Robert's Job Interview - Case Study #1

Robert was a 60 year old professional that had been living and working overseas for the last 5 years. Family matters forced him to return to the United States. As such, he began a new career search that would allow him to work closer to his extended family. He had years of experience, solid references, and was highly educated. He had discovered our firm and wanted to take advantage of the mock interview, cover letter review, and resume review.

 

Robert made the call

He was concerned about the following:

-His age. He knew that in a hyper-selective economy, his age could be a detriment.

-His resume. How would he put 40 years of achievements on one page?

-His interview skills. He had not interviewed in years and was unsure of himself.

During the Mock Interview I discovered several weaknesses:

1)      Robert’s “You Statement” failed to highlight his 40+ years of experience and failed to “sell to the position.”

2)      His answers to my questions were not specific and seemed to ramble on. He spent far more time talking than I did.

3)      He failed to mention how he incorporated current technology into his daily routine. One reason employers are hesitant to hire older workers is the fear that they cannot and will not embrace technology.

4)      Robert knew very little about the mock company that he was interviewing with. This is a giant mistake. He needed to spend some time researching the company. This made him seem unprepared and lazy.

We also discussed some strategies for condensing a 40 year career into a one page resume (Create a 10-year resume and include accomplishments- not job descriptions).  Our firm also discovered some weaknesses on his cover letter that needed attention (he made mention of a possible return date overseas).

 

Work here

Interview Tutor

Professional Career Services

Worcester MA

508.365.0077

www.interview-tutor.com

 

 

 There were a few other minor weaknesses in Robert’s Interview that were uncovered and his overall score was 62% out of a possible 100%. The bad news for Robert was that his score was not that good. The good news was that he found out about these things during a mock interview-not during the real thing. Prior to his consultation with Interview Tutor, Robert was unaware of his interview weakness. Robert now had time to work on his weaknesses before he began his round of real-world interviews.