Career Advice for Job Seekers

The Ascent Services Group (ASG) places professionals in dynamic consulting engagements and in rewarding careers every day. We’ve learned what works when it comes to career advice or a job search. We're successful when we share our knowledge with you on salary negotiation, relocation, interviewing, resume writing, or anything you can think of pertaining to your job search and career management. The most critical step in this process is the phone screen and/or face-to-face interview.

An interview is similar to a blind date. You don't know exactly what to expect. To assist you in your interview, we have prepared some helpful information for you to review. Please take time to read each section.

Your ASG recruiter will be calling you to provide pertinent interview information, answer questions and assist you in preparing for your meeting with the client. Make sure to ask your recruiter for a copy of your résumé that was submitted to the client to be sure you have the same version the hiring manager has.

Before the Interview

• Discuss the interview with your ASG recruiter.
• Ask your recruiter what the client environment is like and if they have any suggestions for attire. A plain navy or dark-colored business suit is always a safe bet.
• Research the company and review company website. You can do a search on any search engine, or visit websites such as Hoovers.com, CorporateInformation.com, or Bizweb.com.
• Prepare a copy of references.
• Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
• Read over commonly-asked questions and prepare answers for them.
• Bring a copy of your updated resume. Ask your recruiter for a copy of the version that was submitted to the client to be sure you have the same version the hiring manager has.
• Get a good night's rest the night before — it's important to be rested, engaged and present during your interview
  

When You Arrive

Do...

• Arrive 10-15 minutes prior your interview.
• Bring a pen and notebook to takes notes before, during and after the interview.
• Greet everyone in the office with a smile and hello.
• Greet the interviewer with a smile and by his/her surname.
• Give a firm handshake.
• Make direct eye contact.
  
• Psyche yourself up! It's O.K. if you are nervous or a little frightened. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
  
• Have your personal things in order — you don't want to be stuffing papers in a portfolio or fumbling with keys and cell phones when you meet your hiring manager.

Don't...

• Be unprepared for the interview. You'll never get a second chance to make a first impression.
• Chew gum, smell of smoke, wear perfume or cologne or use obscene language.

During the Interview

Most of us make two mistakes when we are being questioned in an interview. First, we fail to listen to the question. We proceed to answer a question that was not asked or to give out a lot of superfluous information. Second, we attempt to answer questions without preparation. Not even the most skilled debater can answer questions off the cuff without damaging his or her chances of success. The bottom line is to be prepared. ASG has prepared our own list of questions to help you with your interview. Our expanded Interview Guidelines will help you during your interview with:

• Building Rapport
• Being Proactive/Self-Reliant
• Displaying Resilience
• Demonstrating your Communication Skills

After the Interview

Do...

• Write down notes to help you remember the highlights of the interview (questions, your impressions, and your performance). This will help you in the future interviews and writing thank you letters.
• Call your ASG recruiter to provide feedback on the interview.
• Fax, email or drop off a thank you letter within 24 hours.

Don't...

• Call the client directly. Let your ASG recruiter handle the interactions with the client. Most clients get very turned off with direct follow-up other than a thank you card or letter.