Focus and the Money Question
Posted by Robert on Jul 10, 2010
The first interview is always important; it’s your chance to shine, so you should bring out your best. Below are some tips on how to make your interview a pleasant experience.
Always stay focused on the subject at hand. If the interviewer is asking for your educational background, it’s better if you give the facts and get straight to the point. Interviewers get easily irritated with “around-the-bush” type of answers. It just shows that the applicant is unsure or is hiding something from him or her.
Don’t ask about the compensation yet. Doing so, we’ll make you look too much of a money-centered person. Let the interviewer discuss this in his or her own time. This information is usually provided on the second or third interview. Right now, they’re just concerned if you’re the right person for the job or not.
More interview tips on the next post.
Company Values, Attitudes, and You
Posted by Robert on Jun 10, 2010
Ever been to a job where everyone seems to fit in except you? They talk about things that neither you get nor even care about. They always go to the same places and do stuff outside of work together. Maybe you have a different set of values and attitudes from the people around you at work. This depressing situation must be avoided at all costs because it will definitely affect your productivity. So how do you avoid this? Ask it on your first interview.
Ask the interviewer regarding the company’s values and attitudes towards its employees. Once the other person answers the question, ask yourself if you have these values in you, and if you don’t, would you like to have them? After you’ve decided, express your thoughts regarding this subject to the interviewer.
The Values and Attitudes of the company and its employees is important in making your choice whether you’d like to continue your application or not.
Do Interviews Begin On the Phone?
Posted by Robert on May 10, 2010
Yes, they do. Even if it’s just the Recruitment Assistant calling you up for a scheduled interview or if you’re just following up on the resume you just sent. Phone calls to any possible employer can have a large impact on your application.
Always pick up the call with a professional attitude. This applies mostly to those who get calls from their mobile phone, although those on their land line phone should also do these as well. Always say “Hello and your name first. This will help the caller know that they’ve contacted the right person.
State the purpose of your call. If it’s a follow up, state specially what it is. Most Recruitment or Human resource personnel are already up to their necks in things to do: most would rather have you go straight to the point. Just ensure that you’re still cordial and professional.
Remember, always act professional in all your dealings (whether through phone or email) with your possible employer.
Interview Tips
Posted by Robert on Mar 10, 2010
Going for that first interview can be highly stressful, especially if this is going to be your first crack at it—however, even those who’ve been at this game for a long time can also feel the same. No one ever gets used to it. Therefore, for those greenhorns about to be interviewed here are couple of things you should do to be prepared for that life –changing experience.
Research for background information on the company. Better knowledge of what the company’s about and its products can definitely help you in forming your answers to questions. Letting the interviewer feel that you know something about their company during the interview can give you good points in the end.
Remember to prepare yourself and your resume. Dress well, be on time and relax as much as much as possible before going in for the interview. Update your resume for any changes, primary examples are contact numbers, addresses, and previous jobs. Ensure that it has no typographical errors in it.
Be open with your past working/educational history. The interviewer is well trained in asking for information regarding gaps in your resume; so you night as well tell the truth. Just ensure that you don’t sound bitter or hostile against your previous company or school.
Body Language affects Job Searching
Posted by Robert on Feb 10, 2010
When the recruiter interviews, he or she not only checks if the data in your resume is accurate nor if you look the part, but he or she also checks out your body language. Sorry folks, these people studied enough about how to interpret non-verbal communication to tell you how you really feel about something.
Here’s a gold nugget we found:
In fact, research also shows that body language makes up more than half of how our communication is perceived. That means that you may be describing your greatest business accomplishment, but if your posture isn’t good and you don’t make effective eye contact, you might as well tell the interviewer about the time you lost your portfolio on the way to a presentation.
Handling awkward moments in an interview
Posted by editor on Feb 21, 2009
There will be times, during a job interview, when your interviewer will ask you questions along the lines of “How did you deal with a stubborn client or co-worker?” or “What was the most challenging or difficult aspect / task in your previous job?”
These may be awkward questions, and while the interviewer is aware that they are, he or she asks you these kinds of questions to gauge your responses to less than ideal situations, including the one he or she just put you in. The key is to remain calm and focused, and only discuss the positive aspects of the issues raised – like saying how you dealt with a certain problem or situation. No need to detail the problem or where other people whet wrong. No matter how in the right you were, it doesn’t look good when you diss someone.
JOBSDB: is it really a database of JOB OPPORTUNITIES?
Posted by Administrator on Aug 8, 2008
image source: www.bc.edu
I know job hunting is hard especially when you don’t have enough resources. That’s why lets have a closer look to an online job search site “JOBSDB”. JobsDB or Jobs Database is a collection of job vacancies from different partner companies. This website was established in 1998 at Hong Kong. Its main objective is to help job hunters to find the right job that will be suitable for them by visiting jobsdb website. JobsDb is also international because if you will visit the main page there are countries to choose from like Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and etc. But I know Jobsdb also organized job fair in different places to accommodate job finders who don’t have the resources of internet or computer. Last September I attended one job fair organized by Jobsdb in world trade center of Philippines and there are about 100 plus companies who participated that event and I think about 10,000 have been employed by BPO, Call Center, and other Companies because of that jobfair.
Valuable Interview Tips (Continued)
Posted by Administrator on May 26, 2008
4. Be ready for the questions, be ready with your answers.
Ask people and reliable sources about the usual questions these companies usually want to know. Be prepared with your answers and be ready for more questions that they will definitely ask related to these.
5. Have questions of your own.
Be the right kind of assertive. Interviewers, who see that you can speak for yourself, and confidently at that, will develop either a liking to that attitude, or even a possible dislike.
6. Bring up points that you weren’t able to discuss.
This will give the interviewer the impression that you pay attention to the small details, and are not afraid to speak up for yourself when it is the right time. This will also inform him more about yourself and more of what you can offer the company.
7. Be polite. Thank the interviewer before you leave.
No matter how much the first impression lasts, the last impression also comes first. Whether or not you’re sure you got the job or you’re waiting for a callback, it is always good for your reputation as a professional to be respectful and polite.
Valuable Interview Tips
Posted by Administrator on May 25, 2008
Look hired. Enter the interview room looking all things but confident. Here are a few tried and tested tips on how to pass the interview with flying colors:
1. Know what you’re good at and what you can improve on.
Being confident about the skills and abilities you possess gives the interviewer a quick good look at what kind of person you will most likely be in a workplace. Being honest about the things you can improve on also gives the interviewer a basic good look on what an honest, trustworthy and open-minded worker you are, open to any change and improvement that your current abilities and skills may have.
2. Know what the job asks of you so that you’ll know if you qualify.
Be prepared for anything. Your job description could be as specific or general and you could be asked to do anything. Better know what these things are, believe that you can do it and know that you can.
3. Know who you’re working for.
Know how these people work, what they’re looking for and what pleases them. This way, you get to set a good first impression, and be an asset to the company as well.
The Aftershock of Interviews
Posted by Administrator on May 22, 2008
“Different strokes for different folks.” This cliché also holds true with interviews. Yes, those dreaded job interviews. Different companies, different questions, hence, different answers and different outcomes. Desperate times like these call for desperate measures.
Once you finish that interview and get out of that room full of pins and needles and you’re not sure whether you’re gonna be called back for a second interrogation, it’s time to let loose. Unleash all that anticipation and long-felt anxiety. Celebrate! (At least celebrate for having made it out alive.)
Here are just some random things that could lessen the stress of having to wait for the next callback.
1. REJUVENATE. All that thinking and thinking for days on end would have annihilated all your healthy brain and body cells. Get yourself a full-body massage and experience an out of body experience (makes you feel like heaven, where there are no interviews.)
2. RELAX. Forget about everything. Forget about the interview, forget about what you have to do, forget about your future… for at least a good night’s sleep.
3. REFRESH. Take the best sponge bath you’ve had in a long time. I promise you, the waters will wash away all that anxiety and stress.