The Career Source

What are the appropriate questions for interviewers? You can seek clarification, or ask for information for things that you want to know. Many career gurus suggest that job seekers should always ask questions during interview to show their enthusiasm and interest towards the job and organization.  However, don’t ask questions where the answers are easily available from the employer’s web site and job description. Avoid touching on topics like salary, benefits, allowances or vacation. This gives an impression to the recruitment personnel that you’re more interest in the rewards than the work. Do sufficient research to find answers yourself before attending the interview.

Here are some FAQs. You can request the hiring manager to clarify thing or give you information in the areas given below:

• working environment in this company.
• work scope in the first year.
• key challenges of this job.
• future prospect of this firm in the next three years.
• what to be considered as the most important assets in your company.
• annual growth rate of this organization.
• future outlook of the industry.
• what happened to the previous employee who occupied this position.
• what are the strengths and opportunities for improvement of the previous worker.
• any specific skills the company doesn’t have and expect the new hire to offer.
• where this position fit into the overall company structure
• expectation of performance in the first year.
• when the performance will be appraised.
• how success is being measured.
• strengths of the company.
• describe the management style here.
• do organization encourage promotion from within.
• career path for this job.
• who are the people to deal with.
• any challenges that need to be handled urgently.
• most important qualities of the person in this position.
• next step of the interview process.
• any plan to increase market share.
• organization’s goals and objectives for this year.
• any training program for you.
• when can hear from the recruitment personnel on result.

There are almost unlimited things you can ask, and it is hard to limit how many questions you should put forward to the employer.

Generally most hiring managers welcome questions from the candidates. However, you must read his / her body language if too many can bother him / her. Just stop asking if you detect that sign.

Asking smart questions can encourage a person to tell you his or her story. The sets of questions that hiring managers would use are formulated to find out your real behaviors and professional strengths–whether you are qualified and have a good match with the job and the organization requirements.

Before attending your next interview, it is good to know why a certain questions are asked by the employers. They are usually open-ended questions which require you to explain and elaborate more on the topic. Here are some common employer interview questions that will be thrown to you. Keep your answer positive, to the point and roughly within a minute.

1. To check your qualifications, strengths, presentation skills, and job fitting:

• Tell me about yourself.
• How do you think someone who knows you well would describe you?
• What is the reason you want to leave your current job?
• What do you know about our business and products?
• Why do you want to work in this company?
• Tell me in detail about your roles in the past employments.
• Which job functions do you like the most?
• Which element do you like least in this job?
• Name a few career achievements that you are proud of.

2. To check your openness, honesty and clarity of work success:

• What are your strong points?
• What are the opportunities for improvement?
• Tell me about the last time you felt angry at work?

3. To check your behaviors to predict future performance:

• Quote me an example how you handle an out-of-control situation in your past job.
• How did you set goals in a workplace and achieve them?
• Tell me how you alleviate a conflict with a tough superior or co-worker.
• How to perform above expectation or get better results?
• What are some of the things that upset you?
• Can you work well under deadlines or pressure?

4. To check your job interest in other areas, career ambitions, and expectation in this company.

• What other jobs do you apply besides this?
• What position do you ask?
• Tell me about your plan in the next 5 years (in this company).
• What are your career objectives and ambitions?

5. To check your interactive skill and working habit.

• What kind of person is toughest to deal with in your opinion?
• Do you prefer solitary work?
• What types of bosses do you like the most?
• How well do you take direction and suggestion?
• Tell me what type of work your family would want you to take on.

The list can go on and on.

While the employers are asking plenty of questions to evaluate your qualifications and suitability, they also try to promote their company to ensure you are interested to work for them. When hiring managers are trying their best to sell the company, you have created a good impression.

Now, you’ve learnt some of the expected questions to be asked during an interview. You can also make use of the award-winning strategy to ace in your next session.

You tooted your horn loud and clear in an interview, and you walked out from the office feeling totally relaxed. You think that the session went pretty well, and you hoped to get the job. Not much you can do as of now except waiting for a decision from the recruitment manager whether you’ll be a successful candidate.

However, there is at least one thing you can do, and it will increase your chance to win your dream job if you do this one thing well. Here is a secret that most people don’t know—follow these steps and send a follow up email after interview. It can also be a letter written to the hiring personnel.

1. Send a gift with thank you note to the employer
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to bribe the recruitment personnel with a movie pass, a fruit basket or a Starbucks card. Don’t even think about it. However, if you’ve taken note of the interests and hobbies of the employer, you can offer a ‘gift’ in the form of information such as a reference of a web site, a pamphlet, or an article from a magazine that talks about something the hiring manager would appreciate, read and  enjoy.

If you have talked about your mutual interest with the employer during interview such as on fishing or golf or photographing or skiing, it is nice to enclose some printed materials on these topics along with a thank you note. This will not only remind him / her about your previous conversation, but it will also show your thoughtfulness. The interviewer will certainly remember your face and name and put you on top of his / her mind.

2. Provide benefits to the employer
While you may not always land the job, it’s surely a good step toward another person, and at the same time it shows your personality to the hiring manager. It demonstrates

• your attentiveness to details, in this case regarding his / her hobbies and interests.
• your commitment and diligence.
• you’re interested and passionate toward the job and company.
• you’re generous and thoughtful and willing to put in effort and time to achieve your objective.

Your efforts will pay off one way or another. If you are constantly providing such information or ‘gifts’, it helps you stay in touch with him / her until the opening is filled.

Learn more award winning secrets that most people don’t know from Jimmy Sweeney. It improves your competitive edge tremendously to land your dream job.

When a hiring manager decided to call you in and meet you in person, now your mind keeps thinking how to pass an interview with flying colors. You want to give it your best shot to land the job. To help you, here are some useful tips for interview preparation.

First, it is good to understand what recruitment manages are looking for. In general, you must be:

1. interested and enthusiastic about the job
2. qualify and capable
3. having a stable work record
4. able to take direction
5. able to lead
6. responsible and take ownership of tasks
7. capable to interact with superior and co-workers effectively
8. having good soft-skill
9. able to fit into organization culture

This day employers are more interested in knowing your personality than your professional experience and achievement. They want to know how you would handle a sticky situation and alleviate a conflict by asking various behavior-based questions.

Take advantage of the To-Do’s list if you’re going to get that job.

1. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to fill up form and check your appearance in the rest room. Stay calm and clean sweaty hands that results from your nervousness.
2. Be friendly to everyone and show good manner. Make sure you smile through the meeting.
3. Prepare some breath mints in your pockets and use them. Bad breath can turn off the meeting immediately.
4. Shower before you attend any interview.
5. Have a neat hair cut with professional length. It is not recommended to dye, or have fluffy and curly hairstyles. But, it is acceptable for women to color their hairs.
6. Shave and trim your mustaches, beards, nose hairs, and eyebrows if needed. Keep them short.
7. The men should not be wearing any jewelry such as earrings, nose rings, thick chains, etc. For women, limit the use of accessories and jewelries. Should not have long dangling earrings.
8. Always speak based on fact, and don’t pretend that you know. Honesty will go a long way.
9. Be positive on everything.
10. Describe your qualifications, your achievements and how you can bring value to the job and company.
11. Ask intelligent questions to show your interest. Prepare your questions beforehand.
12. Take notes (ask permission before doing so).
13. Speak with confidence and demonstrate your professional strengths.
14. Bring along references and prepare a few copies of your resume. There may be more than one employer present in the meeting.
15. Look the recruiting personnel in the eye.
16. Research the company before the interview on its products and services, organization philosophy, mission statement, news, etc. You need these information during the meeting.
17. Always elaborate your reply with examples instead of a short answer of “yes,” or “no.”

The Don’ts

If you don’t want to get an immediate goodbye handshake, here are the things you should not do by all means.

You should avoid

1. touching on sensitive matters such as religion, and politics.
2. saying you’re learning. The organization will not pay you salary so you can learn.
3. asking about salary and benefits.
4. limiting your job preference. For example, you just want a managerial position.
5. poisoning your current company or superior. Just tell that you’re looking for new challenges if you’re asked for a reason why you want to leave the current company.
6. the use of aftershave and perfume.
7. interrupting the employer when he /she is talking.

Use appropriate body language to express yourself. Sometimes the body gestures speak more than words. Here are some good practices.

1. Have a firm handshake when you enter the meeting room, and offer your hand first before leaving.
2. Smile genuinely.
3. Mimic the posture of the recruitment manager. For example, return him or her with a smile if he / she is smiling.
4. Lean forward too if the employer is doing so.
5. Maintain eye contact throughout the conversation.
6. Use hand gesture to express yourself but do not touch hairs, nose, mouth, etc. It just indicates that you’re nervous.
7. If possible don’t wear glasses to the interview to allow a good eye contact.
8. Sit only after the recruitment manager has sat down.

Hope that these tips give you some clues on how to pass an interview confidently.

In order to ace in your next job interview, you need effective job interview techniques and tips. You want to

• create a good first impression
• have a firm handshake and look the hiring manager in the eye
• give it your best try

Sound very familiar, right? You probably have heard these a thousand times. But, what do they really mean to you? Is it important to do it? Given below are some good reasons for why you should practice them.

Tips #1: give your best shot
Knowing what the statement really means is important. Your aim is to win the dream job in an interview. Therefore, you should walk in to the office with a purpose, expectation and gusto. Present a friendly smile on your face, and have a firm handshake with all the employers. You should show your best self and allow the hiring managers to examine you, both on document and in person.

Tips #2: make a good impression
People judge each other base on the first sight and conversation. The first impression is emotionally concentrated, and it is often the last or permanent impression of you. The perception you’ve given to the employers will stay with them throughout the whole session no matter what will happen next.

So, expressing your true self is always better then giving a pretentious impression. Employers are searching for authentic candidates, who are sincere, upbeat, positive, optimistic, friendly, ask intelligent questions, and talk openly about their capabilities for the job opening. Describe how exactly your qualification and experience can bring value to the job and the company.

Tip #3: look the employer in the eye
“I can see your soul if I look deep in your eyes.” You eyes can sometimes say more than the words. Look the employer in the eye and pay attention to what he or she is saying. When it’s your turn to talk, avoid any distracting gestures such as touching your nose or hair, and flickering fingernails. Also, you don’t want to lose credits fast by scanning the room, or staring at the hiring manager’s hands, or looking over the floor when you’re engaging a conversation with them.

Take these three tips to heart the next time when you prepare for a job interview.  You can certainly stay above the competition and receive a positive response that says, “Wow… You’re Hired!”

The first impression always has a great influence on how the employer will look at you.  He or she often base on how you dress, your appearance, your hygiene and your personality to give you an overall assessment.  Therefore, it is important to professionally dress for an interview, even though your research shows that the working environment of the company is casual. However, you should always wear formal and conservative if you’re in doubt.

If you’re wondering what to wear to an interview, here are some guidelines and information for you.

Attire for men:

1. long sleeve shirt in white or light color that matched with your suit.
2. suit in solid color (if needed, to match the company’s culture and job opening).
3. wear a belt, tie, dark socks, and leather shoes.
4. have a neat haircut and clean shave.
5. limit the use of ornaments, perfume, and aftershave.
6. bring a briefcase or portfolio.
7. show good hygiene practices (trim your nails, shower before the meeting, brush teeth, etc).

Attire for women:

1. suit in dark color (such as dark grey, black or navy) with mid-length skirt. This allows you to sit comfortably.
2. wear a pair of conservative shoes and a blouse with color coordinated with the suit.
3. avoid, or limit excessive jewelry particularly with long earrings, multiple arm bracelets particularly those with small bells, etc.
4. have a professional and neat hairstyle.
5. wear light perfume and make-up.
6. carry a briefcase or portfolio.
7. show good personal hygiene (neat manicured nails, shower before the session, clean  your mouth, etc).

The don’ts:

1. no gum, smoking, drinks, food to consume in the interview.
2. no alcohol consumption before the meeting.
3. turn off your cell phone and handheld gadgets.
4. cover up your tattoos.

Additional tips that can help:

1. plan your interview suit ahead of time and make sure they all fit properly.
2. prepare your clothes a day before the appointment date and polish your shoes.
3. plan your route if you need to make a long distance trip. Allow ample time to travel in case you need to wait in the traffic.
4. carry a breath refresher and use it.

Job seekers will have to work very hard to land the job they want in this current time. Find out what other job seekers do not know.

While you should show up 10 minutes before an interview to check your appearance and fill up some papers, it is also important to dress professionally and come prepared with all the items that most recruitment managers would want to see.

Even though you’re not asked to bring anything beforehand, you should be aware and get ready those necessary stuffs, just in case. You really do not want to be caught unprepared by the hiring manager.

So, what are the appropriate things to bring to interview? The followings are the items you should carry along.

1. Identity documents: Bring your social security card, driver’s license or identity card with your picture on it to certify to the employer that you are the correct candidate they call.

2. Copies of the resume: Your resume printed on a white, A4 paper. Some candidates think that a colored or decorative paper can make a good impression—think again! You just need to provide the prospective employer information about your past working experience, your academic background, and training attended. Include details that are relating to the opening. You should prepare a few extra copies in case there are more than one interviewer.

3. References: It can be your past employers, personal friends, or individuals (no relatives) who know you well and be able to provide information about your work behaviors and ethics. You should seek their consent beforehand.

4. Original copies of official transcripts: Some recruitment personnel may ask to see official transcripts of your academic credits, professional licenses, degrees attained, testimonials, reference documents and job certification of previous employments related to the position you apply.

5. Good Attitude: Show a positive attitude throughout the whole session with good manner, friendliness, etc. Provide a good first impression.

Grab the career opportunity of a lifetime and be a professional candidate by practicing these 5 items. Sharpen your edge by being well-prepared to win the job search competition especially in this current time.

Check out this breakthrough job landing system if you’re eager to hear a response of “You’re hired!

In today’s job market where the unemployment rate is escalating and the market is stuffed with qualified workers, it is more difficult to get a great job than ever. You’ll certainly need to go through a number of interviews before you could land the position you want.

You might have butterflies in your stomach when thinking of those tough interview questions. Your palm perspires and your heart beat suddenly pounds rapidly. If you’re nervous, the following top interviews tips will certainly be helpful to you.

Tip #1: If you often have a sweaty hand when subjecting to a stressful situation such as an interview, consider sprinkling some talcum powder in your pocket before leaving the house. Massage some powder onto your palm before shaking hands with the people you meet.

Tip #2: When you walk in to the meeting room, have a warm and firm handshake with everyone inside. Look in their eyes, and show a positive attitude, along with a friendly and sincere smile. This can break the initial barrier. Also, create a comforting atmosphere as this can make one relax and put the recruitment personnel on your side.

You can also go another step further. Discover some special interests of the employers who will interview you, if possible.  For example, a job seeker learned that the woman who made arrangement for the meeting is working out in the XYZ gym on every Wednesday and Saturday. During the Q&A session, the job seeker described how he stayed fits and healthy by doing some running and work out in the same gym. They have something in common, and this immediately captured her attention besides the working topics.

Tip #3: Adding some personal touch to an interview can help to engage the recruitment personnel and make a different on the result—whether you’ll be hired or overlooked. Given below is an example on how you can take the lead during the conversation.

“I read in your company website that the attrition rate for the employees here is much lower than the industry standard because you take good care of your staffs. In last summer I was told to organize the annual sales conference at a beach resort. I proposed we would include some team building activities along the seaside in order to foster a better working relationship among workers. We invited all the participants to join, and they still talked about the event even weeks later. We achieved our objective of the team building event.”

Such a conversation can give the hiring manager so much more details and insight about you, your personality, your capability, your creativeness and your inter-relationship with others, than usual answers to the typical interview questions.

For the complete winning tips, you can check out the guide for breakthrough strategy which will make you rise above competition and be the top 3 candidate.

Consider yourself to be in an interview session as soon as you wake up on that day.

Practicing the Q & A is as important as the interview itself as it helps to provide precise answers to the employer. Therefore, the more you carry out your job interview practice, the more comfortable and confident you are when walking into the meeting room.

Here are some steps to ensure you’re ready to face the hiring manager.

1. Read through your notes regarding the previous and current jobs. Be ready to talk about your abilities and experiences by providing examples.
2. Go through in your mind the questions and answers you’ve prepared, and continue to perfect your replies.
3. Arrange your resume, reference papers and other related documents in proper order so that you can quickly show the hiring manager when you’re asked for credentials or references.
4. Wear simple but professional dress, and allow ample time to dress properly.
5. Have a light but nutritious meal to keep your body energy high for the meeting.
6. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the office without hassle. Check your vehicle or schedule for public transport beforehand.

Even an experienced job seeker will go through practice on interview . You do not want to miss out any important points during the meeting which may be the key to win you a return interview, and ultimately the job that you want. As soon as you wake up start your session!