By Frank ZeccolaLCD Graduate Fellow
Do you ever feel like potential employers have all the power when you’re applying to jobs?
A recent article on the PBS Newshour career blog “Making Sense” posits that, all too often, employers abuse their power in the hiring process and “behave badly” toward job seekers. In turn, job seekers take the abuse because they feel they have no other choice: The employer has all the power, and if you want the job, you have to bend to their will. But the article cautions: “When job applicants behave like beggars, they’re treated with disrespect.”
You may relate to this, although the reality is probably not as cynical as this article, penned by top Silicon Valley headhunter Nick Corcodilos, paints it. But the truth remains that, as we search for jobs, it often does feel like the employer holds all the cards and we are forced to approach them as beggars.
What’s worse, Corcodilos explains that if a company does treat you poorly during the interview phase, it’s almost certain to treat you poorly once you are hired.
Luckily, Corcodilos has a solution. He offers a four-point plan for earning respect during the interview phase so that the power is more balanced and you are approaching the employer as an equal, and not as a beggar.
Follow this plan to take control of your next interview:
1. Insist on a meeting with the hiring manager—not HR. “Your time is valuable, and every hour you take off from your current job—or from your job search—is easily wasted,” Corcodilos says. “So, when a personnel jockey wants to interview you first, don’t be shy about saying, ‘Take me to your leader. I interview only with hiring managers, until we establish there’s mutual interest in working together. After that, I’d be happy to meet with HR.’”
If you are getting pushback on this and HR insists on screening you first, “don’t fall for it.” An HR person doesn’t know anything about good legal motion writing, for example, or taking a good deposition. “Consider taking a firm stance. Behave like your time is valuable, and like it’s worth the hiring manager’s time to meet you first.”
2. Request an agenda and the name of your interviewer. “Ask for an agenda for your meeting, and for the name of the interviewer,” Corcodilos stresses. Then, look the interviewer up on LinkedIn. And once you have an agenda for the meeting, you will know what points you need to focus on during the interview.
3. Be respectful of your time—and demand the same of the employer. “Agree to an exact time to meet,” Corcodilos explains. Then: “Be a little early. If the manager is late and there’s no explanation, leave after 15 minutes. If no one calls to apologize profusely, ignore the company; they don’t respect you. Then tell your friends about your experience. Your professional community deserves to know. Move on to your next opportunity.”
4. Expect respect, and act accordingly if you don’t get it. “If the manager doesn’t greet you personally, think hard before accepting another invitation from that company. Yes, the manager is busy. But you deserve respect. It’s also called courtesy. They expect you to display it. Expect the same from them.”
Corcodilos concludes: “Your success in the job hunt turns on your expectations, and on your willingness to act on them. Keep your standards high, and in turn you’ll raise employers’ standards. Elicit their respect. If you don’t get it, walk. If you do, relax. You’ll find yourself in good company.”
In addition, follow these tips to nail your next interview.
• Be prepared with answers to the 31 most popular interview questions.
• Stuck on what to ask the interviewer when they ask if you have any questions? Here’s a list of great questions to ask.
• What’s the best day and time to schedule your interview? Tuesday at 10 a.m., according to recruiting site Glassdoor.
• Be prepared to tell stories about specific examples of cases you have worked on to demonstrate your value. For example, check out these examples from a Harvard Law sample cover letter:
“This summer I secured political asylum for a client persecuted in her home country for her religious beliefs, authoring all submissions to the Department of Homeland Security and representing her before the Hearing Officer. In a second case, I successfully represented a client facing eviction from public housing, including the examination and cross-examination of witnesses at the Housing Court hearing.”
For more tips on interviews from Law Career Development, click here, here, and here.
Or, book an appointment with LCD today.
