April 5, 2010
If you are going to a job interview soon, it’s a good idea to think about what kind of answer the interviewer is looking for when they ask you the common interview questions. When I interview someone for a job, there are several stock questions I use regardless of the position I’m trying to fill. I mix these in with the interview questions that are specific to the position. Here are three of my usual questions.
Tell me about yourself. I guess that’s not really a question, but I begin every interview this way. My goal is to open up the conversation. The person’s resume has gotten my interest enough to get them in for an interview, but there’s always so much more about a person that a resume won’t reveal.
My advice to you is to use this opportunity to open up to the interviewer and give them more information than they found on your resume. If you’re nervous or shy, try to focus on what you want to communicate to the interviewer and give them a good answer.
What processes have you created to be more efficient or solve problems in a previous job? I’m looking for someone that can solve their own problems. I especially like it when I get an enthusiastic response from someone for this question. Even if it’s just a spreadsheet they created to track some part of their job, it means to me that they look for ways to make their own job easier, and they don’t wait for someone else to do it for them.
My advice to you is to be prepared to tell the interviewer how you solve those little problems we all face at a job. Be specific, and it’s great if you have more than one example.
Do you have any questions? I think every interviewer will ask this question. Believe it or not, I use this as my “trick” question. It’s a tough question if you’re not prepared for it. I usually ask it at the end of the interview. I know the person’s head is spinning at this point. But the responses I get are usually disappointing. The person will either tell me that they don’t have any questions, or they ask about compensation or benefits. That’s not a good idea for this part of the process.
Look, I know and understand that they’re nervous. That’s the “trick” part of this question. If they didn’t prepare a question or two ahead of time, it shows. And it kind of ends the interview with a thud.
My advice to you is to research the company and the position you’re looking for. Try to have at least one question about each prepared beforehand, just in case you don’t think of one during the interview.
There are many more questions you will be asked during a job interview. The best advice I can give is to be honest in all of your answers. If you know you’re right for the position, you should mention that during the interview. And be sure to tell them why.
By: Elton Lowe
About the Author:
Your job search starts with a great resume. Does your resume measure up? Most of them don’t. It’s a tragedy to see someone that desperately wants a job, but there’s no chance for them to get it. They won’t get the chance because their resume works against them. In my video, “Let’s Talk About Resumes” I talk about what I look for in a resume. I tell you what goes through my mind when I read a bad resume. Please visit http://www.yourresumehelper.com for more information about how to improve your resume and get the job you want and need.
Popularity: 1%
Filed under Uncategorized by on Apr 5th, 2010. Comment. 
April 6, 2010
Do not rehearse these answers, lest you sound mechanical in front of the interviewer. This article is just to give you an idea of how you can change the usual answers to something better.
Tell Me About Yourself
The interviewer wants to know about your skills, education and previous experience – not about your personal life or other things. Be smart and give a brief synopsis about yourself, your education and your past work record.
For example: “Hello I am Rosy Brown and I am an MBA graduate with 3 years experience in the HR field. I have been working with the “XYZ” company for 2 years and have handled the recruitment department.”
Ponder on the skills required for the position you are applying. If you have achieved something notable for your previous company, then mention it. However, do not narrate your entire life history.
Tell Us About Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Many jobseekers find this a tough question to answer. If you know yourself well, you can answer it easily. Looking blank or taking too long to answer will make the interviewer feel that you are unsure about yourself.
Before going for the interview make sure you write down your strengths and weaknesses.
Interviewers want a person who will be committed, result oriented, patient and who can handle pressure. If these are covered in your strengths, you are sure to be considered for the position.
When talking about your strengths, always support your words with data and facts. Talking about weaknesses can be difficult. However, the interviewer does expect a truthful answer, and you should mention the efforts that you are making to improve them. If you are not good with time management, mention what steps you are taking to improve on this.
Reason for Leaving Your Last Job
This question is tricky, and you have to be honest and smart in answering it. If you have left the previous job for better prospects and growth say so without fear, but be prepared to answer a few more questions that will be connected.
However, if you have left the job due to unethical issues, you can let the interviewer know, but in a smart way.
For example, you can tell them you were asked to leave the job, as you did not follow company policy, of which you were unaware. However, do mention that you have learned from this mistake and that you are sure that it will not be repeated.
Generally, depending upon the position you are applying for, you will also be asked a problem-solving question.
To test your skills and ability to think on your feet, you will probably be asked a question or given a situation to tackle. Do not be in a hurry to answer. Understand the question being asked, think and then tell the interviewer how you would tackle the situation.
You can ask for 2 -3 minutes to think about the situation before answering appropriately.
If you are prepared for these common interview questions, you are sure to come out on top.
By: Tony Jacowski
About the Author:
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions – Six Sigma Online (http://www.sixsigmaonline.org) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
Popularity: 1%
Filed under Uncategorized by on Apr 6th, 2010. Comment.
A good resume is worth its weight in gold. The hardest part about getting any job is getting the interview. Make a good impression first time round, and you’re definitely in with a shout for the job. That’s why it’s important to work on your resume, and keep it continually up to date with every new development in your personal career. If you don’t already have a resume, you should seriously think about drawing one up – you never know when it might come in handy.
The first thing to consider when writing any resume is your personal contact details. Make sure you list your name, date of birth where appropriate, address and contact telephone number clearly and in bold at the top of your document. Additionally, some employers like an email contact to ask any quick questions, or to get in touch with you easily. If you’re going to give your email address, it is far better to set up an account bearing your name, for example john.smith@emailprovider.com
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it. Do not offer an email address that has a nickname or some other handle – this can create a very poor image of yourself, and employers will be far more satisfied with a straightforward, professional approach. If you only have a ‘comic’ email address, you’re probably best to set up one in your name, or to avoid including it altogether.
The body of your resume should show off your personal skills and attributes. Talk about what you’ve done, where you’ve been, your experience and your qualifications at all time. Additionally, remember to tailor it to each individual position you apply for, to ensure you’re only including relevant information for the employer. Think about what your employer is looking for, and think about what you can do to fit the bill. If you can tailor your application to these needs, you’re giving yourself a very good chance.
Also, let personality shine through, but make it professional. When you’re not being the most skilled and eligible candidate for the job, what are you doing with your time? Something extra curricular that can be tied into a skill set or mindset is a good one to include, and this can really help reflect you in a positive light.
All in all, the resume is where you get the chance to sell yourself, and if you establish a good preconception in the mind of your employer, you’re fighting an easier battle at the interview.
By: Jonathon Hardcastle
About the Author:
Popularity: 1%
Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on Apr 6th, 2010. Comment.
Gone are the days when you printed your resume on good 24lb stationary and hoped for the best. Today, if the resume is complete and tightly written does it really matter whether it’s sent through the mail or transmitted in some electronic form?
First, you’ll find some significant differences between the electronic resume and the traditional paper resume. You might find success by just putting your traditional resume in electronic form and sending it in but your chances for success will be better if you pay attention to some possible small issues.
More and more employers are accepting electronic resumes so you have to be prepared to submit your resume in this format. And just like sending a resume and cover letter in the regular mail you want it to introduce you in the best manner possible.
Sending the electronic resume allows you to send the resume to the right person using email. You also are able to send the resume to numerous employers by using the information on a job or career web site. This method is growing in popularity and almost all larger employer use this method in one form or another.
This requires that you make some changes in how the resume is written and how it is presented. It doesn’t matter if you send in the documents using simple text or a document image (such as PDF) but you must pay attention to the “keywords” used in the resume. The resume will be scanned and scored according to the use of particular keywords. The employer will use the keywords to find your resume when he uses an online search. Find the keywords in the job announcement, perhaps in the job description if available and other phrases commonly used in your field of work or in the particular industry. List the keywords and make sure they are appropriately used in your resume.
This method will assure when the employer searches databases and employment and job web sites for candidates, your resume will be flagged for an additional look. This gives you a competitive edge through the rewriting of your resume and including industry and job specific keywords.
Formatting and layout must also be treated differently when putting together an electronic resume. Do not italicize any words, use a neutral font (times new roman, arial) and no fancy bullet points. Some minor editing and careful proofreading will bring your resume up to a more than acceptable appearance. As a final check you might send the resume as an email attachment to a friend to be assured that the format comes through properly. Since you’re sending the resume electronically don’t neglect including your email address along with your other contact information.
With attention to detail and properly adding appropriate keywords, your electronic resume will scan well with the desired keywords and you’ll be one step closer to a desirable job and career.
By: John Groth
About the Author:
John Groth is a Career Coach. Find Career Development Ideas, valuable articles and a free seven day career planning guide. Discover up to date career and recruitment strategies at his Resume Writing Guide; all to assist you in advancing and managing your career.
Popularity: 1%
Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on Apr 6th, 2010. Comment.
April 7, 2010
According to most experts on resume writing, confidence is of utmost importance while writing a resume. The process of resume writing comprises two steps. Coincidentally, there are also only two tips to write an effective resume–be confident and prepare well.
1. Prepare with Confidence
Job seekers should have ample confidence in themselves and their abilities while writing their resumes. Do not allow any doubts about yourself to creep into your mind as you go about gathering the required information for your resume.
Resume-writing experts say that people working on their resumes are usually of the false opinion that the experience, qualification, capabilities, and work history they are listing is just not impressive enough to get them the job of their dreams.
Experts on resume writing say that a person’s experience, qualification, and abilities usually speak for themselves. The resume should reflect the confidence of the applicant in his or her expertise and ability to handle the job.
It should not be prepared in a way that reflects the applicant’s self-doubts; moreover, the applicant should not leave out aspects of experience or qualification that he or she feels are irrelevant or don’t count.
2. Write Effectively
While job seekers should prepare well, they should also write their resume effectively. A good resume not only looks neat but is also well-organized, with its objectives and statements of experience, qualification, and skills written boldly.
If you do not possess the skills to write an effective resume, take the help of professional writers. This could be the most important tip for writing an effective resume–take the help of professional writers before starting on your job hunt.
3. Customize Your Resume
Customize your resume according to the needs of prospective employers, job profiles, and companies. According to resume-writing experts, majority of the resumes are not customised according to the job applied for. In other words, they place too much emphasis on the requirements of the applicant and too less on the requirements of the prospective employer. So, keep this tip at the top of your list of tips for effective resume writing.
A resume should mention the key strengths of the applicant; however, this should match the requirements of the company. This is the biggest tips for effective resume writing that successful job seekers have discovered: Match your strengths, skills, and capabilities to the requirements of the company. If you follow the above-mentioned tips, you will have created the number one resume that will get that dream job for you.
By: Abhishek Agarwal
About the Author:
Abhishek is an expert at conducting interviews and he has got some great Interview Success Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 82 Page Ebook, “How To Ace Any Interview” from his website http://www.Career-Guru.com/4/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
Popularity: 1%
Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on Apr 7th, 2010. Comment.
job interview tips, career tips, CV, resume writing – Google News