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The Complete Idiot's Guide® To The Perfect Job Interview

The Complete Idiot's Guide® To The Perfect Job Interview

by Marc Dorio
Publisher: Alpha
Release Date: January 2009
ISBN: 9781592578276
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Book Description

How to ace an interview in today's competitive job market.

Career human resources expert Marc Dorio knows how the system works and how it has changed with the advent of Internet interviews, video conferences, and electronic resumés. In this new edition, he teaches job seekers how to respond to obscure, difficult questions; research salary ranges and negotiate; pull together a resumé package; present their skill set and experience to best effect; follow up after the usual "thank you" note; and dozens of other inside tips.

*From a human resources expert

*Strong sales record for past editions

*Most current information available

*Specific details about each step in the process

*Also available as an e-book

Table of Contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Foreword
  4. Introduction
  5. Part 1 - Getting There
    1. Chapter 1 - Myths and Reality
      1. Interview Myths
      2. Interview Reality: They Don’t Really Care About You
      3. What Every Employer Really Wants
      4. How to Present Yourself as a “Force Multiplier”
    2. Chapter 2 - On Your Mark
      1. Pack Up Your Portable Skills
      2. Do the Research
      3. What, Me Worry?
    3. Chapter 3 - Making an Interview Happen
      1. Set Your Sights Both High and Wide
      2. Getting Serious Online
      3. Turning a Cold Call into a Warm Reception
      4. The Hardest Sales Letter You’ll Ever Write
      5. The Letter-Call Formula
      6. E-Mail vs. Snail Mail
      7. Working with an Agency
    4. Chapter 4 - Get Set
      1. Go!
      2. How to Build an “Interview Kit”
      3. Presenting an “E-Kit”
      4. Rehearse It and Nurse It
      5. Interview Logistics
      6. The Night Before
    5. Chapter 5 - Clothes Call
      1. Evaluating Your Employment Wardrobe
      2. On Diversity
      3. Dress Codes
      4. Traveling Clothes
      5. A Webcam Wardrobe
      6. For Men Only
      7. For Women Only
  6. Part 2 - Being There
    1. Chapter 6 - Meet Me in Cyberspace
      1. The Art of the Online Interview
      2. Getting Technical
      3. Being There While Being Here
      4. Getting to Real Life
    2. Chapter 7 - Reception Room Savvy
      1. “Punctual”: That Means On Time
      2. The Receptionist: A Friend Indeed
      3. Reception Room Research
      4. Butterflies Are Free
    3. Chapter 8 - Shall We Dance?
      1. I’m Here!
      2. Let Your Partner Lead (If He Can)
      3. Rapport Builders
      4. Rapport Busters
      5. Body Language: Eloquence Without Words
    4. Chapter 9 - Listen Up!
      1. Persuade with Your Ears
      2. Stoke the Fire and Stroke the Speaker
      3. Stalk the Main Thought
      4. Secrets of Dynamic Listening
      5. Tune In and Turn On
      6. You Have More Time Than the Speaker—Use It
      7. Ending It Without Ending It
    5. Chapter 10 - How to Answer the Questions Everybody Asks
      1. First, Speak the Language of Business
      2. Questions of Ability and Suitability
      3. Offer Mastery
      4. Questions of Employability
      5. Questions of Affordability
    6. Chapter 11 - … And the Questions Almost Nobody Asks (But Just Might Ask You)
      1. Problems, Problems, Problems
      2. “Tell Me About a Time When You …”
      3. Dealing With the “Desert Island” Scenario and Other Bizarre Questions
      4. Questions You Don’t Have to Answer (and How Not to Answer Them)
    7. Chapter 12 - Take Control and Start Selling Yourself
      1. Get Out of the Backseat and Take the Wheel
      2. How to Read an Interviewer
      3. Be a Problem Solver and a Force Multiplier
    8. Chapter 13 - Money Talk
      1. First, Some Homework
      2. Playing Chicken
      3. The Usual Objections—and How to Overcome Them
      4. This Is Negotiable (Isn’t It?)
      5. Victory in the Gulf War
  7. Part 3 - “Do You Have Any Questions?” (You’d Better!)
    1. Chapter 14 - Questions You Should Always Ask
      1. Big Question #1: “Have You Had a Chance to Review My Resumé?”
      2. Always Ask the Questions That Set You Up to Make the Sale
      3. Big Question #2: “What Results Do You Want Me to Produce?”
      4. Probe Employer Needs
      5. Fill the Gaps
      6. Questions to Which You Are the Answer
      7. Questions That Close the Sale
    2. Chapter 15 - Roll-Up-Your-Sleeves Questions
      1. Show Them You Can Hit the Ground Running
      2. Embrace the Mission
      3. Reveal Yourself as a Prophet of Profitability
      4. Demonstrate Proficiency
      5. Ask Questions That Show You’re a Leader
      6. The Nitty-Gritty
      7. Above All, Know When to Stop
    3. Chapter 16 - Real-World Questions
      1. One Size Does Not Fit All
      2. If You’re in Sales …
      3. If You’re in Marketing …
      4. If You’re in Service …
      5. If You’re in Financial …
      6. If You’re in R&D (Research and Development) …
      7. If You’re in Production …
  8. Part 4 - Special Setting and Challenging Circumstances
    1. Chapter 17 - Creating an Interview
      1. Wallflower No More
      2. When to Go Online and When to Commit to Real Life
      3. Five Steps to an Informational Interview
      4. What Are You About, Anyway?
    2. Chapter 18 - Getting Through the Gatekeeper Interview
      1. The First Cut—So What?
      2. Brevity
      3. Say This
      4. Don’t Say That
      5. Turn “Goodbye” into “See You Later”
    3. Chapter 19 - The Telephone Interview
      1. Welcome to a Process of Elimination
      2. A Welcome Call at an Unwelcome Time
      3. Let the Caller Do the Talking (Mostly)
      4. Giving Answers
      5. Make a Note of This
    4. Chapter 20 - Expecting the Unexpected
      1. Panel Interviews
      2. Sequential Interviews
      3. Booting Up
      4. Mealtime Interviews
      5. When You’re in from Out of Town
      6. Drug Testing
    5. Chapter 21 - “Nice to Be Here”: Mastering the Mid-Life Interview
      1. Mid-Life Crisis or Mid-Life Opportunity? (Pick One)
      2. Get Ready, Get Set
      3. Go for It
      4. Add It Up
  9. Part 5 - On the Spot
    1. Chapter 22 - Hey, You’re On ! The Performance Interview
      1. The Show on the Road
      2. Take It Away!
      3. Surprise!
      4. Test-Taking Tips
      5. Kudos and Lumps
    2. Chapter 23 - You’re on Fire! The Stress Interview
      1. No More Mister Nice Guy
      2. Stress Interviewer Strategies
      3. Twenty Stress Questions (and Answers)
    3. Chapter 24 - What to Do at a Brick Wall
      1. Call to Action
      2. Five Steps to Overcome Any Objection
      3. The Charge Is Job Hopping
      4. Gaps, Gulfs, and Gaffes
      5. Climbing Down the Ladder of Success
      6. “I’m Not Sure You Fit In …”
  10. Part 6 - To Follow Through, Follow Up
    1. Chapter 25 - Nailing the Follow-Up Interview
      1. You’ve Made the Cut—Now What?
      2. Your Entrance
      3. You’re Already There
      4. Wait Until They “Gotta Have You”
      5. Making Your Exit
    2. Chapter 26 - The Morning After
      1. More to Do
      2. Four Steps to Thank-You Messages That Mean Business
      3. Pursue the Issues
      4. Zapping Doubt
      5. The Silent Treatment
      6. Briefing Your References
      7. What to Do with Success
  11. Appendix A - Talk the Talk Glossary
  12. Appendix B - Resources for Job Searches and Interview Preparation
    1. General Information Sources
    2. Career Forecasts and Outlook
    3. Industries and Fields (General)
    4. Communications Industry
    5. Computer Industry
    6. Government Employment
    7. Sources of Information on Specific Companies
    8. People with Clout (Contacts)
  13. Appendix C - Skills Inventories
    1. A People Skills Inventory
    2. A Data Skills Inventory
    3. A Things Skills Inventory
  14. Index