Interview Questions (2 of 8)

First of all....Happy Friday!

Ok, and now for the topic:

Interview Questions (2 of 8)

Again, to make this more fun and to get to know each other better pick a few questions below and answer in the comments!

26. How do you work under pressure?

27. What would be the ideal job for you?

28. What interests you most about this position?

29. What do you know about our company?

30. What are the two or three most important things to you in your job?

31. Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why?

32. What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?

33. Do you have a geographical preference? Why? 34. Will you relocate?

34. Will you travel?

35. Are you willing to work overtime?

36. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?

37. What have you learned from your mistakes?

38. What can you do for us that someone else can't?

39. Please give your definition of the position for which you are being interviewed.

40. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

41. How long would you stay with us?

42. Your resume suggests that you may be overqualified for this position. What do you think?

43. What is your management style?

44. Do you feel that you have top management potential?

45. What do you look for when you hire people?

46. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons and how did you handle the situation?

47. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager?

48. What important trends do you see in our industry?

49. What have been your five most significant accomplishments in your current/last position?

50. Did you think about leaving your present position before? If so, what do you think held you there?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (1 of 8)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (1 of 8)

OK, let's have a bit more fun with this. Pick a few interview questions to answer over the next few days and let's get to know each other better!

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why did you leave your position?
3. What excites you in your current job?
4. What are your career goals?
5. Where would you like to be in five years?
6. What are your greatest strengths?
7. What are your greatest weaknesses?
8. Why do you wish to work for this firm?
9. Where else are you seeking employment?
10. Why should we hire you?
11. What are your long-range and short-range goals?
12. When and why did you establish these goals?
13. How are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
14. What motivates you?
15. How would you describe yourself?
16. How would a friend describe you?
17. How would a supervisor describe you?
18. How would a co-worker describe you?
19. How do you determine or evaluate success?
20. What do you think it takes to be successful in our company?
21. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
22. What qualities should a successful manager possess?
23. Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and employees working for them.
24. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
25. In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

I will start!

3. What excites you in your current job?
I love helping people! If I do my job correctly everyone is better off! I get to see people at their best! I can make a difference in a company and an individual and help make things better. I love that!

19. How do you determine or evaluate success?
I think success is knowing what you want and going after it! It does not have to be a high profile job or a lot of money. It can be raising positive kids or enjoying what you do every day. I do think we have to set goals and continue to grow to be successful people, but success is very different from one person to another!

22. What qualities should a successful manager possess?
I think a manager is a team captain. They should be approachable and have a good understanding of the skills needed by their team. They should be someone that can bring out the best in people and encourage their team to achieve goals both individually and as a team. I think a manager gains the respect of the group by being able and willing to help out when needed and represent their team when dealing with upper management.

24. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
Working my way through college was a great accomplishment of my youth. Starting my own profitable company was a dream come true. Marrying a wonderful Godly man and having two beautiful children has topped the list!

25. In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
I love a fast- paced, challenging and ever changing environment. I get bored easily and need many new challenges. I also thrive on working with people and helping others.

TIPS FOR INTERVIEWING

TIPS FOR INTERVIEWING

• You have one opportunity to make a good first impression.




• Research the company and the position.




• Get a good night's sleep.




• Dress for success.




• Be early for your appointment.




• Bring a copy of your resume and information for application details.




• Do not bring anyone with you.




• Remember the four P's which are Positive, Prompt, Professional and Polite.




• The three A's employers look for are Attitude = 70%, Appearance = 20% and Ability = 10%.




• Remember the two S's which are Smile and Self-confidence.




• Keep eye contact during interview.




• Show enthusiasm and excitement.




• Find a common link to break the ice.




• Answer all questions in a positive manner.




• Indicate your flexibility and eagerness.




• Do not argue with the interviewer.




• Never bring up personality conflicts or discuss confidences of your previous employer.




• Stress your qualifications, stability, reliability and good attendance.




• Use short, vivid, descriptive words.




• Show confidence.




• Be honest about what you can do for the company.




• Know your weak points and be objective and demonstrate that you are capable of a realistic appraisal.




• Follow up with how you are improving or compensating for your weak points.




• Stay on track.




• Ask questions to clarify if you don't understand.




• Spend time listening as well as talking.




• Do not bring up salary or benefits.




• Do not chew gum or smoke and avoid carbonated beverages.




• Have a pencil and paper handy.




• Know when the interview is over.




• If it's a match ask for the job.




• Send a short thank you note.




• Follow up with the appropriate calls and inquiries discussed in the interview.




• Prepare for your next interview.

QUICK THINKING

Here are some ideas to help you "think on your feet" in an interview:

1. Attitude is everything.

2. Pause to think. Take a deep breath and consider what you want to say.

3. Consider your audience and keep in mind what they really want to know.

4. Organize your thoughts. In most cases, you should begin with the most important point and then give information that backs up your point.

5. A step-by-step description is helpful if you are explaining how to do something.

6. Think quickly. Remember these basic points:

• Be brief.



• Say what you mean. Avoid hedging or being defensive.



• Watch your audience. They will tell you if you are getting through.



• If you don't know, say so.If you lose your train of thought, ask a question.
  

INTERVIEWING

INTERVIEWING

You made it! The company liked your background and now you have the opportunity to tell them more. Are you ready for that first meeting? This information should help you to sell yourself to a prospective employer and find out enough about them to know if you are sold on working for them.

Selling yourself is what the interview is about. This can be difficult if you are not normally in a sales position. Think about what makes a good sales person. They know their clients past, present and future. They know their product and how it can be of use to their clients. They are confident and honest and can find the benefits of every situation. They have a positive attitude and their clients enjoy meeting with them.

The first thing you must do is make sure you have a positive attitude. If you do not, make a list of your strengths and focus on what you have to offer. You may want to invest in motivational tapes and literature by Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins, Les Brown, Peter Lowe, and others you can find in the business section of book stores and the library. You must have self confidence and a positive mental attitude!

The next step is information gathering. Find out as much as possible about the company. See if you can get last years annual report and if Human Resources or Marketing has any company information packets. Look them up on the internet and in the library. The more you know about the company the better prepared you will be to ask and answer questions.



Be professional in dress and manner. Always be polite to everyone you meet at the company. It can cost you the job if you are not respectful of the people you meet, even if they are not interviewing you. Always dress neat, conservative and more professional than you normally would working at the company. It is better to be overdressed than too casual. Navy or black suits are always the best choice.

Arrive at the company ten to fifteen minutes early for your interview (earlier if you will need to fill out an application). You may want to bring your information you gathered to review while waiting for your interview. Use the time you are waiting to get more information about the company. Notice the people passing through the lobby. How are they dressed? Are they enjoying their job? What type of person works for the company? If possible talk to the receptionist and find out information about the company. How long have they been there? What do they like about the company? Do they have any pointers on interviewing with the people who you are meeting?

Have a firm handshake (but not rough) and smile and make eye contact when being introduced. Notice your surroundings and comment if appropriate to relax the interviewer. Be prepared for questions in the interview. Some sample questions will be on the following pages. Make sure you are comfortable with them. You may want to practice with a friend. Be direct with your answers and tie information to the question by using examples of how you applied your answer to specific situations. Do not ramble or talk too much, but do communicate your answers completely. Make sure you remember to tell the employer how you would benefit their organization. At the end of the interview make sure you find out the next step and ask for the job.



Follow up all meetings with a thank you note. This will allow you to emphasize information in the interview and to re-state positive reasons why you believe the position fits you and what you could bring to the company. Again, say you look forward to the next step and would like to work for the company.



Leave the company with an image of you that is positive, enthusiastic, focused, polished and convinced. You must be outstanding enough to be memorable.

Resume Writing

As some of you may know, I am a professional in the field of recruiting. Two of my areas of expertise where I have had a demand from friends and business associates are in the area of resume writing and interviewing. I would like to spend some time on my blog helping others with this information. Please pass this information along to anyone you may know that is seeking to either become employed or further their career. I hope this helps you! I copied it from my website http://www.placementteam.com/. Next post will be about interviewing.

RESUME WRITING



UNLOCKING THE RIGHT DOOR


Your resume is the key to opening the doors to career opportunities. Many people get frustrated when they are sending out resumes because they do not get interviews for the positions they desire. Most likely, if the door is not opening, your key does not fit. Your resume should be a brief summary of your abilities, education, experience and skills which are specifically selected to highlight your qualifications for the position you desire.

There are many formats you can choose to highlight your qualifications. The main sections to a resume are typically the name, address, phone number, objective, summary or profile, experience or work history, skills and attributes, education, certifications and training, additional information and references.

Obviously it is extremely important that a prospective employer know who you are and how to reach you. Make sure you have a current name, address and phone number on your resume. If at all possible, include a work number since most employers will be calling during regular business hours. If you are applying for work in another city, try to find a local address and phone number where you can retrieve messages. Local candidates are typically selected first for interviews. Make sure you respond quickly to any calls regarding your resume.

An objective needs to be present on a resume. It may not be necessary to have an objective section, but the objective should at least be implied by the information included in the resume. If you are starting a new career or changing directions, an objective statement would be a good idea to communicate your desired goal.

The summary or profile should outline what you have to offer a prospective employer. This area is extremely helpful for professionals with extensive experience in well-defined areas. It needs to be direct and brief. A prospective employer should be able to glance at your summary and determine if you are qualified for their positions. Remember to use the buzz words that employers are seeking. Lists of skills and attributes are included below.

The experience or work history section should include all significant work experience in reverse chronological order. As a general rule, you should include only the last ten years of experience in this section. What is important to the employer is your skills and what you can do on the job. Do not go into details that do not apply to your objective. You should include the title of your position, name of organization, location of work and dates. You should describe your applicable work responsibilities with an emphasis on achievements using action words to communicate your skills. Stick to the basics and keep it brief. You are trying to get in the door where you can go into more details in person.

You may want a section that goes into your skills and attributes. This is a great section if you are light on experience. You may also want this section in order to highlight computer knowledge or accentuate skills and abilities that were not included in your work experience. These may be skills obtained outside the work place that are applicable to the position desired.

Education, certifications and training is an important section. Most positions include education as a requirement. The more experience you have the further down the resume the education should go. If you do not have a degree in the area where you desire a position, include as much information as possible about relevant course work. You may also want to include education or certifications in progress if they apply to your objective. If you attended several institutions before obtaining your degree, you may only want to list the institution where the degree was earned.

If you do decide to include additional information, make sure the information it is relevant. For example, if you have a hobby that relates to your career or are a member of a professional organization in your field, then you may want to include this information.

References should be in order when in a job search mode. You should have a typed sheet of professional references to take with you to an interview. If you are in need of resume 'filler' you can type "References furnished on request." This is not necessary to include if space is not available.

You want your resume to catch the employers attention and leave them asking for more. That is what opens doors.




SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES



BUZZ WORD LIST

Traits Sought By Employers

Self-knowledge
Interpersonal Skills
Intelligence
Ability to communicate
Flexibility
Teaching/Training
Negotiating
Dependable
Integrity
Enthusiastic
Direction
Managing
Interviewing
Writing
Ability to handle pressure
High energy level
Goal achievement
Vocation skills
Imagination
Speaking
Honest
Motivated
Judgment
Prompt
Compassionate
People oriented
Admirable
Self-directed
Hard Working
Competitiveness
Open Mind
Loyal
Ethical
Interested
Positive
Competent
Sincere
Creative
Humor
Fair
Willingness to accept responsibility
Initiative
Ability to handle conflict
Leadership

Action Words
achieved cultivated insured recruited acquired demonstrated interpreted reorganized adapted designed interviewed reported addressed developed launched researched administered devised maintained resolved analyzed discovered managed reviewed anticipated doubled marketed selected assembled drafted minimized separated assisted edited motivated set up audited eliminated negotiated simplified budgeted enforced obtained solved calculated established operated surveyed centralized evaluated organized staffed changed expanded originated supervised collaborated forecasted oversaw taught composed formed performed tested condensed founded planned trained conducted generated prevented utilized constructed guided produced contracted hired promoted converted implemented provided coordinated improved publicized created informed published

PROOFREADING CHECKLIST

Spelling Mistakes
To avoid spelling mistakes:
___Do not use words with which you are not familiar.
___Use a dictionary as you write.
___Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
___Carefully read every word in your resume. If you write "from" instead of "form," spell check will be unable to detect the mistake.
___Have a friend or two proofread your resume.

Punctuation Mistakes
Things to look for:
___Periods at the end of all full sentences.
___Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
___Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.
___Avoid using exclamation points.

Grammatical Mistakes
Grammar hang-ups to watch for:
___Do not switch tenses within your resume. The duties you currently perform should be in present tense, but ones you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense.
___Capitalize all proper nouns.
___When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine, but use numerals for all numbers above 10.
___If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral.
___Make sure your date formats are consistent.

Choose Your Words Carefully
Phrase yourself well:
___Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words: accept (to receive), except (to exclude), all right (correct), alright (this is not a word), affect (to bring about change), effect (result), personal (private), personnel (staff members), role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
___Use action words.

Other Potential Mistakes
Don't forget to check:
___Dates of all prior employment.
___Your address and phone number.
___Abbreviation of state names. All state abbreviations are two letters--no periods.

Design Is Important

Keep the following tips in mind:
___Don't overcrowd your resume; Allow for plenty of white space.
___Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
___Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum--two at the most.
___Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.
___Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag."
___Do not over use capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
___Make sure your name, address, and phone number appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
___Print your resume on white or cream plain paper using a good quality printer. Second and third-generation photocopies are a no-no.
___Print on one side of the paper only.

What To Omit
Do not put any of the following on your resume:
___Salary history. (If requested do include in cover letter. This will allow you more room to explain what is important if you are flexible downwards or feel you deserve a significant raise.)
___Sex, age, race, marital status, or other similar personal information.