33 Questions Employers Ask In An Interview

33 Questions Employers Ask In An Interview

The current economic climate and changing job market has started to alter the types of questions employers ask in an interview.

With hundreds of Internet pages dedicated to types of interview questions and all listing the same “general” type questions (what are your strengths, where do you see yourself in 10 years, etc.), employers are now steering away from these types of questions and introducing a new set of questions that test your creativity and flair.

Below is a list of questions that you may not have thought about previously. Think about how you would answer these questions in a job interview:

1. If you had the option, would you change your college career?
2. How do you go about deciding what to do first when given a project?
3. What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?
4. Provide an example of how you are a risk taker.
5. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
6. Why do you want to work for us and not for our competitor?
7. What did you think of your previous manager/supervisor?
8. What did you do in your last job to increase value?
9. What are some of the things that bother you?
10. Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job.
11. Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated?
12. What management style gets the best results out of you?
13. How can our company offer you what your previous company could not offer?
14. How long do you think it would take before you were making a significant contribution to our business?
15. How ambitious are you? Would you compete for my job?
16. What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
17. Why did you choose a career in… ?
18. What do you think is the most important dilemma facing our business today?
19. How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for? What are the differences?
20. Why did you decide to join your previous company? Did the job live up to your expectations? Why are you leaving now?
21. Explain the organizational structure and hierarchy in your last company and how you fitted into it. Did this suit you?
22. Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?
23. What interests you about our company, product or service?
24. You have not done this sort of job before. How will you cope/succeed?
25. Do you consider yourself successful in your career to date?
26. What was your greatest success in your professional career? How did you achieve it?
27. What has been your biggest failure in your professional career?
28. Did you feel you advanced and progressed in your last job?
29. How do you handle criticism?
30. What would you like to avoid in your next job?
31. How did you get on with your previous manager, supervisor, co-workers and subordinates?
32. What will your references say about you?
33. Fantasy question… what would you do if you won the lottery? Would you come to work tomorrow?

The Most Important Part Of Job Search Strategies

The Most Important Part Of Job Search Strategies

1. Personality

If you aren’t a fit based on your personality, you’re not going to get hired. If you’re teachable, then you can grow into the role or a future position within that company. If you’re positive, then you can fight through the toughest problems. If you can lead people, you’ll always be in demand. Being organized can help for administrative roles, while being creative is great for big-picture thinking.

Unlike a selfish, closed-minded person, you can find a way to show how any personality trait can be a fit given the right opportunity. Brainstorm the traits you have and link them to the responsibilities they match before you go to the interview so they flow more freely when you’re there. (You get bonus points for knowing them whenever you’re speaking to someone who could help you in your job search.)

2. Aptitude

In an interview (and maybe beforehand if they do their homework), companies will ask you a lot of behavioral questions. If you have the natural skills and abilities to do the work they need done, you will be able to answer these questions well. Show that you’re bright, inquisitive and open-minded in your responses and you’ll be a large step closer to getting the job.

If you can tell a story about the most challenging problem you solved or toughest customer you dealt with, you have a good start. (If you can mention a different tale for each type of problem you have dealt with, then you’ll be even better off.)

3. Experience

Do you have enough experience to do the job well? If you’ve been in one role at one company for a while and they’re looking for someone with the same job title, you should be a good candidate. That isn’t the only way you can prove you have enough experience though. Show the similarities in responsibilities between your last job and the one they’re trying to fill to hammer home your candidacy.

(If you can show that you’ve made it in an environment like theirs, you have another card you can play. For instance, if you’ve worked on a team of five people where each person has one area of expertise and a general knowledge of everything else, and this company has the same setup, then regardless of exactly what you did, they know you can function properly in that setting.)

Employers put more emphasis on the first two categories on this list for a good reason: if you don’t have the most experience, you can use your personality and aptitude to keep yourself in the best position to succeed. There’s no perfect substitute for a lack of experience, but mixing the right attitude and intelligence level can get you pretty close. If you have demonstrated all three of these qualifications, then you’re a great candidate for the job.

4 Things You Can Do To Be Happier At Work Today

4 Things You Can Do To Be Happier At Work Today

No matter what you do, making sure your happiness and well-being are intact are major priorities. If you’re stuck in a position, work long hours, or hate your job, this can be a difficult thing to maintain.

Here are four ways you can be happier at work today:

1. Eat Your Veggies

Constantly feeling down in the dumps? Maybe you need to eat more colorful foods! Researchers found that eating fruits and vegetables every day can actually increase happiness and overall well-being. For optimal results, eat seven servings of fruits and veggies each day.

2. Have Goals

How ambitious are you? Turns out, people who set high goals for themselves are happier than those with lower expectations. Make a list of things you want to accomplish – both short term and long term goals. It’s always good to have something to work toward!

3. Don’t Make Money Your First Priority

You know that saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” Well, it’s true. According to U.S. News and World Report, seeking more money can actually make you less happy. Instead of focusing completely on finances, make sure you take the time to celebrate your own personal growth – What you’ve learned, who you’ve connected with, and how you’ve improved yourself.

4. Smile

You were late for work, got chewed out by the boss, and spilled coffee on your favorite white blouse. The last thing you want to do today is smile. However, studies show forcing a smile can actually make you genuinely happy. Not only that, but putting on a fake smile can help decrease stress. So, what’s not to smile about?

How To Prepare For A Job Interview

How To Prepare For A Job Interview

How To Prepare For A Job Interview

However, there are some simple steps you can take to better prepare for a job interview.

1. Do Your Homework

Most companies have an online presence, so it should be relatively easy for you to learn about the company. You should also familiarize yourself with the position for which you are interviewing. If possible, print out a copy of the position description and take it with you to the interview. Be sure to bring a few extra copies of your resume in case an interviewer needs a hard copy during the interview.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

Interviewing is a learned skill and the best candidates practice, practice and practice some more to prepare for a job interview.

For college candidates, there may be opportunities through career services to participate in mock interviews. A mock interview is usually conducted by an employer, a career services professional or a professor. Essentially, you will be interviewing for a pretend job. Mock interviews are helpful because they can relieve you of nervousness and the interviewers usually are able to provide some feedback on your interview skills.

For more seasoned candidates, opportunities to prepare for a job interview may also exist with local workforce services offices and career coaches. Another option is to ask a friend or family member to “role play” an interview with you. If you have access to a webcam or video camera, try recording your “performance” and reviewing the areas where you need improvement.

3. Know The Interview Lingo

Many companies are utilizing behavioral interview techniques. Behavioral interviewing requires the job candidate to provide a situation and then describe the task that comprised the situation, the actions that were taken and the result or outcome.

Questions may be posed to you in a format of “tell me about a time when…” or “give me an example of a time when…” This allows you to share previous work (paid or volunteer) or classroom experiences and the interviewer is able to ascertain what you learned from the experience. Many companies prefer to use this interviewing technique because it provides information on a candidate that isn’t likely to be included on a resume.

4. Sell Yourself And Build The Business Case

Candidates should think about the business case of why they should be hired. The interviewer needs to have a compelling reason to extend an offer to a candidate. Job candidates should think about their knowledge, skills and abilities and how these would benefit the organization that is hiring.

8 Straightforward Tips For Moving Up The Corporate Ladder

8 Straightforward Tips For Moving Up The Corporate Ladder

Positive work behaviors is by far one of the most straightforward tips I can give you when it comes to moving up the corporate ladder. Whenever people speak about moving up the corporate ladder, do you feel like it almost always has a cunning undertone?

For career newbies especially, my recommendation is to always focus on positive work behaviors you can start practicing now. When the time comes, moving up the corporate ladder will seem effortless. This is because you do what is right and focus on the positive. Bosses will notice and when the right time comes, the promotion you want is just a natural next step.

8 Tips For Moving Up The Corporate Ladder

So, what are some straightforward positive work behaviors for moving up the corporate ladder? Here are some tips:

1. Ideas

Regardless of how junior you are in an organization, you can have ideas that positively affect the company. Do not be contented with just doing your own work. Do not be shy or embarrassed about sharing them either. What’s the worst that can happen? They laugh at it and reject the idea? Well, then you turn it into something positive. Ask why can’t it work, and you would have learned something new. That information can be used to come out with better ideas.

2. Impact

Be smart enough to choose some projects in a year that are considered a challenge for your level of experience. Be hardworking enough to see it through. But have the wisdom to cross check with your bosses to make sure it is a challenge and not impossible for your experience. That way you can create an impact in the company. This positive work behavior ensures you aren’t just the average worker clocking in and clocking out without making an impression.

3. Impeccable

This positive work behavior is to be flawless in your language and dressing. Know you are judged at all times. First impression or not, people judge you on how you talk and what you wear. You are lucky if you work in a company with dress codes, then just dress up or down accordingly. Being impeccable when it comes to dressing doesn’t mean expensive clothes. It simply means to dress well. Being impeccable with your language doesn’t mean using bombastic words. Quite simply, it means abstaining from vulgarity.

4. Independent

Learn to work independently. In the age of empowerment, most employees are given the freedom to fail. Even if this culture is not practiced in your company, learn to work with minimal supervision. When you can work independently, it allows your boss to concentrate on other things. But remember to always update your boss on what and how you are doing. Working independently as part of positive work behaviors will help you in moving up the corporate ladder.

5. Ignite

Be an ignition of your company. Take the initiative to start something. It does not always have to be work oriented. It can be something fun or informal. For example, if you know some of your colleagues enjoy exploring different restaurants, why not start a group that does it after work Fridays? When you are a positive ignition, you can move up the corporate ladder quickly.

6. Interest

Show interest in your company’s initiatives. Be an interested party in things involving your department. Some career newbies I know come across as being cynical with initiatives being carried out by the company. As part of positive work behaviors, show interest in these initiatives. Give it a chance and support them. Do not send signals your bosses see you as being merely contented as being a passenger of the company. That doesn’t help in your plan of moving up the corporate ladder.

7. Intangible

Do not always focus on the tangible benefits when working. There are a lot of values in doing things that at the moment does not seem to benefit you. For example, helping a colleague on a project. Volunteering to cover for someone who’s sick. Taking on an extra project when your boss seems inundated with work. Positive work behaviors like these may not have immediate tangible benefits but in the long run, helps you in moving up the corporate ladder.

8. Integrity

This positive work behavior means to have a sound moral character. Practiced at its most basic level for a career newbies, it can be as simple as not talking bad about a colleague and gossiping. Do not be drawn into wrong doings like cutting corners. Be honest in your dealings with colleagues, clients, business partners and suppliers.

These positive work behaviors are straightforward and simple to practice. You need not have an evil plan when thinking about moving up the corporate ladder. Cliché as it maybe, the cunning plans makes you fall off the corporate ladder faster than you can climb it.

10 steps to becoming an outstanding employee!

From the employer’s perspective what is most important is to find the right person with the right skills to fill the position.  But that’s not all, they are also looking for someone committed to the role, someone who will add value to the company, a self-motivator, team player, hard worker, someone flexible, someone that can represent the company well, someone that ‘goes the extra mile’, someone really committed to the role, someone with the right education, someone with a number of years of experience in the same industry and ideally in the same type of role etc. etc. etc.  I could probably go on for another while but does this sound familiar? It’s a bit overwhelming isn’t it?

So when you eventually get that ideal role, what next?  Nowadays, securing the role is not enough. You also have to prove that you are worth holding on to. So how do you maintain that perfect position?  How do you become the employee that all employers desire and want to hold on to?  It’s simple you need to Kick-Ass.

I believe that at this stage everyone has either heard of or has seen the film ‘Kick-Ass’ or recently released ‘Kick-Ass 2’.  It’s a story of a normal guy who becomes a self-made super hero. A guy who decides to put on a costume and fight crime, after witnessing a few gangsters attacking someone on the street.  He scares the gangsters off and becomes a local hero. No special powers required! Just his initiative, his belief in what’s right, no fear and a ‘go for it’ attitude!

Bear with me; I’m coming back to the work environment now. What I’m trying to say is that in the work environment, the same rules apply. You too can become a ‘Kick-Ass employee’ or an outstanding employee, if that’s what you want to call it. You just need some initiative and the will to do it.

1.       Stand out! But only for the right reasons!

Just like Kick-Ass stood out by fighting for what he believed was right, you can also stand out at work by taking on extra responsibility.  Remember however, that any extra activity should be job related and contribute to your own job. Make sure that your regular tasks are finished or under control before you decide to take on any extra responsibilities. So get your priorities right!

2.       Be on time!

You’re probably thinking this is so obvious, but it’s surprisingly not to everyone.  Imagine Kick-Ass being late trying to save someone in need.  Imagine any of the superheroes being late when saving someone. Let’s just say that usually doesn’t end well… exploding bombs, crashing cars/buses/planes… overall chaos! Ok, I know I’m being dramatic but you know what I’m trying to say.  Being on time is really important, as it shows you are taking your job seriously.  Always arrive a few minutes early, so you are ‘ready for action’ on time.

3.       Dress to impress!

You don’t need a ‘Kick-Ass’ costume to stand out at work. No one said not to show your personal style but at the same time, keep it simple and classy. Make sure that you always look sharp, clean and that you comply with the company’s dress code. The way you dress will not only look good in the front of management but will also make you feel good,  more professional and ready to ‘Kick-Ass’ every day.

4.       Learn new skills!

If given the opportunity, at work or outside work, always try to learn something new that will contribute to your work performance.  That way you will be able to truly add value to the company.  At the same time you will up skill, you will feel more confident about yourself and might be eventually seen as an expert in your field.  Everyone wins!

5.       “Feel the fear and do it anyway”

It’s a great motivational book by Susan Jeffers, that I highly recommend reading.  Without going into too much detail, the main point of the book is that the only way to get rid of the fear is by simply doing it.  We all fear something at work. There is always a part of our job that we don’t like to do. What Susan is trying to say throughout the book is that unless we actually do the thing that we fear, we will never get rid of that fear. Again, it’s just like Kick-Ass – I’m sure that he feared at first what might happen when he confronted criminals, but he did it anyway and became a local super hero.

6.       Treat others the way you would like to be treated!

Make sure that you always treat your colleagues and management with respect as one day you might need their help and support.  It is important to get on with your team and work colleagues, you are not always going to agree with everyone but at least try to understand their point of view. Put yourself in their shoes before you judge and arrive at a conclusion. Help your colleagues if asked for it. And sometimes, just simply listen to what they are trying to say. Maybe you will be able to help!

7.       Have a positive attitude!

I’m sure you have an ‘off day’ from time to time, we all have them.  We all have them for different reasons.  No one is expecting you to be a 100% all of the time.  But even if you have an off day and your motivation is running at an all time low, try to stay positive. Being negative will first of all look bad in front of your management. And second of all, it will make you feel even more depressed. If you maintain a positive attitude, your work will show it at the end of the day. I say: ‘Positive attitude – Positive results at work’.

8.       Set yourself a goal and try to reach it!

It’s a really good way to stay focused at work. But not only at work: school, gym, your own projects and life in general. I don’t mean to sound so deep; I just believe that having a set goal or focus really works. If you can picture yourself at ‘the finish line’, you will subconsciously start making the necessary steps to get there.

9.       Don’t bring work home!

As much as you can, try to switch off your ‘work mode’ after work. There is no point in bringing unnecessary stress home. You will only be more tired the next day.  Kick-Ass too has his normal life, friends etc. He doesn’t wear his superhero costume to the cinema or shopping.  (Well… unless it is Halloween J) So try to relax after work and I guarantee you that the next day you will feel fresh and ready to start again.

10.   Be yourself!

This is the most important part. Remember no matter what don’t try to be someone else. I’m not trying to contradict everything I just said. Just try to better yourself, become a Kick-Ass employee but don’t change who you are. Be honest with yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to admit that you have made a mistake or don’t know how to complete a certain task. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And don’t pretend that you know it all. Don’t pretend that you are someone that you are not. After all, we are just humans, not superheroes!

How To Work Your Bad Boss

According to dictionary.com, “to work” something or someone is to put them into effective operation, to operate that thing or person for productive purposes. That is precisely what I mean by “work your boss.” I don’t mean transform your Bad Boss into a better boss. I literally mean: put your Bad Boss into effective operation to get you whatever it is that you want in your job or career. How? By learning your boss’s secret desire and secret fear.

Know Your Bad Boss’s Secret Desire And Secret Fear

Every boss has a secret desire – something he or she really wants but won’t reveal, because underneath that secret desire is a secret fear or insecurity that your Bad Boss can’t admit or doesn’t even understand. Your boss’s blind spot is your opportunity.

When you satisfy your Bad Boss’s innermost needs, you become important to your boss. Now, you have the power to get what you want. That’s working your Bad Boss.

Face It: Your Bad Boss Doesn’t Care About You

The truth is, most bosses are so worried about their own job security that they’re not spending a lot of time fretting about you or your career goals. And Bad Bosses really don’t care about you. Bad Bosses only care about themselves.

That’s why “managing up” is completely ineffective with a Bad Boss. You have a better chance of convincing people to ditch their cellphones than you do of getting a Bad Boss to have a meaningful chat about how to work more productively together.

However, working your Bad Boss by learning the secrets to his or her behavior, and putting that knowledge to use for the productive purpose of getting what you want is absolutely doable.

What’s Holding You Back At Work?

You have no doubt noticed that there are people out there who aren’t as talented or smart as you are, but they’re getting what they want. They’ve already figured out how to work their Boss. They have what you don’t have, style. They have the know-how to work their Boss’s secret fears and desires. That’s how they get what they want. They’re getting that raise, that promotion, that whatever you want too but somehow is always just out of your grasp. Don’t despair.

When you understand why people behave the way they do, you are in a much better position to get what you want, even from a Bad Boss. You hold the power. Once you know what motivates your Boss – not the obvious things like money, status, ego – but what lies underneath, all the secret fears and desires that make your Boss tick, you can use that knowledge to help you own your job instead of the job owning you.

4 Tricks For Getting Awesome Letters Of Recommendation

4 Tricks For Getting Awesome Letters Of Recommendation

Let’s face a painful truth: Most of us are totally ineffective when lining up our personal cheering sections during a job search. This can include anything from failing to inform or keep references up-to-date on your current status to asking for letters of recommendation in a panic due to a prospective employer’s request during an interview.

Planning ahead and being completely focused on what you want others to speak about regarding your skills, abilities, and expertise as well as character can be the “make or break” factor. So, go ahead.

Be proactive and think ahead of the curve.

Here are some no-fail tips on how to capture that awesome letter of recommendation, before you actually need it.

You’ll be glad you did!

1. Be Strategic On Who You Ask

Review your network and only ask the people you know are your absolute advocates for you, possess excellent industry profiles/reputations, are in elevated positions of authority, and can specifically speak from first-hand experience in working with you. This adds power and “oomph” to your credentials.

2. Identify Key Areas You Want Them To Address

If you spread out the angles you ask people to discuss in your letter, the prospective employer will have a more in-depth insight into who you are and what makes you tick. Think about asking one person to talk about your character, another who can talk about your subject matter knowledge, a separate person who can discuss your leadership, and another letter detailing your innovation. This comes across as the “WOW” factor on the other end. Trust me.

3. Coach Them

Keeping your cheering squad up to date on where you are in your job search also helps them feel involved in your personal success. As mentioned in #2, provide some coaching and unique insights into your target job. This actually helps the person writing the letter to make it a very focused asset to your application by connecting the proverbial dots.

4. When In Doubt, Offer To Write It For Them

I’ll let you in on a dirty little secret – this is a pretty common practice! People are completely swamped right now… and while the spirit maybe willing, they are otherwise tied up. This convenience is a handy tool in anyone’s job search bag of tricks.

In a recent online discussion with professional resume writers, it was agreed it would be acceptable for a job seeker to make this offer in order to get what they need from the reference. The job seeker can write specifically towards the job target, and then provide it to the person providing the reference who can either approve, edit, or veto the document.

Hopefully, by following these quick tricks, you’ll be able to have some top-notch, compelling letters of recommendation at the ready for just the moment when you need them!

Why Your Resume Should Be Ready Before You Need a Job

Why Your Resume Should Be Ready Before You Need a Job

Many people wait until they need a job (or a job opportunity is brought to their attention) before they get their resumes in order. But if you wait until you absolutely need your resume, then you may already be too late.

In reality, you never know when you’ll need a job, or when a job opportunity will present itself. If you’re given notice today, will you be ready to start your job search immediately? If a friend mentions an opening at your dream employer, will you be ready to submit your resume? If a legal recruiter calls, could you e-mail her your resume today?

If you’re not ready to move, rest assured your competition for these opportunities is ready, willing, and able.

While you spend the next week or two getting your resume together, someone else is submitting hers.

One of the most simplest and most important tactics you can implement in your job search and career development is to be ready. Invest the time to create a thorough long-form resume, as well as a short-form version. In the long-form resume, you’ll have every bit of information; it’s more like a CV.

The point of the long-form resume is to gather all information you might need in one place, so that you can use it as a basis for creating shorter, targeted resumes aimed at particular opportunities. You can also use the long-form resume to help refresh your memory before job interviews. After you’ve created the long-form resume, edit it down and revise it to create a targeted short form resume. Keep that general short form resume handy.

Keep your long-form and short-form resumes updated—calendar a tickler to check your resumes every quarter and to update them as necessary. While you’re at it, update your writing sample selection (without violating attorney-client privilege or other confidentiality concerns, of course) and double-check you’re on-target with your long-term career goals.

As you review your materials, consider your overall career development. Are there technical skills you need to improve on, experiences to gain that would increase employer interest, or other ways to advance your career? Is it time to finally write that article you’ve been putting off? Time to defend a deposition on your own?

Having your resume ready before you need a job means you’ll be able to act quickly when opportunities come your way.

5 Quick Tips For Better Listening Skills

5 Quick Tips For Better Listening Skills

In today’s rushed world, good listening skills can fall to the wayside. Everyone is concerned with only one thing: number one.

However, these bad listening habits that we develop can damage our intelligence, relationships, and reputation. Not to mention, it makes for bad conversation.

So, what are some easy ways to train your brain to be a better listener? Check out these easy tricks for better listening skills:

1. Be An Active Listener

“If we are conscious of listening actively, our conversation skills improve,” writes Susan RoAne in her book, How To Work A Room: Your Essential Guide To Savvy Socializing. “Working a room will be less work and more fun.”

Here are some easy ways to be a more active listener:

• Make eye contact
• Smile
• Occasionally, paraphrase what you’ve heard
• Ask relevant questions
• Take notes
• Be present and give the speaker your full attention

2. Reflect The Speaker’s Emotion

Emotions are very powerful, especially during conversation. If you’re not listening, you might not be getting the whole message behind what’s actually being said. This can make you appear insincere or cold, which can hurt the conversation and/or your relationship with the speaker.

Here’s a great example of the difference of physical listening versus emotional listening:

A: “Sorry I’m late. As I was leaving the house, my dog ran into the street and was hit by a car.”

B: (reflecting the content): “So your dog got hit by a car?”

A: “Right.”

B: “Is he dead?”

A: “Uh-huh.”

B: “So what did you do with the dog’s body?”

In this example, the listener is getting the information, but not the emotional message behind it.

“Reflection of feeling tells your partner not just that he’s been heard but that you have ‘plugged into’ his life and experienced it in some way, which is essential to his satisfaction,” says Dr. Phil McGraw in this article.

Here’s an example of how the listener can reflect the speaker’s emotion:

A: “Sorry I’m late. As I was leaving the house, my dog ran into the street and got hit by a car.”

B: (reflecting the feeling): “Oh, my gosh—you must feel terrible.”

A: “Well, I do. We’d had the dog for 12 years, and my kids really loved him.”

B: “I’m sure they must be so upset; I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

“Being able to reflect the feeling, not just the content, is essential to the success of your communication,” says McGraw.

3. Fight The Urge To Think Of Your Response

We all do it. How many times have you forgotten the names of the people you get introduced to? Chances are, it’s because you were so focused on saying your own name that you didn’t even pay attention to what the other person said.

Sometimes, we’re just more interested in what we have to say. When you’re talking with someone, do your best to focus on what he or she is saying instead of planning your reply. If you need to, pause for a second and absorb what was said. This will not only help your listening skills, but it will also help you determine the most appropriate answer or reply.

4. Become A ‘Whole Body’ Listener

In her book, The Fine Art Of Small Talk, Debra Fine encourages readers to listen with their ears, eyes, and hearts.

“Listening is more than just hearing,” Fine writes. “It’s a level of involvement that goes beyond reciting the contents of the conversation.”

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

As with any skill, learning to listen takes practice. If you’re aware of your poor listening habits, make a conscious effort to sincerely listen to others every day, using the tips above.

4 Ways To Make Your Resume A Perfect Match For A Job Opening

4 Ways To Make Your Resume A Perfect Match For A Job Opening

When a hiring manager reviews your resume you want them to say, “Wow! That person sounds like the perfect fit for the job!” And then, of course, they call you for the interview! So, how do you create a resume that communicates that you’re exactly what they’re looking for in a new employee?

Below are four tips for creating a perfect-match resume:

Customization Is Critical

Remember, you always want to tweak your resume when you apply for a job. No two positions are exactly alike, and each employer is going to have different standards and requirements that are very important to them. Key in on those requirements, and be sure to incorporate them into your resume.

You’ll know what these requirements are by reviewing the job advertisement and noting special keywords throughout; or, in most cases, the employer will state required skills or preferred qualifications. You’re a perfect match when you meet all of the required and preferred qualifications, which leads us to the next point.

Required And Preferred Skills Are Essential

When reviewing the description for a job opening, be careful to note exactly what the employer lists as required and preferred. This is critical information. You want to make sure your resume communicates very clearly that you possess all of the required skills. This means you’re capable of doing the job and performing the essential functions.

Preferred qualifications are the employer’s wish list of things they’d like to have in a new employee. They can live without them, but if you can prove you possess them, you just upped the ante for the other candidates being considered and are one step closer to positioning yourself as the ideal candidate.

Keywords Are A Must

Scan the opening for important keywords listed throughout. Chances are any recruiter or HR person is going to use these keywords when searching job boards for your resume. You want to make sure these keywords are listed throughout your resume or the applicant-tracking software the organization is using won’t pull your resume in the search results.

Don’t Forget About Branding

Branding your resume is important to your job search, but it is also vital to proving you’re the perfect fit for an opening. You need to think about what makes you unique as a candidate. What can you offer that others can’t? Show the employer you can offer them value and benefit that others cannot. Do this through a branding statement, branded career summary, and metrics-driven accomplishment statements.

Creating a resume that communicates you’re a perfect fit for an open position can be challenging, but following these simple tips can make the process easier and less painstaking.

How To Personalize Your LinkedIn URL

These days it’s not just the resume that’s reviewed for your credentials and experience. LinkedIn is now a critical part of your job search as the majority of employers will look for you there. Your LinkedIn profile is also an important tool and an important part of your job search strategy.

Your LinkedIn profile may be promoted on the signature of your email address, your website, your blog and business cards. It may also be added to your resume as an additional resource employers can go to in order to scope out your experience, knowledge, skills, and connections.

One of the most important things you can do is personalize your LinkedIn URL.

By default, when you set up your profile on LinkedIn, you are given a LinkedIn ID that may look like this:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/firstname-lastname/0/000/246

The URL above is a temporary LinkedIn ID. A temporary LinkedIn ID typically has /pub/ and numbers that follow it.

Personalize your LinkedIn ID to something that is more memorable. For instance: www.linkedin.com/in/dongoodmanjobexpert/

Changing your temporary LinkedIn ID to a personalized one is simple and takes only a few clicks of a button.

Here are the easy steps you need to take to personalize your LinkedIn URL:
(Note that LinkedIn keeps changing their interface so there may be differences between users).

1. Sign in to LinkedIn and select Edit Your Profile.
2. At the bottom of your profile box you should see your LinkedIn ID.
3. Click on Edit next to the temporary ID.
4. This should open a box to the right of the screen called Customize Your Public Profile. Under it, there is a box for Your public profile URL.
5. Select on Customize your public profile URL. Now, you can enter how you want your permanent LinkedIn ID to appear. It may be your name or some variant related to your profession or field of work.

You now have a private LinkedIn URL that can be used to further promote your experience, knowledge and skills for job opportunities.

If you have a common name, then try to add something that defines you. In my case there are a number of Don Goodmans so I use “DonGoodmanJobExpert.”

Keep in mind when creating your permanent LinkedIn ID to keep it to something that is timeless. You know using your name is a safe bet and you likely won’t have to make changes to it in the future. While you are allowed to change your URL at any time, LinkedIn will not redirect anyone clicking on an old URL you have created previously.

Creating a personalized LinkedIn URL allows you to enhance your personal brand. It is particularly helpful to use on your resume. Resumes have limitations on the type and depth of information you can offer, so when you can include your LinkedIn URL, employers have the opportunity to learn much more about you through recommendations received, skills and expertise endorsements and other information that’s available on your LinkedIn profile!

3 Most Important Things To Do In A Job Interview

3 Most Important Things To Do In A Job Interview

A job interview can be a nerve-racking experience, especially when you have been removed from the job market for an extended period of time. It is one thing to sell on paper with the resume and another thing to sell in person at the interview. Regardless of whether you have been out of a job for an extended period of time, are looking to change careers, or are still employed and seeking a better opportunity, the key to conducting a job interview successfully is a result of a number of factors. However, one of the more defining factors is the relationship you establish. People hire people they like. Even if one candidate is more qualified and experienced than another, without a good relationship there is minimal chance at securing the job. The same goes for referrals. When you are referred by an existing employee, your chances are much stronger than a candidate who applied simply as a result of finding the opportunity through a job board ad. So the question becomes how do you develop a strong enough relationship from a job interview to strengthen and lock in your chances at a job offer? 1. Use Appropriate Body Language What you don’t say matters just as much as what you do say. Your body language and facial expressions inform an employer how engaged you are in conversation and how interested you are in the opportunity. Smile, exhibit confidence, and listen carefully so you respond appropriately and know how to build on the conversation. 2. Seek More Information Asking questions expresses to an employer that you are engaged in the conversation. Try to ask questions to probe for additional information. Instead of simply addressing what’s asked of you, respond and follow up with a question of your own and turn the interview into a conversation. This expresses to the employer that you have an interest to learn more. 3. Demonstrate You Are Up For The Challenge There are challenges with every job. What is important to an employer is that you are up for the challenge and that you have the ability to succeed. Research information in advance of your interview by reviewing the company’s website and information in the news. You will have a better understanding of what challenges or changes the company has recently been through, and how it may impact the position you are interested in. Ask related questions during the interview to find out more. This informs an employer that you have come well-prepared for the interview. You can also take the opportunity to relay how you have experience with similar situations and how you dealt with them. The more confident and comfortable you are with yourself in the interview, the easier it will be for the employer to develop a strong rapport and relationship with you. This is not to say you sit back and relax as though you are sitting in your own living room. Instead, the point is to be open to conversation and for it to be developed with ease. Consider a candidate sitting stiff, head down, and who is brief in response to conversation and questions asked. It makes it difficult for him as well as the employer to try to establish good rapport and the relationship. Don’t let that be you!

What Makes An Interviewable Resume?

Many job seekers have the misconception that creating a great resume will help them score a job. But this is actually not the case. The great resume actually scores the interview—and if the interview is great, then you may score the job. In other words, if you want a company to call you in for an interview, you need to create a resume that encourages a hiring manager to do so. But why not take it one step further by not only writing a resume that prompts a callback but one that shapes the course of the interview? This type of resume is known as an interviewable resume. Understanding The Interviewable Resume The interviewable resume is unique in that it does more than make a hiring manager interested enough to want to learn more about you in an interview; it actually provides such intriguing information that it sculpts the interview questions. For instance, if you write in your resume that your responsibilities include filing documents, the interviewer may feel the need to come up with his or her own questions to learn whether you can develop your own filing system. But if you write in your resume that you “coordinated efforts with company president to innovate a company-wide standardized filing system,” the interviewer may want to know what steps you took to develop the system—and even how you were able to coordinate efforts with the company’s president to make it happen. See the difference? Creating Your Own Interviewable Resume So how can you develop a resume that effectively intrigues hiring managers?  Here are a few steps to consider: 1. Think In Terms Of Employer Needs Keep in mind that a resume is always about what you can do for the company, not what the company can do for you. So when you create the interviewable resume, your first step is to write examples of what you’ve done for previous companies based on what you know the prospective employer wants from the person who wins the job. 2. Deliver A Consistent Message A great way to get an employer to ask more about what you’ve written in your resume is to deliver a consistent message that tells the story of how you plan to transform the position based on your previous experience.  If you deliver this message in your resume, the employer will certainly want to learn more in an interview. 3. Make Use Of Action Words Also, as noted in the previous section, you want to make use of action words like “correlated” or “developed” to show you were not just handed responsibilities but actually initiated your own projects. This proves you’re a leader with great ideas to share in an interview. The more you present yourself as an active leader with innovate ideas, the more you’ll pique the interest of an employer. So as you write your resume, make sure the information you provide is so impressive that the interviewer can’t wait to learn more.

Worst Face-To-Face Networking Mistake

I was at a pretty large networking event recently where I witnessed the most painful attempt at face-to-face networking I’ve ever seen. It made me realize something about face-to-face networking advice I fear lots of people misinterpret. It’s not an exact science. There’s no step-by-step process. Face-to-face networking is dynamic. Watch the short video where I explained what happened and who I think does the best job of giving advice on face-to-face networking. (Hat tip to Chris Brogan.) I think the best tip I ever got was to remember networking is a means to an end. Don’t psych yourself out when you network because you feel it’s going to make or break you getting a job. It’s like your resume, it needs to be in good shape, but it is never the only factor in getting you the job. Instead, focus on making a connection. Listen to people, engage them in conversation, use the advantages of face-to-face neworking (ie. body language, facial expressions, eye contact, etc.). If you leave making one new friend, you succeeded in face-to-face networking.

How To Follow Up After An Interview

How To Follow Up After An Interview

Proper and effective follow up after an interview –  informational, phone, or in-person – is incredibly important. Without it you will easily be taken out of consideration for the position. As a hiring manager, I purposely looked for the thank-you notes. If I did not receive one, they were off the list, no matter how qualified they were. Do you know why? Because as a manager, I would think, “If they can’t effectively follow up with something as personally important as a job interview, what will they do as far as follow up in the workplace?” Past behavior is a predictor for future behavior. You get the point. Send thank-you notes and e-mails within 24 hours of your interview! Never miss this step. Send notes to all the individuals with which you had a conversation. Do not send one note to just the hiring manager. You will miss out on all the other contacts that you made. Even a note to the receptionist / office manager is appropriate and helpful but only if you had more of a conversation not just a “hello.” Make the notes unique to each individual based on the conversation you had with them. Remind them of the conversation you had. In each note, remind the contact why you bring value to the company/ team / position and show your enthusiasm. As the hiring process progresses or slows, stay in touch with your contacts, as appropriate. If the process has slowed begin to follow up about every two business weeks. Too soon and it will be considered over-kill. Much later that two weeks and you’ll be forgotten. Follow up with an e-mail and include a value add. A value add may be an article you read since you last spoke that made you think of them or a topic you discussed in your interview. It’s a piece of information you thought would be helpful to them. This helps to keep the conversation going and shows you are willing to help others. You’ll be seen as that all important “team player.” Later, after you have given the hiring process time, reach out to each individual on LinkedIn and add them as a connections. Even if this job does not work out, you never know, by staying in touch, what could happen down the road. A client of mine was super excited about a position last fall. Unfortunately, a former employee came back and filled the opening. Although the interviews went well. She did her follow-up communications after the interviews and after she learned of the no-offer. She followed up again in a couple of months with a value added article and to say hello. By doing this, a few weeks later when a position opened up, she was the one who got the call. She is now happily enjoying her new job.

Want A Job In A Growing Industry? Try IT Security

Want A Job In A Growing Industry? Try IT Security

It’s no secret that the fastest growing career field is in IT. You hear about it and read about it all the time. The American work force is transitioning out of the blue collar and manual labor sectors and into the fields of IT and other tech-based sectors as the recession and its effects start to wear off. The fastest growing specialty within the tech sector is in Information and Data Security. This is because more and more business professionals are seeing the need to implement business antivirus and network security systems. For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, this is as easy as the installation of simple but highly supported software. Sometimes, when a small business owner loves his antivirus software, he might want some extra security in place just in case. That is where you, the IT guy or girl, will come in. Whether you are employed by a consulting firm or are in charge of keeping a single company’s network secure, as someone who works in IT Security you are going to be spending the majority of your day in front of a screen. You will work in a variety of programming languages and will analyze data and code for potential risk factors and holes. If you’re in charge of the networks, you’ll fix those problems and holes and neutralize the risk factors using software programs and code that you may design yourself. One of the most common things people hear about IT security is that it is a hands-on field. This means that while you definitely want to take at least some classes in computer science and programming while you’re in school, this isn’t a field that requires advanced degrees to help someone be competitive. This is a field in which practical experience matters more than classroom grades. It’s also one of the few fields in which a background in hacking is seen as a good thing instead of a reason to be wary. That said, there are some things that you’ll want to make sure you understand before you come sit down for an interview: You’ll want more than just a passing level of knowledge of programming languages and operating systems. Learn Windows, Mac OS and Linux programming languages backwards and forwards. Know how to build a network with your own two hands both virtually and practically. This means that you should feel just as comfortable in front of a mess of cables as you do a keyboard. Know how to build your own computer from the ground up. Understand software mechanics and keep current with the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the field of “Information Security Analysts, Web Developers and Computer Network Architects” has a faster than average growth rate of 22%. The average salary for someone in this field clocked in at around $75K a year in 2010. That’s not bad at all for a field you can enter with only a Bachelor’s Degree (a statistic that is shrinking more every year). According to CNN Money, the IT Security Consultant makes, on average, $102K per year and the field has a projected grow rate of almost 28% over the next ten years. So, seriously: IT is the field to explore if you want a career that you can jump into right away for a decent wage straight out of school…or even transition into after being out in the workforce for a while. It’s a great way to avoid being part of a high level of youth unemployment.

9 Tips For Becoming A Successful Networker

9 Tips For Becoming A Successful Networker

How To Be A Successful Networker Here are nine things you can do that will help you develop some warm connections, stand out, and be remembered. 1. Share Your Passion, Authenticity, And Story People really connect with your real side and everyone has a story. It’s the new “elevator pitch.” 2. Target Your Audience Learn about the community where you are meeting. Research and find out about them on websites, blogs and through others that may know about them, or are members of the group. 3. Know The Guest List When you know some specific people that will be there, that you will want to meet, do your homework and find out about them. Company, awards, community activity, accomplishments. This is great fodder for conversation. How would you feel when someone you didn’t know yet, approaches you and says, “I loved the blog post you wrote on how to be a Mom and grow a business”? It certainly says something to me about them. 4. Work The Room Mix and mingle, and try to have several warm interactions. Don’t monopolize or be monopolized. Engage and encourage mutual conversation and include others into it. 5. Pair Up With A Mentor Find someone who knows the crowd and group and rely on them to introduce you around. Coming with someone others know and respect says something about you. “You are judged by the company you keep,” is the quote isn’t it? 6. Set Goals Have goals for what you want to accomplish and come out of the experience with: five warm connections, new friends, someone you can refer business to. 7. Be Inclusive Be inclusive and see how making connections for others makes sense both at the event and after. I have been amazed at how encouraging commonality and synergy can work with complimentary businesses. 8. Ask HCIHY (How Can I Help You?) This is the new benchmark for networking. Not what can I sell you, but how can I serve you. “Serving is the new Selling.” When people know you are in it for the right reasons and motives, the relationship naturally grows.  Building trust, by freely sharing knowledge and being who you say you are takes time. Invest and commit to it with people you feel good potential with and demonstrate  a mutuality with you. 9. Follow Up Follow up promptly and with purpose with those warm connections you made. Lunch, coffee, guest blog, mentor, referral, Skype, phone call, collaboration, link swap are only a few reasons to reach out and continue. Relationships take time, effort and commitment. Some grow, some go, but you won’t know which until you take the actions. Networking is a natural extension of all our interactions and communications today. We are pretty much networking all the time now aren’t we? What are some of the successful ways you have used in your networking?

Fearless Networking – Connect For Results

For most of us, if we think about it, we can start by realizing that we find out about jobs, gain clients or make money by knowing the right people. So, how do we meet those right people are? Your “right people” might be completely different than my “right people”. Identify who you need to meet. If you are in transition, you already know that you must have a list of your target companies. Find professional associations and universities in your area that host networking events. Talk to current and former co-workers; try a Chamber of Commerce event. There are many ways to get out there and start meeting the people who can help you move towards your goals. Now, you know where the right people are, why are we so uncomfortable with taking the next step and actually meeting them? For me,  i’is one if not all of the following: I don’t want to be rejected I don’t want to sound stupid I have nothing to say I sound very “salesy” I know I wouldn’t want to talk to someone who clearly wants something from me! This would be a good example of what you shouldn’t say (and it’s typically what I hear being said). “My name is Susan and I am currently in a job transition. I met with your colleague on Tuesday and she suggested I connect with you. I was laid off from my previous employer, COMPANY X, at the end of January, so I am in the market for a job again. I am seeking out the following types of positions:   “Director, Software Implementations, Senior Business Analyst, Director, Business Systems Implementations   “At COMPANY X I managed the implementation of a proprietary membership management/scheduling/point of sale system for 21 sites and also played a lead role in their PeopleSoft Financials implementation. I would like to get back into this type of work.” In my business, which is all about networking and teaching people the importance of networking, we call this the “show up and throw up” approach. I think that visual speaks for itself. If I am the recipient, a few things have most likely taken place. My eyes have glazed over and I am thinking about what I am going to have for dinner OR I have a plastic smile on my face and am searching for the nearest exit. Why is that? Because you are violating the Golden Rule of Networking! The Golden Rule Of Networking “Networking and building relationships is about giving not getting.” Okay, so we have established the most fundamental rule about networking and you find yourself at an event. What, then, are the steps to an effective plan for networking that takes the fear out of the process. The Search Start meeting people. Prior to the event, see if you are able to obtain a listing of attendees. If you can, start with a familiar face; that person can lead you to a new contact. If you are at a breakfast or lunch event, introduce yourself to everyone at the table. Go early, stay late – Great opportunities exist.  Talk to someone standing alone; they are feeling uncomfortable as well, I guarantee it! My favorite though, volunteer to check people in at an event. You will get to meet everyone! The Discovery This is the tricky part, what do you say once you have introduced yourself. Open up with a statement, question “We haven’t met yet, I’m Susan. What brings you to the event today?” Or… “I haven’t attended this event before, have you?” After an introduction… “What is your role at your company?” (What are they involved in or what is their profession, etc.) “I haven’t heard of your organization; can you tell me more about the services they offer?” Think about the topic that will be covered at the event and go prepared with a pertinent question. “What do you think about… ” Now here is the important piece. LISTEN! You’ll begin to hear clues about how you can help. The Offering After you have discovered their challenge, issue or opportunity, offer to help. Sounds great but how? Give them a suggestion, resource, tip, tool, lead or advice; anything that will advance their cause. Good things to give are referral, websites, books, potential hiring managers, upcoming events, or a contact. This is your chance to take the relationship to the higher level. The Promotion Now, it’s finally your turn! This is your chance for a quick 10-second introduction and a brief idea of what you do, how you help people and what you are looking for. Make it simple enough but specific enough that it will spark an idea in the mind of the listener. This is your chance to build a rapport that can lead to referrals, leads, new contacts or other networks. A colleague of mine uses a wonderful adage; “To be specific is terrific, to be vague is the plague.” Once someone engages in a true give and take dialogue with you, it’s VITAL that you be very clear about what you are looking for. What does this mean? Your intro needs to be clear on how you are different. Have a list in your head of at least two or three target companies. If you tell the listener, “I am a financial professional and am interested in working for a small to medium size company,” that is not likely to spark any sort of lead because the statement is too vague. A better statement would be, “I am a financial professional and have had quite a bit of success in identifying inefficiencies that hurt the bottom line of a company’s profitability. I have been researching several companies and I would love to learn more about Companies X, Y and Z.” By being clear, you have opened the door for the listener to think about what contacts he or she might have that can be of use to you. The Close Finish it up with an exchange of business cards and information. Tell them that you will follow-up on what you said you would do. Jot a short note about your conversation and what you have committed to on the back of their card. SHAKE HANDS! Reach out and thank them. You are there to connect with several people so a great break away statement is “It was a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for telling me about what you do. I am going to let you meet more people here. I will follow up with you tomorrow on what we talked about.” Here is the kicker, this is the point where 90% of people drop the ball. Be the 10% who actually follow up. It says a lot about who you are and helps cement the relationship. So, that’s it… five essentials to effective networking. You can do it and you can be successful at it. Understand the process: Find an event where your “right people” are, have an idea of how to open a conversation, be prepared to give before you get, know who you are and what you need and be able to articulate it succinctly, follow up. Ok now you are ready! Start networking!