Being prepared is half the battle.
If you are one of those executive types unhappy at your present post
and embarking on a New Year's resolution to find a new one, here's a
helping hand. The job interview is considered to be the most
critical aspect of every expedition that brings you face-to- face
with the future boss. One must prepare for it with the same tenacity
and quickness as one does for a fencing tournament or a chess
match.
1. Tell me about yourself.
Since this is often the opening question in an interview, be
extracareful that you don't run off at the mouth. Keep your answer
to a minute or two at most. Cover four topics: early years,
education, work history, and recent career experience. Emphasize
this last subject. Remember that this is likely to be a warm-up
question. Don't waste your best points on it.
2. What do you know about our organization?
You should be able to discuss products or services, revenues,
reputation, image, goals, problems, management style, people,
history and philosophy. But don't act as if you know everything
about the place. Let your answer show that you have taken the time
to do some research, but don't overwhelm the interviewer, and make
it clear that you wish to learn more.
You might start your answer in this manner: "In my job search, I've
investigated a number of companies.
Yours is one of the few that interests me, for these reasons..."
Give your answer a positive tone. Don't say, "Well, everyone tells
me that you're in all sorts of trouble, and that's why I'm here",
even if that is why you're there.
3. Why do you want to work for us?
The deadliest answer you can give is "Because I like people." What
else would you like-animals?
Here, and throughout the interview, a good answer comes from having
done your homework so that you can speak in terms of the company's
needs. You might say that your research has shown that the company
is doing things you would like to be involved with, and that it's
doing them in ways that greatly interest you. For example, if the
organization is known for strong management, your answer should
mention that fact and show that you would like to be a part of that
team. If the company places a great deal of emphasis on research and
development, emphasize the fact that you want to create new things
and that you know this is a place in which such activity is
encouraged. If the organization stresses financial controls, your
answer should mention a reverence for numbers.
If you feel that you have to concoct an answer to this question -
if, for example, the company stresses research, and you feel that
you should mention it even though it really doesn't interest you-
then you probably should not be taking that interview, because you
probably shouldn't be considering a job with that organization.
Your homework should include learning enough about the company to
avoid approaching places where you wouldn't be able -or wouldn't
want- to function. Since most of us are poor liars, it's difficult
to con anyone in an interview. But even if you should succeed at it,
your prize is a job you don't really want.
4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
Here you have every right, and perhaps an obligation, to toot your
own horn and be a bit egotistical. Talk about your record of getting
things done, and mention specifics from your resume or list of
career accomplishments. Say that your skills and interests, combined
with this history of getting results, make you valuable. Mention
your ability to set priorities, identify problems, and use your
experience and energy to solve them.
5. What do you find most attractive about this position?
What seems least attractive about it?
List three or four attractive factors of the job, and mention a
single, minor, unattractive item.
6. Why should we hire you?
Create your answer by thinking in terms of your ability, your
experience, and your energy. (Seequestion 4.)
7. What do you look for in a job?
Keep your answer oriented to opportunities at this organization.
Talk about your desire to perform and be recognized for your
contributions. Make your answer oriented toward opportunity rather
than personal security.
8. Please give me your defintion of [the position for which you
are being interviewed].
Keep your answer brief and taskoriented. Think in in terms of
responsibilities and accountability. Make sure that you really do
understand what the position involves before you attempt an answer.
If you are not certain. ask the interviewer; he or she may answer
the question for you.
9. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution
to our firm?
Be realistic. Say that, while you would expect to meet pressing
demands and pull your own weight from the first day, it might take
six months to a year before you could expect to know the
organization and its needs well enough to make a major contribution.
10. How long would you stay with us?
Say that you are interested in a career with the organization, but
admit that you would have to continue to feel challenged to remain
with any organization. Think in terms of, "As long as we both feel
achievement-oriented."
11. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too
experienced for this position. What's Your opinion?
Emphasize your interest in establishing a long-term association with
the organization, and say that you assume that if you perform well
in his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a
strong company needs a strong staff. Observe that experienced
executives are always at a premium. Suggest that since you are so
wellqualified, the employer will get a fast return on his
investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can never have too
much talent.
12. What is your management style?
You should know enough about the company's style to know that your
management style will complement it. Possible styles include: task
oriented (I'll enjoy problem-solving identifying what's wrong,
choosing a solution and implementing it"), results-oriented ("Every
management decision I make is determined by how it will affect the
bottom line"), or even paternalistic ("I'm committed to taking care
of my subordinates and pointing them in the right direction").
A participative style is currently quite popular: an open-door
method of managing in which you get things done by motivating people
and delegating responsibility.
As you consider this question, think about whether your style will
let you work hatppily and effectively within the organization.
13. Are you a good manager? Can you give me some examples? Do
you feel that you have top managerial potential?
Keep your answer achievementand ask-oriented. Rely on examples from
your career to buttress your argument. Stress your experience and
your energy.
14. What do you look for when You hire people?
Think in terms of skills. initiative, and the adaptability to be
able to work comfortably and effectively with others. Mention that
you like to hire people who appear capable of moving up in the
organization.
15. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons,
and how did you handle the situation?
Admit that the situation was not easy, but say that it worked out
well, both for the company and, you think, for the individual. Show
that, like anyone else, you don't enjoy unpleasant tasks but that
you can resolve them efficiently and -in the case of firing someone-
humanely.
16. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being
a manager or executive?
Mention planning, execution, and cost-control. The most difficult
task is to motivate and manage employess to get something planned
and completed on time and within the budget.
17. What important trends do you see in our industry?
Be prepared with two or three trends that illustrate how well you
understand your industry. You might consider technological
challenges or opportunities, economic conditions, or even regulatory
demands as you collect your thoughts about the direction in which
your business is heading.
18. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) job?
Be brief, to the point, and as honest as you can without hurting
yourself. Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. where
you considered this topic as you set your reference statements. If
you were laid off in an across-the-board cutback, say so; otherwise,
indicate that the move was your decision, the result of your action.
Do not mention personality conflicts.
The interviewer may spend some time probing you on this issue,
particularly if it is clear that you were terminated. The "We agreed
to disagree" approach may be useful. Remember hat your references
are likely to be checked, so don't concoct a story for an interview.
19. How do you feel about leaving all your benefits to find a
new job?
Mention that you are concerned, naturally, but not panicked. You are
willing to accept some risk to find the right job for yourself.
Don't suggest that security might interest you more than getting the
job done successfully.
20. In your current (last) position, what features do (did)
you like the most? The least?
Be careful and be positive. Describe more features that you liked
than disliked. Don't cite personality problems. If you make your
last job sound terrible, an interviewer may wonder why you remained
there until now.
21. What do you think of your boss?
Be as positive as you can. A potential boss is likely to wonder if
you might talk about him in similar terms at some point in the
future.
22. Why aren't you earning more at your age?
Say that this is one reason that you are conducting this job search.
Don't be defensive.
23. What do you feel this position should pay?
Salary is a delicate topic. We suggest that you defer tying yourself
to a precise figure for as long as you can do so politely. You might
say, "I understand that the range for this job is between Rs.______
and Rs.______. That seems appropriate for the job as I understand
it." You might answer the question with a question: "Perhaps you can
help me on this one. Can you tell me if there is a range for similar
jobs in the organization?"
If you are asked the question during an initial screening interview,
you might say that you feel you need to know more about the
position's responsibilities before you could give a meaningful
answer to that question. Here, too, either by asking the interviewer
or search executive (if one is involved), or in research done as
part of your homework, you can try to find out whether there is a
salary grade attached to the job. If there is, and if you can live
with it, say that the range seems right to you.
If the interviewer continues to probe, you might say, "You know that
I'm making Rs.______ now. Like everyone else, I'd like to improve on
that figure, but my major interest is with the job itself." Remember
that the act of taking a new job does not, in and of itself, make
you worth more money.
If a search firm is involved, your contact there may be able to help
with the salary question. He or she may even be able to run
interference for you. If, for instance, he tells you what the
position pays, and you tell him that you are earning that amount now
and would Like to do a bit better, he might go back to the employer
and propose that you be offered an additional 10%.
If no price range is attached to the job, and the interviewer
continues to press the subject, then you will have to restpond with
a number. You cannot leave the impression that it does not really
matter, that you'll accept whatever is offered. If you've been
making Rs. 3,00,000a year, you can't say that a Rs. 2,00,000 figure
would be fine without sounding as if you've given up on yourself.
(If you are making a radical career change, however, this kind of
disparity may be more reasonable and understandable.)
Don't sell yourself short, but continue to stress the fact that the
job itself is the most important thing in your mind. The interviewer
may be trying to determine just how much you want the job. Don't
leave the impression that money is the only thing that is important
to you. Link questions of salary to the work itself.
But whenever possible, say as little as you can about salary until
you reach the "final" stage of the interview process. At that point,
you know that the company is genuinely interested in you and that it
is likely to be flexible in salary negotiations.
24. What are your long-range goals?
Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. Don't
answer, "I want the job you've advertised." Relate your goals to the
company you are interviewing: 'in a firm like yours, I would like
to..."
25. How successful do you you've been so far?
Say that, all-in-all, you're happy with the way your career has
progressed so far. Given the normal ups and downs of life, you feel
that you've done quite well and have no complaints.
Present a positive and confident picture of yourself, but don't
overstate your case. An answer like, "Everything's wonderful! I
can't think of a time when things were going better! I'm overjoyed!"
is likely to make an interviewer wonder whether you're trying to
fool him . . . or yourself. The most convincing confidence is
usually quiet confidence.
Job Search Tips
How prepared are you for planning and conducting an effective job
search?
Successful job seekers must have both good information and well-
developed job hunting skills.
Three important factors for a successful job search are
An awareness of your goals and skills
An understanding of the labor market, and
A well planned job search campaign.
Experts recommend that you begin an active job search six to nine
months in advance of your target employment date.
You can begin the process by visiting the Career Center early (for
students, nine months to a year before graduation).
Top
Ten Time Saving Tips to Speed Up Your Job Search
Be Prepared.
Have a telephone answering machine or voice mail system in place and
sign-up for a professional sounding email address. Put your cell
phone number on your resume so you can follow up in a timely manner.
Be More Than Prepared.
Always have an up-to-date resume ready to send - even if you are not
currently looking for work. You never know when an opportunity that
is too good to pass up might come along. Have a supply of good
quality resume paper, envelopes and stamps on hand.
Don't Wait.
If you are laid-off, file for unemployment benefits right away. You
may be able to file online or by phone. Waiting could delay your
benefits check.
Get Help.
Utilize free or inexpensive services that provide career counseling
and job search assistance such as college career offices, state
Department of Labor offices or your local public library.
Create Your Own Templates.
Have email and paper versions of your resume and cover letter ready
to edit. That way you can change the content to match the
requirements of the job you're applying for, but, the contact
information and your opening and closing paragraphs won't need to be
changed.
Use Job Search Engines.
Search the job search engines. Use the sites that search the major
job banks, employer sites and electronic news groups for you.
Jobs by Email.
Let the jobs come to you. Use job search agents to sign up and
receive job listings by email. All the major job sites have search
agents and some web sites specialize in sending announcements.
Use Your Network.
Be cognizant of the fact that many, if not most, job openings aren't
advertised. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work.
Ask if they can help
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The following list summarizes the most important Boolean rules.
To get the best results from any specific job database, however,
study its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and use its online
tutorial, if one is provided.
Rule #1.
The characteristics (i.e., the individual words, terms or phrases)
that you use to describe your dream job are called "key words" on
the Internet. They are normally entered in all lower case letters
because capitalization makes them cases sensitive. In other words,
if you capitalize a key word, the computer will identify only those
jobs where that word is capitalized. If you use all lower case
letters, the computer will identify every job that contains the
word, whether it is capitalized or not.
Rule #2.
To link two characteristics together, both of which are required in
your dream job, use the Boolean operator AND. Boolean operators are
normally expressed in all capital letters. In the example above, you
might use the following expression to tell the computer what kind of
job you want: $50,000 AND hospitality. This expression tells the
computer that you want it to identify any job in its database that
offers both characteristics. It must pay $50,000, and it must be in
the hospitality industry. If either one of those factors is missing,
you do not want to see the job.
Rule #3.
To tell the computer that the characteristic for which you are
looking is a phrase rather than a single word, use quotation marks.
For example: "facility manager" AND Rs.50,000 AND hospitality.
Rule #4.
To link two characteristics together, either one of which is
acceptable in your dream job, use the Boolean operator OR. For
example, Milwaukee OR "Green Bay". Note that using capital letters
with city or state names is acceptable as they are seldom expressed
any other way.
Rule #5.
To link two characteristics together when they are part of a longer
set of characteristics, use parentheses. For example, "facility
manager" AND RS.50,000 AND hospitality AND (Milwaukee OR "Green
Bay").
Rule #6.
To account for the fact that different people use different terms to
express the same idea, always include any synonyms of your
characteristics and, wherever possible, use a Boolean operator
called a wildcard.
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The 7 Bad Habits of Ineffective Job Seekers
Habits can be good for you. As Stephen Covey pointed out in his
landmark book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the right
behavior patterns can propel you to great success. Unfortunately,
however, there's also a dark side to habits. Habits can be good, and
they can be bad. And, the wrong behavior patterns can constrain your
opportunities and, ultimately, derail your advancement in the world
of work. What are the bad habits of online job search? With a nod to
Dr. Covey, I think there are seven.
I call them The 7 Bad Habits of Ineffective Job Seekers. They are:
Habit #1: Limiting the time and effort you invest in your job search
Habit #2: Limiting the research you do to plan your search campaign
Habit #3: Limiting your search to a handful of the same job boards
Habit #4: Limiting your application to clicking on the Submit button
Habit #5: Limiting your use of the Internet to reading job postings
Habit #6: Limiting the care you take with your communications
Habit #7: Limiting the preparation you do for employer interactions
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Details on these bad habits :
Habit #1:
Limiting the time and effort you invest in your job search
As the old axiom goes, looking for a job is a full time job. That's
true whether you're conducting your search online or off. A job
search on the Internet, however, exposes you to many potential
distractions that are not found in the real world. There's e-mail
and browsing, chats and discussion forums, online poker and other
games, and a host of other forms of entertainment, exploration and
communication. And the key to job search success is to put them all
aside. You must dramatically limit the time you spend on such
activities and maximize the time you spend using the Internet's job
search resources.
Habit #2:
Limiting the research you do to plan your search campaign
The #1 reason people don't work out when they're hired by an
employer is not that they can't do the job, but that they don't fit
in. In other words, they take the right job with the wrong employer.
Doing careful, thorough research helps you avoid the negative
consequences of such a situation: When you go to work for the wrong
employer, your performance goes down which can, in turn, hurt your
standing in your field; you waste time that could have been spent
searching for your dream opportunity—the right job with the right
employer; and you risk losing that opportunity to someone else who's
active in the job market. To put it another way, inadequate research
virtually guarantees an inadequate work experience. And the
alternative is right at your fingertips. Use the Internet to assess
alternative employer's culture, management, values and performance,
and the focus your search on those organizations where you're likely
to feel comfortable (and do your best work).
Habit #3:
Limiting your search to a handful of the same job boards
There are over 40,000 job boards in operation on the Internet. In
addition to the ones that you've seen advertised, there are
thousands and thousands of others that you may not have heard about.
Collectively, they post over two million new openings every month.
To find your dream job online, therefore, you have to use enough
sites to cover the job market and the right ones to satisfy your
search objective. The formula 2GP + 3N + 2D will ensure you do that.
It involves using two general purpose sites that offer opportunities
in a broad array of professions, industries and locations; three
niche sites, including one that specializes in your career field,
one that specializes in your industry, and one that specializes in
the geographic area where you want to live; and two distinction
sites that focus on one or more of your personal attributes (e.g.,
age, gender, ethnicity, college, military service). I call it the
7:1 Method; use seven of the right sites to find the one right job
for you.
Habit #4:
Limiting your application to clicking on the Submit button
The competition for jobs today, particularly the best positions, is
simply too tough for you to do nothing more than show up online and
submit your resume. If you find your dream job and want to position
yourself for serious consideration by the employer, you have to
practice the "application two-step." Step 1 involves submitting your
credentials exactly as specified by the employer and exactly for
that job. It's a test to see if you can follow instructions and will
take the time to tailor your resume for the position you want. Step
2 involves networking to set yourself apart from the horde of other
applicants who are also likely to submit their resume for that
opening. Your goal is to find a personal or professional contact who
works for the employer and will walk your resume in the door of the
HR Department and lay it on the desk of the recruiter assigned to
fill your dream job.
Habit #5:
Limiting your use of the Internet to reading job postings
As in the real world, recruitment ads posted online reveal only a
portion of the job market. There are many more openings, including
some of the best positions, that aren't advertised. To find this so-
called "hidden job market," you have to make contact and develop
relationships with others online. That's called electronic
networking. It's done by participating in discussion forums and
bulletin boards hosted on the sites of such groups as your
professional association and college alumni organization. To get the
most out of your involvement, practice the Golden Rule of
Networking: Give as good as you get. Share your knowledge and
expertise with others in these online discussions, so that they will
be inclined to share their knowledge of job openings and their
connections in the workforce with you.
Habit #6:
Limiting the care you take with your communications
E-mail is often viewed as an informal communication medium where
typos and slang are not only appropriate, but expected. When you're
looking for a job, however, e-mail is strictly a business
communication. Every message makes an impression on the recruiter
and other representatives of the employer who receive it, and that
impression becomes a part of the data used to evaluate you. To make
the right impression, carefully edit and proofread every message
before you send it off. Don't use stilted or flowery language, but
do be formal and professional in what you write. Take the time and
make the effort to eliminate grammatical errors and misspellings and
ensure that your points are clearly and accurately expressed. Doing
so tells the employer that you take pride in what you do, and that
attribute makes you a stronger candidate.
Habit #7:
Limiting the preparation you do for employer interactions
In today's highly competitive job market, the interview begins in
the first nanosecond of the first contact with an employer. That
means you have to be well prepared and at the top of your game
virtually all of the time. What does that entail? First, make sure
that you thoroughly investigate each employer to which you apply.
Visit its Web-site, use a browser to search for information
published by other sources, and check out the commentary and
research available at such sites as Vault.com and Wetfeet.com. Then,
use the formal and informal educational resources on the Internet to
stay at the state-of-the-art in your field and up-to-the-minute on
your industry. Finally, use the information and insights you've
acquired to hone your ability to articulate the contribution you
will make to the employer, during every interaction you have with
its representatives. All of us get into a rut from time-to-time. We
put ourselves on autopilot and fall back on habits. It's a benign
way to relieve some of the workload and pressure in today's
demanding business environment. When you're looking for a new or
better job, however, those ruts can be harmful; they can lead to
behavior that limits your opportunity and potential success. They
are the 7 bad habits of ineffective job seekers—the ruts in the road
to your dream job.
Top
Review the following list of values and check those most important
to you.
Then rank your top five values in order of priority.
01. Job security
02. Working as part of a team
03. Working independently with little supervision
04. Making a contribution
05. Professional status
06. Mental challenge
07. Pleasant surroundings
08. Challenging, stimulating co-workers
09. Different tasks to accomplish daily
10. Financial rewards
11. Creating something
12. Ability to advance
Preparing Your Resume or Curriculum Vitae
The foundation of your job search should be a good, solid resume
(which may also be called a curriculum vitae or vita). The
curriculum vitae describes in detail one's professional career over
the course of one's life, including both work experiences and
qualifications. It is primarily used when pursuing opportunities in
an academic setting. Although the curriculum vitae and resume have
the same function, the differences between the two are length and
format. In the business world, the standard resume is usually no
more than two pages in length. An effective resume gets your foot in
the door and it may lead to personal interviews.
Your resume should be detailed enough to give employers the
information necessary to assess your qualifications for the job
opening. At the same time, it should be concise. It's essential that
your resume be word processed; if you can't word process it
yourself, hire a word processor. The few dollars you pay to have it
word processed will prove to be one of the best investments you will
make. You may use your resume for several different purposes:
include one with a "blind"' letter of inquiry about a job opening;
send one with a cover letter in response to an advertised position;
attach one to a standard job application; or
take it with you on a job interview.
Six steps are used to conduct an effective job search
1. Begin with Self-Assessment
2. Research and Explore Career Options
3. Choose a Career Field, then Target Employers
4. Prepare Job Search Materials and Develop Job Search Skills
5. Plan and Conduct Job Search Campaign
6. Obtain Offer and Continue to Develop Your Career Action Plan
