About.com Guide Alison Doyle shares, Reader Stories: Bad Interview Stories
Find out what happened in the interview, how the interview turned out, and advice on how to avoid the situation in the future. Read Full Article
Do you have a job interview horror story? Tell us about it in the comments section.
About.com Guide Alison Doyle shows job seekers how to Follow Up After Sending a Resume. Doyle also speaks with Recruiters and Employment experts to give readers a variety of opinions on the topic.
Below is an excerpt from Doyle’s article. Read Full Article
There isn’t an easy answer to the question of whether you should follow up after submitting a resume. I posted the question on the (very useful) Answers section of LinkedIn to see if I could get some insight into whether you should (or shouldn’t) follow up after sending a resume. I received a variety of good answers, both in favor of, and against, following up. In addition, if it makes sense for you to take that extra step in the hiring process, there are good suggestions on how to best follow up after sending a resume.
Chris Dittus, owner of August Communications Consulting, told me “As an HR professional who has received thousands of resumes over the years, I can tell you that there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to your question (unfortunately!). There are numerous variables at play in these processes, and every organization is a bit different. It’s impossible to know if you will be wasting your time following up on a resume you have sent in response to a job posting, or if it will be the one thing that gives you a small edge over another candidate.”
In her article for U.S. News and World Report, Karen Burns tells job seekers 21 Ways to Avoid Job Interview Anxiety.
Below is an excerpt from Burns’ article. Read Full Article
Career experts often offer helpful tips for reducing job interview anxiety. But you don’t want to reduce job interview anxiety; you want to avoid italtogether. Before you say, “But that’s impossible!” let’s clarify: You don’t actually have to eliminate the anxiety. You only have to avoid letting it show.
Anxiety is a turn-off. In a job interview, you want to come across as confident, competent, and ready to go to work. Anxiety detracts from the strong, positive impression you want to make. It’s also contagious—your jitters can infect and distract your interviewer, making him less able to focus on you.
The bottom line: It’s okay to feel anxious. It’s not okay to display it.
How can you prevent yourself from looking nervous? By preparing for the interview. Preparation will boost your confidence and help you make that positive impression. Even if you feel nervous, you won’t look it if you’re prepared.
To put an end to anxiety, follow this preparation checklist:
U.S. News & World Report article, 25 Qualities Job Interviewers Look For, Karen Burns describes specific qualities employers are looking for during an interview.
Below is an excerpt from Burns’ article. Read Full Article
When you’re job hunting, you need the right skills, education, and experience. But that’s not all you need. Employers are also looking for a host of other qualities.
For some examples, take a look at the following list. Don’t be freaked out by the length. Read through it. Think about how you rate on each item and how you could improve. It could be the best thing you ever do for your job hunt.
1. Energy. Humans are drawn to energetic people because energy is contagious and an upper. Job interviewers are human.
2. Good manners. Dressing appropriately, sitting erect, maintaining eye contact, waiting to sit until your interviewer is seated—these things all show respect for the person and the situation.
3. Maturity. Mature people know how to focus on the needs of others. Immature people are just wrapped up in themselves. Employers really prefer the first one.
4. Judgment. When interviewers start questions with “tell me about a time when you,” that’s your opening to bring up examples of when you showed excellent judgment.
5. Problem-solving skills. The “tell me about a time” question is also an opportunity to talk about how you effectively approach problems.
Wall Street Journal article, When Job-Interview Questions Become Too Personal, Sue Shellenbarger gives examples of job interview questions employers should not ask you.
Below is an excerpt from Shellenbarger’s article. Read Full Article Here
Prepping for job interviews is the subject of plenty of coaching and advice. But when job interviews turn to juggle-related topics, some questions can catch interviewees completely unprepared.
Some women readers say they have been asked, “What are your child-care arrangements?” or “Do you plan to have a family any time soon?” Author Bob Rosner identifies other “toxic questions” in his book,“The Boss’s Survival Guide”: “I love your accent; where are you from?” (This one suggests ethnic or racial discrimination.) “When did you graduate from high school?” (This one smacks of age discrimination.) “Are you currently using birth control?” (Again, implies pregnancy discrimination.)
To avoid appearing to discriminate based on sex, bosses should stick strictly to job-related queries. Employers with 15 or more employees are covered by federal anti-discrimination law, which makes sex and pregnancy discrimination illegal; a few states, including New York, New Jersey and California, have anti-bias laws covering smaller employers.
In the September 16, 2010 SimplyBlog article, Answering the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question, the folks at Simply Hired show you how your answer to this often challenging question can help you stand out with employers.
Below is an excerpt from the Simply Hired blog. Read full article here
There are a number of ways to answer this question, but don’t make “winging it” an option. As a question you can count on hearing in an interview, you should come fully prepared with an answer. What your interviewer wants is a quick, 1-2 minute summary of your professional experience and an explanation of why you are the best candidate. Your response will usually serve as a jumping off point for discussion. To begin, summarize your professional experience in a sentence or two. Then, highlight your biggest accomplishments, especially during your most recent work experience. Finally, describe how your unique combination of experience and accomplishments applies to the position, and how you would benefit that company.
U.S. News and World report article, The 10 Best Questions to Ask at a Job Interview, Karen Burns gives readers sample questions they should ask during the interview process.
Below is an excerpt from Burns’ article. Click here to read full article.
You’re interviewing for a job. After 20 or 30 minutes, you’re asked: “Do you have any questions?”
The worst thing you can do is ask, “What is it your company does?” (Hey, it has happened.) The next worst thing you can do is say, “Um, nope, I don’t have any questions.”
You need to ask some questions! Asking questions shows your interest in a company and makes you look smarter (smart people tend to be inquisitive). Asking questions gives interviewers a chance to talk about themselves, a thing most people love. And—this is important—asking questions is a way to find out if you really want to work for these people.
Bottom line: Don’t make the interviewer do all the heavy lifting. Take an active role in the interview process and improve your chances of landing a job.
So what should you ask? Here are 10 suggestions:
1. “Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position?” If your interviewer appears to be nervous or ill at ease, a non-abstract question like this is a good way to get the ball rolling.
2. “Could you talk about the history of this position?” Specifically, what you’re trying to find out is how long the position has existed, how many people have held it, and why it is now available.
3. “What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held this job?” Or in other words, what kind of act would you have to follow. This is also a chance to find out what happened to your would-be predecessor. How this question is answered will tell you a lot about the dynamics and expectations of this workplace.
4. “What are this position’s biggest challenges?” You’re naturally curious about the downsides of the job. But find out in a way that makes you look confident and unafraid to tackle problems.
5. “In what area could your team use some improvement?” Do you get an honest-sounding answer? This is important. It’s also an opportunity to talk some more about how your skills specifically match this company’s needs.
6. “What are the prospects for advancement?” Asking this demonstrates that you have ambition, and makes you look like a big picture person.
Susan Adams of Forbes Magazine reports, The Weirdest Job Interview Questions And How To Handle Them*. Adams sites interview questions from Glassdoor.com’s Top Oddball Interview Questions of 2009. Here is a sample of the questions listed:
Glassdoor.com consultant, Rusty Reuff tells Adams, “you have to realize that the interviewer isn’t trying to make you look stupid“.
Employers are looking for your ability to think on your feet and how you will approach an out of the ordinary situation.
Have you ever encountered an odd interview question? How did you handle it? Tell us in the comments section.
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