Introduction to Job Interview Technique Strategies My Way – Lens #1

In this series of job interview technique lenses, I am not going to spend a lot of time rehashing what (hopefully) should be obvious to all job seekers.

You know the stuff: "Be On Time," "Brush Your Teeth," "Dress Appropriately," yada yada yada... After all, this doesn't exactly help you learn how to survive a job interview - it just tells you some of the basics on how to prepare for one.

We MIGHT talk about what 'Dress Appropriately" means - for example, we may find a little research that shows interviewers' reactions to various forms of dress - whether or not it actually had any affect on how they felt about a candidate. That type of stuff. It depends largely on what inspires me on any given day.

I might have an experience, day dream, or random thought that revs me up. Or, maybe I will read something or see something that I can include in a lens.

FInally, a disclaimer: If you see me recommending either: www.JobInterviewTechnique.net, www.CreatingAResume.info, or www.CoverLetterWriting.net, please understand that these are products I recommend and AM selling for a commission. Your purchase is satisfaction guaranteed by the creator of the programs. Thanks so much!

For example, in a recent Ezine Articles feature, I spoke about Job Application Cover Letter Tips to Help Get More Interviews. In this article, I take the reader along with me to the "Local Family Grocer" to do some cover letter writing research.

Now, the reason the story sounds so realistic is because I really have had the actual experiences I talk about. So, I can sift through things that inspire me, and because I have long been helping people with their resumes, cover letters, job interviews, etc, this kind of stuff comes somewhat naturally to me.

Because of the years I've spent with clients regarding their resume development, cover letter writing, and job interview techniques and strategies, I've got a memory bank of stories and information that I hope will help those of you who have been looking for a little more intensive assistance than the standard fare. Also, I, too have had to figure out how to survive a job interview - and even have a few battlescars to prove it. So, hopefully you won't have to reinvent any wheels.

In some of my lenses, I include videos I have found on YouTube that I think are either funny and/or informative. Hopefully, a little of both! I enjoy laughing - but I want to make it clear right away that I do not find humor in someone's pain - and I don't laugh AT people.

If a video is obviously intended to be humorous or inspirational or educational, I'll add it - but if it's meant to insult or be hurtful you won't find it on my lenses.

Job searching is serious business, but if we can have a little fun while we do it, we will! (Scroll down to the next module for a silly job interview skit from the old Monty Python Flying Circus show.)

I'll also work on putting together stories of real examples that I've compiled from my years of working with clients - of course I will never reveal names, and any anecdotes will completely change specific facts: For example, if, in reality I was working with a nurse, when I relate the story, I'll represent the person as - for example - a teacher. That type of stuff.

I've had some experience helping individuals who have been in prison or have had some trouble with the law, so I have dedicated a lens (How To Find a Job After Prison) for people who may be in similar situations.

If you fall into this category, there are definite ways to improve your odds of getting hired. As long as you are serious and can take these suggestions with a positive attitude and not allow yourself to be insulted by them, you can make it.

Incidentally, I have already devoted some time on this topic in my Job Application Cover Letter lens if you'd like to get a heads up.

I also address the topic of younger or otherwise inexperienced workers, and offer a great job interview technique tip.

The ideas I offer are my opinions - and even if you don't agree with my opinions, at least you'll hear a different point of view. Right? As I've always told people who come to me for advice and/or mentoring, "Take what works for you, discard the rest." Fair enough?

I enjoy reading people's experiences, and I invite you to share yours. So, my job interview technique lenses will have a guest book for you to do just that!

When I first began this project, I had initially intended to write my own resume, cover letter and job interview technique handbook. My thought was to sell it for a few dollars on the internet and create some cash flow. As you can imagine, when I began doing some research on this topic, I found - literally - millions and millions of search results about this niche.

Furthermore, I found a particular product that actually took the wind out of my sails, because when I began seriously investigating it, I noticed that many of the strategies that I have taught my own clients were mirrored in this product line.

So, after doing a little soul-searching, and then being in touch with the creator of the series (Jimmy Sweeney, aka "Career Jimmy") I decided to represent his line instead of reinventing the wheel with my own book (yes, I'm taking my own advice!).

And so, yes, I'm also offering these tools for sale if you want to buy them. I like the stuff. I like the writer. It's my style, and teaches strategies that I know from experience work. You can see the Job Interview Technique products here at www.JobInterviewTechnique.net. You won't be sorry! (But, if you decide you ARE sorry, the creator of the programs has a very good guarantee on the products.)

Just so you are aware of how I've put this information together, I started with resume writing tips. The Squidoo pages on these are found below in a "Featured Lens" module. Since most people's job searches begin with resume development, those lenses came first.

I followed them up with lenses about cover letter writing - and yes, you should 100% absolutely always include a well-written cover letter. We talk about this at length - again, both here at Squidoo and in various Ezine Articles. I'll include links to those articles in the lenses as well.

Finally, if you have done everything according to the formulas, you should now be getting job interviews. And that is where our tools, once again, come in.

I can't be any more frank than that! So, scroll on down to get a feel for the information we're offering, and get to work!