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Overcoming Hidden Hiring Objections

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Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

How to Handle Salary Issues During an Interview

by Mitch Byers :: January 22nd, 2006 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Mary Clark is a CPA with over 10 years experience with Royal Financial Partners. Recently, she was notified the local branch would be consolidated with the Houston office. In 30 days, she will be out of a job.

Mary has secured several interviews, but is concerned about how to answer the question, “What are your salary requirements?” Maybe Mary will answer, “Considering my CPA status and 10 years in the finance industry, I am expecting a salary of between $75,000 and $85,000.” Or Mary might respond, “As a Finance Specialist, my base was $70,000 and I was eligible for an annual performance bonus.”

Salary issues can easily become a tug-of-war between the potential employee and the hiring company. Mary is looking for an effective way to respond to the Salary Question, but not feel defensive in her approach.

In order to create a more neutral environment, Mary will need to remove the “I” and “My” from her responses. Instead of using the word “salary,” she will adopt the term “value.” Now, instead of talking about her salary requirements, Mary will be answering the Salary Question in terms of value.

As an example, say that Margaret is interviewing Mary: Margaret asks: “Mary, as you think about your next career move, what are your salary requirements?” Mary responds: Currently, Royal Financial Partners values the Financial Specialist position with a base of $70,000 and a provides an annual performance bonus,” or “Salary research indicates a tenured CPA with similar experience is valued at a base between $75,000 and $85,000.”

Reframing the Salary Question in terms of Value takes away much of the tension associated with answering the Salary Question. At no point in her answer did Mary use the words “I, Me, My,” or “Salary.” The conversation is not about Mary (the skilled candidate) and Margaret (the hiring manager), but about the value companies place on certain competencies and Mary’s perceived value in the marketplace.

After answering the Salary Question, it is then Mary’s obligation to ask Margaret not about salary, but about value. Mary asks, “Margaret, would you please share how the company values this position?”

Margaret may reveal the Financial Specialist position is in line with Mary’s salary research, and has a base of between $75,000 and $85,000, a spread of $10,000. Mary will be proactive and ask, “Margaret, would it be correct to assume then, that the midpoint for the position is $80,000?” Margaret nodes in agreement.

Mary now knows that $80,000 is the midpoint, the minimum salary she should accept. By providing a straightforward answer and asking follow-up questions, Mary has done double duty – she has provided Margaret relevant compensation information and has set minimum expectations for the job offer.

In this scenario, Mary did not let the Salary Question become a tug of war. Instead of a defensive approach, Mary allowed the Salary Question to be an equal exchange of information. Now, she can move forward through the balance of interview process with a higher level of confidence.

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by Mitch Byers :: August 13th, 2005 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

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by Mitch Byers :: August 12th, 2005 :: Posted in Negotiating Your Salary, Uncategorized |

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The INTERVIEW RX Self-Paced Book

by Mitch Byers :: August 12th, 2005 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Purchase Online

This 130-page book is a descriptive guide to successful interviewing. You will learn:

  • How to avoid common interview pitfalls
  • How to develop and deliver a winning presentation
  • How to utilize a variety of interviewing strategies
  • How to uncover hidden hiring objections

Each of the eight chapters begins with clear chapter objectives and an inspirational quote by a former president. The chapter objectives are supported with text, illustrations, charts, and tables that summarize the concepts found in the chapter. Exercises to strengthen the understanding of the material conclude each chapter.

Click here to view the Table of Contents

INTERVIEW RX, A Self-Paced Workbook

by Mitch Byers :: August 12th, 2005 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

Topics Covered in the Book

The book is formatted as a self-paced workbook and is divided into seven chapters. Each chapter has specific objectives which are covered in detail. At the end of each chapter, are exercises to reinforce your learning experience.

The book is broken into three basic areas:

  1. The Introduction and Foundation of the Interview Process
  2. Strategies for Answering Interview Questions
  3. Strategies for Asking Questions During the Interview

The Introduction and Foundation of the Interview Process

Chapter 1: Finding the jigsaw puzzle piece that fits

  • The foundation of the interview is laid out. The interview is presented from a personal perspective. You are provided an overview of your responsibility in guiding the interview to its successful fruition – a job offer.

Chapter 2: Interview categories and question types

  • Interviews are presented in understandable categories. Structured and Unstructured interview types are defined. Open-ended, Closed-ended, Situational, Behavioral, and Stress Questions are defined and illustrated in detail.
  • You will learn how to stay focused and present only relevant information.

Strategies for Answering Interview Questions

Chapter 3: Responding to questions with panache

  • You will learn how to prepare and respond to the different types of questions introduced in Chapter 2. A variety of Open-ended, Closed-ended, and Stress questions are covered.
  • You will learn how to effectively outline a favorable response to the “Tell me about yourself question.”
  • You will learn the two rules of answering open-ended questions.
  • You will be introduced to the AQA Interview Strategy. The AQA strategy is used as a guide to answering open-ended questions. The strategy utilizes checkpoints to assure you don’t head down the wrong path when answering these types of questions.
  • You will learn how to answer questions by connecting A-B-C. This strategy provides a template for answering questions by defining the situation, stating your specific actions, and then explaining the result.

Chapter 4: Making yourself three-dimensional

  • You will be introduced to the MOM Interviewing Strategy. The MOM Strategy provides ways to modify your answers to be more descriptive and add impact to your presentation.
  • You will be introduced to the DAD Interviewing Strategy. The DAD Strategy outlines your duties, accomplishments, and benefits to the company.
  • You will learn how to help the hiring manager envision you for the job . By utilizing the Career Survey Sheets, you will learn how to make yourself “three-dimensional.”
  • You will learn the critical importance of time management. You will learn how to critically think about past positions vs. your future position.
  • You will learn how to influence the hiring manager to guide you strategically through the interview process.

Chapter 5: Creating memory triggers

  • You will learn how to effectively mine data from the Career Survey Sheets to create outlines to answer questions.
  • You will learn how to positively influence the hiring manager through powerful career stories. By utilizing the Career Survey Sheets, you will learn how to create “memory triggers.

Strategies for Asking Questions

Chapter 6: Asking questions to secure the position

  • Your will learn techniques for asking questions that will transform the meeting from an “interview” into a “conversation.”
  • You will learn to build an inventory of questions to ask during the interview process. You will learn how questions build rapport.

Chapter 7: Uncovering hidden hiring objections

  • You will learn a 3-step strategy to uncover hiring objections.
  • You will learn how to positively respond to “put-offs.”
  • You will learn how to effectively neutralize hiring concerns.
  • You will learn how to improve your “Interview Scorecard.”

Interview RX Workshop: The Complete Interview Experience

by Mitch Byers :: August 12th, 2005 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

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by Mitch Byers :: July 28th, 2005 :: Posted in Uncategorized |

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