In this article I will be touching on a subject that I have coached my candidates on recently, red flags. I have discovered that most people, like myself, tend to withhold information on a resume, or during an interview, to avoid talking about uncomfortable topics such as: a bad GPA, a gap in a resume, lack of experience, job hopping, etc. I remember when I first started interviewing after college, I was timid to address my lack of experience. I had played soccer during undergrad, as well as grad school – and my only experience was dog walking and filing some papers for my Aunt’s law firm. What I didn’t realize at the time was by shying away from talking about those experiences I was actually hurting myself.
Once I realized I had to address my lack of business experience head on in an interview, everything started to change. My confidence went up, I started getting more call backs for interviews, and I ultimately landed a job. I still use this advice on myself now when I am pitching a candidate. For example: I recently worked with a candidate that had started and quit a job after 3 months. You do not have to be a hiring manager to know that does not look good. Instead of pitching this candidate and only focusing on her strengths – I jumped right in and addressed the RED FLAG. In my email I stated, “Looking at her resume you will see she recently left ABC company, I know this is typically a red flag – but let me explain why….” I made sure any doubts the hiring manager had on paper were addressed, and got her that interview.
Just as I explained above, the same situation goes for a candidate in an interview. Many of the candidates I work with do not have the “experience” needed for the job, yet they still beat out the candidates that do. Why? Well because I am their coach, obviously. End of article.
Kidding, they get the job because of confidence – proper interview preparation – and more confidence. At some point, someone took a chance on that hiring manager to be in the position he or she is in now. Remind them of that, and get he or she to take a chance on you. You know yourself better than anyone, and you know why you didn’t get a 4.0 gpa, or why you did not stick out that first job, or why you are interviewing for a role without all the necessary requirements. Explain this why with CONFIDENCE. If you shy away from these red flags – the hiring manager with continue to have doubts. If you know something looks weird on your resume, address it right away. If you get asked about GPA – instead of saying “ahhh it was a 2.5 I could have done better” say, “You know what, my GPA was a 2.5 and I know that is not good enough – I challenged myself with hard classes my freshman year, over loaded my schedule and didn’t make a plan. After freshman year, I buckled down – took myself to study hall 3 times a week, joined a study group for my toughest subject and I am proud to say that I got a 3.0 my junior and senior year”
One thing I have found that has worked for some of my candidates is recording yourself. Sounds weird, I know – but we all have cell phones, do it! If there is a topic that typically comes up in an interview, and you find yourself rambling or a little flustered – try this trick. Record yourself answering that question, when you play it back do you sound soft spoken or do you sound confident? Do you sound like you are searching for the right words, or do you sound like you know exactly what you want to say? People can sense hesitation, which is one of the biggest deterrents for a hiring manager. Do not let those red flags on a resume stand in your way of getting your dream job!
If you have any of the “Red Flags” mentioned above, or just want someone to practice your interview skills with, I am here to help. Send me a message and we will work together to make those red flags green (sorry that was an awful summary sentence, I just really couldn’t think of anything better) Maybe kick those red flags off the course? Use that red flag as your hole in one? Take the red flag and wave it around like you just don’t care? Well, you get it.