Tag Archives: job interview

How To Create An Interview Preparation List

: Image via Wikipedia

Create An Interview Preparation List – AdvancingWomen.com Careers-Employment.

Here’s a quick way to compare your own job experience and qualifications with those that your prospective employer is looking for in a specific job position. Make an “Interview Preparation List”. When you prepare for a job interview, it’s good to have a quick reference of your past work experience that you can study ahead of time to help prepare you for the specific job you’re interviewing for.

Grab a sheet of paper and make three columns.

Column A will be “Position Requirements”;

Column B will be “Your Qualifications and Experience”; and

Column C will list “Your Stories”. For this exercise, you’ll be using the actual job description from the employer.

So, in Column A (Position Requirements) you’ll take one piece of the job description and write for example: “Ability to work well with others.” Ok. Now you’ll have to think about your own experiences while working well with others. What specific examples do you have that demonstrates this ability?

Great. You’ve thought of something. In this example, we’ll write under Column B (Your Qualifications and Experience) “Worked on the XYZ project team.”

Now you need to break it down even further and list a specific action-oriented example of “working well with others” on the XYZ project team.

In Column C (Your Stories) you write something like this: “Coordinated winning marketing campaign which resulted in a successful launch of new product.” See how successful that makes you look?

(And don’t forget personal branding: be sure to include those signature elements of your style, your talents and achievements which differentiate you from the crowd and make you stand out.)

Keep going until you’ve listed something for every part of the job description. Now, you’re ready for your close-up.

Author, Donna Monday of Get A Job Interview- Quick Tips

A Great Interview Tip – How To Prepare To Look And Sound Your Best

Since this a time many people are looking for new jobs……assume you’ve aced your resume and gotten an interview set up…. now is the time to prepare. Often we’re not completely aware of how we look and sound to others, so it might be a good idea to find out and see if there’s anything about your presentation that needs polishing up.

Liz Wolgemuth in A Great Interview Tip – The Inside Job (usnews.com) gives some practical and easy advice on one good way to prepare before you meet your next potential employer:

“When preparing for an interview–make use of a voice recorder. It’s very easy. Enlist a spouse or friend to mock-interview you and tape your answers.

Then, you will be able to avoid precisely what Rowan Manahan, over at the Fortify Your Oasis blog, is talking about in in his post today. Specifically, sounding like this:

“My greatest strength? Well, you know, I would have to say that, like, my greatest strength is my communications skills? And, like, it’s been like that all my life – you know? Even when I was, like, a kid, my teachers would say what a, like, clear speaker I was?”

When you’re done, play the tape back. Interrogate your speech. And if you find yourself talking like this, Manahan advises: “Then stop doing it. Really. Stop.”

I’d add that this isn’t just a good exercise for folks who tend to overuse the word “like,” but also for catching mindless or nervous habits that can really throw an impression. Plus, tape recorders are cheap.

(Granted, if you can use a video camera, then you can catch other bad habits. Maybe you slouch when you’re trying to project energy and enthusiasm. Maybe you look at the ground when you speak, or nod your head constantly while you’re listening.)”

Why Should We Hire You? – Because You Are The Solution

Image via Wikipedia

Why Should We Hire You? – Careers-Employment – AdvancingWomen.com

This is one of those broad questions that can take you down the wrong road unless you have done some thinking about what to say ahead of time. This question deals with your ability to sell yourself. Think of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy?

Answers that WON’T WORK -

‘Because I need a job.’ — This answer is about YOU — ‘they’ want to know what you can do for ‘them.’

‘I am a hard worker.’ — This is a really trite answer — almost anyone can say he or she is a hard worker.

‘I saw your ad and could do the job.’ — This answers lacks passion and purpose.

STRONGER ANSWERS that would get the interviewer‘s attention –

‘Because I have three years experience working with customers in a very similar environment.’

‘Because I have what it takes to fill the requirements of this job – solve customer problems using my excellent customer service skills.’

‘Because I have the experience and expertise in the area of customer support that is required in this position.’

This is a time to let the customer (the interviewer) know what your product (YOU) can do for them and why they should listen to what you have to offer. The more detail you give the stronger your answer will be. This is not a time to talk about what you want. It is a time to summarize your accomplishments and relate what makes you unique and therefore a viable fit for this position.

Product Inventory Exercise

Start by looking at the job description or posting. What is the employer emphasizing as requirements of the job? What will it take to get the job done? Make a list of those requirements on one side of a piece of paper.

Next, do an inventory to determine what you have to offer as a fit against those requirements. List your skills on the other side of the paper. Think of two or three key qualities you have to offer that match each requirement that the employer is seeking. Don’t underestimate personal traits that make you unique — your energy, personality type, working style, and people skills.

The Sales Pitch — You are the Solution

From the list of requirements and your matching list of what you have to offer, merge the two into a summary statement. This is your sales pitch. It should be no more than two minutes long and should stress the traits that make you unique and a good match for the job.

Example

‘With my seven years of experience working with financial databases, I have saved companies thousands of dollars by streamlining systems. My high energy, and quick learning style enable me to hit the ground running and rapidly size up problems. I have the ability to stay focused in stressful situations, and can be counted on when the going gets tough. I know I would be a great addition to your team.’

Preparing this statement ahead of the interview will give you the edge when asked questions like, ‘Why should we hire you?’ or ‘What can you bring to this position?’ This will be your chance to let the interviewers know that you are the solution to their problem.

About The Author

Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and an interview coach. Her books, ‘Interview Fitness Training Workbook’ and ‘Boost Your Interview IQ’ (McGraw Hill) have sold thousands of copies world-wide. Receive Carole’s FREE 9-week job interview e-course by visiting her web site at: http://www.interviewcoach.com or http://www.interviewfitnesstraining.com.

3 Ways to Hire for the Wow Factor!

How To Ace An Interview Guide In A Nutshell

Interview Guide – AdvancingWomen.com

The interviewer hopes that YOU are the right person for the job. They are under pressure to fill the position so that they can get back to their own work. Therefore you are in a greater position of strength than you think. Concentrate on what you have to offer in the way of qualifications and experience instead of feeling intimidated.

An interviewer has 3 aims:

1) To learn if you are the right person for the job
2) To assess your potential for promotion
3) To decide whether you will fit into the company environment

The key to a successful interview is in preparation

Be prepared: For the types of questions you will be asked
Be prepared: To ask questions yourself
Be prepared: To research the company
Be prepared: To look the part
Be prepared: To turn up on time

Questions you may be asked
Example question: How would you describe yourself?
Your answer: Should describe attributes that will enhance your suitability for the position. Have some ready in advance.
Example question: What are your long-term goals?
Your answer: Should be career orientated. Make sure you have goals to discuss.
Example question: Why did you leave your last job?
Your answer: Could be more responsibility; better opportunity; increased income. Do not be detrimental to your previous employer. He could be the interviewer’s golfing partner.
Example question: Why do you want this job?
Your answer: Your answer should be: more responsibility or better opportunity or similar. Not: because it is closer to home or the gym.
Example question: What are your strengths?
Your answer: Should highlight accomplishments and experiences that relate to the position for which you are applying. Also give examples of situations where your strengths have been demonstrated.
Example question: What are your weaknesses?
Your answer: Should not be a list of deficiencies. Don’t mention anything that could make the interviewer question your ability to do the job, for example “I am always late for everything.” Instead, discuss a weakness that could also be a strength such as “I am a workaholic!”

More Examples of Interview Questions
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Describe your current / most recent position.
What made you want to make this change?
What do you most enjoy doing in your current /most recent position?
Describe your future ambitions.
How would you describe yourself?

Questions for you to ask
Asking questions at interview has a number of positive effects:
It helps you find out more about the company and the position.
It can be used to divert the interviewer away from a subject you may wish to avoid.
It can help build a rapport with the interviewer.
It demonstrates an interest in the job and the company.
The questions must be about the position and the company.
Avoid questions about salary, benefits and facilities until after you have been offered the job. You should already have researched the company and it’s products and services. Your questions should demonstrate knowledge of the company’s history, successes and problems. If the interviewer is a representative of the personnel

department the questions should relate to the company and be general. Specific questions relating to the position should be kept for the line manager who will have a more detailed knowledge.

Example questions relating to the position
What are the main responsibilities of the job?
What are the most difficult aspects of the job?
How did the vacancy arise?
What is the career path relating to this position?
How will my work be assessed?

Example questions relating to the company
What is the company hoping to achieve in the next 12 months?
What new products are the company planning to introduce in the future?
Are any major changes planned for the department/company?
Who are your biggest competitors?

Where to find company information
Information relating to companies, financial data, industries and business trends is available in business magazines which often publish on the World Wide Web and allow you to order
Annual Reports relating to specific companies.
Companies often have their own web site.
Newspapers – search on-line press reports including archived articles.
Local library

Presentation Tips
Obviously you should be clean and smart in appearance but you should also dress appropriately for the position, for example: a student placement that is more expensively dressed than the Managing Director may have a negative impact.
Clothes should be on the conservative side, which is more acceptable to people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. After all, you are asking to be accepted into the company. Therefore always avoid extremes in hair, clothes, make-up and jewellery. Taking trouble over your appearance shows the employer that the job is important to you.

Travel tips
Arrive 15 minutes early.
Make sure you have the correct address and know how you will get there:
Parking? Public transport access?
Do a dummy run if you are not sure.
Make sure you have a mobile phone and a telephone number so that you can ring ahead if circumstances beyond your control are making you late.
Be polite to everyone you speak to, it could be the Managing Director’s cousin!
Have a copy of your CV with you.

Summary
You should show interest in all aspects of the job and the company especially if shown around the premises.
Do your homework on the company and the nature of its business. Take care in how you dress for the interview. First impressions still count!

Some of the main influences on the interviewer are:
Your experience in other employment or life situations Your personal presentation.
How your personality comes across in the interview
Your background and references
Your enthusiasm for both the job and the organisation.
Relevant qualifications for the position.

Do you have any interview tips or horror stories? They all help… some to serve as great examples, some to point out mistakes some of us have made so, hopefully, we don’t make them again. Please do share your stories with us.

How to Convey Your Strengths During a Job Interview Or With A Potential Client

How to Convey Your Strengths During a Job Interview Or With A Potenial Client

by Jason Kay

Along with “tell me about yourself,” “describe your strengths” is one of the questions that you know you’ll be asked in a job interview. At first blush, it sounds like an easy question. But because it’s such a broad topic, it can actually be quite difficult to answer well. Below are a few guidelines to help you prepare for and deliver a great response.

· Identify your strengths. You should think very carefully about your personal strengths well before you step foot into your interview. It’s not unusual for even the most ambitious professional to be at a loss as to her own strengths. Try viewing resume samples and notice some of the strengths that come across. Do any of those apply to you? Another good source of “strength identification” is to ask your friends and family what they see as your positive attributes. Are you organized? Decisive? Detail-oriented? It’s a good bet that these qualities come through at work as well.

· Limit your strengths. Of course you want to impress the hiring manager with your many and varied strengths, but it’s a good idea to put a lot of thought into just three or four, rather than make a catch-all list to regurgitate. If you try to sell the fact that your strengths cover every single thing that could possibly arise-ever!-two negative things are likely to happen: your interviewer probably won’t believe you, and you won’t have enough time to expound upon anything (and, hence, miss the opportunity to lend credibility to your claims).

· Avoid over-used catch phrases. It’s tempting to say things like, “I’m a people person” because it sounds like it should be the right answer. But it’s far too vague to convey anything other than the fact that you don’t know how to interview well.

· Make sure your strengths are transferable. If you’re interviewing for a similar position as the one you have now-or with your current company-it’ll be fairly easy to describe how your strengths relate to your potential new job. But if you’re changing careers or re-entering the work force after an absence, you’ll need to be more creative. If you’re switching from graphic design to sales, for instance, you can relate how your dedication to on-time delivery and creative customer presentations would be a huge plus in your new job.

· Relate your strengths to the new company or job. It’s no secret that candidates need to research the prospective company, as well as the specific job they’re after if possible. But you may not realize how valuable that information can be when you’re relating your strengths. If you know that the culture of the hiring company is customer-focused, for example, you should make sure to convey that customer service is one of your strengths. The company doesn’t care about your strengths in an abstract sense; they want concrete evidence that you can hit the ground running for them.

· Give concrete examples. Too many job seekers begin well with their “strengths” answer, but then stop short of an impressive response by, well, stopping short. Don’t just say that you’re persistent; back your assertion up with a story about the time you courted a new client for six months to secure a huge deal for your previous firm. Or demonstrate your attention to detail by showing your interviewer a company newsletter that you edited.

· Be prepared for the follow-up. A good interviewer knows that you’ll expect questions about your strengths and weaknesses and that, if you’re smart, you will have prepared a good answer. So to mix things up a bit, some interviewers ask questions that force you to defend your assertion. If you describe one of your strengths as being able to sell ice to an Eskimo, the hiring manager may pick up a stapler and ask you to demonstrate your no-fail sales technique. The best way to prepare for follow-up questions like this is to make sure that you actually possess the strengths you say you do.

AW WebBiz & Social Media Blog

Mentoring, Tools & Strategy To Succeed