Interview Advice
26 Jan, 2012
You’re sitting in the interview room. You’re dressed well, even on a budget. You researched the company and practised answering interview questions honestly and with confidence. Now the interviewer asks you if you have any question, and your mind goes blank. The only one you can think of is the salary question, and you’re worried it will make your interest in the job shallow and one-dimensional. Here are the questions you should be asking, and why.
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A telephone interview is usually short, just enough time to rule you in or out, so the focus is on questions that help evaluate you quickly. Your goal is to turn it into a face-to-face meeting, so your answers need to be concise. As a rule of thumb, keep your answers to less than two minutes, if an interviewer wants to know more s/he will ask.
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07 Dec, 2011
Okay, I promise the next job interview you go to will most definitely NOT be like that! But we all know job interviews are nerve racking and the best way to minimize those nervous symptoms of sweaty palms, dry mouth, and of course, the worst of all – going blank, is to prepare as much as possible. Part of the preparation includes going over possible interview questions the interviewers may ask you, writing out responses, not memorizing them, but practicing, and if possible, even doing a mock interview. It’s also important to keep in mind that knowing what questions should not be asked in an interview is just important as knowing what questions may be asked. At times job seekers aren’t aware of the fact that there are inappropriate and illegal questions. Therefore it is important to know what these types of questions are and how to respond to these questions in a manner that wouldn’t hinder your chances of getting the job.
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30 Jun, 2011
I once had a fellow in one of my job search workshops where we were discussing the importance of follow-up. He had never heard of it before but thought it was a fantastic idea. He mentioned it was too bad he hadn’t known of it earlier when he applied for a dream position. I suggested he still follow-up. He said, “Well, you don’t understand…that was a month ago! The job has been filled.” I said, “You can still follow-up. What have you got to lose?” So he did.
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18 May, 2011
In a recent article, career expert Brenda Blackburn espouses the benefits of Informational Interviews, but how does one get started? Below are some tips Brenda offers to dive into the informational interview and take that next important step in your career.
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11 May, 2011
If you’re contemplating a career change, but want to be sure whether or not the career or company will be right for you, you may want to consider one of the most powerful research tools: Information Interviews.
While many people may have heard the term before, most are not familiar with what exactly it entails. Quite simply, an “informational interview” is a type of interview process utilized to obtain information about an occupation under consideration. If you’re interested in a particular career path, then the best person to ask about it is someone doing the actual job!
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12 Apr, 2011
Although applying for entry-level jobs online through email or company websites is becoming more common, many employers still allow you to apply in person. This may include such businesses as retail stores, restaurants, movie theatres, and gas stations. If you do apply in person, consider the following list of DOs and DON'Ts.
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I’ve enjoyed more than one interview in my life, quite a few in fact. And some questions, no
matter what the position, remain constant. Let’s analyze a few of these and figure out what it is
that the interviewers are really asking.
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08 Dec, 2010
While a prolonged job search can be frustrating, sharing negative feelings with a recruiter or hiring manager about the search process or your previous employer can cost you the job. In fact, having a great attitude and enthusiasm are qualities that employers look for in the people they hire.
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24 Aug, 2010
The key to landing a job offer is a strong interview. Although a great resume is also an essential component of an effective job search, it is undeniably in the interview that you eliminate your competition and establish yourself as the frontrunner. In applying strategy to your message you inspire the interview team’s confidence in your abilities, and confidence in their ultimate choice: You!
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28 Jun, 2010
This past month, there’s been a lot of online chatter about corporate dress codes and what (or what not) to wear to work. (Surely initiated by the recent, salacious news that Citigroup is being sued by a former employee who claims she was fired for dressing too provocatively- details here). It reminds me of a message my late uncle passed on to me early in my professional career.
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23 Oct, 2009
With continually increasing workloads, more hiring managers are relying on short, preliminary phone conversations to determine who should be called for interviews.
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21 Nov, 2008
Despite the etiquette, formality, and inevitable fear factor, job interviews can actually be enjoyable as well as extremely informative.
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20 Nov, 2008
Job interview secrets can help you improve your chances of landing a job. When you take the time to understand job interview secrets, you give yourself an edge over other candidates. In most cases, it’s not that there are “secrets” to job interviews, it’s that most people have overlooked some of the most important points in preparing for a job interview.
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21 Nov, 2008
Job interview secrets can help you improve your chances of securing a job. In “Job interview secrets – part 1”, we covered a checklist for managing the process leading up to the actual interview. Here’s a checklist for what to do once the interview begins.
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21 Nov, 2008
If you’re a job seeker, you probably breathe a sigh of relief when you finish your first interview. After all the resume crafting, researching and rehearsing answers, you’ve survived time in the hot seat.
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21 Nov, 2008
A job interview over lunch can feel as nerve-wracking as a blind date. Not only must you demonstrate that you are intelligent, pleasant and capable, you must also appear graceful while eating. You may even prefer to pass up the opportunity rather than face an intimidating line-up of eating utensils.
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28 Jun, 2006
In the workplace today, a growing number of professionals are taking a closer look at their career aspirations. If you decide a career change is in your future, one effective way to test the waters is by arranging informational interviews with professionals who work in the fields that interest you.
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10 Nov, 2009
You applied for a position, responding with a cover letter and resume that indicate you have experience writing press releases and producing the inter-office e-newsletter. But are your standards of professionalism and production up to that of your potential new employer?
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02 Apr, 2008
Interview gone very bad? Interviewing for a new job is no easy task, and chances are you’ve faltered at some point in the process at least once. The list of potential pitfalls for interviews gone bad is numerous
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10 Nov, 2009
Ever called a phone number and got a voice mail message like one of these?
“Heeeeeeeeeey…..It’s Jerry! I can’t stop to talk right now – either too hung over or too busy hitting clubs! Leave me a message.”
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12 Nov, 2009
Saturday’s job ads go online and you spot the job of your dreams. The work, hours, company, atmosphere, location and overall opportunity wow you. So you send off a stunning cover letter and resume.
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16 Apr, 2007
If you're looking for the perfect job offer, you might as well stop right now: there's no such thing. But armed with the right information, you can get a good deal in a good place.
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17 Nov, 2008
Job training should never be overlooked. If an employer offers on-the-job training, make sure you understand the importance of such an offer.
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09 Nov, 2009
No matter how much you may prepare yourself for a job interview, you may never be completely ready when that interviewer asks you why manhole covers are round. Even that question has been asked so often by now, it's considered one of the easy ones. Microsoft is partly to blame.
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09 Nov, 2009
You're sitting in a conference room or office, face-to-face with the person you most want to impress - your prospective boss - and he or she is asking you, "What is your biggest weakness?" How do you answer a question like that?
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09 Nov, 2009
Next to public speaking, cold calling might be the scariest thing people try to avoid doing at all costs.
It can also be a very effective and underutilized method for career-minded individuals like yourself to separate yourself from other job searchers who don't think about doing it.
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28 May, 2008
Good handshake skills may predict the results of your next job interview. Recent research suggests that having a good handshake influences the opinion of those interviewing you.
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Making a good first impression is crucial in a job interview because hiring managers often know whether they might hire someone soon after the opening handshake and small talk, a new survey suggests. Executives polled said it takes them just 12 minutes to form a first impression,
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09 Jul, 2008
Job interview tactics can set you ahead. Acing a job interview begins long before you arrive at the hiring manager’s office. In today’s competitive job market, the most diligent candidates take extra steps to distinguish themselves from the competition by planning ahead.
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09 Jul, 2008
1. Poor handshake: The three-second handshake that starts the interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport.
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12 Jan, 2009
You're one of the lucky ones. You've been selected for interview for a fast-track career program with a well-known employer. But you know for a fact that each year, scores of candidates are chosen to attend an interview, from which only a few are taken on — so how do you ensure you're one of them?
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19 Dec, 2008
Cold calling is an effective method of introducing yourself to potential hiring managers to enquire about employment with their company. However, what should you do if the hiring manager doesn’t answer the phone and you reach their voice mailbox?
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09 Nov, 2009
IT professionals often dress casually on the job, but those looking for work may want to step up their style, a new survey suggests. More than four out of ten (43 per cent) chief information officers
(CIOs) polled said tailored separates are the most appropriate interview attire.
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28 Aug, 2009
Less than 40% of job seekers take the time to send a thank you note after an interview, according to an article by MSNBC. But, this important follow-up can make the difference between receiving the job offer and being written-off as disinterested. In fact, because it’s such a rare step for most job seekers, it’s a very valuable tool to show your professionalism and enthusiasm for a job.
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You've worked hard to get here. You've sent out 31 resumes, networked, attended job fairs, enrolled in school for more education – you've taken all the right steps.
Then, one afternoon the phone rings. "Yes, we'd like you to come in for an interview. Is next Tuesday at 10:00 alright with you?" Alright???!!!
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Having a winning personality has always helped in making friends or getting a date, but a recent survey confirms it also opens doors in the job search.
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With everything gone “techno” these days, one of the most valuable (and overlooked) resources in standing out in your job search followup is still good card stock.
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27 Nov, 2009
The best job-seekers not only prepare answers to typical interview questions, but also prepare for the type of interview expected. There are all sorts of job interviews: screening, traditional, behavioral, telephone, case, and panel. And two of the trends in interviewing are the use of situational interviewing and stress interviewing.
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In a recent article featured on ABC News.com, a survey revealed that 55% of people are unhappy in their current jobs. This paired with our recent poll that showed 82% of readers would job hop in 2010 indicates that people are ready for a change in their work life. Based on these findings, competition may stay fierce as people look for new jobs.
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27 May, 2010
Almost every job hunter knows that the answer to the question is a bewildering “NO”! The
question more often posed by perplexed job hunters is “I’m fully qualified; why didn’t I receive a call?” And this whining mantra is asked time and again.
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