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.
Mind Over Matter
Posted by Administrator on May 8, 2008
It will never be normal if you never did feel a bit anxious about your first (or even your second) interview at a company. There will always be that nervous feeling you will get just thinking of how the interview might turn out to be. You will always get those sweaty palms, those butterflies in your stomach and you’ll always get crazy, scary ideas in your head that’ll make you want to do everything but go through with that life-changing interview. It always helps to keep your mind over things… your mind over matter.
So before you enter that room, and face the faces of those hungry lions, ready to eat you up and eat you alive, prepare yourself for battle. Psyche yourself and muster up all the courage that you’ve been saving all your life, because not only is this an interview, it’ll be the beginning of the rest of your life.
Frequently asked questions in interviews
Posted by Administrator on May 3, 2008
These FAQs or Frequently Asked Questions will serve as your cue card inside the “Judgment Room.†Your answers to these questions will either make you or break you.
1. What can you offer?
2. Why are you interested in our company?
3. What are your strengths?
4. What are your weaknesses?
5. How can you become an asset to this company?
6. Where do you expect to be in 5 years? In 10 years?
7. How do you plan on getting there?
8. How much salary would you like to get from this job, if you get to have it your way?
9. How would you expect your supervisor or your boss to be?
10. What would your career goals be for this job? How would you achieve this?
Turn Weaknesses Into Strenghts
Posted by Robert on Apr 25, 2008
Ask Men, asked the question: “If you were asked by the interviewer what your weakness is, what would you answer?†The problem with this question is that if you say you have no weakness, your credibility dies, if you chose the the wrong “weakness†then you may not be able to land the job. The article mentioned five possible weaknesses that will work to your advantage:
“I tend to talk too muchâ€
Make sure you emphasize that you’re a good communicator.
“I project self-expectationsâ€
It means that you expect a lot from yourself and your team mates. Be careful not to ham it up too much as it may backfire on you.
“I get attached to projectsâ€
It shows that you’re willing to stay on a task until it is absolutely finished.
“I assume the leadership role when it’s not designated to meâ€
This weakness shows that you are willing to take up responsibilities beyond your job description to finish the job with your teammates.
“I’m a workaholicâ€
This one shows that you are willing to go the extra mile. Just don’t over do it as it may turn out to be a daily thing for you.
How to Fail the Interview
Posted by Robert on Apr 19, 2008
The best resume in the world can’t save you if you fail in the interview. Carole Martin is a worldwide expert on the subject of Job Interviews. Here are some of the worst ways you can totally screw up your chances in an interview:
Poor Non-verbal communication
“Interviewing effectively is about demonstrating confidence. Things like standing straight, making eye contact, and connecting with a good, firm handshake are all vitally important,” says Martin.Failure to listen actively
“From the moment you start talking, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not listening actively, you’re missing out on a major opportunity,” says Martin.Talking too much
“Telling the interviewer more than they need to know can be a fatal mistake. Candidates who don’t prepare ahead of time tend to ramble, sometimes talking themselves right out of the job,” says Martin.Appearing desperate
“As a rule, if you interview with a ‘Please, please, hire me,’ mind-set, you will appear less confident. Maintain the three Cs during your next interview: Cool, Calm, and Confident! You know you can do the job. Make sure the interviewer knows you can, too,” says Martin.
Good luck with the interview!
Look Professional
Posted by Robert on Apr 12, 2008
Wearing the appropriate attire in an interview can make or break your job employment chances. Although the clothes don’t make the man, it does leave an impression; and first impressions during an interview is extremely important.
What and how you wear it says a lot about you. It shows how you feel about yourself, your attention to detail, and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job. Dress professionally and conservatively so they’ll treat you the same way.
Don’t over-rely on your looks though, it just makes you easier to look at, but your skills and potential should shine through once your inside the interview room.
Salary Range Questions are Traps
Posted by Robert on Apr 6, 2008
Interviews can go well or it can go to hell.
It’s about how you answer certain tough questions. One of the toughest one is: “What’s your salary range?†Why? If you answer with a higher rate than the job can offer, then basically the interviewer will think you’re too high. If you answer lower, than the interviewer will fall silent and you might have been shortchanged.
How do you answer this then? The first one who gives the number loses. Here are some ways to sidestep these traps:
What salary range are you looking for?
“Let’s talk about the job requirements and expectations first, so I can get a sense of what you need.” That’s a soft answer to a soft way of asking the question.
I need to know what salary you want in order to make you an offer. Can you tell me a range?
“I’d appreciate it if you could make me an offer based on whatever you have budgeted for this position and we can go from there.” This is a pretty direct response, so using words like ‘appreciate’ focuses on drawing out the interviewer’s better qualities instead of his tougher side.
More here
Dealing with the Past
Posted by Robert on Mar 13, 2008
The past is the past, and there’s nothing you can do about it, but learn from it. Mistakes and failing in your previous job should be taken positively because the next employer will ask you about it.
Never bad-mouth your previous employer. To the interviewer, it looks as though you’re unprofessional and have a bad attitude towards work. Instead, calmly tell them that you have decided to move on despite the challenges you experienced with your previous employer and what you garnered from the experience.
Don’t act like a victim, be a survivor. Being downsized and fired is an unpleasant fact. Accept the situation for what it is rather than vent it all on the interviewer. It shows that you have the capability to adapt quickly to any situation.
Never burn bridges with your former employer, your experience with them will help you in getting the next better job.