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Some Career Sites Just Don't Help at All

I was browsing on the net last night, searching for new interview questions and answers that other employment gurus have to offer, when I recognized something wrong. You can get literally piles of interview questions and answers out there but I did not spot a single site that shows readers strategies about how to answer the questions. They just provide the answers and that’s it.

Why is that bad?

Because almost all job hunters will merely copy those answers without really knowing them, so when the interviewer throws in a follow up question, come interview time, they end up getting lost. This fact makes most interview help web sites worthless.

Realizing the need, I decided to post this article and fill in the blank. There are actually several types of interview questions and I will go over 3 of them in this short article.

Behavioral interview questions – These kinds of questions are becoming more and more popular since they not only test an individual's behavior over a given situation, they also show how a person recounts past events and how effective they are in conveying a message. It is some sort of a communication skills test as well.

Here is a sample behavioral interview question and answer

Give me an example of a time when you encouraged others

"The current financial meltdown led a lot of companies to downsize; it affected nearly every industry including ours. Several of my colleagues back then were hunting for other jobs because they were afraid that they might get laid off. Realizing the problem, I began talking with my group and told them that we should not abandon the company, if we carry out our job well the management will notice and we'll be too valuable to let go of. So we stuck with the company and started multi-tasking because several jobs were left vacant. The corporation got through the crunch and we all got a reward for carrying out a great job."

Notice that the reply begins with a condition, followed by an action, and then an outcome. This is the proper way to effectively answer behavioral questions. It needs to be in that order so the message is clear.

Situational interview questions – These are the “what if” questions that are designed to test your problem solving and critical thinking skills. You are typically given a scenario where you must choose between 2 actions that have particular effects on your job or personal life.

Here is a sample situational interview question and answer

What would you do if a team member is resisting a new idea you are introducing?

“I’ve worked in a team before and have been in this situation. What I did at that time was to speak with the team member who is resisting the idea and I tried to find out the reason for his resistance. Issues like this almost always boils down to mis-communication and misunderstanding on the team member’s part. Once I found out the reason for his resistance, I then formulated a solution and then we all agreed on the new idea.”

These kinds of questions require some thought because there will be a consequence regardless of what action you choose. So you have to weigh your alternatives, evaluate the situation, prioritize, and then decide on which course to take.

Non-direct interview questions – These are general questions that don’t really ask for anything specific. One of the most common non-direct interview questions is;

“Tell me something about yourself”

In responding to this particular question, you need to be able to refer to your education, skills, experiences, and personality in as short as 2mins. Don’t get overly enthusiastic and start telling stories that are immaterial. As much as possible, relate your answer to the opportunity you are vying for.

Those are 3 types of interview questions, and most importantly, how to respond to them. It is appropriate to think about possible answers to as many interview questions that you can discover because you’ll never know just what questions will get asked. It is also best to practice saying your answers out loud and observe whether you are sounding like a robot or not. Nothing is better than an applicant who is very well prepared.

How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions

Behavioral interview questions are meant to analyze your...well, behavior, as what the title signifies, and such questions need to be answered carefully and if possible with much thought as to what impression your answer would most likely convey.

It is a fact that you need to be 100% honest when answering interview questions, specifically behavioral ones, although we occasionally have a tendency to blurt out information in a different way that we are unable to convey the information the way we want to.

Here are some popular behavioral interview questions and answers that you can practice on.

Identify a time when you did something that you did not like

"When I was working as a customer service associate, I was selected to pioneer one of the new inbound customer care accounts where we addressed after sales concerns. The condition was I did not like phone conversation with customers; I was a chat support agent and have been one for the longest time. But, considering that I was offered the position and it is my responsibility as an employee to help get the job done, I accepted the job and it turned out that communicating with clients isn't so terrible after all."

Provide an example where you worked your way towards achieving your goal

"I started working at a construction firm right out of high school. While there, I worked as hard and as clever as I could and went up up to the highest attainable rank without having a degree. I then enrolled at a university in order to complete a business degree, then after graduating the business offered me an even greater responsibility. That for me is certainly one of my finest accomplishments."

Give me an example of a time when you motivated others

"The current financial meltdown led many companies to downsize; it affected nearly every industry including ours. Several of my co-workers back then were on the lookout for other jobs because they were afraid that they might get laid off. Spotting the trouble, I began conversing with my staff and told them that we should not abandon the company, if we carry out our job well the management will notice and we'll be too valuable to let go of. So we stuck with the company and started out multi-tasking seeing that so many jobs were left vacant. The company made it through the crisis and we all got a reward for carrying out a fine job."

Those are a few examples of behavioral interview questions and answers that you can model from. Do not copy those answers most definitely if it does not apply to you. Recruiters are quite good in terms of spotting dishonesty.

And if you've been reading closely, you should have seen that the answers start with a situation, followed by an action, then an outcome. Review the answers again and check. That is how you answer these sorts of questions. Situation, action, then outcome. There are plenty of other behavioral interview questions and answers out there but the most crucial thing is that you answer them with honesty and practice delivering them in an effective way.

2 Interview Questions that Applicants Fail On

Answering interview questions adequately may be the biggest problem a job hunter has; employers never appear to run out of unexpected questions and they render simple questions hard to answer. You don't really know if it's you or they're just too overwhelming that you just forget you have a brain.

One of the excellent methods to overcome interview jitters and stay in control during an interview would be to practice interview questions and answers some time before your scheduled meeting. With this, typical questions and answers are always fresh in your mind and you can prepare how you can say them confidently as well as in a non-rehearsed manner.

The following are standard interview questions and answers that you can practice on. Such questions never fail to arise in an interview. Note that you can not copy the sample answers to the letter; you have to generate your own responses for you to tailor them to your situation.

Tell me something about yourself

This is generally the first question you'll get asked and a whole lot of candidates never get this right. Don't take the question literally and start saying anything about yourself, keep in mind that you are marketing yourself and your reply to this specific question should do just that. And keep your answer short and concise. Here's a sample answer for somebody who is looking for a customer service job.

"My name is Mark Anthony, you can call me Mark. I've been in the industry for 3 years and I'm enjoying every bit of it. I like interacting with people, gaining new friends, and I find it both challenging and exciting whenever I get to interact with difficult persons...etc"

You can add other things such as spare-time activities but notice how I outlined characteristics that happen to be vital to customer service? It's definitely not easy to find somebody that finds dealing with difficult people a challenge. That statement alone will give you an edge over the competition.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is a complicated question and very common on interview questions and answers. It's easy to speak about your strengths but why would you want to talk about weaknesses that could cost you the job? It doesn't sound right. Here's a sample answer for the weakness part:

"I find it challenging to delegate for the reason that I always feel that I can carry out things better myself, which is not always the case. Now and then I find myself with too much to address. I've been taking care of this weakness though and I discovered that communication is key to attaining great things in a team."

In the example, you'll realize that what was stated is both a weakness and a strength. It is a predicament if you just can't delegate because you think that you can do things better but it also suggests that you definitely strive for greatness whenever doing a job.

Those are a couple of interview questions and answers that you can start practicing with. Try to remember, you ought to be sincere when answering questions so think of the best answer that reveals your real personality.

Why Some Applicant's Cover Letters Tick Me Off

I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief whenever I get cover letters with “To Whom it May Concern” as the addressee. I can’t even recall when I last addressed a letter that way. It’s very unprofessional and gives an impression of laziness on the applicant’s part. I don’t feel excited to call a candidate whose cover letter is addressed that way and I’m sure a lot of HR personnel feel the same way.

It is one of the fail proof ways to guide your good cover letter into the garbage bin. What do you do then? I know it’s hard to ascertain who the appropriate person is but if you are truly serious about your desire to work at the company then go the extra mile and get a name no matter what. This will identify you from hundreds of applicants who never bother to address their cover letter correctly.

Just by getting a name you are literally doing away with hundreds of competition. That fact alone should be enough to get you doing some studying. And to make it even enticing, I will give you some tips on how to determine your intended audience.

One thing that you can do

We all get referred to a specific industry at one point and for sure the person who referred you knows who to address a good cover letter to. Much more he can give you precious tips on how to act during the interview because he’s been through the process. He might even know the interviewer personally. If you are in this situation, make the most of your internal ally and ask as many tips as you can.

Another thing that you can do

Contact the company directly. You can visit their website and see if you can obtain a name, you can call and ask for the appropriate person's name, or you can visit their office and have a quick chat with the receptionist.

If you have time, I recommend visiting their office. Why? You can learn a lot of stuff just by sitting in the reception area and having a quick talk with the receptionist. You can learn about the company’s culture, their vision, mission, and a lot of important things. You can then tailor your good cover letter and project the same values as theirs.

This is one technique to increase your chances of getting a call back, but be certain that you can keep up with it. If your values are in contrast with theirs then don’t bother applying this method because it will no doubt show during the interview.

Those are two easy ways for you to determine the right person to direct your good cover letter to. Remember that this step alone gets you ahead of the pack, and most often than not, you will get contacted for an interview. That is the time for you to follow through on what you wrote in your good cover letter and be on your way to getting hired.

How to Ace Interview Questions and Answers

Interview questions and answers are only part of the series of preparation for the interview.  The interview is the important event.  All of your time spent filling out job applications, submitting resumes, tailoring cover letters and responding to job ads have led you to this.  Over the next several posts, I am blogging on information that will provide you with key steps to be at your best and put you in the right position for a job offer.

Step 1:  Know your audience. Knowing your interview audience and the company will certainly help you with preparing your interview questions and answers.  For the interview, will it be a panel or individual?  If a panel, how many panelists will there be?  For the company, what type of company is it?  Is it privately held or publicly traded?  How long have they been operating?  Who is their target audience?  Are they the industry leader or a strong competitor?  Where are their corporate headquarters located? 

Do your research and take notes of your discoveries.  Collect annual reports, company news, browse their website, investigate them on Hoovers, talk to current/past employees, etc.  The more you know of the company, the history, niche, competitors, business model and growth plans, the more prepared you’ll be to discuss their needs and how you are the person to get rid of their problem. 

Step 2: Look forward and respond to their interview questions and answers  A normal interview lasts a good 60 minutes.  On the first few minutes, the interviewer will gradually set the tone by providing information on the company and the position.  They will then refer to your resume, cover letter, portfolio, and any other information you provided, and begin asking you questions.  These questions include: “Tell me a little about yourself.”; “Where do you expect to see yourself in 1-2 years?”; “What do you find challenging about this position?”; “What do you see as your key strengths and weaknesses?”; “We are interviewing many strong candidates, why should we hire you?”; “Why did you leave your last employer?”

These are typical interview questions and answers that you need to be prepared to respond to.  Some of these interview questions may be difficult for you.  There is no excuse in showing your discomfort because you know they are coming your way.  Prepare your responses. Try playing with an objective person to help you smooth out your answers.

The Basics of Thank You Letter After Interview

Remember how your mom used to HOUND you to get those thank you notes done…or else.  “Or else” usually meant she was taking the toys away. (GASP!) 

Well in the scheme of seeking employment, thank you letter after interview can have an even greater impact.  They set you apart as thoughtful and offer an extra reminder of YOU when they are obtained by the addressee.  So, did you finish this task? 

For the purpose of this article, we are going to refer to this event simply as “Thank You Letter after interview.”  This step is critical to leaving a lasting impression on your audience and is an effective tool to validate yourself as a candidate for the employment.  The interview is not over until the job has been granted.  The Thank You Letter after interview is another event in qualifying for the position. 

Who do you need to send one to?  A “Thank You Letter after interview” needs to be sent to everyone you interviewed with.  If there was a panel of interviewers, make sure you acquire a business card of everyone you met with.  If you are not sure of the spelling or title of each person, drop by the company.  Introduce yourself to the front desk officer and explain that you recently interviewed and would like to confirm the spelling of names and titles of each person you met with. 

The receptionist will prove most helpful in sharing this information with you.  As a side note, make sure you send some gratitude his/her way as well.  You never know how much influence this person has and you want to develop as many organizational allies as possible.

How soon do you need to send them out?  The “Thank You Letter after interview” needs to be sent within 24 hours.  The quick turnaround time proves your heightened level of interest in the position and your professionalism. 

Although you can send them through regular mail, my suggestion is to drop them off in person.  In this way, you get rid of the risk of them not reaching their destination and it gives you an opportunity to properly thank the receptionist for his/her time in giving the information to you.  You can purchase a small gift card at the local café, or something small, yet thoughtful, to show your appreciation and to develop that relationship.  If you get the job, you have made an instant friend.  If this position happens to go to somebody else, you still have a warm contact internally to follow up with if another position becomes available down the road.

As a job finder, you can not afford to ignore the “Thank You Letter after interview” step.  Correctly written, it is a great opportunity to uphold your “top of mind” position from the perspective of the employer.  It makes a lasting impression of you as a prospective candidate and it can tip the scale if the position is extremely competitive.  You need every advantage you can get and this is one easily missed.  Take the initiative and tilt the playing field in your favor.

Thank You Letter After Interview by: Sean Mccaffrey

An Expert Review on Resume Writing Samples Sites

It seems that everyone has an opinion on what resume writing samples should look like.  As an employment coach, I am naturally cautious of this rhetoric.  So, I decided to find out for myself by researching various online resume writing samples. Turns out, I have good reason to be cautious.  There are many good sources, and some not so reliable sources of resume writing samples.  

Here are the parameters I based my judgments on:

• Provided resume writing samples for a wide range of jobs and careers;
• Offered important information on format, style, length, etc.;
• Has tutorials available for those who want more information;
• The content is up to date;
• The site offered additional support to complement the resume/cover letter, such as interviewing, etc.;
• The site was easy to navigate through;

Here are a couple of sites that made a positive impression on me:

This site by Alison Doyle is one that I pay strong attention to.  I enjoy the e-mails I get from her and the content is relevant and honest.  She updates her information regularly and has credibility in this niche.

I think all Kristi Daeda does is hammer away at her computer all day because she is always coming up with new content.  Her information is fresh and she is truly interested in helping others.  I enjoy receiving her e-mails as well and being a regular visitor to her site.  Her resume writing samples page offers a wealth of information to help you create the important sales tools.

There are other links that are supposed to take you to resume writing samples but they direct you to sales pages for professional resume writing services.  Just because you are looking for resume writing samples, it does not mean that you need to consider paying for a service to draft your resume for you.  I do recommend that you go over all available resources to help you put your sales tools together.  Some are available for free, while others may require a fee. 

There are a bunch of sites dedicated to resume writing samples, how to create a resume, various resume formats, and other topics related to your primary sales tool.  You know it works if you are getting interest from your intended audience.  In order to garner that interest keep the following in mind;

• Be strategic in your intended audience. 
• Choose the appropriate format for your situation.
• Have a consistent message so that you are clear in your direction 
• Demonstrate how you will add value to your next employment opportunity.

Making a Resume That Works

It’s no secret that your resume is a relevant sales tool.  Every recruiter, hiring manager and decision maker will need a copy of your resume at some point. When making a resume that earns results, there are a few relevant tips to take note of.

Tip #1: Only include relevant content.  When making a resume, approach it from the perspective that each and every word needs to serve a purpose.  That purpose is dictated by the post you are vying for.  What knowledge is required?  Which of your skills must be highlighted?  Are additional certifications or special talents important?  

Your resume needs to highlight your important skills, education and strengths required to efficiently perform the duties of THIS position.  (Notice specific emphasis on “this”.)  Undoubtedly you have additional strengths, yet as much as you want to show off your additional abilities, keep your content concise.

Tip #2: Every job seeker has three types of skills. These skills include personal, transferable and job related.  When making a resume, only transferable and job related skills need to be highlighted.  There is no purpose to including your personal skills.  These skills are those characteristics innate to you such as being dependable, honest and ethical.  Anyone can claim these traits and because you have limited space (1-2 pages) on your resume, you want to include skills that are verifiable and proven.  

For example, a possible employer can verify your job title, dates of employment, and sales growth or customer service satisfaction ratings.  It is much more difficult to verify your reliability.  Leave personal values off of your CV.  Instead, have others speak of them through letters of recommendation and testimonials.

Tip #3: When making a resume that provides results, make your content clear and easy to understand.  Depending on your experience and employment history, you may find yourself highlighting certifications, training and other information.  Be careful not to use abbreviations and industry jargon.  Many human resource professionals are not up to speed with industry jargons and you want to eliminate the risk of generating questions about your candidacy.  

Formulate your content in a way that takes the guesswork out of your certifications, training and skills for maximum effectiveness. 

Making a resume needs thought and purpose.  After you draft it, have somebody else proof it to provide you with their opinion.  Identify what needs clarification and what may not read well.  Make sure it is well suited to the functions listed in the job description.

Top employment coach Sean Mccaffrey Talks about 

Making a Resume

Why Resume Cover Letters are Important in Job Hunting

A resume cover letter can help you secure a one on one meeting with a client that might be possibly your future employer. This is an effective way to optimize your job search. You may lose some employment opportunity if you refuse to use this.

What kind of details should be written in resume cover letters? That's a good thing to ask. Since you would want to project your expertise in the position you desire, then you want to include your past experience and any award that you might have before, that recognized your expertise in the job you were assigned to.

You should be able to indicate in your resume cover letter your employment history specifying the connection to the vacancy you are applying for. If you are applying for multiple positions, then each resume cover letter should be customized to match each job description you are vying for.

Your resume cover letter should tell the employer how qualified you are for the job. If you are aiming for a job vacancy that requires a managerial experience with a long history of supervising people, you can indicate how long you have been with your previous company that required you a similar job as well as the tasks you were given for that job.

Your resume cover letter should be able to signify how effective you are if you would be given those tasks again. It is just so simple to tell anybody that you have experience on this and that. After all, words are stronger than anything else. But if you want to show proof that you really have that experience you have been talking about, then resume cover letters should be able to aid you with that.

Resume cover letters should be concise which means that you should only use one page for each of them however two pages would still be within the range of acceptability. Resume cover letters should only be made up of three paragraphs that clearly state everything you want to say in a business-like manner.

There are three significant parts that should be included in resume cover letters:

1. The first paragraph is where you introduce yourself. After presenting some information about you, explain your motives on why you want the job. On this part, you have to capture your audience's attention for them to keep reading. Tell them how much you would be of an asset if they hire you.

2. The second paragraph should include the main focus of your resume cover letter. You have to be able to impress further the employer by stating your skills, capabilities and other essential things that you can offer for the job.

3. The third and last paragraph should be able to give a conclusion of the main content. Tell the employer again your desire to be hired by them and do not forget to thank them for spending time studying your credentials. Tell them that you would like to get a feedback from them about your application.

Resume cover letters should be able to get the attention of the employer right away. It should project confidence from you but it also needs to be respectful and impressive. This is your opportunity to demonstrate to them that you are best suited for the job so you should grab it.

Top employment coach talks about resume cover letters

Who Says Preparing for a Job Interview is Essential?

What exactly does an employer demand from you during an interview? Well, they just want to have a conversation with you. They just want to check what your credentials are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Before, it was just a one-on-one meeting, but now it has been getting more common that one gets to be interviewed by a panel. You have to expend time and effort in preparing for a job interview so that you will be properly armed when you get into the war zone, which is the grilling session of course.

You may feel butterflies in your stomach before an interview but that is just normal. To boost your self-esteem and confidence, let me just remind you that the employer chose to have an interview with you because they have already felt that you might be the right person for the job.

Preparing for the job interview diligently can take you a step further in the employment process. Perhaps you still feel uneasy before your meeting with your employer so here are a few reminders in preparing for the job interview.

Now when you get a call from the employer giving you a schedule for the interview, try to ask them some important questions. What is the name of the person who will interview you? When and where is the interview going to be held? Do you have anything to fill out before the interview starts? What should you wear for the interview? Should you bring any other material that you would need during the interview?

Once the call is done, it is now time to get groomed for the interview proper. If you have seen sportsmen getting ready for their game, then that is exactly what you should do. Practice with questions you think the interviewer would ask you. Think of a quick response to the questions you think would be asked of you. Think of where the interviewer would lead you to during the conversation.

Also think of possible questions you might ask your interviewer. In preparing for a job interview, make sure that you have answers ready for difficult questions like your previous job, what you did when you did not have any job and your future plans.

It pays well to know the answers to these difficult questions. One of the relevant tips for job interviews that are oftentimes overlooked is the questions you want to ask your interviewer. Be straightforward in asking more information about the company. Give the interviewer a great impression of you with the questions you will be throwing. To do this, make sure that you have thoroughly read the job description for the position you are applying for.

It is also imperative that you access the website of the employer. Recruiters do not expect you to be so confident during the interview. But if you have been preparing for a job interview, then you will be confident which will give you an advantage over other applicants.