Top Interview Questions

Interviewing can be a tedious and stressful time. Which questions should you ask, which ones are appropriate? Do you prepare a question list for interviews? This article takes a look at 14 powerful interview questions, and gives insight into the kind of character traits the right questions can reveal.

Interviewing can be a tedious and stressful time. Which questions should you ask, which ones are appropriate? Are you going to pick the right person for the position? Below is a list of the top 14 interview questions hiring managers find most effective. These inquiries range from basic to complex and give descriptions of what the question accomplishes. Some of the questions are very straight forward and some are tricky ones that bring out the candidate's personality and behavior without directly asking them.

What circumstance brings you here today?

This is one of the best opening questions ever. This open ended question surprises many candidates. If they do not respond quickly, just sit quietly and wait for the response. Some candidates reveal problems with their current employer, potential insubordination, and both positive or negative character traits.

How would your best friend describe you?

In most cases, the response to this question indicates how the candidate wants you to feel they are perceived by friends. Take notes on the response and then ask, "May I call your best friend and see how they describe you?" You may or may not be interested in talking to the best friend. However, the response and body language after the follow-up question can indicate if you received a truthful response. I suggest asking this question near the beginning of the interview. It helps you get truthful responses for the rest of your time with the candidate.

What would you say are your 2 greatest weaknesses?

This question reveals the candidate's ability to identify the need for personal improvement. The best responses include a plan on how the candidate is addressing the weakness. Some candidates also do an effective job turning their weakness into a positive, which indicates the candidate has good alternative thinking or good sales skills. Watch out for candidates who are unaware or will not admit that they have weaknesses.

How do you alleviate stress?

Every job has stress. So if someone says they are not stressed or claim to not do anything about it, then they are either lying or they do not know how to control it. Look for positive activities or hobbies, rather than substance use or dangerous activities as stress relievers.

What are your short and long term goals?

The response to this question usually reveals if the candidate has personal or professional goals. If they do not have a quick response, it may indicate they do not plan ahead. I especially like responses which indicate drive, planning and good work/life balance. You may also need to ask for more details about certain goals to gain insight into whether or not the employee intends to stay for awhile or just gain a little experience and move on. Consider asking the follow-up question, "What are 3 goals that you have achieved in the past year?"

What type of work environment do you prefer?

When choosing potential employees, it is helpful to know what type of environment in which they prefer to work. If the company is very professional and usually quiet, someone who likes a loud, casual environment might not be the best fit. It is sometimes good to hire someone who does not fit the mold, but it is usually best to hire people who fit your work environment.

What is your typical way of dealing with conflict?

As with stress, conflicts are something we deal with frequently. Conflicts may range from differences with a supervisor, to differing lunch preferences. Most employers look for someone who can deal with an issue without getting frustrated. Either ask for a real-life example or build a hypothetical scenario and ask how they would handle the conflict. Some managers, who prefer a more confrontational interview style, intentionally create conflict and stress in the interview to see how the candidate responds.

What tools or habits do you use to keep organized?

Instead of asking are you an organized person, this makes the interviewee prove and describe their organizational skills. Most hiring managers expect that their employees have some type of system to stay organized. Whether it is using a planner, or electronic calendar, these tools confirm that the potential employee is reliable and responsible.

Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond to get a job done.

This is an excellent question that lets a potential employee really sell themself. In doing so, the hiring manager can see what type of person they are really interviewing. They can also measure how out of the way this candidate had to go in order to complete their duty. This gives a clearer picture about the work ethic of the potential employee.

What was a major obstacle you were able to overcome in the past year?

Problem solving is the major topic covered by this question. What kind of thinker is this candidate? Can they do projects on their own or does their manager need to hold their hand. It also confirms how determined they can be toward a project.

In what ways do you raise the bar for yourself and others around you?

This question gives the interviewer an idea of who is and is not an above average performer. It also demonstrates leadership potential and the willingness to be a team player.

Tell me about two memorable projects, one success and one failure. To what do you attribute the success and failure?

Asking this question helps determine the candidate's ability to learn from successes and failures.

What unique experience or qualifications separate you from other candidates?

Some candidates have interesting characteristics and experiences that will not be exposed without asking a question like this.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Save this question for the end of the interview. A good response should be consistent and defined when you asked about short and long term goals. Beware of candidates who plan to be the same position five years from now. My favorite response is, "I plan to have either your job or your boss' job."

Interviewing is about finding the right candidate for a position. Proper questions reveal the most promising candidate for a hiring manager. Before interviewing, write down the characteristics the ideal candidate would possess and try to tailor your questions around those attributes. Also, open ended questions make applicants create a clearer image of who they are for the hiring manager. Interviewing is simply a matching game to see which candidate is the best fit for the position.

Article written and published by: CareerBuilder.com 

Employers want IT workers -- so why can't you find a job?

Written by: Robert Half Technology

When you started your search for an information technology position, you were optimistic. People you knew seemed to have no problem landing great tech jobs, or they were telling you about other people who had just been hired. But now that you've sent out many résumés with little or no response, you're wondering why no one is snapping you up. What's going on?

First, take comfort in knowing that the demand for skilled IT talent hasn't waned, so there are still opportunities to be had. However, the emphasis here is on "skilled:" Companies that are hiring generally seek experienced professionals with specific skills.

If your experience or area of expertise doesn't quite align with what many employers are looking for right now, it doesn't mean you aren't a viable candidate for hire. You may just need to confirm that you're doing everything you can to give yourself an edge in a competitive marketplace. Here's some advice:

Revive your résumé
You've sent out your résumé a bunch of times. But is it a good résumé? Does it underscore the skills, talents and credentials that make you marketable and valuable to an employer? Does it clarify employment gaps and accentuate the positive things you've done while searching for a new role? Does it highlight specific achievements?
One thing employers want to see from job seekers today is an explanation of how they solved a critical problem, increased efficiency or otherwise saved the organization headaches, time or money. If you have a great story, use your job application materials to tell it.

Another important question: Are you leveraging terminology from employers' job descriptions in your résumé and cover letter? For additional insight, look to the "2013 Robert Half Technology Salary Guide" for a glossary of common IT positions and their responsibilities.

Also include a professional summary at the top of your résumé that succinctly highlights your most relevant qualifications and accomplishments. That way, hiring managers will have a snapshot view of what's most important to know about you as an IT professional.

Critique your credentials
You're a technology pro, so no doubt you already understand the importance of having up-to-date technical skills and certifications. However, are you sure you have the best credentials for the jobs you're applying for? If you don't, that may be holding you back from getting an interview or an invitation to a second one.

Just like technology itself, IT roles are always evolving. Use your professional network to find out what skills and designations your peers landing employment offers have earned. You may need some additional training to increase your value to a potential employer, and this may require making that investment in yourself. Most employers are looking for IT professionals who can hit the ground running; they prefer you to come to the job with the in-demand credentials in hand.
Many firms are specifically seeking technology professionals who understand the challenges today's businesses face in harnessing the power of big data, seizing mobile opportunities and embracing a "bring your own device" approach. If you have relevant experience in any of these areas, make it known.

Expand your network
Professional networking, conducted both online and in person, can help you connect to relevant job opportunities faster. However, if your network consists primarily of your peers who are also looking for employment -- or aren't employed at firms that are expanding their IT teams -- you need to broaden your scope of contacts.

Reconnect with old business contacts, mentors, teachers or family friends who have some business clout. Take advantage of networking events and other activities offered by local business organizations or professional associations. Be active in online networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter -- just be sure to keep all content fresh and professional. Once you've expanded your network, focus primarily on cultivating contacts who can introduce you to influential and well-connected people at the companies you'd like to work for most.

Lastly, don't fail to consider the opportunities and connections that an interim work arrangement might yield. A specialized recruiter can assist you in finding temporary IT positions. Often, these engagements lead to full-time roles for talented workers. Working as an interim technology professional also can help you earn income -- and keep your skills sharp -- while you continue your search for full-time employment.

With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at www.rht.com. Follow Robert Half Technology on Twitter at www.twitter.com/roberthalftech.

Practice Makes Perfect: How to Rehearse for Your Next Job Interview

 

There are a lot of steps that usually happen before you get to the interview portion of your job search: writing a resume, networking, compiling your references. Most folks are able to put a lot of effort into getting the interview, but many fall apart during the actual interview. Why? Poor planning and a lack of practice.

Instead of winging it, or relying solely on your professional skill set, you should stage a rehearsal for your next job interview.

Not sure how to go about doing so? Start by enlisting a family member, friend or partner to play the role of interviewer, and ask that she stay in character from start to finish. Set up a space, such as a desk or table, where you can create a suitable setting. Then use these 10 tips to from corporate trainer Marlene Caroselli to make your interviews -- both mock and real -- successful.

Do Your Homework
"Learn all you can about the organization in advance," advises Caroselli. Share this information with your mock interviewer, perhaps in the form of crib notes. She can use this to grill you.

Tune In
"Watch people being interviewed on television and make note of what works," she advises. Look for traits that make people likable and competent.

State the Unobvious
"Create one really intriguing statement about yourself," she says. "For example, a woman I know, expecting to be told, 'Tell us a bit about yourself [the most popular interview question],' replied, 'I think I should tell you I'm a nonconforming conformist.' She explained what she meant and wound up getting the job."

Think Outside the Box
A little visualization can go a long way, according to Caroselli, author of Principled Persuasion. "Think about a visual that really represents what you can do," she says. "It can be a photo taken at an event you organized, for example. If you have nothing that symbolizes your capabilities, then look for a pattern not readily apparent in your resume and be prepared to talk about that particular interest or talent, apart from your official work history."

Know Your Lines
Actors do it, and you should, too. "Memorize a few short quotes and have them ready," Caroselli says. "They'll help you respond articulately to virtually any question."

Sum It Up
The very first request an interviewer may make is, "Tell me about yourself." In order to answer this interview question quickly and succinctly, she urges interviewees, "Have an elevator speech ready in case they want a brief overview of your career."

Be Tough on Yourself
Research tough interview questions and provide them to your helper. Also, point out gaps in your skills or holes in your resume and instruct her to grill you on those points. "By comparison, your own, actual interview will seem like a walk in the park, and that prospect will encourage you," Caroselli says.

Capture It on Camera
"If possible, have someone video you doing an interview rehearsal," she says. "Then study your body language to see if it reveals confidence, poise and enthusiasm."

Listen Up
Close your eyes and listen back to the recording of your replies to interview questions. "Play the tape back and analyze your responses," she says. "Ask yourself, 'Would you hire you?'"

Stay Calm
Work on being relaxed before your big meeting. "When you get to the interview site and are waiting to be called in to the interview room, work on a brainteaser," Caroselli advises candidates. "Research shows it calms the nerves and takes your mind off the challenge ahead."

By Caroline M.L. Potter

A Day in the Life of a Job Seeker

"Looking for a job is a full-time job." It's a phrase we've all heard, and, for the most part, it's true. Searching for a job that you like, going on interviews, waiting for the call back. It's some of the most emotionally draining and time-consuming work you'll have to do.

One of the most important things one can do while hunting for a new job is to set a schedule and stick with it. For those who are employed in a job that they hate, it can be frustrating to go home and then spend more time trying to find a new job. All you do is go to work and then go home to do more work. But those without a job can find it even more frustrating, because of the endless time spent waiting -- and the diminishing bank balance.

So we asked job seekers for their tips on how they've dealt with the job search and what they've done to provide structure to their day. Here's what they had to say:

• The early bird gets the worm: Don't waste your days sleeping. Get up early and set "office hours." By acting as if you're going to work, you're actually getting into a mindset that will put you on task.


• Set the scene: Be sure to remove yourself from all distractions when doing your job search. It's one thing to go to a coffee shop to do your research, but when you start to write your cover letters and résumés, you need to concentrate on the task at hand. Don't be afraid to write in the morning and then revise in the afternoon -- give yourself some time to edit and craft the messages you're sending to potential employers.


• Get specific: The "scattershot" method of applying for anything and everything usually leaves no one feeling good. Be specific about what kind of job you are looking for, what areas you want to focus on, what skills you have and what skills you want to develop in a new job. Learn about companies in your area that have these jobs, see what opportunities they may have, and connect with recruiters or experts in the field through resources such as LinkedIn.


• Follow up: For many job seekers, the concern is the résumé black hole. Because employers receive so many applications for each job opening, it helps to set follow-up calendar reminders so you know when to reach out to a company you've applied to if you haven't heard back. That way, you'll know where they are in the process or if the position was filled.


• Set output goals: How many résumés do you want to send out per week? Make a number and stick to it, but be realistic. Don't say 250, because you will only make yourself miserable. Focus on a manageable goal.


• Practice your introduction/elevator pitch: It's always important to sell your skills and your desired career opportunity in under a minute. Instead of focusing on day-to-day abilities, think big picture and sell your value.


• Research: If you spend more time doing homework on companies you want to work for, you'll spend less time applying for jobs in which you may not have a real interest. Remember that a job description only tells you so much. Your job could be perfect, but the company's values could be in direct opposition to your personal values. Get to know the company via social media and through its corporate website.


• Don't sabotage yourself: If you're employed and want out of your current situation, don't look for jobs while at your job. That's asking for trouble, and a pink slip is likely to follow. You'll have to make time outside of your job to dedicate to your job search. If you're unemployed, don't sell yourself short in a cover letter by telling your entire story, because employers don't care. Again, sell your value upfront, and the details can be filled in during the interview process if needed. Also, if you're unemployed and searching for a job, make sure that your family respects your time to do so.


• Use every tool: Use all the assets at your disposal -- job boards, social media, recruiters, aggregators, etc. Diversifying your search method will help produce diverse results. Think beyond your traditional job-search methods and challenge yourself to find new ways to connect with employers or other job seekers.


• Keep your humor: Looking for a job is tiresome and can be truly depressing, but don't let it get the best of you. Remember that you are defined by more than your job or career, and while you want to be a productive member of society, your job isn't the only way to do so. Get out and see family and friends, try to stay active by exercising and eating healthfully, and keep your frustration and negativity to a minimum -- especially in social media. By having a positive attitude, you're more easily able to broach the sensitive topic with others who are employed and could help you in your job search.

Justin Thompson is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

How to increase your workday productivity...

Why You Never Finish Your To-Do Lists at Work (and How to Change That)

5 comments, 0 called-out

Comment Now

Follow CommentsFollowing CommentsUnfollow Comments

 

LinkedIn released a survey last year revealing that our professional to-do lists are in dire need of a makeover. Turns out, we’re not so good at “doing” the things we tell ourselves we need to do. In fact, almost 90% of professionals admitted they’re unable to accomplish all the tasks on their to-do list by the end of an average workday.
So if you’re sick of tackling the same stale to-dos every day, it’s time to change that. Here are five tricks to increase your productivity and help yourself actually make it through your list.

1. Keep a Single To-Do List For Work

Let’s be honest: If you wanted to get a complete view of everything you had to do for work right now, chances are you can’t find it all on a single list. Instead, you have a few post-its here, a saved draft in your email there, stickies or text files on your computer, and maybe an app or two on your phone.
And while it’s generally good practice to separate work and play, having a single place for your work-related tasks is a must. So pick your method of choice, and start consolidating. It can be anywhere: a handwritten list inside your trusty planner, a document you keep on your desktop, or an app on your phone.
Make sure, however, that you can add to your list from anywhere—which means that if you use a desktop app, you’ll want to set up a system to capture to-dos incurred away from your computer, such as assignments you get while in a meeting. I personally like to write these down on sticky notes, and then delete or toss them once I’ve transferred them to the master list.

2. Follow the 1-3-5 Rule

Now that you have a comprehensive list of everything you have to do for work ever, you should define a daily to-do list. On any given day, assume that you can only accomplish one big thing, three medium things, and five small things. (Note: if you spend much of your day in meetings, you might need to revise this down a bit.) Before leaving work, take a few minutes to define your 1-3-5 for the next day, so you’re ready to hit the ground running in the morning. If your position is one where each day brings lots of unexpected tasks, try leaving one medium and two small tasks blank, in preparation for the last-minute requests from your boss.

Yes, I know it can be tough to narrow your list of to-dos down to 1-3-5—but it’s important to prioritize. Like it or not, you only have so many hours in the day and you’re only going to get a finite number of things done. Forcing yourself to choose a 1-3-5 list means the things you get done will be the things you chose to do—rather than what just happened to get done.

Planning ahead like this also means you’ll be able to have more informed conversations with your manager when he or she drops something new on you that needs to be done right away—as well as the tools to re-prioritize your other work. For example, when a surprise presentation falls on your lap, try: “Sure, I can get that to you by 3 PM, but the Q1 reports won’t be ready until tomorrow then, since I’d scheduled to work on that today.”

3. Complete One Significant Task Before Lunch (Your Least Favorite One, if Possible)

I’ll admit that this one is tough for me, but it works. Take one of your big or medium tasks and tackle it first thing in the morning, before email even if you can. There’s no better feeling than crossing off a tough task before lunch. Author Brian Tracy calls this ”eating your frog,” adapted from the famous Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

My co-founder, Kathryn, often defines her “frogs” in the evening to prepare for the next day; with that, she’s prepared to tackle them in the morning, and it keeps her from pushing off less pleasant tasks for many days.

4. Use Your Calendar as a To-Do list

If you find that you always overestimate how much you can get done in a day, an effective approach is to put your to-dos on your calendar, just like a meeting. Rather than outlining your daily to-dos onto a list, schedule them, leaving enough time each. Sending in your W2 confirmation information to HR might take 15 minutes, while preparing the Q1 strategy for your team may require a few hours. The important thing is to be realistic.
Lifehacker, a favorite site of mine, put it best:

Most people don’t schedule their work. They schedule the interruptions that prevent their work from happening. In the case of a business like ours, what clients pay us to make and do happens in the cracks between meetings, or worse, after business hours.”

When you try this approach, also make sure you block time in your calendar for catching up on email, brainstorming, or other important-but-not-deliverable-oriented tasks. For example, try blocking an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon to work through your inbox—and then don’t spend time in between trying to handle emails the minute they come in, when you’d really planned to be working on something else.

5. Reduce Meetings to Increase Productive Time

Finally, if you find you really can’t get done what you think you should be able to in a day, despite all the advice above—consider whether you might be suffering from meeting-itis.
As economist John Kenneth Galbraith once said, “meetings are indispensable when you don’t want to do anything.” In fact, multiple surveys done on the subject reached similar conclusions that somewhere between a quarter and half of the time spent in meetings is a waste, not to mention, you can’t really get your other to-dos done while you’re sitting down talking to someone else.
The solution: Limit your meetings. Before scheduling a meeting, think about if this could be resolved with an email or phone call first, or by popping into someone’s office for a few minutes. If a meeting is required, list the key agenda items to determine the necessary participants and the shortest amount of time you can schedule. And yes, it’s totally OK to schedule a 20-minute meeting, no need to round to 30! If you must have meetings, try to group them together to leave large uninterrupted periods of time during your day for the real work to get done.

Yes, reorganizing and planning ahead are both investments upfront—but just think how happy you’ll be when you actually get a full day’s to-do list crossed off. So get yourself organized, get all your to-dos in one place, minimize your distractions, and start conquering that (one-day-sized) list!

This article was originally published on The Daily Muse.

50+ Job Skills You Should List on Your Resume

There are lots of reasons it might be hard to cobble together a decent resume. Maybe you've been unemployed for a long time, maybe you're trying to switch careers or maybe you're a mom who's been home raising kids for a few years.

Whatever your situation, there's good news. Resumes are changing. Your skills are just as valuable as your formal employment and can help sell your resume to a potential employer.
Ford R. Myers, career coach, speaker and author of the book "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" (John Wiley & Sons, 2009) encourages job seekers to draw on a variety of past experiences, in both paid and non-paid positions, when applying for new employment.

"These transferable skills, acquired during any activity - volunteer positions, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies, sports - can be applicable to one's next job," Myers said. "By adding transferable skills to a resume, employers get a better understanding and broader picture of who they are hiring - as well as the interests, values and experiences that the candidate brings to the table."

Myers divided transferrable skills into five broad skill areas and gives examples of how you can describe each:

Communication: writes clearly and concisely, speaks effectively, listens attentively, openly expresses ideas, negotiates/resolves differences, leads group discussions, provides feedback, persuades others, provides well-thought out solutions, gathers appropriate information, confidently speaks in public

Interpersonal Skills: works well with others, sensitive, supportive, motivates others, shares credit, counsels, cooperates, delegates effectively, represents others, understands feelings, self-confident, accepts responsibility

Research and Planning: forecasts/predicts, creates ideas, identifies problems, meets goals, identifies resources, gathers information, solves problems, defines needs, analyzes issues, develops strategies, assesses situations

Organizational Skills: handles details, coordinates tasks, punctual, manages projects effectively, meets deadlines, sets goals, keeps control over budget, plans and arranges activities, multi-tasks

Management Skills: leads groups, teaches/trains/instructs, counsels/coaches, manages conflict, delegates responsibility, makes decisions, directs others, implements decisions, enforces policies, takes charge.

By: BusinessNewsDaily Staff
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/

Are you ready for a career switch?

Given the recovering economy, emerging jobs and pure human nature, career switches are common. What may have been a great job 10 years ago can be obsolete now, or you may simply be ready for your own life change. But how can you prepare yourself for a career switch? The overwhelming advice from career coaches and human-resources consultants is to do your homework and play to your strengths. These experts share the following advice for planning your next career steps.

Understand the work involved in switching careers
Before you quit your job, know what you’re getting yourself into. “When people change careers in this market, the No. 1 thing they must be aware of is that they need to develop the new industry or role experience and knowledge,” says Megan Fox, career coach and résumé writer. “A lot of people think they can tweak a few transferrable skills and land their dream job, when in fact it takes strategic planning and re-education to make a successful career change. These kinds of activities not only make you more qualified for the new role, but they display a sincere passion for the switch. I also encourage my clients to pick either an industry change or a functional role change, one at a time, as it is much easier to do than trying to completely change your job and industry type at the same time. Take baby steps and you’ll be able to make the change without sacrificing too much in salary.”

Use transferable skills to your advantage
You may think you’re ready for a career switch, but how can you convince hiring managers that you’ll be a valuable employee? “For job seekers dealing with career changes, we find it advantageous to conduct an assessment of the transferable knowledge and skills that were developed in the individual’s previous career and how that may apply to the new career path they intend on following,” says Lynda Zugec, managing director for The Workforce Consultants, a human resources consultation company with offices in Toronto, Ontario and New York. “Interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability and project management are all examples of knowledge and skills that can be applied in differing context and careers. We try to focus on these transferable skills to understand the benefits and applicability to our business. Some of the skills we focus on include the following:

• Communication: This entails the ability to communicate at all levels of an organization and across different generations.
• Strategic thinking: The ability to determine and envision where an organization is going. This will help align work efforts with company goals and objectives.
• Partnership building: Work rarely occurs in a vacuum, and the better their skills in deciding who they can best partner with to achieve desired results, based on their skills and knowledge, the better off we will be.
• Conscientiousness: Time and time again, conscientiousness proves itself to be among the No. 1 predictor of job performance. We hire individuals that pay attention to the details. Spelling and grammatical errors, lost and misplaced files or general disorganization can have major implications.
• Technical skills: We look for individuals with up-to-date and relevant technical skills. They are among the most desirable.”

Be prepared before you leave your current job
You can start making your career switch before you leave your current role. Krista Mazzuca, director of human resources at Community Renewal Team, a nonprofit human-service agency in Hartford, CT, offers these suggestions:

• Think carefully about the field you want to switch into and what it will take to land a job in that field. Don’t assume that going back to school will guarantee that you’ll obtain your desired position — often you need both the credential and experience. Find out as much as you can before enrolling in a school program.
• While you’re still employed at your first job, get as much experience as possible that moves you in your desired direction. How can you volunteer in the community, change assignments at your company or find synergies between what you’re currently doing and what you hope to be doing?
• If you’re a manager, be prepared for a change in status. You may have to start near the bottom in your new career, which may mean that you’re working a defined shift, in a cubicle and taking direction from someone younger than yourself. You might also have to take a substantial pay cut. The person interviewing you for the position will want to see that you have thought about this and have acclimated yourself to the possibility. Prepare a good answer as to why you’re changing fields. Be candid, but frame your argument around the hiring manager’s point of view.

Dress for Interview Success

You probably already know that appearance counts, but this is especially true at the job interview. Your interviewer will be judging not only your answers to his questions, but also how you've put yourself together. Check out these articles to create an overall look that says you're professional -- and hireable:    

• Six Style Tips for Interview Success
• Dressing for the Interview by Industry
• Recruiter Roundtable: Interview Fashion and Grooming Tips
• What the Colors of Your Job Interview Clothes Convey
• 10 Interview Fashion Blunders

Sample Resumes by Industry

Want to be the standout job candidate in your field? Then writing a resume that highlights your industry-specific experience, accomplishments and credentials is essential. If you need help customizing your resume to your field, check out these examples of resumes for various careers and career levels in the following industries: 

 

 

Administrative/Support | Art/Design/Media | Automotive | Education
Engineering | Finance/Accounting | Healthcare | Human Resources
Insurance | Law Enforcement | Manufacturing | Marketing/PR
Nursing | Real Estate | Restaurant & Hospitality | Retail
Sales | Science | Technology | Trades | Transportation & Warehousing

   

Old School Networking Still Lands People the Most Jobs

How did you get the job that you have now? Did a friend put in a good word for you? Or a friend of a friend of a friend? Or did you just call up the organization and see if they were interested in meeting with you?

Although a huge percentage of people find themselves using internet job boards, old-fashioned networking remains the dominant way people find new jobs, according to a study by Right Management. Their research showed that person-to-person networking trumps other job-seeking tactics.

Right Management, a wing of Manpower Group, based their research on data from 60,000 people it provided career transition services over the past three years. They found that traditional networking was the source of new career opportunities for 41% of job candidates last year, while Internet job boards accounted for 25% of new positions landed.

In addition, the research showed that eight percent still found a direct approach effective. Maybe this means calling up a firm and asking for an interview or showing up smilingly at the front door. While there is a dominant rhetoric that dismisses these bold maneuvers, the study suggest that there is still a time and a place for an element of surprise.

“The job search is changing and some approaches are losing ground to others, but classic, systematic networking continues to be most effective way to find suitable employment,” said Carly McVey, Right Management’s Vice President of Career Management. “Certainly technology plays a growing role. But online social networking may not always be separate from traditional networking since one so often leads to the other. A job seeker uses the Internet to track down former associates or acquaintances and then reaches out to them in person. And, just like a cold call, the Internet is a way to make an initial contact with a prospective employer.”

Written by Marie Larsen
Marie is a writer for Recruiter.com covering career advice, recruitment topics, and HR issues. She has an educational background in languages and literature as well as corporate experience in Human Resources.

Diagnosing the Symptoms of an Ineffective Job Search Plan

There is no question: searching for a job can be a frustrating and discouraging affair. But a lack of available jobs and increased competition may not always be the cause of a failed job search. A lack of progress here may indicate a need to rethink your approach. In fact, there are several suggestive signs that your search methods may need a drastic overhaul.

Scenario 1 – You are snagging interviews by receiving no offers:

A lack of job offers after multiple interviews is often a telltale sign of ineffective or out-of-date interviewing techniques. Identifying your weaknesses in this regard is a necessary step in improving upon them. The best approach in determining problem areas is to practice interview questions with a friend or by participating in mock sessions at a career center or with a job coach.

Scenario 2 – You’re ambitions are out reach your experience:

While setting high goals is necessary in improving yourself planning your career, the goals must also remain realistic. Lacking the appropriate qualifications for the jobs to which you are applying can be a big time waster and demoralizer. Before applying for that dream job, build the experience necessary to perform the job at a high level.

Scenario 3 – You focus too much on job descriptions as opposed to companies:

Don’t simply search for jobs based on their function, but research companies to find the ones where you want to work. Finding those specific firms of particular interest creates the conditions for a more focused job search.

Scenario 4 – You are discouraged and hopeless:

While job searches are rarely enjoyable, finding yourself more depressed with each failed search is a primary indicator that your approach needs to change. A great way to increase your morale and gain energy and motivation is to volunteer at organizations related to your specialty. This not only increases your visibility but helps build skills that may lead to a job or even reveal interests that you never knew you had.

Scenario 5 – Your professional network is bearing little fruit:

Even if your contacts are currently contributing little to your job search, that doesn’t mean they can’t be useful. This symptom may simply be a sign to reassess your network to find those specific contacts that best match your industry and job preferences. This could include spending time pursuing contacts with industry experts and local insiders who may have information and access to knowledge conducive to your hunt.

Scenario 6 – You are prepared to accept any job offered to you:

While job searches can often lead to desperation, making this public knowledge only hurts your prospects. Focus on narrowing your job search criteria and seeking assistance from a career counselor or job coach with these requirements. The more specific you are about in regards to job and industry preferences, the better assistance can be offered in finding your job match.

Joshua Bjerke, from Savannah, Georgia, focuses on articles involving the labor force, economy, and HR topics including new technology and workplace news. Joshua has a B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in International Studies and is currently pursuing his M.A. in International Security.

How to Sell Yourself in the Workplace

Many people associate selling with pushy sales people who don’t listen to your objections and try to force you into parting with your money for a product or service that you don’t want. However, knowing how to sell yourself is a vital tool for effective career management. The process starts with your CV or resume, in addition to interviews, internal meetings and networking events.

Know thyself
When was the last time you sat down and reviewed your career accomplishments, and audited your strengths and weaknesses? Are you aware of the type of value you consistently bring to a team? Are you typically the person that puts structures and processes in place or the person who comes up with creative solutions to complex problems? Can you describe in specific detail how your contribution has made a distinct difference to the process and outcome of the projects that you have worked on in the past? Taking stock of how far you have come helps you begin to understand the value that you can bring to an organisation and positions you to better articulate that value.

Know the company
It pays to conduct a thorough research of the company you work for or are interviewing for. If you are interviewing for a new position, you can demonstrate your value by not only explaining the relevant experience that you have built up, but by taking it one step further and describing how that experience would be valuable for this potential new employer. If you are already working for the organisation, you can provide evidence of how your role has made a difference to the growth strategy of the organisation.

Use data to back up your assertions of value
If your role has led to decreased cost, increased revenue or saved time, then it is in your interest to record this data for use during key meetings with managers to build your case for promotion, increased responsibility or salary. Where this has been documented in detail, the facts speak for themselves and help build a strong case for your value without you having to sell yourself in qualitative terms.

Forward thinking and planning
Many assume that in order to sell yourself you need to look to the past in order to catalog your achievements. However, selling yourself includes recognizing your current weaknesses and how they might impact your future career goals. If you have constructed a clear plan to tackle these weaknesses, then this not only demonstrates maturity but also the ability to reflect and improve.

All work and no play
Many employees focus on their workplace skills and experience in order to sell themselves but sometimes your out of work activities can be what demonstrates that you are a “rounded” person. Perhaps you volunteer, that not only shows that you like to give back to your community but is a great way to develop leadership skills. Maybe you play a team sport? That is usually a good indicator of someone who may be able to work well in a team. Perhaps you have achieved a black belt in karate? That shows discipline and perseverance. Often non work activities can be a key factor in demonstrating your value to a potential or existing employer.

Written by Ada Offonry.  Ada Offonry has a degree in economics from the University of Warwick in England and started her career in investment banking before making the transition to executive recruitment. She has extensive experience of placing finance and technology executives in international locations across the United States, UK and Asia Pacific. She writes articles on careers, recruitment and future working practices.

Common IT Interview Mistakes

Here are a few common IT interview mistakes. A lot of things can go wrong for you in an interview–prepare in advance to avoid these common gaffes, and you’ll give it your best shot.

Don’t Talk Only in Techspeak
Discuss you knowledge and qualifications, but be prepared to talk about it with managerial or HR staff, who won’t necessarily share your expertise. Resist the urge to wow them with your jargon and techy name-dropping; they may well find it irritating and irrelevant.

You probably will have technical questions, but keep them to a minimum and make them specific and relevant to the position. It might not impress the interviewer for you to pry too much into the technology and systems in use at the company prematurely.

Don’t Make Snarky Comments about the Industry
Keep the industry sarcasm to yourself. Ideally, you’ll be hired for your tech philosophy, but keep in mind that hiring managers are looking for positive people who are easy to work with, and will be turned off by negativity.

Until you’re very well oriented in the company’s technological setup, be careful to avoid criticizing any particular system or practice. You may be able to improve things, but not until after you’re hired. Be honest if asked your opinion, but keep things light by phrasing suggestions as “That sounds like it’s working for you. Another option might be…”

Don’t Let Your Gadgets Do the Talking for You
It goes without saying that cell phones and PDAs need to be turned off–not on “vibrate.” However, it’s not enough to follow that rule to the letter. Put away any electronic devices; do not wear anything on your belt or in your ear. Wearing them visibly gives the impression that the interview isn’t important enough for you to abandon your communication devices even for an hour–and that you may lack interpersonal skills they’re looking for in an employee and team member.

Don’t Discuss Pay Too Early
Perhaps because many IT workers operate as freelancers or consultants, they sometimes tend to bring up money far too early in an interview for a traditional position. Questions about pay in the first interview are a bad idea. Aside from the obvious negotiation gaffe, bringing up the subject of money right off the bat makes a bad impression. Also, any follow-up questions may sound less important to you, which make you seem uninterested in the position and company.

So What Should You Do?
The mistakes listed here aren’t the only things that can go wrong, and who knows how qualified and personable your competitors are. Just remember that your skills and abilities speak for themselves and the way to impress hirers is to let make those traits clear.

Keep both your questions and answers brief and to the point. By maintaining your professionalism and focusing on the presenting yourself as an ideal candidate for the position, you’ll let your qualifications and experience shine through. Don’t worry too much about messing up–you know about several IT interview mistakes and how to avoid them.

Written by Marie Larsen. Marie is a writer for Recruiter.com covering career advice, recruitment topics, and HR issues. She has an educational background in languages and literature as well as corporate experience in Human Resources.

How to Stay Positive in a Negative Work Situation

You spend about a third of your life at work. If you're spending it with negative people, it can really affect you and bring you down. By stopping negative thoughts as they enter your ears and not letting them continue in your thoughts, you'll be doing a lot of the work to stay positive in a negative situation. Read on for some more ways to keep ugly situations at work from bogging you down.

Instructions

1 Have a life outside your job. Keep friends who have a good grasp of reality and with whom you can share life that's totally unrelated to the job you do. Refuse to even talk about your work outside work hours, especially if the environment is toxic.

2 Realize that most of what goes on at work and most of the negativity, even that directed at you, isn't about you. Consider the stress your coworkers are facing at work, at home and in their personal lives and understand that they're projecting and displacing their anger onto you and others around them as well.

 

3 Refuse to let your coworkers' workaholism, ambitions and selfish behaviors seep into your system. It's easy to start letting negative behavior creep in by agreeing with perspectives or taking sides. Instead, choose to rise above it all by remaining neutral.

4 Guard your thoughts; they eventually become your reality. Make sure the negativity around you doesn't keep playing in your head. Play music at your desk at a reasonable volume if you feel it helps center you. Take breaks to collect your thoughts. Keep positive reminders in quotes and pictures around your workspace.

5 Consider your options for finding other employment if the situation is unbearable. Some bosses can be emotionally abusive; if the company environment doesn't look likely to change, evaluate whether this is really the best place for you.

By an eHow.com Contributor

Does your job have you on emotional life support?

Considering the rocky state of the economy right now, you may count yourself lucky just to have a job, never mind giving a second thought to how happy you are there. However, don't be so quick to dismiss your feelings about your job; companies know that happier employees are more innovative and loyal. If your job meets your emotional needs, you're a much bigger asset to the company than you may have thought.

Mark Ingwer, business psychologist and author of "Empathetic Marketing," identifies five core emotional needs that every company and employee should know about in order to be more successful and motivated. Check your professional pulse with these five emotional needs, and find out if you're thriving in your work environment or if you belong on life support.

Belonging
A sense of belonging is indispensable if your company encourages innovation and creativity. Being comfortable around your co-workers and boss establishes an open environment that will be more receptive when you pitch new ideas. "Businesses that cater to and help us meet the need to belong will uncover previously unexplored opportunities," Ingwer says. Are your co-workers a little standoffish? Talk to your boss about ideas that can bring the group together. An office book chat or a community volunteering day can open up your co-workers and get people talking.

Control
Are you being handed more responsibilities and projects to head as time goes on? Being given more control is a clear sign of how your company measures your worth and is an easy way for you to gauge your place there. Asking for more responsibility or taking the lead on a project also shows how confident you are at your workplace. Ingwer notes, "We only spend energy on controlling outcomes proportional to our belief that we can succeed." If you've been avoiding your to-do list or have shied away from speaking up, now's the time to start taking more control of your career and of your place at your company.

Growth
How challenged do you feel at your job? Being able to grow in a job or company is a major factor in the evolution of your career. "It's important to note that we grow most fully when our enlightenment leads to competency, which is extraordinary knowledge in a given area or subject. In one's career, those who learn more about their niche will get ahead of those who do not," Ingwer says. Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge about your industry, and continue to challenge yourself. When you reach a point where every day seems like a repeat, see if there's a chance to move up. Make an appointment to speak with your manager about taking on more responsibilities, and ask if your position can grow to include more leadership possibilities or if there's a higher opening within the company for which you can be considered. If the conversation is a dead end, it may be time to consider looking for a more challenging position elsewhere.

Recognition
Are you getting the credit you deserve? Do your co-workers and boss know that you were the one who submitted that great idea? Ingwer notes, "Recognition is paramount any time the need to motivate groups, and individuals within groups, is central to accomplishing organizational goals." If others are looking to you as a leader and professional role model, your reputation is working in your favor for advancing your career. Still going unnoticed for your hard work? Start getting more involved both in public and private ways at work. Speak up more at group meetings, email others your ideas and ask for input, and stay on track with your projects to start getting noticed.

Self-expression
If you're fortunate enough to work in a field you care about, you're already experiencing positive self-expression. "For many people, the most satisfying vehicle for expression is often the work of one's career," Ingwer says. But if you're in a job you couldn't care less about, your need for self-expression may leave you wanting more. Look for ways to get your interests involved at work. Love messing around with computers? Ask for technology training. Passionate about sports and fitness? Start a company kickball team or organize a company entry in the next marathon. Your self-expression and initiative will make you a stronger figure in the company and get you noticed for the right reasons.

Susan Ricker is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

10 Things to Never Put on Your Resume

For job seekers, the resume may be the most important document they need. After all, what's on that simple piece of paper can mean the difference between landing an interview and landing in the circular file.

While most job seekers concentrate on what they should include on their resume, few pay attention to what they shouldn't include. This article explores 10 things you should never put on your resume.

A crazy objective

So you want to be the next Bill Gates. Terrific! And you may even have the chops to make it happen. But please don't put it in your objective statement. Outlandish, overconfident, or "out there" objective statements almost always ensure that the rest of your resume isn't read.

Read More ....

Measuring An Employee's Worth? Consider Influence

The performance review of the future will include services like Salesforce.com's Chatter and its Influencers feature, which measures how much weight you carry among your peers.

Today, your performance review is based on things like sales numbers or number of goals met. Tomorrow, though, it could be based on something that until now has remained ephemeral: organizational influence.

Salesforce.com's Chatter system released a new feature this spring called Influencer. It purports to measure how influential you are within your company, by tabulating, for example, how your fellow workers respond to the items you post to your corporate social network.

It's still a work in progress, senior director of Chatter product marketing Dave King tells Fast Company. But already companies are using it to help them run more smoothly.

King says he's heard from CIOs, for example, that, when they have a new system to roll out, they'll look up who the most influential people are in various departments and bring them in for a briefing ahead of time, in the hopes they'll be able to evangelize the system to their peers.

At Salesforce.com itself, CEO Marc Benioff has invited the company's top 20 influencers on Chatter to the retreat he hosts offsite for the company's top executives. "Some were 22- or 23-year-old engineers," King says, "and we put them on stage for a couple minutes each to talk about innovation and what we as a company should be doing."

Chatter, which was launched two years ago, is not the only company working on a metric for influence within organizations. Yammer and National Field, other enterprise social networking tools, are also taking a stab at the problem.

The most progressive organizations have always realized that the informal connections employees make with others and the amount of knowledge and expertise they share outside of prescribed work responsibilities contributes mightily to the bottom line. But until now, they haven't had an empirical way of measuring that activity.

Salesforce.com won't disclose exactly how the Influencer algorithm works. It's more than just tabulating number of posts, though. In fact, workers could actually be penalized for sheer volume, if colleagues don't consider their content useful. "We don't want people being noisy," Chatter general manager Kendall Collins tells Fast Company.

Instead, the algorithm looks at things like how many Likes a post gets or how often it's re-shared. "It surveys all the activities you're involved in and weighs them differently," King says.

He adds that managers wanting to evaluate worker influence will probably want to combine the machine-generated score with the output of an explicit recognition system, like Salesforce.com's newly acquired Rypple, which allows employees to give each other badges for great work.

When you add a system like Rypple, King says, "you get a complete picture--not only what's derived [from activity on the system] but also what's declared by peers and managers."
[Image: Top: Flickr user Snugg LePup]
E.B. Boyd is FastCompany.com's Silicon Valley reporter.
BY E.B. Boyd | 07-05-2012

What Employers Want from the Long-Term Unemployed

Even though this was posted a few months ago, the content is still very relevant with to our  
unemployment rates for July.  Enjoy .....

We often hear from job seekers: "If I have the necessary skills and experience, why am I not hearing back from more companies?"

It's a fair question, especially for the more than five million workers who've been unemployed for six months or longer (more than 40 percent of all unemployed job seekers). Struggling to get a foot in the door doesn't mean this group is unqualified or lacks what it takes to do the job. With hundreds of applications submitted for a single open position, it's indicative of a fiercely competitive labor market.

So how does someone who's among the long-term unemployed stand out? Will employers even look past their employment gap — the time that's elapsed since their last day on the job?

New research from CareerBuilder found that 85 percent of hiring managers and human resource managers are more understanding of employment gaps now than they were pre-recession. While that's refreshing news, it comes with an important caveat: This group still needs to go another step to draw attention to their resumes.

Companies are still looking carefully at how unemployed job seekers have spent their time. There's a notion is that if you've been out of work for an extended period of time, you begin to lose an edge on previously acquired skills. Whether or not you buy into the concept of skills erosion, it's safe to assume that hiring managers are more likely to look past employment gaps for applicants who've stayed active in the interim. So what do hiring managers recommend?

In the same survey, 61 percent said taking a class or going back to school is a great start. This can be as simple as taking a certification course (e.g., IT workers), attending professional seminars, or enrolling in community college courses. If the subject matter expands your skill set or can be applied in the next job, that's information that should be featured prominently on your resume or in your cover letter.

Sixty percent of hiring managers said volunteering increases the candidate's marketability. Volunteerism is a testament to a person's character and work ethic. However, many job seekers are not doing the best job of promoting that experience on their resumes and cover letters. It can't be an isolated bullet point buried on the page. Job seekers should choose volunteer work that can be woven organically into their existing professional narratives — and then be ready to sell it no differently than the rest of their work history. Ask yourself: What skills did I learn or hone? Can I quantify my impact or speak to how my efforts contributed to the organizations' successes?

Seventy-nine percent said taking a temporary or contract assignment is advisable. Temp or contract work is not just for entry-level workers and young professionals. Opportunities are available across job types, experience levels, and salary ranges. If becoming a permanent freelancer isn't in your plans, note that about one in four employers plan to transition some temporary workers into full-time, permanent employees in quarter two of 2012.

Fewer employers felt that the ambitious task of starting your own business (28 percent) or writing a professional blog (11 percent) were good ways to improve your marketability, but if those activities showcase your potential value, they certainly can't hurt.

Say a job seeker has done all this and still isn't faring any better? There are two job search tactics that are vastly underutilized, according to our research and conversations with employers: follow-through and presenting customized ideas to your prospective employer.

Two-thirds of workers don't follow up with the employer after submitting their resume for consideration. If the hiring manager provides contact information, sending an email a week or two after submission can prompt a closer look (or maybe even a second look) at your resume. And when the interview opportunity arrives, it's best not to focus solely on the past. Employers want candidates who have researched their company rigorously, and have prepared concrete ideas for what they'll bring to the role.

A competitive labor market requires a dynamic job search. Regardless of how unemployed job seekers spend their time, the common denominator is to continue your professional development and show potential employers how you can help them.
This post is part of the special series The New Rules for Getting a Job.

More blog posts by Brent Rasmussen

7 Rules of Now

— Adapted from Business at the Speed of Now, John M. Bernard, Wiley.

Some rules of leadership are timeless, but some simply don’t cut it anymore.
Here are the 7 Rules of Now:

1. Listen closely to your customers and employees.
2. Keep the organization’s goals uppermost in your mind.
3. Measure performance—your own, your team’s and that of others.
4. Make data-driven decisions.
5. Don’t hide the truth. Hidden problems fester.
6. Figure out how to say yes.
7. Fear nothing.

12 Reasons Why You Need an Interview Coach

Interview coaches are increasingly becoming an important part of the job search process. Yet many job seekers still fail to realise the value of investing in one. They often look to their recruiters to provide them with impartial advice on how best to improve their CV/resume or interview technique.
Whilst many recruiters take this part of their role seriously, not all of them do. Within the context of the current global economic downturn and a job market flooded with candidates, it is important that as a job seeker, you leave as little to chance as possible and do everything in your power to set yourself apart from the crowd.

An interview coach can spend one on one time with you to understand your experience, strengths and weaknesses and then coach you on how to draw these things out during an interview. They can also provide you with basic and advanced interview preparation techniques and equip you to deal with tough questions.

A good interview coach should not give you run of the mill answers. Instead they should spend time getting to understand you and help you tweak your existing technique.
Here are 12 reasons why an interview coach is an important part of improving your prospects during a job search.

1.) You have been gainfully employed for a long time and so have had no need to interview for a new role. However, you have recently been made redundant and have no idea about how well you could perform in an interview.

2.) You keep coming out of interviews thinking that they went very well, only for you to be rejected time and time again. To make matters worse, your recruiter is not giving you detailed feedback and you are not clear on where you may be going wrong.

3.) Your interviews never last beyond 30 minutes and/or you never get to meet all of the interviewers you are scheduled to meet. It seems like your interviewers are suddenly dragged into emergency meetings that they cannot get out of to interview you.

5.) You are a new graduate and are entering the work force for the first time. The market is touch and you want to ensure that you make the most out of the few opportunities that open up to you.

6.) You want to switch industries or job functions but no one is giving you a chance to interview and on the rare occasion when you are interviewed, you get rejected for lack of relevant experience

7.) You want to relocate and have never historically struggled with interviews but things haven’t quite clicked this time. There may be nuances in business etiquette that you may not be aware of that a good interview coach could help with

8.) Speaking in front of people or a person overwhelms you, you sweat profusely, and become incoherent. An interview coach can provide valuable constructive feedback to help boost your confidence and give you the opportunity to practice in an encouraging environment.

9.) You are unsure about how best to explain long gaps on your CV or less than stellar academic results.

10.) You consistently make it through to the final stage of interview only to lose out to another candidate, even though everyone said you were the ideal candidate for the job and as far as they were concerned, you were highly likely to secure the offer

11.) You are seeking a move to a new company as a team. An interview coach will help you structure your pitch/presentation and help develop a strategy that allows all team members to shine

12.) You just want to know that you have done everything in your power to maximise your chances for a new job.

Written by: Ada Offonry