Tag: Interviewing Tips

Why it’s Important to Highlight Your Soft Skills in an Interview

WAI Staff

According to an article in the latest edition of the American Staffing Association’s bi-monthly magazine, Staffing Success, most employers believe that a candidate’s soft skills are just as important as their hard skills. Soft skills are defined as “less tangible traits associated with one’s personality, such as a positive attitude,” and hard skills are “abilities that are learned to perform a specific job function and can be measured, such as operating a computer program.”

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Five of the Biggest Mistakes Applicants Make

WAI Staff

When submitting your resume and cover letter to a potential employer, the last thing you want to do is make a minor mistake that can make you appear to be careless or lazy. Check out our list below to see five of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make when applying for a position, and avoid them at all costs!

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Following-Up

WAI Staff

If you have been in the job market for a while, you are probably sending out several resumes every day. While you might not need to follow-up on every position you’ve applied for, we do suggest that you follow-up on positions you are particularly interested in. Before you sit down for another round of follow-up phone calls, read our advice below. A follow-up phone call is the first verbal interaction you have with a potential employer, so it’s important that you make a great impression.

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Selling Yourself

WAI Staff

It is a well-known fact that people are usually quick to judge. Unfortunately, this does not exclude hiring managers and potential employers. It is important to make a great first impression, whether on the phone or in person. This includes what you say, what you wear, and how you present yourself overall. Here are a few suggestions for you to consider:

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A Balancing Act: Working the Phones

WAI Staff

Hiring managers handle hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of job search requests per day. It is imperative for the smart job hunter to find a way to stand out from the crowd.  The first impression that a potential employer forms of a job seeker is usually based on viewing a resume. If the employer likes your resume, you will hopefully get a phone call.

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Researching A Company

WAI Staff

It is always a good idea to research a company before the interview. The more you know about the company, the more confident you will be. This, in turn, will impress the prospective employer.

There are many ways to obtain company information. Some ideas may be to check local newspapers and magazines for recent articles or ask friends and family if they have heard anything about the organization. The Internet is an excellent source of information. A company’s web page usually gives a thorough description of the company’s mission, accomplishments and sometimes employee bios. Any information, statistics or current developments concerning the company that you can learn in advance will give you a competitive edge when interviewing.

Be prepared!

After Your Interview

WAI Staff

After your interview, jot down a few notes; such as the people you met, the firm’s mission, the job content of your discussions and job duties. With the new information you’ve learned about the job, think of your past experiences and any skills that may help you succeed in this new job. Having this on hand will help prepare you for a second interview and for future interviews with other companies.

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