Job Interview Tips

Audra Lowe: Welcome back everybody. It’s time for Hot Topics and here with Maribel Aber, Better’s finance and career expert. And, earlier we were talking about the questions that hiring managers should not ask you but tend to ask you when you’re in that job interview a lot of people don’t realize.

Maribel Aber: A lot of people don’t realize it and it’s a lot of new managers who don’t realize it. We were talking about a little bit earlier because when you think about a lot of the companies who become a right size. That means a lot of first time managers coming up too bad. So a Human Resources person may have time to understand this, have training in this. A lot of new managers don’t.

Audra Lowe: And a lot of them were just thrown right into it and they’re doing the best job that they can and it can be long.

Maribel Aber: And thinking the same thing, “Oh, I've got my -- how am I going to budget this and schedule this and I want to hire somebody that can actually support me and what have you?”

Audra Lowe: Speaking of budget and money, I've actually put the word out there that you’re coming on the show and on Twitter some people were saying that one lady said that she went to a job interview. They had on the application a question that says “What was your last salary?”

Maribel Aber: Okay.

Audra Lowe: She says, “Why would I put that down? I have no idea what they’re paying. Am I going to lowball myself? Can they ask you that? What do you do?

Maribel Aber: Right. See, you don’t want to negotiate yourself out, right. But, a lot of times, employers are looking to see whether or not you fit within their budget itself. So, what I suggest for that is just give yourself a range and know that for your own expectations, it maybe lower that what you’re used to.

Audra Lowe: So, that’s better than leaving it blank?

Maribel Aber: Absolutely.

Audra Lowe: Okay and she just put, “None of your business.” More than what I made on the last job. That’s probably what a lot of people want to quit.

Okay, also another person asked about the references because apparently, she -- and this is what I've got from her message. That she went on to an interview. They asked her to write down job references and her last supervisor’s information. She says, “You know what, I don’t even if I want this job? Why would I want to take the chance on them calling my boss?”

So, can you ask them to leave that blank or leave it off until you figure out if you want the job?

Maribel Aber: I just wouldn’t put it -- I mean if you don’t make it to the level where you're on the second interviews, final interview stages, that’s just not, that’s a little bit too close to home I think. You don’t have to put that down yet.

Audra Lowe: Okay.

Maribel Aber: I mean a lot of times people do want to verify your employment and that’s different than actually asking for your supervisor.

Audra Lowe: Very, very interesting! Okay, in U.S.A. Today, a very funny snapshot, I love the snapshots that they do in the paper where they do polls and ask people questions and there’s a confidential document that was sent to you or that was left on the copier. Do you look at it? Well, when they asked people, apparently, 49% said that yes they do look and a smaller percentage said that they don’t. 38% said that don’t, are they being honest?

Maribel Aber: Curiosity killed the cat, I think.

Audra Lowe: Yeah, right.

Maribel Aber: Well, look, if they were talking about an email sort of communications comes through. You understand if you’re receiving it at work. They’ve seen that you’ve received it. So, the best thing is to really just delete it and maybe inform the person or your boss even, and “Hey, I didn’t get this email. I wouldn’t even pass it along”. Have you seen the email? I deleted, just F.Y.I so you know, it's been there.

Audra Lowe: So, you would let them know that you did receive it?

Maribel Aber: I would.

Audra Lowe: And then, delete it?

Maribel Aber: I would. I would.

Audra Lowe: Okay, that’s very interesting. Another thing that they also mentioned was college plans. We’re talking about who has saved for college, 89% said they believe their kid will go to college and then about 38% said that they have saved. And, I thought that number was good for this economy.

Maribel Aber: The number is great. The number is really good. I mean a lot of -- we‘re talking about many studies right where women are really focused on that because there isn’t -- they aren't a lot of jobs right now. So, the fact that people are saving even a little bit is really important.

Audra Lowe: I like that, too. And, you know they’re still researching. 50% said they’re researching the cost so at least people know that these costs are coming. Look at what you’re going to have say about for it too.

Maribel Aber: I think people are just being more mindful.

Audra Lowe: Yeah.

Maribel Aber: That there are costs out there.

Audra Lowe: All right, thank you so much Maribel, good to have you back. We’ll be back in just a minute.