Five things to bring during a job interview

Whether you’re a first-timer or a pro at attending job interviews, planning ahead should be part of the agenda. It says a lot about a person when he or she heads to a job interview well prepared. There could be small things you could miss, so it’s imperative that you make a list of things you need to bring.

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 Bring your identification. Most, if not all buildings have security that require a person to show their identification. In many cases, an applicant’s complete job application may be demanded to be permitted entrance to the premises. According to retired career consultant Larry Polhill, an applicant must bring a notepad and a pen, and write on the notepad the names of contacts who will conduct the interview. Having these secures your entrance to the office of the hiring manager.

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Ensure that you have extra copies of your resume to hand over upon the request of your interviewer. The resume will also give you answers to important questions such as dates of employment and previous work achievements. Bringing extra copies with you may seem unnecessary and a thing of the past, but it will definitely save you from humiliation.

Larry Polhill suggests that you bring with you a portfolio to keep your work samples and other documents tidy and organized. This will help you pick out quickly the documents you need.
Additional tip: mentally prepare yourself for odd questions. Bring your A-game along with the things you need.

Larry Polhill is a retired career consultant residing in Arizona. Head over to this blog for more updates.

How long should the modern resume really be?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions today about resume-writing, and it makes sense. Many experts will be quick to point out that a resume should not look like a curriculum vitae, instead providing evaluators a way to look at a person’s qualifications at a glance. But while it has long been the standard to not exceed one page, times have changed, explains retired career consultant Larry Polhill of Café Valley.

Nowadays, given the rise of the internet and partly because of the rising acceptance of emailed resume submissions, it has become more common to expand the length so that the resume better entices hiring managers to get in touch with you for that job interview. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s a given standard length, you’ve to now be more specific and include a career summary, years of experience, industries worked in, scope of accomplishments, former employers, and education and training.

However, keep in mind that your resume is not an autobiography but a career marketing tool, so focus on your key selling points. There’s no need to input past experiences that don’t complement your current career goal. Hiring managers often go through hundreds of resumes just to fill one position, so make sure yours stand out because it’s concise.

We suggest still sticking to a one-page resume if you’ve fewer than 10 years of experience and/or just held one or two positions with a couple of employers. A two-page resume is better for someone with more years of experience and if the job entails much technical skills that you’ve to include to prove your specific knowledge. Longer resumes are best suited for senior-level or executive positions, as well as those with an extensive list of publications such as those in a scientific or academic field, adds Larry Polhill.

Larry Polhill hails from Arizona and is a retired career consultant who offers insights for jobseekers looking to land their dream job. For more tips on writing resumes and CVs, go to this page.

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.

How a bit of humility can go a long way in a workplace

My name is Larry Polhill and I’m already retired. However, I now help people looking to land jobs where they can. One of the most important pieces of advice I give them is to stay humble – not just during interviews, but even during their time at the office.

Yes, a bit of humility can go a long way in the workplace.

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For starters, it’ll keep you focused on the things you need to learn. Being humble means accepting the fact that you don’t know everything. This makes you open, not resistant, to learning new things. People who lack humility oftentimes balk at the idea of being taught something that could otherwise help them advance.

Humility can also make your time in the workplace so much more pleasant. Remember, nobody likes arrogant people. The lack of humility may lead to conflicts that make for a toxic work environment.

In line with that, humble people are well-loved, not just by their peers, but by their superiors as well. This has major implications for your future should you take your next career move. If you plan to apply for a supervisorial position, odds are you’ll get favorable reactions. If you plan to leave the company and apply elsewhere, your own boss will give you a glowing recommendation.


Stay humble and you’ll go places. That’s a Larry Polhill promise.

Larry Polhill used to work as a career consultant in Arizona, but is now retired. He has plenty of advice for job applicants: always dress for success when going to an interview. Be in your most professional attire. The moment that you enter the door, the hiring manager will immediately get the idea that you mean business. Learn more on this page.

What you need to know before applying for a hotel job

We’ve given a number of interview and general tips for job applicants and covered a number of jobs before in our blogs. For this one, we’d like to focus on those hopefuls who are looking to break into the hospitality industry, specifically hotels.

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For experienced hotel employees and those who’ve taken Hotel and Restaurant Management, or any similar course back in college, this might come as bit of a refresher to you. For those with little-to-no experience, here are some things you need to know before heading into the interview, just so you don’t sound like you know nothing about the job you’re applying for.

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How to handle issues and concerns of guests
When a guest has an issue or a concern, it should always be handled as soon and as quietly as possible. You should know just how important the first major concern of a guest can be, since how it is handled is often a tell-tale sign of whether or not said guest will return.

How to address hotel guests
When applying for a hotel position, you should know how hotel staff treats guests. Since guests need to be as comfortable as possible, the staff should know their names. Knowing the names of guests is the first step in knowing what they want and do not want.

Thanks for reading my blog. Larry Polhill here. I’m a retired career consultant. Click here for more tips on how to ace your next job interview.

Interview tips: Four characteristics that lead to sound work ethic

One of the most oft-asked questions in a job interview relates to a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. For this blog, I would like to touch on the four traits that translate to a sound work ethic so that you may use them in future interviews.

Determination

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Without determination, a good work ethic would simply not be possible. It’s determination that keeps people going whether they’re having a good or bad day, grappling with failure or basking in success. Determination for many employees means the longing to finish something they started.

Professionalism
The ability to put work above and personal issues, to dress and speak in a manner befitting a professional is what professionalism is all about. Being professional mean being dedicated to the goals of a company. This is also one of the integral traits of a leader.

Integrity

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Integrity means doing the right thing when no one is watching. How does this fit into a good work ethic? A person with integrity is a trusted person and one who continues to work (when needed) even after everyone else has gone home.

Humility
Humility is the fourth trait and possibly the most abstract in the context of work ethic. Humble people are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and they accept it. What they also do is work on their weaknesses so they can contribute more to their company. Being humble also means an employee is open to learning new things, which is important in work ethic.

Hello! I'm Larry Polhill, an Arizona native and retired career consultant. From time to time, I still offer advice and insights on how jobseekers can land their dream job. For more job-hunting tips, visit this blog.

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.