High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Personality Testing Video Games

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

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• Will Video Games Replace Job Interviews?: "Personality testing video games are becoming the new hot high-tech tool in recruiting. But discrimination and diversity concerns could chill the hype."


• How to Move on When You Didn’t Land the Job: "If you’re stuck in a rejection rut, here are four ways to feel better—and kick your job search back into gear."


• Finding the Right Kind of Sports Internships: "Use social media tools to help ensure you choose the right sports internships—for that matter, any internship—while in college."


• The Power of a Referral: "Nothing comes close to making for a better hiring experience for a job seeker as a referral from a trusted colleague, employee, friend, or acquaintance."


• Career Direction: Managing Your Online Presence: "Keeping a keen eye on your social media presence is an important part of searching for a job."

How Technology Is Changing the Job Search

If you haven’t been in the job market for a while, you may be in for a few surprises. Technology has changed many aspects of the job hunt—from how we network and find out about openings, to what employers are doing to make better hiring decisions. The following are just a few examples.

Video interviews
Video interviews are easier to schedule and can cut transportation time and expense for employers. They are used often, especially for first-round interviews. Make sure to send your resume and other materials in advance. Video interviews are typically held in a recruiter’s office or other professional environment, so arrive early to allow time to learn how to use the equipment. Dress professionally, as you would for any other interview, and during the interview, be sure to make eye contact with the camera.

Social media
LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are fantastic social media tools for increasing networking opportunities. Social media is also helpful in uncovering possible job opportunities and obtaining important news regarding specific companies. For example, by following a company on LinkedIn, you can find out critical information about that company, like new acquisitions, agency hiring, key employees leaving, etc. Read between the lines, and you may be able to figure out what possible jobs are available and anticipate upcoming hiring needs.

Employer computer systems
In today’s job market, computer systems are often used for screening resumes. This makes it even more crucial that your application or resume target specific jobs and relay key information and terms important to your profession. These will then match to the job requirements when the system scans your application and/or resume.

Strategies for Success in Non-traditional Interviews, Part 2

Earlier in the week, I discussed the strategy for success in the non-traditional interview settings of the panel and phone interviews in another blog post. Today, I would like to address two other growing trends, the video interview and the lunch or dinner meeting interview.

The video interview - With Skype being used by more people, video interviewing has become popular. This tool is especially useful when you are interviewing with a company in another state or country.

Challenge: The video interview comes with all sorts of challenges, especially if you have never used the technology before the interview. You don't want to be late because you can't get your technology working.

Another challenge that you face is controlling how you will be perceived on the video. Unlike the phone interview, you have the opportunity to use non-verbal communication tool such as appearance, body language, and facial expressions. However, if not managed correctly these tools can work against you.

Strategy: Be sure to do a test run on your equipment well in advance of the interview. Try using your internet video teleconferencing for a few test runs before the day of the interview. The day of the interview, get yourself set up at least 15 to 30 minutes in advance so you have plenty of time to deal with any issues. Some other tips:

• Dress for the video interview as you would for a traditional in-person interview from head to toe. Consider that you might have to step away from the camera for some reason and you don't want the interviewer to see you are wearing a suit coat with your pajama pants on the bottom!
• Consider your surroundings that will be seen in the background. You don't want dirty dishes, a messy desk, or your kids and dogs running by behind you. Remember, you want to create a professional impression.
• If your internet connection is unreliable or slow, you need to consider alternatives. You may need to borrow a friend's connection or even rent one of those virtual offices by the hour in which to conduct your interview.
• Don't forget to look at the camera, not the computer monitor. Think of the video camera as the interviewer's eyes. If you are constantly looking down at the monitor, it will be as though you made no eye contact during the interview.

The lunch or dinner interview - Meeting for an interview over lunch or dinner is often mistaken for a casual meeting by interviewees. There are certainly times where someone may invite you to lunch or dinner just to discuss a potential opportunity, but you should never take the casual approach to these types of meetings.

Challenge: The biggest challenge for the lunch or dinner interview is knowing how to approach the session. These interviews demand the use of social graces that are not usually used in the traditional job interview such as table manners, etiquette, and your treatment of the restaurant staff.

Strategy: Brush up on your table manners and dinner etiquette before the meal. You certainly don't want to use your interviewer's silverware or drink out of their glass of water, simply because you don't know the rules of etiquette. Some additional considerations:

• Be wary of what you order. Ensure that you avoid hard to eat or messy foods such as spaghetti or barbecued items.
• Take small bites so you can quickly and easily clear your mouth before answering questions.
• Don't order alcohol. If your host insists, and is drinking something themselves, take small, slow sips of your drink.
• Treat the staff with courtesy and respect. Never send your food back and don't be "fussy" about how your food is prepared.
• Ladies, consider what the meal will do to your makeup. However, never reapply lipstick at the table.

Video Interviewing: Tips to Prepare for this New Interview Trend

With the growing popularity of telecommuting and tools such as Skype and video teleconferencing at their fingertips, some employers are forgoing the traditional in-person interview – at least for the first initial interview. This trend is a result of busy schedules, reduced travel budgets, and increased convenience for both parties. However, if done incorrectly, video interviewing can create a negative first impression. Follow these tips for success.

Make Eye Contact
When you are speaking with someone via video teleconferencing it can be difficult to know where to look. Not making eye contact with your interviewer will cause disastrous results for your interview. The employer will think you lack confidence, are untruthful, or are disinterested. When answering questions, look at the camera – not the computer screen.

Make a Good Impression
First impressions are usually formed in the first 7 seconds and are often based on visual cues. In a video interview, it is still important to dress professionally, pay attention to grooming, and watch your posture. However, one other factor you may forget is the environment around you. A messy room, piles of laundry or mail, empty pizza boxes, and a table full of empty beer bottles are not good backdrops for your interview. You should be alone in the room with no kids, pets, or distractions. Turn off your phone, television, and radio.

Practice, Practice, Practice
You don’t want your video interview to be the first time you have ever video teleconferenced. Practice on Skype with your friends. Get used to looking into the camera instead of the screen and familiarize yourself with the concept of having a conversation with your computer screen. Get comfortable with the technology so you don’t add the stress of setting up the conference to your pre-interview jitters. If you appear comfortable and confident in the video interview, this will convey the impression that you are flexible and adaptable.

Whether your interview is in person or on the phone, do your research, think about what you are going to say, and practice your interview questions in advance.