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.

Monday, November 9, 2009

When was the last time you had a job interview? Did it go well for you? Chances are that it went poorly for you and that is no criticism on you personally, it’s just that people tend to be afraid of interviewing and as a result, they don’t get the jobs they want. I read that something like 86% of people in the workforce right now had to go through 6 interviews before they landed the job that they are in right now. There may be several reasons for this number however; I must tell you that if the large majority of people knew the secrets of successful interviewing, they would get the job every time. Instead of getting rejections letters, they would be turning downing offer letters.

So personality isn’t just the reason? This is a yes and no answer. Having a personality that presents yourself in the best possible way and can carry a conversation is very important in a job interview, however not many people have this engaging personality. There are a lot of people who get jobs than people with outgoing personalities and the reason is that they know how to interview well. Yes, job interviewing skills can specifically be and ought to be learned. Now the question is, how do people learn?

A lot of people have learned how to interview through trial and error. The more you do something, the more you become a pro at it. This can be very hard though, not many people want to learn like this. I mean, no one likes being rejected from a job interview. Indeed, interviewing isn’t a fun activity. Most of the time, people tend to fear them. Since this is the case, wouldn’t it be great if you could learn how to interview and impress the interviewer? Wouldn’t it be great to go into a job interview with all the confidence in the world and have the state of mind that you are evaluating them, instead of the other way around.

Another important thing to remember is that this goes much deeper than learning interviewing skills or tricks. The point being is that training that makes you successful at interviewing, will make you successful in life. Learning how to interview is learning how to communicate well. Good communication will help you with the ability to lead, network and social confidence.

Whether you are a freshman in college or an experience business person, learning and gaining interviewing skills is a profitable benefit for anyone. It is also good for you as it serves as a value tool outside of your career including dating, parenting, marriage and so forth. Don’t wait any longer to take control of your life and be successful in your career.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

5 Steps To A Great Job Interview

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 – The worst thing you can do is to show up to a job interview late. What does that show to the hiring manager about your dedication level? Why would any hiring manager want to hire a person who doesn’t have the organization skills to show up to the job interview on time? By showing up early for the interview, you are demonstrating and showing respect to the organization and the hiring manager. Also by showing up early, you may have the opportunity for more face time with the interviewer. Face time is important, as the longer you have with the hiring manager, the better your chances you will be chosen for the job.

2. Do your Homework on the Company – Never go into a job interview without knowing anything about the company. You need to do your homework; find out how many locations they have, who is the CEO and what products and services they market. A good idea is to find out their financials from their company website and other investor relations. You should be prepared to ask some questions about what you findings of the company. At the end of every interview that I have been involved with, I like to ask “What questions do you have for me?” I am always amazed with people who have done their homework and are serious about working for the organization.

3 Make sure to Listen and Don’t Interrupt – It may seem counter-productive, however the hiring manger is speaking. It is a demonstrated reality, that hiring managers think interviewers go better, if they do most of the talking. Make sure you use your research about the company and ask a lot of questions to get the interviewer talking.

4. Bring Extra Copies of Your Resume – Hiring Managers have a lot to do and most of the time they don’t have a copy of your resume ready for the interview. Even if they do have a copy, there may be other people besides the hiring manager interviewing you. This also presents a good opportunity to hand them your resume on a good piece of quality paper. Resume paper is thicker and has a nice feel to it and that is what you want the interviewer to associate with you… a good feel. Later, when the hiring manager is reviewing your resume, you will stand out because of it and it provides you a better chance of getting a second interview or even better getting hired for the job.

5. Follow Up – It is always a good idea to follow up with the hiring manager and/or interviewer in some way after the job interview. If the hiring manager gave you their business card, make sure you use it. You can call them and ask a couple of follow up questions and thank them for the opportunity. Also, you should send them a thank you note email. If you didn’t get their business card, then just mail them a thank you letter. The main objective here is to remind the hiring manager about you. And the more they think about you, the better the chances you will get hired for the job.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Four Simple Tips For a Phone Interview

A phone interview tip that many people don’t do is smile. It is a very funny thing, that when smiling, people’s attitudes can be felt through the phone. During a phone interview, do not think that just because you are not sitting in front of anybody that it doesn’t mean that smiling and other encouraging body gestures aren’t important. One of the best tips that I have ever received was to smile and stay positive during a phone interview. In reality, a lot of people like to talk with their hands. If this is you, you may want to consider a telephone hands free set so that it frees up your hands.

Another good phone interview tip that is very valuable is to make sure you have a good quality phone. It may appear crazy to even bring it up, however the better the phone you use for the interview, the better your voice will sound to the person on the other end of the line. Many years ago, people rented their telephones from the local phone company. In today’s world, people own their home phones and /or mobile phones, and while a lot of people do use good quality phones, there are still many that are cheap and don’t provide the clarity needed for a phone interview. Add this additional tip to the mix: if possible, use a landline phone with a cord and not a mobile or cordless phone. Weak or dead batteries, static sounds, no cell phone tower signals and weather obstruction can make you sound awful to the other party at the other end of the phone line and you may not even realize it. When doing your telephone interview you want to be clear and make a great impression. Take this tip to the bank and use a good quality landline phone.

The next phone interview tip that may seem like pure common sense, but sometime isn’t done: Do your homework before the interview! Start off using the Internet, as this resource should provide you with almost all the information you need. Begin your Internet search with Google. Google will allow you to submit the name of the potential employer to its search engine and it will provide you with any and all information about the company on the net! Other sites to check out include Hoover’s and Yahoo Finance. If you don’t have access to a computer and/or the Internet, you can go to your local library and tell the librarian that you are looking for company related information. The librarian will be happy to provide you informational sources (including the free library Internet computer), that will help you seem knowledgeable during your phone interview.

Just being yourself, along with being comfortable is the last phone interview tip to keep in mind. Practicing for the phone interview is one of the best ways of maintaining comfort and confident. Ask a family member or friend to conduct a mock interview with you. Call one of your friends and provide them phone interview questions to ask you. This will allow you to practice answering interview questions over the phone. It makes perfect sense to practice for a phone interview, as you know that rehearsing anything is the best way to build your skills, and in this case your phone interview skills. Please take this tip to heart as it is the most important phone interview tip you will ever receive.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Popular Opinion Agrees That The Superstar Interview Guide Is A Great Interviewing Tool For Job Seekers

LANCASTER, PA, October 26, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ - Arthur Hand, Marketing Manager from New Castle Delaware, states "I believe The Superstar Interview Guide by James Malervy is a valuable resource for anyone newly entering the job market, or reentering the job market. From what to do once the interview is scheduled, to questions to ask during an interview, to how to follow up after the interview, this guide covers it all."

Steven Brown, Insurance Generalist from Chester Springs Pennsylvania, states "The Superstar Interview Guide has shed a new light on how to approach an interview, I now feel more confident, better prepared and approach the interview process with more enthusiasm."

If you want to get hired for the job you deserve, then the Superstar Interview Guide is your best bet. The Superstar Interview Guide helps job seekers give the best interview answers to interview questions.

Download your copy of "The Superstar Interview Guide" today at InstantJobInterviewTools.com

Contact:
James J. Malervy, II
Email: James@SuperstarInterviewGuide.com
Web: http://www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com
Blog: http://interviewquestions-interviewanswers.blogspot.com

James Malervy is an expert author and leading influencer on the subject of interviewing. He has worked with such companies as Sprint, Pepsi and the Walt Disney Company and brings his professional experience to job seekers in writing the "Superstar Interview Guide." He provides career advice to hundreds everyday and even provides his services as a Career Coach through www.Interviewquestions-interviewanswers.blogspot.com and the "Superstar Career Coach E-Zine" available through subscription at www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com. James is dedicated to helping others in becoming more competitive in the job market, gaining confident in their interviewing skills, and finally getting hired for the job they deserve.

Friday, October 9, 2009

The Greatest Defense – Tough Interview Questions

Worrying going into a job interview about your weaknesses being exposed, or what can be seen as flaws from your previous work history, won’t get you anywhere. The true is, focusing on your flaws often is displayed through the way you answer job interview questions, and even in the way you present your body language. Candidates who move a lot, plays with things like their pen, or loses their train of thought during a discussion, hurt their changes even more of getting the job.

Okay, so you may have some flaws. Perhaps there was a time three years ago, that you didn’t have a job and were out of work for several months. Or the potential employer requires a certain competency level that you have not reached yet. Taking all of those things into consideration, you are still a candidate for the open position.

There is an easy, two component solution: First, make the best out of you weakest flaw and next make the employer’s goals, your own.

Learn as much as you can about your weaknesses in your resume and build on them. If you were unemployed for a period of time, reflect about your experiences you had throughout that time period, the companies you visited, and what you took from the present economy and job market. Demonstrate that you pay attention to detail, and like learning from unpredicted opportunities.

Demonstrate your eagerness for having the opportunity to enhance your current skills. Apply the same tactic to any other flaws that you may have. Even if you left a job because of a character conflict, it can be seen as a positive if you can highlight what you took from the experience. No matter what the case may have been, you must stay positive and leave any negativity at the door. Interviewers want people that are positive and have the passion to move forward and grow with them.

Now onto the second solution, showcasing yourself in a way that makes you well-matched with the potential employer’s requirements, and emphasizes the benefit they receive by hiring you.

Learn about the employer’s business and the division in which you are applying for. Make sure you ask why they are hiring someone in the first place (Did someone quit, Are they growing? Did someone retire?) then highlight the competencies and experiences that make you not only qualified for the position, but of bringing innovated concepts and a positive outlook to it.

Make sure you have a positive point to every negative point in your resume or employment history. Next showcase your personality and competencies with an emphasis on each of the company’s objectives. The combination of your skills and eagerness is frequently the key for a winning interview.

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If you want to provide the best job interview answers for interview questions and get the job you deserve, then the Superstar Interview Guide is your best bet! You can find the Superstar Interview Guide at www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Top Job Interview Tips for College Seniors

You are told when you are younger that you need to go college to get a good job. Well, times have changed and just getting a college degree does mean you are going to land a job after graduation. In fact there is a good chance that you won’t land a job after college for at least 6 months to a year. College seniors need to be able to stand out in front of potential employers. Although most colleges do have career advisors available for their students, colleges don’t teach students how to interview for a job in the real world. Thanks to Global Jobs Network Group from LinkedIn, several members provided real world top job interview tips for graduating college seniors. See what some of them said.

1. Wear a well-fitted suit so that both males and females feel confident going into an interview. According to Monica Brooks of Brooks Consulting, “my experience with new or soon-to-be grads is that their wardrobes are horrible. Dress For Success isn't kidding, nor should it be taken lightly. Unpressed or ill-fitting, or old or worn-out or out of style clothes couldn't possibly enforce self-confidence. “


2. “Practice, practice, practice! Find a friend and have a mock interview.” According to Sonia Garrido of Sulzer, It is really helpful especially because you can sort of plan out the answers you can give to certain questions. Also, it makes you feel a little more comfortable when you are in the real interview and you won't be as nervous. Have your friend be critical about your answers and your overall presentation.”


3. According to Dana Bigman of the Casablanca Fan Company, “learn as much as possible about the company in advance and subtly weave that knowledge into your responses and questions. Also be sure to focus on what you can do for them (help them be profitable, solve a problem, etc.), not what they can do for you (a good starting salary, benefits, advanced education, etc.)”


4. According to Lewis Bryan of SellState Capital Realty, “be prepared to share your own (couple of them) business experience and if you do not have any, be prepared to share any life experience that would help the interviewer understand how you confront obstacle and how you handle yourself under pressure. Be honest in your answers and be yourself. Do not try to be someone you are not.”


5. “Make sure you firmly shake the hand of the interviewer and look them in the eye when you introduce yourself at the start of the interview.” According to Gary Trebels of IFC Credit Corporation, “make sure you firmly shake the hand of the interviewer and look them in the eye when you introduce yourself at the start of the interview. A flimsy handshake to me is weak and lacks confidence. First impressions are made in the first minute to thirty seconds and they are very hard to change. Why start off at a disadvantage when you can make such a favorable first impression within that first minute? My mother, who was a secretary to CEO's, drilled this into my head since I was 10 years old, and I am very thankful that she did.”


6. “Before the interview ends, and after you have decided if you want the job, in a polite way, ask for the job?” According to Paul Balutis of A#1 Southport, “So many people never close the opportunity at hand. You do not have to be too direct, just ask how you did, what's the next step, and oh by the way, I am more interested in the position than I was before this interview! This will separate you from the pack, this will make you stand out, and it may get you to step 2!”


Everyone of the interview tips provided is needed to succeed in a job interview. The most important job interview tip that you can use is just being yourself in a job interview. People are going to hire you because of who you are and what you have to offer.


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If you want more job interview tips and want to provide the best job interview answers for interview questions and get the job you deserve, then the Superstar Interview Guide is your best bet! You can find the Superstar Interview Guide at http://www.instantjobinterviewtools.com/

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Behavioral Interview Answer

Joe’s Question:

I always have a hard time answering this question,

“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?”

I want to make sure the interviewers know that I have no problem working with others.

James’s Answer:

Before I answer this question, I will go over STAR formula that I use when answering a behavioral interview question.

STAR, which stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result is one of the best methods to answering behavioral base questions.

First you explain the Situation or Task, then the Action taken, and finally, what happen in regards to your actions (the Result).

Now a great way to answer this interview question is by using an example from one of your previous jobs and what you did to resolve the situation.

Let’s examine the interview question, “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?”

What I would suggest is to use a situation that resulted in a position outcome for both you and you co-worker.

You could say that work with someone that wasn’t very organized and was always playing catch up with her work. She spent more time looking for things than actually working.

Since I worked in a team environment, my work was depended on what she did and she frequently was late with her share of the work, which made me look incompetent. One time my team almost missed the deadline, and we could have lost the client because of it.

I was very frustrated about the situation and decided that it was time to find out why she wasn’t completing her assignments on time. I set up a meeting between me and her. I expressed my concerns to her. She explained to me that she was never very good at organizing her desk. She said that she would love to be more organized, but she doesn’t know how to.

I explained that I can understand that not being organized can really be tough and that I can help implement a plan to organize her workspace. The next week, I took 30 minutes each day, out of my day to help her organize all of her files and computer files.

I noticed after I helped her, that she was meeting her deadlines and that the team in general was much happier and more productive, including me.

Good Luck!

Contact: James Malervy
Email: james@superstarinterviewguide.com
Web: www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com

Friday, September 18, 2009

4 Simple Tips that will help you succeed at a Job Interview

1) Have a Personal Branding Statement

The first question most employers will ask you during an interview is “Tell me about yourself.” The way you answer this question will set the mood for the rest of the interview. That is why you develop a personal branding statement. Explain where you are from, your passions, what strengths you as a person bring to this position and what benefits your previous employer(s) have gained because of your employment. The Personal Branding Statement should be about one minute long.

Personal Branding Statement Example:"I am a seasoned marketing expert in property retail management, strong in driving traffic to mall retail centers through effective media buying and event planning. I grew up in Philadelphia and I have a passion for continuous learning."You should do this for three reasons:

  • It demonstrates that you are comfortable with yourself. This places both you and the interviewer at ease.
  • It will help you begin to control the interview.
  • A well-delivered Personal Branding Statement will increase the interviewer’s interest in to you. Be careful not to show off - simply tell a story about yourself.
2) Keep a Positive Attitude


“I can get this job!”

The key to a great interview is keeping a positive attitude. The interview is about you. This is a major advantage for you. You are the one that shows the interviewer what is great about you. Keep in mind, your resume got you the interview, it’s the interview that will get you hired.

Be prepared for tricky questions and unexpected happenings, such as setbacks. Don't let these affect your positive attitude.

3) Dress for Success

There is a saying that clothes make the man (or woman) and it is certainly true. You only get one chance make a first impression, and if you want to compete with the rest of you need to dress to impress.

4) Follow Up with a Thank You Letter

After you conduct your successful interview, it is important to follow it up with a thank you note. This is the time acknowledge the interviewer’s time and to remind him or her why you are the best person for the position. You are only remembered if you show the interviewer that you can create value for the company. You should try to write a thank you as soon as the interview is over. You can personally write it and mail a note to the interviewer or email them.

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The above post was taken from InstantJobInterviewTools.com
http://www.instantjobinterviewtools.com/Job-Interview-Tips.html

Friday, September 4, 2009

What is the most important question to ask in a job interview?

What is the most important question to ask in a job interview?
By James Malervy, InstantJobInterviewTools.com

It is very important to prepare before a job interview in today’s job market if you want to succeed. It’s not just how job candidates answer interview questions that influence interviewers’ hiring decisions, but also what questions candidates themselves ask during the job interview.
I thought that it was necessary to find out what is the most important question to ask at a job interview. Now I know that this would be a tough question to answer. I turned to social media for help. I asked the members of the Linked HR Group of LinkedIn .com “What is the most important question to ask an interviewer and why?” I did receive a lot of feedback. Now I know that there any many questions you should ask during a job interview, however the purpose of this article is to engage potential job candidates to think of great questions to ask recruiters and interviewers alike to make help lasting impressions. Below are three great questions given by members of Linked HR Group:

1) “Do you have any concerns about my skills and abilities that you think might keep me from being successful in this position"? According to Kirk Johnson, a Managing Director at Sanford Rose Associates, “this question helps cancel out any false negatives”

2) “What is the immediate challenge for this role?” According Stella Toh, a Business Development Consultant for Beacon Executive Search, “when the question is posed by a candidate attending an interview, it usually reflects well for the interviewer. Interviewers had given the feedback those candidates who ask the question shows that they are all ready to take on the challenge once they accept the role.”

3) Courtesy of David Walko, Principal of Professionals Choice, “Can you please tell me more about the position and in particular, how do you see both the position and the company growing in the future?

No matter what questions you ask, everyone is important. What is the most important question to ask at a job interview? There isn’t just one important question, it’s every question you ask and how you ask it that will leave an impression.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Interview Questions

Currently working on a article that focuses on the most imporant interview questions to ask.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Decision Makers agree that InstantJobInterviewTools.com is a huge resource for job applicants

Wayne Kramer, Region Sales Director of Cricket Legal Technologies, states “I have been a hiring manager in most of my capacities and can tell you that most people do not interview well. James has taken all of the sound principals that an interviewer looks for and developed them into the Superstar Interview Guide, and I must say, did a superb job of it. While interviewing may not seem that difficult, most people know it can be one of the hardest things to do. When you read James' Superstar Interview Guide these things seem like common sense but that is because James has taken to time to map out all these strategies and put them into an easy to understand, real world users guide that even allows you to test yourself and fully prepare for that all important interview. James has emphasized the point of being yourself but preparing for the specific position you are interviewing for. James gets it, and now you can too by reading, practicing and putting his Superstar Interview Guide to the test. Well done!”

If you want to provide the best job interview answers for interview questions and get the job you deserve, then the Superstar Interview Guide is your best bet! You can find the Superstar Interview Guide at www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Superstar Interview Guide by James Malervy is the Preferred Job Interview Resource Among Hiring Managers

LANCASTER, PA, August 27, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jarret Lord, District Sales Manager for Staples Business Advantage, states "James Malervy hit the nail on the head with this one. As an active recruiter of new untapped talent in the sales industry, I feel that I pass over a ton of talent that could very well be the next big thing within my company, all because of their interviewing techniques or lack thereof. If most interviewees did their research to this extent I think my job would be that much easier or that much harder depending on how many people read the book and actually applied this information. Think of this as Interviewing for Dummies but with real up to date and practical information."If you want to provide the best job interview answers for interview questions and get the job you deserve, then the Superstar Interview Guide is your best bet! You can find the Superstar Interview Guide at http://www.instantjobinterviewtools.com/

Contact:James J. Malervy, II
James@SuperstarInterviewGuide.com
http://www.instantjobinterviewtools.com/

James Malervy is an expert author and leading influencer on the subject of interviewing. He has worked with such companies as Sprint, Pepsi and the Walt Disney Company and brings his professional experience to job seekers in writing the "Superstar Interview Guide." He provides career advice to hundreds everyday and even provides his services as a Career Coach through the "Superstar Career Coach E-Zine" available through subscription at www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com James is dedicated to helping others in becoming more competitive in the job market, gaining confident in their interviewing skills, and finally getting hired for the job they deserve.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

How to get your resume in front of the right decision makers

How to get your resume in front of the right decision makers?

I remember when I first entered the job pool after college, I applied to several jobs through various job search engines. I realized that I wasn’t having any success with getting job interviews. After many years in the job market and being on the other side of the hiring process, I found out how ways to get your resume in front of the right decision makers.

1) Call the potential employer and find out the name and email address of the hiring manager

2) Conduct a keyword search with Google using the potential employer’s name and the position title, most of the time you should be able to locate information pertaining to the hiring manager.

3) Physically mail your resume and cover letter to the potential employer. It seems everyone opens up mail they receive at the office.

Good Luck!
James Malervy
www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com

Monday, August 24, 2009

Welcome to Interview Questions, Answers and Career Tips

Welcome to Interview Questions, Answers & Career Tips. My name is James Malervy and I am the author of the Superstar Interview Guide available through www.InstantJobInterviewToosl.com and this is my blog. I will be providing information pertaining to interview questions, interview answers, articles and other career advice. Also, I try to answer all questions submitted. I look forward to hearing from all of you!