Why do you want to work here?
Question: Why do you want to work here?
Don't say: "I've maxed out three credit cards and need a paycheck ASAP."
Instead: Articulate why you want the job and why you're a good fit for the company.
Why: A chief mistake job seekers make is focusing on selling themselves to the company and failing to prove why the job is right for them. It sounds narcissistic, but it's not. Dattner suggests asking yourself: "Why is the job right for you and why are you right for the job?" The question helps you give the right answer because you prove that you're in this for more than the paycheck.
Question: How would others describe you?
Don't say: "They would say I'm the best you'll meet and you'd be stupid not to hire me."
Instead: Answer honestly.
Why: "With regard to what others say about you, this gives a lens for the interviewer to use to see characteristics and attributes that the individual being interviewed may not be aware of," Flagg says.
Why Should I Hire You? Thought it as an interviewer
In today's job market, where many seasoned workers have found themselves out of a job and plenty of young but inexperienced graduates are entering the work force, do you have the right answer to beat out the competition?
Here are three common scenarios job seekers find themselves in and how they might handle each one:
The employer thinks ... you don't have relevant experience.
So you ... explain how all experience is relevant.
Simpson's tips for workers whose experience is seemingly irrelevant are similar to her advice for seeming unqualified workers: Make your past an asset, not a drawback.
"Give specific examples of how your experience is relevant to the job," Simpson explains. "Customer service experience gained while waiting tables is often negated. Waiters deal with all kinds of people and situations while multitasking, working under pressure of short-term deadlines while keeping customers happy."
Don't expect employers to connect the dots -- they're busy and have a wealth of candidates from which to choose. Do the work for them. In this economy, plenty of laid-off workers are looking for jobs in new industries, which means you're not the only one experiencing this dilemma. Get an edge over other job seekers by turning your varied experience into proof that you're the right candidate.
To be continued……
Top 5 Ways to Wreck Your Job Interview
1. Being rude to the receptionist or assistant
Some candidates don't think it matters if they're dismissive of the hiring manager's assistant when arranging the interview or get upset at the receptionist because he or she mispronounced their name by mistake. After all, this person isn't the one making the hiring decision. But you may be surprised to learn that six out of 10 executives polled by Robert Half said they consider their assistant's opinion important when evaluating potential new hires. So remember to be polite and respectful to everyone you interact with during the hiring process.
2. Acting like you're the only person there
Consider this scenario: After you've checked in for the interview, you make a quick phone call to give your friend a blow-by-blow description of last night's party, speaking so loudly that everyone in the office can't help but hear you. That's the wrong approach. It's better to sit patiently and peruse any company literature in the lobby. Doing so demonstrates common courtesy and can help you learn more about the firm and its needs.
3. Arriving late
Getting to an interview on time or, for that matter, a few minutes early is an easy way to impress a prospective employer. Arriving late is not only unprofessional, it also shows the hiring manager that you have little regard for his or her schedule. It also calls into question your ability to show up to work on time, one of the most basic aspects of any job. Plus, arriving late could cause you to miss the meeting altogether if the interviewer has another appointment.
4. Going into the interview unprepared
Far too many candidates fail to properly prepare for the interview, believing that they can "wing it" and still make a strong impression. The savviest job seekers spend time considering questions the hiring manager will likely ask, so they can answer confidently during the meeting. They also research the employer ahead of time so they can explain how their skills match the open position, and also highlight their true interest in the company and position.
5. Not asking questions
As the interview winds down, the hiring manager will likely ask if you have any questions. Your answer should be yes. But your questions should go beyond "How much does the position pay?" and "How many days of vacation can I expect?" Although compensation and benefits are important components of any job, broach these subjects only if the prospective employer has expressed serious interest in hiring you -- usually not until the second or third interview. More appropriate questions for a first interview include "What will my specific duties be?" "What are your top priorities for this position?" and "What does a typical day in this position look like?"
Dumb Things Job Applicants Do
To avoid scaring off employers, make sure you avoid these five dumb things job applicants do:
1. They disclose too much information
A cover letter shouldn't begin with irrelevant personal information such as: "I'm a 40-year-old mother of three who has experienced many challenges in life." While job seekers may think they are creating a bond with the hiring manager by "letting you get to know me," employers are turned off by "too much information." From an employer's point of view, an applicant who makes inappropriate personal disclosures may be likely to exercise poor judgment in other areas as well.
Information to keep to yourself includes your age, health, family, how you like to spend your weekends or anything else unrelated to the position you are applying for. In addition, make sure you aren't saying too much with an email address such as xxxxx@ hotmail.com.
2. They behave rudely
Of course you wouldn't hire someone who honked and gestured angrily at you in the parking lot, snapped at the receptionist and argued into his cell phone in earshot of customers waiting in the reception area. Nevertheless, job hunters have made these and many other faux pas.
Human beings have bad days, and interviews can be particularly stressful, but an employer who witnesses or hears about even a hint of rudeness is likely to assume it's only a small taste of things to come if the applicant is hired. So be on your best behavior with everyone you encounter.
And don't make the mistake of badmouthing your former employer; an interviewer is likely to assume that's how you'll be talking about them if they hire you.
3. They don't follow instructions
At a recent company lunch, someone handed a hiring manager a résumé for a position that had just been filled. The applicant had made the mistake of mailing it to a customer service address instead of submitting it online as instructed.
Failing to follow instructions may not only cause you to miss the deadline, it may also make you appear to be a potentially difficult employee. After all, if someone can't follow a few simple steps at this stage, how would that person perform on the job?
4. They don't focus on the employer's needs
When a company is looking to fill a position, it's because they have a need. They may want to expand into new markets, cut costs, improve services, increase profits or achieve something else they have identified as important to their success.
5. They say dumb things
Foolish statements can include obvious gaffes such as asking an interviewer who's slightly overweight when her baby is due... but sometimes it's not so obvious.
"Before I saw your job ad, I'd never heard of your company," one applicant for a marketing position told an employer, oblivious to the fact that the interviewer's proudest achievements included overseeing marketing campaigns that had generated millions of dollars worth of publicity for the company, an industry leader.
To avoid appearing ignorant, familiarize yourself with the company by reading their Web site before the interview. To avoid blurting out an inappropriate comment, pause before answering questions and if you think something might be taken "the wrong way," don't say it!
Interview Tips: 3 Job Search Mishaps
Despite your best efforts, there are some mistakes you simply can't recover from, such as submitting a résumé and cover letter addressed to the wrong employer. But other errors do not necessarily spell doom for you.
Following are common mistakes job seekers make and tactics that will give you a fighting chance to recover:
Mishap No. 1: You arrive too early
Though it may not seem like a terrible offense, being very early for an interview can create a poor first impression. If you're camped out in the reception area half an hour before your meeting, the hiring manager may not appreciate the pressure to see you earlier than expected. Wait in your car or outside the building if you arrive more than 15 minutes before an interview and use the time to prepare. Then, head to the restroom to check your appearance one last time. Aim to be in the company's lobby about five minutes early.
Mishap No. 2: You lowball yourself
What happens when a hiring manager requests your salary requirements, and you later find that you asked for too little compensation? Be honest and act quickly. Tell the hiring manager that you've done additional research and feel the figure you quoted falls below market trends. Be sure to reference any supporting documentation, such as salary surveys, that help you make a case for higher starting pay. Employers are often willing to renegotiate salary before an offer is accepted if an error like this is made because they want new employees to feel valued from day one. However, in the future, you should always do your compensation research before you begin the interview process.
Mishap No. 3: You flub an interview question
"Why are manhole covers round?" Even if you're not asked a brainteaser like this, you may stumble when answering a question posed by the hiring manager. In this situation, don't panic. If you find yourself rambling or grasping for words, pause to think more about your answer. The interviewer will understand if you need some time to formulate a response. If you bombed a question earlier in the meeting, only to think of the perfect response later, ask the hiring manager if you can revisit the question. You'll demonstrate your ability to think on your feet and have the opportunity to get your message across.
Tip 6 Interview Questions Decoded
Job seekers should be aware that every question an interviewer asks is an opportunity to sell themselves as the most outstanding, must-have candidate for the job. In their book, Warner and Bryan identify some of the most popular interview questions, reveal what interviewers really want to know when asking them and offer tips to help job seekers develop a savvy response.
These questions include:
1. Would you be willing to pursue an extra certificate or credential?
What they're really asking: How is your attitude? How flexible are you?
Tips: Tell the interviewer how important professional growth is to you. Understand that the person who will impress the interviewer the most is the one willing to do the extra work.
2. Tell us about yourself.
What they're really asking: What makes you special? Why should we hire you?
Tips: Prepare several selling points about yourself. Give a quick "elevator speech" that overviews your experience and achievements.
3. What are your greatest strengths?
What they're really asking: How do you perceive your talents and abilities as a professional? Will you be an asset to our organization?
Tips: Sell yourself. If you don't promote your strengths, nobody else will. Prepare six or seven responses. Be "confidently humble."
4. Do you have any questions for us?
What they're really asking: Are you prepared to ask questions? How interested are you in this position?
Tips: List five or six questions on an index card. Ask at least one question, even if all of your prepared questions have been answered. Never say, "No, you've answered all of my questions."
5. What are your greatest weaknesses?
What they're really asking: How honest are you being about yourself with us? How realistic are you?
Tips: Present your weakness as a positive. Don't talk too long or emphasize your downfalls.
6. Why are you interested in working here?
What they're really asking: How dedicated are you? Do you have a passion for this type of work?
Tips: Keep your answer simple and to the point. Stay away from such responses as, "Many of my friends have worked here." This response isn't very impressive.
Top 5 Signs Your Interview Went Well
Many times, job seekers are so focused on what they did wrong in an interview that they don't think about the many things they did right. While no signs are 100 percent foolproof, there are definitely some indicators that you have won over your interviewer. Here are top 5 signs that indicate you rocked your interview:
1. Round two
The easiest way to gauge short-term success is if the interviewer asks you to return for another round of interviews. If he wasn't interested, he would be evasive as whether or not you could expect to hear back from someone. "The hiring manager does not want to waste any more time interviewing you if you are not a fit," Honaman says. "Invitation to the next round is a win!"
2. HR smiles
The human resources representative or recruiter is generally a good indication of how things went in the interview process. Take note of his comments after the interview; he is your No. 1 contact during the process and is often a guide to the projected outcome, Honaman says.
3. Your turn
When the interviewer spends a lot of time answering your questions, it's a signal that he wants to sell you on the business, the team and position rather than you continuing to pursue the role, Honaman says. "In most interviews, the hiring manager will ask if you have any questions as standard procedure, but spend less time with questions and answers if the interview has not gone well in their mind."
4. Let's keep rolling
If hiring managers are uninterested, they typically look for ways to wrap up the interview. "At times, interviews will go well beyond the allotted time as the hiring manager or interview team wants to know more about you, or share with you more about the organization and role," Honaman says. If they are not interested in your candidacy, they won't drag out the interview.
5. Cultural fit
The more a hiring manager talks about how you'll fit into the mold at a company, the better. "Most leaders are looking for candidates that can easily fit into a team environment or operate well as an individual contributor," Honaman says. "If the hiring manager is interested in your taking the position, they will share additional details about the culture and shift into 'sales' mode on the organization."
