Playing the Interview Question and Answer Game

by John Pawlett


The recruiter holding the interview will have a list of questions to ask you, but do you have a list of interview questions to ask? Your questions for interview are as, if not more, important than the interviewers! You also need to learn the right interview answer to each specific question.



Unfortunately the increasing job cuts due to the global credit crunch means a lot more people will be going through the interview process for fewer jobs, so it stands to reason that those who are better prepared for the interview question and answer game (because that's all it is a game!) stand a far better chance of landing that dream job.



Now job interviews are always stressful, even for seasoned job seekers who have gone on countless interviews.



The best way to reduce the stress is to be prepared. Take the time to review the "standard" interview questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these typical interview questions. Then take the time to research the company. That way you'll be ready with knowledgeable answers for the job interview questions that specifically relate to the company and industry you are interviewing with. Your task in the interview process is to make the HR manager (or the interviewers) job as easy as possible, do that and it will be a walk in the park!



Many of the interview questions they will ask you are to be expected. I have listed a couple of the more common ones below that people seem to have problems with, study them and plan your answers ahead of time so you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.



What Are Your Weaknesses? This is the most dreaded question of all. Stay away from personal weaknesses like "I'm a manic depressive' and go towards professional traits, especially ones you are actively working to overcome like 'my design skills aren't great' (do not use if you are going for a job as a designer!) But then emphasis that you are taking action to improve this skill, for example 'to get over this I am taking a course on Photoshop'.



What is your salary expectation for this job? Here they are looking for two things, one can they get you on the cheap and two have they got the budget to be able to afford you! The answer should always be fired back at the interviewer, 'I'll need more information about the job and the responsibilities before I can discuss salaries but can you give me an idea of the range you have budgeted for?' This will put them on the back foot and should give you some valuable information on whether or not to continue with the interview.



A couple of final tips. When you give an interview answer always try and answer in the positive rather than the negative (especially avoiding negative comments about past employers).



Maintain eye contact with the interviewer at all times, don't look down at your shoes when searching for an answer.



Try and make time to rehearse your questions and answers with a friend before the interview, as they say 'practice makes perfect'.



Dress for success, it is far better to be over dressed for an interview than under dressed (it shows you are making an effort).



Good luck on your job hunting.

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This and many more articles on job interviews are available to help you from John Pawlett's site http://www.preparingforajobinterview.com

The Top 5 Sample Interview Questions and Answers

by John Pawlett


The idea behind this sample list is to give you (the interviewee) a chance to work out before the interview, the answers you are going to give to some of the more difficult questions, as you will have noticed most of these questions are open ended so now's the time to say what you need to say and no more.



Try practicing with a friend, then, when the day of the interview comes you may not feel so nervous.



Tell me about yourself?



It seems like an easy interview question but we are always wondering what the employer really wants to know!



To start off the employer does not want your life story, use this time to tell them what makes you the best candidate for the job, give them examples of your background and experiences and substantiate the content in your resume (instead of repeating what it says) such as giving examples of leadership situations, being part of a team or doing some original work



Why should I hire you?



This question comes in many guises like why are you leaving your current job and why do you want to work here?



Here they are trying to find out if you are applying for a number of jobs or are specifically interested in working for them and what makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants.



A good answer would be 'I've been very careful about the companies where I have applied; you should hire me because I'm the best person for the job. I realize that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job' then substantiates what specifically differentiates you.



What are your Goals (long-range objectives)?



Talk in terms of your career goals unless specifically asked about your personal goals and try to tie them in with the company's goals (it helps if you have done your research before hand). The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.



Spare some thought for this because your prospective employer is interested in knowing how clear you are at this moment about what you want to achieve and if it ties in with the company's goals.



What Are Your Weaknesses?



This is the most dreaded question of all. Stay away from personal weaknesses like "I'm a manic depressive' and go towards professional traits, especially ones you are actively working to overcome like 'my design skills aren't great' (do not use if you are going for a job as a designer!) But then emphasis that you are taking action to improve this skill, for example 'to get over this I am taking a course on Photoshop'.



What is your salary expectation for this job?



Here they are looking for two things, one can they get you on the cheap and two have they got the budget to be able to afford you!



It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?" This helps to get them to answer rather than you.



There is no way you can accurately predict the questions that will be asked in a job interview, but you can be ready and prepared by thinking about the factors that might concern an interviewer or employer before the interview (the all important research).



As you can see a job interview is more than just showing up on time in the right clothes. It is your best and only opportunity to convince an employer that he or she should hire you. Good job hunting.

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This and many more articles on job interviews are available to help you from John Pawlett's site http://www.preparingforajobinterview.com

Job Interview Tips - Part 1

by John Pawlett


This article is going to be very different from all the usual articles on job interviews in that I am not going to go into the specifics about what questions you may be asked or what kind of answers you will give, instead I am going to talk about 'that first impression' and how you can get the interviewer to fall in love with you from the moment you walk in the door.



You may have all heard the phrase 'be yourself' well the job interview is one place when this is not helpful! Instead I am going to explain to you how you become the person that the interviewer must have working for the company!



The techniques I am about to share with you are extremely powerful and can be used in all walks of life (especially dating!) and not just for job interviews.



They come from a science called NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and are the basic techniques used by some of the world's greatest influencers such as Tony Robbins, Al Gore etc.



Have you ever had that feeling when you are on a roll and nothing can go wrong? Well that's the feeling you need to have when you enter the room for your interview.



To elicit that state you first need to remember a time when that happened to you, maybe it was a sport you where playing when you could do no wrong and won easily or a meeting you had where everything fell exactly in place just like you wanted it to!



On the flip side you may have had days were nothing has gone right for you, everything you did was a complete disaster. So what's the difference between having a great day and one that's terrible? The difference is the neurological state that you were in.



Now I need you to access that state you were in when you were at the top of your game, to do this you need to go back in your mind to the time when you felt absolutely awesome, undefeatable, on top of the world!



What we are going to do is make a 'personal' video production of those events in your mind so that whenever you want you can replay your video and feel as great now as you did then.



So take that image of a time you felt awesome and visualize it, what does it look like to you? Try changing the picture in your mind, make it brighter add more colour keep playing with that picture until you get the best representation of the event you possible can.



Next I want you to listen to the sounds that you heard at the event, maybe someone was praising you or a crowd was cheering, whatever it was play with the sounds like the volume, tempo, uniqueness etc until you get the best possible sound 'quality' for your production.



Now I want you to physically feel what was going on at the time, were you stood ramrod straight, had a big smile on your face? If you are doing this now along with reading this then I bet you can already feel a difference in the way you feel?



I want you to play this 'personal' video every time you need to be in a state of resourcefulness, if you walk into a room feeling like that then unconsciously everybody around you will feel the aura that you have and immediately perceive you to be a winner.



In the second part of this series I am going to give you some tips on how to create immediate rapport with everybody you come into contact with.



Good Job Hunting.

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This and many more articles on job interviews are available to help you from John Pawlett's site
http://www.preparingforajobinterview.com

You are Fired..Using Sales Skills for your Next Job

Copyright © 2008 Drew Stevens PhD



The economy has taken a dramatic turn for the worst and people are scrambling for numerous reasons. One of the most daunting is the number of individuals being terminated. Unemployment is up and this is not time for that faint of heart.



Terminated 3 times in a six-month period is how to begin a consulting organization, I can attest to the stress. After all, I am an OPP - Out placed Professional. Ironically, it was not long before I began a new career, discovered a new attitude, and controlled by destiny. The key to your success is to use existing selling skills.

1. By natural tendency, selling professionals are inquisitive individuals. The best professionals are detectives and consistently seek new methods for success. Out placed individuals must emulate selling professionals. The best people continually read the press, and research organizations that might need new talent.
   
2. Selling professionals create communities. Job seeking individuals must tap into existing networks to provide the leads for new opportunities.
   
3. Conducting searches requires competitive intelligence. The newfound time requires a makeover of your resume to decipher the differentiation you bring to a new opportunity. Draft your resume as a proposal, thinking about outcome and value not about you!
   
4. Selling professionals never stop asking provocative questions. Job seekers must too. Draft a series of questions that provide insight into opportunities and to the three F's- Fit, Finances, and Find. Develop questions that provide methods to seek new organizations.
   
5. Selling professionals know how to close. Job seekers must use closing techniques that advance the search. If you desire employment, you must ask for it. It is imperative to follow up.
   
6. Job seekers must have a competitive spirit. I recall a young woman I interviewed. She arrived with three manila folders, one for her resume, one with historical information on the company and its products and one on the competition. I hired her on the spot. She was prepared, enthusiastic, and ready for success. When arriving for the interview ensures success, knowing something about the organization you seek employment.
   

Present employment seekers must be aggressive. The competition is fierce, the opportunities small and the differentiation about equal. Job hunting requires moxie and aggression used during the selling process, the success required to discover and maintain clients. Attempt your best efforts using the success stemming from successful selling professionals and find your new position now!

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Every wonder why you are not meeting commission quota? Find out when you subscribe for a FREE "Sell Well Kit". You'll get over $1400 of FREE information to help you sell well. Order now at http://www.drewstevensconsulting.com/freestuff

7 Steps to Negotiate a Killer Salary Package

by Sharon Alexander


There are 7 key steps which can be used to help you in negotiating an appropriate starting salary at a new job.



If you keep these tips in mind while discussing salary with your new employer, it will help you to attain fair payment for your work. These suggestions will not secure you an exuberant amount of money, but will simply help you to convince your boss to pay you a fair salary that you deserve.



Step 1:

Put off talking about the salary for as long as possible. If you give a definite figure too early in the process, you will be disqualified before the potential employer has a chance to see your abilities and potential for the company. If you are asked for your salary requirements, be vague. Say that you are flexible or that you expect to earn the fair market value for the position. Don't ever say that you won't work for less than a specific amount.



Step 2:

Don't ever lie about your current earnings. Employers are rigorous in their examinations of candidates for positions. They will often check your W-2 forms, and if you lie about your earnings, you will be seen as less than straightforward. You will be far less desirable if employers see dishonesty.



Step 3:

Don't ever accept an offer on the spot. As good as the amount may sound, always give yourself time to think about any salary negotiations that take place. Be sure to find out when your position will be reviewed for salary advancements. Learn your benefits, compensations, and non-monetary aspects of the position.



Step 4:

You can ask for more. Expect that you will be offered first the bottom end of what the company is willing to pay you. This gives you room to negotiate 10%-20% higher than the first number mentioned. A good manager or employer will lowball you in order to leave room to negotiate. Don't be offended, but use this starting amount as a point to begin working toward an acceptable salary for both parties.



Step 5:

Know the limit. Don't push beyond a reasonable amount. Early in negotiations, the employer will respond to your demands with some concessions, but not all. Ultimately, he/she will stop responding to your requests. Once this happens, it is time to stop your salary negotiations. If you push any further, you will lose the position.



Step 6:

Research your position. Do your research and determine what the going rate is for someone in the position for which you are applying. Look into the average salary for someone of your qualifications and job position. Take this number and allow for some variation higher and lower. Once you are quoted a number from the employer, use the average salary to help determine negotiations.



Step 7:

Take into account your qualifications, and don't sell yourself short. Recognize the personal skills that distinguish you from the rest of the competition. Use your qualifications to negotiate above the starting point which is given. Make your employer realize how much they need you.

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Sharon Alexander - Claim That Job.com
For more information on how to manage your career successfully, and to get a free job hunting report, visit Claim That Job at http://www.claimthatjob.com.

Strategies to negotiate a salary you deserve

by Sharon Alexander

When going into a salary negotiation with a potential employer, it is crucial that you know what people in your position are being paid. This is so important to achieving a fair starting salary.



You need to first educate yourself, so that you can make informed moves in the negotiation process. Without this knowledge, you will be forced to settle for the bottom of the barrel in terms of both money and benefits.



You may have had a stable job for a long time and are unfamiliar with current salary trends in your field. There are two different ways which can help you to re-familiarize yourself with the market.



Strategy 1: Utilize the internet to its fullest potential. Use online job classifieds to find out what kind of salary range employers in your field are offering. Often times in job listings, the employer will provide a range such as 45K-90k. This seems broad, but you can place yourself in this category with a little self examination.



What is your education level, and how many years of experience do you have? Answers to these questions will determine what end of the spectrum most applies to you as an individual candidate. Don't feel bad or unqualified if you fall at the lower end. This works to the employer's benefit as well. You may be less educated than candidate "B," but if you are still qualified, you will cost less to please. At the same time, don't sell yourself short by expecting low amounts due to something such as limited education. Your current attitude, experience, and skill set means more to an employer than an advanced degree accompanied by a sky high grade point average.



If you do yourself justice in regards to your qualifications, but maintain a reasonable attitude, you should have no troubles in achieving a salary that is fair and worthy of your work in the position.



Strategy 2: Shop around. Keep your options open and interview with a lot of different employers. Use their starting numbers as reference points. You may want to work at one company, but another offers you more as an initial figure.



You can't use the higher offer to bait the company that you want to work for. You will lose your high offer and small offer, and offend a lot of people in the process, as it is not good business. You can however use the higher bid as a reference for how high you can push the lower offering employer. You should research the companies thoroughly and know when to quit.



You need to recognize what means more to you- the opportunity you want, or the price point that comes with another job. You might very well be able to achieve both if you play your cards correctly. Depending upon the economic conditions of the market and amount of candidates in the pool, however, you might not be able to have both. Keep your options open, and do your research to determine appropriate salary figures to aim for.

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Sharon Alexander - Claim That Job.com For more information on how to manage your career successfully, and to get a free job hunting report, visit Claim That Job at http://www.claimthatjob.com.

3 Clues That Your Resume is Giving The Wrong Information

by Laura Smith-Proulx


If you're in a job hunt, nothing will negatively impact your success more than filling your resume with your duties, focusing on overused phrases, and spelling out a dry list of your jobs. The reason?



Employers want to hire not only a person that meets the qualifications for a particular role, but a SOLUTION--a candidate that can help solve business problems, lead work teams to productivity, or deliver cost savings to the organization.



All too often, job hunters commit a cardinal error by loading up their resumes with the wrong kind of information, meaning that the document fails to answer the "So what?" question for hiring managers.



In effect, this writing style will put your qualifications into a category whereby your background is seen as identical to other candidates vying for the same job—-and that can't be a good thing.



To correct this problem, start with a fundamental shift in the way you view the purpose of your resume—changing your focus from a dry list of "here's what I did" to "here's what I can do for YOU."



Here are 3 main clues that your resume needs an overhaul in order to move an employer's response from "So what?" to "Call for an interview:"



1) You forgot to emphasize results.



Today's hiring managers are looking for consistent proof of performance. So how can you provide it? Start with a list of your contributions to the team and the company, then describe the effect on the employer's bottom line.



The idea, of course, is to RID your resume of the obvious (everyone knows that an accountant manages the general ledger, managers supervise, and network administrators monitor servers), while giving employers a clear picture of the extent of what you can do.



Many people think that employers are focused on job duties and don't want more details, while just the opposite is true. It's of utmost importance to give the outcome of each task that you've initiated or completed while at work.



To do this, take EACH resume sentence and scrutinize it for results. Does it present just the facts, or does it convey what happened?



Rewrite each sentence with a clear focus on what happened after you took on that project, led a new team or developed new policies. You'll be amazed at the difference in the responses to your resume.



2) You failed to be specific about your achievements.



This is probably the biggest problem found in most resumes circulating the Internet. It's concise, focused description of your accomplishments that lands the interview.



For example, say you increased sales - by HOW MUCH? You implemented changes for efficiency that reduced hiring - by HOW MANY PEOPLE? If you increased new business - by WHAT PERCENTAGE?



"Grew revenue by 435% to $5 million by winning major contracts," for example, drives your point home better than "Provided contract negotiation support."



The best way to come up with these figures is to review each sentence in your resume to see if it can be quantified. Make a list of questions such as the ones noted above, and ask yourself for additional detail as if you were at a job interview.



Remember that figures in this case speak much louder than anything else you can use. Quantifying your contributions is an absolute MUST in order to make your credentials stand out above others, and to make the case that you bring verifiable strengths to your next job.



3) You copied or re-used phrases.



It seems basic, but many candidates bore hiring authorities by using the same wording repeatedly, or re-use what they've seen elsewhere.



For example, how catchy is the phrase "Responsible for...?" Yet, it populates the average resume at least a half-dozen times. Essentially, if you don't use interesting verbiage on your resume, then don't expect much interest from the reader.



A resume should be written to engage the hiring audience so that they want to know MORE about you, not less.



The good news is that there are more than 170,000 words in the English language, meaning that you have a lot of choices.



For example, "managed" can be changed to "directed," "spearheaded," "oversaw," "championed," "led," etc. As you can see, there's no need to re-use the same information to convey your point.



Revitalize your resume to deliver a powerful, compelling message, using what professional resume writers call "Power Verbs", by consulting a thesaurus.



In summary, remember that your resume's job is to give employers an accurate and powerful picture of your skills, and that going against conventional, outdated styles can be the right thing to do.



Since reading hundreds of resumes can wear down even the most energetic hiring manager, it's best to leave the tedious resume wording for use by someone else, in order to market yourself as the PERFECT SOLUTION that will produce bottom-line results.

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A unique resume authority, Laura Smith-Proulx, CCMC, CPRW, CIC is the Executive Director of An Expert Resume, global resume award nominee, and author of "How to Get Hired Faster: 10 Proven Strategies to Tap the Hidden Job Market." Visit An Expert Resume for Laura's FREE E-Course on "The 7 Biggest Resume Mistakes that Can Keep You from Your Dream Job... and How to Avoid Them."