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You have much more power over your phone interview than you probably think you do, including when to schedule it. If you can exercise that power, please do so.
Why is it so important to control when you interview? First, you want to give yourself enough time to prepare. This phone ... Views: 1495
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: 1494
Tell me your life story (more of your personal history).
Hiring managers want to find out as much as they can about you in the interview. It’s a little bit of a risk management thing. The more they know, the less likely they’ll make a mistake by extending you a job offer. But even if they ... Views: 1493
Tell me about a time when you failed.
The key to answering the failure question is that you can’t say you’ve never failed. I know you probably really want to, because you don’t want to be seen in a bad light. But you can’t. And it’s OK.
Everybody fails. If you’ve never failed, it ... Views: 1488
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: 1486
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: 1484
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: 1484
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: 1484
What would you do first at this job?
When they ask you this question in the job interview, they want to get a picture of how you would be in the role. How you answer tells them about your personality and your work style. Do you attack it from day one? Do you take it all in and analyze it ... Views: 1483
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: 1481
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: 1479
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: 1478
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: 1477
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: 1477
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: 1475
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: 1475
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: 1474
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: 1472
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: 1469
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: 1468
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: 1467
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: 1466
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: 1465
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: 1465
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: 1464
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: 1463
More than 90% of the job interview is conveyed by non-verbal means.
You did all the homework for your interview. You know everything about the company, their vision, management style, what skills you have that would benefit this company, and where you expect your career to be in 10 years. ... Views: 1463
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: 1462
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: 1460
When looking for a job, most people focus on the responsibilities of the job to find a good fit. While getting hired to do a job that is interesting and well suited to your background is important, there are three other pieces of the equation that should not be overlooked - your fellow workers, ... Views: 1457
Ịn ịntervịews, your job ịs to convịnce a recruịter that you have the skịlls, knowledge, and experịence for the job. Show motịvatịon and convịnce a recruịter that you fịt the organịzatịon's culture and job descrịptịon, and you get that much closer to an offer. This is tips on how to prepare for ... Views: 1456
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: 1456
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: 1453
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: 1453
Companies you’ve interviewed with before
Companies you’ve interviewed with before but never worked for are a place to network that most people don’t think about. It’s really overlooked. It won’t work for everyone, but it will work for some and it will be extremely fruitful.
Let me give ... Views: 1452
I'm going to let you in on a little secret: your best is no longer good enough. I know...I know...it sucks, but it's the truth and what this means is "you don't get brownie points for doing something you're supposed to be doing," to paraphrase a Chris Rock routine!
If someone hires you, they ... Views: 1451
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: 1447
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: 1447
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: 1445
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: 1445
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: 1444
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: 1444
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: 1442
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: 1442
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: 1440
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: 1440
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: 1440
Are you ready for your next job interview? Do you know the secrets of pulling off a great interview and getting hired for the job of your dreams? Use these five simple steps to prepare yourself and you will leave the best possible impression you can with the hiring manager.
1.Get there Early ... Views: 1439