Preparing For Your Job Interview: What You Need To Know To Be Successful
In the limited time an interviewer has with you, their mission is to know you and assess your worth, especially in relationship to the other candidates interviewed. Asking you questions is the way they accomplish that mission. You'll be asked to tell the interviewer about yourself, your qualifications (especially as they pertain to the specific opening), your professional background, your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses, and your goals. So the first step is to know yourself. Be prepared to talk about your skills, competencies, qualifications and accomplishments.
Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Explore the goals you have for yourself ? both current and future. Especially know how to convey the value you bring to the table ? the strengths, unique gifts and marketable assets that are distinctly yours. Know your value proposition; it describes your worth. It is what uniquely defines you, and differentiates you from the crowd.
If you want to stand out in the huge ocean of candidates that represents your competition, you need to become fluent in this arena.You may also be asked why you left your previous position. This is where the interview can get a bit tricky. How you answer this question can make or break your chances. No matter how challenging your supervisor was or how grueling the workload or the sixty-hour weeks were, you must frame your response in a positive light. If you left your previous employment because you were downsized, that's ok.
That's happened quite a bit in the past few years. If you resigned, be very careful how you state this. Your attitude can enhance or end your chances. Be honest, and be sure to indicate your desire for stability as an overriding factor.???Keep in mind that while your answers will help the interviewer assess your skills for the position at hand, it's how you respond that more importantly determines your overall fit with the company. Personality is ninety percent of the battle.
You may answer a question factually, but your attitude might tell them no. ?On the other hand, it's far better to establish a rapport with your interviewer than to answer every question correctly. A skill can always be taught, but when was the last time you successfully altered someone's personality? ?Find out everything you can about the interviewer's quirks and traits. Are they confrontational or laid back, serious or informal, friendly or stern? What is their position within the company, and how long have they been employed there? Are they the decision-maker and therefore in a position to make you an offer? They may simply be a screen, filtering out all the non-viable candidates from further review by higher-ups. If they are a screen, try and discover upon whose shoulders the hiring responsibility falls.
You need to learn as much as you can about the position for which you are interviewing. Why does the position exist ? are you replacing someone or is this a new position created because of company growth? If you are replacing someone, is it because they retired, resigned or were terminated? ?Understand the fundamental responsibilities of the position, especially in relationship to similar positions you have held in the past. Know what possibilities exist for your growth within the position and the company. Research the company, using Google, Dunn & Bradstreet, Hoover's, Standard and Poors, or any of the other sources of corporate information. Who are its competitors in the marketplace and what percentage of the market do they own? Are their processes state of the art and at the cutting edge of technology? Are they a public company or privately held? If public, how are they perceived by investment advisors, what is their earnings track and how has their stock performed? If a privately held company, is it a family-run business with non-family members being in the minority? That would be ok; however, it could affect your chances for future promotions and growth.
Know the industry. The company might be at the forefront in terms of their processes, sales and marketing efforts, and growth, but its industry may be on its way out. If you see a delicious-looking apple growing on a dying tree, you might hesitate before pulling it off and taking a bite. Do your research in all these areas so you can be well-prepared. Get on the Internet and find out everything you can.
Make phone calls. Make sure you know all there is to know, so that you will go to your interview with great confidence and self-assurance. Come to the interview dressed appropriately. Establish a comfort level early in the interview and maintain that rapport throughout. The initial handshake must be firm but not gripping.
Eye contact is critical throughout the interview. How you sit in your chair and shift your posture can make or break your effectiveness. Remember, you're there to sell yourself, so be sure to ask for the offer before the interview is over. Fully armed, you can ask all the right questions and come away a success. Copyright ? 2005 TopDog Group All rights reserved..
David Richter is a recognized authority in career coaching. His extensive knowledge and experience gained from many years in recruitment, outplacement and career management has allowed David to formulate powerful strategies anyone can use to secure interviews and receive offers. David holds Masters in both Engineering and Counseling Psychology. Visit: http://www.procareercoach.comExadel Releases Exadel Studio Pro 3.0 For Professional Java Developers
Concord, Calif., (ContentDesk) August 5, 2005 -? Exadel, Inc., a leading provider of software, services and support that enable companies to create mission-critical business applications based on open source and Java? technologies, today announced general availability of Exadel? Studio Pro 3.0, an advanced enterprise-class Web application development suite that supports Eclipse 3.1. Exadel Studio Pro 3.0 is the latest version of Exadel's popular rapid application development product suite, adding new visual and source-oriented development approaches and support for commonly used open source technologies, including JSF, Struts, Hibernate and Spring."Exadel offers the best open source products on the market, as they are extremely well designed, every detail accounted for," said Yakov Golder, current vice president of Engineering at Webshots, CNET Networks and user of Exadel's application development tools at three of his previous employers: eBay, PlumTree and NextCard. "I started using...
Exadel Releases Exadel Studio Pro 3.0 For Professional Java Developers
Spring break > Exadel Releases Exadel Studio Pro 3.0 For Professional Java Developers
How to Eat Right for a More Comfortable Menopause
Menopause is a natural process that alters the balance of Yin and Yang. After menopause many women discover (and may be disturbed by) the more yang (energetic, aggressive) side of themselves. As men grow older, they tend to discover their yin (passive, yielding) side.Many people don't realize how powerful Oriental Medicine treatments can be for women's health conditions. In fact, gynecological problems have been treated with acupuncture for over 2000 years, and for 5000 years with herbal medicine.Oriental Medicine holds that mind and body are one, and considers the whole woman and her experience of life in diagnosis. These life experiences (especially when out of balance and not dealt with properly) can manifest as disease in the body, and especially as gynecological problems in women.
Interestingly, TCM considers all premenstrual and perimenopausal symptoms to be signs of ill-health. The biggest factors in determining your comfort through this time will be the dietary and emotional...
How to Eat Right for a More Comfortable Menopause
Spring break > How to Eat Right for a More Comfortable Menopause
How to Plan a Vacations of the Mind
Part 1Recently, in a women's therapy group that I run, the desire for fun and a change of pace over took me. I suggested that we deviate from some of our typical work and instead go around the room imagining a vacation treat designed to suit each woman's desires.It was fascinating to see how many marvelous vacation ideas quickly emerged. One woman wished to go to Mexico and South America to view the ruins and lie on the sun in beautiful beaches. Another woman wished to go to Greece and see the ancient ruins there and then slowly make her way through Europe. This could take a leisurely period of time, perhaps even a year.
Another also wanted to go to Europe but to do other things, such as take gourmet cooking classes in the South of France and become somewhat fluent in several languages. Another woman opted for spas and other experiences to bring vitality to her body and ultimately her spirit. One person was in reality making plans to go to several meditative retreats over the...
How to Plan a Vacations of the Mind
Spring break > How to Plan a Vacations of the Mind
How to Proofread Like a Professional
Copyright 2006 Jaya Schillinger
Even as I wrote the title for this article, I got confused. Is "proofread" one word or two? I thought it was two, and my spell checker didn't have a problem with that, but when I double-checked myself with a popular on- line dictionary, I was able to catch my mistake. Proofread is in fact one word, "proof?read v. tr. To read (copy or proof) in order to find errors and mark corrections."
I'm not a grammarian or editor by any stretch of the definition, but I do get some practice through proofreading my own writing as well as my clients.
One of the value-added services I include in my business coaching packages is email support where I'll do a quick proofing of my clients' ad copy or important documents. So while I'm not a qualified copy editor/writer, I have noticed some common mistakes that slip past the typical business owner's own proofreading.
Here are a few things I've learned along the way:
How to Proofread Like a Professional
Spring break > How to Proofread Like a Professional
Top 5 Tips for Frustrated Affiliate Program Marketers
Do you go through affiliate programs like most people go through pairs of socks? Many Internet marketers do. In fact, 97% of all Internet marketers never make a single cent advertising opportunities on the Internet. They jump from one opportunity to the next and never see results. If you want to break free from this cycle of failure-- if you want to earn a living off of your Internet ventures--continue reading. I will tell you exactly how you can earn money from any legitimate affiliate program.In order to get the most information from what I am about to explain to you, you must accept that these methods are not intended to be "secrets." These are scientifically-proven, best-practice methods that all top marketers use.
If you want results, you will have to do and continue to do the following five things:1. Know your product. Do not advertise for a product or affiliate program that you are not currently using. I cannot even count the amount of affiliate programs and product offers...
Top 5 Tips for Frustrated Affiliate Program Marketers
Spring break > Top 5 Tips for Frustrated Affiliate Program Marketers
Effective Stock Rotation Increases ROI
Every year is the same. Even leap years are the same as other years. Each January is followed by a February. There is always a November before December. Tuesday arrives after Monday.
There are always twelve months to a year and three months to a quarter. There are four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall.Since each year is the same it offers a retail business the opportunity to plan for ROI (Return on Investment). An effective policy to have is to never have the same merchandise in stock a year later. This means, using a shoe store as an example, that if you invested in forty shoes of one brand, none of those forty shoes should be in stock 366 days later.To further illustrate the point, let's say that the forty shoes are manufactured by Rox and the style number is 22N7A. There are various sizes for adult females and males.
A Purchase Order with number 79563 was issued for the investment.If you sell all forty shoes in a month, that is great. This does not mean you should...
Effective Stock Rotation Increases ROI
Spring break > Effective Stock Rotation Increases ROI
Life Insurance Rates Continue to Drop
(ContentDesk) December 6, 2005 -- A recent study showed that rates for individual term life insurance and permanent life insurance (whole life and universal life) will likely drop by 3 percent in 2006.This is because people are living longer (what the insurance business calls "mortality improvements) and also because of competition.One will be able to see these improvements instantly on the www.lifeinsure.com insurance quotes engine as these...
Preparing For Your Job Interview: What You Need To Know To Be Successful Spring break life insurance
Spring break > Life Insurance Rates Continue to Drop
Preparing For Your Job Interview: What You Need To Know To Be Successful Spring break
Tuscan Style Decorating Ideas
Earthy colors and natural materials are two basics for the "old world" style of decorating. To get an idea of the colors we're talking about, go for a walk outside and take notice of the beautiful colors around you, the blue sky, the golden sun, even the chocolate brown of mud in the springtime. Ok, so you don't have a view of the blue/green Mediterranean Sea but you've seen pictures of it haven't you? On that walk, stroll through the produce department of your local grocery store and note the...
Preparing For Your Job Interview: What You Need To Know To Be Successful
Spring break > Tuscan Style Decorating Ideas
HomeAire Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights to Duo Vac Central Vacuum Systems
Ward Hill, MA (ContentDesk) February 26, 2006 -- Massachusetts-based HomeAire recently announced that the company has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the highly regarded Duo Vac Central Vacuum Systems. Manufactured in Canada, Duo Vacs award-winning vacuum systems are sold worldwide, but until recently they have had limited availability in the U.S. HomeAire, a division of Spruce Environmental Technologies Inc., offers to professionals products and solutions that are designed to address a...
Preparing For Your Job Interview: What You Need To Know To Be Successful Spring break HomeAire Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights to Duo Vac Central Vacuum Systems vacuum cleaner
Spring break > HomeAire Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights to Duo Vac Central Vacuum Systems
Internet Marketing and Online Strategy Firm Vision Business Concepts Inc. Announces New Client Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery
Denver, CO (ContentDesk) March 2, 2006 - Internet marketing and online strategy firm Vision Business Concepts Inc. announced today the signing of a new client, Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery. The Internet marketing firm will assist the Cosmetic Surgery center in lead generation for potential clients, and creating an online strategy that will reinforce its branding through a comprehensive online marketing campaign. By achieving top rankings in the major search engines, such as Google and Yahoo,...
Preparing For Your Job Interview: What You Need To Know To Be Successful
Spring break > Internet Marketing and Online Strategy Firm Vision Business Concepts Inc. Announces New Client Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery