These days, phone interviews are an unavoidable part of the job interview process, and for good reason: They save everyone involved time and effort. But that doesn’t mean that phoners require zero energy on the part of the candidate. Yes, you should spend more time preparing for an in-person interview, but many companies treat phone screens as the official first round of the hiring process. That means candidates are expected to go into them prepared with as much information about the company, position, and their own skills and strengths as possible.

We asked HR pros about their top phone interview pet peeves, they had no shortage of advice to offer. Apparently, it’s quite easy to mess up your phone interview. But here’s the thing; it’s also not hard to come across well if you keep some key things in mind.

1. Never Take The Interview Somewhere Noisy
It might seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised what interviewers say they can hear in the background of their phone interviews—everything from barking dogs to screaming children. “Prepare for the interview by securing a quiet space in advance, even if it means escaping to your car parked in the garage,” advises Chere Taylor, founder of Fulcrum HR Consulting. “If you can lock your home office door, by all means, do it. We’ve all been there and sometimes things just happen, but the more time spent anticipating what could go wrong, the better prepared and organized you will appear to the interviewer and the greater likelihood of success.” That doesn’t mean that if your washing machine beeps once in the background all hope is lost, but the more effort you put into being in a quiet place, the more focused you’ll be.

2. Don’t Talk About Your Personal Life
…Unless you’re directly asked a question about what you like to do in your off hours. “The point of a phone interview is to focus on getting to know a candidate’s professional experience and goals,” says Mckenzie Roark, campus talent specialist at Lithko Contracting. “A recruiter is trying to qualify them to see if they are the best fit for a role, and learning about their personal life doesn’t help. For example, when asked where you see yourself in five years, we don’t want to know that you hope to be married or that you want to buy a new house. That is nice but that isn’t relative to anything professional.”

3. Resist The Urge to Multitask
It might be tempting to cross something off your to-do list while on a phone interview, but recruiters and hiring managers can easily tell if your attention is elsewhere. “My number one pet peeve is people who decide to multitask while on the phone interview,” says Dan Krupansky, Talent Acquisition Manager at PrimePay. “I have heard candidates washing dishes, making lunch in the microwave, going for walks, letting their dog out, and grocery shopping during the interview. I even had one person use the bathroom and flush the toilet while speaking with me.” Needless to say, this doesn’t reflect well on your level of interest in the position you’re interviewing for.

4. Skip The Money Conversation
To put it bluntly, it’s simply too early in the process for you to be the one who brings up salary expectations. “Chances are if a candidate is participating in a phone interview, this is the first time they have talked with the company, and the first call isn’t the appropriate time to talk about ‘what’s in it for you,’” says Justina Strnad, the Talent Acquisition Manager for Shiftgig. “Trust me, if you are a great candidate and make it to the next steps, the hiring team is going to be very transparent about what’s in it for you later on!”

5. Never Put Your Interviewer On Hold
Phone interviews don’t take that long, and there probably isn’t anything else going on that is really truly so urgent that you need to pause your interview. “Do not put me on hold to take an important call that just beeped in,” advises Jeremy Payne, head of people operations at Remote Year. “I am your important call. If you are expecting extremely urgent news (like information about a family illness), be sure to preface that in the early minutes of the interview, so the recruiter is aware of the situation and so you can work with them to reschedule if that interruption does occur,” he says.

6. Never Skip The Q&A
“After wrapping up a phone interview, it is typical that the interviewer will ask the candidate if they have any questions. I can’t stress this enough: ALWAYS ask questions,” says Roark. “If we have had a great phone interview and then we wrap up and they don’t have any questions for me, it pretty much ruins the whole interview. It tells me that the candidate is uninterested in the role, which in reality, might not be the case at all,” she notes. But surely, if you’re interested in a job, you can think of something to ask your interviewer.

7. Don’t Be Late
It seems basic, but surprisingly, many people are late to phone interviews. “About a quarter of the people with whom I schedule phone interviews aren’t on time,” says Sophie Cikovsky, who handles the U.S. recruiting for Infinite Global. “While this bothers me personally, it’s also indicative of someone who isn’t very detail-oriented,” she explains. “In order to identify this early in the hiring process, I started asking all candidates a few years ago to call me as opposed to calling them at an agreed-upon time. That way if I hear from them at 1:13 pm or 12:49 pm instead of our planned 1:00 pm interview time, I have an early indicator that they might not be a great fit.”

8. Don’t Assume Reception Is Good
“Make sure you test your headset and connection before dialing in,” recommends Payne. “There is nothing more frustrating for a recruiter who has a structured interview guide in place having to repeatedly ask the same question over and over because they could not understand your answer due to static or dropped signals.” Test call a friend beforehand or even call yourself from a landline if necessary; it will take less than a minute.

9. Never Talk Over The Interviewer
You might be eager to get your point across or talk about your experience, but interrupting the interviewer is awkward and rude when you’re speaking on the phone, even more so than in face-to-face interviews. “Interviewing can be stressful and sometimes that stress manifests itself in speaking too fast, speaking too loud, talking over the interviewer, or attempting to answer the interviewer’s question before they have actually finished asking the question,” says Taylor. “Don’t do this.” There’s a big difference between being assertive and being aggressive, and interviewers can always recognize it.

10. Skip Filler Words
It’s tough not to say things like “um,” “uh,” and “like” in everyday speech, but these verbal habits become much more pronounced when speaking on the phone, says Chris Dardis, a recruiting expert and HR professional with Versique Executive Search. “In face-to-face interviews, they’re not as noticeable because there are other things like your hair, suit, or body language to distract people,” he explains. But in a phone interview, the only thing you have to go on is what you say and how you say it. “That’s why it’s so important to eliminate these words from your speech when doing a phone interview.”

11. Don’t Go In Blind
Not knowing anything about the company or job you’re interviewing for is way more obvious than you’d think. “Many people think that a phone interview means they’re getting away with something, that they don’t have to put as much effort into researching the role or company,” says Steve Pritchard, HR Consultant for giffgaff. And if you have your laptop in front of you during the interview to do a few quick searches, they won’t know the difference, right? Not exactly. “Seasoned interviewers will know whether an interviewee is researching while on the phone; they will take too long to answer the question and punctuate their answers with a lot of ‘ums’ and ‘errs’ as they type. The interviewer can often even hear the typing as they ask the question,” he adds.

12. Nix Long-Winded Answers
“The key to success during a phone interview is clear and concise answers,” says Dardis. “People’s attention spans tend to be shorter over the phone. You don’t want your future employer to lose interest in the conversation.” He recommends practicing answers to questions you know will be asked ahead of time in order to be clear on what you’re going to say. That way, you can prevent rambling before it starts.

The post 12 Things to Never Do During A Phone Interview appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Discussing your strengths and weaknesses can be one of the most difficult parts of the job interview. Avoid interview paralysis with our advice.

You probably immediately noticed your heart racing if you’ve ever been asked the question “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” in a job interview. How do I say what I’m not good at without looking terrible and say what I am good at without bragging? Yep, this is a toughie. But there’s a secret formula that can help you succeed: Emphasize a positive quality or skill that’s needed for the job, and minimize—but be truthful about—the negatives.

Let’s say two candidates—we’ll call them Francine and William—have job interviews for a customer service manager position. As always, one of the interview questions they’ll be asked is about their strengths and weaknesses.

First up is Francine. When she’s asked, “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” Francine responds, “My strength is that I’m a hard worker. My weakness is that I get stressed when I miss a deadline because someone else dropped the ball.”

This answer is unimaginative, a no-brainer. Most people think of themselves as hard workers—who would actually admit to not being a hard worker? Also, Francine’s weakness is technically not a weakness, plus she passes the buck: Someone—not her—drops the ball, which causes her to get stressed.

Now it’s William’s turn. He also has difficulty with the question. “I really can’t think of a weakness,” he begins. “Maybe I could be more focused. My strength is probably my ability to deal with people. I am pretty easygoing. I usually don’t get upset easily.”

This answer leads with a negative and then moves to vague words: maybe, probably, pretty, and usually. William isn’t doing himself any favors.

So what is the best way to answer this common interview question?

Assessing your weaknesses
Let’s get the hard part out of the way first—your weaknesses. This is probably the most dreaded part of the question. Everyone has weaknesses, but who wants to admit to them, especially in an interview?
Some examples of weaknesses you might mention include:

• Being too critical of yourself
• Attempting to please everyone
• Being unfamiliar with the latest software

The best way to handle this question is to minimize the trait and emphasize the positive. Select a trait and come up with a solution to overcome your weakness. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate more on professional traits. For example: “I pride myself on being a ‘big-picture’ guy. I have to admit I sometimes miss small details, but I always make sure I have someone who is detail-oriented on my team.”

Assessing your strengths
When it comes time to toot your own horn, you need to be specific. Assess your skills to identify your strengths. This is an exercise worth doing before any interview. Make a list of your skills, dividing them into three categories:

• Knowledge-based skills: Acquired from education and experience (e.g., computer skills, languages, degrees, training, and technical ability).
• Transferable skills: Your portable skills that you take from job to job (e.g., communication and people skills, analytical problem solving and planning skills)
• Personal traits: Your unique qualities (e.g., dependable, flexible, friendly, hard-working, expressive, formal, punctual, and being a team player).

Some examples of strengths you might mention include:

• Enthusiasm
• Trustworthiness
• Creativity
• Discipline
• Patience
• Respectfulness
• Determination
• Dedication
• Honesty
• Versatility

When you complete this list, choose three to five of those strengths that match what the employer is seeking in the job posting. Make sure you can give specific examples to demonstrate why you say that is your strength if probed further.

Scripting your answers
Write a positive statement you can say with confidence:

“My strength is my flexibility to handle change. As a customer service manager at my last job, I was able to turn around a negative working environment and develop a very supportive team. As far as weaknesses, I feel that my management skills could be stronger, and I am constantly working to improve them.”

When confronted with this interview question, remember the interviewer is looking for a fit. She is forming a picture of you based on your answers. A single answer will probably not keep you from getting the job, unless, of course, it is something blatant. Put your energy into your strengths statement—what you have to offer. Then let the interviewer know that although you may not be perfect, you are working on any shortcomings you have.

Keep on the strong side
Job interviews are among the most nerve-racking part of the job-search process, which is why being prepared makes all the difference.

The post List of strengths and weaknesses: What to say in your interview appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Quantifying your accomplishments tends to catch people’s eyes, including recruiters. Learn how to use numbers effectively on your resume.

Suppose you’re a hiring manager looking at resumes. Which of the following statements would impress you more?

• Wrote news releases.
• Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines.

Clearly, the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it uses numbers to quantify the writer’s accomplishment, giving it a context that helps the interviewer understand the degree of difficulty involved in the task.

Numbers are powerful resume tools that will help your accomplishments get the attention they deserve from prospective employers. With just a little thought, you can find effective ways to quantify your successes on your resume. Here are a few suggestions:

Think Money
Organizations are and always will be concerned about money. So as you contemplate your accomplishments and prepare to present them on your resume, think about ways you’ve saved, earned or managed money in your internships, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities so far. A few possibilities that might appear on a typical resume:

• Identified, researched, and recommended a new Internet service provider, cutting the company’s online costs by 15 percent.
• Wrote prospect letter that has brought in more than $25,000 in donations so far.
• Managed a student organization budget of more than $7,000.

Think Time
You’ve heard the old saying, “Time is money,” and it’s true. Companies and organizations are constantly looking for ways to save time and do things more efficiently. They’re also necessarily concerned about meeting deadlines, both internal and external. So whatever you can do on your resume to show that you can save time, make time or manage time will grab your reader’s immediate attention. Here are some time-oriented entries that might appear on a typical resume:

• Assisted with twice-monthly payroll activities, ensuring employees were paid as expected and on time.
• Suggested procedures that decreased average order-processing time from 10 minutes to five minutes.

Think Amounts
It’s very easy to neglect to mention how much or how much of something you’ve produced or overseen. There’s a tendency instead to simply pluralize your accomplishments—e.g., “wrote news releases” or “developed lesson plans”—without including important specifics—e.g., “wrote 25 news releases” or “developed lesson plans for two classes of 20 students each.”
Don’t fall into the trap of excluding numbers. Instead, include amounts, like these:

• Recruited 25 members for a new student environmental organization.
• Trained five new employees on restaurant operations procedures.
• Created process that bolstered production by 25 percent

The more you focus on money, time, and amounts in relation to your accomplishments, the better you’ll present your successes and highlight your potential—and the more you’ll realize just how much you really have to offer prospective employers. Add it all up, and you’ll see that playing the numbers game is yet another way to convince employers that you should be a part of their equation for success.
Calculate Your Resume’s Results

Numbers offer solid proof that you deliver results—and employers love results. Could you use a little help ensuring your resume is strong enough to attract a hiring manager’s attention?

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Prepare for interview success
An interview is an opportunity for you to impress a hiring manager. Although there are many types of interviews, knowing you are going to participate in an unstructured interview can help you prepare and provide quality answers to establish that you are a good candidate for the position. Unstructured interviews are often more relaxed and give you the opportunity to interact more and guide the conversation. Learn what characterizes an unstructured interview, the ways it differs from a structured interview, the scoring system used to evaluate candidates, the benefits, and review some example questions with tips to help you prepare.

What is an unstructured interview?
An unstructured interview is a meeting with a potential employer in which the flow of the conversation affects the structure of the interview. An unstructured interview rarely has a list of predetermined questions but focuses on a time limit and the candidate. More informal than the traditional structured interview, the relaxed atmosphere of an unstructured interview allows for easy communication and establishes a candidate’s attitude and personality as a priority during the exchange. Because the nature of unstructured interviews mimic a regular conversation, as a candidate, you may feel more at ease and produce responses that are genuine and informative.

Differences between a structured and unstructured interview
Employers use interviews to gauge a candidate’s qualifications for the job and understand how well a person’s character will fit with the company’s established culture. With a structured interview, a hiring manager poses a set of standard questions to each candidate and evaluates them based on their responses and composure during the interview. An unstructured interview’s major difference is that as a candidate, you can guide the conversation to detail your skills, qualifications, background experience, and education that makes you a fit candidate. Because you are in control of the conversation, you can highlight traits and abilities you may not typically be able to during a structured interview.

Purpose of an unstructured interview and scoring system
Although some experts have criticized the unstructured interview as an inadequate indicator of employee productivity and performance, many hiring managers and employers favor the dynamic of an unstructured interview. This interview structure allows for more autonomy and reveals a candidate’s personality in a way that a question-and-answer method does not. Interviewers can get a better grasp of a candidate’s attitude toward the company and their understanding of the job requirements. An unstructured interview also allows for the interviewee to display their ability to communicate effectively daily in an informal environment. The outcome of the interview is largely based on the interviewer’s opinion and is therefore often used as a last interview step to determine a candidate’s culture fit and ability to work with others.

Benefits of an unstructured interview
A candidate benefits from the dynamic of an unstructured interview in the following ways:

• Flexibility: The exchange between interviewer and interviewee during an unstructured interview is more natural and allows for a fluid conversation. Although this makes the interview last longer, the hiring manager can gain greater insight into a candidate’s qualifications using this method.
• Comfort: The setting is comfortable and relaxed, which allows for individual personalities to shine.
• Autonomy: The candidate is empowered using this structure and can best reveal their character traits and use the time to convey their fit for the job responsibilities.
• Allows elaboration: The fluid exchange gives you an opportunity to provide complete details about your prior experiences and background that make you a qualified candidate. When giving a response, consider using the STAR technique to provide important information.
• Interactive: The interaction allows you to ask questions and communicate your continued interest in the position and company. Ask insightful questions to understand your potential role and how well you like the company climate.
• Removes communication barrier: Because the roles in this interview are less constricting, the conversation allows for an honest and spontaneous exchange that is informative for both parties involved.

Unstructured interview example questions
Below are some typical unstructured interview questions that prompt engaging discussion. They are similar in nature to behavioral questions. Consider using the STAR method to provide a strong and informative response. STAR is an acronym that stands for situation, task, action, and results. It is a method of answering where you provide the details of a situation, indicate the task or objective you needed to complete, explain the actions you took, and relate the results of those actions. When possible, use numerical data to provide stronger evidence of the impact of your work. Included are example answers to guide you as you craft your own responses and prepare them.

Can you tell me about yourself?
Unstructured interviews typically focus on the use of open-ended questions to allow room for explanation and elaboration. In this question, the hiring manager is asking about your characteristics and talents in relation to the job qualifications. Capitalize on this opportunity by responding in a way that shows you have done your background research on the job specifications and on the company and are prepared to join the organization as a good fit.

Example: Customer service representative
“I enjoy a challenge and am most happy when I have a lot of things to do. Because I don’t like to stay still long, the role of a customer service representative fits me well. I am a natural helper and am skilled at conversing with customers to discover their needs. I learn quickly, so I am typically up-to-date on new products. As an active listener, I can connect well with clients and gain their trust. I am also very observant, and my impatience creates a sense of urgency in me that compels me to take the initiative. 

At my previous company, I noticed that we were not getting a lot of returning customers. I started a customer survey response procedure to gain insight into this issue. We discovered that customers were unaware of many of our products. Along with the marketing department, we implemented different methods to reach customers and educate them about what the company had to offer. My initial observation and our joint efforts resulted in an increase in customer loyalty and a 14 percent rise in net profit for the company.”

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Hiring managers use this question to gain a deeper understanding of your values as an employee and how you measure success. Your response reveals where your priorities lie in relation to your job responsibilities and performance. Provide a genuine answer and contextualize by explaining what the accomplishment means to you.

Example: Marketing manager
“I value the opinions of my colleagues and the team I work with. Two years ago, my supervisor put me in charge of my first product launch. I worked long hours and dedicated my efforts to lead my group to meet project deadlines and produce quality work for our client. They were all very supportive and focused on our aim. I prioritized expressing my appreciation of each individual and their contributions. Each team member had an amazing quality that strengthened the team. We built a mutual trust and felt like a family. 

I eventually got a promotion at a different company and had to leave. Before I left, the company held a banquet for me, and my team awarded me with a “Most Inspiring” certificate. Being recognized as a good leader and knowing that I impacted my team in a positive way was very fulfilling and is the reason I love my job. I am inspired by the people I work with, and their well-being motivates me to be a better leader and a friend at work. That “Most Inspiring” certificate goes with me to every office and is my badge of honor.” 

Additional unstructured interview questions
Review this list of unstructured interview questions to help you practice and prepare some of your own unique answers.

• What is your current professional goal?
• What attracted you to this industry and career?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• Please discuss a time when you overcame an unexpected challenge. What steps did you take?
• How do you handle conflict with a coworker?
• What is your approach to criticism?
• Can you explain a time you had to work in a team to complete a project?
• How do you motivate your colleagues?
• Describe a time you encountered a difficult customer or client and the steps you took to solve the situation.
• What steps do you take to work effectively under pressure?

Tips to help you prepare for an unstructured interview

• Be genuine.
• Focus on your strengths.
• Relate your background to the job requirement.
• Model active listening skills.
• Show your communication strengths.
• Be informed.
• Prepare some thoughtful questions.

An unstructured interview offers you many advantages and opportunities to communicate your full skill set. Preparing for one will help you interview with confidence and provide the best evidence of your qualifications.

The post Learn What an Unstructured Interview Is and How to Prepare appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

If your career is in need of some shaking up, use this technique to take a look at what works and what doesn’t.

If you’re feeling stuck career-wise and want to shake things up, running a personal SWOT analysis—the popular model used to analyze businesses—on yourself can help you figure out the next steps.

And, it’s a lot simpler to do than you might think. Read on to find out what personal SWOT analysis is all about, how to do it, and what you can learn about yourself in the process.

What’s a SWOT Analysis?

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

A SWOT analysis is basically an evaluation tool that can help users identify strengths and weaknesses to aid in growth, and identify areas where your competitors may have an upper hand. It’s common for businesses to perform SWOTs, but they work for individuals too. A personal SWOT analysis helps you uncover your potential. As such, you’ll need a fairly high level of emotional intelligence to do a SWOT analysis of yourself, primarily when you want to advance your career.

Personal SWOT Analysis Example

Strength
In order to define your strengths, take a look at the roles you’ve held in past and currently. Choose two or three quantifiable things that you accomplished. From there, you have to unpack that further and ask, “What did it take to achieve those things?” In other words, which specific skills and talents have you accumulated to achieve those outcomes?

Gathering information on yourself can be tricky, though. Try taking skills-assessment quizzes, which can help you self-identify. You can also ask your coworkers and supervisors what they think you’re good at—they might make you aware of traits that hadn’t crossed your mind.

Weaknesses
If you’re been on an interview in the past 30 years, you’ve probably been asked about your weaknesses. The standard response is to say you’re a perfectionist, or that you work too hard, but hiring managers will see right through that, and if you’re being honest with yourself, you can probably come up with something more authentic SWOT weakness examples. Try thinking about a mistake you’ve made or a skill that you’re lacking, and what you did or are trying to do to correct it.

For example, it could be something simple like realizing that on most days, you arrived to work barely on time and exhausted and that it might be creating a negative perception of you. So you can make a commitment to get to bed earlier so you can have extra time in the morning and get to work refreshed and energized.

Another way to figure out your weaknesses is to dig back into past evaluations and feedback from co-workers, supervisors, and mentors. Perhaps you’ll discover a pattern of them telling you to be more assertive, or maybe your communication skills need some smoothing out. The most important thing is to be able to take an honest look at yourself and admit your shortcomings—everyone has something they can improve upon.

Opportunities
No matter how content you are in your current position, you should always be your own recruiter. Identify two or three aspects of a job opening that would make you pursue it.
Some things to think about include:

• What does your ideal employer look like?
• What does my next role look like?
• What attributes would I like to see from my leadership team and boss?

Once you have those answers, you might think about starting a job search or working with a recruiter in your niche who can keep an eye out for opportunities that match.
Other ways to identify opportunities require you to be proactive. Join networking groups, take some classes, and use additional resources to nudge you outside of your comfort zone. These strategies could enhance your professional development.

Threats
As an employee, you face all sorts of threats: the company downsizing, office politics, not enough work-life balance, not enough opportunities for growth, and being let go. Those are all very real. Outside of that, there is also an abundance of candidates you’d be competing with, so you’ve got to be your own advocate and build your brand should anything happen.

You can identify potential threats to your industry or role by researching trends, certifications, or skillsets that younger generations are starting to possess so you can keep up with the new competition.
Revisit Your Personal SWOT Analysis Every Quarter

Taking the time to reflect and keep yourself marketable is a smart career move, so if a recruiter does call you out of the blue, you have current info to rely on and present (and impress them with).

Using a SWOT analysis is an extremely useful tool when it comes to identifying personal and professional goals. Putting aside time to do a SWOT analysis requires you to pause and consider where you are in your career, and ways that you can grow.

Take Action
Now that you have a pretty good grasp on what sets you apart, things you can work on, what your ideal role looks like, and some of the factors that might threaten your career advancement, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use. This is where the real work begins—figuring out what to do with that information.

But self-awareness can go a long way. Once you know the things you do well, you can do more of that. Knowing your shortcomings means you can figure out ways to close the gap, whether it’s taking a class or changing up your processes.

Take advantage of resources at your current disposal. Consider approaching your boss and working out a plan that could involve job shadowing, mentorship, or additional feedback to help you improve.

The post A Personal SWOT Analysis Can Help Your Career appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

{This article originally appeared on Monster}

Hit some kind of milestone? A resume update is in order.

Since you’ve been gainfully employed for a good stretch of time (score!), an updated resume might seem low on your to-do list. We get it: It’s no longer a priority. But if you don’t update a resume promptly and let it go stale, you put yourself at a disadvantage.

“You never know when you may get laid off or when a job opportunity might present itself out of the blue,” says Dawn Bugni, a professional resume writer in Atkinson, North Carolina.

For many people, “updating their resume feels like going to the dentist—they avoid it at all costs,” says Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, executive resume writer and owner of Dallas-based coaching firm Career Trend. Granted, a constantly updated resume isn’t realistic, but there are benchmarks in your career when your resume needs a tune-up.

5 Times to Update a Resume

1. When you start a new job
The best resumes highlight quantifiable achievements—not job responsibilities. But when you’re a new employee, you don’t have any real accomplishments yet. Instead of copying and pasting snippets from the job posting onto your resume, tell the story of why you were hired, says executive resume writer Louise Kursmark, co-author of Modernize Your Resume. Got recruited? Say so.

Now is also the time to update your career summary section. Coming off the job search circuit, you should tweak this part of your resume while your value proposition is fresh in your mind, says Robin Reshwan, professional resume writer and founder of Collegial Services, a consulting and staffing firm in the San Francisco area.

2. When you get promoted
Take the opportunity to celebrate, but don’t forget to update your resume, which should always include your current position. Don’t just slap on your new job title though; explain why you earned the promotion (e.g., “promoted for outstanding performance to spearhead new project”), and “don’t be afraid to brag,” says Bugni.

3. When you complete a big project
Did you close a major transaction? Wrap-up development on a new product? These accomplishments need to be reflected on your resume. “Any time you finish a successful project, make sure it goes directly onto your resume,” says Barrett-Poindexter. Citing quantifiable results is crucial (e.g., “implemented new accounting system that saved the company $50,000 in annual operating costs”). Include such details as how many people worked on the team, what your role entailed, and the hurdles you crossed, says Barrett-Poindexter.

4. When you get laid off
Yes, it stinks to have to update a resume when you just lost a job, but do it anyway. Getting fired is one thing (in which case, you’ll need to do more than update your resume); getting laid off as part of downsizing is a different story. “Unemployment isn’t a black mark if it’s a result of the company’s performance,” says Tiffani Murray, an HR professional and resume writer at Atlanta-based resume service Personality On a Page.

Part of bouncing back, though, involves working on an updated resume. And rather than try to hide the fact that you’re unemployed—a strategy that could put off prospective hiring managers—include in your summary section why you were terminated (e.g., “laid off as part of a 20% reduction in staff”).

Additionally, you’ll want to update your work experience to reflect what it is you’re currently doing. Yet, putting that you’re now a “job seeker” isn’t very appealing to prospective hiring managers. The better move: Join a professional association and take on a volunteer position, such as an events coordinator, that you can add to your resume.

“Showing that you’re actively involved with an industry organization clears up any assumption that you’re just sitting there twiddling your thumbs while you look for a job,” says Bugni.

5. When you acquire new skills
Whether it’s an accreditation, certification, or new proficiency (e.g., learning a second language), skills strengthen your resume, so keep yours current. Industry-specific credentials can also serve as keywords to help your resume pass through application tracking systems, says Kursmark.

Do a quarterly assessment of your resume and remove any outdated skills or obsolete software, advises Reshwan. Look at job postings in your field to determine what skills are in demand.

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At one time, many people had the mindset that jobs were hard to come by, so they should take whatever was offered to them with no questions asked. Today, people are becoming choosier about their career paths, and they know that they are deserving of more than the bare minimum. In our job seeker-driven labor market, people aren’t content to take anything that is being offered, and they know that they need to ask certain questions to make sure that they are going to be treated like a valued employee and not just a number.
If you are offered a new position, here are nine important things that you need to talk with HR about before you accept the offer.

1. Ask About Benefits 
It is important to know what is included in the benefits package. If the benefits are not appealing, this may not be the right company for you to work at. Find out about provider options, how much you have to pay into the health plan yourself, what is covered (including prescriptions and specialty services), if dental and vision care is covered, etc. These days, with the high cost of health care, it is important to know that you have excellent health care coverage through your employer.

2. Ask if the Salary Is Negotiable
Depending on the employer, and the job being offered, the salary may or may not be set in stone. Most employers aren’t going to come right out and tell you that salaries are negotiable because they want to pay as little as possible. This is information you are going to need to dig for, so you are just going to have to come right out and ask. You will never know unless you do, after all. Besides, you may be pleasantly surprised by the answer. In many cases, if the candidate has enough to offer an employer, the employer is going to be more than willing to negotiate the salary a little bit.

3. Ask About Other Perks
These days, it is not always enough for companies to offer competitive wages and benefits packages. The more perks a company offers, the more attractive the job offer is going to be. So, you need to find out what other perks might be available to you should you decide to accept the position being offered. Perks can be anything from flexible shifts and working hours to office parties to paid time off and more. Some of the best perks to ask about are advancement training and promotion opportunities.

4. Ask about Vacation Time
Now may not seem like the most appropriate time to ask about vacations, but it is as good a time as any. Plus, you need to know before you take the job if you are going to actually be able to take vacations at all. Some companies only let you take time off that is unpaid, while others offer paid vacations once you have worked for them for a certain amount of time. Don’t forget to ask if you can rollover any unused vacation days and use them in the following year.

5. Ask What Other Employees Say About the Company
You can tell a lot about a company by listening to what current and past employees have to say about it. If it is a good company to work for, the HR person should have no problem telling you what employees are saying about the company, and even find people within the company for you to talk to. (Of course, you can always check Glassdoor reviews as well!) If you find out that the employees are happy in their jobs, chances are you will be as well, and that this is a company that you would like to work for.

6. Ask About Incentive Compensation 
Some companies will give bonuses to their employees as compensation for certain incentives, such as taking on additional responsibilities, pay raises based on performance, etc. Find out if monetary bonuses are offered, and if so, what the criteria are to be eligible for these bonuses. The more you know about how you will be compensated, the more you will strive to really earn those bonuses and be the very best that you can be when it comes to doing your job.

7. Ask About Relocation Expenses 
If you are going to have to relocate in order to take the position, you need to find out if the company is going to help with any of the relocating expenses. Obviously, they are not going to pay for everything, but if they expect you to move for them, they should be expected to help in some way. For instance, they may offer to pay a percentage of the actual moving expenses or put you up in a rental unit until you are able to find an appropriate and affordable place to live.

8. Ask About Education Opportunities
Many companies will offer incentives for employees to go back to school or receive additional training that is going to help them advance in their careers. In fact, this is one way that companies can ensure long-term employees, because these employees are grateful for the help, and want to give back. Some companies will pay for a portion of tuition, and some even allow you to take a leave of absence in order to get your degree. The more education you have, the more you will have to offer your employer, and they often recognize this and will help.

9. Ask for Everything in Writing 
Ask if you can have the job offer and everything that you have agreed on, in writing. This way, there is little chance that the employer is going to pull back on the offer. A written agreement is much more binding than an oral agreement, and if you have everything on paper, they can’t turn around later and say that something wasn’t part of the offer, add work that isn’t in the job description. If they don’t want to give you anything in writing, it is a good sign that this may not be the best company for you to work at.

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A Guide to Determining Whether a Job Offer is Right for You
After a long and arduous job search, you’ve finally received an offer. Congratulations! While your first impulse may be to immediately accept the job (we all know the feeling of never wanting to write another cover letter again!), wait for a second. Is this job really the perfect fit for you?

“The number one misstep I see clients take is the failure to step back, take a breath, and meaningfully assess a job offer,” says Karen Elizaga, executive coach and author of Find Your Sweet Spot to Glassdoor. “They are almost inclined to jump immediately at an offer.”

This guide was designed to walk you through meaningfully assessing the job offer you’ve received. We’ll take you through what questions should you be asking yourself about the job, how to do in-depth research on the job offer, and finally, how to negotiate your way to an offer you feel satisfied with.

What is a job offer?
After submitting your resume, cover letter, and coming in for interviews, you’ve finally been offered a job. You’ll probably have a chat with the hiring manager or recruiter, have an offer letter sent to you, and be able to take a look at the contract. But this doesn’t mean the terms of the offer are final yet. It’s now up to you to carefully evaluate the information you’ve been given, decide if it’s right for you, and negotiate your way to an optimal offer.

How to ask the right questions
During the job search process, you only have so much time to thoroughly research every company. Now that the real possibility of working somewhere is on the table, it’s time to take a thorough dive into assessing if it’s a good fit. This starts with asking yourself the big questions about whether the job is truly right for you.

“I have seen clients take a job where the fit—in the context of their skills and talents with the job—was excellent. But in the end, these jobs didn’t work out because the company’s culture did not jive with their own moral compass,” Elizaga says.

Questions you might consider include: Are the day-to-day responsibilities of the job waking up excited every morning to do? Does the company itself have a strong future, or has it been performing poorly in recent years? During my interview and visit to the company, did I feel like the company’s atmosphere and culture were conducive to my style? What will my opportunities for growth in this role be? Am I okay with the length of commute and expected working hours each week?

You might also find that during the course of asking yourself these questions, you don’t have enough information to answer some of them. These are the questions that you should reach out to the company, or do your own independent research on, to clarify.

Beyond these detailed questions, it’s important to just check in with yourself and feel what your gut is telling you about the job. “While data is important, you also want to trust your gut,” said Mikaela Kiner, an executive career coach and CEO of uniquelyHR, to Glassdoor.
“During your interviews, were you hopeful things would work out? Or, would you have been relieved if they chose someone else? Don’t dismiss concerns, even if they were just fleeting thoughts,” she added.

How to do your research
Now that you have a clearer picture of what’s important to you in the job hunt – and where you still need information – it’s time to do some digging. Here are some avenues of research that will help you get the information you need to make an informed decision:

• Scour the contract and offer letter

The first place you want to get information from is the contract and/or the offer letter. These can give you highly important details like whether there’s a minimum amount of time you must stay at the job, how far in advance you need to notify the company before quitting, and how many days of vacation and sick leave you’ll get each year.

• Speak to people at the company

If there are any points you can’t determine from your independent research, the company itself is the next place to start. Often, the company will be more than happy (and even encourage you) to arrange for you to speak with current employees. This call is an opportunity for you to get a sense of the company’s culture, and if what you saw in the job description actually matches reality. When the job description said 40-hour workweek, is that really true, or will you often be expected to stay late? How are meetings run at the company? Are there annual performance reviews? Does the company’s upper management regularly interact with employees? Ask the right questions, and you’ll receive a wealth of important information about culture and fit.

• Read online reviews

After your conversation with one person at the company, they might have you either convinced it’s a sparkling utopia, or that you should be running away from the company at top speed. Every person has their own unique experience in the workplace. That’s why it can be so helpful to gain a broader perspective by reading online reviews of employees’ experiences, like through Glassdoor’s company reviews.

• Check the benefits

While the salary might not be exactly your target, it’s important to evaluate it in the context of the benefits offered. “It may be that the salary is $5,000 lower than you had hoped for, but the full package being offered counterbalances it,” said Carisa Miklusak, CEO of tilr, an automated recruiting platform, to Glassdoor. “What does the total package contribute to your personal and financial needs? Sometimes, a job that at first glance looks like it’s paying less can actually provide more financial security than a job with a higher salary.” Also keep in mind the benefits and perks that aren’t written in the offer letter or contract, but are available to every employee. Take Uline for example, whose corporate headquarters has a salon, a 24-hour fitness center, walking trails, ponds, a mother’s room for women nursing – just to name a few of the benefits. Or consider Power Home Remodeling, which spends millions of dollars to bring its entire staff to Mexico each year. Check the company’s website and Glassdoor benefits – the extra perks might just make the job worth it.

• Calculate whether the salary matches what you should be paid for your level of experience and education.

As a starting point for your salary negotiations, it’s important to frame what your target is. A helpful tool for this is Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth™ tool, which calculates the salary you should reasonably expect in today’s active U.S. job market based on your experience and other personal details. For many companies, you can also find on Glassdoor the salary range of people in the same position at that company.

How to determine your non-negotiables
Now that you’ve done your research (and your research hasn’t deterred you yet from taking the job!) you have a solid foundation to go into negotiations with. What’s left? Prioritizing what you can compromise on, and what’s a deal-breaker.

For all the criteria you’ve identified as valuable to you during your questioning and research process – such as salary, commute length, ability to work from home, or opportunities for international travel – make a list of them in varying order of importance. Are there any you simply can’t do without? Are there some you’re willing to compromise on? If so, how much are you willing to compromise? This exercise will help you set the bottom line for your negotiations, and delve deeper into whether this position is really a good fit for your career goals.

Even better, you can proactively start this list before you even start the job search. “I recommend my clients make a list of what they are looking for even before they begin searching for a job,” said Amy M. Gardner, Certified Professional Coach with Apochromatik, to Glassdoor. “If you’ve done that, go back to the list you created and evaluate the offer against the factors you initially listed.”

How to negotiate the final terms of the offer
You’ve done your research and determined your priorities. It’s time to step into the negotiation process. It’s possible that you’ll conduct the negotiation in person or over the phone, or that you’ll simply write out negotiation points via an email. So how to negotiate? Here are four easy steps to negotiate your final offer based on Glassdoor’s How to Get a Job toolkit.

1. Do your research. Back up whatever you’re asking for – usually it’s a higher salary, but it could also be a better benefits package – with solid facts and statistics. Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth tool can also help you ground your salary ask in an appropriate range.
2. Know what’s on the table. Keep in mind the entire benefits package in your negotiation (as well as enticing perks the company offers to everyone) and remember that you can negotiate benefits, too.
3. Ask, don’t demand. Remember that the company does want you – they offered you the job, after all – so you have the cards stacked in your favor. Use language that shows you’re on the same team as the hiring manager to start off negotiations, like “can we talk about which benefits are negotiable?” and “what are the prospects for salary raises and promotions in this position?”
4. Know your breaking point. Think back to the list of priorities you made. Be aware that it’s unlikely you get everything you ask for in a negotiation. At the same time, if the highest salary and benefits package that they can give you is still below your target, it might be time to walk away.

Once you’ve gotten your final offer from the company, you make a final assessment of whether it meets your criteria and priorities. If it doesn’t, at least you’ll now have a clearer sense of what you’re really looking for in your job hunt. If it does, congratulations! You got the job and the salary that you wanted.

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Get a better understanding of what exactly an employer is looking for, and use those insights to put some extra shine on your job application.

If you’ve been searching Monster job postings for a golden career opportunity, you don’t have to look too far for a helping hand. Job descriptions themselves offer valuable guidance on which resume words to use to best position yourself as a strong, competitive candidate.

Job descriptions can vary from company to company—even if you’re searching for one particular job title—so you have to know how to interpret the information in front of you. Primary tip: Note the keywords used and be sure to use the same words in your application materials.

Why? Because many recruiters and HR professionals use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to pre-screen resumes for applicable words related to the job’s requirements. They do this to narrow down the number of applicants, which can grow to be in the thousands depending on the popularity of the open position. A recruiter doesn’t have time to look through all those resumes one at a time, so they rely on ATS to pull the most relevant for (human) review. By using the same words in your resume that you see prominently displayed in a job description, you’re increasing the odds that you’ll pass the screening test and move on to the next round.

Obviously, this entails that you customize your resume words to each position you plan on applying to. This is key. You can’t use one resume for each job because the keywords will differ from job to job according to what you uncover in each job description.

For more, we broke down the parts of the job description that are most likely to contain the best words to use on a resume so that it leads to a signed offer letter.
Resume Words: Where to Find Them in Job Descriptions

1. The Company Description
How this can inform which resume words you use: The description of the company helps you learn more about the company culture and how well it syncs with your personality.

A company describes itself as it wants to be seen, and from that, you can get clues as to what the company values, what you should research, and what kinds of questions you should ask in an interview.

For example, if a company describes itself as “a rapidly growing athletic brand for busy young professionals,” you can infer that the company sees itself as energetic, youthful, and poised for success. If that matches your personality, then describe yourself similarly in your cover letter.

On your resume, you could incorporate the phrases “rapidly growing” and/or “busy young professionals” to establish that alignment.

Then, once you score an interview, investigate the financial health of the sporting goods industry, design trends, the current generation’s buying habits, and competitors. In general, it’s smart to research the following

• the industry
• the particular position
• the company’s customer base
• challenges
• interests
• goals

Use what you learn to write up some interview questions that demonstrate you’ve done your homework. This research also helps you understand the business better from the perspective of the company.

2. The First Few Bullet Points
How this can inform which resume words you use: They usually map out the bulk of your duties.
Hiring managers frequently front-load job descriptions with the most crucial responsibilities of the job. As you get further down the list, the bullets more than likely represent a smaller percentage of the job duties and requirements.

To stand out to potential employers, make sure your resume elaborates on your skills that mirror the duties mentioned in the top bullet points; you can simply list your skills that align with the job description’s lower-level bullet points.

For example, if a job description’s top bullet requires “advanced knowledge of medical terminology” or “the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and the public,” those exact phrases should appear in either your career summary or work history.

3. Required Experience/Skills
How this can inform which resume words you use: They tell you what to highlight on your resume and cover letter.

As with required duties, job descriptions will list the most valuable skills and experiences at the top of the list. Your resume and cover letter should follow suit. Why? Because most employers will try to hire the person who will need the least amount of training.
It’s smart to use your accomplishments to address each of the required skills and/or work experiences and to put this information on your resume first. For each major accomplishment, create bullet points that describe:

• the challenge presented to you
• the actions you took
• the results of your strategic efforts

For example, if the job description says you need “extensive experience in staffing,” you might use that exact phrase and mention that you researched and implemented the launch of a new applicant tracking system that helped accelerate hiring times by 25%.

Finding a new job is all about finding the right fit, for both you and an employer. While a job description can show you how you can present yourself as a good fit for the company by using targeted resume words, there are other ways of finding jobs that are tailored to your skills and experience.

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We show you how to answer one of the trickiest questions that might come up in your interview: Why did you leave your previous job?
It’s one of the most feared questions in an interview: Why did you leave your last job?
But it doesn’t have to be something to worry about. We’ll help you through that potential interview minefield and show you how you can not only answer the question but also use it to your advantage. The interviewer might be seeing if they can trip you up. You’re going to show them you can smash through any obstacle.

Why do interviewers ask why you left your last job?
An interviewer will want to know why you’re leaving (or have left) your previous role for a number of reasons.

Do you have a good reason for leaving your job?
If you left without good cause, or just because you were in a bad mood that day, your interviewer might doubt they can trust you and suspect you’ll do something similar to them.

Were you fired?
If so, your interviewer will want to know whether this was for bad performance, behavioral issues or something out of your control like a business restructure.

Did you burn any bridges?
If you still speak to your old manager or better yet have them as a reference, it shows you were good at your job and didn’t leave by flipping your desk and smashing your computer.

Do your values match theirs?
If you left for ambitious reasons like a greater challenge or more responsibilities, that shows your values are good and can benefit your new employers. If you left because you were bored or felt underappreciated, you might need to word it in a smart way to show you’re not difficult to work with.

How do you explain your reasons for leaving a job?
There are three main reasons for leaving a job, and some of them are easier to explain than others.

1. You’re leaving for career progression
This reason is perhaps the one interviewers are happiest to hear. If you’re leaving your job to further your career, you can explain how your previous role has helped you develop the skills you need to take that next step, and how excited you are to show what you’re capable of in this new position.
It also plays into one of the key rules of a job interview: you’re looking to move into something better, not leave something bad.

This positive outlook shows you’re ambitious without bad-mouthing any previous employer. It tells people that you’re confident and up for a challenge, ready to develop and learn new skills, and capable of moving up, instead of sideways.

2. You left your last job with nowhere to go
This reason is a little tougher to talk about, but it can still be done in a positive way. Many people will leave their jobs with nowhere else lined up, and there could be several contributing factors as to why. You might not have fit into your old employer’s way of working, your values might not have aligned, or you might have left for personal reasons such as your family moving away.

Whatever it is, you can explain in a way that shows you in a good light:
• You knew you were capable of doing more than your old job allowed.
• You knew you would find something better with the skills you possess.
• You hold your values dearly and were unwilling to let them go for the sake of your work.
All these answers show you to be confident and capable. Even if the real reason you left is that your boss was driving you insane, you can say that you were looking for a better cultural fit where your strengths could be put to better use.
Don’t interview angry. Interview smart.

3. You were fired
Maybe the most challenging reason to explain in an interview is that you were fired. It’s happened to the best of us, and it’s never easy to show a sudden career change like that on your CV.
However, you can approach it creatively.
Being fired isn’t always a bad thing. It can take you out of a situation that wasn’t right for you and give you an opportunity to find somewhere you can thrive. Make sure you mention everything you learned at your old job, talking about how the experience helped you and showed you what you really wanted in your career.
Keep your answer positive. You were fired because the business and you were moving in different ways, and now you’re moving in a better direction.

10 GOOD reasons for leaving a job
Whatever your reason for leaving, there’s a way to make it work in your favor. Try using one of our examples the next time you interview for a role. You’ll see how easy it is to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive outcome.

Example 1. This job was too good to ignore
“It’s not so much about why I’m leaving my current role; it’s more that this is a role I couldn’t ignore. I’ve loved my time at <current company> and learned so much about <examples of what you’ve learned>, but now I’m ready to put those skills to use in a new challenge. When I saw this role, I knew now was the time for me to step up and prove what I was capable of.”

Why it works:
You show that you’re ambitious. You’ve studied the job posting and know you have what it takes to make it your own. You’re not bad-mouthing your former employers, and you are subtly praising your potential new ones.

Example 2. I’ve achieved all I can and I’m ready for a new challenge
“In my current role, I’ve achieved all that has been asked of me. I’ve won the business new work, earned them more money, and hit all my KPIs. There’s nothing left for me to prove, and I’m ready to take on a new challenge. This role represents new opportunities for me to test myself, using the skills I’ve learned in my current job to step up to the plate and do even more.”

Why it works:
You show how much you’ve already done and how you’re ready to do even more. You might be bored at your current job, but you don’t say that. Instead, you say you’re ready to push on and achieve great goals.

Example 3. I believe I can offer more to you than them
“I’ve enjoyed my time in my current role, but I believe the job description for this role better aligns with my skills and values. I’m capable of doing more than my current role requires, and this job would give me the room to grow.”

Why it works:
You demonstrate that you’re ready for the next step. You understand how your values match and how well you could work with a potential employer.

Example 4. The company was struggling
“Unfortunately, my old company lost one of its biggest clients and had to make structural changes. I was one of the last people in through the door, so I was also one of the first out. My former manager was sad to see me go, as they believed I would have been of huge benefit to the business in different circumstances.”

Why it works:
Your job loss was for business reasons, not personal ones. You’re still in touch with your former employer, which shows you build good relationships.

Example 5. Management changes
“A change in management meant my role was no longer best suited to my strengths. They brought in new people to deliver the kind of work they wanted. Ultimately, this taught me where my true passions lie, and when I saw your job ad I knew I could better express them here.”

Why it works:
You don’t sound negative or defensive. You explain the situation in a straightforward way.

Example 6. Relocation
“The business announced it would be merging with another company, meaning its head office would move to a new location. My family lives here, and I knew that leaving them behind wouldn’t be good for my professional or personal life. I chose to pursue a job I could thrive in closer to home.”

Why it works:
You care about your family and put your mental health before corporate restructures. This shows you have strong values.

Example 7. Our values are better aligned
“Looking at your website and the work you produce, I can see that our values are very closely aligned. My current company sees things in a different way than me, and I would love the chance to work somewhere I can be truly proud of.”

Why it works:
Values matter. Companies are keener than ever to promote their beliefs and hire people who share them.

Example 8. Family reasons
“My partner was offered an exciting role in a new area, and I chose to move with them to support their career goals. Unfortunately, this meant I could no longer work for my old company, so I am looking to bring all my knowledge and experience to a role in the area I now call home.”

Why it works:
Family comes first. This shows you’re loyal and committed, two traits any good employer would be happy to bring on board.

Example 9. It’s the right job at the right time
“I believe this role has come about at the perfect time for me. I’ve loved every second at my current company, but having worked there for a number of years, I know I need to step up in order to advance my career. I don’t want to wait around for the chance to come – I want to chase what I know is best for me.”

Why it works:
You’re not happy to sit and hope for the best. You’re pursuing the right job, which shows ambition and determination.

Example 10. You want better pay (but be careful)
“I’m motivated by achieving the best results for my clients, something I had a great track record of doing at my previous role. I’m also motivated by career growth, and being compensated fairly for the work I do.”

Why it works:
We all want to be paid more money. This shows people that you are willing to work for it. However, make sure money isn’t the only thing you talk about. Hiring managers will want to see your passion for the job and a commitment to the cause. If money is your only motivation, it might look like you’d be willing to jump ship if a better offer came along.

How NOT to explain your reasons for leaving a job
There are a few reasons for leaving a job that an interviewer just doesn’t want to hear (no matter how true they might be). If any of these are why you left your job, it might be best not to mention them. Use a more positive reason such as career progression or a new challenge, and leave the manager hate behind.

Bad example #1: You hate your boss
Lots of us have worked for people we just don’t like, but that hatred will only hold you back at an interview. Instead, say you’re looking to work somewhere that better fits with your values. It’s the same thing, just done in a smarter way.

Bad example #2: You’re bored
If we were all being honest, boredom would be the reason behind many job switches. But saying it out loud is a lot worse than just thinking it. Instead, say you’re looking for an exciting new opportunity.

Bad example #3: You thought the company was rubbish
Worked somewhere terrible? Join the club. But it sounds a bit unprofessional to slam your old employers in an interview. You never know, the interviewer might have friends who work there, so don’t burn any bridges you might still need to cross.

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