Solid read at the Harvard Business Blog. Check Ace the Interview by David Silverman. Some sound advice when you land that interview. Glad to see that I am not the only one blogging about this topic.

Readers are Leaders.

More than ever the phone screen is making deep dives into questions typically reserved for the interview. In reality there is really no difference between a phone screen and a sales call. Present yourself in lieu of a product and land the face-to-face. Here are some tips that help me present over the phone:

• Look in the mirror. You will have a more conversational tone if you can see your own face.
• Talk with emotion. Stand up. Walk around. Your activity will help you be expressive and “up”.
• Let the interviewer finish the question. Repeat the question. Know when to stop.
• Be deliberate in your words and slow down.

Being prepared is the best luck.

It is not about you. Think about the current employment situation. Tons of qualified talent on the market competing for a few open slots. The reality is that if your resume does not separate you from the qualified crowd, you will not interview.

Think about what the hiring manager really needs. Much of time that means you have to have good information and perhaps a connection to the company. Does the hiring manager really know what they want? Are they looking for a candidate with specific domain knowledge? How many keywords does your resume already hit for the opportunity? Could it hit more? This will add extra time to the process, but in the end it will prove worthwhile.

Remember, your resume is not about you. It is about solving a company’s opportunity.

Happy hunting.

I came across the Handpresso while shopping at the Seattle Flagship REI store. It is truly portable. Hand pump operated and uses the standard Easy Serving Espresso (E.S.E.) pod. This is a device that I would actually take into the backcountry. Pack-in/Pack-out does not work well with loose coffee grounds. Way too much mess. Pods are better in that situation. I have used them like tea bags on past backpacking trips and it works fairly well. The Handpresso is an ideal for a car camp or low key camp trip.

Available @ Amazon, REI and other fine stores…

Coffee Drinks Illustrated by Lokesh Dhakar is an impressive illustration of the variety of espresso drinks. Being a coffee fiend, I like it. Looks like he is channeling his inner Edward Tufte.

I found this via LifeHacker.