Interviewing 4 Questions to Ask... and 4 to Avoid!

Interviewing 4 Questions to Ask... and 4 to Avoid! Most people prepare for a job interview by preparing answers to the questions that are most likely to come up. This is a great strategy, but it’s one of several strategies that you can use to deliver a better impression in your next interview. One of the best ways to stand out from the crowd and is to ask the right questions to the interviewer. By asking the right questions, you stand out as someone that’s truly interested in the job, rather than someone that’s only interested in getting the job. In this post, we’ll share four great question that you should ask  in your next job interview. We’ll also share four questions you shouldn’t ask to make sure you’re completely prepared. Let’s begin with four questions you should ask, if you think they’re a good fit for the interview: 1) How can I be a good addition to your team? One of the most important parts of working within an organisation is being good at working with other people. This question shows the interviewer that you’re not just interested in getting the job, but in working alongside the rest of the team. This is particularly important if you’re applying for a position that involves a lot of collaboration, or if the company you’re applying to work for has a company culture that heavily values collaborative work in general. 2) Who will I be working with in this role? The people you work with have a huge impact on your creativity, productivity and focus. If your role involves working with other people, ask for more information on the people you’ll be working with if you get the job. This signals to the interviewer that you’re interested in the people that make up the company. It also signals that you care about your colleagues, indicating that you’re a team player instead of someone that likes to work alone. 3) How will I help the company achieve its goals? One of the keys to passing an interview is demonstrating that you’re interested in the company’s success, not just your success. Before your interview, research the company so that you better understand its goals, objectives and mission. During the interview, take the opportunity to ask about how you can help achieve the company’s goals. No matter how minor your role within the company might be, showing that you care about outcomes sets you apart as someone who cares. 4) Can you tell me more about the company’s culture? Not all companies have the same culture. Some companies are traditional and need their employees to dress and act the part. Others are more laid back, preferring that employees have a work environment that’s built for creativity instead of formality. Asking if you fit into the company culture is a great way to show that you care about being a good member of the team. This question also shows that you’re aware of the company’s focus on culture and that it’s a priority for the organisation. Now that we’ve covered four questions you should  ask during an interview, let’s look at the four questions you should never ask your interviewer: 1) Can I work from home instead? If your employer allows telecommuting, they’ll mention it to you during the hiring process. Asking if you can work at home shows that you care more about you than you do about the company’s usual work processes. 2) How much time off will I get? Holiday time is important â€" if you can’t spend any time away from work, you’ll never be fully productive at work. However, a job interview isn’t the right time to ask how much time you’ll get off. 3) What exactly will I do here? If you don’t know what you’ll do at the company, why are you applying? It’s fine to ask some questions about the scope of a job you’re applying for, but if you start the interview with no idea of what the position requires, you’re probably not a good fit. 4) Do you monitor internet usage? This question might have honest intentions about transparency and privacy, but it comes off as you seeing if it’s possible to aimlessly browse the Internet at work and avoid making the company aware of it. Are you ready for your next interview? If you have a job interview coming up, asking the right questions can create a great impression. Memorise the four questions listed above (as well as the four questions not to ask) so that you’re prepared if the interviewer asks you for your opinion. Author: Matt Fielding is an writer  for frontrecruitment.co.uk, a London-based specialist receptionist recruiter.

The Theory of eBrand Attraction - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Theory of eBrand Attraction - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XneyHqP4AEY] Out of everything Ive learning on my personal branding journey, the Theory of eBrand Attraction is one of the most significant. I say this because the whole idea of eBranding is to expose exactly who you are, in a very authentic way, to the world. When this occurs, there are those that are attracted to your brand and others that are repelled. For you, this is really important because websites and blogs are people filters. Ive defined the term eBrand in the past, but essentially its an electronic or virtual representation of yourself. Any website that carries your name or image is part of your eBrand. Some people tell me your blog is your brand and that statement is only true if that is the only place on the internet with your name. If you comment on three blogs, have a Facebook profile and wrote an article for Fast Company, then the summation of all of those parts equals your eBrand. As you grow and develop your online presence, the outside world has more control over your eBrand than you in fact have yourself. Why is this special Dan? By attracting the right attention, you arent wasting time with people you wouldnt associate with anyways. Relationships are typically built and hinged from shared interest and eBrands are a way to communicate with those who you could see yourself being friends with in real life. A lot of online friendships turn to offline friends, especially if they are located in the same area. eBranding helps employers find who they are looking for. By telling everyone this is who I am and this is what I stand for you are inadvertently telling employers you are qualified or not qualified for a position. You are explaining that you are passionate about and have expertise in an area and telling them not to contact you if it doesnt fit your brand. In this way, you are saving them time, as well as yourself.

Find perfect ENFJ balance Make people happy while getting things done

Find perfect ENFJ balance Make people happy while getting things done This course  includes four days of video sessions and email-based course materials.  You can purchase this course  for anytime, on-demand access. The cost is $195.  Sign up now! This is Dana. Skydiving. Dana is a great specimen of an ENFJ. She is flying through the air with her husband, Alex, an ESTP. Alex is an example of the most fun personality type in the whole world. As long as you dont think fun is being emotional. Dana is a fun facilitator. For Alex. She is a work facilitator for Melissa. Which makes sense  because Melissa is an INTJ so she thinks fun is work. Ive been doing all these personality type webinars, and I get so excited about the topic and the people Im talking with  that even though I have an outline, I get new ideas constantly, adding them as I go. So when it comes time to send summaries of the session, its difficult for me to remember everything I said. Dana knew this, so one evening right after a session she sent me a summary of what I said. I was SO RELIEVED! She knew exactly what I needed in order to completely love doing the webinarsI needed to not have to write my own summaries. Watching Dana in action really crystalized the ENFJ type for me. She is incredibly capable in her personal life. Every sky diver in the whole US wanted to date her before Alex got to her. And shes super capable at work as well. Melissas recruiting business is specialized and requires deep knowledge of personality type. Dana had done none of that but  learned it all and quickly became indepensable to Melissa as the person who can make anyone feel comfortable. Dana is like Melissas workplace fairy god mother, making everything around Melissa work well. Melissa even travels everywhere with Dana because Melissa says she gets more done in a  hotel room if Dana is there. And thats pretty much everyones experience of an ENFJ. Things go better when they are there. So youre probably wondering why ENFJs would need a webinar about their type. Because ENFJs worry incessantly. They worry they are not getting enough done. They worry they are not helping people as much as they can. They want everything, and they want it all to balance. The choice of what to focus on and what to give up is what makes ENFJs worry the most. All other types have a natural tendency to focus on one part of life over the otherINFJs dont really like working all day, ENTPs dont like being home all day. Each type has a clear tendency, but not ENFJs. So their tendency is to worry until they are almost debilitated by worry. But that will never happen in our ENFJ land, because our ENFJs will take this course. There is no perfect answer for all ENFJs. There is only the right answer for your ENFJ situation. This course will tell you how to find the perfect balance by showing you best practices for ENFJ greatness, and the secret path to squashing ENFJ worries. And of course, Dana will take notes. Heres a description of the course. And you  should sign up now!

Dealing with Dueling Personal Brands - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Dealing with Dueling Personal Brands - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Most people don’t know I have a full-time job in public relations, outside of all the career-related activities in which I’m involved. I went to school for public relations. All the jobs on my résumé are in public relations. Yet, I’m probably much better known in the career space. Why is this and is it what I want? Public relations has always excited me. That’s why I was one of the few people who went to college knowing exactly what I wanted to do the rest of my life…or did I? An iota after I started my PR career, I was thrown into the role of a hiring manager â€" and fell in love again. And, rightly or wrongly, I’ve spent much more time on my career expert personal brand over the years than I have on my PR one. I don’t talk about my full-time job often because I find it confuses people (not the job itself but the fact that I do something other than provide career advice). But, even as I strongly contemplate switching gears into the career space 100% of the time, I find myself torn. Have I been doing myself a disservice this entire time? On March 1, several colleagues and I launched my second business, MyPRMatch.com. I just can’t seem to break away from my first love. Part of the reason I’m transitioning is the numerous problems I see in the industry every day, at least one of which I hope to solve with MyPRMatch.com. But what about my brand? Have I neglected the PR side of me publicly for so long that my brand isn’t strong enough to push this thing out there like it deserves? I am, after all, the most senior PR professional on our team. I feel like a lot is riding on me to make this work. So how do I (you) bounce back? Luckily, I don’t feel I’m starting completely from scratch with my PR brand. It’s been there all along, I just haven’t properly nurtured it. And I still don’t plan to make it my “front and center” personal brand â€" that’s reserved for the career expert side of me. The first thing I’m going to do is set a few goals. (No books this time!) Planning always helps me visualize the path I need to take. I actually have a few speaking engagements lined up in the next several months, so that’s a great start. I also already have multiple business cards, depending on the situation. I’m going to review my official biography and decide whether or not I weave my PR background into it or create a separate PR bio altogether. Alongside my biography, I plan to review my social networking presence. Is there something more I can do to present both sides of my personal brand without one swallowing the other? Look for an update from me in an upcoming post! Do you have dueling personal brands, by design or otherwise? How do you manage both? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder president of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.

Writing About An Event In Time In Your Resume

Writing About An Event In Time In Your ResumeYour resume, whether for a job interview or job search, is your chance to make a lasting impression, and it's all about how you present the events in your resume in the way that will stand out. There are many ways to do this, and here I'll discuss some of the most popular methods.You should always include every single detail of an event. That means you should write down all the dates and names of all the people involved in the event, including people who may not have been there that time. Include names of everyone who was part of the media coverage of the event. This is true even if there was no mention of the event in the newspaper or on TV.If you know that there was an announcement that was made the day before the event, then include that in your resume. Even if there was no news released about the event, the fact that there was any news at all is news enough to be included. If you have a co-worker or other employer who knows about the e vent, let them know about it. This is also true if you were part of a school news conference about the event. Again, if you know about the event, let the person know!If you can add something to your resume based on your own personal experience, that's great. For example, maybe you had to attend a particular wedding or baptisms just because you were invited. Or maybe you knew someone who was involved in the event because they played in the band. You might want to include any photographs that show these people (including photos of children in the band).It is also important to include background information about any relative you might have in the event. It might be possible to search for this information yourself, but it would be much easier if you could contact the person directly and get the details. It's also important to include any relatives who attended the event, even if they didn't speak to you. Remember, you don't have to remember everybody who was at the event.If you attende d any important events as part of your work, include those in your resume. If you attended any sports games or dances or even volunteer work in the area where the event took place, list it. Even if the date doesn't seem very important, it is important to include it if it is relevant to your current job.If you were a history professor, then the event could be listed there. In this case, the date is important. The school year should be noted, along with the department. The number of degrees that you earned is important too.These are some of the ways to include an event in your resume. If you find that you have forgotten anything, don't hesitate to contact the person who was involved in the event. The more information you have, the better your chances of making a positive impression.

So What Happened!!! Career Complacency Hurts

So What Happened!!! Career Complacency Hurts So What Happened????!!! Career Complacency Hurts Something I hear a lot from job seekers recently is that they have never (ever) had to actually look for a job before.  They sound completely shocked. And hurt, too. And I’ll actually say it: They sound like they’ve experienced a loss of entitlement. So what happened? The problem isn’t that they either left a job, lost a job, or got laid off. The magic “ingredient” is much bigger than the fact that they are no longer working at the company. The truth is that many people become completely complacent about building their career while they are actually working. Are they keeping their networks vibrant and up-to-date? Are they adding new contacts and cultivating authentic relationships? Have they kept up on their on-the-job knowledge? Are they still members of key industry organizations? Are they engaged and involved as a volunteer? We all know the answer to this one… “I got too busy.” Unfortunately, this is not an excuse. Look at the people who are most successful in their careers, and you’ll see busy professionals who continue to balance all of these factors in addition to getting their jobs done. Today’s economy does not invite complacency; it requires personal advocacy. The “What happened?” question really lies within yourself. What happened is that you allowed yourself to get consumed by work and eventually forget to take care of yourself and nurture the seeds that will allow your career to grow… and that means tending to the garden of networking contacts to keep those crops flowering. Instead, they dried up; neglected. This isn’t easy to hear, but every time I ask clients what they have done to keep their personal career advocacy in motion while they’ve been on the job, the answer is the same every time. Again, they got too busy. What are YOU doing to push your envelope? How many people have you met this week? How are you keeping yourself relevant? Where are you building your leadership skills? All it takes is setting forth some goals to keep these areas active â€" then executing. Your career co-exists quietly and consistently alongside your actual job… it’s what you do to keep it going and active that matters in the long run. And if you do, then you won’t be asking questions like “What happened?” because you have already bypassed the complacency and replaced it with advocacy. Photo By Rodrigomorante (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Smart Career Resources For Tough Times

Smart Career Resources For Tough Times We never thought it would get this bad. Words from one employee affected by the changes that are hitting Wall Street this week.Most are in shock but realize action is necessary to weather the storm effectively. If you are looking for support and advice, here are sites Ive found useful: Collection of career advice from expert career coaches and authors Free career how-to videos on finding a job during tough times, landing a recession-proof job and acing a job interview Tips from the NYTimes.com if youre Out of Work on Wall StreetMy advice, take this as a wake up call focus on your passion and your unique strengths and the money will follow. And I walk the talk.I made it through the Andersen debacle by doing a soul search BEFORE the job search with the help of career coaching. I found the process so helpful, I got certified as a coach and started helping all my Andersen friends with their careers. Now 7 years later, Im my own boss helping people get out of the rat race and into career s they would do for free (but get paid well to do.)Its your turn to take control of your career and find opportunity in challenge.Join the conversation with your comments and lets all get through this together. What are your thoughts on whats happening on Wall Street? What advice you want to share for those impacted?