The promise of big money, the immediate interviews, and the cursory glance given to your resume before being offered the job is a classic bait and switch.

It’s important to know what kind of leads to follow when you’re out looking for work. No one wants to waste their time, money or gas going to what promises to be a legitimate position only to find it’s a seminar for a get-rich-quick scheme. Luckily, dodging these employment fake-outs isn’t that difficult for anyone with good common sense.

Is this employer promising “immediate interviews for qualified candidates?” or providing a direct line to call for an interview? Personally, any company worth working for will ask for your application, a cover letter and a resume. If you’re what they’re looking for then they’ll contact you.

How many people are in the waiting room alongside you? If you’re not the only man/woman in a suit waiting to be seen by an interviewer for the same position, it could be a bad sign.

Have you ever found yourself and a large group of fellow applicants herded into a meeting room and relentlessly sold on the wonders that company’s miracle product or services? A job should sell itself to you and not the other way around.

Another big hint you’re applying for a junk job is the curious absence of advance information you’re provided about the position beforehand. If you can’t even find out what you’ll be doing as a “Professional Marketing and Public Promotions Sales Specialist” you should reconsider that long drive and save your time for something more legitimate.

The whole purpose of the mass interviews and hiring is because the work is typically lousy, monotonous and entails performing assigned duties in oppressive or uncomfortable conditions. That basically translates into a very high employee turnover rate.  For every peg that slips out, a new one is sought to plug the gap by whatever means possible.

The promise of big money, the immediate interviews, and the cursory glance given to your resume before being offered the job is a classic bait and switch. They expect to dazzle you and before you know it, you’re stuffing envelopes, engaging in highly aggressive telemarketing or selling cheap steak knives door to door in 95 degree weather.

Personally, I have never sold knives door to door, but I know it wouldn’t provide me with any of the essential elements that I look for in employment. Believe me folks, I’ve been suckered into my fair share of sham interviews and subjected to snake-oil recruiting tactics.

But they never got me and there’s no reason why they should get you too. I’d like to end this by telling you, dear reader, that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Prior to the interview, do a little research regarding the position you want and see what your intended role requires most in terms of applicable skills and personal qualifications.

There’s an ocean of interview advice out there and bobbing on the ebb and flow of this ocean are persistent misconceptions relating to what to do and what not to do on job interview.

While we can’t advise you on what color tie to wear, we can certainly help you through four of the most common interview misconceptions that seem to trip people up the most.

Misconception #1: Ask lots of questions at the end of the interview

Should you come prepared with a list of questions related to the job? Absolutely. Should you allow those questions to become an interrogation session? Nope. Instead, mold the interview into a dialogue between you and the individual interviewing you.

For example, if the interviewer asks you “What qualifies you for this position?” you would give your response and then follow up with a question such as “Can you tell me about the possibilities for advancement with this company?”

Misconception #2: Keep Your Flaws to Yourself

It seems ridiculous to reveal anything about yourself that might hurt your chances at a position, but in reality a large portion of interviewers will require you to discuss a flaw you’ve had.

A lot of people make the mistake of providing a strong “positive flaw.” “Oh, sometimes I involve myself way too much with my work.” An interviewer will most likely see right through that one and get the impression you are over-inflating yourself.

Be honest. A company wants someone who is honest in the interview. The best thing to do is address a flaw you have had at a past position, outline a solution you undertook to get past it and then move on to the next question. If pressed, you can always say such as “I feel confident enough of my abilities moving forward that I can fulfill all the requirements you’re looking for.”

Misconception #3: Giving a Laundry List of Qualifications.

Okay, you’re obviously a valuable individual who should be considered but don’t overdo it by just describing yourself with no evidence: “I am detail-oriented, I think outside the box, I’m someone who displays a lot of initiative and….”

The interviewer understands what you’re saying, but would appreciate concrete examples to back your claims up. Prior to the interview, do a little research regarding the position you want and see what your intended role requires most in terms of applicable skills and personal qualifications.

Rather than throwing out everything you’ve got and hoping something sticks, you can list specific skills and qualifications that make you the right candidate. Back yourself up even more by citing past examples of how your skills made you a star performer: “At Company X, my attention to detail ensured all inventory records were kept up to date improving efficiency and saving the company money.”

Misconception #4: Lay That Salary Expectation Right Out.

Money has always been one of those taboo topics to discuss on the job and it feels even more so when you’re in the middle of an interview. However, it doesn’t have to be the “boogeyman” of the interview.  It’s a good rule of thumb not to be the first person to bring up salary in the interview and to not mention what your previous rate of pay was until a definite job offer is on the table, otherwise, your potential employer may give you an offer that’s on the low side.

The following are some examples of some good replies you can give when asked what you are looking for in terms of pay: 

 “I’d like a salary that would be in line with the contributions I can make to my department and the company as a whole. Overall I feel my skills and experience can make a significant contribution. What is your company considering in terms of salary?”

“Well, I feel that discussing my salary expectations would be something better suited after your determination I’m the candidate you’ve settled on. I feel that would be a more appropriate time for that particular discussion.”

A career built on lies is essentially a house built on a poor foundation. One jolt and the whole thing will come crashing down.

For anyone thinking of lying on a resume about their academic credentials in order to give themselves an edge over the competition, you might want to consider an individual who finds himself in the spotlight of ignobility for doing so.

Saanichnews, of British Columbia, reported on one Jason Matthew Walker, a 31-year-old Saanich County police reserve officer who found himself forced to resign in the wake of a criminal investigation that determined his listed academic credentials were falsified.

Walker claimed to have studied at the University of Victoria; the University of Toronto; the University of Calgary; McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario; Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut; and even Smith College, a private women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. Whoops.

Mr. Walker heads Health Point Consulting Inc. based out of Saanich and offers clinical counseling and assessment among other services. He was even employed to interview and prepare a report on a 6-year-old child abuse victim in August of 2009 which was utilized in a court case against the victim’s father. 

Mr.Walker’s report was also was turned over to officers assigned to the investigation whose suspicions were aroused after a review of his listed doctorates in forensic/behavioral sciences, and medical epidemiology. A search warrant was issued on Dec 31, 2009 for Health Point Consulting and subsequently Walker was arrested.

Currently free until a January 21^st court date where he faces charges of fraud, forged documents and false affidavits, Walker must also remove all personal references to himself as “doctor” by January 10^th.

This is a good example of the consequences that face individuals who think that lying about their credentials is a smart move to outmaneuver the “suckers’ that actually spent time in school to earn the degrees they tout on a resume. A career built on lies is essentially a house built on a poor foundation. One jolt and the whole thing will come crashing down.

Gatekeepers are the individuals in place to provide a manager with that first line of defense against incoming calls.

A pivotal part of the application process is following up to ensure your resume was received by either the right manager or decision maker who will be considering you for employment. Good follow up indicates you really are interested in a position and will set you apart from others who may just be slinging resumes left and right hoping one will stick.

But there’s just one small obstacle between you and whoever may be deciding whether you’re the right person for the job…the gatekeepers.

Gatekeepers are the individuals in place to provide a manager with that first line of defense against incoming calls. Secretaries, receptionists, administrative assistants…it may be frustrating constantly having someone take a message or directing you to a seemingly dead end voicemail.

There are, however, a few tricks and ideas to keep in mind that can score you some leverage when it comes to actually speaking with the individual in charge.

Mindset

Set yourself up in your mind as doing this company a favor by calling them back. Don’t think of yourself as wasting anyone’s time. An assertive mindset will give you the confidence to speak with anyone trying to deter you.

Tone of Voice

When calling, try to avoid sounding overly chipper, friendly or upbeat. You’ll just come off sounding like you’re asking someone’s permission for something and the gatekeeper is there to deny you that permission. Instead, try your request with a lower tone of voice and speak with assurance and even a little authority. You need to come across as though this call is being expected.

Get the Ball in Your Court

When your call is answered, you need to start by introducing yourself and stating the purpose of your call. Not only does this start you off with the right momentum, but you also deny the gatekeeper the chance to label you and subsequently put you off.

Follow up with the introduction by asking who you are speaking with. When the gatekeeper responds, hit back with something along the lines of the following:

“(Use his/her name), I was calling because I had done some online research related to the (insert position here) and I had a couple questions for him/her. I think I may be the right candidate they are looking for. Would you be able to put me through?”

The beautiful part of this is that there is nothing false. Just a bit of clever word play that establishes a professional and business-like tone and purpose for your call.

Practice and Adapt

It may take a few calls to get down a basic script that you are comfortable with. Take notes and jot down what works and what does not. And yes, not all gatekeepers are created equal. Some may be relative softies and others won’t let anyone get through. Don’t be afraid to get creative if necessary and even use a little humor when appropriate. Being flexible in your approach will make you more personable and genuine. Use your script as a guide and not your dogma. 

Remain Alert, Collect Information

Even if your goal to reach your target doesn’t succeed, glean whatever information you can to give you an edge when you make that big breakthrough. Ask what the best time is to reach the decision maker, what their schedule looks like, if you’re pronouncing their name correctly, and note if they go by their first or last name. In life, the biggest blunders are often made by ignoring or overlooking small, but vital pieces of information.

Gatekeepers are People, Too

Being rude or sarcastic won’t win you any points with anyone. Even if a gatekeeper is being condescending or rude, remember, they might be dealing with just as much aggravation as you are. Getting them on your side by treating them with a little respect and empathy can increase your chances of getting through to the people that matter.

Remember, this is just as much a people game as a numbers game. Although there isn’t a magic formula for getting through to the people you need, these tips can definitely boost your chances for making it through to whoever is going to decide if you’re the right person for the job.

For those despondent about the employment prospects that lay ahead in 2010, there are encouraging signs that companies are starting to reverse a long trend of layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs.

For those despondent about the employment prospects that lay ahead in 2010, there are encouraging signs that companies are starting to reverse a long trend of layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs. A fourth quarter hiring forecast executed by Careerbuilder.com in conjunction with USA Today reveals inspiring trends that may give job seekers a much needed boost in morale.

The survey was conducted across a breadth of industries nationwide over a 20 day period, beginning August 20th and ending September 9^th. Over 2,900 hiring managers and human resources professionals took park part. Although the data overall suggests that hiring trends are still cautious, there are indications many companies are starting to thaw survivalist business practices in expectation that 2010 will hold a greater deal of economic promise.

Matt Ferguson, CEO of Careerbuilder.com, backs up the report findings and stated that “Companies are switching their focus from cost containment to growth. Employers who have instituted pay cuts or layoffs in the past year are reporting that they have begun to restore compensation levels and rehire employees.”

Mr. Ferguson followed up on that optimism with cautionary words for those that think want ads will suddenly spring up like mushrooms on a front lawn after a big storm: “While these are positive indicators, the pace of hiring will remain restrained. It will take time to rebuild the confidence needed in the nation’s economy to trigger more robust recruitment programs.”

It is engaging and bright news nonetheless. A year ago many employers were bunkered down and following a strict schedule of cost containment and simple survival. The concept of hiring new employees could be construed as heresy to some businesses holding on for dear life.

Likewise, “out of work” individuals found the employment landscape bleaker than a high noon in California’s Death Valley. The few viable employment options left were the fought over fiercely and everyday there was a new story in the media regarding former corporate officers waiting tables to make ends meet.

It’s almost as though optimism is a dirty word these days with few people willing to admit there are signs of recovery afoot. Although the 2009 4^th quarter report conducted by Careerbuilder.com doesn’t state that everyone will be employed in the next few months, it does show trends indicating employers are seeing improvement in the economy overall.

Larger companies are beginning to hire more permanent full time employees. Laid off workers are starting to be called back to fill the positions they were forced to leave behind. Employers are beginning to prepare for economic recovery as potential business prospects improve. Restoration of pay cuts and implementation of salary increases for more employees are also very positive signs.

So, take heart job seekers. All that perseverance, hard work and tenacity isn’t a lost cause. It’s been said the hour before dawn is always darkest and it certainly looks as though dawn is approaching at long last. Stay tuned to the IAmScreened.com blog as we will continue to bring you news regarding our nation’s economic recovery and, as always, tips, tactics and advice for the dedicated job seeker.