Pulaski

Me too, and for what it is worth, along side all the good advice here, and at the risk of stating the obvious, alongside any "general" jobs you apply for, be sure to focus on any that you already have specific skills or experience for.

When I lived in Virginia I was lucky to find a job for which I had very specific experience, and which was extremely hard for my (now) employer to recruit for in North Carolina (joining a team of a dozen, I had about half the specific experience of the entire rest of the team put together!); the result was the job was more or less handed to me - I got a phone offer the next day, before I even had a chance to write to thank them for the interview.

And I used a specialist recruiter - one who focussed on my industry, and who coincidentally happened also to be a British Expat. In the days of the internet and long-distance hiring it was not an issue that the recruiter was in New York, my soon to be employer was in NC, and that I was in Virginia.

gruffbrown

As long as you don't cut the cheese, that's a big no no at an interview

dbj1000

Yes, I believe that would count, although I'm no expert on the L1 visa route. According to this site:

"The L1 visa category applies to aliens who work for a company with a parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate in the U.S. These workers come to the U.S. as intracompany transferees who are coming temporarily to perform services either: in a managerial or executive capacity L-1A or which entail specialized knowledge L-1B for a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of the same employer that employed the professional abroad."

...so I think other companies within your group are probably an option. Do note however that you need to be reasonably senior management (L-1A) or have skills similar to those required for an H1-B (L-1B) to be granted these visas.

dbj1000

Oh, but I'd be sure to reference it in my follow-up email:

"I'm sure you agree that I am a candidate of most excellent skills and odor, as my lingering scent around the office will attest."

gruffbrown

Deer Sir,

I waunt to apply for the secritary job what I saw in the paper. I can Type real quik wit one finggar and do sum a counting.

I think I am good on the phone and no I am a pepole person, Pepole really seam to respond to me well.

I´m lookin for a Jobb as a secritary but it musent be to complicaited.

I no my spelling is not to good but find that I Offen can get a job thru my persinalety. My salerery is open so we can discus wat you want to pay me and wat you think that I am werth,

I can start imeditely. Thank you in advanse fore yore anser. .

hopifuly Yore best aplicant so farr.


Sinseerly,

Peggy May Starlings


PS : Because my resimay is a bit short - below is a pickture of me taken at my last jobb.

Employer's response:......


Dear Peggy May,

It's OK honey, we've got spell check

Philgr

I've found LinkedIn is better for keeping in touch with people who can then help you find a job through networking. Plus, if you advertise the right skills/corporate experience in your personal summary (& work in the right industries - I work in IT doing Business Development) then recruiters seem to use it a lot for finding candidates. I have found three of my friends jobs through headhunters calling me and me referring them on.

Bob - send me a PM with your name or email and I'll connect up with you if you want.

Lord Lionheart

Here we go folks, one of the preparatory documents sent to me by a recruiter prior to an interview, hope this helps.............. to cause some arguments on BE


Helpful Hints for your Interview!

Preparing for the Interview

Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer's full name, the correct pronunciation and his or her title.

Learn pertinent facts about the company such as annual sales revenue, principal lines of business and locations.

Find out why the hiring manager and/or client representative is interested in your qualifications.

Determine how the opportunity will impact your immediate and long-term career development.

An interview is a "two-way street." Know what questions to ask during the interview. Your questions allow the hiring manager to evaluate your professional and personal needs. Insightful questions help both of you determine if your relationship will be mutually rewarding. Lastly, the better you understand the opportunity, the more you will be able to communicate your interest in the position.

Put your best foot forward. Always wear proper attire and greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and an enthusiastic smile.


The Interview

For hiring managers, the "right match" means they have identified individuals capable of performing the immediate challenges. More importantly, they hope the individuals have the potential to be future resources and assets to the firm.

The interviewer is the mechanism used to determine the "right match."

You are being interviewed by the hiring manager to determine whether you have the qualifications necessary to do the job and whether a mutually rewarding professional relationship can be formed.

Similarly, you must determine whether you can be successful in the available position and whether the company will give you the opportunity for growth and development.

Present yourself in the best possible light. However, be yourself; everyone has the same goal - the "right match."

Some "DOs" and "DON'Ts
Do plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.

If presented with an application, do fill it out neatly and completely. Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. Interviewers will want you to speak for yourself.

Do greet the interviewer by last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. If not, ask the employer to repeat it. Give the appearance of energy as you walk. Smile! Shake hands firmly. Be genuinely glad to meet the interviewer.

Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright, look alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good communicator.

Do look a prospective employer in the eye while speaking.

Do follow the interviewer's leads, but try to get the interviewer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview so that you can apply your background, skills and accomplishments to the position.

Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Stress achievements. For example: sales records, processes developed, savings achieved, systems installed, etc.

Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on opportunity.

Do show enthusiasm. If you are interested in the opportunity, enthusiastic feedback can enhance your chances of being further considered. If you are not interested, your responsiveness will still demonstrate your professionalism.

Don't forget to bring a copy of your resume! Keep several copies in your briefcase if you are afraid you will forget.

Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. Do not chew gum.

Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself which relate to the situation.

Don't lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly.

Don't make unnecessary derogatory remarks about your present or former employers. Obviously, there were issues or else you would not have left a prior company or be looking to leave a present employer. However, when explaining your reasons for leaving, limit your comments to those necessary to adequately communicate your rationale.

Don't over-answer questions. And if the interviewer steers the conversation into politics or controversial issues, try to do more listening than speaking since this could be a sensitive situation.

Don't inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, etc., on the initial interview unless you are sure the employer is interested in hiring you. If the interviewer asks what salary you want, indicate what you've earned but that you're more interested in opportunity than in a specific salary.

Be Prepared to Answer Such Questions As...

Tell me about yourself?

Tell me about your background, accomplishments?

What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

How would you describe your most recent job performance?

What interests you about our company?

How do you stay professionally current?

What outside activities are most significant to your personal development?

And, be prepared to ASK questions, such as...

What would I be expected to accomplish in this position?

What are the greatest challenges in this position?

How do you think I fit the position?

Remember a lack of questions may be mistaken as a lack of interest.

Not letting these kinds of subjects catch you off-guard is a key factor in maintaining your composure during an interview. Rehearse these questions and answers in your mind (or even out loud, if you can) in the days before the interview.

Negative Factors Evaluated by An Interviewer


Personal appearance which is less than professional.

Overbearing, overaggressive or egotistical behavior.

No positive purpose.

Lack of interest and enthusiasm -- passive and indifferent.

Lack of confidence and poise; nervousness.

Overemphasis on compensation.

Evasiveness; making excuses for unfavorable factors in work history.

Lack of tact, maturity and courtesy.

Condemnation of past employers, managers, projects or technologies.

Inability to maintain a conversation.

Lack of commitment to fill the position at hand.

Failure to ask questions about the position.

Persistent attitude of "What can you do for me?"

Lack of preparation for interview -- failure to get information about the company, resulting in inability to ask intelligent questions.


Closing the Interview

1.If you are interested in the position, let the interviewer know. If you feel the position is attractive and you want it, be a good salesperson and say something like: "I'm very impressed with what I've seen here today; your company, its products and the people I've met. I am confident I could do an excellent job in the position you've described to me." The interviewer will be impressed with your enthusiasm.

2.Don't be too discouraged if no immediate commitment is made. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with other people in the company or possibly interview more candidates before making a decision.

3.If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, don't let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in you may seem to discourage you as a way of testing your reaction.

4.Thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration. If you have answered the two questions-- "Why are you interested in this position?" and "What can you offer?"-- you have done all you can.

CaliforniaBride

Excellent post. That should be a sticky or go in the articles.

dbj1000

Yep, that's an excellent post. I agree with CaliforniaBride that it should be a sticky.

Of the list of things it reminds people not to do, I've seen many of them done time after time. A particular favorite was an applicant whose first question was "What's the salary for this position?" and then went on to explain at length that they hated the job and the industry it was in, but they needed money to study to be a lawyer, and since they could do this particular role with their eyes shut, they would have plenty of spare time to study law! It's the only time I've ever cut an interview short and told the candidate that there was no need for them to meet other managers in the group.

...but it was honest, I'll give them that!

Bob

A suit, and they would have laughed me out of the building...which is great for me
But can't go wrong with being smart, that's for sure, always easier to take tie off and dress down while there, but you can't dress up...

Lord Lionheart

One of my favorites on the interview tips list is 'Do plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.'

On my second or third interview I was an hour and 15 minutes late, a cement truck had turned over on the freeway shutting all lanes down except for the carpool lane.This turned my one hour 55 mile journey( which I had added more time so as not to be late) into nearly 3 hours! My A/C belt also snapped on the same journey. Imagine my surprise when I showed up dripping in sweat and very late only to not get offered the job

dbj1000

At least you had the balls to show up. I don't think I would have, to be honest. Having said that, nothing makes me madder than a no-show at an interview, and I've been surprised how often it happens.

Philgr

I liked that one too - back in 97 I was looking for a job back in the UK and had set up a series of interviews while I was over there for a week. I landed at Heathrow with plenty of time to spare - hopped in a cab (checking it had a credit card sign on it) - arrived at the offices for my interview - and the cabbie flat out refused to accept a credit card for less than 20UK Pounds. Of course, I didn't have any cash so I had to decide whether it was better to go in and borrow the cash from the people I was interviewing with or refuse to pay the cabbie and have him come in after me to the interview demanding to be paid. I opted to go and borrow the money but I guess neither option would have helped me get the job Luckily it was the height of the IT boom so I had four other job offers by the end of the week anyhow.

ricflair

what kind of work do you guys actually do, and how did you get your chance to work in usa?

Lord Lionheart

It did cross my mind to turn straight around....... but I thought to myself that I deserved an interview after being stuck in traffic for 3 hours. Didn't really want the job either once I had the interview.