Does this make me look fat?

Congratulations!

You have been invited for an onsite interview at the company you've had your sights on for months.  Aside from being prepared for the interview (e.g.: reading up on the company, knowing about the person/people you will be interviewing with, having a list of questions you want to ask them about the company and the position), deciding what to wear is just as important.

I tend to go by the rule, "You can never be overdressed."  This is true in almost any scenario.  This is especially true in interviews.  Whether you're interviewing at a chic start-up company in Silicon Valley (y'know, the ones that wear flip flops and baseball hats to work), or a prestigious Fortune 500 company, I suggest the following guidelines.


Men

• Dark suit.  This means black, brown, navy.  Solid color or pinstripes.  Please, no obnoxious plaid or polka dots.
• White shirt.  Go with the crisp, white, button down shirt.  Leave the print and colored shirts for the holiday parties.
• Tie.  I feel this is optional.  But, should you choose to wear a tie, go with a power color - blue or red.  Make it your "statement" piece.
• Dress socks.  You laugh, but I'm serious.  Please wear tall dress socks.  I have had candidates come in wearing white tube socks.  
• Nice shoes.  Polish them.  Make sure the laces are not tattered.  Shoes say a lot about a man. 

Women

• Dark suit.  Again, this means black, brown, navy.  Solid or pinstripe.  Skirts are ok, but keep them conservative - no more than a couple inches above the knees.  Although, I do feel like women have a little more flexibility in this option.  I don't feel a jacket is always necessary, as a sweater (in a neutral, solid color) should do just fine.
• Simple jewelry.  Don't wear anything that will distract you, distract the interviewer from you, or that will make a lot of noise when you move (think: bangles).
• Pull your hair off your face.  Yes, bangs are pretty.  But no one wants to see you fumble with that piece that gets in your eye one too many times.
• Same rule applies.  Wear nice shoes.  Flats or a shoe with a 1-2" heel should work just fine.

As shallow as it may sound, first impressions are everything.  You will be judged by what you are wearing, how you present yourself, your handshake, your eye contact, and your confidence levels.

Someone I know once told me, "Look good, feel good, play good" [SIC].  Couldn't be further from the truth.

If in doubt, keep this in mind:

GOOD LUCK!

Questions to Ask in an Interview

Interviewer:  Is there anything I can answer for you?
Candidate:  No, I think I know everything I need to know.

Let's face it.  Do you really know EVERYTHING you need to know about the company you're interviewing at?  

You should assume that every interviewer will allow you an opportunity to ask questions of them.  I urge you to ask them!  Engaging the interviewer shows them that you are a part of the conversation, and that you are interviewing them as well.  After all, you will have to be working with them.  On top of looking like you are genuinely interested in the company and the team, it shows you came prepared.  

Below, I list some of the types of questions you can consider asking your potential-future-employer:

• Future of the industry (ie: cloud technology, solar, potato powered cars)
• Growth of the company over the past few years
• Planned future growth of the company
• Company culture
• Team structure / hierarchy 
• Opportunity for growth
• The interviewer's career path

Things you should avoid asking:

• Salary (unless the interviewer brings it up)
• Benefits (unless the interviewer brings it up)
• Soft benefits
• Paid Time Off / PTO
• Sabbaticals
• "Bring your dog to work" day

At the end of the day, remember that an interview is just a conversation.  It should never be question-answer-question-answer.  Make it interactive; make it a give-and-take.  Don't be afraid to ask questions mid-interview.  Don't be afraid to interject if you are confused about the job duties.

Just as much as the company is interviewing you, you are interviewing them.

Generation: Technology

When I started recruiting, LinkedIn had just started "taking off", LinkedIn Recruiter had not yet gained its momentum, Facebook Pages didn't exist, and neither did #hashtags.  Over the course of my career, I've had to adapt to new technology, new applications, new ways of thinking.  What would happen if I didn't?  I'd fall behind and become irrelevant to my career.

I oftentimes get questions about why people are getting overlooked.  One quick glance at their resume usually provides me with the answer: they haven't kept up with technology.  By example, if you're in accounting and still keep the books by pencil and graph paper, your "kind" is becoming extinct. 

Companies want to hire the candidates who are up-to-date on systems and technologies they are currently using. In this day in age, it is an expectation (not a qualification) to: operate a Windows operating system with ease, know how to use MS Office (at very minimum Word and Outlook), know how to operate an office phone system, know how to use a smartphone.  

Technology is always changing.  Industries are ever evolving.  If you don't keep up, you will be left behind.

The Salary Question

Ask 10 people, get 10 different answers.

As a recruiter, I always ask my candidates what their current compensation package is (or their last compensation package if they are not employed).  Why do I ask?  Because I need to know where along the price spectrum you fall.  We have to make judgement calls on whether you are going to be a fit for the position we are talking about.  Are you getting paid what you're worth?  Why not?  Are you out of our price range?  Are you within the range we have budgeted for?

Candidates young and old (but mostly young) argue with me on this one.

Recruiter:  "What is your current compensation package?"
Candidate:  "I get paid what I am worth... what are you prepared to offer for this position?"
Recruiter:  "We've budgeted for a base salary of 65-75k with a 10% bonus.  Are you within this range?"
Candidate:  "I don't want to give you my salary information. I was told it was illegal."

Illegal?  No.  Blunt?  Yes.  Don't get me wrong, I used to play that game with recruiters also.  You were taught to never show your cards, to see how much you can get from a future employer without actually telling them how much you are worth.

On the flip side, this question is a great opportunity for you to tell the interviewer exactly how much you are worth.

Recruiter:  "What is your current compensation package?"
Candidate:  "My base salary is currently 90k with a 10% bonus."
Recruiter:  "Well, unfortunately, we've budgeted for a base salary of 65-75k with a 10% bonus."
Candidate:  "I understand that I may be out of your budget, but I've brought value to the organization by ..."

You get the picture.  When we say that our budget is between A and B, there is always a little wiggle room.  Even if we say there is not.

So, how much do you make?