Don’t Forget to Say “Thanks” in an interview
Make it personal. If you discovered the hiring manager shares your passion for travel or mystery books, referring to this commonality could make your letter even more effective. Personalizing the note will remind him or her who you are and that you paid close attention during the interview.
Be specific. In your note, bring up points from the conversation you had with the hiring manager. For example, if a prospective employer stressed that the open position calls for knowledge of a particular software program, use the thank-you letter as an opportunity to remind the person that you've worked with the application on a range of projects.
Add an extra. Perhaps during the interview you mentioned an article you recently read that's relevant to the firm's business. Send it with your note, along with a brief explanation of why you thought your contact would be interested in the information. Indeed, whether it's a news article or a link to an interesting Web site, you'll make yourself more memorable by demonstrating that you've gone beyond the basics.
Allay concerns. A thank-note is your chance to address any concerns the hiring manger expressed, especially if you were unable to do so in the interview. Perhaps the interviewer was worried about your lack of industry experience, and during the interview you forgot to mention a temporary position you had in the sector. You can bring it up in your note, along with a few points about how that experience contributed to your knowledge or interest in the field.
A Quick Overview of the ObjectContext in .NET
When working with the Entity Framework, the core class that you must use is the ObjectContext. This is the object that does all interaction with the database. It manages your database connection and handles all reads and writes as well as takes care of change tracking. It is probably the singular most important object when working with the Entity Framework but is also probably the most abused. The subject of the ObjectContext is a topic for an entire article on its own, but there are a few key things that will help keep you from running into trouble.
Because the ObjectContext does change tracking it is the source of most weird issues that people encounter when using the Entity Framework. Those new to ORM tools may not realize what is actually happening when change tracking is used. The Entity Framework makes it really easy to query objects, change them and then save them back to the database without you having to worry about insert order and writing update statements. The ObjectContext is smart enough to know what order things need to be done and generates SQL to make sure that all operations get completed as quickly as possible. The very nature of how change tracking works, however, is what can trip up developers.
When you query an object with the ObjectContext, information about the object is stored in the ObjectContext state manager. Reverences are held in memory so that when you make a change to the object, the ObjectContext has a reference point to know what needs to be changed. If you query a lot of objects, a lot of objects will be held in the state manager until the context is disposed. The ObjectContext implements IDisposable to make the process of cleaning up more straightforward. The problems start happening when you have too many objects in the context at one time. When you call SaveChanges() on the ObjectContext, it will look at all of the objects in the state manager and decide what needs to be done to them. As you can imagine, having more objects in the state manager will simply cause more resources to be used. If you have objects there you are currently not using, you are wasting memory and CPU cycles. There is no hard and fast rule on how many objects can be on the context at any given time but my recommendation is to keep as small as possible.
Top 5 Ways to Wreck Your Job Interview
1. Being rude to the receptionist or assistant
Some candidates don't think it matters if they're dismissive of the hiring manager's assistant when arranging the interview or get upset at the receptionist because he or she mispronounced their name by mistake. After all, this person isn't the one making the hiring decision. But you may be surprised to learn that six out of 10 executives polled by Robert Half said they consider their assistant's opinion important when evaluating potential new hires. So remember to be polite and respectful to everyone you interact with during the hiring process.
2. Acting like you're the only person there
Consider this scenario: After you've checked in for the interview, you make a quick phone call to give your friend a blow-by-blow description of last night's party, speaking so loudly that everyone in the office can't help but hear you. That's the wrong approach. It's better to sit patiently and peruse any company literature in the lobby. Doing so demonstrates common courtesy and can help you learn more about the firm and its needs.
3. Arriving late
Getting to an interview on time or, for that matter, a few minutes early is an easy way to impress a prospective employer. Arriving late is not only unprofessional, it also shows the hiring manager that you have little regard for his or her schedule. It also calls into question your ability to show up to work on time, one of the most basic aspects of any job. Plus, arriving late could cause you to miss the meeting altogether if the interviewer has another appointment.
4. Going into the interview unprepared
Far too many candidates fail to properly prepare for the interview, believing that they can "wing it" and still make a strong impression. The savviest job seekers spend time considering questions the hiring manager will likely ask, so they can answer confidently during the meeting. They also research the employer ahead of time so they can explain how their skills match the open position, and also highlight their true interest in the company and position.
5. Not asking questions
As the interview winds down, the hiring manager will likely ask if you have any questions. Your answer should be yes. But your questions should go beyond "How much does the position pay?" and "How many days of vacation can I expect?" Although compensation and benefits are important components of any job, broach these subjects only if the prospective employer has expressed serious interest in hiring you -- usually not until the second or third interview. More appropriate questions for a first interview include "What will my specific duties be?" "What are your top priorities for this position?" and "What does a typical day in this position look like?"
The Intimidating Interviewer
Your potential boss has just finished itemizing what your job would entail, and the list includes working a number of weekends and extensive overtime, as well as more administrative duties than you'd anticipated. While you appreciate the hiring manager's candor, you already know this isn't the place for you.
It's best to be honest: Tell the hiring manager that, based on his description of the job, you think you wouldn't be a good match for the position and thank him or her for meeting with you. The person will appreciate your honesty and that you didn't waste his or her time during the interview process.
While you can't completely prepare for what you'll encounter when you meet a hiring manager, you should consider the personality types you may meet during an interview. By applying your experiences and trusting your instincts, you'll be more likely to succeed -- and be asked back for another meeting.
Awful Interviewers
Most professionals are so focused on performing well for a sharp hiring manager that it's a surprise to meet with someone who is inexperienced, unprepared or unfocused. Following are some common types of bad interviewers you may encounter and how to ensure a meeting with any of them still goes well:
The Distracted Interviewer.
From the moment you walk in his office door, this person can barely focus attention on you long enough to ask a question. Between taking phone calls and talking to employers who poke their heads in for a "quick answer" to a problem, your interviewer has only managed to find out the name of your last employer.
In an extreme situation, you might diplomatically offer to come back at a less hectic time. After all, maybe you've arrived during the busiest time of year, and he or she simply didn't have a chance to prepare for the meeting. If the Distracted Interviewer accepts your offer to come back, and the hiring manager is still disorganized on your second visit, consider this a potential sign of how things are at this firm. Would you want to work for someone who can't organize his or her time well enough to conduct a proper interview?
The First-Timer.
This person is probably more nervous than you are. The First-Timer is likely extremely organized and has a list of questions, all of which must be asked and answered in order. He or she is not at all interested in non-scripted details: When you offer insight into an accomplishment you thought stood out from the rest, the hiring manager just nods politely and moves on to the next question, all the while taking comprehensive notes.
In this situation it's best to just go with the interviewer's flow; you don't want to make the person feel inept. A good way to highlight information you think is crucial -- but that is not on the interviewer's "list" -- is to ask if you can talk about a few relevant accomplishments after the person is finished with his or her questions. The First-Timer will still feel in control of the interview, and you'll feel you've done your best to demonstrate your ability to do the job.
The Never-Ending Interviewer.
You've been talking to a hiring manager for close to two hours, having answered every question the person asked long ago. He or she has moved on from telling you about the job to telling you about his or her recent safari in Africa.
The best advice? Continue to pay close attention. Though the conversation may veer in various directions, by listening carefully, you may get a better idea of the attributes this person seeks in a new hire, allowing you to emphasize your skills during the interview and in a strong follow-up note thanking the interviewer for meeting with you.
The Silent Type.
You don't mind answering questions at length, but you'd like to find out a little bit more about the position. Yet, your attempts to open dialogue are not generating responses. Since you can't force the Silent Type to open up, and you don't want to upset the person, it's best to try to get additional details from other sources.
You might try to do some more research on the company on your own, including talking to those in your network to see if they can offer insight. You may have an opportunity to meet with others at the company who will be more forthcoming with information. Whatever tack you take, you need to get the entire picture of the job and the company before you can consider accepting the position.
First 10 Minutes of an Interview Count
With such a short amount of time to interact with a hiring manager, how can you evoke a positive response? Projecting confidence and enthusiasm is key, so keep the following advice in mind:
1. Demonstrate your knowledge.
Hiring managers often start interviews by asking job candidates some straightforward questions about their experience, knowledge of the company and ability to excel in the position. For example, "Can you tell me a little about yourself?" "What do you know about our firm?" and "Why do you want to work here?" are three common questions. Research the business beforehand so that when answering these types of queries, you can relate your responses to the firm's needs or priorities.
2. Remain calm.
One of the best ways to make a good first impression is to quell any pre-interview jitters. Plan to arrive at the interview destination 10-15 minutes early. This will give you time to compose yourself and relax a little.
3. Dress to impress.
For better or worse, a good part of the impression an interviewer first forms of you depends on how you're dressed. So wear a nice suit or business-appropriate dress, even if you know the office to be a casual environment.
4. Show some respect.
Many hiring managers ask everyone who has interacted with a candidate -- from administrative staff to members of their department -- for feedback on the prospective employee. So be pleasant toward those you meet and avoid the urge to hold a loud cell phone discussion in the elevator or lobby.
5. Focus on the little things.
The fact that employers form opinions of candidates so quickly places additional importance on the more subtle points of the interview, such as giving a firm handshake, maintaining eye contact and practicing good posture. Your nonverbal cues can say a lot about your personality and interest in the position. Crossing your arms, nodding hurriedly or making tense facial expressions can all send the wrong message.
6. Break the ice.
Small talk plays an important role in the interview by helping to break the ice and put both parties at ease. If the hiring manager asks if traffic was heavy or if you had problems finding your way to the office, offer more than just a "yes" or "no" answer. Just be sure not to prattle on.
