When You Go To The Interview - Part Two February 12, 2006
A couple of days ago, I wrote “When You Go To The Interview“, and I’m very happy, and lucky, that Mark Horstman of “Manager Tools” added two great comments to the post. For the folks that only see this stuff via RSS, I’m copying those comments below (with Mark’s permission), and then adding some more comments of my own at the bottom.
Gary-
GREAT POST! Really like your thinking.
I don’t know if I’ve ever made it really clear on our show, but I spent 7 years recruiting for major corporations. I have interviewed tens of thousands of candidates, and placed thousands. So, I come to my perspective honestly (and, frankly, painfully).
I am going to check out the posts on answers you’ve got, and see what suggestions I can add.
I do want to add one comment, regarding resumes. You mentioned that some of your readers may not “get along with” the one page resume idea. If they don’t, they’re indulging a mistaken personal belief that more is better. Folks, there’s just no way those second and third pages are getting read. PERIOD. Even for tech jobs, the number of resumes received is such that the decision is made in MOMENTS. And, for those of you hiring managers who might prefer them, remember - resumes’ purpose is to get the interview. The vast majority of resumes that are too long (>1 page) never get to you. This may make recruiters and HR bad people, but it doesn’t change the reality.
When I get a multi-page resume (and I get 50 resumes a week, unrequested), I IMMEDIATELY think two things: (1) uninformed job seeker, and (2), limited upside career.
One other thing: I LIKE multi-page resumes. Yes, you read that right. BUT, I like them for their ability to CAPTURE all that I have done. I use them to review what I’ve done and choose the best stuff to go on the one pager that I SEND OUT to companies/recruiters.
Okay, I’m off my soapbox! Watch those multi-pagers, folks - they’re hurting you and you don’t know it.
Mark Horstman
Manager ToolsPS: I’ll post again once I’ve checked out the sites!
OK - that’s the first one. Here’s the promised second post, from a little later that evening:
Gary-
Went to the answer sites you posted. The first site has some okay answers, and for someone who hasn’t ever interviewed, it would be helpful. If you’ve got 7+ years of professional experience and can only do that well, all the interview answers in the world won’t help you.
The way to answer weakness questions is patently offensive. Chocolate? Seriously - this is rude.
Here’s the right way to answer the weakness question. First, you should assume you’re going to get this question, and therefore have analyzed the job to understand what the core strengths are that are required. DON’T choose to talk about a weakness (we all have more than one!) that is a core job requirement.
Once past that, your answer should have THREE PARTS. (1) Qualify your answer, (2) State the weakness, (3) Describe what you’re doing to improve.
For instance: “On occasion (qualifier), I procrastinate (weakness). I’ll push a task back as long as it’s not critical, in deference to some other work. What I’ve started doing lately (improvement) is posting my project schedules, as well as setting up reminders to keep me on track.”
Or, “Every once in a while, I jump into a project to make early progress, rather than taking time to get a sense of the various issues. What I’ve started doing is simply adding tasks on the front end that are about level setting and relationship building, and that’s made a big difference.”
Their mouths will hang open, I promise.
One more thing - both sites have too many questions.
You really need to be exceptionally ready for TWO: “tell me about yourself”, and “give me an example of an accomplishment (which shows blank)”.
If you handle these two well (and btw, tell me about yourself should be 3-4 minutes long, not 1 minute), the others can be forgiven.
(Relatedly: be VERY careful about following ANY guidance from Haldane (cited on one of the sites). They’re a fee-based firm, and my experience with them is consistently unprofessional.
Hope this helps.
Mark Horstman
Manager Tools
Well, I think my first thought is that I hope I’m never in competition for a job with Mark! 
That said, some more thoughts and responses to the above.