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Articles from Peggy McKee | Selfgrowth.com
- How to Answer Interview Questions - Q52 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat are your salary expectations? Oh, the dreaded salary question! The good news is that it doesn’t have to be a big problem for you if you know how to handle it. The primary strategy I teach my job seekers is “Do your research so that you know what the going rate is for that job in your ...
Views: 1605 - What Is LinkedIn? And Why Should I Care? - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2009 from Peggy McKeeWith over 40 million members and still growing, LinkedIn is the biggest professional network in the entire world. It connects an individual with numerous contacts. But, there is more to LinkedIn than just connections....after all, recent developments in networking technology should provide more ...
Views: 1605 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q96 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy do you want to work for someone else after owning your own business / freelancing? LOTS of hiring managers will have a hard time believing that you can start taking orders after being your own boss. It’s not a big leap for them to make…it would be difficult for many people. Your best ...
Views: 1604 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q32 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeIf you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently? Hmmm….what would I do differently? I wouldn’t speed when I was going to get a ticket… I wouldn’t have invested money in those stocks… I wouldn’t have bought those shoes… Maybe those kinds of things ...
Views: 1603 - Job Interviews: How You Can Benefit By Asking Questions - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2009 from Peggy McKeeWhat really separates candidates? It is not what you think. Of course, you need a great resume and you have to have presence. You have to have your shoes shined, show up on time and answer all the questions correctly. But you know what really makes a great candidate stand out from the ...
Views: 1600(1 vote) - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 7 - Career Fairs - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2012 from Peggy McKeeCareer Fairs I’ve got to say, career fairs are not my preferred method of finding a job fast. They are mobbed with job seekers and it can be a little unnerving to line up shoulder-to-shoulder with your competition. They usually require you to stand in long lines for a lot of the day which ...
Views: 1599 - Fastest Way to Find a Job – Tip 4 – Facebook - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2012 from Peggy McKeeFacebook Do you think that LinkedIn is for business and Facebook is for friends? You’re partly right; but the line between the two is very, very fuzzy when it comes to job searching. I found some stats on Mashable that says as of December 2011, over 18 million people have gotten jobs ...
Views: 1592 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 37: How to Prepare for a Phone Interview - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2013 from Peggy McKeePhone interviews are an incredibly critical tipping point in the hiring process. They liked what they saw your resume enough to talk to you…will this phone call make them like you enough to call you in for a face-to-face interview? There’s a lot you can do to prepare for phone interviews and ...
Views: 1589 - Is Your Career Worth an Hour of Your Time? - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2009 from Peggy McKeeObviously, the answer to this simple question is a resounding “Yes!” After all, careers represent achievement and financial security. Giving up an hour of your time is an insignificant sacrifice considering the benefits that it can provide. The next question: How should you utilize that hour ...
Views: 1579(1 vote) - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q88 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy did you freelance for so long? A lot of people have taken up freelancing, consulting, or other independent work in the last few years just out of necessity. In many industries, it’s been difficult to find a job. Others have struck out on their own because there has been just so much ...
Views: 1576 - What's the Greatest Barrier to a Successful Job Search? - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Peggy McKeeWhat’s keeping you from getting the job? It could be the same thing that trips up others: you don’t understand (yet) that the job search is a sales process. It doesn’t matter what career you are involved in: to get the job, you have to sell yourself to the hiring manager. That means ...
Views: 1574 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q91 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy do you believe you are the best fit for this position? This job interview question closely resembles “Why should we hire you?” It’s one question that makes candidates very uncomfortable because it puts them on the spot, but it’s really a fantastic question. Why? It allows you free rein ...
Views: 1571 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q74 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat was the last book you read? It doesn’t matter if the last book you read was an actual paper variety with a spine and real pages or the digital version on your Kindle. If you read on a regular basis, it usually means that you’re someone who’s intelligent, curious, and interested in ...
Views: 1570 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q89 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy did you leave your last position? The underlying questions behind “Why did you leave your last position?” are, “Is there something wrong with you?” “Did you get fired for a reason?” “Will I regret hiring you?” Those are the concerns that you need to address when you answer this ...
Views: 1570 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 35: The One Question You Should Ask - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2013 from Peggy McKeeDo you know the most important question you should ask in phone interviews? Hopefully, you already know that it’s important that you should ask questions in your telephone interview. But you might not know that one question in particular can ensure a good interview or even turn the tide of a ...
Views: 1566 - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 17 Newspapers (or Craigslist) - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2012 from Peggy McKeeNewspapers (or Craigslist) If you know that I’m not very fond of job boards as a job search resource, then you must be really surprised that I would talk about newspapers or even Craigslist in a series about the fastest way to find a job. I’m sure you assume that I think newspapers belong to ...
Views: 1565 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q71 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat questions do you have for us? By the end of the job interview, when they ask if you have any questions for them, you probably feel like you’re toast. You’re just done, and you want to go home. That’s the way most people feel, so the most common response to this question is, “I don’t ...
Views: 1562 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q87 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy are you looking to leave your current job? It’s very important that you think about this job interview question well before you set foot in an interview. Interviewers always want to know why you want to leave your current job, and you must have a good answer ready to go. This can be a ...
Views: 1562 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 16: How to Project the Right Image Over the Phone - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2013 from Peggy McKeePhone interviews are notoriously difficult for the simple reason that the interviewer can’t see you. So much of how we communicate is through gestures and expressions and those have no meaning at all on the phone. But phone interview or not, it’s still vitally important that you project an ...
Views: 1560 - What to Keep In Mind When Choosing a Mentor for Your Career - by Submitted on Nov 28, 2009 from Peggy McKeeFinding a mentor can definitely help you advance your career, but there are several important points to keep in mind when choosing a career mentor. Usually people choose a manager, recruiter, or friend, but those choices might not be the best. A manager, for instance, might present a conflict ...
Views: 1558(1 vote) - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q38 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeTell me about a time when you faced a difficult situation with a co-worker. “Works well with others” is a major skill we’re judged on from kindergarten right on into the workplace. (If only we didn’t get so many ‘opportunities’ to hone that particular skill!) That’s why you get job ...
Views: 1555 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q49 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat are your hobbies? Asking about your hobbies and interests seems like an odd interview question, but companies are asking more and more of those ‘personality’ type questions these days in an effort to make sure that you’re going to be a good cultural fit for the organization. And the ...
Views: 1553 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q94 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy do you want to join this company? All companies want to know that you want to work for them rather than you just want a job. An enthusiastic employee is a better employee—and more pleasant to work with, too. Your answer to this question should sound like, “I want to join this company ...
Views: 1553 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q97 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy have you been out of work for so long? Boy, I bet you’d like to know the answer to that question, too! The job search can be a very difficult time for many people, but it’s important that you show a positive face to everyone. Answer every job interview question with as much positivity ...
Views: 1553 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q77 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat were the major challenges of your last job and how did you handle them? This is a tough job interview question to answer because the major challenges of your last job typically are going to be the key job skills that you’re bringing to the new one. (The exception being if you’re a brand ...
Views: 1552 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 19: Secret Tricks to Phone Interview Success - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2013 from Peggy McKeeTelephone interviews are tricky things. Even though they seem more casual, they are very, very important and should not be taken lightly. Even though it seems less stressful to talk to someone on the phone rather than facing them in your business suit, it’s actually a little unnerving to not ...
Views: 1550 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q16 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow do you deal with difficult customers? Dealing with difficult customers is a fact of life for a TON of jobs: sales reps, customer service reps, retail store clerks, receptionists, restaurant waitstaff, and a hundred other service-industry jobs. The people in those roles are in the ...
Views: 1549 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q50 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat are your least favorite things to do in your role as a XXXX? This is a slightly different version of, “What did you dislike about your previous job?” They are trying to find out more about you and how you think. If you are transferring roles in more of a lateral move, your answer ...
Views: 1548 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q98 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy have you changed jobs so frequently over the past X years? Job-hopping is not a great habit. When you stay at a job for only a few months or a year, over and over again, you are cultivating an image of someone who can’t be depended upon, who doesn’t know what they want, and who’s ...
Views: 1546 - How to Use a Tradeshow to Get a Great Job! - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2009 from Peggy McKeeTradeshows are great places to gather industry information and really great networking opportunities. However, they are also useful avenues for job searches. To be successful at this, you need a plan for before, during, and after the show. First (before the show): · Send out an e-mail to ...
Views: 1545 - Phone Interviews Tip 5 – How to Build Your Confidence - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2013 from Peggy McKeePhone interviews have all of the critical, “make-or-break” qualities of a face-to-face interview with none of the advantages. (1) You don’t have very much time to make a good impression. Phone interviews are very often over within 10-15 minutes. If you make a mistake, you don’t have much time ...
Views: 1544(1 vote) - ***5 Phone Interview Questions You Will Be Asked (And Tips on How to Answer Them) - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow to answer common phone interview questions Hiring managers don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of time, money and energy interviewing every potential candidate face-to-face. So most of them fall back on the practical: phone interviews. Do well with the phone interview, and the ...
Views: 1541 - Fastest Way to Find a Job – Tip 3 – LinkedIn - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2012 from Peggy McKeeLinkedIn I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: LinkedIn is great job search resource. Why? It’s packed with information and potential connections, and it’s entirely business-focused (unlike Facebook, which is socially-focused). Everyone there is interested in making more connections ...
Views: 1541 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q26 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow was your working relationship with your previous supervisor? How was your working relationship with your last boss? This is an attitude question for sure. They don’t really care about your last boss, they care about you. Hiring managers know that past behavior predicts future ...
Views: 1541 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q100 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy should we give you the job over the other candidates? This is a tough job interview question. Most people are not that comfortable with the idea of tooting their own horn, but that’s exactly what you have to do in a job search and in a job interview, and that’s especially what you have ...
Views: 1541 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q55 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat did you like or dislike about your previous jobs? Asking what you liked or disliked about your previous job sounds like a ‘get-to-know-you’ question, but don’t get too comfortable. This is another way to get at your strengths and weaknesses, and you can trip yourself up. Always ...
Views: 1539 - Job Search Tip: What’s the One Thing You Must Understand In the Job Search? - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2010 from Peggy McKeeHow many jobs have you applied to online—only to receive no response? Or maybe you received a “thanks but no thanks” letter. Either way, you aren’t making much progress in landing a job. If this applies to you, I have a question: Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Maybe you don’t think it’s ...
Views: 1539 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 21: How to Listen Well - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2013 from Peggy McKeeThe art of conversation requires that you not only express yourself well, but also that you listen well. Good listeners are valued. Being a good listener means that you’re going to have a more productive, higher-quality conversation than you would otherwise. Being a good listener is ...
Views: 1538 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q67 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat is your least favorite managerial task? With this job interview question, they are trying to get a feel for any potential weaknesses you’ll be bringing to the job, without asking directly about your weaknesses. Hiring managers are fully aware that you’ll be ready for the ‘weakness’ ...
Views: 1536 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q65 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat’s Your Greatest Weakness? “What’s your greatest weakness?” is possibly the most annoying job interview question just because of its sheer ridiculousness…your choices seem to be either to give them an obviously fake weakness (like you’re a perfectionist or you work too hard…ugh!), or a ...
Views: 1534 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 14: Your Phone Interview Voice - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2013 from Peggy McKeeYou might not think about the quality of your voice before your phone interview—but you should. Interviewers concentrate very hard on your voice in that conversation: Do you sound alert? Confident? Enthusiastic? Are there any red flags they need to be worrying about? They just don’t have ...
Views: 1534(1 vote) - How to Work with a Recruiter to Get a Great Job - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2009 from Peggy McKeeAs painful as looking for a new job can sometimes be, job seekers often overlook the simplest way to make the search easier: work with a recruiter. A recruiter can ease the pain of the search in several ways: she has contacts you can only dream of, she knows where the jobs are that you probably ...
Views: 1533 - Fastest Way to Find a Job – Tip 2 – Previous Bosses - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2012 from Peggy McKeePrevious Bosses Did you know that there are a lot of things your previous bosses can do for you in your quest to find a job? They might have a job lead for you, they can definitely offer insight you can use to be a better job seeker, and they are excellent references. If I were looking ...
Views: 1531 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 32: Good Telephone Communication - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2013 from Peggy McKeeJob interviews are all about communication, right? You will only get the job if you can successfully communicate that you understand the job, that you can do the job, that you will do the job, and that you pose no risk to this person’s continued employment. (That’s why 30-60-90-day plans are ...
Views: 1530 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q25 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow much did / do you make? Here’s a question guaranteed to make you uncomfortable in the job interview process. It’s one of the big hot-potato questions. No one wants to say a number first. But you don’t have to feel pressured or stressed. There are some great ways to handle this ...
Views: 1529 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q27 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you? It’s not ideal to work for someone who does, in fact, know less than you. In fact, it’s kind of aggravating. But typically, they don’t know less than you in all areas. There is usually a reason they are where they are. ...
Views: 1527 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q46 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWe are looking for someone with experience…or, You don’t have enough experience—why should we hire you? If you’re a new graduate, or if you’re switching careers, you might get asked this question, especially early on in the process, like in a phone interview. It is a challenge, but don’t let ...
Views: 1527 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q72 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat salary are you looking for? I hope that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are never to bring up money in the interview, at any time, until they make you an offer—until they say, “yes, you’re the one, let’s come to terms.” Curbing your enthusiasm until then will serve you in ...
Views: 1527 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q93 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy do you think you can manage a team without any prior managerial experience? If you are interviewing for your first management-level job, you will definitely be asked some version of this question. They are going to want to know if you think you can do this job and why. The key here is ...
Views: 1525 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q95 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhy do you want to switch from an academic field to business/industry? The one big perception / misconception about academics is that they can’t make it in the ‘real’ world. They are secure in their ivory towers and not coming out any time soon. So if you find yourself trying to leap from ...
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