More often then not, the first interview has become a telephone interview. Human Resources is getting so many resumes for every open job that they can’t possibly interview every candidate that applies, so they have gone to a 15 minute phone interview or phone screen to screen out the candidates that aren’t qualified and move forward with those that are. Some people think phone interviews are easier than in-person ones. Often, those people are wrong.
In person, it’s easy to tell if an interviewer is tuning you out if you notice them staring off into space or sending text messages on their phone. On the phone, you and the interviewer are missing out on important visual cues. You can’t read the interviewer’s body language.
So, how can a job seeker really tell if the interviewer is bored, distracted or under whelmed?
Find a quiet space
In the absence of sight, hearing becomes sharper. And interviewers can easily hear distraction over the phone.
Once you’ve scheduled a phone interview, locate a calm, quiet place where you can focus. Make sure you’re not near a computer, TV or anything that will draw your attention away from the interview. Tell anyone who has access to the space that you are not to be disturbed under any circumstances.
Next, have a pen and paper handy to take notes during your interview. You should also have a copy of your resume so that when the interviewer refers to your experience, you can both be on the same page.
Speak Easy
As soon as you answer the phone, you’re on!
You want to start your phone interview off right. And, because the interviewer can’t see you, she’s listening even more carefully.
Make a conscious effort to sound upbeat and enthusiastic.
Smile. Interviewers can hear you smile — and smiling can put you in a better state of mind.
Stand up and walk back and forth. Standing can make your voice sound more powerful.
And always remember to breathe. It will help you stay calm and sound more relaxed.
Listen
A phone interview isn’t just about speaking. It’s about listening.
To listen carefully, try closing your eyes when the interviewer is speaking so you can focus on what is being said.
This technique can also help you read the interviewer’s mood. Is he interested and enthusiastic, or bored and distracted? Is the interview conversational? Are questions and answers flowing easily?
Listen hard after your responses. Did your response prompt additional questions or make the interviewer hesitate?
If the interviewer seems distracted, use one of the powerful questions you were saving for the “Do you have any questions?” section of the interview. A well-chosen question can re-engage him/her and put the interview back on track.

Last month I was in Chicago at the Gecko Hospitality conference where we spent two days discussing how to better help our clients with their staffing needs. On Tuesday night we flew in to Chicago early in order to prepare dinner at the Ronald McDonald House at the University Of Chicago Hospital. The gecko team of recruiters prepared homemade meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, salad and a chocolate cake that looked like it came from the cover a Saturday Evening Post in the 1950’s.
Now I’m not sure if you ever been in a Ronald McDonald House but they tend to be at hospitals that specialize in treating children for cancer. The Chicago house is amazing, having room for 35 families and a kitchen large enough to host a reality TV show. The 35 families staying in the house, live there rent free while their children undergo treatment for various forms of cancer. Many times the children stay in the hospital and the house is a place for the parents and siblings to come back to in the evening and be around others going through the similar situations to their own.
We did meet one 8 year old boy who has had cancer since he was 4 years old. He has been having Chemo treatments for a while and had been in the hospital for 2 weeks straight. The dinner that we had cooked was the first meal outside of a hospital bed as well as the first real food that he had eaten in 2 weeks. The boy cleaned his plate. He also told me that he found out only hours earlier that he was cancer free and proceeded to show me all of the sharpie marks on his arms and legs that the radiologist had used to make sure that he was cancer free. They were his badge of honor.
If you ever need a pick me up, cook and serve dinner to a smiling 8 year old boy on the night he found out that his cancer is gone. I had a big smile on my face the rest of the evening and into Wednesday morning. Let’s never take for granted what’s most precious in life; our family, our friends, our community and life itself.

It’s hard to believe that December 24th is already upon us. It’s been an interesting time in the restaurant industry over the past year. Value is back in fashion and every restaurant that has a decent menu of meals under $10.00 seems to be busy when ever I go in. Of course I still like to frequent my favorite spots on the weekends where the prices may be a little higher but the food is top notch and the service is impeccable and attentive. The greatest change that I have seen in the restaurant industry over the past 6 months is that servers, managers and even chefs will approach us and genuinely thank us for our business. Last Saturday night after a wonderful chicken dinner (I’m not cheep, I really love free range chicken) at my favorite restaurant, the chef came out of the kitchen to thank my wife and I for our continued business. This simple act has me coming back to the restaurant this weekend for more, chicken most likely. More importantly, it made me think that I need to thank my clients for continuing to allow me to help them staff their restaurants, even during these difficult times. I relay do appreciate the business as well as their continued belief in me and in Gecko Hospitality. As we enter the thick of the holiday season it’s always great to remember that the greatest gift you can give someone is your sincere appreciation for what they do to make your world a better place. Give the gift of a “Thank You” this holiday season. Your bank account and the people you thank will be very thankful that you did.
Posted by Brian Blum

If I had a dollar for every time a candidate told me they left their job to help a friend open a restaurant, I would be a rich man.

Your friend just called you and said he has a great idea for a restaurant and he wants you to run it. Your heart beats fast. This is the opportunity you have been waiting for. No more corporate inspections. You can design the menu and implement your systems. You will be the king of the Castle, the head cheese, the big boss and best of all, your friend is the owner and he is a great guy. You are so excited that you give your 2 weeks notice and you’re out the door, on to the good life.

Before you leave your secure job at corporate restaurant Inc., think.

 Is this an A location or have 4 restaurants been in and out of here in the last 2 years. The sales of the restaurant will have to pay your salary and allow your friend to take money out of the business as well.
 Does my friend have enough capital to make it work for the first year while the restaurant looses money, yes you will loose money your first year no matter how good a manager you are. Make him prove he has the money. Don’t take his word for it.
 Are you willing to put your relationship with your friend on the line? You will most likely hate each other within 6 months.
 Are you willing to work 100 hours a week for a year. You won’t have strong assistant managers, if any, like you had at corporate restaurant Inc.

If you answered yes to all 4 questions then go for it. Many successful restaurants start out this way. But if you answer no to any one of these questions then walk away. 9 out of 10 restaurant fail in the first 2 years and you will most likely be one of them. If you don’t like your boss and you’re looking for a change then call me and well talk but don’t jump without a rope.

After years of tapping into the “talents” of sexy young actresses to pitch their premium burgers, Carl’s Jr. is changing its ways. It is now using a sexy young actress to sell salads.

The battle over immigration reform got off to an earlier start than anticipated when a group of lawmakers introduced a comprehensive bill into the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

Star Buffet Inc. reported Wednesday a third-quarter net loss that widened on closed restaurants, sales drops and impairment charges.

New York City’s Board of Health will move the discussion over a proposal to rate restaurants’ sanitary conditions with letter grades to a public hearing before it votes on the measure.