What Is the Surest Guarantee To NOT Get the Job?
This column explores all possible factors of jobs, the inetrview process and gives insight into the best ways to get yourself the job you want. It breaks down every factor and facet of the interview and job-seeking process and gives advice on how to get around or eliminate the most common barriers you will encounter. But there is one sure-fire way to guarantee you won't get the job and for which there are no advices to be given: blowing off an interview.
This may seem like an obvius one, and it is, it can have an after effect which extends far beyond what you might think.
How Can Blowing Off an Interview Come Back to Haunt You?
While the most obvious point here is that, if you're not there for the interview, you can't possoibly get the job (and you would be a miracle worker if you did), there are a couple of points which can really hurt you in the furture.
To cover them quickly, they are simply stated to be the facts that, a) even if it is your first time not showing up for something, it can be the beginning of a bad reputation and b) the professional community is mroe connected than you might think and you can bar yourself from future opportunities with more than one employer.
Of course there are life reasons, little emergencies, that come up. But, even these should at least have the courtesy of a phone call, even if after the fact.
Regardless of your reasons, and besides an emergency, there should only be one reason to not show up for an interview you agreed to attend: you got another job offer andn, even in that case, a phone call to the employer to cancel is in order with an explanation of why.
On a more positive note, there are plenty of reasons to show up for an interview that you scheduled.
10 Reasons to Show Up For the Interview:
1. There may be aspects to the job you never knew about
2. There may be more benefits than you thought
3. You can turn down a job if you don't want it
4. Going on interviews is great practice
5. Another position from the same doctor may become available
6. The doctor may have mroe than one position immediately available
7. You never really know what a job is about until you visit the office
8. The doctor may have connections to other doctors
9. It will firmly establish a reputaion for professionalism
10.It is the right thing to do
So resist any urge you may have for blowing off that interview and call when you must. This is a hard fast rule to follow which will keep you in good standing in the job market.
Best of luck on those interviews!
Frank Sardella
©2011 Screenings Inc. All rights Reserved.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Medical Assistant Jobs Advice Interview Tip #3: 'Axe' Yourself This Question
The Subject Many Will Complain About But Few Will Bring Up: "Let Me AXE You a Question"
Sooner or later this one needed to be brought up. And it's better brought up here and by me than an employer who won't bother to correct you - who, incidentally also won't bother to be interested in you over something that may seem to you so petty and small but is indeed important. Mind you, I am not here to tell you that you're wrong. I am here to help you communicate better so you can get the job!
Do You "AXE" People Questions?
Basic English language is understood as something so basic it shouldn't even need mention. Employers are so concerned with job skills and experience that they seldom think they even need to think about someone's grasp of basic grammar and language. I mean, this should go without saying, right? That being the case, it can create some upset when an employer even encounters language issues. And it can eliminate you from the running right fromt he start.
Therefore, a lesson in "Phonics" is necessary on this point, especially to blow away any previous criticisms given those who use the dreaded "axe" word. "Phonics" is simply a subject of the sounds different combinations of letters make and how they combine into words. Pronounciation is part of this. If you recall back to your gradeschool days, you may even remember a reading teacher telling you to "sound it out". This is Phonics.
The word "ask" is spelled A-S-K, in that order and the "s" is pronounced before the "k", not after. Pronouncing it after makes it sound like the word "axe". This is a simple Phonics lesson. There should be no more to be said about it. However, some in the past haven't been able to resist being critical and were less than tolerant of those who pronounce it differently.
Have People Constantly Corrected You?
While many people such as recruiters and advisors are there to help you and are completly on your side, there may have been others in the past who may have not had the best intentions in correcting you and made it a more or less painful experience. That considered, it can be very difficult to agree with someone who tends to tell you how wrong you are. One tends to continue in spite of criticism. Did you ever have that experience? It's an impulse that can be hard to resist.
What About This Will Get Me The Job? The Secret Way to Be Right.
It is unimportant what past critics have said to you and correcting yourself does not make them right and you wrong. The important factor overall is communication. You need to use communication to a doctor who will hire you to use communication with his patients. He has to consider you would be representing him and the impression you give. Whatever you communicate is a direct reflection of him. As you can see, the "axe" issue is small in comparison to overall communication. This is just the most popular indicator.
Part of being a professional is knowing how to represent the company you work for. This shows up in a job well done but also in manners, etiquette, etc. All of these things go hand-in-hand with being a pro. So you need to correct any known issues. Pronounciung "axe" for a word clearly spelled A-S-K is, regretably, a rather important communication issue for employers.
How Can You Be Completely Right? Become a True Professional!
Forget about this tiny little issue. For, here is the secret of how you can be totally right! Get a mindset that you are going to do what is necessary to become a true professional in every aspect of your being. The secret to being right about this is to become a professional in the fullest sense of the word, and that includes communication. 'Axe" vs "Ask' is the very least of your worries and becomes a minor point of change - one which could probably be a non-issue by the conclusion of reading this article.
Truthfully, look at yourself, your resume and all you have to offer. You know that what you have can be of great benefit to someone. The better you communicate that, the more chances you have to succeed. So let's sharpen up those communication and speaking skills, shall we? I have every confidence that you can go pro enough to get the job you always wanted and, I'll bet if you looked at it, so do you!
Good luck on the interview!
Frank Sardella
©2011 Screenings Inc. All rights Reserved.
Sooner or later this one needed to be brought up. And it's better brought up here and by me than an employer who won't bother to correct you - who, incidentally also won't bother to be interested in you over something that may seem to you so petty and small but is indeed important. Mind you, I am not here to tell you that you're wrong. I am here to help you communicate better so you can get the job!
Do You "AXE" People Questions?
Basic English language is understood as something so basic it shouldn't even need mention. Employers are so concerned with job skills and experience that they seldom think they even need to think about someone's grasp of basic grammar and language. I mean, this should go without saying, right? That being the case, it can create some upset when an employer even encounters language issues. And it can eliminate you from the running right fromt he start.
Therefore, a lesson in "Phonics" is necessary on this point, especially to blow away any previous criticisms given those who use the dreaded "axe" word. "Phonics" is simply a subject of the sounds different combinations of letters make and how they combine into words. Pronounciation is part of this. If you recall back to your gradeschool days, you may even remember a reading teacher telling you to "sound it out". This is Phonics.
The word "ask" is spelled A-S-K, in that order and the "s" is pronounced before the "k", not after. Pronouncing it after makes it sound like the word "axe". This is a simple Phonics lesson. There should be no more to be said about it. However, some in the past haven't been able to resist being critical and were less than tolerant of those who pronounce it differently.
Have People Constantly Corrected You?
While many people such as recruiters and advisors are there to help you and are completly on your side, there may have been others in the past who may have not had the best intentions in correcting you and made it a more or less painful experience. That considered, it can be very difficult to agree with someone who tends to tell you how wrong you are. One tends to continue in spite of criticism. Did you ever have that experience? It's an impulse that can be hard to resist.
What About This Will Get Me The Job? The Secret Way to Be Right.
It is unimportant what past critics have said to you and correcting yourself does not make them right and you wrong. The important factor overall is communication. You need to use communication to a doctor who will hire you to use communication with his patients. He has to consider you would be representing him and the impression you give. Whatever you communicate is a direct reflection of him. As you can see, the "axe" issue is small in comparison to overall communication. This is just the most popular indicator.
Part of being a professional is knowing how to represent the company you work for. This shows up in a job well done but also in manners, etiquette, etc. All of these things go hand-in-hand with being a pro. So you need to correct any known issues. Pronounciung "axe" for a word clearly spelled A-S-K is, regretably, a rather important communication issue for employers.
How Can You Be Completely Right? Become a True Professional!
Forget about this tiny little issue. For, here is the secret of how you can be totally right! Get a mindset that you are going to do what is necessary to become a true professional in every aspect of your being. The secret to being right about this is to become a professional in the fullest sense of the word, and that includes communication. 'Axe" vs "Ask' is the very least of your worries and becomes a minor point of change - one which could probably be a non-issue by the conclusion of reading this article.
Truthfully, look at yourself, your resume and all you have to offer. You know that what you have can be of great benefit to someone. The better you communicate that, the more chances you have to succeed. So let's sharpen up those communication and speaking skills, shall we? I have every confidence that you can go pro enough to get the job you always wanted and, I'll bet if you looked at it, so do you!
Good luck on the interview!
Frank Sardella
©2011 Screenings Inc. All rights Reserved.
Medical Assistant Jobs Advice Interview Tip #2: Phone and Voice Mail Can Count Against You
What Does Your Phone Have To Do With Getting the Job?
A resume reads "Objective: To utilize my skills and enthusiasm in a working environment where I can contribute to and help achieve the overall goals of the company" and goes on to list brilliant skills, education and experience. Impressed, an employer picks up the phone to immediately call the person on their mobile number. It barely rings twice and goes to voice mail. The voice mail greeting says in a very low, unclear and depressed tone of voice, "What's-up? Leave a message." The employer, confused, wonders, "is this the correct person?" and hangs up, perhaps to try back another time, but more likely never to call again.
This is a far too common example of how a great attitude, polished skills and a killer resume can go to waste. The reality is that communication skills need to be used far beyond the resume and considerably before even getting to the interview stage. And you are putting out communication in ways you never thought of. From your resume to your voice mail, how you communicate forms impressions on others.
What Are The 3 Most Common Phone Mistakes Job Applicants Make?
Consider the example just given and that the resume in this case is yours. Now shift your view and pretend for a moment the resume belongs to someone else and YOU are the employer. What would you be thinking? Be honest.
Would you be confused? Think of how the two things, the voice mail greeting and the rseume, contradict each other. Which is true? The resume itself could have been copied from a book or written by someone else, the voice mail is an actual contact, even though the person hasn't even answered the phone. It's no contest.
There are 3 main phone mistakes made by applicants. They are:
1. Obviously Not Answering the Phone
2. Auto Voice Mail Greeting (Computer voice gives number only)
3. Unfriendly, Unprofessional Recorded Greetings
Taken collectively, these explain how it is possible for someone to have an impressive resume, experience and skills and never even get an interview. On a more positive note, these 3 mistakes are a clue to how to improve your communication skills to immediately increase your chances of getting the interview.
Do You "Ignore" Private Calls or Calls from Numbers You Don't Recognize?
Let me start out by saying that, to read my column, you are going to have to achieve a level of honesty with yourself that you may not have explored before. I assure you that looking at things as they actually are will be key to improving your career situation. This is brought up because this first one, "ignoring private or unknown callers" is a biggie and usually involves some personal bad habits.
Can you recall a time when you called someone on their mobile phone and you knew they were ignoring the call? How did you know? Do you remember the feeling in your gut that told you this was so? Perhaps it was because it rang a couple of times and then went to voice mail and if the person was not near their phone it would have rung many mroe times. But, how did you know that? Chances are you have done it before.
Whatever the reasons for not answering, it easily can be assumed by another that you are avoiding calls. And, if it's obvious to you when this kind of thing happens, it's obvious to someone else. After all, do you know of anyone who has NEVER ignored a call?
In your defense, sometimes your phone DOES ring a full 4 or 5 times and goes to voice mail. It's the fact that the person calls back within a minute or so (about the time it took to listen to a voicemail) to follow up. This is the most obvious.
So, what does the employer think? Suffice to say that it doesn't make a great first or second impression at all. Whatever your reasons for avoiding answering unknown calls, this can be a major strike against you. Give the employer some credit. Wouldn't you wonder why the person avoided answering? Whatever the personal problem this could be, any employer can start to think that this person's problem can become his office's problem in a hurry.
The correction is simple and requires only one step - answer the phone regardless of whether you know the number or not. If you find this difficult then you should take another honest look at the things that make you avoid answering and figure out how to handle that situation once and for all. It's usually an easier fix than you thought. Trust me, you will feel much better if you do! Enough said on that subject.
Do You Use the Automated Voice Mail Greeting That Just Gives Your Number?
This is inlcuded here mostly because of the confusion factor on the part of the employer but it does also "say" a few things about you.
When someone calls and receives a computer voice greeting like "No one is available to take your call right now. Please leave you message after the tone" (an actual answering machine standard greeting) it, first, leaves them wondering if they even reached the correct person. Secondly, it leaves a cold, impersonal impression that you did not care enough or were not professional enough to record a professional and personal greeting assuring the caller of who you are.
Whether you believe this or not, why take the chance? Why not have a professional greeting anyway? It can only count in your favor. Again, if for some reason you can not do this, you need to ask yourself why. More importantly realize that it can count against you and take steps to fix it.
Does Your Recorded Voice Mail Greeting Sound Like Someone YOU Would Hire?
This one is self-explanitory. Listen to the greeting you have. Ask others to listen if necessary. Ask yourself, does this sound like a professional? Does it sound like someone I would want to hire? Your answer to this question will tell you whether you need to change it or not.
If you do need to change it, simply record a friendly, short, clearly-spoken greeting introducing yourself to callers so they can hear and understand that they are in the right place.
It is pretty certain that when you first read the title of this article, you didn't think this much could be said about phone contact, voicemail, etc. As you can see, it is a crucial part of this multi-phase job-getting process and is another area you can adjust to increase your chances of getting the job.
Give this one a try. Look at the 3 mistakes above in order and check them against your own habits one by one. Make the necessary changes and see what happens.
Best of luck on your interview!
Frank Sardella
©2011 Screenings Inc. All rights Reserved.
A resume reads "Objective: To utilize my skills and enthusiasm in a working environment where I can contribute to and help achieve the overall goals of the company" and goes on to list brilliant skills, education and experience. Impressed, an employer picks up the phone to immediately call the person on their mobile number. It barely rings twice and goes to voice mail. The voice mail greeting says in a very low, unclear and depressed tone of voice, "What's-up? Leave a message." The employer, confused, wonders, "is this the correct person?" and hangs up, perhaps to try back another time, but more likely never to call again.
This is a far too common example of how a great attitude, polished skills and a killer resume can go to waste. The reality is that communication skills need to be used far beyond the resume and considerably before even getting to the interview stage. And you are putting out communication in ways you never thought of. From your resume to your voice mail, how you communicate forms impressions on others.
What Are The 3 Most Common Phone Mistakes Job Applicants Make?
Consider the example just given and that the resume in this case is yours. Now shift your view and pretend for a moment the resume belongs to someone else and YOU are the employer. What would you be thinking? Be honest.
Would you be confused? Think of how the two things, the voice mail greeting and the rseume, contradict each other. Which is true? The resume itself could have been copied from a book or written by someone else, the voice mail is an actual contact, even though the person hasn't even answered the phone. It's no contest.
There are 3 main phone mistakes made by applicants. They are:
1. Obviously Not Answering the Phone
2. Auto Voice Mail Greeting (Computer voice gives number only)
3. Unfriendly, Unprofessional Recorded Greetings
Taken collectively, these explain how it is possible for someone to have an impressive resume, experience and skills and never even get an interview. On a more positive note, these 3 mistakes are a clue to how to improve your communication skills to immediately increase your chances of getting the interview.
Do You "Ignore" Private Calls or Calls from Numbers You Don't Recognize?
Let me start out by saying that, to read my column, you are going to have to achieve a level of honesty with yourself that you may not have explored before. I assure you that looking at things as they actually are will be key to improving your career situation. This is brought up because this first one, "ignoring private or unknown callers" is a biggie and usually involves some personal bad habits.
Can you recall a time when you called someone on their mobile phone and you knew they were ignoring the call? How did you know? Do you remember the feeling in your gut that told you this was so? Perhaps it was because it rang a couple of times and then went to voice mail and if the person was not near their phone it would have rung many mroe times. But, how did you know that? Chances are you have done it before.
Whatever the reasons for not answering, it easily can be assumed by another that you are avoiding calls. And, if it's obvious to you when this kind of thing happens, it's obvious to someone else. After all, do you know of anyone who has NEVER ignored a call?
In your defense, sometimes your phone DOES ring a full 4 or 5 times and goes to voice mail. It's the fact that the person calls back within a minute or so (about the time it took to listen to a voicemail) to follow up. This is the most obvious.
So, what does the employer think? Suffice to say that it doesn't make a great first or second impression at all. Whatever your reasons for avoiding answering unknown calls, this can be a major strike against you. Give the employer some credit. Wouldn't you wonder why the person avoided answering? Whatever the personal problem this could be, any employer can start to think that this person's problem can become his office's problem in a hurry.
The correction is simple and requires only one step - answer the phone regardless of whether you know the number or not. If you find this difficult then you should take another honest look at the things that make you avoid answering and figure out how to handle that situation once and for all. It's usually an easier fix than you thought. Trust me, you will feel much better if you do! Enough said on that subject.
Do You Use the Automated Voice Mail Greeting That Just Gives Your Number?
This is inlcuded here mostly because of the confusion factor on the part of the employer but it does also "say" a few things about you.
When someone calls and receives a computer voice greeting like "No one is available to take your call right now. Please leave you message after the tone" (an actual answering machine standard greeting) it, first, leaves them wondering if they even reached the correct person. Secondly, it leaves a cold, impersonal impression that you did not care enough or were not professional enough to record a professional and personal greeting assuring the caller of who you are.
Whether you believe this or not, why take the chance? Why not have a professional greeting anyway? It can only count in your favor. Again, if for some reason you can not do this, you need to ask yourself why. More importantly realize that it can count against you and take steps to fix it.
Does Your Recorded Voice Mail Greeting Sound Like Someone YOU Would Hire?
This one is self-explanitory. Listen to the greeting you have. Ask others to listen if necessary. Ask yourself, does this sound like a professional? Does it sound like someone I would want to hire? Your answer to this question will tell you whether you need to change it or not.
If you do need to change it, simply record a friendly, short, clearly-spoken greeting introducing yourself to callers so they can hear and understand that they are in the right place.
It is pretty certain that when you first read the title of this article, you didn't think this much could be said about phone contact, voicemail, etc. As you can see, it is a crucial part of this multi-phase job-getting process and is another area you can adjust to increase your chances of getting the job.
Give this one a try. Look at the 3 mistakes above in order and check them against your own habits one by one. Make the necessary changes and see what happens.
Best of luck on your interview!
Frank Sardella
©2011 Screenings Inc. All rights Reserved.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Medical Assistant Jobs Advice Interview Tip #1: Be Honest - Not Rehearsed!
Job Interview Skills Are Tools of Communication
But What Should You Communicate In an Interview?
Medical Assistants, if you find yourself "practicing" interview responses and "skills" at all, even a little, you are problably skipping a more basic step - a step so important and overlooked that it is the top reason you don't get the job and a good explanation of why others get hired. And while you may be asking others for advice, the ones who get the job are consulting one person only: themselves! So, if you would like to know their secret, you don't need to go very far, for the answers are within you!
Why Do Those Successful at Interviews Consult Only Themselves?
What Do You Need to Find Out?
Before getting into why, let me clarify that "consulting only yourself" really means what your own needs, wants and qualifications are. This is separate from learning "interview skills" which are improperly named. They are actually communication skills which, learned, help you communicate to an employer about yourself. So the skills you learn from recruiters, career service consultants, advisors, etc. can be of great help once you do a little soul searching. Too many people consider interview skills to be a "secret code" of the right things to say to get a job. This misses the whole point of what these jobs are about. It's really about you!
There is one activity you need to engage in, not before the interview, not before an "interview skills" class but before looking at a single job listing. "Soul searching" could be one way to describe it. However you call it, it is basically a look inside yourself to find out what it is you want out of life, a job or career, etc. There need to be some guidelines or rules of the game that YOU establish before even considering applying for ANY job!!
A Quick Reference Guide To Job Searching and Interview
A List of Questions To Ask Yourself and Answer
1. Why did you get into the career you are pursuing?
2. What skills do you confidently feel you have?
3. Who could you possibly help with the skills you have learned?
4. Does the job you are applying for align with what you want to accomplish?
Make this list and answer questions 1-3 for yourself and keep them. Update them every so often. Question 4 is to be used for each job you consider. If you answer "no" to question 4, it is a waste of time to apply for it.
The Secret of Getting the Job Is Honesty... With Yourself!!
Look at it from the employer's perspective. In the case of medical-type offices, these are established to help patients restore or maintain health. Doctors need staff to support this and the jobs their staffs perform are more than just duties done for pay - they are an actual needed function in getting the community well.
When you are not honest with yourself as to the list of 1-4 above, you bring harm, however minor, to yourself, the doctor or clinic, staff, patients and community alike. It is a ripple effect that helps no one - least of all you.
The point of this article is not so much the honesty itself but that, being honest about 1-4 above, you will no longer need "interview skills" because you will be sure of yourself, your skills, what you have to offer and that you truly do want the jobs you choose to apply for. And that is where confidence comes from. The rest is learning communication skills so you can get the point across in the interview and get the job.
I challenge you to do this and see for yourself. Then go to an interview skills class. After that go on some interviews and see how much better things become. Your luck is about to change. Report back with good news. I expect to hear that you got the job!!!!
Best of luck on your interview. You won't need it!
Frank Sardella
©2011 Screenings Inc. All Rights Reserved.
But What Should You Communicate In an Interview?
Medical Assistants, if you find yourself "practicing" interview responses and "skills" at all, even a little, you are problably skipping a more basic step - a step so important and overlooked that it is the top reason you don't get the job and a good explanation of why others get hired. And while you may be asking others for advice, the ones who get the job are consulting one person only: themselves! So, if you would like to know their secret, you don't need to go very far, for the answers are within you!
Why Do Those Successful at Interviews Consult Only Themselves?
What Do You Need to Find Out?
Before getting into why, let me clarify that "consulting only yourself" really means what your own needs, wants and qualifications are. This is separate from learning "interview skills" which are improperly named. They are actually communication skills which, learned, help you communicate to an employer about yourself. So the skills you learn from recruiters, career service consultants, advisors, etc. can be of great help once you do a little soul searching. Too many people consider interview skills to be a "secret code" of the right things to say to get a job. This misses the whole point of what these jobs are about. It's really about you!
There is one activity you need to engage in, not before the interview, not before an "interview skills" class but before looking at a single job listing. "Soul searching" could be one way to describe it. However you call it, it is basically a look inside yourself to find out what it is you want out of life, a job or career, etc. There need to be some guidelines or rules of the game that YOU establish before even considering applying for ANY job!!
A Quick Reference Guide To Job Searching and Interview
A List of Questions To Ask Yourself and Answer
1. Why did you get into the career you are pursuing?
2. What skills do you confidently feel you have?
3. Who could you possibly help with the skills you have learned?
4. Does the job you are applying for align with what you want to accomplish?
Make this list and answer questions 1-3 for yourself and keep them. Update them every so often. Question 4 is to be used for each job you consider. If you answer "no" to question 4, it is a waste of time to apply for it.
The Secret of Getting the Job Is Honesty... With Yourself!!
Look at it from the employer's perspective. In the case of medical-type offices, these are established to help patients restore or maintain health. Doctors need staff to support this and the jobs their staffs perform are more than just duties done for pay - they are an actual needed function in getting the community well.
When you are not honest with yourself as to the list of 1-4 above, you bring harm, however minor, to yourself, the doctor or clinic, staff, patients and community alike. It is a ripple effect that helps no one - least of all you.
The point of this article is not so much the honesty itself but that, being honest about 1-4 above, you will no longer need "interview skills" because you will be sure of yourself, your skills, what you have to offer and that you truly do want the jobs you choose to apply for. And that is where confidence comes from. The rest is learning communication skills so you can get the point across in the interview and get the job.
I challenge you to do this and see for yourself. Then go to an interview skills class. After that go on some interviews and see how much better things become. Your luck is about to change. Report back with good news. I expect to hear that you got the job!!!!
Best of luck on your interview. You won't need it!
Frank Sardella
©2011 Screenings Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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