close to entry level workers interviewing with a seasoned professional. They know that we do not have all the experience in the world. They don’t expect us to. That’s why they’re hiring us into an entry level job. If we had more experience, we’d be interviewing to be managers. They just want to hear that we have a basic understanding and passion. If you tell them you’re an expert or you have this huge portfolio to showcase, they know you’re not being honest.

Now, you may honestly have experience working on projects. Within internships or project work, or even from another entry level job. And you may honestly know how to do your job perfectly and in the most professional way. But compared to THEM, or compared to what you will be doing there, it’s small fry. So don’t inflate your numbers. Don’t inflate your experience. You mean well, but you’re perceived as a liar. And no one is going to hire a liar.

This principle particularly applies to new and young professionals. That’s the reason why you’re not getting a call back. But even if you’re not entry level, you can still apply to concept. You are interviewing for a higher-up position with someone probably much more higher up than you. What you have to tell them may be great – but remember who you’re talking to. Much more important than numbers are commitment and passion. And honesty.

This guy didn’t mean to lie, he only meant to use his experience to make himself look good; but he made himself look like a fool – and worse, a liar. A liar in baggy pants and an untugged shirt.

So next time you wonder why you didn’t get the job, ask yourself if you did anything like sweaty guy. Were you confident but humble and honestly excited, or was your agenda to show off? Leave your comments about your experiences and share your wisdom!

This blog attempts to teach you how to apply the new rules of PR and marketing to your job search to successfully land the job you really want. Sometimes, it’s the subtleties about PR that make the difference – and they’re so subtle you barely recognize them as PR when reading these posts. Well, let me shout this one from the rooftops: This post is as PR as it gets!

Recently, I’ve seen tons of discussions about how to dress for an interview and how to make the best first impression with what you’re wearing. And unfortunately, I am seeing many really bad posts out there that give blanket advice to an entire country and all industries combined; often written by people who call themselves specialists. I should start by saying that you should never follow blanket advice, particularly not when it comes to dressing for interviews.

Let’s review the norm of how to dress for interviews that hopefully everyone has learned: Black, navy or charcoal suit, button-down white shirt, black, close-toed shoes, natural make-up, no perfume, hair styled conservatively, possibly tied back. And generally, if all else fails, these ARE the rules you want to follow. But because we are applying smart PR to our career search, we are smarter than just following blanket advice. We are learning how to customize!

So let’s take a closer look at dress code.

Fit In... not just your clothes.
The way you dress for an interview depends entirely on the industry you work in. If you are applying for a job in banking or pharma – yes, please follow the standards above. These industries are the most formal. If you are applying for a job in a conservative area and you can assume the people working at the company are rather conservative – yes, please follow the rules above more or less.

As a general rule, though, you should follow the industry-standard of how to dress ON the job. If the industry as a whole, or the company you’re applying for, dresses casual or very business-casual (as in “jeans”), step it up a notch. I would avoid going to an interview in jeans at pretty much all costs. But follow the rules of the industry, because….

PR RULE NUMBER ONE: ASSIMILATE!

Study your audience and do what it takes to appeal to that audience. The basis of every PR campaign is lots of research. You learn what your audience members are like, what they like, and what moves them – particularly what moves them to a change in attitude. The attitude change YOU are trying to accomplish is for the interviewer to go to loving you from simply being cognizant of you. So what do you do? YOU FIT IN! We’ve talked about this before: The interview is mainly there to establish if you fit in. You’re already qualified. So show them in every possible way that you know your industry (THEIR industry) and that you know how to fit in, down to dressing right for it. This rule pretty much rules out a black suit and a button-down shirt for A LOT of fields!

PR RULE NUMBER TWO: GO WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE!

As you are using your PR skills to get the job, they are using their PR skills to get the best hire. They probably don’t know that that’s a PR tactic, but they are doing it nonetheless. So how do you know you are getting the best candidate possible? How do you get the best possible guarantee of a candidate to truly be the best out of the whole pot? Simple: You are hiring someone who is currently employed. There’s a very simple mantra explaining that: If you are currently not employed, you can’t be THAT good, right? Someone would have already snatched you up. Well, we know that’s not necessarily true, but our psyche tells us otherwise. And you can like it or not, you will not change this way of thinking.

The Employed Get Hired.
As a matter of fact, I was talking to a hiring manager and she said she won’t even interview anyone who is not currently employed. Why? Because the unemployed are desperate to take ANY job and they will tell you anything to get it. She doesn’t trust them. I didn’t agree with her, but that doesn’t matter. So if you are currently unemployed, the trick is, once again: To cater to your audience.

If you are currently unemployed, do your best to look like you ARE employed. Don’t lie, but use your PR tactics to make yourself look like you are currently working. There are many facets to this concept; for this purpose we will focus on dress code, since that is the subject of this post. So let’s think for a second of how an employed person goes to an interview.

HOW AN EMPLOYED PERSON GOES TO AN INTERVIEW
When you are employed and you are starting to look for a different job, you will most likely not rub it into your current employers face. So your interviews are either after hours right after your work is over (and the other company is hopefully still open) or you take an extended lunch. (Or you lie and make up a reason for why you can’t come in.) The point is: You don’t have all day to go from looking like you do for work to looking like the perfect interviewee in black suit and perfect hair and makeup. You don’t have two hours in the AM to spend in front of the mirror; you have to get to work. So you will look the way you look to go to work. Well – guess what: That’s what people at that other company also look like! Of course that day, you put on slacks instead of jeans and a nicer shirt instead of your good old cotton. But the point is: You look like you are someone who is employed in the industry. Because you actually ARE! You fit in because you are ALREADY IN! Do these people get hired? YES! All the time! Because employers know they fit in.

What do we learn from this novel observation? If you want to make yourself look like you’re currently employed, you literally make yourself LOOK LIKE you’re employed! It’s THAT easy. Dress like you’re going to work. Nicely. You’re not going to be able to SAY that you’re currently employed, but you will LOOK like you are. And that brings you one step closer to fitting in – because you are subconsciously telling them you’re fitting in… without even using one word or your resume. Now, just doing that won’t get you the job… but at least you’re one step closer.

And now you always know how to dress without having a meltdown over your wardrobe. Don’t you love PR!?

Alright! Long awaited, here are my top 10 interview busters. Shall we get right to business?

Interview Buster #1: Not Knowing the Company
This seems to be a no-brainer, but knowing about the company extends beyond knowing who the CEO is. It’s always good to know the history of the company – but honestly, that doesn’t help you. It gives you a nice background on how they got started, and possibly on the company culture. But to answer what you know about the company, you should always focus on current news about the company. On trends in the industry and how the company is addressing them. It is a good idea to weave in good “follow up” questions about the company here and turn this into a conversation. Not knowing the company you’re applying to must be the worst thing to do wrong.

Interview Buster #2: Forgetting the Names of Your Interviewers
If someone takes the time to meet with you, to then possibly offer you a job to give you a lot of money, the least you can do is remember their name! If you happen to forget, just don’t mention their names. It’s really easy. You are talking to them, no need to mention their names. Ask for a business card in the end, and the name is right back.

Interview Buster #3: Talking Smack
Don’t talk badly about your current or former co-workers. Don’t talk badly about your current or former boss. Just don’t say anything negative at all. Keep it positive. If your answer contains a negative element, put a positive spin on it, explain it rationally and end on a high note.

Interview Buster #4: Not Asking Any Questions
In the end of every interview, the interviewer will ask you if YOU have any questions. Be aware that the interview is not over – this is part of your evaluation. You should always have SOMEthing to ask. During the conversation, all of your burning questions may have been answered, so have your standard questions ready. You should always have some questions. It shows you’re curious, you’re prepared and you have done your research (and have extra questions because of it).

Ideally, you want to connect your questions to something about the company to show you’ve done your research. You basically ask follow-up questions to given information.

The best advice I have ever received about asking the interviewer questions is to make them about THEM. Ask questions about how you can help THEM. What THEIR idea of the perfect candidate is, and what you can do to improve your work performance there. What can you do to assist them in the best way? What programs/software/techniques should you catch up on? Those kind of questions exhibit the willingness to follow, listen and help… and ultimately show that you care about getting this job.

Interview Buster #5: Talking About Personal Stuff
Whether it’s your kids, your boyfriend, your church service last Sunday, your last frat party… if you can, don’t mention any of it. There are several reasons for not talking about these things.

        First: It makes you look unprofessional. You’re not at the therapist’s. You’re talking to a professional                who is interested in your professional performance.

        Second: It might eliminate you from candidacy. Maybe they don’t want to hassle with someone who has         kids. Maybe they don’t like your religion. They will never tell you because you might sue them, but it is         a possibility. Most likely though, they won’t hire you for it because (see “first”) it makes you look                     unprofessional.

        Third: It makes you look distracted. Why are you talking about your last frat party when you could use         your time telling them why you’re qualified to do this job? Is this how you’ll present the company? How         you will talk to clients? To customers?

Interview Buster #6: Not Knowing the Proper Answers To Questions
Granted, there are no cookie cutter answers for most interview questions. But you CAN know the most commonly asked questions and prepare good answers. You CAN learn the concepts of why certain questions are asked and be prepared for them. So make sure that the answers you are giving aren’t just theoretically right, but that they actually reflect the answer expected of that question. Answer the question behind the question, and follow the right pattern.

Interview Buster #7: Showing Up Late
Not only should you not be late, you should be early. Being just on time is almost as bad as being late. Again, several reasons here.

        First: Whether you’re just on time or late, you’ll probably be exhausted from rushing to get there on                 time. You might be sweaty, have to go to the bathroom with no more time, be out of breath… there’s a             number of purely visual things that are just off for that oh-so important first impression.

        Second: If you’re late or just on time, you will have no time to talk to the front desk person. You didn’t         know you should be talking to THAT employee? Your interviewers will go to that person after you’re             gone and ask them what they think of you. So come a bit early, be natural, be nice, make some pleasant         small talk. Show your good energy!

        Third: If you’re late, you will not be hired for basically certain. If you can’t be at least on time for such         an important appointment, you cannot be trusted. Moreover, you show that this is really not all that                 important to you.

Interview Buster #8: Chewing gum
Yes, there’s a need to really mention this one. Particularly because you’re so concerned about your breath when going to an interview, you put gum in your mouth on your way there… and then you forget to take it out. Make it a point to take out gum before leaving the car… because you might not get a chance anymore after. A better alternative: Use breath mints. They just disappear!

Interview Buster #9: Not Bringing Your Materials
Ok, this is not exactly a buster, but it’s certainly a plus to not do this (oh my, there’s a double negative here!).
Come prepared with a notepad, a pen and a neat briefcase that contains several copies of your resume, your references and your portfolio. It’s ok to have your questions written down. It’s ok to take notes during the interview. Keep it light – you do want to make sure you maintain eye contact and stay focused. This is a technique, however, that makes you look smart. You know what to do in a meeting. You know how to take notes to remember everything later.

Interview Buster #10: Not Connecting With the Interviewer
There are several ways you can connect with your interviewer. If you can’t make a connection, they’re either not going to remember you at all, or they will have a neutral to negative impression of you. So how do you make that connection with a total stranger in a professional way while being nervous, you ask? Good question!

        Make some light small talk before starting the interview to set the mood light.

        Keep eye contact, but don’t stare! It’s easier said than done, especially when you have to think about                 what you’re saying. It’s easy for eyes to wonder.

        Be interested in your interviewer. Let me say this very clearly: This does not mean flirt with your                     interviewer! It means ask questions about their career, their career choices, their jobs, how your job                 would relate to theirs. Everyone likes talking about themselves. Remember to actually be interested in             what you’re asking.

        Give a firm handshake. Don’t hurt them, but do make sure your enthusiasm translates into your                         handshake.

        Keep a smile on your face and keep it natural. Don’t make forced conversation, don’t be nervous. Don’t         keep rambling. Be yourself – just be the best version of yourself. With a smile on your face and a sparkle         in your eyes!

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Ok, I said I'd have a post about the top 10 interview busters next, but I'll have a little intermission in between busters - it IS, however, about at least ONE interview buster. It's about how to answer one of the more difficult questions well: What are your weaknesses?

It's a tough one to answer because it almost just asks for a lie. Why would you ever give away your TRUE weaknesses, right? They'll get you disqualified! So professors and coaches tell you to come up with weaknesses you can either turn into a strength, or weaknesses that have nothing to do with job performance. That’s one way, I suppose. That’s been my strategy so far. Well, here's a bit of a different take I have after talking to the marketing manager at King's Hawaiian, responsible for hiring there.

A Look At Interviewers
First of all, let’s just look at hiring managers for a minute. Who are they? Well, at the most basic level, they are people. Not machines. They are people with a personality, with strengths and weaknesses themselves. People who are able to see you, look at you, evaluate your personality, your reactions, your tone of voice. At a little bit more advanced level, they are people who are trained to look at you and evaluate you professionally, as it related to the job you’re applying for and the company. And most importantly, they are people who once were on the other side of the table themselves. They are people who know very well that you do have real weaknesses, no matter what answer you give them.

When they choose to ask the question “What are your weaknesses,” they ask it for a reason – whatever reason that may be. They know the ways answers can go – they are trained to read answers between the lines. They once thought about how to answer it themselves. So how do you answer this question then to satisfy them?

Most Important Is Cultural Fit, Weaknesses or Not
Let me interject another thought here that will make the evaluation of how to answer “What are your weaknesses” a bit more clear. As I was talking to the King’s Hawaiian lady, I asked her what the most important thing was that she looks for in a candidate. She didn’t say their references, their job history, or even their degree or achievements. She said, without having to think twice, “Cultural fit.” So personality is the most important thing you can show during an interview. She said that you can be as qualified as you want, with the most stellar references, work history and track record – if your personality doesn’t fit into the company, you will not be hired.

Hm, let’s think about this for a minute. I am writing this blog mostly for people in or right out of college – but it really applies to everyone across the board that currently has no job they want to keep for the rest of their lives, or that just have no job at all. We are so focused on just getting a job that we often overlook the most important thing: Do I actually fit within this company? Am I actually going to be happy going to work with these people every day? Am I going to dread getting up every morning to be at a place I hate for 8+ hours every day? I understand the need to have a job, and any job will do if you otherwise have to live on the street. Unfortunately, companies don’t look at it that way. Especially right now, they get to choose the perfect candidate, so you might as well go with it and FIND that company that’s a great fit for you.

And then that’s it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: They have seen your resume, they already think you’re qualified. The interview is mostly not to show them you’re qualified, but to show them that you would fit in. And that’s exactly what NAME was saying. So as long as you show your true personality, you will be happy at work if hired because you know they are going to be like-minded.

How I Got Fired Because My Strength Was Their Weakness
For example, I worked at a non-profit for 3 weeks before I was fired. Why was I fired? Because my personality was more bubbly than I admitted to in the interviews. My work style was much faster than they wanted. My get-it-done attitude was not appreciated. Are these good qualities? I think so! But they fired me! What did they tell me when they fired me? They said: “Your work is great, you have really good ideas… but you’re just not the right personality fit.” That was that, nothing I could do. So I moved on to an agency, where there’s a corporate, young and progressive-minded culture; it is a place where work is fast and projects get done yesterday. And I love it. Absolutely love it and fit in perfectly. My work experience was exactly the same for both jobs – but the culture was quite different. I liked going to work at the non-profit. I LOVE going to work at the agency. And another point you can take away from this: What you list as your strengths - might not be attractive to your interviewer. And what you view as your weakness might constitute the perfect fit! Just think about THAT!

This experience has shifted my thinking from “having to find ANY job” to “really wanting to find the RIGHT job.” Why? Because if you don’t find the RIGHT job, you’re not going to last. It’s that simple. (And if you somehow manage to last, you’ll hate it.) And then you’ll have to keep starting all over again and again. Until you learn that cultural fit truly is the most important thing in a hiring decision. These are the people you will spend more time with than you do with your family – it HAS to be a good fit.

So What's The Best Answer?
With this in mind, let’s get back to my original point. What does this little excursion here have to do with the question “What are your weaknesses?” Well, my point sort of is: It doesn’t really matter. My best guess is that they simply want to see if you’re honest. If your nature is genuine. How do you sound when confronted with an uncomfortable question or situation? Again: They KNOW you’re not perfect. They KNOW you have real weaknesses that put you at a disadvantage. Just like everyone else in the world does, too. The point is: Do you know what they actually are? Because if you know what they are, you can do something about them! THAT’s the positive spin! Don’t come up with a weakness that’s really a strength. “I work too hard. Haha, I guess that’s a good weakness to have!” Bullshit. You’re out! You apparently don’t even know what “weakness” means.

Here’s a weakness: “I know this isn’t good – but I tend to arrive late. It’s not that I don’t organize my time well, I do get everything done… I’ll just stay late. And I’m not hours late, but I somehow have a hard time getting out of the 15-minutes late thing. I AM working on it and I have gotten much better at being on time and I make it a point to pay attention to timing.”

THAT’s a real weakness. Did you just expose yourself? Absolutely. But if that really is your weakness, then you WILL be late for work. Here is what King’s Hawaiian marketing manager said: “If this truly is your weakness, I want you to tell me that. Because maybe the position has flex hours, and then it would be perfect for you. Now, it might disqualify you from a position where you just have to be on time precisely, but then they’d notice you being late soon enough, wouldn’t they?”

And that takes us back full circle to the fit. You want to get a job you will keep. So when they ask you about your weaknesses, they want to make sure they’re not in the way of you doing your job. Because they WILL fire you when it comes out and it’s a real barrier to you doing your job well. If your weakness doesn’t matter or can be worked in (such as you’ll be on flex hours anyway), it solidifies your fit. AND they know you’re honest and you know yourself.

So be truly honest with your weaknesses. If they can see you know yourself, it proves your sound character and your maturity. It also lets them evaluate if you’re a good fit. And if you are a good fit, you will get the job, despite of your weaknesses. Because everyone has weaknesses. EVERYONE does, you don’t have to hide them. You just need to be someone with the “right” weaknesses for the job.

If your weakness is that you can’t lift anything over 10 pounds but you will have to frequently move furniture – guess what. You’re not going to keep that job. So you might as well admit to it from the start. It can only make you stronger. And if it doesn’t make you stronger, you weren’t the right fit anyway.

I have to start this entry by saying how sad it is that so many people (in particular students) think they know what they're doing when it comes to interviewing and the job-finding process in general, but they really don't. And you might be reading this right now thinking: "Well, thank God that's not me!" - but the truth is that it might JUST be YOU... because... well, because you are one of those who think they know what they're doing... when you really don't.

And the critical question now is: How do I know which side I am on? Well, doing your research right, learning as much as you can before you send in that resume, before you go into that interview, before accepting that job, is critical. And that's why you're reading this - because you want to learn. Good!

A Real-Life Example to Make My Point
Let's look at some questions and right and wrong answers.

As so often, I want to drive my point home with a practical story I experienced last week. In my current position, I work closely with the person that interviewed me and was mainly responsible for hiring me. From the start, I got along with him very well, which, of course, never hurts. So every so often, we have our two-minute water cooler talks. About a week ago, he told me he needed to shift our meeting because he had to go do an interview. So after he got back from it, I initiated one of those water cooler minutes and asked him how it went. His response didn't need any words - his facial expression said it all. (It was not very positive). So I thought this would be a good moment to reveal that I blog about this sort of stuff and, in turn, interview him about mistakes this person obviously made and how to avoid them.

Well, it turns out that the girl he interviewed for an internship already had had a telephone interview with him before coming in. During that interview, she seemed quite smart and she was told what the main account was she would be working on (this is for a large PR agency). So now that she came in, he asked her some follow-up questions, and she was dumb-founded. I will now list some of the questions and her answers and hope that this will teach you the very valuable lesson of DOING YOUR RESEARCH!

Question 1: You will be working on one account mainly, but you'll also have your time split over nine other major accounts. Do you think you'll be comfortable doing that?
(Editor's Note: When you work at a big PR agency, it is normal that you work on several accounts simultaneously. PR agencies are very busy.)

Her answer: "Oh... I don't know. I've worked in-house before, so I've only worked on just that one product."

Right answer: "Well, I've worked in-house before. So even though that would be equal to only one client, they did have several project going on and I helped with many of them. So I'm excited to switch to agency now and learn about this new aspect of working on several clients. But I do think I am well equipped to handle it and I am a fast learner and highly organized.

Lesson learned: If you don't have the exact skills needed, you think of a transferable skill. You also never say no! Never. Just don't.

Question 2: You know that this is a full-time internship, so you'll work 40 hours a week, from about 9-5:30, including lunch, Monday through Friday. Does that sound like a schedule you can handle?

Her answer: Yes, that's fine. But I do want to say that I come from North Orange County, so I may not be on time every day.
(Editor's note: Anything in North Orange county is about 30 miles removed from this office and you do have to take a horribly backed-up freeway during rush hour.)

Right answer: Yes, that's fine.

Lesson learned: Never - again, I repeat NEVER, volunteer negative information. Especially not if that information makes you sound like a slacker, uncoordinated, unorganized, or simply careless. In most entry-level jobs, these qualities are absolutely essential. If you already know you'll have a tough commute, you just get up a half hour earlier. Worst case scenario: You get to work half an hour early. You are not late for an interview; just the same, you are not late for work. Every so often that will happen for reasons outside your control (like an accident that closes the whole freeway and you're literally stuck) - but you never suggest that this might be an ongoing thing for no reason other than you not getting up on time.

Lesson learned: Less is more. Do not ramble. Do not answer questions that weren't asked, unless you have something really good to say. Remember: No one asked "Were you ever late for work?" Or "Do you think you might be late for work?" The question was: Does this sound like a schedule you can handle? It's a yes or no answer. And this is something you know in advance. If your answer to it is no, you shouldn't be wasting anyone's time by coming to the interview in the first place. Find something closer to home. And by the way: If they did ask if you thought you might be late for work, your answer is: "No, of course not. I know I'll have a tough commute on the 5 and I already tested out how long it takes me to get here, so I know when I have to leave my house to make it." Period. -See now, you've volunteered a wholly positive detail that made you look prepared and showed you're thinking ahead.

Question 3: As we have discussed on the phone, the main account you'll work on is the XYZ Project. What do you know about this project? How do you feel about it?

Her answer: Oh, I don't know, I haven't worked on it yet, so I'm not familiar with the project.

Right answer: Well, this answer should be as long as your answer makes business-sense and you can speak intelligently about this project and what you've learned during your research. And this is a good time to also throw in intelligent questions about this project, as far as your work on it is concerned, for example.

Lesson learned: When they give you a freebee and already tell you in advance exactly what it is that you'll be working on - you research it! To death! Until you can't find any more information on it. And during the interview, you might even find a way to volunteer that information to show initiative, before you're even asked about it. This is where the research part comes in. They won't hire you because you're pretty. They'll hire you because they think you're intelligent and you can handle  the job and are prepared.


Needless to say that the girl did not get the internship. And I was a bit embarrassed, because she graduated from the same school and the same program I graduated from. And I was just really wondering why you would give answers like that... and I came to the conclusion that it is because people just talk too much (We're nervous in interviews) ... or are too honest (Yes, you will be late for work. They know that. Everyone is every so often. But you just don't say that!) ... or just don't think their answers through, and don't consider all possible consequences. It's not because they're stupid, it's because they weren't prepped.

Help Me To Help You!
So the key is to do your research and learn as much as you can. Not just about the company you're interviewing for, but about interviewing and this whole process of getting a job in general. At this point, I would like to ask you for your opinion: What is it that YOU would like to learn more about? What do you think might be your biggest deficiency and you just don't know where to turn for it? What have you researched and just haven't found satisfying answers, or what you found simply didn't work? Please let me know! Email me directly at anne.pelczar AT yahoo DOT com or leave a comment. I want to help!

So you did write that winning resume and cover letter, you networked your way into an organization, you did get the interview, you went, it went great, and now you're back home. First of all: Congratulations! You're ahead of about 95% of your competition! Now what do you?

Most of us know that interviewees are supposed to send a thank you note. Back until not too long ago, these were supposed to be handwritten note cards, ideally pre-written and dropped off at the front desk as you left the interview. I always thought that was insincere... how can you say anything if you've written it before the interview even happened? But no matter, we don't do that anymore. After listening to interviewer after interviewer after coach after specialist, these days, thank you emails are widely accepted and often even preferred.

Another thought to consider might be that if they really want you, they'll hire you even if you don't send that thank you email. But why would you risk hurting yourself by not sending it? You show you know etiquette and have proper manners - It can only be beneficial to you.... you'd think.
So let's make sure this follow-up email you send ACTUALLY WILL BE BENEFICIAL!

WHAT NOT TO DO
Why don't I start with an example of what NOT to do. A few days ago, I was at my favorite coffee shop and I am standing in line to order my coffee... And as I am standing there waiting, there are two men sitting next to me at a table. One of them looks at his phone and says the to the other:

                   "Oh man! Listen to this! I interviewed this guy last week, and here's the email
                        he just sent me." At this point, he lets out a little chuckle. "I just wanted to
                       follow up on whether did I met the qualifications of the opened position?"

This is not a drill. This really happened! Ok... I HAD to jump in and ask what that person was interviewing for. Turns out he interviewed at a small, privately-owned furniture design store in Long Beach, called 'Trebor Nevets' to be a graphic designer. This business designs custom, new and vintage  furniture as well as fine art. Do graphic designers there (or anywhere) have to write? Not so much. If they write, does it ever go out to the public? Not so much. Did the owner still want him to be able to write intelligently? Yes, sir! And mind you - this is a small business. If even the small ones care about this so much, what do you think the reaction will be at big corporations where your competition is even steeper?

NOW HERE'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT: After the man was done quoting the email, he laughed and said: "Well, THAT just disqualified him. I mean, he was a nice guy and we had a good talk, but this did it."

So... I honestly don't even know where to start. There are so many things wrong with this note. So let's start with the very basic:

                                             A) YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO WRITE!!!

Unless you're a math or accounting major and you're a genius at numbers and that's what you do all day long in the back of a store while never facing any other human being, you better know basic writing! I can absolutely not stress that enough! I know your professors tell you all the time and you don't listen. START LISTENING! If you can't see anything wrong with the note this interviewee sent to Mr. Sarinana, then you're in deep shit and should probably reconsider graduating and taking some basic writing classes first. Seriously!

Let's assume you CAN see at least some of the things wrong with it and you DO have basic (and hopefully advanced) knowledge of grammar and spelling. Let's remember that this is not the time to get lazy. You put all this work in your resume and cover letter and preparing for an interview... you can spend 10 more minutes on a thank you note.

                                                 THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO GET LAZY!
Your interview may have went outstanding. You can still ruin it - remember, you're not yet hired! A little thing such as a bad thank you note may ruin it for you! If your interview did not go so hot, you still write that note. Who knows - your perception might be wrong and they really did like you. If nothing else, you still show them that you follow protocol and you are polite. So what do we do?

                B) YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TO ACTUALLY PUT IN THAT NOTE

#1: WE LEARN TO SAY THANK YOU
You say thank you every time you get a present, right? How much more valuable is getting an interview? So we learn how to write one sentence properly:
Here it is (copy and paste if you have to): "Thank you so much for meeting with me this morning to talk about your open position as BLANK. It was a pleasure meeting you and I am honored you are considering me to work with you."
Proofread your note before sending! Then proofread it again. Pay attention to the details! If you are weak at writing, have someone proofread that note for you. Do not send it off before being sure that it is free of mistakes. If you are the worst writer and have no one to proofread, end with this statement. Put your name under it and send.

#2: WE LEARN WHAT TO WRITE IN A THANK YOU NOTE
A thank you note consists of three basic paragraphs.
First paragraph: You say thank you and show appreciation! (That's kind of the whole point.) See #1 for directions.
Second paragraph: You reiterate shortly your qualifications based on the interview (where you hopefully asked what qualities they are looking for in the perfect candidate) and repeat why you would be that perfect candidate.
Third paragraph: You tell them very quickly why you want to work at THIS company, and look forward to hearing back from them soon.
That's it.

#3: WE USE THEIR TONE
How did they talk to you during the interview? Was it really relaxed? Was everyone very formal? Did they wear suits or jeans? Did they sit upright or lounge in their chairs? Did they joke around or were they serious? Were they high-ranking executives or entry-level personnel? Reflect that tone and hit it right. Don't crack a joke, don't be sarcastic... it can't be read properly in a written document. But do keep that tone in mind when you address them (first name or last name?), when you end (Sincerely yours, or All my best), when you write all in between (should you strike a casual or formal tone? What examples would be appropriate to bring up?).

                        C) YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT NOT TO PUT IN THAT NOTE

#1: The thank you note is NOT the time to ask if you're qualified.
I hate calling someone a moron... but dude... you just went through an interview! You think they like wasting their time on interviewing people they don't consider qualified? Guess what: If you get an interview, you're qualified! Now is the time to be confident! This is the time to tell them: Good choice! Here is exactly why I am qualified, you won't regret hiring me! If you send a note full of mistakes... guess what: You are disqualifying yourself!

#2: It is also NOT the time to be long or elaborate.
Do you know how many emails executives get every hour? They don't want to read an essay about you. If you told them you'll get back to them with an answer about a question they had, you put it there as shortly as you can. If you didn't get to talk about something you really wanted to mention and it is vital to mention this, you do it here, but you do it as brief as humanly possible! Keep it short, short, short! Pyramid style: Most important first!

#3: It is lastly NOT the time to make mistakes.
Remember in writing, the most important thing is the beginning and the end of your paragraph. Everything in between, the reader skims over. Same in the interviewing process. You start out strong with cover letter and resume and you finish strong with that thank you note. There is no room to get lazy! It literally takes 10 minutes to write that note - finish strong! And do finish. Do write that note and make sure it is perfect. Writing a note like the person in my example above is simply unacceptable and will most certainly disqualify you. How are you a convincing professional if you can't even write one simple sentence right? Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes. Would you invest a lot of money into someone who will represent your company this way?

                                   D) YOU LATHER, RINSE AND REPEAT AS NEEDED

If you get a second interview, you DO the same thing again - but make sure to not WRITE the same thing again! Now you customize your note to that second interview. You're still honored, you're even more excited, you reiterate a strength not mentioned the first time around (now even shorter or you may leave it out altogether), you thank them again, you close. You do it every time you interview, with everyone you interview with! Make sure you customize every note for everyone you talk to - they may compare them! If it's the lowest level-bottom-of-the-food-chain-person in the company you talk to - you show the same respect you show to the CEO! You are just as grateful and appreciative to them. It won't go unnoticed.

Thanks for reading - hopefully you rock now and get that job!