Nov
22
Technology Careers Begin With an Interview – And Practice
November 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
You’ve likely watched politicians being interviewed on live TV, and waited for them to make a headline-grabbing gaffe. Now and then they do, but by and large they hold up quite well.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. Candidates don’t figure out their answers in that split second before opening their mouths. Those responses have been extensively rehearsed, rehashed and reviewed to make the maximum impact while opening them to the least amount of criticism. They’re calm because they know what they’re going to say.
In your job interview pursuits, if you follow their example and prepare beforehand, you can resist the crippling fear that keeps qualified applicants from landing their dream jobs. Surely you’ve had a job before and surely you’ve gone through an interview before. So you ought to know what they’re going to ask.
In the days leading up to the interview, write up a list of possible questions and formulate your answers. You don’t have to repeat every word exactly when you’re in the hot seat. Just having a framework to build your answers around will give you the flexibility to respond.
Bring your friends and family into this process. The more people you have, the more experiences you tap into, and the more likely you are to respond appropriately. You should rehearse your answers out loud, instead of reading them to yourself. If not, the shock of hearing your own voice for the first time could make you freeze up when it matters most.
When someone asks you a question, they prefer a specific example to a vague answer. Look at this as an opportunity to flesh out the information they already have about you. You know for a fact that they’re going to ask you about your previous job. So think of the times where you really proved your salt there. Think of specific things you learned and of specific tasks you handled.
Let’s say the interviewer asks you if you adapted to new situations. You could just say yes. Or you could tell them about the time where half your office was sick, leaving you to helm the ship by yourself. Or the time where one of your fellow employees was fired, forcing you to learn a new skill so you could pick up the slack. If you worked after-hours, this is the good time to talk about them.
And of course, there’s the obvious advice. Make sure you dress according to the company’s standards (which you should have researched beforehand). If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution and dress more formally. Keep yourself clean, and stay professional and pleasant.
Above all else, have confidence in yourself, and you’ll do all right. You wouldn’t have made it this far if you didn’t have the skills for the job. Don’t ever forget that, because if you doubt yourself, the employer may begin doubting their judgment.
For great technology career options, visit SmartJobs4Me.com
Article Source: Technology Careers Begin With an Interview – And Practice
Nov
19
CV Writing Tips - How is a Good CV Used?
November 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
How is a Good CV Used?
The good news is that your CV may be used in various ways for different purposes, but your CV is not written to get a job. It is a self-marketing tool to get you a meeting or job interview.
When responding to an advertised job vacancy, a well written CV and a good covering letter will be instrumental in obtaining those vital interviews.
Most recruiters use CVs as a method of screening people out rather than in, so pay attention to avoiding the pitfalls and any negative statements, always be positive, communicating your aspirations, skills, demonstrated abilities and achievements. (You can download a free CV template to suit your profession and job search needs online at my website).
If an appointment is being headhunted, a Researcher or a Search Consultant handling the assignment will speak to the job candidate before you provide a CV to the employer before or during an interview. You job candidate will have learned a good deal about the job before the delivery of the CV. Usually Head-hunters will not pass your CV on to the employer. Instead, they should make a CV or profile for you, the job candidate. You may send your CV to Head-hunters on a speculative basis. It may then used to decide whether or not to put you on their database.
When you are networking, you may take your CV along to meetings with a view either to asking for advice on it or in order to give copies to your network contacts, which they may in turn pass on to other people who could have a job for you.
When you are making speculative applications, you are initially likely to send a letter, rather than a CV, perhaps taking your CV along to any meetings you obtain. It will then be used in much the same way that slides or handouts are at a presentation - as something to refer to in order to give structure to the session and as a reminder, afterwards, of the key points.
Mike Kelley has written many articles on various topics including CV Writing and this time writing article on CV Writing Tips. For more details about CV Writing Tips please visit: http://www.cv-service.org
Article Source: CV Writing Tips - How is a Good CV Used?
Nov
11
How Understanding Your Personality Type Can Help You Win the Job Interview
November 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The present economic climate isn’t the only reason why many individuals will fail to secure a new job or career. Many will fail at the job interview because they will not be able to convince the interviewers they are the ideal candidate. This normally occurs for two main reasons, firstly, they often apply for jobs that are totally unsuitable for them as individuals, and secondly, because they are unable to talk about themselves, their skills, knowledge and experience without conviction.
Interviewers are smart people, they spend a lot of time and effort producing job descriptions and are totally focused on finding a candidate who is the ‘best fit’ for their organization. As recruitment costs can run into thousands of dollars, they are also under pressure to make the right choice and find the ideal job candidate.
As a qualified careers adviser, I’ve seen hundreds of people who turn up for job interviews totally unprepared. They lack self-awareness, meaning they are not aware of their personal style, or how their behavior impacts on others, especially in the workplace.
Today, it is not just a case of turning up at the job interview and expecting to have a little chat about yourself and your past jobs with the recruiters. Competition is tough, a high level of self-knowledge could be what makes you stand out from the other job candidates. Take note and remember, the interviewers will be asking questions to test your communication style, how you handle information, your decision making process and your attitude to life.
One way to prepare yourself in advance for job interviews and gain a better understanding of which careers may suit you, is to discover your personality type using the theory by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. This will enable you to speak knowledgeably about yourself, and why you are the ideal candidate for the job.
Irene Houston is a qualified careers coach and certified MBTI® personality trainer and author of “3 Secrets to Finding a Fulfilling Career to Make You Happy”. Head over to http://www.OnlineCareerCoachBlog.com to get your FREE copy now!
Discover more about yourself and learn how understanding your personality type can seriously help you make decisions that impact your career choices at => http://www.RecipeForPersonalityTypes.com.
Article Source: How Understanding Your Personality Type Can Help You Win the Job Interview
Nov
5
Get Job Interview Advice On The Net
November 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment
This essay was written to tell the reader that there are several different angles from which job interview advice can be studied, which we will sum up in the following, so that you may get the most from it and benefit from learning about career opportunities too. Interviewing for employment can be a stressful situation for most of us. However, it can be a real nightmare for a person who suffers from shyness. I know this all too well because I am painfully shy. The very notion of having to sell myself turns my stomach. However, I did manage to fly though the interviewing process because I received good job interview advice in advance. I didn’t get the job interview advice for my first few auditions and I wish that I would have. The process was so stressful that my very first attempt ended tragically. I actually broke down in tears during the employment interview and I wound up leaving the room early to toss my lunch. This may seem a little over-the-top but for someone who is shy, this kind of situation can be really overwhelming. Having sound job interview advice in advance can help you go through the process with grace and without losing your lunch. Following are some ideas that you might want to consider.
The second half of this essay will help you to extend upon what you have learned in the first half. One of the most important things I learned though the job interview advice was to prepare in advance. The mystery of the unknown can be a great source of stress for an introvert. It helps to know what to expect. While thinking on your feet is important, you really want to stay calm. Preparing in advance is a great approach. Have an idea of what you want to say but make sure that you keep your ears open as well. This is job interview advice that comes from a bad experience. I was so wound up in rehearsing what I intended to say that I didn’t really listen to what was being asked. While rehearing the part is great, it important to pay attention to what the interviewer is saying. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Make sure that you take a moment to process everything before you start talking. That one or two second breath will help you sort what you want to say and what is being asked. Another piece of job interview advice that I found helpful is to run though a mock interview with a friend the night before. This way, you can practice breathing and pausing without feeling unnatural. It doesn’t hurt to take notes but you really want to save them for an emergency. Go over the notes right before the session. One last bit of job interview advice: consider the process to be a test. Prepare and study but also test your ability to interact with others. Following are some ideas that you might want to consider. If you thoroughly examine each part that we have talked over about job interview advice, you will see a familiar thread of which to explore.
The author of this article Johnny aka Gnubas is the owner of geturdreamjob.com, which gives you helpful advice about Prepare Yourself For Pharmaceutical Sales Interview Questions and Personal Development Plan.
Article Source: Get Job Interview Advice On The Net
Nov
3
3 Tips to Get Through a Job Interview Using Personality Type
November 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Did you know that discovering your personality type can actually help you during job interviews?
Great jobs are becoming harder to find and lots of organizations are now cutting back, instead of hiring. So when you see your ideal job advertised and you just know you’d be a suitable candidate, how can you ensure you’ll get through the job interview and be offered the job?
It’s a really competitive job market out there and employers are seeking candidates who are self aware, that is, they understand themselves, their capabilities and what they can offer the company.
Understanding what makes you tick in the form of personality preferences can really boost your self awareness and make it easier for you to communicate with others, particularly during a job interview.
Here are 3 tips to help your performance during the job interview, once you are aware of your personality type:
1. If enjoy talking and meeting new people, then you’re probably more of an extravert. This means you’ll have no problem chatting about yourself during a job interview. However, the danger with extraverts is they don’t know when to stop talking. They have a natural tendency to talk more than they listen. They rarely pause for reflection and are constantly thinking of the next thing they want to say. Extraverts need to listen more carefully, particularly to the interviewer’s questions, if not there’s a good possibility they will mishear and go on to provide the answer to a totally different question.
2. If you prefer to spend time alone with your thoughts and ideas and don’t particularly enjoy meeting new people or talking about yourself, then you could be more of an intravert. During job interviews intraverts sometimes find it difficult to open up and talk about themselves. They are good listeners and they will take time to understand the interviewer’s question, however, intraverts can spend too much time reflecting on their answer. If the recruiter is looking for someone who can ‘think on their feet’ this delay in answering might not work in their favor.
3. No matter is you are an extravert or introvert, there is no right or wrong way to be, all the personality types are equal. What is important is that you understand yourself and your behavior and this will boost your self-awareness and confidence… even in job interviews.
Irene Houston is a qualified careers coach and certified MBTI® personality trainer and author of “3 Secrets to Finding a Fulfilling Career to Make You Happy.” Head over to http://www.OnlineCareerCoachBlog.com to get your FREE copy now!
Discover more about yourself and learn how understanding your personality type can seriously help you make decisions that impact your career choices at http://www.RecipeForPersonalityTypes.com
Article Source: 3 Tips to Get Through a Job Interview Using Personality Type
Nov
3
The One Big Mistake People Make at Job Interviews and How to Correct It
November 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Congratulations! You’ve secured that all important job interview, you turn up bright and breezy on the day of the interview and then you panic. What will you talk about? Will you freeze up in front of the interviewers? What questions will they ask you?
One thing you can be sure of, the recruiters will be concentrating on finding out more about one thing… you! So, how well do you know yourself and how you operate in the workplace?
As a qualified careers adviser, I’ve often staged mock job interviews for my clients to help them prepare in advance. But sadly, I found the one big mistake people make in job interviews, is not being able to talk about themselves confidently. This is often due to lack of self-awareness, by this I mean not really understanding yourself and how you operate. Are you one of the individuals who struggle to answer even the most simplest questions about yourself in a job interview?
One way to overcome this difficulty is to discover more about yourself and your personality preferences. When you fully appreciate your strengths and your areas for development, you’ll feel a lot more confident talking about yourself to job interviewers.
After all, job recruiters are looking for candidates who are confident and self-aware and who are able to answer their questions with skill and integrity. They are hoping you will be the ideal candidate they are looking for to solve their problem. So you see it really is up to you to get to know yourself better and this will affect know only your performance during the job interview, but also how you perform once they have made you that job offer!
Irene Houston is a qualified careers coach and certified MBTI® personality trainer and author of “3 Secrets to Finding a Fulfilling Career to Make You Happy”. Head over to http://www.OnlineCareerCoachBlog.com to get your FREE copy now!
Discover more about yourself and learn how understanding your personality type can seriously help you make decisions that impact your career choices at => http://www.RecipeForPersonalityTypes.com
Article Source: The One Big Mistake People Make at Job Interviews and How to Correct It
Oct
19
Career Planning Tips for Everyone
October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Are you looking for advice in your career planning? Are you wondering where you can find good advice to help you make something out of your life? There are a lot of good websites to help you to take your career planning advice seriously. It is important that when you are a job seeker that you look for some expert advice for planning your career.
In college, you are taught how to be prepared for the real world, but then when you graduate you end up feeling completely lost. Your future success in life depends on how well you plan your career from the very beginning, and on how well you equip yourself to deal with the learning curve needed for success in the workplace and in navigating your way around office politics for instance.
As for some of the advice that you are going to hear, you are going to find that everyone is going to tell you that you need to make sure that your personality and your dream goals match. You can also take some online tests to help you to make sure that your aptitude and expectations will match any career you are considering at the moment. You will be able to research a solid path for your future.
With the results from your personality and career tests you will be able to find something that could make you feel good about yourself and pull your life around. Many personnel and recruitment agencies have job applicants complete such tests, so it is helpful if you already have some experience in completing these tests and can be less stressed in such a test environment. This will help you to shine in a job interview situation.
The second piece of advice that everyone is going to tell you is the fact that you are going to have to do a lot of research and work to find the career that will make you happy. You are going to have to make lists and look up each and every career that holds some interest for you. You are going to have to make sure that the career that you pick will make you happy, and if you do your proper research, you should be able to find a career that is fulfilling. You will also want to do a lot of hands on experience for you to get a real clue as to what you can do with your life. You can also seek out the assistance of a career development counselor through your college or job agency.
The last piece of advice is that you will want to follow your heart. This means that if you don’t feel like going into some field, then don’t! You don’t want to waste your time, as you may end up in a dead end job for the rest of your life. You will find that if you follow your heart and some career decisions for the very beginning then you will end up being successful when it comes to designing a career for yourself.
I have found a site created by Helene Malmsio who has had 20 years of employment recruitment and staff training experience. On this site there are hundreds of resources to help you plan your career, including a no-obligation report download and eCourse you can also subscribe to, that can be used by anyone wanting some expert help in trying to develop their career further. It also has HR management articles for new executives just learning about their staff recruiting and management processes along with staff career planning pathways.
It is very important that you do that what it takes to make something of yourself, because there is a lot of people who work all their lives, but waste every opportunity put their way to develop their careers further. Those people are never happy because they are never able to achieve success that is the bets piece of advice that you can ever get for career planning.
Make sure you get your hands on all the information you can use to be in control of your future work pathways and opportunities in your lifetime career path.
Learn everything there is to know about career planning from the bottom up, so you get it right the first time…
Do you find the prospect of planning your career daunting and unmanageable? If you are one of the millions of actively seeking job hunters in the market today, you have to gain a competitive edge to get ahead.
Get The Career Planning Guide Toolbox here:
Article Source: Career Planning Tips for Everyone
Oct
19
Resume Writing: What to Do If You Don’t Know How
October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Have you been trying to find a new job or even a new career but seem to have hit a brick wall? You send out cover letters and resume’s but no one is calling you for an interview. Take a close look at your resume. The problem may be with how it is structured.
When it comes to finding a new job or changing careers, it is important that you have a top notch professional looking resume that stands above the run-of-the-mill versions that most applicants submit.
Unfortunately, many job seekers mistakenly believe that job interviews are the most important component of finding a new job so they give little attention to their resume. In fact, all steps in the job hunting process are equally important.
First is a creative and exciting cover letter. Second is a quality resume but the resume is what enables you to get that important job interview. That is why it is vital that, when you submit a job application, you need to attach a powerful cover letter with a well designed resume. The cover letter is the “sizzle”, the resume is the “steak”. The cover letter entices them to look at your resume.
As important as resumes are, it is really amazing that there are still many job seekers who do not submit them. One of the many reasons for this is: Resumes, especially ones that are considered “professional,” can be difficult to write. It takes someone who can properly structure the resume so that it presses the right buttons in the reader.
If you are unsure as to how you can go about writing a professional resume, namely one that will land you multiple job interviews, you will want to follow these tips:
Turn to the internet. Online, you can find a number of web sites that are commonly referred to as career web sites. These types of web sites often have information, including tips, on creating a professional resume. It should also be possible for you to find free templates online as well. These free templates can be used as guides for you, when looking to create a “perfect,” resume.
In keeping with finding templates, did you know that many computer programs, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Works, have templates built into them? If you are using these two programs or other similar ones, you will want to examine your program’s templates. What is nice about using your computer’s template programs is that you often have a number of different options. It is not uncommon for you to find ten or more free resume templates that come in a number of different styles already installed in your computer.
If creating your own resume seems over your head, you may want to consider seeking professional assistance. One of the best ways to do this is by using the internet to your advantage, namely by conducting a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you may want to search with phrases such as “resume writer,” or “professional resume writer.” Although you will have to pay to use the services of a professional resume writer, you and your prospective employer will likely be impressed with the end result, which should be a great resume!
No matter which option you choose, professional or do-it-yourself, you will find that having a professional resume will increase your chances of landing a new job of your choice.
Jim DeSantis, a former TV News Director, provides cutting edge employment tactics. For scripted job interview answers see Interviewer and for the latest resume’ techniques see Guaranteed Resume’.
Article Source: Resume Writing: What to Do If You Don’t Know How
Oct
19
Spontaneous Job Interviews: Why You Should Love Them
October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you are well prepared, there is a good chance that you can enter a number of local establishments, retail or not, and get a job interview on-the-spot. Even for advertised jobs, many professionals recommend submitting job applications and resumes in person whenever possible.
In the case of advertised positions, you will have your resume accepted and you will be told that you will be contacted for a job interview in the future. However, whether advertised or not, you may receive a spontaneous job interview on-the-spot.
Here is why you should love the opportunity of a spontaneous interview if it presents itself.
Spontaneous job interviews come in a number of different formats. Expect to get short notice so be prepared. For instance, a Manager may ask you to come in for an interview later the same day or the following day. Most of your competition is blown away because they simply did not expect an interview that is scheduled right away. This is not uncommon, especially in retail.
As important as last minute interviews are, they can be downright frightening for applicants who are unprepared. For you, preparation is your key to eliminating nervousness and performing successfully.
You should know that there are both a number of advantages and disadvantages to these last minute interviews. One of those benefits to you, the applicant, is the obvious need of the employer. If an employer is looking to interview you on-the-spot or if they are looking to set up a job interview as soon as possible, there is a good chance that they need to hire someone right away. This vital need can significantly increase your chances of getting the job, perhaps, immediately.
Spontaneous interviews need not be difficult once you know the steps that you can take to prepare for them.
For starters, you want to be properly dressed. Even if you are just dropping off your application and your resume, you will want to make sure that your appearance is professional in nature, especially if you are submitting your resume or application for a position that requires a certain dress code. In other words, look like you fit in, look like all you need is a name tag and you could start work that day.
The most successful job seekers prefer these last minute job interviews because they have taken the time to prepare. While less successful applicants tend to fear them because they are not prepared. This preparation should involve having a mock interview with your friends or family members and using the internet to research common interview questions and answers. Taking a few minutes or a few hours, at the most, to prepare for a job interview, even if one has yet to be scheduled, will give you a powerful advantage.
As nerve-wracking as last minute or spontaneous job interviews can be, they can be the opportunity of a lifetime. Our advice is to submit your resume or your job application in person and go for it. You will learn to love spontaneous interviews!
Jim DeSantis, a former TV News Director, provides cutting edge employment tactics. For scripted job interview answers see Interviewer and for the latest resume’ techniques see Guaranteed Resume’.
Article Source: Spontaneous Job Interviews: Why You Should Love Them
Oct
17
Job Interview Rehearsal: The Benefits of Mock Interviews
October 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
When was the last time that you had a job interview? If it has been a while, you may want to consider doing a few practice runs. These practice runs are commonly referred to as mock interviews. Although mock interviews may seem a little bit silly, there are a number of benefits to doing them. The number one benefit is that you will be better prepared than most of your competition also applying for the job.
There are a number of approaches to setting up your practice sessions. The primary approach is to take the process very seriously. This means you need to do some research in advance of any practice sessions.
Too many times job applicants think they can “bluff” their way through an interview with charm and poise. In today’s competitive market the job always goes to the applicant who has knowledge to go along with charm and poise.
Job interviewers are usually professionally trained in Human Resources. They can see through an unprepared applicant within a few minutes of the interview.
So, what should you do to prepare?
First, you should go on the Internet and look for information related to being successful at interviews. Your Public Library should also be a good source of information. You may also have a local Department of Labor office that can provide tips towards being more successful at interviews.
Once you have compiled enough information, make a list of common interview questions but throw in some tough ones as well. Ask your friends and family members to role play with you for mock interviews based on those questions. Be sure to answer with professional responses, just as if you would in real job interview and be ready to accept suggestions as to how to improve your answers.
Dress as if you are at an actual interview. If the job you are applying for requires a suit and tie, wear them during your mock interview. Make it as realistic as possible.
You can also practice your answers in front of your mirror. While this approach may seem foolish, it can help you practice your facial expressions and demeanor. You are after good eye contact, not staring, just sincere eye contact during your responses.
Even if this isn’t your first job interview, such practice will certainly mitigate some of the nervousness associated with interviews. Many job seekers find that holding mock job interviews with their friends or family members helps to ease nervousness because they can make many mistakes without fear of criticism. Because of this, many also have reported a slight increase in confidence.
The goal of a mock or practice interview is to help you prepare for the actual interview but there is more to practice than just questions and answers. This preparation includes giving a proper greeting, as well as departing properly from a job interview. When entering the room, look the interviewer in the eye as you are seated. If they offer a handshake greeting, give a firm handshake, not squeezing, and a smile as you exchange greetings.
As you leave the interview, smile, look them in the eye, and offer your handshake. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity and ask when you might be hearing about their decision.
These tips should help you handle job interviews more successfully.
Jim DeSantis, a former TV News Director, provides cutting edge employment tactics. For scripted job interview answers see Interviewer and for the latest resume’ techniques see Guaranteed Resume’.
Article Source: Job Interview Rehearsal: The Benefits of Mock Interviews




