Interview review: Important reminders for panel interviews

I’m Larry Polhill, and I’m living out a happy, quiet retirement. Aside from pursuing hobbies I never got to pursue back when I was working, I still take the time to help people with their job applications. It’s always been a passion of mine and I may very well be doing it until I can’t do it anymore.

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For today, I want to go back and talk about one of the topics I used to give lectures about – effective panel interviews. Yes, panel interviews can be very daunting especially for people who are going through it for the first time. There are things that have to be consciously avoided as well as things that need to be prepped beforehand.

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Let’s start with the things you shouldn’t be doing, or what I like to call the Larry Polhill no-nos. First off, being nervous is natural which is why you need to control small movements like playing with your pen or scratching your arm. Your body language may be enough to tell interviewers that you’re not ready for the job. Sit up straight and avoid slouching.

As for the things you have to do, you can start with greeting everyone when you enter the room. But if you’re the first person in the room, waiting for your interviewers, stand up immediately once they enter the room and greet them. Use a firm handshake. Try looking comfortable, but not too comfortable – this will make you appear confident and formidable. Take a few seconds before answering questions, and don’t act too eager.

As you can see, I put a heavy value on demeanor during interviews and especially during panel interviews.

Is there anything else you can add that can help people during panel interviews? Feel free to share them with us below.

Hi there! I’m Larry Polhill, a retired career consultant from Arizona. I give advice to people looking to land a job. Visit this page to learn more.

Computer skills that employers want and you should list on your resume

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A good list of computer skills on your resume is not just nice to have. It could get you hired at the end of the day, especially if those skills are integral to the performance of the job you’re applying for. The rapid pace at which technology develops and changes affects the weight and value of these computer skills you’re listing on your resume.

Computer skills are best presented in a separate skills section, where employers can easily find and understand them. However, they can also be woven into your career summary as well as job descriptions. You can say, for instance, that you “Edited content within an internal content management system using basic HTML coding.”

Ideally, you should be listing computer skills per segment if there are a number of them. You can group them according to buckets such as Microsoft Office apps, Google apps, database management (MS Access, Oracle, Teradata, etc.), QuickBooks, web (HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc.), and writing (WordPress, Shopify, Google Sheets, etc.). Showcase advanced computer skills under this same heading, listing skills such as Java, PHP/MySQL, web development, debugging, and more.

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It’s best to prioritize computer skills that are most relevant to the position you’re gunning for. For instance, if it’s a digital marketing role, you might want to list first skills such as Google Analytics, content management systems, email marketing (such as Mailchimp), search engine optimization, and web page design.

Larry Polhill is a resident of Arizona. He used to work as a career consultant, but is now a full-time grandpa and organic gardening enthusiast. Learn more on this page.

What companies look for in managers

So you’re applying for a management or a supervisory position at an office near you, and it’s your first time doing so.  You’ve already had experience after being promoted at your previous job, but you know the interview will be different.  

Here’s one very important thing you should remember about companies looking for managers – they need someone who can lead. That said, you have to put your best foot forward and show that you’re a leader, not just a manager. 

How do you do this?

First off, leaders are much more than managers.  By this time, it’s already expected of you to know the ins and outs of being a manager, from administrative tasks and goal-setting to conflict-resolution and all the other things managers do.  The interviewer will probably ask you if you know how to emphasize the bottom line and focus on systems and structures.  And you should answer all these quite capably.

However, you should also exhibit an eagerness to make a connection to the team you’ll be assigned to, and to upper management as well.  You should make it a point that your priority is to lead, to motivate, and develop trust among the members of your team, yourself, and those above you.

There are key differences between managers who are simply managers, and those who are true leaders, and interviewers can see this from a mile away.  Be the leader.  It opens a lot more doors. Larry Polhill is a retired career consultant who offers views and insights on how jobseekers can land their dream job. He currently lives in Arizona, taking care of his three grandchildren and running a mini farm. More articles like this on this page.

Proper Etiquette Tips During a Panel Interview

The way we behave and act during a panel interview can make or break our chances of landing that job, so we’ve to be extra careful about the simplest things we might be doing unconsciously, like fidgeting with a pen or repeatedly scratching an arm.

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Of course, these are not aspects of etiquette entirely, and most interviewers will not fault the interviewee for being a bit nervous. Yet body language is important, and the path toward getting hired begins with thorough mindfulness.

Greet everyone as your or they enter the room. Stand up if you’re first in the room and give each panel member a firm handshake. Show a sincere smile despite any feeling of nervousness.

Avoid closing your arms and slouching while being asked questions, as these can likewise exude insecurity. Sit straight without looking rigid. Even as your arms are kept open, keep your legs held together. This will make you exude an air of both confidence and professionalism.

During the actual interview, never rush to answer questions. Wait patiently for each question to finish, collect your thoughts, and reply without stuttering and stumbling. Project your voice as you answer, without shouting, so that everyone can hear you clearly.

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Of course, don’t take too long to answer. Focus on each individual question and don’t get caught up overexplaining even if you’ve felt your answer was incomplete. Finally, thank everyone individually and shake hands anew after the panel interview is done.

My name’s Larry Polhill, a retired career consultant from Arizona. I understand the daunting tasks that hiring managers and recruiters face, so I continue to offer insights for jobseekers to get ahead. More on my work and interests here.

Tips On Writing Your Contact Information On Your Resume

In most resumes, no matter the format, job applicants’ contact information should be included and placed visibly because it lets potential employers easily get in touch with job applicants. The following are the elements that should be included in this section:

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• Name: Generally, it suffices to write just the first and last name, if it is the name by which you go by or are known for. Those who have quite common names may also want to include a middle initial or name to distinguish themselves from other job candidates. The name should also be placed atop of the resume and emphasized, if possible.
• Mailing address: It is a misconception that addresses are not required anymore since this is the digital age. However, applicant tracking systems check physical addresses and use it to send acknowledgment communications through postal mail. If there are privacy concerns, an alternative is listing the city and state.
• Email address: Many employers nowadays contact job applicants via email. Thus, including an email address in a resume is a must. It is important to remember, though, that unprofessional usernames and work email addresses should be avoided.
• Valid phone numbers: More than one phone numbers can be included, such as home and mobile numbers, on the condition that these are easily accessible. Also, the area code should be written.

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Creating a well-written resume is one of the first steps in landing your dream job. If you need advice in doing so, be sure to follow me Larry Polhill, on Facebook.

Resume Or Curriculum Vitae: Which To Use And When

While both the curriculum vitae (CV) and the resume reflect a person’s skills and experience, they are different documents. Let’s look at the distinctions and what’s more appropriate to submit in a given situation.

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Resumes are much shorter, typically just one to two pages long. Keeping your resume brief and concise means that you’ve to omit older positions and details from time to time. CVs keep these data and add new ones in your career as they are meant to be comprehensive. A typical CV may grow in pages upwards of a dozen, depending on one’s experience.

Resumes often allow management to look at one’s qualifications at a glance, so they require the use of short phrases and often come in a bullet-point format that highlights select accomplishments. CVs are deliberately more in-depth and are studied closely by a company’s HR department.

CVS usually begin with a listing of degrees earned, followed by academic interests and thesis and dissertation titles. These are followed by former work positions, published work, and any grant, award, or honor received. The last entry is usually a list of references.

It is in a job seeker's best interest to have both these documents ready, as they serve different purposes. While resumes are more common for applying for most jobs in the U.S., research work, positions in the academia and grant applications often require CVs.

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Arizona-based retired career consultant Larry Polhill believes that clean and well-written resumes and CVs will help the job applicant stand out. For more insights for jobseekers, visit this blog.