Friends Help Friends Find Jobs: Interviewing

Monster, HotJobs, CareerBuilder, Dice, SimplyHired, etc. etc. are all great but when the rubber hits the road, it’s friends that will help you beyond all other sources when it comes to finding you a new job. I’m switching jobs in a few weeks and this is all possible because of the referrals from my friends. Having a friend on the “inside” helps you get into the door, helps you navigate the interview process, and gives you, hopefully, their honest opinion of what it’s like to work there. All three parts are critical because while the job may pay better, the work environment may not be a good fit. This article will just talk about how having someone on the inside gives you a leg up in the interview process.

Interviewing
Depending on the size of the company, the interview process may as formal as a full day or two with a rigid itinerary or as informal as “show up at 4pm, we’ll just chat.” Having someone who had gone through the process will give you an idea of what to expect, whether it’s “beware heavily technical questions” or they’re just giving you reassurance that “if they’re asking you to interview in person, they’re going to give you a job” (even if it’s not 100% true).

Even if they aren’t familiar with the interviewing process, they might be familiar with the people (if the company is small enough) and the company so you’ll feel more confident and comfortable when you actually interview.

In interviewing, information is critical in performing well and having some inside information is always helpful, even if it’s just knowing someone appreciates humor.