Interview Question: Will You Relocate for The Job?

Sales Recruiter Peggy McKee tells us how to avoid answering the job interview question: Are you willing to relocate for the job?

How to Look Confident In Job Interviews

Here are five concrete tips for how to be a confident job candidate at your next job interview. This video is by Sales Recruiter, Peggy McKee.

Where Do You See Yourself in 3-5 Years?

Here's a great set of ideas by Peggy McKee for how to answer the interview question: Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?

Past Successes: Path to Future Success

So you see the news and it gives you the blues. And you wonder how you can successfully find a new job now.

But yes, people are getting hired. Sure, the process takes longer. You have to be better prepared and more active in networking than ever.

But first, think about your past. Pay attention to the good parts. Stop and remember your successes. What have you done at work, at school, in volunteering, in community groups that really made you feel good?

It is your successes that create the pattern for your future success. Doing what you enjoy and you do well is the key to your next job. You need to remember your strengths, your success.

Focus on your successful times: what was going on? What worked? Why did it make you feel good? There are common elements in your successes to help guide you forward. Once you have thought about a number of past successes you can begin to see what is important, so you can succeed elsewhere.

Wander back through your history. Focus on those events that made you feel good -- and write each down. Make each a small story of what the situation or task you faced was, what you did, and what the results were.

Then look at them all - what patterns do you see? What does each story tell you about the places you succeed in or the types of bosses you work best with? These become your guide to the next job targets. Do you work best with data or people or things? Do you achieve more doing the work yourself or managing a team? Think of what your stories say about your strengths.

Why do I think this process is so effective? Because, after decades of managing hiring programs and developing career management programs, I know how important a person’s past successes are to that person’s future. Whether you plan to do the same work going forward as you have in the past or you are changing your career focus, it is your pattern of success that will create your future.

• The common threads you find in your past provide the guidance you need to identify what you need to succeed.
• A few success stories can be used for a wide range of job search activities, from building a terrific resume to creating a better marketing plan to answering interview questions.

And perhaps most important, when you interview and you can answer a question by telling one of your success stories - you become a far better candidate. This is because your self-confidence shines through. You are talking about real results you have achieved - good for your comfort level and what an employer really cares about. Your body and self-presentation is significantly better without you even being aware of all the changes. The hiring manager or interviewer catches your body language and feels as if you have potential.

Want to know more about how to do this? Here is a video you can learn from.



This guest post is by Patricia A. Frame, Management Consultant, Speaker, & Author.

Do's and Don't for a Strong Job Interview

Job interviewing isn't easy. Most of us get nervous and leave with the feeling we could have done better to present ourselves. In this interview, author Lavie Margolin gives us some do's and don'ts that might save the day in your next job interview.

What is the single most important tip for creating a strong job search strategy?
Create a marketing message for every job that you apply to. Remember that one size does not fit all. If you send the same cover letter and resume, your response rate will be low. For every job that you apply to, make sure your message is targeted specifically to that employer. If there are aspects of your background that would be especially appealing for that job, make sure to emphasize them. With recruiters giving your resume an initial once-over for less than 30 seconds, you need to have a targeted message in order to stand out.

What interview mistake is most common among job seekers, and how can they avoid making that mistake?
People often interview to “get it over with.” The interview is the time to sell your skills, experience and abilities relative to the position. You have to maximize that time.

People often interview by providing general answers but they must think about what would be most appealing to that employer. For example: What are the strengths necessary for this job? What types of challenges would the employer want to know you have overcome?

Job seekers allow the interview to become an interrogation. An interview should not be similar to your favorite police drama. An interview should be a professional conversation. The employer asks a question, you respond and then ask an intelligent follow-up question. It is an excellent opportunity to show you have done your research and you are knowledgeable about the position and the industry.

Interviewees often do not send thank you notes or follow up effectively. When an interview is wrapping up, make sure to express your interest in the next steps in the process. Ask if you may take their card and when would be a good time to follow up. Make sure to send a thank you note and again reinforce your interest in the position. Wait until the time frame the employer has given you regarding hearing from them has passed before contacting again. For example, if they say you will hear by Thursday, contact on Friday. I would suggest sending a follow-up email at that point. Wait a few days and then follow up with a phone call. After leaving one phone message, do not leave additional ones. You can try back again after a few days. If you get the answering machine again, just try back later.

Lavie Margolin is the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. His blog is Lion Cub Job Search.

How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself"

Words can't say it better than this video of nervous, self-conscious, tongue-tied job seekers trying to respond to questions like:

What do you do?
Tell me about yourself.
What are you up to?

Watch this video and decide if you need to brush up on how you express your career and life goals.




This video was created by Tim Tyrell-Smith and published here with his permission. Thank you, Tim!

How to Prepare for Your Best Job Interview

The AARP website is a good online resource for older job seekers, age 50 and older. Its job search tips are free -- you don't even have to be an AARP member to use them.

For example, this video, Preparing for Your Best Job Interview, is from the AARP website (published here with AARP's permission). Take a peek:

A 30-60-90-Day Sales Plan for Your Job Interview

What is a 30-60-90 Day Sales Plan? And what's it got to do with your job search?

A 30-60-90 Day Sales Plan is a written plan that many sales professionals use in sales presentations to win new clients or customers. The plan outlines what goals their products or services will achieve by the end of 30 days, by the end of 60 days, and by the end of 90 days.

As you'll hear in this video, Executive Sales Recruiter, Peggy McKee, suggests you view your job interview as a sales presentation (even if you're not a sales professional). Come to your interview prepared to present your written 30-60-90 Day Plan for what you'll achieve if selected for the job.

Creating this document will not only help you prepare for your interview; it will boost your confidence in your job application. And when you present the written plan to the interviewer, you'll convince him that you understand his needs and will add value to his organization.

Good Questions to Ask at a Job Interview

Asking good questions during a job interview is one of the best ways to demonstrate that you're a smart professional. Of course, it also helps you gather valuable information about the job at hand.

This video by Patra Frame provides many questions, and explains how and why you should ask them.



More videos by Patra Frame:

Unemployed? 4 Things to Do Right Away
5 Job Search Strategies for Older Workers
The Worst Mistake in a Job search
Oh No! Not Networking!
Stay Positive in Tough Job Search
When Your Friend's a Job Seeker

The Pink Slip Blues

If you've recently been slapped with a pink slip, what's your first step to recovery? It may depend on how urgently you need a new job. If you're strapped for cash, you'll have to start looking for new work right away. If you have money stowed away (enough to cover at least eight month's worth of living expenses), consider taking some time off to work through the shock and awe of having lost your job.

Whether you jump into job-hunt mode right away or take a break, you need to deal with the emotional side of having had your job terminated.

You Got Fired
If you were fired from your job, come to grips with why you were asked to leave and figure out how you can avoid a repeat performance on your next job. These questions may help:

• Was the job description above or below your qualifications? Being over- or under-qualified for a job can cause poor performance. Recognizing this may help you find a more suitable job this time around.
• Was the company culture not a good fit for you? It's hard to excel if you're in an environment that doesn't match your personality (for example, formal or casual) or lifestyle (for example, political or religious). Identify what company culture brings out the best in you, and find employers with that mindset.
• Was there someone or something that caused your departure (for example, a disagreeable boss or unfair employment practice)? What role, if any, did you play in the situation? Get advice from a job counselor or trusted friend to understand how to prevent such a thing from happening again.

Understanding and accepting your job termination will help you move on to a new job – one that you'll enjoy and thrive at. It will also help you talk more easily about your last job in a job interview. (Yes, it'll probably come up in a job interview, so it's best to be prepared.)

The Big Layoff
If you got laid off from your job, research what caused the layoff so you can speak knowledgably about it to recruiters and hiring managers. Here are some things that might be helpful to know:

• How many employees were laid off
• How many rounds of layoffs there have been in the last five years
• The reason the company gave you, the public, and its shareholders for the layoffs
• Whether the company is closing completely or might get turned around
• Why you think you were chosen to be laid off. This is a hard one, but once you understand this to the best of your ability, you'll likely see it wasn't your fault. This realization will help you move on with greater self-esteem.

If you're really down and out, you may need to get professional help. Consider asking a therapist, career counselor, or religious leader for a few sessions to discuss your situation. Also, try to find a support group (in-person or online) where you can work through the grief of your job loss with others who are in the same boat.

For more on having been laid off or fired from your job, read these posts:

Explaining a Job Termination
Fired But Don’t Know Why
Job Search Resilience
Gaps and Layoffs and Resumes, Oh My!

Six-Year Anxiety Disorder on Resume

Question
I had to resign in 2003 because of an anxiety disorder. Now, after six years of struggling with this disease, I feel much better and would like to join the workforce again.

Can you recommend a good strategy to discuss this health issue in my resume, cover letter, and the interview?
Continue reading...

Job Search Checklist

It's a full-time job conducting a thorough job search. Here's a checklist of what to do and some of my favorite tools to accomplish each step:

1. Search for job openings.
Online tool: Indeed

2. Network online and in person.
Online tools: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
Offline tools: Your local library, career center, and support group

3. Write your resume.
Online tool: Ready-Made Resumes

4. Distribute your resume.
Online tools: Accolo, Craigslist, and websites that specialize in your profession and industry. Also go to the career page of websites for specific companies where you'd like to work.
Offline tools: Newspaper Help Wanted ads, and through your in-person network.

5. Track your job search process.
Online tool: JibberJobber

6. Prepare for job interviews.
Online tool: Interview Questions and Dress for Success (very fun interactive site)

7. Negotiate your pay.
Online tools: Job Search Intelligence and Salary Negotiation Guide

8. Show up for your first day on the job.
I think you can do this one on your own.

And all along the way, write thank you notes!

5 Job Interview Secrets

Marty Nemko gives his five secrets to a great job interview. These tips are really practical -- ones you might not have heard before... at least not this explicitly.

Fired for Mistake on the Job

Question
I transferred from the hospital I worked at to a clinic run by the same hospital. After three weeks at the clinic, I was fired for making a mistake. Not a deadly mistake, but a mistake, nonetheless, that I took full responsibility for. This was my first mistake like this in my 21 years in this profession.

I am now filling out job applications and have received job interviews in the same field. How do I handle the question, "Why did you leave your last place of employment?"
-- Maurice

Answer
Maurice, without knowing what the mistake was, it's hard to give a specific answer.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Before the interview, practise answering the question with an employment counselor or a friend who can be objective and help you figure out how much to disclose and how to say it.
2. Answer the question with complete honesty, take full responsibility, and assure the employer it will not happen again.
3. Go to your interview with one or more written recommendations from previous supervisors who will vouch for your excellence in work. Also, bring a reference sheet that lists several people in your profession who are willing to speak to the interviewer about your skills.

Is there a class you can take, or certification you can earn that would demonstrate your conviction not to repeat the mistake (the way one can go to traffic school in order to avoid getting a black mark on one's driving record)? If so, enroll right away so you can mention that in your interview.

We all make mistakes; your interviewer is no exception. Hopefully he or she will identify with your situation and give you a second chance, especially given the strong career you have under your belt. I wish you the best!

Are Some Interview Questions Illegal?

I learned something this morning from Askamanager's post Illegal Interview Questions? This post addresses the issue of how to deal with interview questions like "How many kids do you have?" and "Is your husband in the army?" I have always thought it was illegal for an employer to ask these types of questions because they might lead to discrimination in the hiring process. Not so, according to Askamanager:

There's a widespread but incorrect belief that these sorts of questions are illegal. The act of asking them actually is not illegal. What can be illegal is rejecting you based on your answers to them.

Read the complete post here, to learn what a job seeker can do to his or her advantage when faced with one of these uncomfortable questions.

Thank you, Askamanager, for clarifying this point!

Fired for Lying on Resume

Question
I got fired from a job. To get my next job, I lied on my resume. It worked and I got hired. Everything was great -- I even got a promotion. A week after starting my new role, I was terminated for lying on my resume.

Now that I am again looking for a new job, how do I explained this in the job interview? Also, when I update my resume, should I put the phone number for the companies that I used to work for?
-- Carlos

Answer
Carlos, you need to sit yourself down and look at the pattern of lying and getting fired in your work history. You need to stop this self-destructive behavior before your work history is so checkered that no one will hire you.

Legally your last employer had every right to terminate your employment based on a lie on your resume, which was an official document in your personnel file. That lesson learned (the hard way, I'm afraid), what are you going to do now?

I know it's embarrassing to get fired, and it's hard to write or talk about it, but the truth is a greater ally than a falsehood. So on your resume, make sure absolutely everything is honest. You can leave information off (like those telephone numbers of previous employers), but everything that you say on your resume must be truthful.

On your resume, you don't have to say why you left your previous jobs. However, on your job application you must answer the question if asked. So prepare for how you'll respond to that question, both on the job application and in the job interview. Here are some thoughts for talking about it in the interview:

"I made the mistake of not fully explaining such-and-such. That mistake cost me my last job and I'll never let that happen again. I assure you my work ethic is excellent and I'll do my utmost to fulfill your expectations here at ABC Company."

I wish you the best with your job hunt!

Accidents on the Job

Question
My line of work requires me to drive company vehicles from job to job. I was terminated from my job because I had 3 preventable accidents in one year. Previous to that I had only 5 accidents in 30 years of driving. Other than these recent accidents, I have a good work record with over 30 years experience.

How can I improve my job prospects on my application and in the interview when it comes to questions like: Why did you leave your last job?
--John

Answer



John,
As I say in this video, your first step is to realise why these preventable accidents occurred and what you can do to prevent them from happening in the future. Do you need to drive fewer hours per day so you aren't sleepy behind the wheel? Or has your eyesight changed such that you need new glasses? Or is there another issue you haven't mentioned in your email that you can do something about? Also, is there a driver's safety class or test you could take to "clean up" your record in the eyes of your potential employer?

Once you have a grip on the situation, put it in writing. On a single sheet of paper tell the truth about why you were fired and, most important, what you've done to remedy the issue. Perhaps something like:

After x years of a perfect driving record with the company, I was let go because of three accidents in the last year due to some eye problems. I now have the proper eye glasses and have passed a certified driver's safety class.

Bring this sheet with you when you fill out the job application. For the question, "Why did you leave your last job?" write, "See attached sheet." Attach your written statement to the job application.

In the job interview, be perfectly honest about the three accidents without emphasizing that they were preventable. But do give the employer reason to believe that such accidents won't be repeated on your new job.

Good luck with this!

Disclosing Disability in Job Interview

The Legal Reality: Meredith on the Job by Helen M. Russon, Esq. is the continuing story of Meredith, a 32-year-old certified public accountant who was recently diagnosed with a chronic disease, multiple sclerosis (M.S.).

In this segment of the story, we learn how Meredith handled a tough question during her job interview, “We need dependable people here. Can you tell us how much time you missed from work last year because of illness?” Meredith's level of M.S. is referred to as relapsing-remitting, meaning she has spans of time in which she expereinces more disability than other times. For that reason, she answered the question, "I was sick a couple of times, but not for very long. And I made it all up through overtime." Her answer was honest without disclosing her M.S.

Meredith won the job but later faced the problem of how to maneuver a lot of stair climbing at work. She researched her legal rights for requesting "reasonable accomodations," using the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) as her guide. Despite knowing her legal rights, she was concerned that asking for an accomodation might limit her ability to advance in her job at that firm.

From the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC), she found “Enforcement Guidance on Pre-employment Disability-Related Questions and Medical Exams,” where she learned the interview question should not have been asked. But if she had refused to respond to the question, perhaps she would not have gotten the job.

Russon's article concludes:

The legal reality is that the world of work is ambiguous—and right now the culture of her workplace may be Meredith’s only guide as to what to expect next.

Short-Term Job on Resume?

Question
I am an Executive Assistant presently looking for my next job opportunity. I have extensive experience in this field. Since my last experience was short-lived (6 months), I would like to hear your comments whether or not I should keep it in my resume (even though it is relevant experience)?

So far I went through several interviews, and I haven’t had any offers yet. Do you feel that one of the “red flags” is the fact that I worked at my last employment only 6 months? The reason for leaving the company was the fact that my manager was working out of different location (long-distance boss), and it was very difficult to build a really good working relationship.

One of the other reasons I think is my age even though I don’t look or feel my age (I am 51 years old).
--Asya

Answer
Hello Asya,
Don't put the recent six-month job on your resume for the following reasons:

Because the job before your six-monther ended in 2008 and you wisely used only years (not months), there is no red flag in your work history. It looks as if you might have recently left that job (even though you left it at the beginning of the year), and are just embarking on your new job search.

On the job application, you'll have to list the recent six-month job, but for your resume, leave it off, as you have been.

Your resume is doing its job of winning you interviews; perhaps you need help with your interviewing skills. Try to get some coaching to see how you can tackle the age issue (if that's the problem), how to explain why your last job was short-lived, and polish your interview style.

Good luck in landing your new job!

Teen's First Job Interview

It's your first job interview and you're a little nervous. That's understandable. Almost everyone gets the chitters when they feel under the spotlight. So try to think of your interview as a two-way conversation between you and the employer. You're both trying to figure out if it's a good idea for you to take this new job you're applying for.

Here are a few tips to make the conversation go smoothly:

- Before your interview, practice how you'll answer questions the employer is likely to ask, and make a list of questions you want to ask about the job.
- For your job interview, dress one step up from what you would expect to wear normally on the job.
- Make a good impression by smiling, having good posture, making eye contact, and being friendly to everyone you meet at the job site (not just the person interviewing you).
- Avoid talking about pay until after you understand all that's involved with the job.
- After the interview, say "thank you" to the interviewer, as well as to those who ushered you in (such as the receptionist or security guard).

Once you have this first job interview under your belt, you'll have a sense of how to do even better the next time. Good luck with it!