Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts

Friday, April 06, 2007

Answer Job Interview Questions Tips and Tricks

By AnsweringPhoneServices.com

Tips! Self-Initiation: Needing someone to push you into a working mood is the result of lethargy and complacency. This is sure to hamper your career prospects in the long run.

It seems that each field and each set of interviewers have different ideas on how one should answer job interview questions. Some are listening for buzz words like "team player" or "best practices" while others are seeking the unique and authentic applicant who does not follow the herd or return with pat or cliche answers.

So how to answer job interview questions is not as one can see from the multiple advice books and pamphlets--all that streamlined in method or manner.

At the same time, there are certain techniques that go into the process to answer job interview questions that will land you the job. Some of what I have read up on, studied, and practiced myself are as follows:

Tips! If possible attend mock interviews conducted by your college career office that would help you in building the confidence and also you will be able to learn interview etiquettes.

Answer Job Interview Questions As You Would Want To Hear

Instead of getting all in a bind by stressing over how well you will or will not do in the interview, remind yourself (repeatedly, if necessary) that the interviewer or interview panel is composed of the human element. The people interviewing you have not only had to work to come up with ideal job descriptions and ideal open-ended questions, they have also likely had to go on interviews themselves.

They want to be respected, but they also want to be real and have you be real too. The more relaxed and amiable you are the better, for these people will want to work with you. Keep eye contact with all echelons and genders (rather than just speaking to the one who asked the question or just the men or just the head honcho).

Tips! If you are considering a career change the experience of the counselor could be invaluable, in view of the complexities, both practical and personal, of the decision you are considering.

Answer Job Interview Questions In Their Language And To Completion

Answer the question in the form of the question. That is, use the language to answer that the interviewers used to ask: if they ask you what the most important components of the V-tech are to you, respond with "The most important components of the V-tech are...." To keep yourself straight, use the popular bulleted method--saying there are three parts to X, 1..., 2..., 3..., and being sure to follow through with three if you announce three or four if you announce four.

Also, many questions are intentionally two-parted. A question might be how do you see the problem of attrition and what would you bring to the problem to solve it? Be sure to answer BOTH parts of the question.

Tips! Remember that most people don't follow a linear path as they move to their second (or third or fourth) careers. They take two steps forward and one step back.

Answer Job Interview Questions With A Modicum Of Humor

If it is all appropriate, use a moderate sense of humor. If they ask you a strange question, smile and admit that this is indeed a great question--which compliments them and admits you have not memorized and churned out a bunch of rote answers that are obviously the signs of a green player.

Tips! Seekers often think that once the shift is made, their career transition is complete.

Tell them you will explore that further if necessary, fill in with potential, future ambition, positive forward-looking responses. It's okay not to know everything.

And if you place so much stake on being the ONE out of hundreds applying to get the job and you DON'T get it, remember the comments of many actors who have gone on auditions as a tall redhead woman when the part and the director and casting directing are calling for a short, fat, grey-haired man.

They have a slot they know how they want filled, and you may just not have a God-given attribute that will fit. It is not necessarily about you in the case, even if it feels like it is. Apply, apply, apply, and interview, interview, interview. You may even find that getting a job will disappoint you as you will no longer be able to continue the fun adventure that is interviewing and practicing!

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Friday, March 23, 2007

How to Answer Job Interview Questions?

By answeringphoneservices.com

Tips! First, check your motivations for being in your career. Success is the result of skills, actions, and choices.

Job interviews are just one of those things you're probably going to have to face at some point or other in your life. If you're reading this, I'm guessing you're facing one soon. While I'm certainly not an expert about how to act in a job interview, I've been on so many that I feel I've become very comfortable with the art of how to answer job interview questions.

If you've never been on a job interview and are wondering how to answer job interview questions, here's some advice from me to you. First of all, lie. Lie like crazy, don't ever tell them anything that remotely resembles the truth. Also, talk really fast and a few octaves too high; that way they won't really know what you're saying but it'll sound important.

Tips! Have a strategic plan for your career; include timelines. Share your goals with your boss; let him know you are working to be promoted.

If you can, master a language your interviewers don't know, and answer all their questions in that language. I've found that Swahili is a good language, as not many interviewers speak it and it generally sounds good. If you don't have time to learn a new language, just make one up.

This method on how to answer job interview questions is sure to work. If your interviewers for some reason become agitated, its probably because they're so excited about your potential. Generally, a proper response to agitation in your interviewers is to stand up and do an impression of some farm animals. I prefer roosters, but that's just me.

If you actually follow any of the above advice on how to answer job interview questions, that'll be just a little less competition for me. In all seriousness, it isn't as hard as you think to answer job interview questions and sound good. The most important thing to do is prepare ahead of time.

Tips! Crafting Your Transition Plan. Out of your testing comes a clear path where you can set a specific new career goal and create the strategy and steps that will get you there.

Practice answering typical job interview questions to yourself several times before going in; job interviewers can tell if you are unprepared and it just doesn't look good.

When you answer job interview questions, definitely be honest, and look your interviewers right in the eye. Good eye contact conveys confidence, which is something you definitely want to convey. Rely on your own natural conversation skills when you answer job interview questions rather than trying to sound a certain way.

I certainly don't mean use slang or swear words, but just talk like you would with someone you just met at a party. Your interviewers are just people, and will respond to you like any other people will.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Friday, March 09, 2007

Are Your Communication Skills Sabotaging Your Career? - Part 1

Tip! The most important step parents can take to improve communication with their children is model positive communication. Whether you are a married couple or single parent children will observe how you communicate with other adults.

Stop Talking Yes, you heard right. Stop talking and start listening. Most people are very poor listeners and even worse, they constantly interrupt the other person. Since everyone enjoys talking, it takes a real effort to break these very bad habits. But it is the only way you will ever become a successful communicator. A good rule of thumb is to let the other person do 75% of the talking and you only do 25%.

Tip! Some control over the flow of the communication should be applied.

The Power of Listening The reason why listening is so powerful is because it builds trust. The more you listen to another person, the more he or she trusts you and believes in you. Listening also builds the other person's self-esteem. When you listen carefully to another person, you are in effect telling them that what they have to say is so important that you aren't going to say one single thing until they're done. People will seek you out because they will feel very comfortable in your presence. The more they seek you out, the further ahead you will get and you will be amazed at how quickly your career starts to move forward.

Tip! Use simple language: Stay away from big words and unnecessary jargon. Big words can complicate the message or intimidate your listener causing communication to break down.

Ask for Clarification If you aren't 100% certain what the person is saying, never guess or assume. Ask for clarity because if you don't, you'll end up talking in circles. Then the other person will leave the conversation thinking "She doesn't get it." They never say "Gee, I'm a lousy communicator and I didn't explain it to her properly"; they always say "She doesn't get it." I know it's unfair but that's what happens...

Tip! Sidestep absolutes - right/wrong, bad/good. Statements like 'you always' or 'you never' are absolutes that hinder communication.

The most effective method I've ever learned for getting more information is to ask "How do you mean?" It's such a mild and polite question that it's impossible not to answer. The other person cannot stop himself or herself from answering more extensively. You can then follow up with other questions and have a very productive conversation.

Use Open Ended Questions Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." Open-ended questions encourage the speaker to expand on his or her thoughts and comments. And one question will lead to another. By asking open-ended questions, you can draw out of the other person everything that he or she has to say on a particular subject. Then you have all the information you need to respond intelligently.

Pause Before Replying This is a key strategy that the very best verbal communicators use. A short pause of three to five seconds is all you need to do. When you pause, you accomplish four things. First, you avoid interrupting the person if they had more to say. Second, you show respect by giving careful consideration to what the person just said. Third, what the person said will sink into your mind and your response will be much more on point than if you just blurted it out. Last, but not least, you come across as a very thoughtful and intelligent person.

Tip! Punishment should fit the crime. A sure way to discourage and even shut down communication is for a child to feel fearful that in their communication something will surface that may result in harsh punishment.

I'll tell you right now that pausing is the hardest thing to learn. Even though it's only three to five seconds, it feels more like three to five minutes. At first, it's very awkward to do. Try a little experiment: start observing the executives and highly respected managers in your organization. You will see that they use this strategy all the time. It works for them and it will work for you too.

Tip! Knowing how to improve communication skills will come easier once you become aware of your own communication style.

Body Language When you are speaking to someone, maintain eye contact at all times. Don't scan the room, looking for other people. That's rude. Don't look down at the conference room table or the floor or past the person. That shows your lack of self-confidence. Never cross your arms or hang out in the chair as if it's your personal Barcalounger. Carry yourself in a relaxed yet professional way. If you are comfortable, you'll make the other person feel comfortable too.

Ask someone (who you think has a very professional style) to critique you on your body language just as soon as you are done reading this article. I'm not kidding. This is one of those silent career killers that nobody will tell you about because it's embarrassing to talk about.

Tip! Use self-disclosure openings as conversation starters. They ease communication apprehension, offer insight into you and appeal to the inherent helpful nature of other people.

Use These Strategies All the Time Don't just use these strategies for meetings or when you talk to managers or high level people. Use them all the time. By doing so, you will quickly break old bad habits and completely turn your verbal communication skills around in no time at all.

Communication Magic. The Amazing Formula for Communicating straight from the Heart in your relationships.

But the most important reason is that when you use these techniques, you are giving out a high level of respect and consideration to whoever you come in contact with. And everyone deserves to receive that, regardless of whether they are the CEO or the janitor. It's the right thing to do.

Dee Piziak is a manager for a Fortune 500 company and a university instructor. Her consulting firm, Acadia Communications, specializes in professional coaching, career development, and resume writing. Visit her website at http://www.acadiacommunications.com and sign up for her FREE monthly career coaching newsletter.

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net