Recruiting: How to Prep for a Virtual Interview

(I posted this on a former blog site, and thought I'd add it here in case it's helpful for you, given recent interest in my recruiting posts)

Congrats!! You've secured an interview. But then you find out you'll need to do it virtually, because of the recent cutbacks in paying for candidate travel to the headquarters for interviews.

How can you set up yourself to make a strong impression despite your remote interview? Below are 6 areas to think about before you start a virtual interview.

1. Avoid background noise. Generally cell phones are not your best option here. If you can use a land line, you're much more likely to have less background noise that would distract the interviewer. Additionally, you'll want to find a closed room that will prevent any passers-by from adding to background noise.

2. Present yourself as though you're in an in-person interview.

• Sit up straight, shoulders back. I find many people tend to slouch more during virtual interviews.
• Don't fidget. This goes for in-person interviews too, and people often don't realize when they fidget. Again, don't distract the interviewer, and tapping a pen or rocking in a chair will do just that, and they will forget to listen to what you're saying.
• Wear a suit just as you would in the in-person interview. This means from your hair, down to your shoes. If you wear the right outfit, you're more likely to carry yourself and speak with the same conviction and credibility as though you were in person.

3. Think about your surroundings. Pick a neutral background that won't distract the interviewer. Imagine if you were watching a screen and you saw people walking by in the background. Your goal is for the interviewer to have 100% focus on you.

4. Prep your notes. As with any interview, you need to prepare your stories and thoughts so that you're ready for the interviewers questions. The plus to a virtual interview is that you can have your resume and notes laid out in front of you. Use that to your advantage!! However, remember the "don't fidget" comment in #2. If you flip through pages, and shuffle them around, that will distract the interviewer.

5. Have questions ready. Asking strong questions of your interviewer demonstrates the thought you put into the interview, and this goes for in-person or virtual interviews. Some of my favorite questions include:

• If you had 30-90 days to stop your day job and either fix something or create something new, what would that be?
• What is the one thing that may be a limiting factor in my candidacy for this position? (i.e., a position requires financial experience and you do not have it.)
• In a past relationship with a subordinate that you believed to be effective, what was that reporting relationship like? (this should illuminate the way the individual manages others without asking "what is your management style" because who in their right mind would tell you they were a micromanager outright?)

6. Take your time to respond. When you are not in person, it is much harder to get a good cadence for conversation with someone. Be careful not to interject "OK" or "yes" while they're speaking, or jump to answer too quickly. Wait for them to finish speaking or ask their questions before speaking. After they finish, pause for a second or two and then answer the question. This may take practice, and you could always ask a friend to do a mock interview with you over a virtual platform such as Skype.

When in doubt, think about the situation as though you were the interviewer. What would distract you? What would you want to see?

Recruiting: When to Use a Non-Traditional Resume

When applying to a new job there are some steps you must follow before deciding on a resume format.

1. Understand your industry. Even if you'll be a graphics designer or a video editor, if the industry or company you're applying to is very conservative, be mindful of that and don't scare them off with too much "out of the box" thinking.
2. Understand your functional role. If your role in this company would include creative thinking, or presenting data in a clear, concise manner, keep that in  mind when choosing a resume format.
3. Read through the application requirements clearly. Sometimes they lay out exactly what is needed in the resume. Make sure you hit every single point required, and those they mark as "preferred" if you have them.

Now for types of resumes to consider.

Traditional: Typically there are 3-4 major sections: Contact Information, Experience, Education, and other information that may be relevant to that role. Under experience, the sections are generally chronological starting with the most recent work.

Functional: Instead of organizing your accomplishments by job in a chronological order, think about the 5-7 main functional or technical capabilities or competencies that the job you're applying for wants in a top candidate. Then arrange bullets under each functional/technical area regardless of which job they were for. Be sure to indicate the company or title, so they have context though!

LinkedIn Profile: This is really only for LinkedIn. I wouldn't recommend formatting a resume to look like LinkedIn and hand it to a potential employer. That said, if you're looking for a job, once you have your resume finalized, be sure to update your LinkedIn profile, too. In fact, you should updated something on the profile about once a week so that it's active and climbs to the top of the search results.

Video: A video resume is typically a short video that highlights the job applicant's skills and experience. While most of this type of resume occur with the candidate sitting or standing in front of the camera, if your potential new job requires a lot of creativity, you could use this opportunity to stand out in the medium in which you'll operate for the job itself. For example, you may add music, visuals, text, etc. However, keep in mind this almost always accompanies a traditional resume and does not stand on its own.

Infographic: An infographic resume uses visuals including images, photos, graphs, charts and other graphics to provide information about a job seeker. They are similar to traditional resumes in that they convey contact information, previous work experience, and related skills. However, infographic resumes convey this information in a highly visual format. Since most adults respond to visual graphics, there's a benefit to this version. Plus, it shows cohesive understanding of how to depict data in a way that everyone can understand, which could be particularly relevant for your type of job. For example, instead of listing previous work experience in chronological order, an infographic resume may display this information in an illustrated timeline. 1

Online Portfolios: This can be a great alternative for anyone who's in graphic design or web design. You'll still need a paper resume, but what better way to demonstrate what you can do than to show them online. Be sure to add a link to your site on your resume in the block with your contact information, and also add it to your email signature.

I'd love to hear about your thoughts or experience with non-traditional resumes!


1. About.com article by Alison Doyle

Recruiting: Why You Don't Get The Job

In a time when there are a lot of folks searching for jobs, and having difficulty landing the offer, I want to take a closer look at why you may not be getting the jobs you are going after. I got the idea based on a Business Insider article on why vets may not get the jobs they go after, and it got me thinking that this was often the reality check I would give MBA students when I worked at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business.

1. You Don't Accept that You're Starting Over. This one is really only relevant to those who are starting over, but it's an important point because some people may be starting over when they don't want to admit it. Let's say you used to be a VP of Marketing at a record label in NYC. You go to B-School with the intention of getting into finance, or more specifically Investment Banking. Guess what...you don't know the industry or the job, so you will be the low man on the totem pole and when you interview, you need to keep that in mind. Moreover, your resume should read like someone who wants an IB job, not like someone who had a Marketing job, otherwise recruiters will be confused as to why you applied.

2. You Believe You're Unique But Don't Communicate Why. Everyone is unique, but your unique value isn't one or two qualities. Rather, your uniqueness is your mix of capabilities and experience that MATCH to what your employer is looking for.

3. Your Resume is Too Long or Too Short. Ideally your resume should be about 1 page for every 10 years. Yes, you heard that right. If you have 10 years of experience and you have more pages than 1 (MAYBE 2), you are not communicating the right information. Your first step, before writing a resume, should be to review job descriptions for the type of job for which you're applying. For example, you want to be an investment banker; read the job descriptions for investment bankers. It sounds logical, but most people write their resume based on what they did, in the past. Instead, you need to write a resume indicating you can do what you want to do, in the future! Instead of saying things in marketing terms, for example, you need to translate what you did into the language that investment bankers use. Doing so will allow you to target specifically what they're looking for and cut out anything that's irrelevant to the recruiter. The added bonus is that large scale recruiting starts with a computer program that screens your resume for specific words. Even smaller scale recruiting may be using resume screeners that don't know what Investment Bankers really do, but they're given a list of words or phrases to look for. If you don't speak their language, you won't get the interview.

4. You Didn't Proofread Your Resume. I've had a lot of MBA's in the past who can't understand why their amazing resume would be trashed if it has a typo. If you have a typo in a resume, at the point when you are trying your absolute hardest to impress the employer, what are you going to do once hired? If your resume isn't air tight, the employer will assume that once on the job, your work will be equally flawed. Ask friends and family to read it. Take their edits with a grain of salt because every person will give you different advice.

5. You Don't Include a Cover Letter (or you include a bad one). For undergrads and MBA students in particular, a cover letter is a must. I've had a few recruiters state outright that they don't read them, but if one is not included, they don't consider the candidate. It sounds harsh, and I may not agree with that practice, but if that's what some recruiters do, you need to know that. Additionally, a cover letter should not restate your resume. It should add additional value above and beyond your resume. One trick I use is to pick 3-4 qualities the company is looking for (maybe a global mindset, or leadership ability, etc.) and make those your bullet points within the cover letter. Each quality should have a couple examples of how you demonstrate them. It helps the recruiter pull out the themes YOU want them to see across your experience.

6. You Don't Have a LinkedIn Profile. Employers are looking on LinkedIn. On the one hand, they may look at your LinkedIn profile after you applied, so you want it to match your resume, and allow greater insight to who you are. On the other hand, employers are proactively searching LinkedIn, and if your profile is not up to date and doesn't catch a recruiter's eye, you're missing out on an opportunity for a conversation about a future job.

7. You Aren't Conscious of What You Put Online. Assume potential employers are checking you out online. If you post daily, mundane updates, or those who post politically charged or angry posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc., be ready to miss out on interviews or offers if a recruiter is turned off by that. You should lock down your privacy settings, and every time you post, make sure you limit who can see the posts. That said, keep in mind that the world is a small place. I've heard of situations where a recruiter is connected to Person A, and their friend - Person B - applies for a job.  The recruiter is now a friend-of-a-friend (Facebook), or a 2nd degree connection (LinkedIn), and suddenly the recruiter can see what you're posting. If you put something online anywhere, make sure you'd be okay with a recruiter seeing it.

8. You Didn't Prepare for the Interview. Read their website; know their stock price; know their leadership; understand their culture; and most importantly, articulate your value that aligns with what they need. If you go into the interview knowing just a bit more about the company than the next candidate, you have a better shot at moving forward in the process.

9. Your Thank You Note was Generic. Thank you notes are a must, but don't be generic. Instead of just "thank you for the opportunity," try adding something extra. If there's a great article that relates to something you spoke about, include a link. Instead of "I look forward to hearing from you," mention you will touch base with them in a week, or two weeks, depending on what you learned in the interview. Be specific. Be enthusiastic. Be memorable. But be professional.

Holiday Cookie #2: Almond Balls

Every Christmas, my grandmother would make at least 10 kinds of cookies, multiple batches of each, store them in tins stacked up in the dining room, and the tins would probably be stacked 7-8 tins long and 4-5 tins high!

Some of the cookies I distinctly remember were pizzelles (nothing like the kind you can buy or make, her's were super thin and crispy), almond balls, pecan balls, and orange cookies.

While it's not the holidays according to most Americans, tomorrow is the Epiphany when the three wise men visited Jesus and brought gifts. It's celebrated in Italy (where all my family is from) and in Armenia (a small portion of my husband's background, and I believe in France as well (my husband is half French). So I figure it's still a holiday cookie!

Grandma  Emma Licamele's Almond Balls

1 cup butter (2 sticks butter) creamed with 1/4 cup confectionery sugar
Add the following and mix:
           1 tsp. Vanilla
           1 cup finely ground almonds (Trader Joe's sells it pre-ground)
           1/2 cups sugar
           2 cups flour
Roll into 1"balls  Bake @ 325 for 20 minutes
While slightly warm (but not hot) roll in confectionery sugar and store in air tight container

They seemed to have turned out well looks-wise, and taste like I remember!

Prepping for Baby's Arrival: Turkey Cutlets

Today I tackled turkey cutlets. We'll eat a couple for dinner and freeze the rest. They make great turkey parmigiana, could be splashed with fresh squeezed lemon, or put onto a sandwich.

For this recipe, there aren't really amounts because it just depends how well you coat the cutlets, and how many cutlets you have.

Ingredients:

• Thin sliced turkey cutlets (or pound flat some turkey or chicken)
• Flour
• Eggs (about 2 per lb of meat)
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Progresso Italian Style breadcrumbs
• Grated Parmesan (or the real stuff, parmigiano reggiano)
• Salt & pepper
• Garlic powder
• Oil for pan frying

Directions:

1. In bowl #1, put flour and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In bowl #2, put the two eggs with a bit of salt. In bowl #3, put your two kinds of breadcrumbs, cheese, and season with salt, pepper and garlic if your breadcrumbs need extra seasoning.
2. Set up a drying rack with a sheet pan and a cooling rack on top (instead of a sheet pan, I used a silpad, or you could use paper towel).
3. Place each cutlet, one at a time, in the flour and flip over to fully coat. Place each cutlet onto the drying rack. I do this step first with ALL the cutlets so that the flour can have a second to absorb any moisture.
4. Before the next step of the breading, pour some oil (use Canola or Olive Oil) into a large flat bottomed saute pan. The larger the pan, the more you can cook at once. Heat over medium heat.
5. After you finish with the flour coating, go back to your first cutlet and one at a time, dip them into egg, let the egg drain off a bit, and then dip into the breadcrumb mixture, and then place onto the drying rack. Go through each cutlet until you've finished all of them.
6. Test your oil to make sure it's hot enough with a tiny drop of water. If it sizzles, it's ready!
7. Carefully place about 3 pieces into the oil. Do not crowd the pan. Cook until the first side is browned. I personally like them pretty browned but some people like them a little lighter, so that's up to you. Timing completely depends on the heat of the oil, the thickness of your meat, and how browned you like them, so you'll just have to watch.
8. Flip the cutlet over (carefully!) using tongs. Finish cooking on the second side. Once cooked to your liking, place the cooked cutlet either on a plate/pan covered in paper towels or onto cooling rack.
9. Repeat until you're done with all the cutlets.

Here's a what the cutlets should look like after being fully breaded and ready to cook, atop a drying rack.

Below is a picture after I flipped the cutlets over to show you how brown they should look. YOu should constantly see little bubbles around the cutlet or your oil isn't hot enough. I keep a cover nearby just in case the oil starts to splatter too much, or (god forbid!) a fire occurs. If one does occur, cover the pan completely and turn off your stove immediately.

And below is the final product, cooling off. This lets the cutlet drain off any excess oil, while keeping the Panko crispy. A paper towel will work if you don't have a cooling rack, but it may steam the underneath and make them less crispy.

Another trick if you have kids or need to stretch the meal a bit. You can also bread and fry up slices of bread! I wouldn't use the first coating of flour, just the egg and then the breadcrumbs. They end up tasting like amazingly delicious breadsticks. My brother's and I used to fight over the fried bread!!

And with that, I'm up to at least 3 weeks of meals prepped for when baby arrives!

Prepping for Baby's Arrival: A Network of Support

We have had incredibly generous friends and family who have all given us hand-me-downs for Baby Chickpea! It got me thinking about how something about motherhood creates a network of support that doesn't exist in other ways.

It started when I became pregnant. I had family, friends and even one acquaintance from a certification course, who had recently had babies and wanted to lend or give me maternity clothes! I was shocked that so many people recognize that maternity clothes are only used for a short period of time, and some things you don't use the same season of maternity clothes. My sister-in-law let me borrow a few sweaters and a pair of jeans. A friend and coworker gave me two business casual dresses, a fancy dress that I used for the holiday parties I had to attend, a maternity coat, and a few other odds and ends. The biggest shock, however, was that a classmate from a certification course, as soon as I told her I was pregnant, she got excited and then said "I have tubs of maternity clothes I want to get rid of!" I barely new her, and here she was giving me two large tubs of clothes! Granted, not everything fit well, but those two tubs meant I only bought a couple shirts, a pair of dress black pants, and a couple pairs of casual pants.

Then came time for baby gear and clothes!

I had so many people shower us with love and gifts and got some great clothes from those baby showers, as well as various gear like a Fisher Price Rock 'n Play, a Diaper Genie, an Ergo carrier, and a Crib. And while I probably had more baby showers than most folks (you have no idea how appreciative I am of that fact!), there is now way that is enough for a baby. I did make a run to a Goodwill and found some practically new (and some ACTUALLY new) baby clothes - 20 pieces for about $20.

But it was the hand-me-downs are a godsend! My sister-in-law lent me BAGS of baby girl clothes from 0-12 months, along with some crib sheets and towels. A high school classmate saw we were having a baby on Facebook and mentioned she had a bassinet she was looking to get rid of, and when we arrived to get it she also had a few clothes and a bouncy seat to give us! My husband's brother had a whole mess of baby bottles (a set of glass and a set of plastic because his son only took the plastic version), and an impeccably clean Pack 'n Play. My brother and sister-in-law are loaning us another Pack 'n Play (so one can be at a grandparent's house). A friend had a baby in July and even though it was a different season, I got about 40 pieces of clothing that were mostly sleepers and body suits.

And with all these hand me downs came the realization that there are a lot of people out there willing to help each other out, but somehow it's having a baby that brings it out in people.

Perhaps we should think about helping each other out regardless of our children's ages, or whether someone is pregnant or not. Imagine if you had a sweater you didn't want anymore, or that didn't fit, and you asked your friends if they wanted it instead of just donating it?

I know donating it is a great cause to support, but maybe look around you to see if someone else could use the help too! Think of it as helping locally, just like we're supposed to "eat locally" these days!

Prepping for Baby's Arrival: Easy Meals

I've been known to cook a lot, and I always freeze the extra that I make. That has been in overdrive in the last month or so prepping for the arrival of baby. So that, combined with some shelf stable meals has us covered for multiple nights after baby arrives. Some of the frozen meals took a while too cook, but I just set aside I day I knew I'd be home and had it sit on the stove all day while I went about my cleaning or lounging.

My homemade frozen, ready to cook meals include:

• Chili
• Turkey Bolognese (admittedly, this one takes the longest, about 4 hours, but it's soooooo good)
• Tomato Sauce
• Ham & Bean Soup
• Turkey Pot Pie (just the filling, the topping can be added when you cook)
• Turkey Soup
• Chicken Soup
• Chicken Fajitas (I left the chicken raw and didn't put any veggies in the bag, just chicken & marinade)
• Lasagna
• Portuguese Kale Soup

My freezer trick is that I cool everything, and then load it into gallon size freezer bags. Label them before you fill them! I also stand them up in a big bowl and turn the top over so it doesn't get messy. I try to judge how much 2 people will eat and only pack that much in the bag. I then freeze it flat. That way they stack really easily in the freezer and don't waste much space. To reheat, let them thaw a bit first, then you can break it up and put it in a pan to heat.

I've borrowed a picture from Jamie Cooks It Up to show the freezer bag technique below. Note this is a smaller bag in a cup, and I use gallon bags in a big bowl.

I also have some easy shelf stable (or mostly shelf stable) meals:

• Chili Mac - 1 can of Trader Joe's low-fat beef chili + 1/2 lb pasta (for 2 people), top with cheese and sour cream
• Mac & Cheese - 1 box of Trader Joe's or Annie's mac & cheese + 1/2-1 pk of frozen chopped broccoli + 1 pk frozen butternut squash (I add extra shredded cheddar)
• Amy's Soups - I particularly like the lentil and the thai soups
• Campbell's slow cooker sauce for beef pot roast (I've never tried it but it came with my new slow cooker!)
• Amy's Frozen Pizza

That should be at least 20 dinners (some of them are doubled) and I plan to make some turkey cutlets tomorrow to freeze. I'll bread them, fry them, and then freeze them individually. They can be eaten splashed with lemon, or covered in sauce and mozzarella cheese. They're also great as a sandwich! That'll put me over 3 full weeks of dinners!

I've linked to Jamie Cooks It Up, Meal Survivor, Annie's, Amy's and Campbell's.

What's your favorite go-to meal?