2015 Job Interview Trends

2015 Job Interview Trends If you’ve been following the blog lately then you know we’ve been covering the latest trends in job hunting, LinkedIn and resumes for the new year. Of course, an overview of trends for an upcoming year wouldn’t be complete without mentioning interviews! We’ve curated a list of what to expect in the coming year - from new trends to old methods that are making a comeback. Situational Job Interviews The situational job interview has been a hot trend for some time now, but since it’s not going anywhere it’s worth mentioning. In a situational job interview the candidate is asked hypothetical questions about issues that could arise on the job. Questions range from “What do you do if a subordinate calls in sick?” to “You have a disagreement with your supervisor. How do you approach it?” The reason it’s so important to practice answering these kinds of questions is because most people are used to talking about what they’ve already done, not what they would do should a situation arise. Granted, you can draw upon past experience to come up with an answer. Perhaps you did have a disagreement with a supervisor in the past and handled it just fine. However, it’s important that you are able to apply that past experience to answering a question set in the future. Click here to see a list of common situational job interview questions and how to answer them. “Sink or Swim” Making a Comeback In a recent blog we mentioned how the “sink or swim” method of recruiting is making a comeback. In other words, recruiters are no longer hiring based on whether or not you can fit into a certain box of qualifications. Instead, they are more interested in whether or not you can grow and gain new skills while on the job. You can give yourself an edge here by talking about how you’ve overcome challenges in the past, showcasing your achievements and proving you have a consistent pattern of success. Surprise on-the-spot job interviews With mobile recruiting set to rise in 2015, it’s become easier than ever to end up being interviewed for a job on the spot. You could be at a networking event and meet someone who may very well expect you to send your resume from your phone. At this point they may take it a step further and start interviewing you right then and there. On the one hand, this may seem very informal. It also gives you less time to prepare because you didn’t have a date set on the calendar. On the other hand, since it’s easier than ever to send information, it makes the candidate search more fluid and in some ways more efficient for recruiters. After all, why wouldn’t they start interviewing you if they’ve already got your resume in the palm of their hand? The point here is to make sure you are always prepared. Keep your resume and other credentials as PDFs on your smartphone. You may also want to make sure you’ve got the LinkedIn app for easy connecting. Also note that this doesn’t just happen at networking events. This could happen anywhere from the coffee shop to the grocery store. You never know when you’ll meet someone who can get you a job. Be Well! Lisa