Answers to Job Interview Questions

How to Survive a Tricky/Adversarial Interview

The following 'difficult' questions are common to most tricky or adversarial interviews. In order to convince the interviewer that you are the best person for the job, you must prepare and rehearse your answers meticulously.

Study the job description and the candidate profile; research the company; and match your skills and accomplishments to the employer's requirements.

When preparing your answers, consider what each question is designed to find out about the candidate's suitability for the position on offer.

1. Why are you leaving your current job?

The employer is seeking to identify problems you have had in the past that you may carry over into your new job. Always cite positive reasons for joining and leaving a company. Never criticize your previous employer or work colleagues. Avoid statements that may convey a negative impression of yourself or your ability to get on with others. State that you are looking for a new challenge and briefly explain why you see the advertised position as an important step forward in your career.

2. Why should we employ you rather than one of the other candidates?

The interviewer wants to know what unique quality makes you the best person for the job. To differentiate yourself from the other candidates, you must show that you have researched the company thoroughly and studied the job description. You should be prepared to demonstrate clearly how your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments match the employer's specific needs. It is important to convey genuine enthusiasm for the post.

3. What are your strenghts and weaknesses?

This particularly tricky question requires painstaking preparation and rehearsal. The interviewer is looking for evidence of critical self-assessment and a commitment to continuous self-development. Stress specific job-related strengths and accomplishments. Select one weakness that could be viewed both as positive and negative, e.g. you are a perfectionist who tends to work too long hours. Show, by particular example, how you have successfully addressed this tendency. Make sure to portray yourself in a positive light. Never mention a weakness that is directly related to job for which you are being interviewed.

4. Tell me about yourself.

The interviewer wants to know how well suited you are to the job and how you can benefit the company. Spend no longer than two minutes answering this question. By analysing the job description and carrying out detailed company research in advance, you will have a clear idea of the ideal candidate. Focus on your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments that relate to the advertised position. Remember that the company has a problem and they are looking for the best solution. Prove to them that you can solve their problem better than anyone else.

5. Where do you see yourself in five years' time?

This question is designed to determine your career plan. Have you well planned short-term and long-term career goals? Is the advertised position consistent with these? If hired, are you likely to commit yourself fully to the company or will you seize the first opportunity to move on? Show that you have a structured way of establishing goals. Demonstrate the importance of the job on offer as part of your career progression. Stress that you are ambitious, but realistic. Let them know that you plan to develop professionally within the company and to work energetically to obtain promotion.

6. Why do you want to work for our company?

The interviewer is trying to discover how much you know about the company. Once again, detailed company research will pay handsome dividends when it comes to answering this question. The candidate who displays a knowledge of the company and an awareness of the challenges it faces is more likely to be selected than the tongue-tied interviewee who looks perplexed when asked why he or she wants to work for that particular company.

You should find out as much as you can about the company's organisational structure; its financial history; its range of products, goods or services; its aims and objectives; its philosophy and culture; its trading methods; its history, current position, and future developments; its competitors; its training programmes; its attitude towards its customers; its achievements; and any problems it may have. Tailor your answer in terms of their needs not yours.

Be positive. Say that you like what you've heard about the company and the way they treat their staff and customers. Stress that you are confident that you can make a meaningful contribution.

From 'Four Minutes to Job Interview Success' published by Assignments Plus

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

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Dress up for your interview

Getting ready for an interview can be hectic because many times you don’t know how to get that perfect look. This is quite important because many times you are unable to succeed in your interview in spite your great efforts and performance because of a bad impression of your dress code.

The following list shall give you a good idea of how to dress for a job interview:

1. Suit – You can wear a conservative two piece dark grey or dark blue business suit could be an ideal wear on the day of your job interview.

2. Shirt – A white, long sleeved dress shirt that is neatly pressed and if it has a good fit it would be the best.

3. Tie – Try to go for a plain colored, non distracting, conservative dark blue or dark red neck tie made of 100% pure silk.

4. Tie accessories – A classic silver tie bar will ensure that your tie is held at its place during the interview process so that you are not forced to adjust it several times that could also make you nervous during the interview process.

5. Shoes – Wear clean and polished conservative dress shoes, black lace ups if possible could be a great choice.

6. Socks – Dark socks, black would be ideally suited for the interview.

7. Belt – The belt should match the color of your shoes so try to go with a black one if possible.

8. Hair – Make sure that you get a well groomed hairstyle before the interview and also be aware that short hair always fares best in interviews.

9. Beard – The beard needs to be shaved off.

10. Mustaches – Mustaches could lead to a negative impact but though you have one try to keep it clean and trimmed.

11. Fingernails- Keep your fingernails clean and trimmed because you are judged from top to bottom by the interviewer.

12. Rings- No other rings except wedding and college rings are acceptable.

13. Earrings and piercing- If you have earrings and other visible body piercing, you should take it off on the day of interview.

14. Body odor and fresh breath- Always make sure that you don’t smell badly and chew some gum before the interview but never during the interview.

15. Perfumes and colognes – Keep your perfume and cologne to a minimum.

16. Briefcase – Take along a brief case with notepad and pen for any kind of notes you may have to take during or after the interview.

To avoid any sort of inconvenience try to make all arrangements one day in advance of the interview.

For more details, log on to tying-neck-tie.info

Olivia Andrews, writer of tying-neck-tie.info is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, health, entertainment, music, gifts, crafts, travel, apparels and mobile phones.

By Olivia Andrews

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The Power of Certifications

Earning an IT certification seems like a lot of work. We are talking hours of training and study for IT certification exam prep, not to mention the price of becoming certified. So what exactly is the point? Why would anyone want to invest the time and money to earn a certification? The benefits of earning a certification can be seen in many different ways. Here are a few things which an IT certification can do for you:

1. Demonstrate Commitment. For individuals who haven’t had experience in the field and are looking for a foot in the door, passing a certification exam is a great way to prove to a potential employer your dedication. Employers want employees who they can rely upon; the IT industry requires individuals who are willing to dedicate time to fixing problems and providing accurate solutions.

2. Improve Skills: You are already a talented individual, but the industry changes so quickly. Keeping up with those changes and improving your current skill sets is something which certifications are designed to accomplish. Certifications can be seen as practice for problems which will be faced in the real world. Certifications train and teach individuals how to handle situations which will be faced on the job. Through the training certifications offer, you will gain hands on experience before performing the task in the work place. Some lessons can only be learned from experience.

3. Separate from Competition: The beauty of certifications is that each is specialized to a specific area. Different vendors have produced their own certifications to fully train individuals on how to use their products. When looking for a job, promotion, or advancement, this specialized training will set you apart from others who are seeking the same position. With your certification in hand you will be able to prove your proficiency in that specific area.

4. Polish a Resume: A certification is an excellent improvement to any resume. When coupled with a four year degree your resume can become a powerful marketing tool to promote your unique skill sets.

Becoming certified will require a lot of work, but the advantages which could come from doing so, might just be worth the costs. If you are interested in becoming A+, CCNA, or earning a Microsoft Certification, contact an IT certification training company to see how they can help you out with your exam prep. Mike Allen writes about IT certification training.

By Mike Allen

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Job Hunting - Your Job Between Jobs

Ronald Reagan once quipped: "A recession is when your friend loses their job. A depression is when you lose yours."

We're either dipping or narrowly skirting a recession, and getting good job hunting skills (or refreshing your existing one) is becoming a growing priority for millions of Americans and Europeans.

(A brief aside about lies, damned lies and statistics - while Americans worry about 5-7% unemployment rates being the sign of a recession, in Europe, the usual rate is closer to 10%, due to different measurement metrics and having more people on the dole. Conversely, it's much harder to let an employee go in Europe, where holding a job is considered a fundamental right.)

First things first - look at your expenses each month. Then look at your income from unemployment insurance (if available), and at the burn rate on your savings. The longer you can spend job hunting before feeling the financial pinch, the happier you'll be with the outcome. And while you're job hunting, also look at doing some freelancing in your field if you can - many job types, such as copy editors, writers, and spreadsheet gurus, can make decent money on the side doing freelancing work.)

Next, there are fundamental basics of job hunting. Make sure your resume or CV covers the high points of your experience and is easy to read. Make sure that your cover letter explains, succinctly, why you’re the best candidate for the job, and every time you get a nibble on a resume, send an interview thank you note. (Here's a trick - write the thank you letter the same time you write your cover letter, update it with the name of the person you're interviewing with, and have it printed, and in a stamped envelope to drop off in the mail box on the way out of the interview.)

Next, be prepared to work at finding a new job. Expect to make 40-50 telephone calls per week, and to send out at least 15-25 resumes or CVs per week. Be diligent in following these up. While you're aiming for making a high quality contact, this is a numbers game. Conversely, don't fixate on one job and get depressed if you don't get it. Again, the numbers game rules.

Flexibility is also key in job hunting - be willing to take on contract-to-hire positions, or work through a placement firm. Be willing to relocate. Focus on the upside, and maintain your full flexibility as a prospective employee.

If times are slow, consider taking an extra class or two, or getting a certification, to help you get an edge up in the job market. More and more, employers are forced to look at certifications to avoid charges of discrimination - you might as well get them and use this to your advantage.

Finally, be on the lookout for posted and non posted jobs. Even when times are good, fewer than 20% of all jobs get publicly posted. Talk to people in companies and work with them to find jobs that aren't publicly posted. Likewise, assume any job listing online is getting hammered with resumes and act appropriately.


By Catherine Jones

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High Paying Jobs With No Degree

Many people think, incorrectly, that getting high paying jobs without a degree is not possible. They think that to get the best pay, you compulsorily need to earn an intensive education degree in that particular field. High paying jobs without experience, and high paying entry level jobs are easy to get if you show the fundamental requirements needed for excelling in that specific job sector. The best way to get to know about a certain job is to undergo related training and certification. Nowadays, with efficient training and certification programs, individuals need not wait for 4 years to get high paying jobs without a degree. Following are few high paying jobs with no degree. Read more on top 10 highest paying jobs.

Top 10 High Paying Jobs Without a Degree

The following jobs are some of the high paying jobs that do not require a degree. Of course, some amount of education and studies will be required to secure such jobs, along with the training and the necessary certification.

Air Traffic Controller

This job does not require a college degree, however, it requires one to take a class from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), pass the medical and drug examinations, and undergo a security clearance procedure. After you pass all these requirements, you can fetch a salary of more than $100,000 per annum.

Airline Piloting Careers

This is probably the highest paying jobs without a degree, however the requirements may seem a bit complicated and tough. The prerequisites for being an airline pilot demands the training for the airline transport flying license, passing a written and practical test, holding 1,500 flight hours experience, and being 23 or more years old. The median earnings of an airline pilot can range from $135,000 to $145,000 per annum. Read more on airline jobs.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

A career as a nuclear power reactor operator can also be one of the high paying jobs without a degree. The annual pay that relates to this job is approximately $68,000. No degree is required, but you would inevitably need to go through intensive on-the-job trainings, and pass an examination for getting the required license.

Information Technology Careers

A majority of careers in the information technology sector do not require a specialized college degree. However, if you want to get IT jobs, you would need to undergo some related training and certification which would render you capable for these jobs. You can get IT certified from many well-known universities and agencies, and find yourself earning around $50,000 to $60,000 per annum. For getting software development and hardware jobs, you simply need to be computer savvy.

Writing Careers

If you do not have a university degree, and are good at writing, you have the option of choosing a career in writing. Writing is a diverse field with different sections such as creative writing, content writing, technical writing, resume writing, and many others. A degree or training may not be needed for all fields, except technical writing, which requires some specialized training courses to be undertaken. If you opt for a writing career, you can earn an annual pay of about $60,000 to $70,000.

Police Officer

Police officer jobs are one of the law enforcement careers which do not demand a university degree, but require an intensive physical training. You would require to go through training at the police academy, a psychological examination, and a criminal background check. After you are selected to do the live tasks, you may get a pay of approximately $75,000 per annum.

Automobile Mechanic

To become an automobile mechanic, the primary skill you should possess is the capability to disassemble and set vehicles together again. In this career, the pay largely depends upon the work assignments you get in a day. No degree, only technical skills are required to be set in this career.

Plumbing, Carpentry, Welding, and Electrician Careers

These are some of the simplest careers which are not thought of by many people, yet have a respectable income. Technical and logical skills are the reasons why these professionals are in so much demand. Median earning of plumbers, carpenters, welders, and electricians ranges from $35,000 to $45,000 per annum.

Real Estate Careers

There are many people who think that real estate agents do not get substantial earnings. However, these professionals normally earn a salary of around $75,000 to $80,000 per annum. A degree is not required, but the job demands you to undergo a 60-hour training, and participate in dealing in real estate for one to three years before you obtain the broker's license.

Mining Careers

Careers in this sector just require some amount of technical knowhow and experience of working and operating in a mine. If you become a mine manager, you are eligible for a pay of over $95,000 per annum.

Other High Paying Jobs Without a Degree

There are some other careers which also earn a significant sum hour wise. Such careers include firefighters ($18/hour), Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers ($23/hour), Truck Drivers ($16/hour), Masons ($20/hour), Postal Service Employees ($21/hour), etc.

These are some of the most popular high paying jobs with no degree. If you do not possess a university degree and still want to earn a respectable income, you can opt for any of these careers.

By Stephen Rampur

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Executive Branding in Job Hunting: Strengthening Your Life Story

When you reach the executive level, branding is extremely important. It’s okay to be anonymous at the entry-level, but after a certain number of years in your career, you should have made a major impression on your industry.

Branding yourself comes in many forms. It could be that you have a strong presence in the Google search engine, you have many recommendations through LinkedIn, you’ve been quoted in numerous articles and publications, or you’ve been asked to make tons of speeches. But the backbone of any personal branding campaign is the life story. Who are you and why should anyone take enough interest in you to hear what you have to say - or hire you.

If you haven’t crafted a strong life story, now is the time to do so. Here are some ways to get started …

Think of Questions They May Want to Know

Any great storyteller attempts to answer all of the questions on the reader’s mind in the most effective way possible. You’re job is no different than life story teller. You want to sculpt a picture of your accomplishments by doing more than simply listing them. This can be done by explaining how much time you saved or how much money you made for a company in a clear fashion. In this case, it means you will need to learn how to answer the questions on the minds of potential employers.

A way that you can do this is to look at each accomplishment you want to mention then ask yourself, what problem were you solving? After that, think about how long you had the problem, how many people were affected by the problem and what the cost was of not solving the problem. Then ask yourself what you did to address the issue, how you got involved in the first place and whether solving the problem required a major time investment. The more you tell about each situation you successfully overcome, the "juicier" your life story will be.

Keep Your Focus In Mind and Refrain from Tall Tales

Remember, your job when creating a strong life story is not to tell tall tales that may sound impressive but could get you in trouble down the line. Instead, you want to find a way to describe your involvement with your industry in a way that allows potential employers to clearly see your before and after - how you made certain situations better because you were around. This is what you want to focus on. Also, when you tell your stories, it’s good to add surprising or memorable elements so that whoever reads your story will not forget you.

Telling a great life story is a key element in building your professional brand. As you write, it’s important to remember the questions to ask yourself while keeping your focus on providing a memorable, yet honest rendition of your experiences. If you do this, you’ll be well on track to creating a life story that will have potential employers knocking down your door for meet and greets.
Executive Resume Writing
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By Heather Eagar

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Executive Job Search Isn’t Panning Out? Here’s What to Do Next

There is often nothing more frustrating than spending many hours each day searching for a job only to find that your hard work doesn’t seem to be paying off. Even though you’re aware that a job search is a journey, sometimes you just don’t want the journey to take as long as it does.

While you may not be able to kick you executive job search into warp speed, there are ways to clean shop a bit and make sure you’re on the right track. So if your executive job search isn’t quite panning out, here are some tips to keep it going.

Make Some Unique Adjustments to Your Resume

If your traditional resume isn’t pulling in the attention you want, you may have the wave the red flag at the bull. In other words, you may have to say some things that may get a recruiter or employer’s attention. This could include making a more attention-getting title if you’re applying online. Instead of just noting the position you want to apply for (i.e. "Executive Sales Director), you might use one that draws people in (i.e. "Executive Sales Director at 123 Trading Led Team to Record $1 Million Revenue in 2008").

Another unique resume strategy would be to list the logos of past (or current) employers on the left-hand side of your resume. You could also provide logos and snapshots of universities you attended and awards you’ve received. These images would give quick insight to your background without having to search for words. And if you’re used to sending resumes via email, try sending yours via snail mail on quality paper to stand out.

Consider Adding a P.S. to your Cover Letter

In a continued effort to stand out among your competition, you might also consider adding a "p.s" to your cover letter. One reason is that in this section you can add one or two tidbits about yourself that the employer may not know. But an even more important reason is that, if nothing else gets read in the cover letter, the "p.s" will - in fact, it may draw the employer in first then intrigue him enough to work backwards and read the entire cover letter.

So what do you say in your "p.s."? You may take a chance and namedrop. For instance, you might say something like "Call me ASAP to find out why Dr. John Brown from Ivy League University said I’m the best Executive Sales Director he’s ever met." Or you might consider adding in very briefly why you have such a passion for what you do - but make it personal.

Broaden Your Contact Scope

After years as an executive, you may have a healthy list of contacts to connect with as you seek job opportunities. But if your job search has so far led you to brick walls, it may be time to expand your contact list. By joining LinkedIn and ZoomInfo (find the FreshContacts section), you could get your hands on millions of professionals from millions of companies.

A dragging executive job search isn’t the end of the world, it just means that you may have to light a fire - better yet, a towering inferno - under your own you-know-what. By pushing passed your own limits, you’ll be able to supercharge your executive job search in no time.

Executive Resumes

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By Heather Eagar

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