How acting a little crazy and thinking outside of the box can get you the job you want
Ever hear of a job candidate stretching out on the interviewer's floor to fill out an application? Or an applicant who sees nothing wrong with texting during the interview? Securing a job interview is a golden opportunity. The crazy-bad behavior described above will not net a job offer. Crazy Good Interviewing shows readers that crazy-good behavior, however, can make an applicant stand out favorably in a sea of mediocrity. Take the candidate who created a keynote presentation on his iPad to show what he could bring to the job or the one who created a DVD highlighting her abilities.
Crazy Good Interviewing is a book geared toward those who are looking for work in this tough economy.
- Addresses how slightly eccentric behaviors can tip the scales in the applicant's favor
- Delves into how to access your three key strengths, how to use body language effectively, how to prepare a five-sentence history that builds a bridge to the interviewer, and more
Turn just plain crazy into crazy-good, and land the job at your next interview.
Table of Contents:
Foreword xv
Roxanne Emmerich
Acknowledgments xix
Chapter 1 Job Hunting in a Crazy Economy 1
Job Market Overview 2
Why Is the Interview So Important? 5
What Makes Me an Expert? 7
Chapter 2 Go Crazy—In a Good Way 9
How Do You Rate? 10
Introducing the ‘‘Psychotron’’ 10
What’s Crazy Bad Behavior? 12
What’s Crazy Good Behavior? 14
Chapter 3 First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions 19
Look at the Research 20
Exceptions to the Rule 21
The Rating Game 23
Preparation Is Key 25
Get Ready to ‘‘Act Out’’ 27
Part I ACT Out: Assess 29
Chapter 4 Everything from Soup to Nuts 31
Your Strengths and Limitations 31
Assessment Instruments 32
What’s Your Weak Spot? 37
Human Interaction: Where the Action Is 40
Education: Know Your Own Strengths 42
Jobs that Don’t Require College Degrees 42
Skills and Work Experience 44
Areas of Improvement 47
The Best Policy 48
Chapter 5 Wild, Wacky, and Wonderful You 51
Biology 101 52
Personality 101 54
Introversion versus Extraversion: Are You In or Out? 55
Interpersonal Skills: Can You Relate? 59
Your Assignment 61
Enthusiasm and Motivation: Rah-Rah, Sis-Boom-Bah! 61
Problem Solving: What’s Your Problem? 63
Creativity: Thinking Outside the Box 64
Life Experiences 101 66
Hobbies and Interests: What Do You Do in Your Spare Time? 68
Netting a Job Offer 70
Chapter 6 Selling ‘‘Crazy’’: Your Unique Value Proposition 73
Think ‘‘Log Line’’ 74
Create Your Unique Value Proposition 76
Your Five-Sentence Personal History 78
Why Anecdotes Work 80
The Power of Three 82
Mad About Metaphors 85
Chapter 7 Your Worldview on Work 87
Applying Your Worldview to Work 88
Work Makes the World Go ’Round 88
Worldview Provides Career Direction 90
Mapping a Career Plan 92
When Job and Worldview Don’t Align 94
Square Peg, Round Hole 95
Part II ACT Out: Communicate 97
Chapter 8 Bridge the Generational Gap with Crazy Good Behavior 99
Defining ‘‘Generation’’ 99
The Sound of ‘‘Silents’’ (Born 1924–1945) 101
Big, Bad Baby Boomers (Born 1946–1964) 104
Old and New 107
The Internet Generation X (Born 1965–1983) 108
High-Tech Generation Y (Born 1984–2002) 111
Chapter 9 Types of Interviews 115
Phone Interviews: Can You Hear Me Now? 115
Before the Interview: Ready and Waiting 119
During the Interview 120
Skype: Smile for the Camera! 120
FaceTime 123
One-on-One Interview: Up Close and Personal 123
It’s Showtime! 125
Play Nice 128
All Ears 128
Panel Interview: All Eyes on You 129
Make One-on-One Connections 130
Turning ‘‘You’re Fired!’’ into ‘‘You’re Hired!’’ 133
Group Interview: When You’re One Among Many 135
Chapter 10 Head Games 137
Games Interviewers Play 138
Tension Relievers 140
Chapter 11 Looking Good . . . Crazy Good 143
Perceiving Is Believing 144
Putting It All Together 146
For Men Only 146
For Women Only 149
Chapter 12 Use Body Language to Make a Crazy Good Impression 161
Make Crazy Good Eye Contact 162
Posture Perfect 165
Gestures and Facial Expressions 170
Chapter 13 Voiceovers: Your Voice Speaks Volumes 173
Sound Off: Elements of Voice 175
Part III ACT Out: Thank 183
Chapter 14 After the Interview: Thank ’em Like Crazy 185
The Waiting Game 186
Crazy Bad Follow-Up Efforts 194
Chapter 15 Post-Interview Self-Evaluation: How Did You Do? 197
Rate Yourself; Don’t Berate Yourself 198
Do You Really Want to Work There? 202
Moral Dilemmas 204
Chapter 16 Putting It All Together in a Crazy Good Way 205
Establish Your Power Base 207
Use a Crazy Good Interview Strategy 208
Use Crazy Good Behaviors to Get the Job 208
Sell Yourself Like Crazy 209
Be Yourself, in a Crazy Good Way 209
Research the Employer Like Crazy 209
Research the Interviewer(s) Like Crazy 211
Practice Like Crazy 212
Take the Stage 213
Appendix 150 Frequently Asked Questions 215
Index 229
About the Author :
JOHN B. MOLIDOR, PhD, is CEO/President of Michigan State University Flint Area Medical Education and a Community Assistant Dean and Professor of Psychiatry at MSU College of Human Medicine, who helps people understand how their brain, communication styles, and interviewing skills can function well together.
BARBARA PARUS is Director of Publications for the National Speakers Association in Tempe, Arizona. A Chicago native, she is a versatile and well-established writer, ghostwriter, editorial consultant, and the author or coauthor of three books on human resources–related topics.
