Showing posts with label Interview Tips. Show all posts

Avoid the Top 10 Interview Mistakes

Haris Arif 23:43:00 Human Resources , Interview Tips

The best way to avoid the most common and dangerous interview mistakes is to think ahead and decide not to make them... Read on for a whistle-stop tour of the top ten interview clangers!

1. Lying
Although it's tempting, it doesn't work. By all means gloss over the unflattering things. But out-right fibbing NEVER pays.

Mark Twain said: "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything." Think about it. They will catch you out later.

2. Slating your current company or boss

Fed up with your current job and would give anything to leave because they've treated you badly? Your job interview is NOT the time to seek revenge. Bear in mind that the interviewer will be listening to your answers and thinking about what it would be like to work with you. Ask yourself: do you like working with people who constantly criticise others? Isn't it a bit wearing? The trouble is that the interviewer draws massive conclusions from your answers. So your throwaway comment about your boss or employer may be interpreted to be your "standard" way of thinking. It makes you look bad, not your employer.

3. Being Rude

If you find you were accidentally rude, then apologise calmly and genuinely. Then leave it behind you and get on with the rest of the interview. If you dwell on it, it will affect your performance. What's "rude"? Well, that depends on your audience. As a rule of thumb, avoid cracking jokes about potentially sensitive topics and beware of being too "pally" with the interviewer: polite and friendly is enough. After all, you're not in the pub with them. So stay professional. Also bear in mind that everyone you meet could be involved in the selection process. So blanking the receptionist or talking down to the junior members of staff could cost you the job.

4. Complaining

Ok, so your train journey might have been a nightmare and maybe you thought the tube would never arrive, or the tailbacks on the motorway were endless. But your interviewer doesn't want to know that!
Complaining, even in jest, is not a recommended icebreaker. It may be completely harmless, or it might simply make the interviewer switch off. Don't let complaining set the tone for the interview!

5. Talking about people you don't get on with at work

These days, it's common to be asked how you deal with conflict. Companies realise the importance of interpersonal relationships in the working environment. So if they ask you about difficult people or situations, make sure you hold back from character assassination and blaming others for problems because it won't do you any favours! If you accidentally do "break" this rule, apologise and explain what you "really" meant.

6. Not Being Prepared

Re-read the relevant version of your CV and the job advert, just before the interview. You'd be surprised how many people can't remember what they wrote on their CV. And if you remember what type of person the job advert was looking for, it's easier to demonstrate that you have those qualities.
Make sure you've brought with you anything you were asked for. It's fine to bring a note-pad and pen, but make sure they're tidy. It's even ok to bring notes with you; particularly if you have any questions you want to ask. It shows you're taking the job application seriously. Ill-prepared candidates rarely get job offers.

7. Appearing to be too nervous, or too confident

If you appear too nervous they'll think you're not confident enough to do the job. However, appearing too confident will make them think you won't fit into the team. If interview nerves are an issue for you, it's worth getting practical help from a professional, such as an interview coach.

8. Making a weak first impression

Unfortunately, no matter how hard the interviewer tries, a lot of "don't want to hire them" decisions are made in the first few minutes of contact. If you make a strong first impression, the interviewer will be more inclined to overlook "imperfections" in your answers.

9. Not having researched the company

As a general rule, the more famous the brand, the more they will expect you to have done your homework. Researching the company shows you're serious about the job.

Example from a real interview for a major food brand:

Candidate: "Hello Mr. Interviewer. Yes, I'd love to work for your company. I think your brand is great and I really believe I could make a contribution to your marketing strategy."

Interviewer: "So what do you think about our current merchandising, compared to our competition?"

Candidate: "Oh... Errr.... Well, I haven't had time to check it out, really."

Likelihood of getting the job? Low.

10. Putting your foot in it and not noticing

Yes, we know, you didn't mean to put your foot in it. But it doesn't really matter what you intended. What counts is how the other person reacts. So what can you do? Be prepared to simply say "sorry, that's not what I meant!" This requires you to actually be paying attention to the interviewer, rather than your own thoughts and feelings. Once you've apologised, leave it there, take a deep breath to help you relax and move on with the job interview.

Phone Interview Tips: 10 Keys to succeed in a telephonic interview

Haris Arif 19:03:00 Human Resources , Interview Tips

Phone Interview Tips: 10 Keys to succeed in a telephonic interview

In a world where jobs are no longer restricted by political and geographical boundaries, several companies today are conducting phone interviews to short-list candidates before calling them in for a face-to-face interaction.

A phone interview has several advantages both for the employer and candidate. It is typically shorter than a face-to-face interview, allowing the interviewer to save on time.

Phone Interview Tips

For the candidate, who has the advantage of remaining unseen, a phone interview allows the use of cue cards and cheat sheets, as well as access to the Internet.

Here are 10 phone interview tips to help you ace your phone interview:

1. Choose a good spot

Companies generally tell you in advance when they will be calling. Choose a room where you can speak without disruption. Shut out other noises like TV and radio, take the kids away and lock the room from inside. Ask your family members not to disturb you when the interview is in progress. Get a good phone -- preferably a landline. You don’t want calls to drop at this time.

2. Keep documents handy

Get a hard copy of your resume and cover letter and keep it ready. Keep pen and paper handy to take down notes. You could even keep your laptop on in case you want to refer to the Internet. But take care to be discreet -- don’t hammer away loudly at the keys of your computer.

3. Use a cheat sheet

One of the great advantages of a phone interview is invisibility. Prepare for expected questions in advance and jot down points on a piece of paper. Write clearly and legibly since you will be referring to it under pressure. Practice the answers to expected questions beforehand and prepare for any derivative question that may arise as well.

4. Be in a positive frame of mind

This may seem odd, but smile! Though the interviewer cannot see you, it is not difficult to sense your mood over the phone. If you feel happy, bright and enthusiastic, this will reflect in your voice. Some experts also suggest dressing for the interview. If you think this will put you in the right frame of mind for the interview, go right ahead and slip into formal clothes.

5. Do your homework

You’ve already visited the company portal while writing your cover letter, so you have a sense of what the organization is about. This may be a good time to go back to the portal and brush up on that knowledge. If you know the name of your interviewer, you could also search him/her on the Internet to learn more about him/her.

6. Treat the interview like a face-to-face interaction

It is easy to fall into the trap of not taking a phone interview as seriously as a face-to-face interview. But remember, this is a process of elimination as well. It will be unfortunate if you were eliminated at this stage because you did not take the interview seriously enough. Prepare for a phone interview as you would for a face-to-face interaction.

7. Ask intelligent questions

After he/she is done with the interview, your interviewer will typically ask if you have any questions. This is a chance for you to showcase your intelligence. You could ask questions on the role you are being interviewed for, company branding or its strategy to beat market slump. Asking questions that tell the employer you are serious about this role.

8. Don't bring up salary

It is too early at this stage to bring up salary and perks. The company is still assessing your suitability for the job. Salary discussions generally take place in the final stages of the hiring process. So hold your horses till then!

9. Ask if the interviewer has other questions

Asking the interviewer if he/she has any other questions is a good way to round up the discussion. This will give him/her a chance go back to the list of questions and see if something has been left out. If there are no more questions, ask what the next step will be in the hiring process.

10. Say thank you

Don’t forget to say thank you, even if the interview has gone badly. Some experts even recommend sending a short thank you note to the interviewer a day after the interview.

You may spend a lot of time talking on the phone, but that does not equip you to master a phone interview. So keep these pointers in mind to get one step closer to the job.

Use professional networking to get the job you want

Haris Arif 15:58:00 Human Resources , Interview Tips , Job Searching Tips

Use professional networking to get the job you want

When you are job hunting, professional recommendations and endorsements often act as the silent yet decisive factor in landing the desired role. From job search websites the act of job seeking is now largely becoming mobile. In this multi-device, cross-platform job hunt, seekers and recruiters are both fighting for the edge. You can stand out with the one tool which recruiters often find most reliable and conspicuous – Professional Endorsements! The new Monster Mobile app combined with Monster’s Professional Networking for Jobs assists you to build a professional network with your peers, alumni, mentor, recruiters and companies. You can reach out within this network to get credible endorsements for your skills, expertise, experience and capabilities.

Here are some basics to keep in mind to build your Professional Endorsements:

How do they work?Your professional network is made up of your contacts from across your life – from school to college to the internships where you shined to the first job you cracked and the clients you have impressed along the way. Each of them knows your capabilities in different ways. Whether it’s your fire-fighting abilities, proactive professionalism, soft skills or even personality traits, these people from your past and present can help you stand out amidst the talent pool with endorsements of particular skills and capabilities to give recruiters a unique picture of you! These endorsements carry a further weight of authentication as they come from other trusted users within the network. Monster’s Professional Networking for Jobs helps job seekers connect with multitude of recruiters and companies within the Monster environment. With the Monster Mobile app, you are provided a quick and easy tool to give and receive endorsements within this network, anytime, anywhere. The app also provides real-time updates of endorsements received and given.

Create the Building Blocks
First and foremost, it is important to build a sound professional network. Monster Professional Networking for jobs lets you build robust professional relations within the Monster environment as well as import external contacts. You can follow companies and recruiters you like. Once you follow them, they will be able to look at your profile, complete with all your career history, skill endorsements and your professional photo. You are no longer a faceless candidate but have a unique profile which the recruiter can keep in mind. Monster’s Professional Networking is designed to help you build engagement with these companies/ recruiters as well as stay in touch with your other professional contacts – old colleagues, employers, alumni. These are the building blocks to scoring good endorsements later.

The More, The Better
In this case, the adage is truly accurate. More endorsements can mean more visibility in the virtual world. When recruiters sort through various profiles of candidates, which element do you think can help you stand out the most? It is your skills and expertise, verified and sanctioned by other competent professionals. The more people endorse you for a particular skill, the more you will stand out in the recruiter’s mind for a job that requires that skill. So don’t shy away from asking for endorsements. The Monster Mobile app makes this process as simple as the click of a button. As it interoperates with the Monster Professional Networking, you can quickly reach out to a contact and ask or give an endorsement.

Reach across the Board
Your endorsements are a summary of you – the skills you excel at and areas of expertise you have mastered over the years. Make sure you reach out across the board to get relevant endorsements from your seniors, peers as well as subordinates. At the end of the day, it’s not just about the quantity but also the quality of the endorsements. Several endorsements might catch a recruiter’s eye, but what will keep it there is the depth and reliability of your endorsers.

It’s a Give and TakeRemember to keep endorsing people within your network. This is not just good to nurture your relationships and receive endorsements in return, but can also increase your visibility with recruiters. When a recruiter comes to your page on Monster Professional Networking, they will not only see the skills you have been endorsed for, but also the skills you have endorsed others for. This can give a wider perspective of the skills and capabilities within your closest circle, which means a more holistic picture of what you are capable of bringing to the table.

Professional Endorsements can have an unpredictable advantage by helping you stand out in places you weren’t event looking. What if you are ideal for a job for which a candidate is being sought, but it is not within your network? If such a recruiter happens to land on your profile, it is these very endorsements which will help them identify you as the best choice! So do not underestimate the standout abilities of Professional Endorsements. Download Monster Mobile app and use the Professional Networking for jobs features and get going. Seek out and build your endorsements to shine through!

Ace a job interview with these last minute tips

Haris Arif 18:54:00 Human Resources , Interview Tips

Ace a job interview with these last minute tips

Even if you have less than a day before your job interview, you can outshine the competition with a little interview preparation. The following four tasks will take you about four hours (plus five minutes) to complete, and you'll walk into the interview confident you'll be successful.

Conduct Basic Interview Research

To prepare for an interview, find out as much as you can beforehand. Call the person who scheduled your interview and ask:

Who will you be talking to? Will you meet the manager you'd work for, or will you just talk to HR? What are the interviewer's expectations?
What's the dress code? Dress better than suggested. Most times, it's best to wear a professional suit. You'd be amazed how many candidates show up looking like they're going to class, not presenting a professional demeanor.
Get directions to the office. Plan to leave early. Keep a phone number to call if you get stuck on the bus or in traffic. If you arrive late and stressed, the interview will not go well.
If you don't have a detailed job description, ask for one.

That's a five-minute phone call.

Learn About the Company Online

Do some fast Web research, which will give you something to talk about in addition to the job description. Go to the employer's Web site, or search the Web for information such as:

How big is the company in terms of annual sales or employees? What does the company say about its products or services?
What recent news (such as a new product, a press release, an interview with the CEO) can you discuss?
If the company is public, the boilerplate at the bottom of its press releases will tell you a lot.

Basic research should take you about an hour.

Think of Some Stories

Be ready to answer typical interview questions with a story about yourself. To prepare, write down and memorize three achievement stories. Tell about times you've really felt proud of an achievement at work or school. These stories demonstrate all those hard-to-measure qualities like judgment, initiative, teamwork or leadership. Wherever possible, quantify what you've done, e.g., "increased sales by 20 percent," "cut customer call waiting time in half," "streamlined delivery so that most customers had their job done in two days."

By the way, nonwork achievement stories are good too; if you volunteer for the local food pantry, write down a time you overcame a big challenge or a crisis there.

Achievement stories make you memorable, which is what you want. There's an exercise in Monster Careers: Interviewing called "Mastering the Freestyle Interview," which helps you develop these stories into compelling sales points.

Take the time you need -- at least three hours on this task.

Pick Your Outfit, and Go to Bed Early

Lay out your interview outfit the night before, get a good night's rest, and always get an early start. The last thing you want is to waste all of your interview preparation by arriving flustered and panicked because you couldn't find a parking space.

The interview is a crucial step towards scoring the job of your dreams. And the best way to succeed in an interview is to go in prepared. Find more expert advice on interviewing here.

How to Prepare Yourself for Job Interview

Haris Arif 18:30:00 Human Resources , Interview Tips

How to Prepare Yourself for Job Interview

Interview is a stage in which one has to prove his mettle. Your knowledge, skills, communication even your body language must impress the interviewer. You need to show that you are perfect one who fulfills the job requirements. So interview is an opportunity where either you can grab or lose the success. Therefore, before entering the realm you need to prepare yourself in all respect.

Beware that interviewing is a skill; as with all skills, preparation and practice enhance the quality of that skill. Better preparation can make the difference between getting a job offer and getting rejected. Practice makes a man perfect in every sphere of life. One can only improve style and acumen with practice. Here are some common practices that can help you reach your goal:

Carry thorough research on your subject before appearing in the interview.
Revise your educational subjects, training courses and experiences.
Prepare short tips and questions of your notices.
Learn some lessons from your past experiences of interviews and never repeat same mistakes.
One must prepare a list of likely question.
Make it a routine to read general books, news paper etc.
Try to overpower hesitation and shyness.
Stand before the mirror and practice interviewing by asking questions from yourself in a loud voice.
Observe your body language while you are standing before the mirror.
Try to keep eye contact with your own picture before the mirror.
Repeat this practice time and again in front of the mirror.
Make it a habit to read in a loud voice in the room.
Go alone for practice.
Try to arrange mock interviews with your friends.
Ask your friend to give you constructive, positive, productive, beneficial and useful criticism on speaking style, mannerisms, and poise.
Make a video or audio-tape of your answers for future review. Scrutinize your video or audio-tape carefully that how you look and sound and note inflection of your voice, mannerisms and gestures, facial expressions, poise, energy and enthusiasm in your answers as well as in your body language.
Extract from your practice that how can you improve, enhance, develop, or revise your answers and delivery?

As you practice, avoid colloquialisms, such as "like" and "you know." It's important to prepare yourself for talking with complete strangers.
Your preparation should also include actual practice of typical and targeted interview questions. Prepare a succinct, clear answer to each of the questions in the interview questions section.
Better and fluent English skills are the key to success in the interview.

“Why Do You Want This Job?”- Answering the Job Interview Question

Haris Arif 19:11:00 Human Resources , Interview Tips

“Why Do You Want This Job?”- Answering the Job Interview Question

Why do you want this job? During a job search process, you can face this interview question. Every interview question has a value attached to it. So when an interviewer asks you this question, they expect a logical answer.

In an interview the employer has some judgements attached to the questions. Hence, the answer you frame should be impressive, enticing and should make the employer believe that you are the right candidate.

So, how to answer the interview question – “why do you want this job?”

Answering the Interview Question

Most job seekers tend not to prepare for common interview questions like this because they believe that these questions can be answered instantly. But, it is not this way. You need to be prepared for these questions as they have a judgmental value that can either get you the job or turn the tables other way for you.

You might also face this question in another form like “why do you want to work for us?” or “why this company?” More or less the answer pattern for the question remains similar and you can use it in whatever form suits you.

What Interviewer Want to Hear?

They want to hear your sales pitch. How you can sell yourself to the interviewer. Your sales pitch should give them reasons that make you a perfect fit. For example, here is a sales pitch for a sales job:

“This roles wants someone who can fulfil the targets and increase the business of the organization. In my last organization I had over achieved my targets for four months in a row and multiplied the business three times by the end of the financial year. Prior to that I was associated with XYZ organization where I was promoted to deputy manager in the time span of 2 years.”

The interviewer wants to:

– Know how this position fits in your career goals

– Find out how well do you know about the company goals and stuff

– Know your priorities and preferences

– To know how excited are you for the job

Drafting the Perfect Answer

Your answer should give the employer a good reason to hire you. True, you need a job and that the post is perfect for your career. But, these reflect your interest in the job. When you are in an interview, your purpose should be to generate interest of the employer in you. The employer should see you as a perfect fit for the job role.

How to Go About It?

A good answer manages to sell the candidate while addressing what he/she likes about the job. When answering the question, take lead of your experience and explain why you fit in. Next, show how the role excites you and show some enthusiasm. Finally your answer should reflect that you can deliver immediate results.

The perfect answer should be drafted in three steps:

Step 1: Show Your Enthusiasm

This question is an excellent opportunity for you to show how happy you are to receive this opportunity. Talk about how excited you are to be a part of the organization. When you are preparing for an interview, make sure that you have done enough research about the company and are ready with facts and figures that expresses your interests in the organization.

Especially if you are interviewing for a smaller company, knowing a thing or two about the company is quite impressive for the employers.

Step 2: Make Sure You Have Your Skills Matching With the Role

Like said earlier, the employer wants to be sure that you a right candidate. Make sure that your answers show the employer that you fit for the job. You can either choose to focus on your experience (if you are switching job in the same industry) or focus on your skills (works best when you are switching jobs). Use job description to extract relevant skills and experience and use them in your answer.

Step 3: Show the Employer that the Role Fits in Your Career Goals

The employer wants to understand your career goals and hence wants to know how the current job would help you fulfil your career goal. In your answer, include a section where you talk about your career goals and how the position you are interviewing for help you achieve that. This makes the employer more confident about you as the role is fulfilling your career goals as well. This is the reason that the answer to this question includes a career goal part.

Concluding

This interview question is like a check box question that majorly appears in front of the candidate. Hence, prepare for this question so that you can confidently appear for an interview. A well drafted question would talk about your personal interests balancing with why you fit in the role.

Answering the Interview question: Where Do you see yourself 5 Years from Now?

Haris Arif 19:04:00 Human Resources , Interview Tips

Answering the Interview question: Where Do you see yourself 5 Years from Now?

You’re sailing through an interview—answering all common interview questions about your personal and professional life with perfect examples and smart anecdotes—when all of a sudden the interviewer throws a somewhat more personal question at you: “Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?”

This question which is among the top 10 interview questions is not designed to check your intuitive powers so don’t let it throw you off track! Several candidates find themselves stumped by this question, mainly because it’s not as simple as it may sound and also because if not answered correctly, it could be a total deal-breaker. When interviewers ask you this, they aren’t actually looking for a definitive reply—after all, nothing is certain in today’s job market, particularly five years from now. Honestly, they are merely trying to gauge whether or not you plan on sticking around for long, how precise a fit you are for them and what your professional ambitions and goals are as a whole.

So how do you tackle this question? Let’s take a look how:

Understand what employers expect from you:

Interviewers don’t really expect you to give precise details about what you’ll be doing in the next five years. They simply want to know if you’ve thought about your professional growth or if you do have a plan. There are numerous reasons why they ask this question. Apart from being inquisitive about your overall career plan, they are also keen to find out some basics about you: – Have you given thought to your career? Are you determined or do you need initiative? Do your aspirations match with those of the company? Are you going to stick around for long or are you going to jump ship for the next great opportunity?

Sell yourself:

In an ideal world, we’d always say, ‘Speak absolute truth’. Tell them precisely where you want to be in the next five years, even if it’s totally crazy and unrelated!” And if the company doesn’t hire you because they aren’t accommodating, then probably it’s not the right company for you anyways. However, in a not so ideal world you sometimes have to take a role that works for the moment, and then fine-tune yourself as time goes on. If that’s the case:

– Express that you’re eager to excel in the role being offered and then would like to continue growing within the organisation will be a good answer. One of the significant things that you can do is to listen to the problems that need to be resolved while you are interviewing.

– Try addressing them while you answer the five-year question and position yourself as a long-term solution provider for the company. It’s also good to show a healthy level of realistic aspiration but avoid sounding too ambitious! This can set the panic button and alarm the hiring manager.

– Strike the perfect balance between over-ambitious and realistic. While you don’t want to undersell your capabilities or come across as somebody lacking in drive, you also don’t want to portray yourself as a ruthless go-getter who would step on a lot of toes, to claw your way to the top.

Be honest:

– Employers have heard it all, particularly the well-rehearsed and rehashed clichés! So avoid standard answers to the top interview questions and be honest. Show that you have put some contemplation into your career and haven’t applied for the job simply on a whim.

– It’s ok to not know what you want a year from now let alone five years! So if the far-off future appears unclear to you and you really have no idea where you will be in the next five years, then don’t resort to lying. But don’t leave it at that – tell the employer that you still have aspirations and are pretty thrilled about the prospect of working for them.

– You need to communicate that you do have a sense of direction and are not a lost soul who doesn’t have a clue where he is headed to. You may want to emphasise that you are pretty open to opportunities that come your way and would welcome any career training and advancement they would offer.

A good answer would go something like this:

A good answer should reflect your focus, ambition and future plans that are aligned to the company you’re interviewing with. Some examples are:

– “I do not have a precise role in mind, but my aim over the next five years is to be at a place where I can make a difference. Career advancement is significant to me, so I look forward to taking on more responsibilities and gain more industry awareness in the process. Hopefully my experience will allow me to help the company achieve the desired goals in the coming years.’

– Or maybe something like “I’d like to progress in the field of marketing and see myself in more senior roles. Judging by our discussion so far, this position would give me the chance to sharpen my skills and develop new techniques to help me progress. I’d also like to take on more responsibilities in the process to make constructive contributions to the team that will help the company achieve more success.”

In all probability, no one knows exactly where they will be in five years both personally and professionally. So if you are unsure about how to answer interview questions like where you’ll be five years down the line you are certainly not alone! Use your difficulty with this question as a wakeup call to make some decisions and explore career options.

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Articles by "Interview Tips"

Avoid the Top 10 Interview Mistakes

Phone Interview Tips: 10 Keys to succeed in a telephonic interview

Phone Interview Tips: 10 Keys to succeed in a telephonic interview

Use professional networking to get the job you want

Use professional networking to get the job you want

Use professional networking to get the job you want

Ace a job interview with these last minute tips

Ace a job interview with these last minute tips

How to Prepare Yourself for Job Interview

How to Prepare Yourself for Job Interview

“Why Do You Want This Job?”- Answering the Job Interview Question

“Why Do You Want This Job?”- Answering the Job Interview Question

Answering the Interview Question

What Interviewer Want to Hear?

Drafting the Perfect Answer

How to Go About It?

Answering the Interview question: Where Do you see yourself 5 Years from Now?

Answering the Interview question: Where Do you see yourself 5 Years from Now?

So how do you tackle this question? Let’s take a look how:

Understand what employers expect from you:

Sell yourself:

Be honest:

A good answer would go something like this:

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