How to calm your nerves during an interview if you have ASD

When I was in middle school, I was part of the Gifted & Talented program also known as the GT program.  Basically they grouped all the nerds and put them in all the same classes that were more advanced. In those classes, one of my friends, let’s call him John, was at the top of the class in the grade rankings.  He was the school valedictorian if there is such a thing for a middle school.

Problem was, taking a test was a big deal for him.  He would get so nervous that he would literally vomit before a test.  On more than one occasion I saw him get beet red, sweating profusely, shivering like he was in the middle of a snow storm, and cry his way through a pop quiz.  

A similar situation happens to many people during interviews.  Even though everyone gets a certain level of nervousness, a portion of the population suffers from severe episodes of nervousness.

I decided to write down the 6 step process I recommend people follow to help them control and reduce the way nervousness affects them during interviews.  

Plan

Fail to plan, plan to fail.  Planning doesn’t have to be stressful.  Instead of thinking of all the things you have to do, focus instead on the process.  Just like a cake recipe, you go from one step to the next which leads you to the end result.  Consider the planning phase the read through of the recipe.

Research

Something I have found very useful to calm my nerves before interviews is to remove all the uncertainty from the situation.  Many people get nervous because they’re afraid of what the other person may think of them. These thoughts run through their heads until all we imagine them yelling “Get out!” in the middle of the interview.

What if instead of wondering what they may think, we do some research to get to know them better?  

Looking through their LinkedIn profile will give you some excellent clues on how they think and what they may ask you.  Write down what schools they went to, the companies they’ve worked at and things you find interesting. For example, if they got a degree in engineering but are now doing accounting, that career change may be something you can write down as interesting and ask them about.  Length of time at jobs, similar companies you’ve worked at and anything you think you two have in common. These are always good points to bring up during the interview.

You can also look at their facebook and other social media profiles to get a better idea of who they are.  I like to do a general google search and see what else there is about them online.

I’ve done this with all my other clients and it’s always amazing what we’re able to find.  One time we found a company newsletter that had a full article on the hiring manager and his how he did beekeeping as a hobby.  My client brought this up during the interview which immediately turned the interview into a conversation. Obviously the hiring manager was excited to talk about beekeeping as well as impressed that someone took the time to really prepare for the interview.  

Now instead of meeting a stranger, you’re meeting someone you kinda know.  This makes the whole interview a less daunting event.

Practice

Obviously practicing is important however there is a difference between practicing and rehearsing.  I don’t want you to memorize answers. I don’t think memorizing helps calm nerves because you might then worry about messing up your script.  Instead, create your Interview Theme which is how you want the interviewer to see you and practice the answers you think those answers would be to the questions.

Aside from our practices, you should practice on your own whenever you have some free time.  You can record yourself, do it in front of the mirror, with someone else as long as you’re able to practice out loud.  

You can use this free copy of my book to learn the framework to answering the most common interview questions.  

You want to practice so much, you’ll be able to improvise.  

Visualize

Visualization is something I feel strongly about.  I consider it part of your preparation since you are mentally practicing several scenarios in your head.  If any of those scenarios or even some you haven’t thought of, come up, you’ll be able to react accordingly because you’ve “been there before”.  

Below is an excerpt from the book The Power of Habit which has that story I use often during my one-on-one coaching sessions  about Michael Phelps and how he thought about his perfect swim every day since he was a teenager until he won 23 Olympic gold medals.  

“When Phelps was a teenager, for instance, at the end of each practice, Bowman would tell him to go home and "watch the videotape. Watch it before you go to sleep and when you wake up."

The videotape wasn't real. Rather, it was a mental visualization of the perfect race. Each night before falling asleep and each morning after waking up, Phelps would imagine himself jumping off the blocks and, in slow motion, swimming flawlessly. He would visualize his strokes, the walls of the pool, his turns, and the finish. He would imagine the wake behind his body, the water dripping off his lips as his mouth cleared the surface, what it would feel like to rip off his cap at the end. He would lie in bed with his eyes shut and watch the entire competition, the smallest details, again and again, until he knew each second by heart.

During practices, when Bowman ordered Phelps to swim at race speed, he would shout, "Put in the videotape!" and Phelps would push himself, as hard as he could. It almost felt anticlimactic as he cut through the water. He had done this so many times in his head that, by now, it felt rote. But it worked. He got faster and faster. Eventually, all Bowman had to do before a race was whisper, "Get the videotape ready," and Phelps would settle down and crush the competition.”

From The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Power Pose:  

This is something I also feel strongly about.  There is research that shows Power posing has immediate effects on your testosterone levels.  Just 2-5 mins of power posing can help you raise your testosterone (which helps you with focus and quick thinking).

From the Association for Psychological Science findings:

“High-power posers experienced elevations in testosterone, decreases in cortisol, and increased feelings of power and tolerance for risk; low-power posers exhibited the opposite pattern.”

There are several moves you can try and the easiest is the superman/wonder woman pose.  This is where you stand up straight, shoulders back, eyes forward, feet shoulder width apart and hands on your hips (see wonder woman pic below).  Your head should be straight almost like if you had a string attached to the crown of your head that someone is pulling up.

Breathe either with your eyes open or closed in this pose.  I like to do it with my eyes closed and visualize but you can also just stare at your reflection or just straight ahead.

Breathe

Look at this video ( It’s only like 10 mins long.):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sgb2cUqFiY

It has a great presentation on how to correctly breathe. Practice this in the days leading up to your interview as well as the day of.

Be Bold!

Ramon

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

Companies that hire ASD candidates

Three weeks ago, I made my first ever trip to Columbus, Ohio to attend OCALICON (“The Nation's Premier Autism and Disabilities Conference”).  I met great people and learned more about the challenges those with ASD face during their job search and about resources available to them.  

One question I heard throughout the conference to which no one seemed to have an answer was where to find white collar opportunities for those that fall within the Autism Spectrum.  I googled, emailed people, googled again and I couldn’t find anything that had all the resources in one place.

So, I decided to create my own!

Below, you’ll find a list of the companies that have dedicated programs for ASD hires.  I also include a job search site that compiles white-collar opportunities available for those with high functioning autism.

Although there are several companies that hire those with Autism, I focus on companies that: 1) offer opportunities specifically for those with high functioning autism, and 2) have traditionally “white collar” jobs available (think software engineers, data analysts co-ops, research internships, etc.).  I want to make sure that these jobs will lead to an actual career and not just a part-time opportunity.

The list includes the company name, a short description of their initiative, a direct link to their website, and a sampling of the opportunities offered (if available).

Feel free to click through the list to find the opportunities that most make sense for you.  If you know of a company I missed or if your company has a neurodiversity hiring initiative, send me a message to add yourself to the list (Ramon (at) PersuasiveInterview.com)

Company: Microsoft

Name of Initiative/Website: disAbility

Types of Opportunities available: Software Engineer, Compliance & Controls Analyst, Senior Designer - Skype

Company: AT&T

Name of Initiative/Website: Autism Internship

Types of Opportunities available: Pilot program with 3 spots in their Dallas HR Department

Company: SAP

Name of Initiative/Website: Autism at Work

Types of Opportunities available: Once on the website, you have to send them an email to find out about the opportunities.  I sent one about a week ago and have yet to get a response. I have already sent a follow up and will update this when I get a response.

Company: Hewlett Packard Enterprises (Australia)

Name of Initiative/Website: The Dandelion Program

Types of Opportunities Available: Currently a Pilot Program

Company: Ford

Name of Initiative/Website: FordInclusiveWorks

Types of Opportunities Available: Currently a Pilot Program

Company: JP Morgan-Chase

Name of Initiative/Website:

Types of Opportunities Available: Technology Analyst Program - Internship

Company: Google

Name of Initiative/Website: Google Inclusion

Types of Opportunities Available: Software Engineer, University Graduate, Data Scientist/Quantitative Analyst, Engineering, University Graduate

The Spectrum Careers:

This was an interesting website that I came across while doing research.  It has opportunities from tons of companies including Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and many other household names.  The opportunities looked like they were only available for 2-3 days so if you see something, you should apply immediately.

https://www.thespectrumcareers.com/

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

Looking for a job outside of your comfort zone

Last week I was talking to a coaching client from RIT who was wondering if he should expand his coop search beyond his home state.  He feared that he would leave behind his support net from current family and friends if he went out of state.

Unfortunately, jobs aren’t always where you want them to be.  I was recently reading about plant closures and it is always interesting to read what those involved think is the best solution.  

From the article (emphasis mine):

Many Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have voiced their opposition to the plant closures and some lawmakers have insisted that GM find a new product to place in the factories it plans to shut down.

Sometimes jobs aren’t available where you live and that’s just life.  Instead of waiting for a job to open up where you live, you may just have to go find a job somewhere else.  The entire North American continent was populated because the predecessors to the Native Americans had to go where the food was. I bet they would have loved to stay in one single place forever, however that wasn’t an option so they moved to where the opportunities were.  

Although I didn’t have any connections, terrible grades, and didn’t have the right major, I was still able to get an internship with one of the top accounting firms in the world during a recession beating 300+ candidates who were better qualified than me (on paper) for that internship.  One of the reasons why I got it was because I was flexible in location. Instead of expecting or demanding that they give me an internship in Dallas or Houston (which would have been convenient since it was closer to school), I told them I would be willing to move to where the opportunities were.  They sent me to El Paso, Texas, literally 10 hours across the state from where school was and even further from my hometown.

Also, moving out of your comfort zone (or comfort area code) is a perfect opportunity to test your assumptions of what you like and don’t like.  

Your college years are probably one of the best times to venture out into the world and try new places, people, and opportunities.  You have to remember that a coop isn’t just about you getting work experience, it is also an opportunity for you to figure out if that’s what you want to do for possibly the rest of your working life.  I have known people who after finishing their internship, changed majors to completely different industries (think mechanical engineering to fashion) since they realized that although they liked the idea of what they did, they found out there was something else that they LOVED.  

During my tax internship, I found out that I liked doing tax forms but what I really LOVED was dealing with the people behind the numbers.  That allowed me to focus on that strength and made me realize where I could improve.  I think that realization has helped me guide my career and see where I could be useful to the places where I’ve worked.  

This isn’t to say that moving across the state or country will be the easiest thing ever.  In my particular situation( 18 years ago), after driving 10 hours nonstop, I had to find an apartment on my own (after the HR rep canceled on me) in a city I’ve never been to and in less than 1 day since I had to fly out the next morning to Chicago for New Hire Training.  

What did I do?

I drove to the nearest gas station, bought a paper map (remember those?) and a phone book (do those things still exist?) and started calling apartments close to my internship.  I drove to a couple of places, put a deposit down, unloaded my little truck and got my bags ready for my flight out the next day.

I learned so much about myself that day particularly that I could survive on my own.  If I could do that all on my own 18 years ago, I’m sure you can definitely do it today when your cell phone has maps and the internet.  

Don’t be afraid to look for a job outside of your safety net.  It may lead to great opportunities and to earned confidence.

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

The best salary negotiation resources you can use to be the best of the best

Several weeks ago I gave a salary negotiation presentation to the SHPE DFW chapter and it was a great turnout.  The group really enjoyed the material and as a bonus, I sent them a list of resources they can use to start developing their negotiation skills.  

Since the material was so good, I figured you would like to get it too.  The link below ncludes the slide deck of the presentation as well as a list of the top negotiation books you can use to get started.  Just this info alone will make you be ahead of your competition and is my gift to you.

You can access the gifts using this link:  SHPE DFW Bonus Gifts

If you have questions on how to approach your next negotiation or starting your job search, feel free to reach out to me.  I’m always happy to help.

Happy negotiating!

Ramon

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

How to ask for feedback when you don't get the job

No matter how much we practice and prepare for the interview, you won’t always get the job offer.  Unfortunately, most times companies let you know by a blanket “It just wasn’t the right fit” to let you know that you didn’t get the job. 

 Maybe it wasn’t the right fit however after 1 or 2 of those same responses we have to determine what we need to do better to actually get a job.  Problem is, most companies don’t give you feedback.

You should always ask for feedback after an interview

 Why companies don’t want to tell you how to improve

 The reason most people/hiring managers don't get honest feedback is because they're afraid the recipient will get 1. defensive and/or 2. litigious. 

 Think about it: How do you think someone who desperately needs a job will react when they are told “We don’t think you really told us about your work experience in a concise manner?”  They’re probably going to get defensive and then what was supposed to be a 10-15 min phone call is now an “incident”. 

 Here is another example: If you tell someone that’s older that they have “too much experience” it wouldn’t be hard for some lawyer to argue that they’re discriminating based on age. 

 Also, if you’ve ever been on the other side of the hiring table, you know that some truly terrible and disgusting people apply for jobs.  It would be easier and faster to tell them “It wasn’t the right fit” than spending 15 mins explaining why the VP of Tax who happens to be a female and your future boss, doesn’t like it when a candidate looks her up and down and then decides to act dismissive towards her during the interview (true story from different women and companies).

 So instead of dealing with all this, companies just avoid it by not giving feedback. 

Most people want to know why THEY didn’t get the job.  In reality, they should be asking how THEY can improve. 

 The right way to ask for feedback

 In order to avoid this, I created the email template below that shows that you are disappointed in their decision however, you respect their choice and want to know how you can improve yourself going forward.  Send it straight to the people who you met with and we'll see what they have to say.

 I have used personally as well as with my clients to get feedback after an interview didn't go as expected.  You can copy and paste and just make updates for the names specific to your situation.

 I've used this exact email several years ago and I still think this last interaction with them made such a
good impression that they called me back to offer me a the same position
literally 30 days later.   

 Also, no matter what they respond, take a moment to do a self-assessment and see if the feedback is something that you do need to work on.  Sometimes it’s useful information and sometimes it’s not. 

 For example, one time the feedback was that I didn’t have a specific type of tax experience which was a lie because we had talked about it during the interview and it was plastered all over the resume.  The company had obviously made a mistake.  Did I email them back and tell them so?  No.  I kept my word and replied with a simple "Thank you for the feedback.  I'll take this into account as I prepare for my other interviews."

That’s the same company that called me back to offer me the same job I “didn’t have experience for” 30 days later. 

 I turned them down.

 Have you ever received feedback?  Was it something you were aware of or was it something you’ve never thought you did during an interview?

 Be Bold!

 Ramon

Thank you once again for taking the time to meet with me yesterday.  It looks like I was passed up for the NAME OF ROLE at NAME OF COMPANY, which is unfortunate but there is always a way to make a situation into a learning experience. 

As such, I would please ask that you provide me with any feedback you may have regarding
our meeting and how I can improve in order to make a better impact either with NAME OF COMPANY or any other company I interview with in the future.  I look forward to hearing from you.

 Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

When they respond, reply with this:

Thank you for the feedback.  I'll take this into account as I prepare for my other interviews

 Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

How to look for a job

Many times people struggle with the looking for the job portion.  Back in the old days, you used to get a newspaper, circle the first “Help Wanted” ad you found (in red marker otherwise it doesn’t count), grabbed your hat and coat as your rushed out the door on your way to the new job.

Things are a little different now and your approach should be too.  You’ve probably heard about some job application that went viral resulting in the applicant getting a ton of job offers.  Either they made some YouTube video featuring a flash mob or some equally asinine idea. 

I’m not a big fan of gimmicky job applications.  You may have heard about people sending in a box of donuts with their resume at the bottom or people hanging out at an intersection wearing a bill board looking for a job.  Truth is, most of these people get more attention than job offers.  Also, most of those “job offers” aren’t usually for the jobs they’re looking for and instead are for hourly wage work.   This spray and pray approach leaves too many things out of your control. 

There are better ways to get your resume in front of the right people without having to appear on the 10 o’clock news. 

Here are some better approaches and how you can use them yourself.

Create a resume for a specific job

Instead of standing out on an intersection, you can make your resume stand out.  Nina Mufleh had failed to get any interest from Airbnb so she went back and updated her resume focusing on creating a format similar to what Airbnb’s website was as well as showcasing what she can do for them.  She sent it directly to the CEO of Airbnb who was obviously very impressed and set up an interview.

Why this approach works:

She tailored her resume for a specific company and showed what she can help them achieve.  Many times applicants focus on what they’ve done without considering what the company is looking for.  Yes you should talk about your past experience however you should make sure you correlate that to what the company is looking for.  Also, using the same resume for multiple companies is efficient however it also becomes generic.  You don’t have to do a complete revamp of your resume however taking the extra 10-15mins to align your experience to the job requirements can make the difference between getting a job interview or passing out resumes on the side of the freeway.

Getting in touch with the decision makers

Although sending a box of donuts with your resume at the bottom sounds like a foolproof idea, I would recommend against it.  First of all, getting your resume in front of HR isn’t really the point.  The point is for you to get an interview and then a job offer.  I personally don’t eat donuts so a plan of getting a box of them with the hopes that I read a resume that is at the bottom isn’t going to go far.  Second, just because you delivered a resume to HR doesn’t mean they’re going to consider it.  I have talked to enough HR pros who have told me that even though getting a box full of candy, confetti and a resume, donuts with resumes, or even a FedEx box with a shoe and the caption “I’m a shoe in for this job!” (get it?), elicits a chuckle and maybe even a thank you email, they never seriously consider those applicants since it reeks of desperation.  Thirdly, HR and Recruiters are gatekeepers.  They have the power to say “no” however a very limited range of what they say “Yes” to.  If you don’t fit their profile specifically, they can’t risk to make an exception.

Instead, reach out to a decision maker.  A decision maker is someone like a hiring manager who has the power to say “Yes” and make exceptions.  Even though a job description may say 3 years of experience, if a hiring manager feels you can do the job, they’ll make an exception.

The best way to find a decision maker, is to first find them on LinkedIn.  Basically use the job posting, go to LinkedIn, pick the company you are interested in, and figure out who would be your next boss.  Then look at the job description and figure out what the problem they’re trying to solve is.  Do some research online to find how that problem affects the company and would cause them to hire someone for that position.  The next step is to figure out how your skills and experience matches up to those needs.  You can use an email finding website to figure out what their email address is, and send them something like this:

Hi NAME OF PERSON,

I recently came across SOME ARTICLES RELATED TO THE JOB OR PROBLEMS FACED BY THE COMPANY.  I would love to set up a time to talk with you and discuss some of my experiences I have solving those same problems.  For example, at PREVIOUS JOB, I GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU SOLVED ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THEY’RE FACING.

I’m available to meet on DAY AND TIME.  If a better time works for you, let me know and we can schedule it.  I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

Why this approach works:

No one hires just to increase headcount.  Companies hire because they have a problem to solve and need someone to help them solve it.  By figuring out what the problem is, you demonstrate to the hiring manager that you “get it” and are already head and shoulders above your competition.  By giving them examples of how you’ve solve that same problem, you show them that you can hit the ground running.  I’ve used this same template to help many of my clients get a response.  My current record between sending an email and getting scheduled for a phone screen is 40mins. 

In conclusion, instead of wasting time trying to dream up some outrageous way to “be different” focus on the tried and proven methods of creating a resume that is specific to the job and reaching out the right way to the right people.  I’m sure your odds will be on your side.

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

Three quotes to read before you post online if you want to get (and keep) your job offer

Did you hear about the girl who had received and accepted a coveted NASA internship only to have it taken away after she posted it on Twitter? She and her friends cussed out a member of the National Space Council and obviously someone at NASA didn’t like it and rescinded her internship offer.  You can read the article here if you haven’t yet: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/nasa-intern-homer-hickam-naomi-h-profane-tweet-twitter-internship.html

That’s why, whenever I start working with someone on career coaching the very first thing I do is do a deep search into their social media.  I go through every post and every picture to make sure there isn’t anything that can be seen as offensive.

The next step is to set all those accounts to private.  Despite what you think, no one really cares about what you think.  

No, really.  No one cares.  I can assure you that your twitter jokes aren’t original or very funny.  You’re the 27th person today who’s sent me that meme. And I hate to break it to you, the rest of the world doesn’t care.  So instead of having a public profile, keep it private. Besides, you should spend less time online and more time experiencing the real world.  

If for some reason you feel like you have to post something online, here are 3 of my favorite quotes to read before you post.

“Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.”

― Lou Holtz

“It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.”

― Maurice Switzer

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”

― Ambrose Bierce

Be Bold!

Ramon

PS: I hope you have a good Labor Day weekend.  On September 15th I’ll be traveling to the Rochester Institute of Technology for my 2nd annual Dream Coop Workshop.  

P.P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

Did you fail? Or was it your process?

I was planning on writing you again until next week however I wanted to make sure I sent this out now since you may be struggling with this problem.

 I go to the gym on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and since they’re small classes, I usually get to overhear what other people are saying during the workout. 

One of the exercises we do is to put a resistance band (basically a giant rubber band) right above our knees and move around.

 There is a secret process to putting them on. If you hold the band from the sides to stretch it out and then pull it up like you’re putting on a pair of underwear, the band doesn’t roll up and it doesn’t dig into the side of your knees. However, if you roll it up your legs when you put it on, it (surprise!) rolls up and becomes uncomfortable (in my case it also yanks off a bunch of leg hair.)

 This girl next to me (let’s call her Stacy) rolls it up and noticing it’s digging into the side of her knees says “This is uncomfortable. It’s because my thighs are too fat.”

 I found this interesting because I am a good 10 inches taller with thicker thighs and yet, I didn’t have the same problem.

 The reason I’m telling you this is because through my coaching practice and my day to day I consistently see candidates, and particularly women, personally blaming themselves for their failures when in reality, it’s not them who failed, but rather the process. 

Stacy thought her “fat thighs” was the problem when really it was the way she put on the resistance band that was wrong. Think about how those are two very different problems. One can be fixed in 5 seconds and the other would take months as well as a lot of mental energy and self-awareness to achieve. 

Same applies to your job search. Did you not get the interview because you were deficient or was it your resume that wasn’t up to par? Did they give someone else the job because you don’t have enough experience or because your Interview Theme wasn’t developed?  

 Let’s look at “Stacy” again.

Stacy probably thought this:

“This is uncomfortable because my thighs are too fat” = “It’s my fault I’m fat and it will be very hard and months of work to get thin thighs for this to work the way I want it to be”

 When really it should have been this:

“This is uncomfortable because the process I’m using isn’t correct” = Fix process in less than 5 seconds, gets a great workout.

 You’re probably doing the same in your career.

Instead of thinking this: 

“I didn’t get the job because I don’t have enough experience” = “I’m personally deficient and will take years to get that type of experience so I may as well just give up”

 Replace it with this:

“I didn’t get that job because my Interview Theme wasn’t the right one” = Takes about 90mins to develop an Interview Theme, gets awesome job.

 Next time you hit a roadblock, before you start thinking that things didn’t work out because YOU are too dumb/fat/skinny/tall/short/broken/deficient/etc, take a step back and first consider that maybe, just maybe, the process you used wasn’t the right one.

 Thoughts?

Be Bold!

Ramon

PS: Next week I will be in Houston for the World Autism Organisation's 5th Annual International Congress as a speaker discussing techniques job candidates who are on the Autism Spectrum can obtain white collar jobs at Fortune 500 companies.  I was selected based on my work and success rate I've had helping candidates start their careers. If you will be in attendance, feel free to reach out

P.P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

What should you put on your linkedin headline

I love it when you guys send me questions.  Just this week I received the following email from one of my readers asking about what he should include as his LinkedIn Headline.  

“What’s a LinkedIn Headline?”  It’s the little title you can give yourself (refer to the red arrow below)

What should go on your LinkedIn headline?

“Ramon,

I'd like your opinion on a dilemma regarding the LinkedIn headline.

There seem to be two schools of thought and both sides are adamant with their advice:

1) NEVER put "Seeking opportunities".  It screams "desperate loser" and recruiters are only interested in employed prospects.

2) ALWAYS put "Seeking opportunities".  Otherwise, recruiters will often just move on to a less ambiguous prospect to save time.

Any advice from your perspective is greatly appreciated.”

My response:

I would say C. none of the above.  LinkedIn is a tool you can use to help you find a job however you shouldn't rely solely on it to get your next opportunity. The only way a recruiter will find you on linkedin is if they're looking for you as an almost exact match for the job they're trying to fill.  This means that unless they are looking for someone with your exact profile, chances are they're not going to look at your profile.


Now to your question.  A recruiter who sees "Seeking New Opportunities" has only 1-3 seconds before they make a decision.  Although some may think it makes you sound desperate, I think most recruiters see that and immediately think "he was fired.  he was bad at his job otherwise he wouldn't have been fired/laid off/voted off the island" and move on to the next candidate.  Is this right/wrong? That's not really the issue here. It's an efficient way of determining if you’re good at your job and much easier than trying to figure out what the situation was.  It’s easier to just move on to the next candidate who has a job.

Instead of putting on your profile that you're looking for new opportunities, I would suggest you put "Consultant".  This makes you sound like you're still active in the workforce (which you should either by doing some freelancing or maintaining your technical abilities through self study).  A way to tell a recruiter that you're interested in opportunities, is by choosing the option on LinkedIn that let's recruiters you're open. You can change this by going to Your Account, Privacy, then scroll down to Job Seeking Preferences and change "Let recruiters know you're open to opportunities".  Most recruiters start their candidate search by looking first at those willing to change jobs then by qualifications than the other way around.

Let me know if that helps.  If you need more in-depth advice, let me know and we can schedule a one-on-one session.

Ramon

To clarify, if you’re a student, I recommend you put “Student” as your headline.  If you have a job, put your current job title.

What’s on your headline?  Do you think it makes a difference?  Let me know.

Be Bold!

Ramon

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

How to calm your nerves during an interview with ASD

When I was in middle school, I was part of the Gifted & Talented program also known as the GT program.  Basically they grouped all the nerds and put them in all the same classes that were more advanced. In those classes, one of my friends, let’s call him John, was at the top of the class in the grade rankings.  He was the school valedictorian if there is such a thing for a middle school.

Problem was, taking a test was a big deal for him.  He would get so nervous that he would literally vomit before a test.  On more than one occasion I saw him get beet red, sweating profusely, shivering like he was in the middle of a snow storm, and cry his way through a pop quiz.  

A similar situation happens to many people during interviews.  Even though everyone gets a certain level of nervousness, a portion of the population suffers from severe episodes of nervousness.

I decided to write down the 6 step process I recommend people follow to help them control and reduce the way nervousness affects them during interviews.  

Plan

Fail to plan, plan to fail.  Planning doesn’t have to be stressful.  Instead of thinking of all the things you have to do, focus instead on the process.  Just like a cake recipe, you go from one step to the next which leads you to the end result.  Consider the planning phase the read through of the recipe.

Research

Something I have found very useful to calm my nerves before interviews is to remove all the uncertainty from the situation.  Many people get nervous because they’re afraid of what the other person may think of them. These thoughts run through their heads until all we imagine them yelling “Get out!” in the middle of the interview.  

What if instead of wondering what they may think, we do some research to get to know them better?  

Looking through their LinkedIn profile will give you some excellent clues on how they think and what they may ask you.  Write down what schools they went to, the companies they’ve worked at and things you find interesting. For example, if they got a degree in engineering but are now doing accounting, that career change may be something you can write down as interesting and ask them about.  Length of time at jobs, similar companies you’ve worked at and anything you think you two have in common. These are always good points to bring up during the interview.

You can also look at their facebook and other social media profiles to get a better idea of who they are.  I like to do a general google search and see what else there is about them online.

I’ve done this with all my other clients and it’s always amazing what we’re able to find.  One time we found a company newsletter that had a full article on the hiring manager and his how he did beekeeping as a hobby.  My client brought this up during the interview which immediately turned the interview into a conversation. Obviously the hiring manager was excited to talk about beekeeping as well as impressed that someone took the time to really prepare for the interview.  

Now instead of meeting a stranger, you’re meeting someone you kinda know.  This makes the whole interview a less daunting event.

Practice

Obviously practicing is important however there is a difference between practicing and rehearsing.  I don’t want you to memorize answers. I don’t think memorizing helps calm nerves because you might then worry about messing up your script.  Instead, create your Interview Theme which is how you want the interviewer to see you and practice the answers you think those answers would be to the questions.

Aside from our practices, you should practice on your own whenever you have some free time.  You can record yourself, do it in front of the mirror, with someone else as long as you’re able to practice out loud.  

You can use this free copy of my book to learn the framework to answering the most common interview questions.  

You want to practice so much, you’ll be able to improvise.  

Visualize

Visualization is something I feel strongly about.  I consider it part of your preparation since you are mentally practicing several scenarios in your head.  If any of those scenarios or even some you haven’t thought of, come up, you’ll be able to react accordingly because you’ve “been there before”.  

Below is an excerpt from the book The Power of Habit which has that story I use often during my one-on-one coaching sessions  about Michael Phelps and how he thought about his perfect swim every day since he was a teenager until he won 23 Olympic gold medals.  

“When Phelps was a teenager, for instance, at the end of each practice, Bowman would tell him to go home and "watch the videotape. Watch it before you go to sleep and when you wake up."

The videotape wasn't real. Rather, it was a mental visualization of the perfect race. Each night before falling asleep and each morning after waking up, Phelps would imagine himself jumping off the blocks and, in slow motion, swimming flawlessly. He would visualize his strokes, the walls of the pool, his turns, and the finish. He would imagine the wake behind his body, the water dripping off his lips as his mouth cleared the surface, what it would feel like to rip off his cap at the end. He would lie in bed with his eyes shut and watch the entire competition, the smallest details, again and again, until he knew each second by heart.

During practices, when Bowman ordered Phelps to swim at race speed, he would shout, "Put in the videotape!" and Phelps would push himself, as hard as he could. It almost felt anticlimactic as he cut through the water. He had done this so many times in his head that, by now, it felt rote. But it worked. He got faster and faster. Eventually, all Bowman had to do before a race was whisper, "Get the videotape ready," and Phelps would settle down and crush the competition.”

From The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Power Pose:  

This is something I also feel strongly about.  There is research that shows Power posing has immediate effects on your testosterone levels.  Just 2-5 mins of power posing can help you raise your testosterone (which helps you with focus and quick thinking).

From the Association for Psychological Science findings:

“High-power posers experienced elevations in testosterone, decreases in cortisol, and increased feelings of power and tolerance for risk; low-power posers exhibited the opposite pattern.”

There are several moves you can try and the easiest is the superman/wonder woman pose.  This is where you stand up straight, shoulders back, eyes forward, feet shoulder width apart and hands on your hips (see wonder woman pic below).  Your head should be straight almost like if you had a string attached to the crown of your head that someone is pulling up.

Breathe either with your eyes open or closed in this pose.  I like to do it with my eyes closed and visualize but you can also just stare at your reflection or just straight ahead.

Breathe

Look at this video ( It’s only like 10 mins long.):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sgb2cUqFiY

It has a great presentation on how to correctly breathe. Practice this in the days leading up to your interview as well as the day of.

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule

How to stay motivated during a job search

One question I always get from people is how to stay motivated during a job search. It can be very demoralizing to send out job applications and not even get back a rejection letter. I’ll explain to you how I handle it through a little story.

As the Fall Semester of 2001 was about to start, I was getting a little anxious but also hopeful about my prospects for the remainder of my college career.  I was about to become a Junior which meant that I HAD to secure an internship for the Spring of 2002.  If I didn’t, I couldn’t graduate and I absolutely, positively had no intention of going back home to South Texas and explain to my parents why I couldn’t graduate.

Even though I didn’t have the highest grades or the connections, I wasn’t too worried about not getting a job. After all, I was enrolled in the #1 Accounting Program in the nation.  What could go wrong?

And then it happened.  

The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.  Aside from the obvious loss of life and impact to our daily lives still felt today, there was also an impact in hiring.  Where white collar internships were plenty, literally from one day to the next, employers canceled interviews set up months in advance and did company-wide hiring freezes.

So what’s a college guy like me to do?

Step 1: Identify your real goal

Yes, I could not graduate unless I had a University-vetted internship which meant my goal was clear: get an internship.

Don’t confuse steps for goals

You see, most people make the first mistake when setting goals by confusing steps with goals.  One time I was driving a group of coworkers to the grand opening of a Panera Bread close to our office.  As we drove into a packed parking lot, there was a guy driving back and forth trying to get a parking space right in front of the restaurant, completely ignoring the other side of the aisle which had 3 open spots.  My group of 5 people were able to park, get in, and place our orders before he gave up and ended up parking on an undeveloped, grassy lot next to the restaurant.

He confused a step (get a good parking spot) for the real goal (Go into the restaurant and have lunch).

I see many people do the same thing during their job search.  Sometimes they confuse the step (applying for jobs) for the goal (getting a job offer).  This is evident when you hear someone say that they’ve applied to 60+ jobs and still haven’t had any interviews.

This leads me to Step #2: Create improvements that matter

I often hear about people who are proud of how efficient their job search has become.  When they started they could only apply to 5 jobs a day but now due to efficiencies they created, they’re able to apply to 10 jobs a day!

They may be efficient (applying to 10+ jobs a day) but they’re not effective (getting an interview/job offer).

Improve where it matters

Instead of doing more of the steps, focus on making improvements on the road blocks.  If you’re applying to X number of jobs a day and you’re not getting any results, then the problem may be your resume.  Making improvements to it will allow you to reduce the number of times you apply and increase your results.

During that Fall of 2001, I think I only applied to 5 jobs total while most of my classmates applied to any job they could.  That was the first time I heard about someone applying to 100 jobs. Out of those 5 applications, I got 2 phone interviews and 1 in-person interview.  Most of my classmates got 1 or 2 interviews despite applying to 2-3X more companies than I did.

Another more recent example: Less than two months ago I started working with a client and in our second 1-on-1 coaching session he asked me what his target number for jobs applied for day should be.  When I explained that our approach should be different, not only did he save himself hours and hours of fruitless work, he started getting results quickly. In the time since, he’s only applied to 3 jobs, received 3 interviews and 2 job offers.

And finally Step 3: If you’ve done your job right, you’ll get results

On October 26th, 2001 I had my one and only in-person interview.  There were probably around 65 open positions for one of the Big 4 Accounting firms and about 300+ applicants.  While everyone else had better grades, more experience, and were part of the advanced Accounting program, what they didn’t have was the preparation.

Do the work. Get the results.  

I researched the company, created the questions I wanted to ask, made sure my clothes were ready, and tried to guess who would be interviewing me. The day of went beautifully and I even remember how relieved I was when I left the interview room. We even went over 15 mins over the allotted time which is always a good sign.

For the next 6 weeks I didn’t hear anything. I finished my finals and the day before I was to leave my apartment for my parents’ house for winter break I got the call.  

“We’re excited to offer you an internship position starting January 15th 2002. Sorry it took us so long to get back to you. You haven’t accepted someone else’s offer have you?”

In my excitement to finally hear those words I stuttered something about how had not accepted other offers because I was waiting for theirs. Never mind that I didn’t get any other offers. Lol

Was I sweating bullets because the semester was over and I had yet to get a call? Yes.  Did I know I was going to get an internship? Yes. The reason I was so positive I was going to get a job offer was because I had done the work.  I worked on my resume making the necessary changes, did deep research on the companies I applied to, and I prepared myself. I did the work so I knew I would get the results

What was your biggest insight from this?  Are you feeling ready for the RIT Career Fair tomorrow?

P.S. And, whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways we can help you turn job search anxiety into interviews, job offers, and self-confidence.

1. Watch my free charisma challenge course

For the next 3 days, I'm going to show you the steps you need to know to start building your network one day at a time. You will learn how to choose the right networking event for you that fits your personality and your career goals. You will know how to approach strangers and you will know how to start and end a conversation. You will know how to follow up. -> Click Here

2. Download my Instant Interview Coach E-book

I wrote this book to answer the most pressing questions people have about interviewing, how to manage their job search, and the best ways to answer the difficult interview questions you might get ("Why are you looking to switch jobs?").  I am only able to work with a limited number of people a month so this book is the perfect way to get all the advice and knowledge you need to be successful without having to book an appointment with me. Download the e-book by clicking here - > Instant Interview Coach: Your most pressing questions about interviewing answered!

3. Join our FREE Official Persuasive Interview Parents group and connect with other parents who are committed to helping their child find their dream co-op -> Click Here

4. Work with me 1-on-1

If you’d like to work directly with me to find your dream co-op... just schedule your complimentary “Persuasive Interview Consulting” Call with me so we can clarify your fastest path to finding your dream co-op and create a strategy for you to make it happen... Schedule your FREE call with me here -> Click Here To Schedule