17 Clever Ways to Interview Like a Pro

17 Clever Ways to Interview Like a Pro Big interview coming up? Not to worry! The devil is in the detail when it comes to interviewing, make sure you are on top of all the following bits and pieces and you will nail that interview. Here we go: 1. Briefing on the job and company Have you got the full briefing of the job including tasks, reporting lines, location, travel requirements, salary range etc? If not, get it immediately. The more information you have, the more you can tailor your questions and sound like you know what you are talking about.  What do you know about the company? Again, make sure you have information on the company and familiarize yourself with their website, check press releases and stock quotes to get an idea of what is happening at the moment. A candidate who is updated on the company and the industry will impress. 2. Briefing on the people Who are the interviewers, how do they fit into the organization, what type of people are they? This is where your online sleuthing skills come very handy. The interviewers will have full information on you courtesy of your CV so it’s only fair you do some digging as well. Scour any resources including LinkedIn, Facebook and other social networking sites for information. 3. Format What is the format and agenda of the interview? You are likely to meet more than one person and they will have divided the questions and topics, find out exactly what to expect so you can be mentally prepared. Candidates sometimes go in expecting a soft chat about fringe benefits with HR but end up doing a four hour technical screening with managers from three continents, don’t let this happen to you. 4. Prepare for their questions Break out your CV and ask yourself what you would ask a candidate with this profile. Put yourself in a hiring manager’s shoes and be critical of any gaps/omissions on your CV. Do role plays with a friend and let them play the devil’s advocate. Come up with the ten questions you are most likely to be asked and then come up with the answers. When you are happy with the answers, go for the next set of ten… 5. Attire Do you know what the dress code is? You would be surprised how many candidates assume they know this and get it horribly wrong. Find out what your interviewers are likely to wear, so that you can wear something similar, only a touch more formal. Ways of finding this out would be calling the company reception/HR/line manager and asking. This also gives you an opportunity to further acquaint yourself with the people. Related:  How To Dress for Your Job Interview 6. Directions Do you have the route description and have you called the company reception to double check everything? The worst thing that could happen is you arriving late; avoid this by giving yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. 7. Arrival Act confident and courteous. Strike up a conversation with the receptionist; make sure you leave a good impression with everyone in that office. When the interviewer picks you up, offer a firm handshake and crack on with some small talk before the meeting starts. By mirroring the interviewers body language, you will make him or her feel comfortable with you from the outset. 8. Know whom to butter up If there are multiple interviewers, understand who the decision maker is and massage their ego. They will want to know that you will be a good worker and not cause any trouble. Most managers have experienced troublesome members of staff and in the process learned this the hard way so they will look out for any signs of rebel behavior. 9. Selling yourself When talking about yourself, tell stories, case studies and examples. Storytelling is story selling, everyone loves a good story and so does your interviewer. Make yourself stand out by rehearsing a few stories about your achievements, how you dealt with conflict and how great a team player you are. The interviewers might see up to 20 candidates in one day so an interesting story worth repeating will anchor your interview in their minds. Related:  Do You Know How to Sell Yourself on a Job Interview? 10. Clarity Say what you can do, what you want to learn and where you want to go in your career. A candidate that demonstrates clarity in the interview instills confidence. Nobody can expect you to say exactly where you will be in 5 years time but a general vision is required. 11. Strengths and weaknesses Everyone knows their strengths, try to limit them to 3. As for weaknesses, the best athletes in the world can give you their main weaknesses straight away. They are aware of them and working on them and so should you. This demonstrates your maturity and insight, which are crucial skills for any company. The old chestnut of giving a weakness that can be seen as strength isn’t going to work. The interviewers have heard the ‘workaholic; and ‘perfectionist’ routine more times than you have had hot meals. Related:  How to Answer the Greatest Weaknesses Question 12. Blabber Please do not waffle! I cannot reiterate this enough. Answer the questions, no more and no less. A candidate that goes off on a tangent, not only indicates lack of focus but possibly also nervousness. If you don’t know a subject, tell the interviewer this instead of trying to sound better than you are. They will appreciate your honesty and if you say that you are keen to learn more within this field, again you demonstrate a willingness to work on your weaknesses. 13. Grace under fire A few interviewers will use various techniques with the aim to push you and seeing how you react under pressure. They want to see if you will give back ‘emotional’ responses. Don’t get caught in this, stay professional and level headed. The ideal candidate will stay calm and analyze the situation; the crash and burn candidate will get very excited and rant. 14. Interview the interviewer After the incoming shells it’s your turn to return fire. It’s only fair that you are told what’s in it for you after having talked about your value add. Enquire about career paths, attrition levels, how often there are conflicts in the team, why people have left in the past. You should prepare up to ten clever questions and be prepared to ask follow up questions to the answers you are given. Related:  9 Killer Questions Candidates Ought to Ask the Interviewer 15. Buying signals Questions about your salary expectation, potential start date and booked vacation days are classic buying signals. Look out for any others, such as ‘could you do work in this area as well’ or ‘do you speak language x? This means they have a few ideas around your application. 16. End of the Interview Close them down by asking for feedback straight away. Chances are the interviewers have made their decision about you already so go ahead and ask them. By asking you show interest as well as business acumen, even if you do not get the reply you want they will respect you for asking the question. If you work in sales and don’t ask the question to close the sale, you can only guess what impression that will give. 17. After the Interview Dale Carnegie said to send a thank you note to every host, this applies for interviews as well. A simple email with a couple of lines of pleasantries will do. Again, this is a way for you to stand out from the other candidates and come across as more professional. Further reading:  8 Essential Interview Tips by a Recruiter

Career paths that WILL lead to success

Career paths that WILL lead to success You don’t want some workaday, nine to five, humdrum job that pays a pittance. You’re on the hunt for something with a little more class, a smidge more cultural cache and a few thousand more pounds per month. We understand â€" you’re a greenhorn in the world of work and you want the most out of life. But understand this â€" if you want a high-end career you’re going to have to work for it, and work hard. Most of the career suggestions on this list require an exemplary level of education and commitment, along with the kind of smooth-talking personality reserved for the cream of the crop in every generation. But if you can get your foot in the door, these are jobs that will reward you with oodles of cash and plenty of fringe benefits. Anyway, enough of our babbling â€" here are a few career paths that are worth putting in the extra effort to get. Law Careers in law are notoriously difficult to enter. University degrees in the subject receive prodigious levels of dropouts thanks to their complexity and precision. And finding a top job in the industry is about as easy as riding a unicorn to the moon. However, there are a number of expanding legal practices in the UK that will welcome a talented junior with open arms. Switalskis, a legal firm based in Yorkshire, is a prime example. This long-established firm, and many others, are the bedrock of the British legal system. Rise to heady heights in this industry and you’ll enjoy one of the most highly paid jobs in the UK, alongside benefits like a company car, private office, flexibility in the clients you take on, and the chance to make decisions which affect the direction your firm goes in. In return for these benefits you’ll have to commit long hours of slog for your firm â€" but the rewards make this weighty task well worth it. Science The field of science is a broad church, but each facet of this industry has one thing in common â€" the rewards are handsome. To enter most fields of science you’ll need a relevant university degree, the knowhow to come up with unique projects, and the ability to work on the projects of others. Science (and STEM subjects generally) is one of the great stimulators of the British economy, and the hard work of these horny handed sons of toil includes a fat paycheque at the end of every month. Medicine Doctors are worked hard in the UK, not least because of a failing NHS and a government unwilling to increase expenditure in the sector. But these are also highly paid professionals who receive great wages. On top of financial rewards are altruistic ones. This is one of the few jobs where you could feasibly save someone’s life. And that’s our list. Can you think of any other jobs that are worth their weight in gold? Then let us know in the comments below.

The 5 Steps to Networking Effectively in Your Job Hunt - Classy Career Girl

The 5 Steps to Networking Effectively in Your Job Hunt If youre looking for a way to improve the results of your job hunt, youre probably aware that networking can be one of the best solutions for you. The best jobs never get advertised, only offered to people that someone in the company already knows. So let’s discuss how you can improve your chances that, next time, you will be the person that they will remember when a great opportunity comes up for their company. The 5 Steps to Networking Effectively in Your Job Hunt 1. Tell Everyone That You Are Looking For a Job The basic thing to do, and that many people fail to accomplish, is to let people know that they are looking for a job. Simple as that. The truth is, many of us feel embarrassed about mentioning our unemployment  as if we did something wrong. But what youre actually doing wrong here is keeping it from other people. Everybody has been unemployed at one time or another, including your friends, family, and relatives. So go ahead and spread the word. Otherwise, how will they know to mention your name if they hear about something? 2. Ask For Recommendations and Reference Letters One thing that can greatly increase your chances of getting the job of your dreams is asking for recommendations and reference letters. They can go on your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and on your online CV. The opportunities to use them are endless. Of course, not all references are the same, and if you happen to get one from a guru of your industry, it will add more points than a recommendation from an ex-colleague. Still, what matters here is that you do your best to collect as many recommendations as you can. Someone else saying that you are a great professional has much more power than just you saying it. 3. Directly Contact Key People Just to be clear here, it is important that you directly contact the key people on your network list. Don’t just drop them a message on WhatsApp or Facebook. Whenever possible, book lunch, dinner, or a couple of drinks with them. Explain to them what you are looking for and ask for advice. Make yourself heard during brainstorming conversations to increase your chances of being remembered when something comes up. It will also keep you updated on the trends in hiring. Plus, it will help other people make connections and identify an opportunity for you that would go unnoticed otherwise. [RELATED: How to Double Your Network in 4 Weeks] 4. But Also  Be Discreet and Selective In a  scenario where you are still working, some people should be out of your networking list. You definitely should not contact anyone in your current employment or ask them for a recommendation or advice of any kind. It is impolite and unprofessional to do so, and it can backfire. You might lose your job much earlier than you wished, along with a reference letter that wont do you much good in the future. So be selective and discreet here. 5. Make the Most of  Social  Media Nowadays, phone contacts are in the past when it comes to networking. Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and other social media networks can help you more than you can imagine in terms of keeping in touch with people that can help you get a new job. But, in this matter,  LinkedIn  is the site you should probably be exploring the most. This is designed specifically for professional contacts, so you can be upfront about your intentions there. Take a look at your connections and check for valuable second connections that you can ask someone to introduce you to. Be proactive and participate in groups of your industry as well â€" you never know where a job post will be. The Bottom Line Networking is the secret weapon of people who always have a job. They just leave the job and let people know that they are available â€" and a great opportunity comes up sooner or later. Of course, no networking will save you if you aren’t good at your job or if your resume is badly written. But if everything else rocks, its high time for you to stop being shy and make the most of your contacts from now on.

Planning ahead for your summer University of Manchester Careers Blog

Planning ahead for your summer University of Manchester Careers Blog Although it may seem a long way off, the summer will come around quickly and the holidays are a great time to get in some work or volunteering experience while you’re not worried about next week’s reading or assignment deadlines. The key to getting your summer sorted is to plan ahead and organise things early because many opportunities that take place over the summer will be advertised early in the year. Internships will be a word you hear and see a lot when looking for work experience but many ‘internships’ advertised by employers tend to only be for students in their 2nd year of study. Also formal internships are only a small minority or work experience opportunities out there. So what kind of things can a first year student do? There are plenty of options outside for formal internship schemes, like working at a summer camp or music festival, or looking for casual retail work.  In my first year of University I worked for a local haulage company doing administration in the office. Even if the work isn’t related to your degree you can still learn essentials skills that will be relevant in future. It might also help you decide what you like in a job and what you don’t. (I learnt I didn’t want to sit in an office all day). Casual vacation work is much more the norm for students. Aside from work experience you could also look at doing some volunteering over the summer, either in the UK or abroad. Volunteering is a great thing for anyone to put on their CV, but in some cases it’s also pretty essential for certain careers. For example, if youre thinking of going into politics, education, youth work, fashion or music, then volunteering experience is a must have. But where to find these elusive opportunities? At the moment we currently have over 50 paid casual vacation vacancies on CareersLink  â€" from positions at a holiday complex to being a mentor with The Challenge. Theres even an advert to be a banana in a banana flash mob!! (Although this one is a position offered in February.) To find them, log on to your account and then select Casual vacancies in the Type of vacancy section. Weve also got My Future Fest 2016 next week, which is all about finding something to do in the summer. Venture into the My Future Fest tepees on Tuesday 9 Wednesday 10 February and explore summer travel, volunteering and work opportunities with over 20 exhibitors. (The National Citizen Service has 4,500 positions alone!) So make sure you come along to discover what’s out there and get your summer sorted early. For more information on who will be there, join the Facebook event. (Written by Sophie Wing.) All Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted experience extra curricular First year students jobs summer summer internships Volunteering work experience

On Setting Goals for Career Advancement CareerMetis.com

On Setting Goals for Career Advancement â€" CareerMetis.com Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comOnce you have entered the professional world within any industry it is only natural that you want to advance in your career. For some, this means taking a whole new direction within their chosen field and for others, career advancement is all about becoming an expert at what it is you already do.Many colleges around the country are helping graduate students advance in their chosen careers by helping them to have a better understanding of sound business principles and by helping them to achieve their goals for career advancement.Here is some advice on setting goals for career advancement from the D’Amore â€" McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.1) See Yourself in the FutureevalThe first step towards advancing in your career is to know where it is you want to go. You won’t go anywhere unless you have a destination in mind.In other words, it isn’t sufficient to say “I want to make twice as much money as I’m making now” because that d oesn’t help you actually make any more money. Instead, envision yourself in a job that would make you happy and provide the income you are dreaming of.For example, if you want to become a company administrator in middle or upper management you would obviously make more money. But how do you get there, that is the question!2) The Importance of Long and Short-Term GoalsHere is where the importance of long and short-term goals comes into play. You see yourself as a company administrator overseeing new product development, for example from a business perspective not within Research and Development. You want to devise budgets, find the funding and then allocate those funds where they need to go.At this point, you know that an advanced degree such as a master’s in business administration online is needed in the short-term because that degree will get your foot in the door for your long-term goal of being an administrator.3) Seeking a Direct Path to the TopWhile you can’t very well t ake a leave of absence for a couple of years to pursue that advanced degree you can always study online and receive the very same credentials as those who opted to study on campus.Find an AACSB online MBA program and you can study nights and weekends from the comfort of your home and never miss a day of work. This is perhaps the most direct route you can take and with that graduate degree in hand you automatically qualify for higher-paying jobs with more responsibilities.evalIf you dream of advancing in a career that you love, it is imperative that you first define where it is you want to go and from there you can seek out your roadmap to your destination.Your short-term goals will be like rest stops along the way with your long-term goal being your final destination: an online MBA degree.Setting goals for career advancement is crucial, but first, you need to know exactly where it is you want to go.

Leadership 101 - Are you ready to be in charge

Leadership 101 - Are you ready to be in charge Power and authority have a bad connotation. Because of that many people shy away from taking charge at work. But what about servant leadership being in charge as a way to be of tremendous service to people. Its not a concept I created but one Im educating my clients and radio listeners about.Just last week, I had leadership experts Gail Steinel and Mike Policano onMaking a Living with Maggie talking about their book, Excuse Me, Arent YOU in Charge? These two are not just theorists. Gail in fact was a pioneer for women leadership in the consulting industry, recognized twice by Consulting Magazine as a Top 25 Consultant. I experienced Gails leadership firsthand when she was head of Arthur Andersens Business Consulting Practice where I was an employee.Heres what I learned from Gail about being a great leader:Be accessible. Gail is the type of leader who remembered your name and would stop and talk to you in the hallway. She was never too busy to make time for her employees.Support yo ur peoples ideas and passions. In their book, Gail mentions one particular leadership experience that stuck with me where she supported an employee who wanted to build a new recruiting strategy. Gail encouraged the employee to get involved and the young woman ended up winning an employee-of-the-year award.Be honest. I saw Gail lead during Andersens best times and its demise with the Enron debacle. She was always upfront with honest answers and I always felt I could trust her. For leaders today this is perhaps the biggest lesson be someone your people can really trust and your best employees will always stick with you.Find out more about leadership 101 on Gail and Mikes blog! And share your greatest leadership moments here whats the best quality youve seen in a leader? Do you consider yourself to be a servant leader?And tune into Making a Living with Maggie this Wed, 4pm EST. Ill share ways to be at your best and ready for an accidental interview! Not sure what I mean, tune in w ith this free 7-day SIRIUS trial!

How To Get Your Resume Past Resume Screening Software

How To Get Your Resume Past Resume Screening Software Did you ever consider that the resume you just sent to a prospective company would have computer software that screens your resume before any human person can see it? More companies are using these types of software due to the sheer number of applicants per job opening. Automated resume screeners or applicant tracking systems are regularly now being used to separate resumes into ones that fit the job and discarding the others. All regardless of how spiffy your resume is. These programs work just like SEO does for websites, keywords. The screener programs will take keywords from your resume and match it to the job requirements of a position. But wait, its not just about keywords in general like accounting or website design. The program is designed to watch for those generalities. You will need to get more creative about the keywords you use on your resume, even an executive resume. Use keywords that list a number of different job skills. Make sure you have researched the job position well and if you do have the skills, be sure to list something about the job requirements on your resume. Again, make sure your years of experience in a related field match the job requirements so you dont have your resume kicked out. It is also a good idea to have a resume writing service work out the details for you. They will know just what to do to get past the computer screeners and get your resume in the right hands.