#job-interviews

#job-interviews

Imagine this: You're interviewing for a new job, after having taken time out of work to travel and forget the stress induced by your former employer. As the interview progresses, the hiring manager naturally inquires what you've been up to since leaving your last role and your heart races as you search for the perfect response to justify the break.

A serious face is often deemed professional-even the dictionary associates unsmiling with being businesslike. It's why hopeful new hires may tap into their inner Victoria Beckham or Kanye West-who famously scowl or pout-when they want to look like they mean business. But actually having a poker or somber face in a job interview may be a less successful strategy to landing a role than flashing potential bosses a big, cheesy grin. That's because, according to new research, a smile exudes confidence and consequently, makes you more hirable.

"How do you feel life has worked out for you so far?" Salem Pierce was asked as part of her application for a visual design lead position at an unnamed company online. The application also asked that she "record a short, roughly 2-5 minute video response and paste the link here," the 30-year-old graphic designer revealed on Twitter. Pierce described the demand as a "new level of job application hell" and many others online agreed.

My biggest negotiation regret is not negotiating my paid job offer better; I ended up turning it down to avoid an unpaid internship instead.

"Every answer should begin with a hook that provides a 'handshake' and an introduction to what's to follow. This first impression sets the tone for your answer."

If you could go back and relive one day in your career, mine would be my first day at Rainey Kelly, a peak moment that defined my passion.

The structured interview rests on the assumption that the elimination of the interviewer's subjective, individual perspective results in greater objectivity and thus less discrimination.

Interview Coder was created as a protest against industry practices that force candidates to solve programming puzzles, aiming to improve job interview success.