Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Results Proven Job Interviewing Tips

Are you looking for some interview tips so that you can ace that upcoming interview you have? An interview can be a nerve racking experience if you don’t know how to successfully pull off an interview. Nevertheless, with a few interview tips, you will be on your way to getting that job you require so desperately!

Among the plenty of interview tips that you will come across, the best interview tip you will ever get is to be yourself. Don’t be afraid to smirk & be proud of who you are & what it is that you represent. You are a distinctive individual & must bear in mind that there is no six else like you on this earth. In believing in yourself, you can successfully get ready psychologically for that nerve racking interview!

Second in line for great interview tips is that you ought to be on time. You ought to not ever show up for an interview late, not ever! If you think that you may run in to a problem getting to a interview on time, leave your residence extra early to ensure that you will get there on time. Showing up for an interview on time shows that you are a responsible person; a sure indication of a professional individual.

A great tip to recall while on an interview is to turn off your mobile phone or pager. There is nothing more annoying to an employer than a potential employee that has a mobile phone ringing every six minutes during an interview. And, continuous interruptions may be a sign of unprofessional behavior so it is best to either turn off your mobile phone or leave it at home.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the interview system. In fact, make sure that you do. If you don’t ask questions, you won't get all of the information you need & you may even come across as excessively confident. Even worse, you may come across as apathetic. Therefore, show your interest in the job & ask questions at every opportunity.

Pay attention to the interviewer while you are being interviewed; this tip is essential & cannot be overrated. An interviewer’s tone of voice, their demeanor, their style of speech & their body motions can indicate to you how you ought to answer the questions they pose. For instance, if an interviewer is stern with direct, to the point questions, you ought to respond with to the point answers. Conversely, if an interviewer prompts you to tell them about yourself, your hobbies or your likes & dislikes, feel free to elaborate—just don’t go overboard & start rambling about your favorite pastimes!

Don’t be enthusiastic to answer questions while on an interview. Excessively enthusiastic individuals tend to cut off the employer while they are speaking & interrupt the employer during their questions. Wait until you are sure the employer is completed asking the query before you provide your answer. If you wait until the employer is completed speaking, you will also give yourself time to reflect on the query being asked & an insightful employer will see that you have seriously thought about your responses.

There's literally hundreds of Interview tips on the Net. Nevertheless, not all interview tips are excellent tips & it is important that you logically weed out the lovely tips from the bad ones. Therefore, if something doesn’t sound like a lovely idea to you, then basically refrain from taking the advice. Finally, the best advice you can get is to remain true to yourself, relax & be quiet throughout the entire interviewing system.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

What is and Why should I care about Behavioral Interviewing?

Throughout the years, hiring manages have used all types of techniques to eliminate candidates in an attempt to decide who is best competent for a job. A great deal has changed from the days when the job interviewers could ask anything they wanted to. With changes in laws regarding inequity, etc, new types were developed to form an opinion on candidates. One of those techniques is called “Behavioral Style” interviewing and the truth is that candidates may not even know when behavioral interviewing is being used.

The question you may be asking yourself is “What is behavioral interviewing and should I really care about it?” This method of interviewing uncovers pertinent information about the candidate’s past work performance and behavior. The keyword is “pertinent”, meaning, how you reacted to particular past work situations as the same situations may occur in the job that you are interviewing for. This method provides insight for the job interviewers on your past behaviors as they can assume that this will be your same behavior in the future. Most job interviewers will have a list of questions prepared that will involve the necessary skills needed for the job and will use behavioral style questions to give them the best understanding of your traits and how they related to the position. One of the best ways an interviewer will use this method is by asking you about a situation, asking you what actions you took and what the outcome was because of your actions.

For an example, candidates may be asked “Have you ever had a situation where a co-worker wasn’t doing their share of work, If so, did you ever do anything about it, and was the result of your actions?” Compare to “Tell me how you would resolve a conflict with a co-worker if it was affecting your share of the work?” Do you see the difference? In one situation candidates are asked very specifically what they did in a particular situation where the other question simply asked the candidate to describe what they might do. We all have the best intentions, so whatever you say might you would do is not essentially what you might do in reality.

How do candidates prepare for this style of interview, now that we know what behavioral interviewing is?

Like all job interviews, candidates need to prepare. As always, the basics still apply, conducting research on the company’s financial outlook, products and of course corporate culture. Most of this information is available on the company’s website and/or yahoo finance. When you get the hiring manager’s name, conduct an internet search on them as well. Sites such as LinkedIn.com and Facebook.com can provide vital information about them. Information like education and previous employers will help you learn a lot of the interviewer beforehand. Since it is so easy to conduct an internet search on people today, it’s very likely that the job interviewer will do the same search on you. You may want to make sure there isn’t any information or images on the internet that could damage your image.

With all of the information above, candidates must remember no matter what job interview style, you need to know as much information as possible before a job interview. Behavioral style interviewing is something you need to prepare strongly for. Remember that in a behavioral interview that you should have rock-solid examples of your past work experiences and demonstrate how they relate to the open position in the job interview. The majority of behavioral style questions are identical to questions that have been used for years except with the wording tailored to extract detailed responses from you of genuine past behavioral work experiences. You can go to InstantJobInterviewTools.com/Behavioral-Interview-Answer.html for examples of how to answer behavioral style interview questions. You can also go to any search engine and type in behavioral interview questions for more practicing answering these questions. Remember, the job interviewer is assuming that past behavioral is a sign of future behavioral. Just remember when answering interview questions, be specific and to the point. Good Luck!

Friday, December 4, 2009

5 Types of Job Interviews

The main goal for a job interview is to find the right match between a potential employee and employer.

When going on job interviews, job seekers can anticipate one of two principal techniques of interviewing. The following are job techniques used by hiring managers.

One-On-One Interview
In a one-on-one interview, it should be assumed that you already have the competencies and education needed for the job. The hiring manager wants to find out if you will fit in with the organization, and how your competencies will complement the rest of the division. Your goal in this type of interview is to create a bond with the hiring manager and show them that your abilities will benefit the organization.

Group Interview
A group interview is generally planned to discover the leadership potential of employees and potential managers who will be commencing with the public. The top of the line candidates are assemble together in a casual, conversation type interview. A topic is initiated and the interview will start off the conversation. The goal of the group interview is to see how you act together with others and how you use your knowledge and analytical abilities to persuade others.

Stress Interview
Stress interviews generally are a premeditated effort to see how you handle yourself. The hiring manager may be cynical or challenging, or may keep you waiting. Anticipate this to occur and, when it does, don't take it to heart. Peacefully answer each question as it appears. Ask for clarification if necessary and don’t rush into an answer. The hiring manager also may descend into silence at some point during the questioning. Recognize this as an effort to make you feel uncomfortable. Sit quietly until the hiring manager continues the questioning. If a minute goes by, ask if they need further explanation of your last comments.

Lunch Interview
The same rules apply in lunch interviews as those conducted in an office setting. The location may be more informal, however keep in mind it is a business lunch and you are being observed carefully. Use the lunch interview to create a common ground with your interviewer. Follow their lead in both selection of food and in manners.

Committee Interview
Committee interviews are used regularly. You will counter several members of the organization who have a vote in whether you are hired. When responding to interview questions from several people, speak directly to the person asking the question when answering. It is not required to answer to the entire group. In various committee interviews, you may be asked to showcase your problem-solving competencies. The committee will outline a situation and ask you to create a plan that deals with the dilemma. You don't have to develop the ultimate resolution. The interviewers are looking for how you apply your knowledge and competencies to a real-life situation.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Being Prepared is the Best Way to Deal with Hard Interview Questions

It appears that now than ever before college students are filling out online job applications following graduation with anticipation of getting a job interview. Before students graduate college they need to have an extraordinary resume. Most colleges offer some type of resume writing seminar and students should be able to write a good resume most of the time. With that being said, the first step of getting a job interview includes having a great cover letter and an extraordinary resume.

Preparation is the key for answering hard interview questions once a job interview has been scheduled. A good amount of people do keep this in mind and prepare for answering hard interview questions. A lot of people prepare by practicing responding to interview questions so that they can sound confidence while answering them. Because the job market is very competitive with the current economic climate, employers have developed a way to separate applicants to find the brightest stars. Companies will ask interview questions that are tricky, which will make job applicants nervous and be hard to answer.

Hard Interview Questions You Can Expect

We will take a closer look at some hard interview questions you could be asked and what your response should be:

What is your biggest weakness? – Of course nobody wants to answer this question. Why answer a question that reflects negatively on you? Be clear and confident in communicating to the potential employer what you feel your biggest weakness is. Use this simple strategy: Turn a negative into a positive. Explain how you made your biggest weakness into a goal to overcome and how you did it.

Have you ever had time that you didn’t agree with a supervisor or college professor? – How did you resolve the conflict? When you answer this question, make sure you don’t reveal to the interviewer that you hold a grudge against your former supervisor or professor. You want to keep everything positive as can be with an interview. Never say anything bad about your former employer or teachers. To answer this question accurately, you need to display that you are able to see the other person’s view in the disagreement, consider all options and then act logically. That is what the potential employer is looking for. The potential employer really wants to know how you handled yourself and the situation.

How would friends, employers, and professors describe you? – This is a good time to incorporate some of your key strengths and skills into your answer. i.e. Passionate, Driven. Inform the job interviewer that you have references for their review to support your comments. By the way, LinkedIn.com is a great tool for references.

What motivates you to be successful? – This question is normally asked to see how driven you are to be successful for the position that you are interviewing for. There no correct or incorrect answers. Obviously, in order to answer this question, you need to first write down what motivates you professionally and think of some examples that display these attributes.

You have no experience. Why should I hire you? – You need to be persuasive. Mention your ability to overcome various challenges. Also, mention how you increased your knowledge through education, internships and your past employers. Explain how your core competencies would have a positive impact on the organization’s bottom line.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Essential Job Interview Checklist

You just got the call for a job interview! This is great news, Congratulations! See how all the hard work you put into writing a professional resume, networking at various events and online job searching has paid off at last. To be sure you are the brightest star above all the other job candidates, I have provide essential job interview tips to ensure your success!

Be Prepared – This means practicing answering interview questions , doing your homework on the potential employer and matching your skills with your answers for the duties related for the open position.

Dressing for Success – Dressing professionally makes the best first impression. While it may not be necessary to purchase a business suit, it is very important that you dress the part.

Don’t Be Late – Arriving on time for a job interview means getting to the interview location at least 15 minutes early. Indeed the job interviewer will take note of your arrival time and will allow you to review all your notes for the interview.

Keep Eye Contact – Making eye contact, along with a smile and solid handshake will convey confidence to the job interviewer.

Show Enthusiasm – If the job comes down to you and another candidate, this is an excellent way to stand out to the interviewer. Showing your enthusiasm for the open position lets the interviewer know that you are serious about the position and are driven to succeed.

Let Them Know You’re a Team Player – Hiring managers want to make sure that they hire someone who can take direction. They also want someone that can lead a team to meet the company’s objectives. Provide real work examples of how you can lead a team and also how you can be a team player for a company.

Make Sure You Sell Yourself – It has been proven that people buy from people they like and this theory does apply when hiring someone. Remember a job interview is like a sales pitch. Have a list of your core competencies and be prepared to discuss how you have showcase your competencies in the past and they will be beneficial to the potential employer.

Always be Truthful – Never mislead the job interviewer, especially about your skills and past experiences. Most companies will conduct a background check before they hire someone and you don’t want to be in the boat where they find out that you were being dishonest to them.

Be Professional at all Times – Although this should always be done without saying, sometimes people do need to be reminded from time to time. Don’t chew gum, pay attention and sit up straight.

Ask Interview Questions – Asking questions demonstrates to the interviewer that you are interested in the job. So much to the fact that if you don’t ask interview questions you could come off as frail and useless. Also asking questions allows you to evaluate the company so that you can make sure that company is a good match for you.

Always Thank the Interviewer – When the a job interview comes to an end make sure to smile, stand up to extend your hand for a firm handshake and say “thank you. Ask the interviewer when do they expect to make their decision and if you should follow up with them if you don’t hear from them by the decision date.

Monday, November 16, 2009

5 Must Interview Questions You Need to Ask!

These five must ask interview questions go beyond the apparent ones, such as what is the title of the job, what is the job description, who would you be reporting to, and other fundamental questions. In fact, it's doubtful you'll even need to ask those questions, as they are typically summarized for you.

Through some preparation and consideration, you should have no trouble coming up with 10 to 15 first interview questions to ask. However these five interview questions in some shape or form must always be asked.

Not only will they assist you to determine if the job for which you are interviewing for meets the standards of your ideal job, but the answers, when formulated, will give you a fairly accurate description of what's actually is happening behind scenes of the job interview.

1. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES FOR THE POSITION THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED?:
As you know the title of the position doesn’t tell you anything. The job description is helpful as it will tell you what you will be expected to do on a daily basis, but again it doesn’t reveal much of anything. Since you listed your accomplishments on your resume, you should be given the same sense of what the position requires from you as an individual. You need to be able to know if you are walking into a position that will require you to clean up someone else’s mess. If that is the case, are you going to be able to do it? If you don’t have this information available to you already, this will provide you with some insight about the hiring manager and the previous employee.

2. WHY DID THE PREVIOUS EMPLOYEE LEAVE? HOW LONG DID THEY HOLD THE POSITION?
Most of the time, when answering the first part, the hiring manager will answer the second part as well. However, if they decide not to answer the second part, make sure you ask. If the previous employee was working with the employer for a relatively short time, you will also what to know how long the previous person before the last employee left was there.
Do you understand why we are asking these questions? If the opened position is constantly disarray and the last two employees were there for only a small period of time and/or were fired, you won’t need to ask any of the other interview questions in this article. Make sure you end the interview elegantly and then leave as fast as you can! Because if you are hired for the job, it won’t be too long before you either quit the job or get fired from it, because you were not able to meet the objectives of the position, despite if the duties listed can be done in a realistic time frame of not.

3. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR MANAGEMENT STYLE? HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE YOUR EMPLOYEES TO SUCCEED?: This question will help you determine if the hiring personnel is a micro manager. Is the manager is a good communicator? Will they keep you in the loop with everything? Will this person leave you alone and only work with you when you need help? Will this person provide mentoring? Of course, the person is not going to come right out and tell you that they are a micro manager! Instead they may say, "I like to keep a very secure watch on what's going on in my department," or "I visit with each of my employees on a daily basis to make sure they're staying on track," or something related. You’ll find that the hiring manager will be fairly straight forward in sharing their management style with you. What you want to pay attention to is how they word it.

4. WHAT TYPES OF PEOPLE DO WELL AT THIS COMPANY?: People who work great in teams or committees? Employees who kept their manager in the loop of everything? Perhaps people who are workaholics? This will help you learn about the culture of the company. Someone who is has an entrepreneurial spirit won’t do well in a committee type environment. At the same time, sales driven personalities can vary immensely, the lead achievers are goal driven and inspired to achieve, rather than self-righteous. People who are adjust to thinking for themselves will find themselves chafing in an organization that has a more dictatorial approach, while those who perform better when they're told what to do will find themselves lost in a organization that requires its employees to think for themselves.

5. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR THE COMPANY? WHY DO YOU STILL WORK HERE?: This question will give you a good idea as to the general feeling of the company. The way in which the hiring manager answers this question will also give you addition insights about your potential supervisor, their management style and what type of personnel do well with the company.

These questions are not challenges, these are valuable informational questions. Make you are legitimately interested each of the answers, sine you are gaining information that will be valuable for your future. When you leave the job interview and start thinking about the information gained from the interviewing, you’ll be matching what you learned with what you are searching for.

Pay attention to the job interviewer’s facial expressions and body language. Does the interviewer help fill in some of the spaces? Are they relaxed during the interview? Do they speak to you or do they speak at you? Do they answer your interview questions briefly and then quickly fire back with another one. These, too, are priceless cues, and after the interview, you'll need to piece them together with the verbal information you received. Your ideal job might land in your lap by good luck and fortune. But more likely, you'll need to search for it. It's there, but to identify it, you'll need to know what it does not look like, as well as what it does.