Peggy McKee

If you've been in the job search for even half a second, you've heard of the hidden job market. But what is it? Does it even exist? And if it does, how are you supposed to apply for, and win a job you can't even find?

Phone interviews used to be a practice only appropriate for out-of-state candidates, but now everyone does them. A lot. So chances are, you've either had some experience with them, or you will soon. You can get through them successfully every time if you know why companies rely on them and learn a few tricks-of-the-trade.

Are you in a sales role? Or trying to get a better sales job? If so, what's your sales style? Can you communicate it to get the job?

Being laid off can feel so awkward to a job seeker that it paralyzes them in an interview situation and undermines their candidacy--but it doesn't have to. I'm going to show you how to change the language you use and the perspective you have about your layoff to boost your confidence and calm the concerns of a potential new employer.

In our currently sketchy economy, many job seekers have given up on the idea of asking for more money during their salary negotiations. But it is possible to negotiate a great salary for yourself, even during a recession. What I have seen in my interviewing (as a recruiter) and in my coaching with my clients (as a personal career coach) is that they are able to consistently negotiate great salary and overall compensation packages when they excel in the interview process.

Job shadowing is common among students, less so among adults who have been out in the work force for a while. But if you're transitioning to a new job or career field, it can be a huge boost to your credibility and your performance in the interview. But you've got to ask the right questions to get the kind of information you're going to need to stand out.

What's the most hated question in sales job interviews? Probably it's "Sell me this pen." And yet, it's the quintessential question. It's a role-playing exercise that's hugely popular with interviewers. Hiring managers can learn so much about you by how you answer it.

Massive layoffs and changing sales practices by Big Pharma companies have resulted in a flood of sales reps in the job market. But life gets even tougher for them when they run into job postings with "pharma reps need not apply" or "we won't consider candidates with a pharmaceutical background" right in the description! So is that the end of the road for them? Does that mean you can't even look at that job if you're a laid-off pharma rep? Of course not!

The path to get into medical sales is littered with job seeker casualties: "not enough sales experience," "not the right kind of experience," "no experience in the medical field," and so on. But there are ways to get your foot in the door even if you have no experience at all. You're going to have to work for it, but it is possible, and it's very worth it.

In your job interview, the details matter. The big picture is often the same, in terms of the process, but how you handle each individual step tells the interviewer a tremendous amount about you and how you'll approach the job. You have 3 major opportunities to make it count.