Selected Readings for Job Hunters

Here’s an assortment of articles that might be useful to any of us who are job-hunting. Read and enjoy!

Using social networking to find a job

Seven Steps to Persuasive Cover Letters

Steps to a Successful Interview: Preparation

Steps to a Successful Interview: Presentation

Steps to a Successful Interview: Follow-Up

Choosing To Be Optimistic:  Downsized, But Not Out

For Marge, job loss in the current economic downturn is deja vu all over again. Having seen jobs come and go over the past 24 years, she has learned to make the most of career ups and downs.

"I started out as an English teacher," she says, "but after a few years, I said, ‘No, this is not for me.’  So I went to CTC (Cincinnati Technical College, now Cincinnati State University) and got an Associates’ degree in CIM (Computer-Integrated Manufacturing)."

Combining her skills in communication and technology, Marge snagged the first job of her second career with a small software company, where she trained customers in the use of application programs that generated instructions for screw machines. Great job…until she discovered one day that her paycheck bounced. No more company, no more job.

Attitude Is Everything

So Marge expanded her career into technical writing and moved through a contract assignment and several "permanent" employment stints at small software companies. The GE contract ended, and she has been "downsized" twice.

"In 1983-84, just like now, everybody was out of work," she remembers. "I interviewed a lot."

Stability is good, but flexibility is essential. Marge has developed an core of competence and confidence that has centered her and enabled her to adapt to employment swings and remain positive.

"One thing I’ve liked about most of my jobs," she says, "is working for a small company and being the only writer. That puts me in charge of what I do, so I get to decide how things will be done. When I’ve been downsized, I was always the last person they could let go. And every time I’ve changed jobs, it’s been an improvement.

"At this point (mid-March), I’ve been out of work for not quite two months. Sometimes that little discouragement bird whispers in your ear and you can choose to be down and discouraged. Or you can choose to say, ‘This is my opportunity to enjoy some time off while working hard to find that next position.’" .

Marge’s Job Search Strategy

• She posts her resume on various online job sites. "Most useful to me has been CareerBuilder.com, with more relevant jobs. On Monster, I’ve seen maybe one or two tech writing jobs, but CareerBuilder has had a thin steady stream."
• She uses social media networking sites, such as LinkedIn.
• She also networks in person, having once found a "fun" job through networking at an STC meeting.
• She expects to be successful.

Looking for an Internship…Pretty Hopeful Still

Kristen wasn’t looking for easy when she signed up for a double major in Technical and Professional Communication and English Literature at Cedarville University.

Her advisor (STC-SWO Senior Member Sandra Harner) had told her, "This won’t be easy."  Summers mean dealing with summer classes and demanding internships. Every day of the school year involves juggling technical skills and textual analysis. Still it’s not too bad.

"I’ve benefited from both sides of the spectrum," she says, "with a broad scope that is detailed enough so that the skills I learn (will) help me eventually in the work force."

Now it’s 2009.

And that’s where things have gotten a little tougher than expected. She’s wrapping up her  junior year this year–in 2009. In the middle of the worst recession in 20 years, with record unemployment, epidemic layoffs, and anemic hiring.

Despite the economic doldrums, Kristen is looking for an internship that "focuses more on marketing, particularly one where I can be part of a team, discuss different ideas, and market a product," including the product documentation. 

Thanks to the rigorous double major, she has a lot to offer. "The English major challenges in different ways, she says. "It really strengthens my analytical, overall thinking, and logic skills. The TPC major focuses one developing skills in a lot of different areas that strengthen my already good writing skills. 

"We learn Web design and HTML coding, as well as visual communication–how to put documents together to be visually appealing. We also focus on the psychology of audience analysis and how to write documentation for users that is very user friendly."

Kristen’s Job Search Strategy

• She has been busy: applying online, e-mailing STC contacts, polishing her resume, adding pieces to her portfolio, checking websites for technical writing internships and applying online.

• And she expects to be successful.

"I’m pretty hopeful still. It is a bit disheartening when I get no response after applying for an internship that I’m perfect for. But I’m trusting that something will come up."

Kristen is a junior, majoring in Technical and Professional Communication and English at Cedarville University in Cedarville, OH. She might be the perfect candidate for your "summer intern" project.

Cookies, Kids, and Technical Communication

by Jean Fudge

Tech Fest is a program dedicated to introducing kids to science, technology, engineering, medicine and math (STEM). The program includes hands-on, interactive exhibits staffed with volunteer professionals from societies, companies, museums, universities and other technology organizations. It was held Feb. 14 and 15 at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.

Members of the Southwest Ohio (SWO) chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) challenged children to explain to an outer space alien how to eat a cookie. More than 500 children accepted the challenge, taking the time to write the procedure on handouts distributed by SWO STC. Each child also was offered an Oreo to sweeten the deal – and to serve as a visual aid.

Children were quick to grasp the basics:

1. Grab cookie.
2. Place in mouth.
3. Chew.
4. Swallow.

Some offered extras, such as audience analysis.

“Does the alien have hands?”
“Are cookies poison to the alien?”
“Does the alien understand English?”

One young lady exhibited thorough comprehension of the process, adding:

5. Digest.
6. Go to bathroom.

All told, nearly 600 Oreos were distributed. Students completed roughly 500 handouts while standing at the booth.

Children and their parents also viewed winning entries from the STC international competition. SWO STC got a helping hand from Sinclair Community College, whose multimedia department loaned the five laptops used to display the  online competition winners.

Many thanks to the STC members who volunteered to help make the event a success for SWO STC! Thanks to:

• Thea Teich
• Jackie Watkins
• Tom Milligan
• Cheryl Drake
• Cheryl Stewart
• Doug Boatman
• Crystal Dunson
• Stephen Daugherty
• Craig Kupras
• Maggie Prince
• Karen Rokich
• Louise Tincher
• Jean Fudge
• Judy Harper

Strategies for Success is the theme for SWO’s 2008-2009 programs. Whatever your level of satisfaction with your current professional life, tyou can expect only one guarantee: everything changes.  But even when change is the only constant, flexibility and preparation can see you through great times, awful times, and the vast plateau of everyday life in between the extremes.

STC-SWO meets every month between September and May. This year’s meetings include events like:

• Face-to-face gatherings featuring accomplished speakers on topics ranging from effective networking to independent contracting. The alternating venues for in-person meetings are the West Chester and Dayton branches of Indiana Wesleyan University.
• 20-20 Vision of the Future, a regional conference about the future of techcomm, held at Cedarville University in October.
• A virtual meeting (one of our winter webinars, for weeks when winds are blustery and roads are bad) focusing on the effective use of tools for professional communicators.

Keep reading for a complete 2008-2009 program schedule.

• September 17: Gregg MacMillan, 21st Century Networking – West Chester
• October 15: Jackie Damrau, Navigating STC Resources – Dayton
• November 8: STC Regional Conference at Cedarville University – Cedarville
• December 10: Shipley Associates, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Proposals – Dayton
• January 21: Contracting & Independent Consulting: If You Ever Thought about This (tentative) – West Chester
• February 18: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About MS Word (tentative) – Webinar
• March 18: Business: The Quick Course (tentative) – Dayton
• April 15: Marketing Yourself as a Technical Communicator (tentative)
• May 20: Volunteer Recognition, New Officer Installation

Join the January Job Progression

Does your organization hire technical writers, illustrators, instructional designers, and publication managers? If so, the January STC-SWO Job Progression is exactly the place for you to be. And NOW is the time to sign up.

The January 17 meeting will be a Job Progression, where chapter members can attend a series of brief talks on job-related subjects. After each talk, attendees move on to hear the next discussion.

Up to eight lucky organizations can strut their stuff for a room full of qualified candidates. Attendees will be available to meet representatives from the business world during the social hour from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Company representatives can display information (you can spread out over half of a standard eight-foot table and meet with potential employees.

This is an uncommon opportunity for hiring managers to start relationships with future valued employees. Interested? Of course you are! Contact Kathy Reynolds at mkathryn.reynolds@gmail.com as soon as possible. Please put "January Job Progression" in the subject line of your e-mail. Even if your company is not presenting, please mark your calendar for the meeting. It should be informative and enjoyable!

(The Jan. 17 meeting is being held on a Thursday, by request of SWO STC members. In our survey this past summer, members requested that meetings not always be held on Wednesdays. Thursday was the most favored alternate day.)

Since 2004, Employment Lead Louise Tincher has been the guiding force behind the chapter’s employment-related resources:

• A Yahoo job site where relevant Web-posted job offers are conveniently aggregated
• A chapter bulletin board with employer postings of currently available technical communication jobs and a section where members can post resumes

According to Louise, "The biggest thing I do is gather job ads from the Internet. Initially, I was clipping ads from the Dayton newspaper, and John (Biederman) was clipping from the Cincinnati paper." Now that the job market has changed (and John has moved on to other tasks), the routine is a little different.

STC-SWO Yahoo Job Site

Instead of clipping newspaper ads, Louise retrieves techcomm job postings from www.indeed.com, which aggregates from a wide range of Internet job sites. When she receives the daily email from Indeed.com, she sorts through the listings, aggregates them, and sends them off to the Yahoo group site. The group has about 300 members (anyone can join) and the site is moderated, which means that one of the site moderators (Louise or chapter President Jean Fudge) has to approve all postings.

(Interested in receiving weekly emails with the results of Louise’s searches? Here’s how to sign up.)

STC-SWO Employment Forum

Louise moderates the employment sections of the bulletin board. Chapter members can post their resumes in the Looking for Work section (or email Louise and ask her to post for them.). She advises all members who are consulting or looking for employment to take advantage of this opportunity.. "Sometimes an employer will contact me directly looking for someone to hire," she says. "I try to pass that on" to members who have indicated their interest and availability.

"The job seekers who contact me come from quite varied backgrounds. Some are people coming out of the military or out of college. Some coming out of careers in law or financial services think they want to switch to technical writing and aren’t sure where to start." She tries to steer them to STC for contacts and professional networking opportunities.

Job seekers can also browse the Now Hiring section for locally available jobs. Louise averages about one posting every week when things are humming. "I don’t post non-techcomm jobs or positions in distant, offshoring locations," she says. "I have been seeing more ads for people who work with video and multimedia, or with scripting and content, so I pull that into my job searches. I cast a pretty wide net, trying to be inclusive rather than exclusive."

About Louise

Louise draws on her background in history, anthropology, linguistics and computer science to research, analyze and fill documentation needs. As a technical writer and editor, she enjoys mastering new subject matter and software tools, as well as interfacing with project team members. Louise uses a structured design process to develop documents that meet business requirements, budgets and schedules. She has worked for a variety of engineering and technical firms in southwest Ohio, but says she is still searching for the perfect employer.

by Elizabeth Evans Fryer and Judith Harper

Almost all technical writing benefits from the technique of persuasion. Grants and proposals must have persuasive elements to be effective; operating instructions should convince customers that they have bought the best product for the job; hospital literature should assure patients that they have chosen the most well-equipped place to recover from surgery; cover letters (and all correspondence with a prospective employer or client) should leave no doubt in the employer’s mind about your excellent qualifications for the job or assignment under discussion.

Techniques of Persuasion

1. Attach an expert’s name to a paper or statement.

   If you’re selling results—enticing people to react positively to you—people must believe those results to take them seriously. Presenting the conclusions of a satisfied and happy employer or client is persuasive.

   Rather than patting yourself on the back like this:

   I am a clear and persuasive writer who pays close attention to detail to produce accurate user guide materials.

   try something like this:

   Tom Smitherman, president of Foreground Systems, said this about the Scanner Operations manual I wrote for them: "Your diligent research and hard work produced an accurate, polished manual on an extremely tight deadline. Great job!"

2. Use numbers—but not so many as to confuse your audience.

   An interesting, relevant fact (not opinion) that is news to your audience is persuasive. Surprising statistics can be persuasive, and sometimes move people to action. According to Patricia J. Parsons in her e-book Beyond Persuasion: The Healthcare Manager’s Guide to Strategic Communication, the statistic should be something “that is not likely to be known already by your audience, something that happened, a startling amount of money, something that is quick, to the point, and wakes up your audience.” Consider this cover letter example:

   In the past 15 years, I have written hundreds of magazine articles and book chapters, as well as more than 150 user and training guides, brochures, procedures, and how-to manuals for small businesses and major national corporations.

   Peppering your cover letter and resume with impressive statistics makes it persuasive.

3. Echo your reader’s concerns and allay them.

   Everyone wants empathy when taking a risk–and a new employee or freelancer is definitely a risk. Client and employer concerns may be serious or minor, but showing that you care about their concerns is a way of convincing them that your are the right person for the job.

   When responding to an ad or Internet posting, you can echo each of the poster’s desired qualifications and show how you meet or exceed them, like this:

   You’re looking for a freelance editor who has:

   • Strong copyediting skills. For 10 years, I’ve been a technical editor responsible for ensuring that copy is clear, compelling, and correct. In the process, I’ve amassed a long list of clients who attest to my ability.
   • An expert working knowledge of Word. I’ve formatted tables, illustrations, borders, watermarks, drop caps, and other page elements based on original or standard templates for manuals, books, brochures, greeting cards, and booklets, using every version of Microsoft Word for Windows since 1.1. (And most versions of Word for the Mac.)
   • Decent working knowledge of Excel and Powerpoint. I’ve done a fair amount of work in Excel and developed more presentations that I care to think about in Powerpoint.
   • A basic grasp of statistical analysis. I don’t know statistics in the same way I know Microsoft Office applications, but I am a quick study.

   Let employers or clients know that you understand their concerns, and offer solutions if you can.

4. Use repetition—but don’t overdo it.

   Nothing brings home your message like repetition, as long as it’s not obvious or jarring. Remember, too much repetition can backfire, because many people are resistant to obvious persuasion. You can, however, make your letter more persuasive by emphasizing the central theme of your competence differently each time you mention it.

5. Reward people for following through with a desired action.

   Never close your cover letter without assuring your reader that you will follow up. Reward him or her with the anticipation of a call from a competent, concerned writer who brings a cartful of assets to some lucky company.

   Rewards, tangible or intangible, are persuasive.

6. Omit hedge words.

   Hedge words are words that indicate less commitment or confidence. Confidence itself is inherently persuasive. Hedge words that you should avoid in talking or corresponding with a potential employer or client include may, might, perhaps, probably, approximately, likely, and suggest (as in “I think I can offer you" or "My years of experience suggest.” No and no. Instead say "I can offer…" and "my years of experience show…")

   If you are not confident in what you can do, your prospective client or employer won’t be confident, either.

7. Persuade through careful charting and graphing of data.

   This is especially effective for technical communicators. Try a small chart or table that shows visually exactly how your qualifications match up against requirements. It’s unexpected in a cover letter, yet entirely appropriate for left-brain-heavy assignments. Invariably, some in your audience are more comfortable processing information verbally and some visually. Presenting data verbally and in chart and graph form will affect a wider range of readers, making your communication more persuasive.

Summing Up

Becoming comfortable with these persuasive methods will improve your writing. If you want to find other ways to make your writing more effectively convincing, entering “persuasive writing” into the search engine at Amazon.com yields dozens of good titles. Most are general, but some are specific to economics, education, law, business, the news media, even job-seeking.

Persuasion is appropriate to every specialty. No one is immune to it. Use it to your advantage.

The major points in this article are based on "Seven Simple Steps to Persuasive Writing," by Elizabeth Evans Fryer, originally published in the March 2004 issue of Intercom.

"Interview Survival Secrets from the Mock Interview Squad," originally published in the January-February 2005 issue of Between the Lines, is reprinted here in three parts. It’s good information, well worth repeating. This is Part One.

by Karen O’Keefe, Rebecca Forrest, and Jean Fudge

In an interview, you want to find out about the position and the environment, give job-related information about yourself, and leave a good impression, all while being relaxed. That’s a tall order for anyone, so we hope our advice and anecdotes will help you survive—or even thrive—in an interview.

Preparation Is Key

1. Flex. Allow plenty of time for the interview—like two hours more than you think you could possibly need.

   Forrest: Be ready for any extra interviews, tours, or testing the employer wants you to have. Expect skill or behavior tests. Don’t say, as one applicant did, that you consider testing an invasion of your privacy. And don’t give the impression that you can’t wait to leave. Avoid explanations about having to pick up your kids, dry cleaning, dog, car from the impound lot, or spouse whose driver’s license was revoked because of another DUI.

2. Look the part. A clean, well-pressed suit is best. Even if you know the company is business casual, it’s a good idea to wear standard business attire. Keep in mind that many managers frown on anything less than a suit. Make sure your hair is neat, your shoes are polished, and you practice excellent personal hygiene. Bring a few tissues—just in case. Use cologne or perfume sparingly. Scents smell different to each person, and many people have allergies. There’s nothing to be gained by asphyxiating the interviewer. One more point: Travel light. Leave your purse or briefcase in the car and put your car key in your portfolio or pocket. It’s much easier to navigate without baggage. If possible, leave your coat in the car, too.
    
3. Be on time or early. If you’re unsure of the location, take a practice trip. Remember that the impression you make starts in the lobby. Interact professionally with everyone you meet.

   O’Keefe: I once got stuck behind an accident and arrived two hours late for an interview. I called from my car to explain, but I was totally flustered when I finally did arrive. Situations like that can happen, but make them the exception and not the rule.

   Forrest: Don’t ask for special favors, like using the phone or borrowing a dollar for the soda machine. Don’t ask the receptionist to give you “the scoop on this guy/gal.”

   Fudge: Get clear on the spelling of your destination and the directions. Once, an interviewee called to say that he missed the interview because he got hopelessly lost. Instead of going east on I-275, he went west. Instead of exiting in Milford (Oh.), he exited in Guilford (Ind.).

4. Be prepared. The Boy Scout motto involves doing your homework, including researching the company as well as being able to answer a variety of questions. With the Internet, you should find plenty of information. Go beyond the company itself in your research. If the ad mentions a special skill, research that as well.  
5. Prepare for common questions. Many people stumble on questions that should be easy. When prompted to “Tell me about yourself,” answer in terms that apply to the job. In fact, your whole interview should have one focus: “Am I right for this position, and is it right for me?” Many people have trouble talking about weaknesses. Instead of using the worn-out “perfectionist” answer, give a genuine weakness and tell what corrective steps you’ve taken. Be careful what you identify as a weakness, however. Don’t admit to something as damning as laziness, absenteeism, or bad temper. An example of a good answer is to say you aren’t naturally organized, but you have overcome it by using the Outlook calendar or another tool. Lots of resources are available to help you find (and develop answers to) common questions.

   Forrest: Above all, stay job-focused. Please don’t answer, “Tell me about yourself” with what someone said to me years ago: “I guess I’d say I’m dead.” Rule of thumb: If your answers cause the interviewer to pinch herself black and blue to keep from laughing, you may have blown it.

6. Bring your résumé and references. Not all interviewers are as prepared as they should be.

   O’Keefe: I’ve had interviews with people who had never even seen my résumé. It’s impressive when a candidate anticipates the interviewer’s need and says “No problem—I brought extra copies.”

   Forrest: If your résumé says “references on request,” assume the interviewer is requesting. Bring several printouts of your references with everything—addresses, emails, work and cell phones, and even home phones if you can. If your references could be hard to reach at their offices, find a way for the interviewer to contact them. But before listing people as references, clear it with them first and find out what they’ll say. Format the reference page to match your résumé and print it on the same paper.

7. Be prepared to take notes. If you bring a planner or notepad, it shows that you’re organized. If you’re nervous, notes help you stay grounded. For example, when asked for “three things,” write down a “3.” Or if you think of topics you want to address, jot down key words. And remember that interviewing is a two-way street, so you should be interviewing the interviewer. Take notes about salient issues that will help you make a decision. Overall, note-taking shows a skill that writers should have, and it helps you stay on track—more about that later.

   O’Keefe: Once, an interviewee asked me for paper and a pen when he wanted to write something down. Not good.

   Forrest: One person I interviewed wrote derogatory comments on his tablet. Watch what you write and what you doodle—some people can read upside-down!

8. Bring a portfolio. Make sure it’s neat, organized, and labeled. Also make sure you know what’s in it. If you didn’t produce it, don’t include it. If the interviewer doesn’t ask to see your samples, offer them. When confidentiality is an issue, you may be able to show samples but not leave them. Or, in more extreme cases, you may have to blacken out or disguise things like product or company names (you can substitute “ABC product” or “XYZ Company”). If you have a lot of samples, use tabs to arrange them in categories. This allows you to quickly find what you need.

   O’Keefe: Once I interviewed a woman who was intimately familiar with her writing samples; she proved it by going right to certain pages and talking through them. I am underwhelmed by people saying, “I don’t know—it was a long time ago.” Expect people to ask questions about your samples.

9. Start positive. Go in with your chin up and your mind open. It’s easy to psych yourself out ahead of time, saying, “I don’t have a snowball’s chance.” You don’t know the situation. Maybe there’s a shortage of folks with your talent, maybe you’re the only applicant who can write a coherent cover letter, or maybe you’re the only one in their price range. Consider the odds: The best is just as likely to happen as the worst. Also, don’t be paralyzed by the illusion of perfection. The whole interview process can be a perfectionism trip. If you make a mistake, recover as best you can. Don’t beat yourself up. Perfection is impossible; perfectionism is a useless torment.

"Interview Survival Secrets from the Mock Interview Squad," originally published in the January-February 2005 issue of Between the Lines, is reprinted here in three parts. It’s good information, well worth repeating. This is Part Two.

by Karen O’Keefe, Rebecca Forrest, and Jean Fudge

In an interview, you want to find out about the position and the environment, give job-related information about yourself, and leave a good impression, all while being relaxed. That’s a tall order for anyone, so we hope our advice and anecdotes will help you survive—or even thrive—in an interview.

Interview Smart

1. Give yourself a hand. Your presentation starts with your handshake. Make it firm, business-like, and brief. Your hand should be thumb up with fingers straight. The interviewer isn’t going to kiss your hand or lead you into a waltz. Read on for tips about clammy hands. 
2. Smile and breathe. Relaxed breathing, a smile, and a positive attitude go a long way in an interview. A sincere smile will help set you and the interviewer at ease. If you’re particularly nervous, several things help:
   • Go to the bathroom right before you enter the company or department
   • If you get cotton-mouth, carry hydrating lozenges (Aqua Drops is one brand). Have one while you wait.
   • If you get full-fledged desert-mouth, bring a bottle of water, but ask permission before setting it on the interviewer’s desk.
   • If you get cold hands, sit with your right hand under your leg as you wait for the interview. That warms your hand.
   • If you get clammy hands, use a moist wipe just before you go into the lobby and then sit with your right hand under your leg as you wait. The alcohol dries perspiration, and your leg warms your hand. 
3. Look. Practice direct eye contact ahead of time. Direct eye contact is unique to America—we expect lots of it. Eye contact tells people you are honest and forthright, while the lack of it implies evasion. Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it. Don’t bore holes in the interviewer. Staring can be intimidating—balance is a virtue.

   O’Keefe: I once interviewed a fellow who looked me in the eye only once during the interview. He had excellent credentials, but the fact that he stared at his shoes meant he didn’t get the job.

   Fudge: If the interviewer doesn’t make eye contact with you, you may wonder. On my first interview (at the ripe old age of 17), I made good eye contact, but the interviewer didn’t make eye contact with me. I got the job—and a month later, the interviewer was fired for embezzlement!

4. Listen. Being a good listener helps you identify what is important to the company and/or interviewer, which in turn helps you frame effective answers. Listening helps you pick up clues about the job and the environment. Listening is advantageous. First, it shows respect and is a quality of a good team player. Second, people like to be listened to. And finally, it helps you answer questions. You can address what the interviewer is actually saying, instead of what you think you’re hearing.

   Fudge: Interviewing and dating are similar: You and the interviewer evaluate each other to see if you want to start a relationship. You aren’t compatible with every date or with every job—so don’t see it as a failure if you don’t get the job. I have a pertinent dating theory: People tell us about their negative side, but most often we’re not listening. Later, we’re shocked when the rotten behavior surfaces, but it really reared its head early on and we ignored it. I think something similar can happen in interviews. Try to be rigorously observant and stay out of denial as much as you can.

5. Pause. Allow a moment between the question and your answer to gather your thoughts. Frame your answer in a succinct and organized way (remember that brief notes can help). Make your point and then give a definite end to your answer. Babbling increases nervousness and makes it hard to stay on track. It also increases the chance that you’ll say something you’ll regret. 
6. Communicate. This can be hard for introverted people. However, interviewers need information from you—and you’re the only person who has it—so an interview is not the time to clam up. If you feel tense, take a deep breath, pause, and answer the question. 
7. Be positive. Find something nice to say about whatever the interviewer asks you. Don’t say you hated a job or a boss and had to get out. Frankly, we’ve all had jobs or bosses we didn’t like, but an interview is no place to say so. Generally, you have multiple reasons for leaving a job, so choose something positive. A bad answer would be “My crazy boss passed me up for that promotion every time. He hated me.” A good answer would be “I wanted a position with more responsibility.” And then, of course, you can showcase what qualifies you for a growth position.

   Forrest: Prepare for the hardest question. Don’t answer, as three applicants have, “I left because I didn’t want to wear a tie,” “I left because they were all crazy,” or “I left because they were wacko about getting there on time.”

8. But be honest. Suppose you have what one expert calls “a bloody rhinoceros head on your wall.” In that case, you definitely should practice your answer ahead of time. For example, if you’re suing a previous employer for harassment, don’t conceal it. A simple phone call could reveal that to the interviewer anyway. So be ready with an answer like this: “I left because of issues that we’re now working to resolve. I assure you that I don’t expect anything to follow me here. All those issues are isolated to that particular circumstance.” 
9. When you don’t know, say so. Many interviewers ask questions like “Can you tell me about a time when…” If you haven’t experienced the particular situation, say so and then say, “But if I did, here’s what I would do.” 
10. Don’t fake it. If an interviewer asks about unfamiliar software, it’s a great time to say, “No, I haven’t used software X, but I have used software Y.” Or, you can mention that you are a quick learner and are always eager to learn new ways of doing things. Above all, don’t get discouraged if you have to say “no” to several “have you done” questions. The interviewer may be more interested in your honesty than in any certain skill. Even a “no” answer gives you an opportunity to list the steps you’d take to fill in the gap.
     
11. Don’t be led on. An interviewer may laugh with you and seem to identify or agree with your experiences. But don’t mistake that for carte blanche. Even if you’re sure you’ve found a kindred spirit, don’t reveal more than you’ll be comfortable remembering at cold, sleepless 3 a.m. 
12. Card them. Get business cards from everyone who interviews you. If they don’t have cards, note correct name spellings. That will help you use the right name during the interview. It will also ensure correct spelling when you write your thank-you note (more about that in Part Three). For hard-to-pronounce names, write the phonetic spelling on your notepad. If you meet multiple people, jot down a quick seating chart. For each person, note a unique but not insulting fact (pink glasses, plaid tie, red earrings, black sweater). After all, people may move around, and you’ll still need to know their names. 
13. Ask. Ask things like what would happen on your first day or what main challenges you would face. To plan other questions, do Internet research and check out books on interviewing. Write down several questions ahead of time. Questions show that you’re interested, engaged, and picturing yourself in the job. Also, if you get that rare bird—an interviewer who seems reluctant to talk—be prepared to gently lead the conversation.

    Forrest: Don’t ask things like “How much vacation will I get?” or “When will I get a raise?” A first interview is not the place to ask “what’s in it for me” questions. Often the interviewer can’t answer those questions anyway.

14. Disarm landmines. If you’re asked something inappropriate or illegal (like “Do you have kids?” “Are you caring for elderly parents?” or “Are you religious?”), take it in stride. Answer the question briefly but truthfully. If the interviewer persists, say that no circumstances would affect your ability to attend work or do your job. If the interviewer still persists, tactfully suggest getting back to discussing the job responsibilities. If that doesn’t work, then do you really want to work there? 
15. Determine the hiring process. The answer will guide you through the next steps. If the answer is “We’ll choose X candidates for a second interview,” ask when they expect to decide and how they’ll let you know. Or if the answer is “We’ll be making a hiring decision,” ask when they expect to decide and how they’ll let you know. Then you’ll know where you are in the process and when to follow up.
     
16. Say thank you. It’s the best way to end the interview. Thank the person, smile, and shake his or her hand again. It leaves a good last impression. Retrieve everything you brought, except your résumé and reference copies. Don’t leave a mess behind you.

    Forrest: Stay professional until you are definitely out of range. Don’t make the mistake one person made of ridiculing the interviewer in the elevator, unaware that his secretary was there.