Upcoming Events

Job Competencies & Overcoming Hiring Objections

Tuesday, March 9 and 16 7:oo pm to 8:30 pm Career Jump Start 1st United Methodist Church, Arapaho & Central, Richardson Free, Open to the public

Leveraging Your Job Competencies in the Interview

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:00 am to 11:30 am DBM (Drake Beam Morin) Oxy Building, SW Corner of LBJ & the Tollroad Open to DBM clients only

Overcoming Hidden Hiring Objections

Fall, 2010, Date TBA Career Design Associates 2818 S Country Club Rd, Garland Free, open to the pubic

You're Hired: How to Beat out Your Competition

December 2010 Evening presentation, Date and Time DBA Jewish Family Service 5402 Arapaho Road at Montfort Free - Open to the public, Limited Seating Need a speaker for your next meeting?


Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Two 5-Star Ratings on Amazon

by Mitch Byers :: May 18th, 2009 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

This month, two readers provided reviews of InterviewRX on Amazon.com. Here are their comments:

This is a great book for any job seeker. It not only covers all aspects of interviewing – but covers how to prepare. The insight of how recruiters work in invaluable.
Tom Jackson, Dallas, TX (May 17, 2009)

If you only read one book on job hunting, this is it! I am a career coach who refers to the information in Byers’ book more than any other. Byers’ suggestions to help readers figure out what truly is most important to the employer and then to play to the true values of their interviewer are practical and effective. He explains how to package your background so as to be easily appreciated in light of the employer’s needs.

This is a “must read” for anyone who is job hunting!

Ann Parrett (May 13, 2009)

Speed Networking: Students Transitioning into a Professional Environment

by Mitch Byers :: February 22nd, 2009 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Last week, I was one of several local professionals invited to host a table at a Speed Networking event sponsored by the University of Texas at Arlington. The event was to help new graduates or upcoming May graduates to introduce themselves in a professional environment. A few had jobs in the field of choice, but most were looking for an internship or their first professional role.

All attendees were bright and eager for opportunity to network and receive feedback on their 30-second introduction. [More...]

Interviewing Insight: Don’t Miss the Tipping Point

by Mitch Byers :: July 16th, 2008 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Author of nearly a dozen books, Jeffrey Fox shares, “The job interview is a sales call to sell yourself.” The goal of the interview is for the hiring company to “buy” you. At which point you receive an offer letter [More...]

Don’t Miss the Tipping Point

by Mitch Byers :: May 25th, 2008 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Author of nearly a dozen books, Jeffrey Fox shares, “The interview is a sales call to sell yourself.” You want the hiring company to “buy” you. At which point you receive an offer letter, you have a clear picture of the exact value of the transaction. However, the decision to buy happens long before the offer letter. If fact, it may be much earlier than you image. Research shows that interviewers are far more influenced by information emerging early in the interview than later. If fact, studies show that hiring decisions often (not always) happen after only four minutes in a thirty-minute interview. In the balance of the interview, the interviewer spends confirming their initial impression.

How do you know when you have crossed the magic threshold and transitioned from a candidate to an employee?
1)    Watch their body language. They will be more relaxed. They might crack a smile. Their gestures will be more animated. The formality of the interview will melt into a more casual tone. I once had a hiring manager stand up in mid-sentence and start an impromptu tour of the facility. A good sign indeed.
2)    They are off script. Many hiring managers follow a scripted interview. When they put the pen down or push the paper aside, they have made up their mind.
3)    They will stop asking questions and start talking about the company. Think of it as their sales pitch to you. Sharing details about a specific client or an upcoming project highlights a growing trust. They would not be sharing their “secrets” if they were not interested.
4)    They will mention names – future coworkers or other managers you will have to meet before they make the (official) hiring decision. They are already beginning to see you functioning in their organization and interfacing with the team.

Some managers are sly poker players and the interview game becomes much harder. Their actions will be more subtle. Look for a personalized touch. Instead of dropping you off in the lobby, they will walk you to the door and linger a moment before saying goodbye.

Once you receive one or more buying signals you will want to communicate in kind. State your specific interest in the company followed by a trial close. “Tom, the job description provides a good outline of the position. You filled in a lot of the holes and I am getting a good picture of how I will be able to contribute. My interest in the position is extremely high. What other background information can I share with you?” Tom may continue to ask interview questions, which indicates a need for additional information before making a decision. Otherwise expect a comment like, “It looks promising. Let’s set up a time for you to talk to Samantha next week.”

Remington College, Creating Career Stories

by Mitch Byers :: May 17th, 2007 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

About 20 students attended yesterday’s talk at Remington College, most in their early 20s. Remington College prepares their students for specific jobs. In this case, the students were studying to become Medical Assistants. When polled, about half the students were wrapping up their current program and impressively, about 80% showed an interest in furthering their education to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse or Registered Nurse.

The 45-minute presentation covered a few of the Dozen Strategies to Conquer Sticky Interview Questions from an upcoming ebook. This was my first dry run of the material. The emphasis was to help the students understand why and how to create effective interview stories.

One of the ways hiring managers try to predict our future success in their organization is to judge us based on our past behavior. I shared a couple of different ways to construct stories to surface past behavior. Through simple career stories, behaviors can be framed it in a way that will help the hiring manager “see” you being successful in their department.

The strategies are pretty easy concept to understand. I got a lot of nods from the student. I then turned the tables and ask them what sort of stories they were going to tell to the hiring manager. Most heads shifted from looking at me to looking at their desk, but two students took a stab at sharing stories.

One started by mentioning how important compassion was in taking care of her patients. Initially, she talked about compassion and patient care in general terms. I ask her for a specific example – a person, which day, what happened, where did it happen? Enthusiastically, she shared a story about a lady she had taken care of and the trusting relationship she had built through the compassionate care she had provided. She told how her care had transcended the physical needs of her patient. Her story held the interest of the group and will certainly hold the interest of the hiring manager that hears it. It was her personalization and specificity that gave her story punch. Telling someone that you are a great caregiver is flat. Showing how you are a great caregiver has impact.

I don’t know how many others in the class were able to internalize the information like the two students who shared their stories, but I walked away knowing that at least a few will step into the interview prepared and excited to share their value in the marketplace.

Feedback of Presentation

by Mitch Byers :: April 23rd, 2007 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Sorry no rights!

TAG LINES – Your Vote Counts

by Mitch Byers :: April 17th, 2007 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Over the past month, you may have noticed website updates, new content on emotional intelligence and an enhanced ease of surfing the site. More changes are in progress to provide additional resources and services for your career development.


One of the challenges has been to create a TAG LINE to help define the audience and the services. Please browse the website and then VOTE on one of these four tag-lines:

1) INTERVIEW RX – Providing inspired solutions for interviewing, hiring, and career development

2) INTERVIEW RX – Pushing your career forward with advice on interviewing and hiring, salary negotiations, and emotional intelligence

3) INTERVIEW RX – Your first aid for building, mending, or growing your career

4) Send us your idea. If it is chosen, you’ll receive a bundle of goodies.

Email your vote to mbyers@interviewrx.com. Thanks for your participation and comments.

tag for website

by Mitch Byers :: April 14th, 2007 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Sorry no rights!

Home Page Welcome Message

by Mitch Byers :: April 10th, 2007 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Sorry no rights!

Get The Raise You Deserve!

by Mitch Byers :: March 20th, 2007 :: Posted in Uncategorized |