Every week, NETSHARE hosts Ask the Coach, a phone-in coaching session with leading career management experts. Here is an excerpt from this week’s session with career transition coach and consultant Randy Block.
Something we don’t touch on often in the weekly Ask the Coach calls is interview strategy. This week, Randy offered some invaluable advice for job candidates going into an interview or during the screening process – don’t be too forthcoming.
As Randy notes, many candidates sink themselves by offering too much information about themselves too soon. This is because most executive candidates are used to being on the other side of the desk, screening candidates for a position, rather than being the candidate who has to be screened. These days, candidates also are usually under additional economic stress so they feel pressured to take the first opportunity that presents itself.
Don’t fall into this trap. Be smart and be focused on your career goals. Be sure you go for ”fit” and make the case for why you are the best fit. Make sure you articulate that you understand the challenges the company is facing and that you can address them.
One caller asked that, if LinkedIn endorsements are so valuable, should you include them on your resume? Randy’s response was a resounding “No!” To quote Don Orlando, “Your references are gold.” Don’t offer them too soon or too often. Endorsements can follow when you need them. And when providing endorsements, you should first determine what the company wants – peers, bosses, subordinates, customers? You want to be prepared to offer references that will provide relevant information to those who want them. If your endorsements aren’t relevant or on target, it just confuses things.
Relevancy is the key because it speaks to the job fit. Fit is the most important part of the equation. In these economic times, there are a lot of candidates out there who have the same skill set and basic experience. What will set you apart is your innate value; your fit. So don’t muddy the water with irrelevant information.
