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Job candidates today are being interviewed up to seven times for a position, and for every person who gets a job, dozens more walk away disappointed.

So never has it been more important to make a good first impression. In these tough economic times, selling yourself at a job interview can be the difference between landing a job, or not.

According to two successful business women the bar is higher than ever job interviews, but they have some advice on how best you can make your mark and impress a future employer.

Carolan Lennon is a consumer director at communications firm, and says: “My ideal interviewee is someone who is engaging and someone that I end up really wanting to work with”.

ENTHUSIASM
“I’d have to be convinced that they can do more than just the job and that they will be a serious asset to the company. That they will fit in well with everyone they work with and even enhance the existing team”, she says.

“I’ve always related well to people who are honest and articulate and who talk simply yet frankly about what they hope to bring to the role.

“And I’m impressed when they are specific on how the experience and skills they will be enable them to do the job really well”, Carolan says. Good eye contact is a must for me during an interview, energy and enthusiasm.”

Carolan says: “I Think first impressions are really important, the impression you get from how the person dresses and right down to their manner. It ca n be as simple as if they smile or not.

“The three things that impress me most are person’s manner, if they ca n express themselves easily and if they ‘look the part’.

“in relation to their manner, I’m impressed when they are friendly yet not over familiar, confident yet not cocky; and good at communicating- by actually looking at me or whoever else is interviewing them and engaging with us”, Carolan says.

“The second thing that impresses me is when an interviewee is articulate and able to give a synopsis of their experience where relevant and without going off on tangents. And knowing when to use real examples to demonstrate in a very natural way, what they have to offer”, she says.

“The third thing that impresses me is when an interviewee ‘looks the part’. And by that I mean they look like they have made an effort in whatever style that suits them.

“I feel that if they are putting their best foot forward for themselves, they’ll do the same for the company,” she says.

“The things that are most likely to leave me unimpressed at an interview is a candidate who lacks energy or appears shoddy, or does not engage with me.

“So professionalism in all its guises is crucial. Being shoddy about your hair, dress or shoes really does give a bad impression.

“For me, I end up wondering if the person can’t be bothered to smarten up their act and put their best foot forward for an interview. Then what will their attitude to work be like day in and day out,” Carolan says.

De Breen is a marketing manager and says: “What are three things I am looking for when I am interviewing someone? For starters, candidates being interviewed for any role in public relations and marketing need to be ambitious, and want to get ahead.

“Secondly, they have to be forward- thinking individuals. Also, they need to know what their market is, and in our case that would mean they need to have in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry, with a clear appreciation of the luxury end of the market,” she says.

I think it goes without saying that someone working in public relations or marketing needs excellent communication skills. This is essential as the majority of the role centres on people skills and interacting with lots of different people.” Dee says

“But good communications skills are vital in an interview for any job type, she says.

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, job interviews

Nowadays, in an ever more competitive job front we are increasingly hard pushed to stand out from other candidates in being interviewed, selected and appointed to the job we really want.

Such is the economic climate that employers are searching hard for the people who can hit the ground running, instantly ‘add value’, and quickly adapt to the organizational environment.

So how can we increase our chance of being successful? Sure, it is important to prepare well, in terms of your CV, interview questions and key points you want to get across.

But is also vitally important that you are able to handle yourself and your emotions, to sense how you are coming across to the interviewers, and to show you are outstanding when it comes managing yourself, other people and relationships.

Much recent and longstanding research shows that the people most successful at getting job and in making a career out of it are those people with higher levels of “Emotional Intelligence’.

Research also shows that ‘Emotional Intelligence’, if measured, is strong predictor of our likely success in a new job, not only at recruitment but also at management and leadership levels as well.

The good news is that unlike your IQ, which is more less fixed, you ca n work at developing your ‘Emotional Intelligence’, to a very high level, in a relatively short period of time, irrespective of your age.

This means you are also very likely to keep growing and developing, both personally and professionally.

Our Emotional Intelligence is our ability to recognize and manage our own feelings, and those of the people around us, for motivating and handling our relationships and ourselves. It provides a framework for us to get the results we want in managing ourselves and other people.

So exactly what is this emotional Intelligence framework and how ca n I develop mine?
The framework is based on the competence that have been shown through extensive research to be the difference between ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ performers, when it comes to getting a job or doing a job, at any level in an organization.

EMPLOYERS LIST THESE AS:
• Communication-being able to listen, converse and present
• Adaptability- creative responses to setbacks and obstacles
• Personal management- motivation to work, pride a desire to develop
• Interpersonal effectiveness- teamwork, co-operation, the skills to negotiate
• Organizational effectiveness- leadership potential, the desire to make a contribution
• The framework describes 18 competences, classified into four areas that we should work at to develop our Emotional Intelligence

These are as follows:
SELF – AWARENESS
1. Self- Awareness
2. Accurate self-assessment
3. Self Confidence

SOCIAL AWARENESS
1. Empathy
2. Organizational awareness
3. Service orientation

SELF – MANAGEMENT
1. Emotional self-control
2. Transparency
3. Adaptability
4. Optimism
5. Achievement Orientation
6. Initiative

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
1. Developing others
2. Inspirational leadership
3. influence
4. Change catalyst
5. Conflict management
6. Teamwork and collaboration

To succeed we do not have to be skilled to a high level in all of these, but certain skills such as self-awareness, empathy, emotional self- control and influence are central or critical to our ability to develop.

To help get you started here a few pointers;
• Be sensitive to others people’s needs and feeling and try to sense how you are coming across to them.

• Actively see feedback from those who are close to you about how they see you and your impact on them.

• Be more open about how those who are close to you impact on you, but only give feedback when you know it will be well received.

• When you know your emotions are stopping you from getting the results you want, reflect on how you felt and why, and try to plan how you can manage your emotions better next time.

• Be confident, optimistic and adaptable in every situation you are faced with and show initiative.

• Show that you can gather people around you, that you can motivate them and eve n lead them.

• Show that you can manage conflict by listening, valuing and reflecting each person’s issue, identifying a win-win option, and encouraging agreement.

• Work hard to understand the organizational culture, the networks and the dynamics, and show that you do, in your dealings with others.

• Show commitment to serve.

• Uphold the company’s values and ethics, and understand their goals and the ‘bigger picture’.

Technorati Tags: Emotional Intelligence, Motivation

Career choices may well be more difficult today than at any time in history, for three reasons: there is infinitely more to choose from; career definitions re more fluid and changing; and the levels of expectations are rising. Most men and women entering the workforce today ca n expect to change careers three or more times during their working lives. Here are ten steps that will help ensure that your choices are good ones.

1. Begin with your values
What’s really important do you like to do so much that you would almost feel guilty getting paid to do it? These questions are designed to help you get at one of the key elements in career choices: values.

Your values are the emotional anchor of all that you do. Satisfying career careers are built upon the notion of high correspondence between one’s personal values and the work they will be doing.

Begin your career search by sorting out your values and writing them down as clearly and succinctly as you can.

2. Identify your skills and talents.
A skill is something you’ve learned to do. A talent is something you’ve been born with, or at least that you seem naturally qualified to do. It’s important to recognize the difference between the two. You may be skilled at something and still not find it interesting, chances are however, if you are naturally talented at something, there will be a correspondence between that particular talent and your values. Put another way: you are more apt to enjoy doing what you do well naturally than what you have simply been taught to do.

3. Identify your preferences.
From early on, we approach the world with certain personal preferences: how we certain personal preferences: how we perceive others, how we think and make decisions, whether we prefer concept over people or vice versa, and the extent to which we are comfortable with uncertainty in our lives. For many, these preferences operate at a subconscious level, but they strongly influence the way we function with others. Some questions may help: Do you regard yourself as highly intuitive? Are you outgoing or reserved? When faced with a decision. Do you rely primarily on facts or feelings? Your answers to these questions can tell you much about the kinds of work you will find interesting and challenging.

4. Experiment
There’s no substitute fro experience and the more the better. It’s probably safe to say that nearly every career looks vastly different from the outside that from within. If you’re new to the job market or if you are considering a career change, get out and talk to people who are actually doing it. Take a job in the field or industry and see for yourself if it’s really all you thought it would be. And don’/t rely on single authority or work experience. Within the bounds of the area you’ve picked, try to get as much and as varied experience as you can. If you’re committed to fin ding out about a certain career, you may want to consider volunteering in order to gain work experience. That way, you’ll be able to test out whether it fits your values and preferences. If you aren’t getting paid to do it, chances are you won’t stay with it unless you like it.

5. Become broadly literate
In this high tech information world, there is an incredible pressure to specialize, to know more and more about less and less. That’s dangerous, because it increases your chances of being obsolescent. Many people lose their jobs and scuttle their careers because they have gradually developed tunnel vision about who and what their capabilities are. The old debate over specialist versus generalist/ specialist.
That’s the individual who has been able to grasp the large picture while, at the same time, becoming expert on several of its parts. That’s what becoming broadly literate all is about. Learn as much as you can about what interest you and about the jobs and careers you’re considering- not just what those involved are currently doing, but about where the industry or profession is heading.

6. In your first job, opt for experience first, money second
If you are at the top of your graduating class, you may be able to combine both experience and money in a single package, but for most new entrants into the workforce, it’s a matter of priorities. A good way of sizing up several opportunities is to ask yourself: “which position will offer me the best chance of becoming excellent at what I do?” and that may not be the one that pays the highest initial salary.

7. Aim for a job in which you can become 110% committed
Modest dedication and average performance are unacceptable today. The problem is, with downsizing becoming fully acceptable you aren’t likely to discover the truth of that statement until you’re out a job! So, how do you protect yourself? If you aren’t able to commit 110% to what you are currently doing, start now to find something in which you can.

8. Build your lifestyle around your income, not your expectations.
Recruiters are famous for courting desirable applicants with promises of large future incomes. The problem is that many new entrants into job market buy into this line and begin living as though they were already making the kind of money promised. A better way is to begin, right with your first job, to structure your lifestyle in such a manner that you can put away 10%of what you earn. Starting early and investing regularly and wisely are probably two of the greatest secrets of wealth accumulation.

9. Invest five percent of your time, energy and money into furthering your career.
In terms of a 40hour week, that is only two hours per week. The point is, you cannot rely on your employer to spoonfeed you. Employers today are orientated towards immediate returns on their investment. They will invest in you only when they can see an immediate or relatively quick benefit, or when they see extraordinary potential. Better to not count on either. Dedicate yourself to getting ahead by keeping ahead and you do that be controlling the one thing you can control: your dedication to being the best that you can be.

Source:www.topten.org

Technorati Tags: Career, Employment, Job Search

Far too many prospective candidates sit back and prepare to be ambushed during a job interview. But with a little bit of preparation and some proactive thinking, you should be able to swing every question you receive in your favour.

1. Preparation is everything
The best way to prepare for a job interview is to do your research beforehand. Study the job description of the position in details in details. You should be able to determine which skills and character traits the recruiter is looking for. Take the time to write down and rehearse specific examples where you demonstrated the desired behavior or gained desired experience.

Also use the job description to get a good idea of what kind of questions the recruiter will be asking you. Typical questions to expect include:
• Why do want to work for us?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your weak and strong point?
• Why do you want to live your current job?
• What are your goals over the short and long tem?
• What was the most challenging part of your previous job and how did you handle it?
• What is your approach towards situations of conflict in the workplace?
• Are you able to work well under pressure?

The key is to take a look at questions like these and to make sure your answers relate directly to the job at hand. It is also very important to convince the interviewers by giving them evidence of your skills.

When answering the above questions, be sure to provide concrete examples of situations where you successfully handled conflict, pressure, challenges at work, etc.

2. Work on first Impression
The importance of the first impression cannot be overstated. A sloppy handshake or a late arrival could damage your chances irrevocably. Show up early; suite up; be sure to look your interviewers in the eyes when you give them firm handshake. Be friendly and relaxed, enthusiastic without appearing desperate.

3. Take Charge
The key is remember that you are also interviewing the company - you are taking the opportunity to see if you will be able to work and grow here.

With that in mind, be sure to apply the following guidelines to your every interview:

• Take the lead: if for ex ample recruiters does not ask about some skills or other that you think makes you perfect for the job. Use in the line conversation to bring up that specific topic and to explain why you think this skill could help you on the job, advises Wendy Enelow of career-advices.monster.com

• Ask question about the company. For examples; how many people will be your team? How does the workflow function between the various departments? What are the training opportunities like in the company? Is there room for you to move up the ranks?

• It’s also a good idea to ask the employer about specific problems and challenges they have encountered with regards to the work that you will be taking on. Listen well to the answer and try to suggest a solution right there. Even if is not ground breaking, you will stand out from the other candidates, argues the recruiting expert Nick Corcodilos- (www.asktheheadhunter.com)

4. Sell yourself
Of course, there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. However, the interview is the ideal opportunity for you to sell your skills. Take for example those typical interview questions ‘why do you think we should hire you?’ and ‘tell us about yourself and your career thus far’.

Don’t wait until you reach the interview and then sit there babbling away. Take some time before the interview and try to come up with a brief but catchy description of your skills, experience and accomplishments. Think of this almost as your sales pitch- make it snappy and you can be sure that you will stand out from the other candidates.

5. Positive yourself in a positive light
Try to put everything that comes your way in a positive light, writes Enelow. So you don’t have a specific skill? That’s okay. You’re a fast learner. Perhaps you don’t have as many contacts in the industry as employer would like? No problem, you’ve though about that and are planning to do some networking and introduce yourself to some role players before start the job.

May be they think you’re a bit young for the job? That’s hardly relevant to you, as you bring enthusiasm, flexibility and initiative thinking to the table

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, Job interview, Job Search

Writing your CV is the most important piece of selling you will ever do. Firstly, it needs to get noticed among the avalanche of other applications - and that doesn’t mean having it delivered by a semi-clad opera singer (although that could turn a few heads), secondly, it has to be absolutely spot-on, both in terms of your experience and self-promotion. It may be cliché, but there really is no second chance to make a good first impression with this one - so bear in mind this essential advice.

• Get your spelling and grammar right. This may sound obvious, but even the smallest typo could mean that your well- crafted CV gets no further than HR’s bin. Get someone to proofread it- more than once.

• Get your dates right. It is painfully dull, but the last thing you want are discrepancies, as these will make you look disorganized and scatty. Take the time to go down memory lane- it may feel like grown- up detention, but you only have to do it once.

• Sell, sell, sell. Do not be afraid of bigging yourself up; turn any bad experiences into lessons learnt and embellish (but no untruths). Err on the positive wherever you can, but at the same time don’t overdo it…this can easily be spotted by a discerning eye.

• Get an outsider opinion. You know your own profession inside out and there may be aspects of your job you take for granted. Find a willing (a patient) ear to go through your roles and you’ll find you have more feathers in your cap than you first thought.

• Don’t get gimmicky. No wacky fonts, shiny paper, streamers, poppers or sounds when you open the envelope- unless you are going for a job as Coco the clown. Keep it clean, using the same style and size of font throughout-if you want a heading to stand out just bold it up.

• Make sure you are picture perfect. If you use photo- and this is increasingly becoming the norm- make sure it’s a good, basic mugshot. Obviously use a nice one, but avoid any over-glamorous images- unless you are going for a job on the stage, of course.

• Formatting. Avoid graphs, barchats or table; keep the formatting as basis as possible. If you are emailing your CV, save it as PDF to avoid any software compatibility issues-after laying out your CV so carefully you don’t want it to end up getting garbled down the wire.

• Include a competency statement. This is a 150 to 200 words selling statement at the start of your CV that outlined the knowledge, skills and abilities you possess. Experts say a good competency statement can boost your chances of being interviews by as much as 30%.

• Avoid any unnecessary and irrelevant info. Don’t bother with writing curriculum vitae at the top- the reader knows it is not ham sandwich! Don’t bother telling them you are single-it’s not a date, if you want to put your hobbies down, try to make them relevant and a boost to your profile. Vague and unremarkable activities such as socializing, going to the pub or listening to music will take up valuable space.

• Don’t skip the gaps. Any lost years with no explanation could be seen as suspicious and lazy. Deal with any career breaks head-on, even if the gap was while you were go-go dancing in Ibiza. If you don’t want to go into details, just say you were working in tourism and pull out positives such as “I’ve learned to be a good communicator” or “I now have conversational Spanish.”

Technorati Tags: CV, Employment

You never know when opportunity will knock so it’s wise to keep your CV updated at all times.

Kelly Marketing Executive Gina Meintjies says that keeping an updated CV is vital when looking for a job, regardless of how long you’ve been in the field.

“Whether it is a chance for a promotion or a career move you should be ready. And if you are a job seeker, one of your resolutions could be assess how successful you have been in job hunting efforts and improve your job hunting tactics; starting with a clear, concise CV and a focused job search. You could be missing opportunities because your CV is not conveying the correct message. Getting your CV right puts you on top of the pile,” she advises.

Be sure your CV makes the grade by following some simple essentials:

Presentation: Your CV should be professional. No fancy designs. A simple Word document provides the interviewer with information without distraction. Address your CV to the company and person and do make sure you have their names spelled correctly and job titles spot on. Keep it brief, this is not an autobiography; maximum three to four pages. Ask friends or family for constructive criticism to improve your CV.

Be professional: Have your correct contact details in your CV. Do not risk using your existing employer’s e-mail or company cellular phone-believe it, they know the numbers of their competitors. If you have to set up a separate e-mail address and alternate telephone number. And when you answer your phone do so clearly. Your voice-mail should also be professional.

Have the correct information: Make sure all information is correct and honest. This will impress the interviewer who will not need to ask questions about things you forgot. Do not include misleading information; if you have not completed your degree do not make it look as if you have. Very important is having the dates and positions you held at previous employers correct.

References: These are vital and go along way to help you land that job. Your CV must convey that you are a solid person; the more highly your references speak of you the better your chances.

Being ready to find a job is one thing, but looking can be daunting. “It need not be.” Says Meintjies. “Daily and weekly media publications advertise vacancies. Focus your job search; don’t just send your CV everywhere in the hope that you may get lucky. You are wasting your time and money! There are exciting careers out there; the Contact Centre industry offers job-seekers great choice and Flexi-Work/Temping has become the preferred career choice for many.”

Skills are critical; whether you are employed or a work seeker. The non-negotiable in today’s world-of-work are: computer literacy on all MS Office Products, Customer Service skills, basic financial skills and above all, excellent communication skills and a good command of English as our predominant business language.

Two exciting options for job seekers are:

Flexi-Work: The world-of-work is ever changing. With the increased trend in Flexi Work opportunities, many select a career offering flexibility and benefits associated wit full-time employment. If you have the right skills: consider the Flexi-Work option.

Contact Centres: An industry making huge strides in job creation is the Contact Centre industry. If you have the drive to work hard and deal with people, then this industry could be for you. Contact Centres employ a range of skills; from doctors to sales-people, collection agents and more. With experience and specific skills, including excellent communication and a passion for customer service, you could fill the next seat and become part of this exciting industry.

Technorati Tags: CV, Employment, Job hunting

Why is it even the most confident person turns into quibbling wreck when it comes to the thought of an interview? Honest answer, we are scared to talk about ourselves; scared to ‘Blow our own trumpet’ but if we don’t how will they ever know…

During an interview the primary objectives of the interview is to ascertain:
1. are you the right person for the job
2. do you have the skill set for the role and promotional prospects
3. will you fit in with the company/team ethos

Interviewers often have their own style of questioning or they may follow a competency style of questions or utilize assessment based; having an understanding of the different style of interview will put you at ease.

Free style interviews- this is where the interviewer creates their own question, some may be open-ended i.e. Tell me about yourself? Describe your most recent position and any key achievements in that position

Competency based interview- Theses are also known as skilled-based, behavioral, situational or structured interviews. Targeting the principle that previous experience and performance is the best predictor of future performance. The interviewer will ask questions to seek examples of past behavior to provide evidence that you have the necessary competencies to be suitable for the role
Question examples: Describe a situation when you handled customer complaints
Give an example of a time when you achieved positive customer feedback

Assessment based interviews- interviewers may construct a selection of tests to analyse your potential, these may include psychometric tests and / or tasks to analyse your behaviour such as team building, prioritization and communication. You would normally be advised in advance for assessment- based interviews

Try to remember in any interview it is in the interviewers best interest to get best out of you, they are not trying to catch you out, they just want to make sure you are the person they are looking for.

Preparation

Often one of the easiest ways to survive the interview is down to preparation. As individual we work hard, deliver results and remained focused towards our objectives, but this is our day job and we forget just what we have delivered, and these are the points a potential employer wants to know about.

It is important to allow yourself enough time to prepare. Solid preparation can assist in your confidence and ability to respond to any questions or tasks you are asked to perform. It is a good idea to allow your self 2/3 hours preparation time either the night or the morning before an interview. Remember “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!’

A good way to prepare for an interview is to create a skill matrix pertinent towards the job role you are applying for, if the organization has issued a job description this will detail the role and skills/competencies required. If not, you know the type of role you are applying for and should be able to create a list of key requirements. Create a matrix with the skills required and think of 4/5 examples of your own achievements for those skills for example:

Customer Relationship Skills

1. Handled customer complaints; resolved a key issue avoiding refund
2. Training and developed junior team in customer interaction to provide additional sales through standards of service provided
3. Awarded employee of the month for outstanding reviews on a customer satisfaction survey
4. Developed relationship with secretarial and administration teams within the local area; creating loyalty and ensuring preferential accommodation rates

Continue to build the matrix with all the skills and attributes applicable for the job role. This will help reaffirm your own memory and also help at the interview as you have already done the thinking prior to being asked any interview question, making question responses more fluid and impactive.

It is important to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the organization and the job role so make sure you do your research.

Presentation

It is important to be smart and appropriately dressed for an interview, but do make sure you are comfortable in clothes you wear, avoid the clothes you hate as this will dampen your confidence, by wearing thing you know you look good will boost your confidence.

The Day Of The Interview

Allow yourself enough time to arrive 15 minutes early; have you got the right address? Is there parking or public transport access? Ensure you take telephone contact details and your mobile phone just in case. When you arrive at the organization remember to be pleasant and polite to everyone, as you don’t who’s who and you may offend the wrong person.

During the Interview

Be positive, maintain eye contact, use visual acknowledgements and body language to show you are interested i.e. nod, smile, sit up and don’t fidget

Answer the questions honestly and factually (remember your matrix)

Don’t be afraid to ask questions to either clarify questions to either clarify questions asked of you or to gain more information about the company, if you are going to work with them it is a good idea to know all about them.

Last but not least remember the interviewer only wants to get the best out of you, they do not want to make you feel ill at ease so relax.

www.conceptcv.co.uk

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, interview questions, job interviews, Job Search

The interview is coming to a close; the interviewer asks you if you have any questions and suddenly your mind goes blank. Interviews should be seen as a two- way street as it is as much a chance for them to find out about you as for you to find out about them. You need to know everything about the position to make a considered decision if you are offered the job. Always prepare by drawing up a list of key questions that you genuinely want to ask. If you are not interested in asking questions, they will think you are not interested in the job.

• Why has this vacancy come up? A perfectly reasonable question and one worth asking if you want to be sure that the last person isn’t leaving because the job is as dull as dishwater or is limited in terms of promotion. If they sidestep the question or appear defensive, that you want to get ahead and leads neatly on to the next question.

• Is there much scope for promotion? A fairly obvious one, but always worth asking as it shows you are enthusiastic and plan to go far within the organization. Remember, they are looking for the next Richard Branson, not Homer Simpson..

• If my application were successful, where would you see me in five years’ time? Crystal ball time. A good question because it forces the interviewer to picture you in the job. It also gives you an indication of how fast careers move at the company. You don’t want to swap a fast-track career for one in slow lane.

• Where does the company see itself in five year’s time? This shows you have genuine interest in the future direction of the company and you’re looking beyond the confines of your own role. It will also mark you out as someone wit vision. Sir Alan would be proud of you.

• What is the top priority for this role over the next year? Another question that involves the interviewer imagining you in the job. It shows you’re concerned about the key objectives of your role and don’t want to get bogged down in day-to-day routine.

• What are some of the more difficult problems encountered in this role? This shows that you are already thinking ahead and want to hit the ground running and fully prepared. It shows you’re realistic and don’t expect life to a bed of roses.

• How do you think these problems could best be handled? A great question because it shows that you are to draw on the interview’s experience at same time as drawing up some contingency plans for your day to day role.

• Do you have any reservations about my ability to do this job? Assuming you haven’t arrived dressed as a Court Jester; this is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. If they say no, you’re already in great position. If they say yes, then ask them to clarify so that you’ll get a chance to dispel their doubts.

• When can I expect to hear from you? Always end on this one. This shows you’re keen and also gives you a great reason to get in contact if they haven’t contacted you by the date mentioned. Don’t overdo it though- just contact them once, with one follow-up call. You don’t want them to think you’re stalking them.

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, interview questions, job interviews, Job Search

It’s been going pretty well until the interviewer looks squarely in the eye and says: “Tell me a story.” Beads of sweat suddenly appear on your forehead and your collar starts to feel too tight. The easiest way to avoid the interview descending into a farce is to be prepared. Tough questions will always come up, so you need to have a strategy to deal with them. To help you, here are some tips on how to claw your way back from the brink.

1. If they do ask you to tell them a story, they probably don’t want Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Have something in your mind that is work related or an interesting anecdote about your personal life.

2. Job hoppers, If you haven’t stayed in a job long enough to get your seat warm. The interviewer will be concern. “I had to change jobs to gain a fresh challenge” is a good response. Go on to say “I’m looking to settle in a company dynamic enough to keep me challenged.”

3. Describe a difficult situation that could have handled better.
Criticizing yourself is never going to be easy. The trick here is to use an example from a few years ago where the way you acted was force upon you, such as “had to change the deadline because our budget had been cut”. Everyone makes mistakes- the important thing is to emphasize what you learnt from it.

4. What is your present boss’s greatest weakness? Even if you work for a total Basil Fawlty, saying” far too many to mention” doesn’t look good. Go for something like” They are good at their job; I’d be splitting hairs if I criticized them.” Being negative doesn’t look great- the person you are talking to may be your next boss.

5. Sell me this paperclip! A total bolt out of the blue and the sort of question that some interviewers use to put you on the spot. Avoid describing the product- just stick to its benefits: “it’s strong and lightweight.” Maybe even throw in a joke at the end: “There’s a discount if you take 10 000!”

6. I think you’re overqualified for this job. Oh dear, looks like those four Masters degrees weren’t good idea after all. Basically, they’re worried you’ll get bored and leave. If you do really want this position despite being overqualified, say something along the lines that you’re sure a dynamic company like this will be able to keep you challenged and interested.

7. Why haven’t you find a job yet? Avoid telling them you’ve spent all summer on the beach. Try saying; “ It’s important that I accept a job in a company that’s right for me and where I can make a contribution.” Let them know if you have turned down unsuitable offers.

8. What do you dislike most at work? Of course you live for work, but they don’t know that yet. Avoid anything specific. Turn it into positive and say: I dislike not having enough to do or not being challenged.”

9. What motivates you? Your interviewer is not looking for an answer along the lines of $100,000 per year and Bentley Turbo!” try to give a constructive answer, such as “ I get a real kick out of completing a project” or I get satisfaction at each stage of the project, knowing I will have made a contribution to the end results”.

10. Draw up a list of tough questions. List the scariest questions you can imagine-or ones you or friends/ colleagues have been asked. Jot down suitable answers and memorize them, so that you’ll be prepared

Technorati Tags: Employment, job interviews, Job Search

Managing your reputation on the internet is now a serious business and easy to control. According to research, 26% of hiring managers say they have used search engines to research potential employees and one in 10 has looked on a social networking website.

You put yourself at risk by …..

• Keep on to of what’s out there. Regularly Google yourself and search your name on website like pipl.com to check on the status of your reputation. If there is anything derogatory, do something about it.

• Keep your MySpace or Facebook profile private. All social networking accounts have privacy settings, so use them. You don’t want your prospective employer to know too much about your family and friends.

• Use social networks to your advantage. Set up two accounts on sites like Facebook or MySpace, one in your name and one under pseudonym. The account using your real name can be glowing. Listing your positive experiences and achievements, while other can be reserved for the lighter side of your life.

• Set your own website. This gives you a lot more control over what people see when they Google you. It also shows you are taking a proactive role online. You can also create personal areas that stay private for your social life and public areas that can be seen by potential employers.

• Request removal. It is time consuming, but trawl through any old data about you get rid of it –unless it is a stunning reference to your perfect existence of course. Previous work places and other organizations you have worked for it may still hold information about you, blogs or articles you have written in the past or images and videos. Contact previous employers and web managers to request removal.

• Hire an expert to clean up your profile. If removal is proving difficult, you may need to call in an expert such as reputation defender.com. for a fee, the company produces monthly reports on your on-line identities and you ca n request the removal of any material on the report.

• Bear in mind who may be searching you. Remember, it’s not just potential employers who could be searching engines to find out information about you- it may also be potential clients. So even if you are not looking for a new job, It’s worth assessing your internet presence.

• Create a business profile. Join something like linkedin.com- it’s a great tool for networking with your peers and allows you to talk about yourself, link to your other Google friendly web content and customize your profile URL.

• Stay anonymous. The internet is perfectly set up for anonymity and that doesn’t mean you’ve become a creepy internet dweeb. It means you have become internet-savvy. In fact, in 10 years’ time people will probably be shocked about how much true information our generations were willing to put on the web. Keep pictures to minimum and use other names. This is a good idea, not just in term s of finding a job, but also in avoiding identity theft.

• Prevention is the best cure. The best way to maintain a good net rep is to keep it clean in the first place, so just think carefully about what you put out there. Even posting your family recipe for pickled gherkins ca n influence a potential employer’s opinion of you.

Technorati Tags: Facebook, internet reputation, LinkedIn, MySpace, Social network service