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With the current state of economic affairs in the United States and other countries being what they are, jobs are hard to come by. If you are fortunate enough to be granted a job interview, don’t arrive unprepared. There are many aspects to interview preparation, but an area often overlooked ... Views: 1633
What would your manager say was the area you needed most development in?
This question might also sound like, “What would your boss say you need to improve on?” No doubt about it…impressing your boss is always important, and we all have things about ourselves that we could improve on. But, as ... Views: 1629
As an executive, you’ve probably been on plenty of interviews in your lifetime – from that entry-level position to the management positions you’ve held. But nothing quite compares to the executive-level interview; if you’ve been on even one you know this is a true statement.
So how do you ... Views: 1629
Phone interviews are really phone screens. They are screening candidates, narrowing down a list that’s too long, figuring out who to invite in for a face-to-face interview. So really, in a phone interview, they’re looking for reasons to mark you off the list—to screen you out. Your job in ... Views: 1623
Here you are in the interview you have been dreaming about. Now what? Will you nail the interview by making a great impression mastering artful responses to behavioral questions being asked? Or will this be another unsuccessful attempt at getting to your dream job.
The following S.O.A.R. ... Views: 1621
I noticed that you are applying for a position that is not as senior as your past positions. Why would you consider a job that is, in effect, a demotion for you?
This is a question you might get asked early on in the process, like in a phone interview. If you have a lot of experience, it’s ... Views: 1620
How do you deal with stressful situations?
If I got asked about how I deal with stressful situations, the first thing that would pop into my head is, “You mean like this one?” (Job interviews are very, very stressful. The way you deal with that stress is recognizing that it’s going to be ... Views: 1619
For such a short conversation, phone interviews are a surprisingly wide-open opportunity for screw-ups. Why is that? Partly, it’s because in a phone interview, the interviewer is really looking for mistakes. Telephone interviews are a screening process—a way to weed out too many candidates. ... Views: 1619
Tell us about a time that you went against corporate directives. Why? How did it turn out?
I once did a survey of job seekers as part of my mock interview program, asking them to give me actual questions they’ve been asked in job interviews, and this was one of the responses. I almost ... Views: 1618
What type of work environment do you prefer?
The best answer to this job interview question of what work environment do you prefer is the same answer you’d give to “What’s your ideal job?” The correct answer is: “This one.”
Of course, you need to respond with the type of work environment ... Views: 1618
Job Postings are “pieces of gold.” They are your customer’s wish lists.
Any sales person would tell you that in order to sell someone something you have to know what they need.
Read through job postings to find out what your customer (the employer) is looking for – what is the ... Views: 1616
What are your workplace values?
Asking about your workplace values is similar to asking “What is your work ethic?” Or, “What are your workplace ethics?” They want to know what kind of person you are. What matters to you?
It’s really an easy question to answer because your answer should ... Views: 1612
If you are looking to make the best impression possible, sounding like a Valley Girl is not helping that objective. When you raise the pitch of your voice at the end of every sentence, you lose all semblance of credibility because your statements sound like questions. You may be very ... Views: 1611
If you find yourself “under-employed” in a position that you are over-qualified for now or in your past, one of the questions you may be asked is how that situation came about. “Why are you working as a clerk when you are applying for a management position?”
The worst possible scenario is to ... Views: 1611
Even though your interviewer can’t see you, using the right body language in your phone interview will help you to have a better outcome.
Smile
One of the simplest things you can do to project confidence and enthusiasm over the phone is to smile while you talk. It’s amazing what smiling ... Views: 1611
How long would you plan to stay with us?
Asking about your future plans in this way is really not asking you about your future plans. You don’t have to go into your 5-year life plan or your career goals. It’s a brief question that requires only a brief answer.
Personally, my response to ... Views: 1609
There was an interesting blog post recently by a resume guru noting the frustration job seekers experience when faced with conflicting advice from resume experts. That frustration is easy to relate to because even we professionals don't always agree on what's correct.
Every advice giver ... Views: 1608
The advancement in the field of technology has changed the education system drastically. It has become more student-centric than before. Schools give special emphasis on improving the learning experience of students. This is majorly implemented via a digital platform by which students can learn ... Views: 1606
At the beginning of our career, most of us probably dreamed about a good job interview in which we would make such a positive impression on the interviewer that they wouldn’t want to wait another day before hiring us. As we grew up, however, it became more and more obvious that not every ... Views: 1605
You’re thrilled for your young adult who has entered the job search process and has landed an interview with a potentially fitting employer. Help your adult son or daughter in their interview process by offering these motivational tips and encouragement so that they do not dread the big day, but ... Views: 1605
With so many people out of work these days, there may be dozens if not hundreds of people applying for the job you want, need and deserve. And because there are so many job seekers for every available position, an increasingly important aspect of the weeding out process is “the dreaded ... Views: 1604
Your network is your net worth, this is one of the most thrown around phrases when you are in college. What does this statement even mean??
Has there ever been a time when you needed a favor done for you and you knew exactly the person who could guidance and help? You told them that you ... Views: 1602
Summer is almost at and end, and many of us may be gearing up to change jobs or careers, which means preparing for an interview with a potential new employer!
Depending on your approach, it could be daunting, or, with a few helpful tools, you can turn it around into a positive experience. ... Views: 1596
Salary negotiation is an important career skill. The better you can negotiate with your employer how much you earn, the more financially rewarding your career will be at any stage.
Employees who are good salary negotiators frequently out-earn their colleagues with similar skills and ... Views: 1596
In any job interview, it’s important to use your best manners—and telephone interviews are no exception. Besides your resume, this is their first impression of you. Make it a great one by being super-polite and professional.
Set Up Your Space for Quiet
Nothing says “I don’t care about ... Views: 1596
A well-rounded selection of business attire is essential for any professional. Yet I would add that the right set of business accessories is equally as important in developing a polished image for the workplace. Professional accoutrements combine form and function to give the impression of a ... Views: 1594
Technology has evolved drastically over the past few decades and it has impacted the way we communicate with one another. We’ve gone from typewriters to word processors to the bulky IBM computers onto more sleek and slimmer computers, laptops, netbooks to now the ever popular eReaders, tablets ... Views: 1593
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In other words, are you going to bail on them in a few months for another job, or are you going to stick around and make their training and investment in you pay off? Is this a stepping stone on your career path, or is this a job to pay the bills until ... Views: 1593
After an arduous number of job interviews with prospective organizations, who is hiring someone for the job of your dreams, you yet again meeting with hiring manager when he or she gives you job offer, but with salary below what you had anticipated. You are still elated, actually excited, ... Views: 1593
While the Internet is a great resource to find templates of resumes and to view other individual examples, it does not necessary help you create an effective resume for yourself. Reviewing these examples help you determine what structure and order is best to use with your own resume, but it will ... Views: 1592
We see recent graduates testing the water frequently. They graduate with a specific degree and career path in mind – to be a journalist, to be a white-collar crime analyst, to be a genetics researcher, etc. They land an entry-level position and soon realize it’s not the career they ... Views: 1590
Sometimes I will find wonderful material using their company fields to make use of during my space of business coaching, management and individual development. Once I find a gem which can be applicable, I enjoy change the thinking somewhat to adjust to plus it is great for how to improve ... Views: 1588
It’s happened to all of us. You finally get an interview for the job you want. You spend the drive over anticipating questions and rehearsing answers. You give the interviewer your best handshake and then before you can answer the second question, you get that feeling…you are not getting this ... Views: 1588
Resume Blasts
I included resume blasts on my Fastest Way to Find a Job Series not because I like them, but because some job seekers think these are the way to go, and I have a better alternative.
Resume blasts used to be the hot, hot thing back in 1999 and before. When I got my first job ... Views: 1587
What do you consider to be your most significant accomplishment?
This is a fantastic job interview question. It sets you up to shine a giant spotlight on yourself as the ideal candidate for this job.
Never, ever answer this question by talking about something you achieved or accomplished ... Views: 1587
In every interview, whether it’s a phone interview or a face-to-face interview, it is absolutely, critically important to ask questions. Why? (1) It makes you seem more engaged and interested in the job. No hiring manager wants to hire someone who isn’t going to be excited about working ... Views: 1587
It's guaranteed to happen to all of us at some point in our interviews; we get asked about our salary expectations and if you were not coached on how to answer the question, you can immediately disqualify yourself. The salary question can be very tricky because you don't want to say something ... Views: 1586
Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is ideal for college students as they graduate, but it’s not just for the kids. Anytime you’re transitioning into a new field (either by choice or because you were laid off), a job shadowing experience can give you a big boost in your job search.
Why should you ... Views: 1585
Career Coaching
If you’re in the job search, you have certainly heard advice about job boards, networking, or even temporary work. But have you ever considered a career coach as a path to a new job?
When I say “Career Coach,” I do not mean the kind of life coach who helps you decide what ... Views: 1585
What have you been doing since you got laid off?
I know…this job interview question makes you want to roll your eyes. The painfully obvious answer is, “I’ve been trying to find a new job!” But you can’t say that.
Why would they ask you this question? It turns out, they have several ... Views: 1585
What was your least favorite part of your last job?
Why does the hiring manager want to know about your least favorite part of your last job? Because they want to find out more about you, and they are hoping to uncover any potential weaknesses or problems before they hire you. What you say ... Views: 1585
1. Despite how perfect you think you are for a position, don't oversell yourself in the subject line out of fear that a normal application will forever remain in a bottomless inbox never to pair you with the position.
Many job seekers want to display their importance in the subject line upon ... Views: 1585
Think you can talk on the phone anywhere? That might be true if you’re discussing dinner plans, but it is not true for your phone interview. For that, you have to choose your location carefully. Why? Because this phone conversation is the gate you have to pass through to get to your ... Views: 1585
Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you know…it’s WHO you know”? That’s not entirely true, but there’s a healthy-enough grain of truth in that statement to make networking a very powerful strategy for your job search.
The most important thing you can do when you’re in the job hunt ... Views: 1584
Even if you’ve got all the big factors covered for your phone interview (quiet spot, landline, preparation), there are still some pretty small phone interview mistakes that will get you screened out and marked off their short list. Sometimes it doesn’t take much….phone interviews are real ... Views: 1584
Introduction
Globalization created a world full of opportunities and reduced perceived distances between people due to enormous improvements in the telecommunications industry. Today, companies as well as individuals can communicate with each other without the barriers of time or distance. ... Views: 1582
What were your responsibilities in your last job?
Your answer to this question about your job responsibilities depends entirely on the role you played in your last job. What were your major responsibilities? You want to list those out.
A reasonable person might think, “Why would they ask ... Views: 1581
The aim of a successful CV / resume covering letter is to get the reader to either consider you for a position within their organisation or to introduce your CV/Resume. In both cases it is important that your letter is attention grabbing, well-written and demonstrates why the reader should ... Views: 1580