Five Great Tips for the Interview Appointment

The whole purpose of an interview is for the employer to meet you, to get acquainted with your professional background and experience, learn about your special skill sets and qualifications, and of course, to see how you match up with their organizational needs. You obviously have piqued their interest with your resume, so now is not the time to disappoint them by not paying proper, close attention to the important details related to your interview appointment. Plus, this is the opportunity for you to do your homework, learn everything possible about their interview plans and process, learn all about their firm and key people, and plan how you will knock them over with your winning interview.

CONFIRM THE DETAILS: DAY, DATE, TIME, LOCATION AND PEOPLE

It should go without saying you must always confirm the details of your interview appointment, but we have seen too many times candidates missing their interviews because they did not think to confirm the details. When called about your interview appointment, before getting off the phone, confirm the exact day, date, time and location of the interview. This includes the address and room where the interview will take place.

Just as important, confirm all of the names and titles of the person(s) you will be meeting and a contact phone number should you require additional information prior to your appointment. This is the ideal time to learn who will be conducting your interview, the type of interview they are planning and the expected duration of the interview process so you can plan accordingly. Will you be expected to meet other personnel? Who are they? Will there be multiple interviews that day conducted separately by other key personnel? Who? Where? How long? How many resumes should you bring along? Should you take along sample materials so you can leave it with them? How many copies should you make? These are all important questions you need to have answered so you can take away any surprises that might crop up.

In the likelihood your first interview will be by telephone, make absolutely sure they have the correct phone number to call you and you have theirs in the event you should become disconnected during the interview. Just as important, ensure you will be in a location that is completely private and that you will not have any disturbances or interruptions of any kind while you are on the phone. You do want any unbecoming or unprofessional background noise (children playing, dog barking, colleagues walking in and out of your office, etc.). It also goes without saying that should you have a telephone interview, you should never be driving in your car. Find a quiet remote location to park with no distractions.

RESEARCH THE ORGANIZATION

Now is the best time to conduct your research on the organization and after confirming your interview appointment plans, you now know the names and titles of the key people you will be meeting – the very ones whom you need to impress and win over to land the job. Get to know everything you possibly can about the firm, its key personnel, management and the interviewers.

It seems overly simplistic, but ask your self what kind of business is this firm? What do they do and what are they most noted for? You would be surprised how many candidates have no clue about the organization with whom they are interviewing with, and it places them at a distinct disadvantage in the competition. What is the stock price? Where is the headquarters? Are there any regional offices? Where? Who are their clients? What is their reputation in the marketplace? How many employees? What is their annual revenue?

Read the annual report from the past three years to familiarize your self about the core nature of their business, earnings and revenues, and future plans. This will help you prepare to answer questions related to how you see yourself fitting into their organization. In fact, why are you applying for this position? What do you envision you will do for this firm and where do you want to fit in? What do you have to offer and contribute? Who will you be working for and where? Is the interviewer your prospective boss? What are the future plans of the company/division where you will be working?

Finally, read the posted job description if you have not already. If you have not, ask for a copy of it when you confirm your interview appointment. Knowing the details of the job description will prepare you to intelligently address the qualifications and requirements of the position.

TRAVEL PLANS: GET A MAP AND PLAN YOUR TRAVEL ROUTE

If you are meeting at the prospective employer's office, which is generally the case, take time beforehand to confirm the location on a map, obtain driving directions and the best route to use for the time and day you are traveling to the appointment. If possible, drive the route days before so you are familiar with it and the traffic congestion at that time of day. This will help you to know for certain how much time you need to allow yourself to travel and arrive with time to spare. Ask yourself where you will park; is parking free or paid? Covered or uncovered? This might be important on a stormy day. How far will you need to walk from the parking lot to the office and how long will it take you? If possible, doing some reconnaissance days beforehand so you will not be surprised about how long it may take. After all, you do not want to be late for your job interview, ever. It will not only make a bad first impression, it may take you out of contention before you ever have the chance to sell your qualifications.

OUT OF TOWN TRAVEL

Likewise, if you are traveling from out of town for the interview put in the same effort as you would at home by doing your reconnaissance beforehand. If possible, arrive into town the day before a morning interview (it allows you to be rested and better prepared) so you will have time to get your bearings. Always check and double-check your travel arrangements, including air, hotel and rental car reservations. Get a map and ask for driving directions if necessary. Be absolutely sure you know where you are going and how long it will take you to get there from your hotel.

If you are traveling into town, it is advisable to arrive the day before to acclimate yourself to the surroundings, region, climate (higher elevation in some cases) and to help you feel rested and ready to go the following day. You certainly want to be your freshest, sharpest self so it only stands to reason you need to prepare yourself in every way possible, including getting into town early. After traveling far distances and over a long time, you will not be at your best, so avoid such an interview appointment at all costs.

CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST

Also, it is advisable you check the weather forecast regularly. If it rains or is exceptionally windy (any foul weather) you want to be properly prepared to weather the elements. Carry an umbrella, overcoat, hat, gloves and scarf if necessary. You want to be sure that when you arrive at your interview appointment you are still well dressed and properly groomed, so it is worth taking every ounce of precaution against inclement weather. Should you encounter foul weather, then make sure you have extra time upon your arrival to use the restroom to freshen up and take a good look in the mirror so you will look sharp. Reconnaissance can prepare you for this situation as well.

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Tips for Finding a New Job While You Are Currently Employed

The current job market is not ideal and there is uncertainty; that said there are great career opportunities out there. If you are currently employed it is more difficult to conduct a job search, but it can be done smartly and respectfully. Here are some tips for finding a new productive job search while currently employed, and moving on with grace:

Confidentiality

Job hunting while you are employed can be tricky. You don't want to burn bridges or be replaced before you have found your dream job. While in general the more people who know you are looking, the easier for people to find you, this is not an option when you need to keep your current employment. Conducting a job search confidentially means choosing the people you tell wisely. Typically you wouldn't include your co-workers, upper management, or company contacts in this secret. Working with a recruiter will protect your identity until mutual interest with a prospective employer is established. When you do have an interview, let the company know that your job search is confidential.

Do It On Your Own Time & Dime

This is your job search, make sure you do this on your personal time and use your own resources. Make sure that you provide only personal the contact information on your resume or cover letter. For finding a new job correspondence, use a personal email, or set up a new email, and use your own phone and personal computer. This is respectful of the work contract in which you are currently engaged, and will keep you out of any conflicts that could arise if your job search becomes known.

Interviewing

Just as the job searching should be done on your own time, ideally interviews should too. This is not always possible of course, so when you can't schedule a phone or onsite interview outside of work hours, use your paid time off. Rather than invent any reasons, simply use your personal time. And be careful if you going to work on the same days as your interview that you don't give yourself away by arriving dressed in a suit and tie that you never wear to work!

Internet Job Hunting

Privacy settings may include your name and contact information for example, and some offer the ability to block specific viewers such as your current company from viewing your resume. While the internet offers vast resources, be careful about what you broadcast on social media from Twitter to LinkedIn, your comments can be widely distributed and very difficult to retract. Review your photos and personal information as employers use social media too!

Networking

It is difficult to utilize networks when your job search is confidential, however you can strengthen relationships and communications in general which may open up some doors and offer insight into new opportunities.

Moving On With Grace

Stay invested in your current position and honor the work contract and trust that you have with your current employer while finding a new job. Until you have accepted an offer in writing, don't tell anyone about your job search or new job. Once the new position is confirmed, tell your boss first and follow the usual protocols of providing adequate notice (typically at least two weeks). Be graceful in your departure. The relationships you have built here are important, whether for continuing business relations in the same industry, obtaining recommendations in the future, or even future employment down the road with colleagues.

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How to Make Your Resume Short yet Impressive

Writing an effective resume is an art at which not everyone is proficient. I have seen people who have extensive years of experience but don't know much about resume writing. They simply put together all the professional and educational details and forget about factors like lucidity and relevancy. In fact, a poorly written CV is a common reason why deserving candidates are not shortlisted for job positions in leading organizations. To avoid falling prey to the ill effects of a futile CV, one should make some efforts to learn the art of resume writing.

On a single resume, one has to mention everything from hobbies to professional experience. With so many things to write and limited space, it becomes very challenging to decide which particulars should be mentioned on the final copy. In case of professionals with 15-20 years of experience, the job gets even tougher. Listing job responsibilities and dates for all the job positions becomes not only for the person writing the resume but for the employer as well. So, to avoid all these hassles, here we would list a few tips that should be kept in mind while penning down your experience on the resume.

• Don't emphasize on dates – If you have say more than five years of experience, avoid mentioning dates of joining and leaving the organization. Simply put years and talk about the responsibilities you were handling in the past organization. By doing so, you can mention relevant experience on the CV without delving into minor details.

• Skip Oldest Jobs – A large numbers of professionals with 15-20 years of industry experience apply for jobs in Dubai every year. If they start listing every job position, the CV would be endlessly lengthy. Thus, all such professionals should avoid mentioning oldest jobs in their resume. To ensure that you don't miss any important positions, thoroughly look at the professional experience and try to figure out which ones are not relevant to the profile for which you are forwarding the resume.

• Put Educational Qualifications in Brief – For a fresher, the relevance of mentioning educational qualification is more than an experienced professional. So, if you have significant years of experience you can skip this section. Or just talk about your educational degrees in brief so that the employer can focus only on the experienced you earned in the industry.

With these tips, you can keep your resume short without missing on essential details. Now, have a look at your resume and find out if there is a scope of improvement.

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Interview Tips 2012

Obtaining degrees and acquiring qualifications are not the only requirements for getting the job you want. You also need to make the case for why you are the best candidate for a job. To be sure, having the right knowledge, skills and abilities are important, but many other persons applying for the same job are likely to have qualifications that are just as good as yours. You need to do something that distinguishes you from the rest of the pool of applicants. You can do this through your resume and your interview. Getting the right interview tips and resume-writing guidance can help you.

Everyone knows how tough the job market is right now. Although the economy is slowly recovering, there is still a lot of competition for each job that is created. And many of the people applying for such jobs have the same level of qualifications. Writing a resume that will not only highlight your education and achievements, but that will convey your intelligence and superior work ethic is crucial to securing your dream job. Resumes are not just a litany of what you've done in your life. They are the starting point of a conversation between you and a potential employer.

You ought to view your resume the way a person on the inside of the organization you want to join may view it. Is it intelligible? Does it give the reader a sense of why you are perfect fit for the job you're applying for? These are some of the things you need to think about when writing your resume; and having the right coach to get you through this process can be very helpful.

If the resume is the starting point of the conversation, the interview is the furtherance of the conversation. Anyone that is in the job market has probably been bombarded by various interview tips from a wide range of sources. Some of the random interview tips one may come across are helpful, others may be less so. In any case, the volume of noise that surrounds interviewing is justified by the fact that it is an important part of the hiring process.

Through the interview your prospective employer gets their first impression of you. Rarely do you get a second chance to make such an impression, so it's important to get it right the first time. The ability to answer tough interview questions with poise and confidence; the ability to portray yourself as warm, energetic, and dedicated; the ability to convincingly demonstrate why you're right for the job—these are all things a career coach can help you develop.

Fortunately, there are many ways of getting great interview tips and sound advice on resume writing. You can find and download software that will take you through, step-by-step, the process of writing a good resume and sitting a good interview. A search of the worldwide web will call up a list of the various vendors that provide this software. It can be very useful in finding the job of your dreams, and beginning the career you've always wanted.

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Sample Interview Questions With Answers

Sample interview questions of the common type are listed below. Answers are included. But perhaps suggestions for tailoring your responses is a better way to put it, since specific answers are impossible to provide. Practice answering these sample interview questions out loud to yourself or ask a friend or relative to help you.

Don't feel that you have to answer right away. Interviewers know that you're nervous and expect you to think a bit, so do think carefully before you answer. But don't hesitate too long or it'll appear that you're stalling. Interviewers will ask open-ended questions to see where you'll go with them, so try not to ramble while you're thinking of a real answer.

Q.

Tell me about yourself.

A.

This is the dreaded, classic, open-ended interview question and likely to be among the first. It's your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, etc. Keep it mostly work and career related.

Q.

Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?)

A.

Be careful with this. Avoid trashing other employers and making statements like, "I need more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move."

Q.

What are your strengths?

A.

Point out your positive attributes related to the job.

Q.

What are your weaknesses?

A.

Everybody has weaknesses, but don't spend too much time on this one and keep it work related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying "I work too hard." It's a predictable, common answer.) For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.

Q.

Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself?

A.

Answer with positive, work-oriented adjectives, such as conscientious, hard-working, honest and courteous, plus a brief description or example of why each fits you well.

Q.

What do you know about our company?

A.

To answer this one, research the company before you interview.

Q.

Why do you want to work for us?

A.

Same as above. Research the company before you interview. Avoid the predictable, such as, "Because it's a great company." Say why you think it's a great company.

Q.

Why should I hire you?

A.

Point out your positive attributes related to the job, and the good job you've done in the past. Include any compliments you've received from management.

Q.

What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction?

A.

Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, raises, etc. Focus more on achievement than reward.

Q.

What makes you want to work hard?

A.

Naturally, material rewards such as perks, salary and benefits come into play. But again, focus more on achievement and the satisfaction you derive from it.

Q.

What type of work environment do you like best?

A.

Tailor your answer to the job. For example, if in doing your job you're required to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player when needed, but also enjoy working independently. If you're required to attend regular project planning and status meetings, then indicate that you're a strong team player and like being part of a team.

Q.

Why do you want this job?

A.

To help you answer this and related questions, study the job ad in advance. But a job ad alone may not be enough, so it's okay to ask questions about the job while you're answering. Say what attracts you to the job. Avoid the obvious and meaningless, such as, "I need a job."

Q.

How do you handle pressure and stress?

A.

This is sort of a double whammy, because you're likely already stressed from the interview and the interviewer can see if you're handling it well or not. Everybody feels stress, but the degree varies. Saying that you whine to your shrink, kick your dog or slam down a fifth of Jack Daniels are not good answers. Exercising, relaxing with a good book, socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy are more along the lines of the "correct" answers.

Q.

Explain how you overcame a major obstacle.

A.

The interviewer is likely looking for a particular example of your problem-solving skills and the pride you show for solving it.

Q.

Where do you see yourself five (ten or fifteen) years from now?

A.

Explain your career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are interviewing. Your interviewer is likely more interested in how he, she or the company will benefit from you achieving your goals than what you'll get from it, but it goes hand in hand to a large degree. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management position.

Q.

What qualifies you for this job?

A.

Tout your skills, experience, education and other qualifications, especially those that match the job description well. Avoid just regurgitating your resume. Explain why.

Q.

Why did you choose your college major?

A.

The interviewer is likely fishing to see if you are interested in your field of work or just doing a job to get paid. Explain why you like it. Besides your personal interests, include some rock-solid business reasons that show you have vision and business sense.

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Templates Are Key In An Online Resume Builder

A template can be one of the important things to find on a resume. The template is a way how the information on the resume is arranged. The template must be made to where the information is easy to read and is prepared in a professional manner. A resume builder can create a nice looking design.

The template features that work on a resume builder can be impressive for all sorts of needs. These can include many items that express information clearly and neatly without any issues getting in the way.

A template can start by listing the information in a responsible manner. This includes listing information with things like the past job description first followed by one's educational history. A resume builder can include templates that neatly combine all of these items into their own special sections to make information easy to read as possible.

For example, a person can list details on one prior job in a main entry. This can be followed with a series of smaller bullet points. These include items like details on the individual tasks that were involved with that job. The information can also include details on any skills that a person had to use or the kinds of honors that the person got while on the job.

A template may also include convenient lines that are arranged around the resume. These lines may be used for dividing items in a spot. These may make a resume more interesting but they should be strong enough to where they will not be too complicated.

The emphasis on what should be bold and what should not be bold can also be covered on a template. This includes making sure that only the right pieces of information like job titles and headings are covered. This is used so a reader can understand what the most important items on a resume are. These details need to be managed as carefully as possible.

The options that can be used on a resume builder can vary. The templates may include many designs that work with individual professions in mind. These include special templates that might include special sections devoted to things like any residency or internship opportunities that a person might have taken. The standards for a resume must vary by each person and should be managed carefully.

A good template is a great point that can work well on a free resume builder. A template may add a unique look to the resume while making things easier to read. This must be reviewed carefully when finding the best solution to create the best possible resume.

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Related tips : Career, Beauty, Health, Vacancies