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Topics - Md. Abdul Hye Zebon

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1
You are desperate for a job.
You’ve applied to countless positions -— from internships to part times to full times that you aren’t actually interested in — but much to your disappointment, embarrassment, and frustration, you haven’t been hearing back.
You begin to think that if there’s nothing wrong with your resume, then there’s something wrong with you…
Then, after what seemed like a decade, you finally hear back from one of them– and they want you to come in for an interview!
Nervous. Desperate. Thankful. Overjoyed. Willing to take on anything and everything.
Your goal at this point? To impress the hiring manager so that you will be hired… WRONG!

No matter how desperate you are, becoming a ‘yesman’ (being compliant and agreeing to do anything and everything) is NOT the way to go. To avoid a future crisis in which you become significantly dissatisfied with your job (to the point where you dread going to work), you must seriously consider, ponder, and evaluate these 3 things.




1. Know what you DON’T want.
Establish your deal breakers and don’t compromise!

          For example, if you absolutely hate talking on the phone or making cold calls, you probably shouldn’t say ‘yes’ to the customer representative or the sales manager position.
          And if you hate being on a plane, you probably shouldn’t say ‘yes’ to that job that requires you to travel twice a year.

This might seem obvious, but people do make such mistakes (or rather, compromises).


2. Know what you DO want.
Be able to articulate your needs and preferences, as well as your strong points.

          Are you a good writer? Do you have management experience? Are you detail-oriented and meticulous? Do you prefer to work alone or brainstorm in groups?

Knowing your strengths and knowing what kind of environment you thrive in, what type of people you work the best with, and what kind of tasks you excel at is a HUGE advantage, not only for yourself but also for the company and the people you will be working with!


3. Learn to say ‘no’ politely but boldly.
Let’s face it: you can’t please everyone.

I mean, yes, you can please everyone else, but if you take yourself out of the equation, you’ll end up being miserable.

For instance, the hiring manager might offer you a different position than the one you applied for, or the responsibilities listed on the job posting may not be what the position actually entails (as explained to you by the hiring manager at the interview).

WARNING: While it might be tempting to say yes because 1. you want a job — any job, at this point — and 2. you’re afraid of offending the hiring manager, don’t blindly say yes!


Know that you’re actually doing yourself and the hiring manager (and the company) a favor by being honest — you’re saving yourself from having to drag yourself to work everyday, the hiring manager from wasting time and energy, and the company from hiring someone who is not willing to give it 100%.

Think about it. If you get the job but are dissatisfied, what’s the point? Who’s to benefit? You’ll end up looking for a new job sooner or later, and the whole process will repeat itself.

Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better. — Dr. Steve Maraboli

In conclusion, it’s better to spend some time now and make the right decision now rather than making hasty decisions now and regretting later.

And as challenging and frustrating as the search is, try to enjoy the process and learn from the journey. Don’t chase yourself down or cage yourself in a cell called social expectations. Most importantly, STOP comparing yourself with others because success isn’t relative.

What’s important is NOT the speed but the direction you are moving in.



2
After submitting your resume and locking in an interview with your dream company, you begin to panic — like Kermit-the-Frog-wailing-your-hands-in-the-air panic. You want to ace the interview and sign on the dotted line, but you won’t get very far without doing a little research and picking out the perfect outfit.

However, lately, it feels impossible to prep for an interview.

Similar to trying to study for an exam without a study guide, you don’t know what kind of questions they’re going to throw your way. Thankfully, you came to the right spot. We’ve gathered the top 15 most bizarre questions an interviewer could ask you and how you should answer them so you don’t have to break a sweat.


1. Are you a pen or a pencil?



No, your interviewer isn’t trying to be poetic.

The reason why they’re asking you this question is because they want to know what type of personality you have. According to CNN, choose to be a pen if you’re authoritative and bold. However, say you’re a pencil if you’re the type who’s creative and loves to think and rethink a project from different angles.


2. You're a new addition to the crayon box, what color would you be and why?



While this question seems fun, you want to somehow relate your work experience into your answer.

For instance, try to answer the question in such a way that it demonstrates a type of skill you may have. Correlate the color to your personality or work ethic, so the interviewer can better understand if you’re a right fit for the company.


3. You have a birthday cake and have exactly three slices to cut it into eight equal pieces. How do you do it?



This type of question screams problem-solving.

Essentially, your possible future boss wants to know how you think outside of the box. While there could be multiple ways to cut into the cake, according to Glassdoor contributors, you can “make two cuts to slice it into quarters. Then stack the four quarters and slice them all in half using your last cut.” Easy as pie... err... cake.


4. What would the name of your debut album be?



Urban Outfitters used to ask candidates this question to explore their creativity and get them talking.  Have fun with it!


5. What is the probability of rolling a sum of 10 with two dice?



For a question like this, don’t be afraid to ask for paper and a pencil.  The interviewer is evaluating your comfort with numbers, so just work the problem…

If you roll two dice, there are 6 × 6 = 36 possible results. Of them, only three sum up to 10 (4 + 6, 5 + 5, or 6 + 4). 3 out of 36 is the same as 1 out of 12, so you’d have a roughly 8% chance of rolling a sum of 10.


6. How would you sell hot cocoa in Florida?



This is essentially another strange way for your possible future employer to figure out how you problem-solve in difficult situations.

While there’s no real answer to this question, you could state that you’ll conduct research to see when it get’s cold in Florida or create a Winter Wonderland event for people to try the brand’s hot cocoa. The more creative you get, the better.


7. How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?



Even though you probably know this will never actually happen on the job, the interviewer wants to know how you’ll set this idea in motion. Pro tip: don’t be afraid to ask for a pen and paper. Your enthusiasm may impress the person who’s interviewing you. Stay cool and calm, calculate an estimate of the area inside the limo, then make an assumption about how many tennis balls you could fit into one square foot of space and do the math.


8. Would you rather fight 1 horse-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized horses?



Whole Foods has been known to use this question.  You might want to start by clarifying that you'd prefer not to fight anyone (all employers love good team players). But if it really came down to it, your chances are probably better against a horse sized duck. At least it would be one on one.


9. How would you describe this job to a child?



The interviewer is testing to see if you've done your homework and really understand the job that you're applying for.  Avoid buzzwords and industry lingo.  Start with the basics: what does the company do?  Then explain how you'd fit in.


10. How would you get an elephant into a refrigerator?



Weird questions are meant to keep you on your toes, you know, just like the job you’re applying for.

However, the best way to go about answering these not-so-typical questions is to stay calm and confidently talk about your idea. For the above question, you can fire off a mathematical solution or use your creative noggin by saying that you would use a shrink ray to make the elephant smaller. Either way, show off a skill your interviewer would be pleased to know.


11. Would you rather win at Jeopardy or Survivor?



While this may seem like a harmless question to answer, you don’t want to ask which one has a higher payout. However, you do want to explain why you picked the one you picked. Are you the adventurous type who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty? Or are you the type who likes to prepare in advance? Be honest with your answers and relate it to your skills, and you’ll do just fine.


12. Who is your favorite Disney princess?



While this is already a hard question to answer (because they’re all great, duh), the way you decide to answer this question could depict the type of qualities you look for in other team members, or if you’re a good cultural fit.


13. You're president for a day, what's the first thing you would do?



It can be a little tough to answer this question since you don’t really want to talk about politics during your job interview. However, it’s a smart idea to explain how you would approach the leadership role. What would be your top priorities and how would you execute them?

Essentially, the interviewer is looking for a unique and analytical response.


14. On a scale of 1 to 10, how lucky are you?



This question offers a perfect opportunity to show some humility and gratefulness. Stay positive!


15. If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be? And why?



Shauna Causey shared this as her favorite interview question on Quora. She explained, “Yes, this sounds like such an unnecessary interview question at first, but I've learned more about people by asking this question than almost any other question. Before I bring somebody in, I know they're already qualified on paper. So much of a job is about attitude and culture fit and this question brings out both of those elements. It also (hopefully) makes the interviewee smile. If it doesn't, I know they're not a good fit.”


16. If you were a pizza delivery man how would you benefit from scissors?



When it comes to weird questions like these, it’s totally normal to take a few minutes to think about your answer.

Be thoughtful but smart. Offer creative ways you can use scissors for your job. For instance, you could tell the interviewer how you can use the scissors to cut the coupons for the customers. Show the interviewer how you would think under pressure. The interviewer will be impressed with how thorough you are with your answer.


17. What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer?



Believe it or not, Trader Joe's once asked a candidate this very question.  Folks have suggested a variety of fun answers, ranging from "Ask him if he needed help finding what he was shopping for" to "Check the bar code on the penguin and move it into the poultry isle."


18. You buy coffee and a doughnut for $4. The coffee costs $3 more than the doughnut. How much did the doughnut cost?



The answer is simple but tricky. Do the math. The doughnut costs $0.50.


19. Estimate how many pet dogs there are in the United States?



Estimation questions are designed to show how you break down a problem. Start with high-level facts and assumptions, then drill down. For instance, you might start with the fact that there are almost 350 million people in the USA. Dogs are usually shared within households, so you’ll need to make assumption about the average number of people per house. Let’s say it is about 3 people per household.  Next, make an assumption about the percentage of homes with dogs. Feel free to base this on your own experiences (maybe half of your friends and family  have dogs). Some dog owners have more than one dog, so round up.

350 million divided by 3, then multiplied by 50% and rounded up = around 75 million dogs.


20. Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?



Watch out for trick questions.  Both weigh the same (one pound).   


21. What would your pet say about you if I asked it for a reference?



Even if you don't have a pet, play along and answer the question.  Just say something like, "Right now, i don't own a pet, but if I did, I think it'd say..."




3
Career Grooming / 9 Email Etiquette Tips for the Job Search
« on: April 21, 2020, 08:14:47 PM »

4
Cover Letter / Cover Letter Writing Tips
« on: April 19, 2020, 09:45:55 PM »

5
So, you landed a job interview after weeks of spending almost every waking hour searching for the perfect position. However, there’s still work to be done before you can confidently walk into the interview knowing that no one else stands a chance.

Before the interview:
Research the company: The interviewer does not owe you anything. You want to make sure you’re right for the job and the job is right for you. Take a look at the company website. Look through its business plan and other documents that are available. Get to know what role you could potentially play on the team.

Research the position elsewhere: Read about others who are in similar positions: What do their daily and long-term duties consist of? Who do they work with? How much do they make? Knowing all this will give you a good idea on how to approach the questions you’ll be asked during an interview.

Check out the staff’s pages: See what they have to say about the company and how they dress for a day at the office.


During the interview:
Make a great first impression: Eye contact is a must. Be prepared with multiple resumés. Ask ahead to ensure that you bring any other necessary documents along.

Be yourself: Relax and show your best self to your potential employers. You will — hopefully — be working with them everyday, so be professional and personable.

Ask questions: Show you’re truly interested by asking more about the position, the role you’ll be playing, and the environment you’ll be working in if you’re chosen for the job.
Wrap it up nicely and be sure to follow up — these tips will help you get closer to landing that dream job.





6
Winning Interview Techniques / How to Answer Hard Interview Questions
« on: April 19, 2020, 09:39:31 PM »
These hard interview questions can throw you off balance in your job interview. Be ready with practiced and polished interview answers and impress as a confident and competent job candidate.
Go through the sample interview answers and think about your own responses based on your background and situation.
In addition to the typical job interview questions asked by most interviewers there are 3 testing interview questions that can put you on the spot and that you need to be ready for.


3 Tough Interview Questions and Best Answers

Are you ready for 3 of the most difficult interview questions?

1. Are you overqualified for this job?
The hiring manager may consider that your experience and skills are a level or two above the position you are applying for. This may be frustrating but if you handle it properly it can become a positive in your interview discussion.

You need to persuade the interviewer that your skills and strengths will be of great benefit to the company. Your interview answer should focus on why it would be the right move for them to hire you rather than why it is the right move for you to take the job.


You must convince the employer that not only can you do the job better than other candidates but that you want to do it. Focus on a couple of reasons why this job and company is a good fit.


2. What do you do in your free time?
Interviewers like to ask about a candidate's leisure activities and personal projects because it provides insight into the individual's motivations, character and life/work balance.
Candidates often struggle to answer this question as they try to tailor their answer to include what they think are impressive pursuits. It is more productive to be honest but always explain why you enjoy and participate in these activities.

For example, rather than just saying "I enjoy reading" elaborate on why. "I have always been fascinated by detective work and how to solve problems and find answers so I am a big fan of crime novels."


Including a variety of activities demonstrates flexibility and a range of interests.


3. Have you applied for any other jobs?
You may feel this is an invasion of your privacy but interviewers like to ask it to determine how interested you are in their position and how serious and focused you are about your job search.
They want to hear that the types of jobs you are applying for are similar to their position and in the same sort of industry and work environment. It is best to respond in non-specifics with an answer that confirms your interest in the type of job they are recruiting for.

You can mention a couple of common characteristics that the jobs you are applying for have. "I have applied for other jobs that also involve teamwork and a strong customer service orientation."




If you are pressed to provide specifics make sure the jobs you refer to are consistent with their position. This will reinforce your enthusiasm for their job opportunity.
Avoid stating that this is the only job you are applying for. This does not impress the employer but rather raises concerns about your commitment to finding a new job and your activity levels.


What should I do if I don't understand the interview question?
You can be asked hard interview questions that you are unsure of how to answer. You may be confused about the sort of information the interviewer is looking for.
In this case it is always advisable to clarify the question, that way you can be sure you are providing the right information.
It is quite acceptable to ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify the question.




Asking for further clarity on the question demonstrates confidence and a desire to get it right.


What to do when I don't know the answer to an interview question?
There are certain tough interview questions that you just cannot answer in the interview. These are usually job-related or technical questions. It is acceptable to not know an answer, it is how you deal with the situation that is important.




Challenging interview questions crop up all the time. Preparation will help you to confidently answer whatever is thrown at you during your job interview.




8
Winning Interview Techniques / 50 Job Interview Questions and Answers
« on: April 19, 2020, 09:28:50 PM »
Doing well on the job interview is crucial to getting the job, no matter how impressive your resume is.  And an important aspect of doing well in interviews is proper preparation.  For the most part, many of the interviews will have the same common questions that might be phrased a little differently.  So if you have an upcoming job interview, read over these 50 most-asked job interview questions and prepare for them as best as you can.




1) Tell Me About Yourself
This is probably the most-asked interview question, next to “[d]o you have any questions for us?”.  And there is a reason for that.  The answer to this question really tells the employer a lot about you and what you are all about.

In order to answer this job interview question effectively, you must be succinct, confident, but not overtly conceited.  The answer should be longer than 1 minute but shorter than 3 minutes.  Beyond a few minutes, you are just going to lose their attention.  To answer this question, talk a little about where you grew up, your education, and any relevant work experience you have.  Be sure to concentrate a lot of your time on your career.

This is not a question for you to talk about your personality or character traits—but the interviewer should be able to get a good grasp of who you are from your answer to this question.

2) What Makes You Qualified for this Job?
This is a tricky question to answer; you don’t want to come off as a braggart but you also want to expound on the qualities that makes you better than other candidates.  To answer this, do not focus on your GPA or what school you graduated from.  Instead, focus on specific skillsets that makes you valuable, as well as specific accomplishments that makes you the best candidate for the job.  Remember to cater your answer specifically to the job announcement.

3) Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?
Do not ever bad-mouth your previous employer when answering this job interview question.  It doesn’t matter if the previous employer really stuck it to you or not.  Doing so is very unbecoming and unprofessional and can easily disqualify you from the job you are applying for.  If you really did leave your previous job because you did not like your boss, you can simply state that you and the previous employer did not see eye to eye on certain aspects of the job.
Be sure to have specific examples in mind.  Another good answer to this question is to say that there was no room in the company to grow professionally and further your skills.  You should also never say that the previous employer did not pay you enough—this will make the interviewer think that you are only in it for the money.

4) What Do You Know About this Organization?
Before going to the interview, always do your homework on the company, and if possible, the people interviewing you.  The more in depth you can go into detail about the company, the more they will be impressed.  To answer this question, you can go into when the company was formed, who the leaders are and what they have accomplished, and what specific customer segments the company caters to.  For bonus points, you can talk about the company’s financials and/or projects that are in the pipeline.

5) Why Do You Want to Work for Us?
Do not say “because the salary is high[er].”  You need to be really specific as to why you want to work for the company that doesn’t involve a higher salary.

Here are some things you can say to answer this interview question properly:

Because your company offers tremendous potential for me to grow and contribute to the organization’s growth
Because you are the leaders in the field and the work you have done in the field is sensational—and I want to be a part of this growth.  (Be sure to give specific examples)
And if you are really applying for your dream job at your dream company, you can say that it has always been your dream to work with them since you were young.  But be sure to explain why it has always been your dream.

6) Do You Prefer to Work in Teams or Alone?
This is a pretty tricky question to answer and the answer may be dependent upon the job you are applying for.  But in most cases, it is best to say that your preference is dependent on whichever gets the job done the most efficiently and produces the most quality product.  So here is an example response you can use if you are asked this question:

I find that my preference is really dependent upon whether I can turn in a better product alone or with a group of collaborators.  And I find that more often than not, a group of adept coworkers is extremely helpful in a project that demands expertise in many different areas.

7) Are You a Team Player?
This question is very much like the last question but you will have to answer “yes” to this question unequivocally.  However, upon answer yes you will need to come up with a specific answer from your past that shows an example of how well you worked in a team environment and what you were able to accomplish together.

8 ) If You Had Enough Money to Retire Right Now, Would You?
This question is used to gauge what your attitude towards money is.  To simply say that money isn’t important to you is not a very believable response.  Money is important to everyone.  However, when answering this question, you should illustrate that you want your life to be defined by more than just money.  And if you truly love the field you are in and the work you do, it is okay to say that you love the work too much to retire.  Here are a couple of answers that can be given if you are asked this question:

I would continue to work because I have been working tirelessly since I got out of college and the work I do brings a lot of meaning to my life.
I would continue to work because I want to continue to contribute to society.
Having the money would be nice but the money doesn’t determine what I do with my life.  The career I am in brings me happiness and I am going to keep doing what makes me happy regardless if I have enough money to retire or not.

9) How Would You Describe Yourself?
Like many other interview question that requires you to describe yourself, you should be careful to walk that fine line between bragging and selling yourself.  Do not be too brief but don’t lose the attention of the interviewer by being long-winded either.  When answering this question, pick up to three of your best attributes and expand on them with some specific examples.  If you think honesty is one of your best traits, then you should describe a situation in your life (preferably work-related) in which you were extremely honest with someone even if there is a high likelihood that your honesty would have cost you something of great significance, such as a promotion.

10) Have You Ever Had a Conflict With Someone at Work?  How Did You Handle it?
In answering this question, it is important to show that you are fair, level-headed, and civilized.  In your reply, you should think of an example where you used your rational judgment and level-headedness to solve a personal conflict at work.  This could be something as simple as a difference of opinion in how to approach a project to something as dramatic as handling workplace gossip.

11) Are You Applying for Other Jobs as Well?
This is a tricky question to answer.  Your first instinct is to lie and say that you are not applying for other jobs.  However, the best way to approach this question is to simply tell the truth.  As a matter of fact, potential employers are expecting you to be looking for multiple job opportunities.  When telling them that you are applying for other jobs, you will need to reassure them that whatever job you get, you will put forth 100 percent to whichever company you end up working for; who you work for does not change your work ethic.  And if the company you are interviewing for is your first preference, do tell them that.

12) What Has Been Your Biggest Accomplishment So Far?
In answering this, do not list accomplishments from high school; they do not matter.  If you recently graduated college then it is okay to talk about the feats you have accomplished in college.  However, if you have been in the work force for several years, then you need to talk about accomplishments that are career-related, and hopefully closely related to the job you are applying for.  It is okay to spice up your accomplishments a little but make sure not stretch the truth too much.  Some examples of accomplishments worth noting are:

Finishing first in a company-wide sales or work-related competition
Implementing a system that saves the company money or brings in extra revenue
Honors and awards given from leaders within the company or industry associations
Overhauling an archaic strategy or system
Remember, accomplishments do not have to be bestowed upon you.  Accomplishments are simply milestones and feats that you think are worth noting.

13) What is Your Greatest Weakness?
Refrain from answers such as “I work too hard” or “I have trouble leaving tasks unfinished.”  These answers are too clichéd and you can bet that many of the people in the interviewing pool will answer the question with those answers.  Your answer should be truthful yet memorable.  Be honest about your weaknesses but also talk about what steps you have taken to improve upon those weaknesses.  For instance, you can say that you are not a particularly adept public speaker.  However, as an addendum to that answer, you can also say that you are taking steps towards be more comfortable on stage by going to Toastmasters meetings, volunteering for more speaking engagements, or even taking a public speaking class.  Employers love employees who take the initiate to improve upon themselves.

As an additional tip, it is best to choose a weakness that doesn’t particularly affect the job you are doing.  In the example of public speaking above, you can use it for jobs that do not involve speaking in public.  However, if the primary purpose of the job you are applying for is to speak in public, then you have pretty much all but disqualified yourself from the job if you answer the interview question with that answer.

14) What is Your Greatest Strength?
This interview question will usually go along with the question above.  Answer with a positive trait of yours and give a specific example of how that strength was showcased in a work setting.  Like the question above, you should pick a strength that can be adapted to the job.  For instance, if you are an tax accountant, then being “detailed and thorough” may be a strength that want to talk about.

15) If You Knew Your Boss Was Unequivocally Wrong About Something, How Would You Handle it?
This question gauges your interpersonal skills and how you deal with people in positions of power.  In your answer, you should identify that the way you would handle such a situation would be wholly dependent on the personality of your supervisor, as different personalities respond differently to critique.  Illustrate your point with examples.

16) What Relevant Job Experience Can You Bring to This Organization?
This should be a pretty straight-forward question to answer.  If you have relevant experience, detail specifically what kind of experience you have.  If you do not have any relevant experience, talk about tertiary job experience you may have that can be exported to this position.  If you have no relevant experience at all, talk about how fast you learn and how hard you work.

17) Have You Ever Been Fired?
For most of us, this is an easy question to answer.  However, if you one of the few that have been fired from a job, especially a full-time job, it is best to be honest about it.  Companies have gotten quite good at digging up your employment history.  If you were fired for a legitimate reason, tell them why you were fired and what lessons you have learned from it.  If it was a long time ago, talk about your most relevant work experience and how well you have done since being fired.  If the firing was unjustified, you may have to be a little careful in how you respond.  You don’t want to completely bad-mouth your previous employer but you also want to illustrate the core issues that led to you being fired.

18) When Can You Start?
This is a pretty typical question at the closing of many job interviews.  If you currently have a job, make sure to leave enough time to give a two weeks’ notice.  Your potential employer, as well as your present employer, will appreciate the decorum.

19) What are Your Salary Requirements?
The rule of thumb is to avoid talking about money during the interview.  But if the interviewer asks, you should be able to come up with a concise number.  If the job announcement has a non-negotiable starting salary, go with that.  If the announcement has a range, you should pick a salary figure that is commensurate with your experience and skill level.  It is important not to undervalue yourself but it is also important to not ask for too much too soon.

20) How Long Do You Expect to be With Us?
Employers want to retain their employees for as long as feasibly possible.  As such, you need to assure the prospective company that you are going to stay put if you are hired.  One way to answer this question is to say that you are looking for long-term and stable employment in a company that has opportunities for career growth.  The answer shows that you are looking to make a long-term contribution to the company but also striving for career growth.

21) How Well Do You Handle Pressure?
Being able to handle pressure is an indispensable tool in life.  Employers want someone that can handle deadlines and difficult demands.  So the only way to answer this question is to say that you handle pressure especially well.  Of course, you will need to give an example of a situation in which you thrived under pressure.

22) Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
This question is used to gauge your mid-term goals and see if you are going to stick around if they hire you.  You don’t want to say that you see yourself working for another company in five years.  The best answer to this question is to say that you hope that you will still be with the company but in a role with more responsibilities.

23) What Did You Dislike About Your Previous Job?
It’s okay to not like all aspects of your job.  But do not use this as an opportunity to get on the soap box and rant about how much you disliked your last job.  Instead, pick one thing that you did not like and extrapolate on it.  Do not talk about something that is the core foundation of your job function.  For instance, if you are an accountant, you can’t really say you hated the number crunching aspect of your job and wished things were more automated.

To answer this question, pick something about the way your work or organization was structured.  For instance, you can say that your previous employer was extremely inefficient in the way work was assigned.

24) What Did You Like About Your Previous Job?
In this question, you are free to express what things you really liked about your previous job.  Do not be afraid to talk passionately about the things you loved.  Passion radiates and gives off good vibes.

25) Have You Ever Gotten Frustrated at Work?  If So, What Did You Do?
Everyone gets frustrated at work so it is okay for you to say that work has frustrated you at times.  But the key is to show your potential employer that you are able to handle your frustration in a constructive manner.  A good way to answer this question is to say that you stepped out for a little break to gather your thoughts and talked about what frustrated you once you are no longer emotional and are able to put things in perspective.

26) What Are You Looking For in a Job?
When answering this question, do not come off as high maintenance.  What you look for in a job shouldn’t be much more than a safe, respectful, and comfortable workplace and a job that is fun, challenging, and allows you to grow professionally (and personally).

27) How Do You Juggle Multiple Responsibilities?
This question is used to measure multi-tasking abilities.  Granted, multi-tasking is not the most efficient way of doing things but it is a required skill in today’s fast-paced work environment.  To answer this question, you must show the interviewer that you are able to prioritize what the most important tasks are.  You should also mention that you do not ever compromise quality when handling multiple priorities at once.

28) What Are Your Expectations of a Supervisor?
Your supervisor’s role is to supervise and manage, not babysit or assist you with technical matters.  So when describing your expectations of a supervisor, be sure to create realistic expectations for the supervisor.  Some good example answers to this interview question might be:

I think a supervisor should have an open line of communication with their employees and be someone that their employees can approach with new ideas and insights about work-related matters.
I think a supervisor should be fair in judging the performance of all employees.  In addition, I think the supervisor should have some inherent trust in his or her team and vice versa.

29) Are You Willing to Relocate?
Most rank-and-file jobs will not require you to relocate.  However, if you go into management, there may be a chance that you will be required to.  Whether the job involves a possible chance of relocation or not will usually be on the job announcement itself.  So when asked this question, it is important to not completely rule out relocation. You can say that you are willing to relocate under circumstances or give a flat out “yes” to the answer.  It would not be wise to say “no” to this question, even if you are in fact unwilling to relocate.  Chances are that you will not relocate if relocation was not made clear on the job announcement.

30) What Are You Passionate About?
You can use this question to showcase what is important in your life and what you value most.  Your passion does not have to be work-related.  It is okay to take some time to think about it but you should never say “I don’t have a passion.”  You can say something as general as being passionate about your family and loved ones.

31) Why Do You Want This Job?
This question gives you the perfect opportunity to showcase how much you know about the industry, the company, and its competitors.  The ideal answer to this question should incorporate specific reasons why you want to work for this company, such as your excitement for its product lines or their unique positioning in the industry.

32) How Do You Handle Criticism?
This behavioral interview question is designed to find out more about your interpersonal skills.  People who are easily offended are harder to work with so companies generally like to pick someone who can respond well to constructive criticism or opposing viewpoints.  In your answer, be sure to illustrate that you know that no one is perfect and that you can respond positively to constructive criticism by taking steps to improve upon your weakness if the criticism is warranted.

33) Can You Tell Us A Little Bit About Our Industry?
You will thoroughly impress your interviewer if you are able to nail address this question with specifics.  The more specific knowledge you can share about the industry, the more likely you are to get hired.  It is good to talk about the industry’s past and present, but it is great if you are able to talk about the industry’s future and project where it is going.  Not many applicants will take the time to learn about the industry at this level.  So if you are able to effectively answer this question with specifics, interviewers will be impressed by the amount of effort you have put into your research and preparation.

34) Tell Us About Your Last Position?
When talking about your last position, talk about specific duties and responsibilities that you were tasked with.  And when replying to this question, be sure to also briefly mention any accolades you may have been bestowed as a result of your work.

35) Have You Ever Held a Leadership Role?
A leadership role doesn’t have to mean a supervisory role.  If you have ever been put in charge of a project, make sure to mention it and talk about how you handle the role.  Even if you trained someone to do their job, that counts as leadership.

36) Are You Overqualified for this Job?
In this economy, the position you are applying for may very well be something you are in fact overly qualified for.  However, that does not mean you have to admit that you are overqualified.  Instead, you should state that there is always more to learn, even if your previous work experience and education gives you a huge edge over other candidates.  Additionally, you should clearly state that your prior experience and education has no bearing on your quality of work.  If anything, your qualifications will be of benefit to the company as they will not have to spend as much money and time catching you up on things.  In addition, you should also reassure them that you are there to stay and work your way up instead of applying for other jobs with other companies that are more in line with your qualifications.

37) What is Your Work Style?
When asked this question during an interview, it is important to impress upon those interviewing you that quality of the final product is your top concern, and not the speed in which you are finishing the project.  Your answer should demonstrate that you are careful, thoughtful, and meticulous in your work.  However, your answer should also demonstrate that you have no problems meeting production deadlines.  After all, time equals money to your employers

38) Can You Give an Example of When You Have Successfully Worked as a Team to Accomplish Something?
Knowing how to work with others is extremely important the workplace.  To answer this question, talk about the specific project you tackled, the role you had in the project, and how the project turned out.  Be sure to highlight any accolades or milestones you and the team achieved as a result of working together.

39) How Long Do You Expect to Work with Us?
To answer this question, do not simply just say “forever.”  Instead, here are some example answers you can give for the question:

I like stability.  As such I would love to stay with your company as long as there is an opportunity for me to grow and make a difference.
I don’t plan on getting another job unless the company’s ethical standards no longer align with mine.  However, I do not see that happening as I have only applied to companies whose mission statements run parallel with my beliefs.
Working for your company has long been a goal of mine for a long time.  And as such, I don’t see myself working for anyone else if I am hired and the company allows me room to grow professionally and personally.

40) How Do You Handle Failure?
How a person handles failures and bumps along the road says a lot about them.  You are resilient if you are able to bounce back from failure and succeed.  In answering this question, think of an instance in which you failed for the first time but did not let the failure deter you from accomplishing the task at hand.  Your answer should show your resiliency and grit.

41) What Do You Find Most Rewarding About Your Previous Job?
This is similar to the question of what you liked most about your previous job.  However, the question of what is rewarding is purely metaphysical.  When answering this question, you should pick a core function of your job that you thought was rewarding.  For instance, if you were a computer engineer that designed a prototype for a social networking platform, you can say that the most rewarding thing about your previous job was that you got to pioneer and be part of creating something that would revolutionize the way people interact on an everyday basis.

42) What Do You Find Least Rewarding About Your Previous Job?
This question is a bit trickier to answer than the previous one.  You want to be careful not to say something that is a core function and responsibility of your job.  When answering this question, be sure to be brief as you do not want to be seen as someone who dwells too much on the negatives.

43) How Do You Measure Success?
Success has a different meaning for everyone.  So there really is no right or wrong way to answer this question.  However, be sure to talk a little bit about what professional success means to you, as well as personal success.  Here are some answers that you can give to this question:

At a professional level, success means that I am working with people who are passionate about the work they do and love coming to work every day.  At a personal level, success means that I am able to provide my family with a comfortable lifestyle so that they never have to worry about money.
Professional success means that I love my work and the work I do is something that I would not trade for anything.  Very few people go through life loving their work.  I want to be one of those few.
Success to me means that I would have accomplished all the goals I set out to accomplish as a child.  I wanted to be a doctor as a child and now I am applying for your hospital, one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world.  I would say that I am on the road to success.

44) Do You Have Good Relationships With Previous Supervisors?
A company wants someone with good interpersonal skills.  Your ability to get along well with higher-ups is an important consideration in how well you will do with the company.  With that said, it is completely okay to not get along with one of your previous bosses.  After all, you can’t get along with everyone.  However, it is problematic if you have a sour relationship with almost all of your previous supervisors.

When answering this question, be sure to accentuate how good of the relationship was with your previous bosses; if you the relationship extended outside of work and you still keep in regular contact with any of them, be sure to briefly mention that.

45) Tell Us About a Time You’ve Made a Mistake?
It’s not a question of whether you’ve made a mistake, it’s a question of when.  It is okay and natural to make mistakes.  After all, no one is perfect.  When answering this question, be sure to mention a mistake that is not too big.  Mentioning a mistake that affects an organization’s bottom line can dissuade the interviewer from hiring you.  Pick a mistake that is not too small but did not affect the bottom line of your previous employer.

46) Discuss Your Educational Background.
This question gives you a chance to chronicle your college experience and why you chose your degree/major.  It is especially important that portray purposeful choices.  Do not say that you picked your major because you could not get into the department you wanted or that you picked the major because it was easy.  Instead, try to explain why the major was ideal for you, your personality, and your goals.

47) Would You Be Willing to Work More than 40 Hours a Week?
Although employers are more respectful of a work-life balance than in the past, they still like someone who can go above and beyond what is required.  Your answer to this question should always be a resounding yes.

48) Why Are You Looking for a New Job?
The best way to answer this question is to accentuate your need for professional growth.  You should not allude to the fact that the company did not pay you enough.  You should (almost) always frame your response with a professional growth angle.  Here are some sample answers that would suffice if you are asked this question:

The previous company was a rather small company that lacked the growth potential I was looking for.
The previous company did not allow me to grow beyond my current position.
The previous company and I disagreed on a lot of moral/ethical issues and I finally decided that it was time for me to part ways.

49) What Do You Think Your References Would Say About You?
This question gauges how well you know yourself.  To answer this question, you should reflect upon the work you have done for your previous employers and see things from their point of view.  What good qualities would they say about you?  How would they describe your work ethic?  In answering this question, it is also important to also state why you think your previous employer would say such things about you.  Here are some good answers to the question:

I think my previous employer would say that I am an extremely hard worker who always turned in a quality product.  In my time with him, I have never missed a deadline and have never had a client complain about my work.
I think my previous employer would say that I am extremely creative as many of my mockups were chosen as designs for many clients.
I think my previous employer would say that I am an extremely efficient and creative engineer as the software I programmed have always required the fewest lines of code and had the fewest debug errors.

50) Do You Have Questions for Me?
Everyone interviewer will ask you this question at the end of the interview.  This is the chance for you to display your curiosity and eagerness to work for the company.  You should always have a set of smart and intelligent questions to ask the interviewer. Here are some questions that you can ask:

What are the company’s plans for the next five years?
Is the company looking to introduce any new products into the market in the coming years?
Will there be opportunities for employees to attend training or continuing education classes to improve skills that relate to the job?
What are the company’s expectations of me within the first month of working?
How is the organization set up?  How big is the team I will be working with?
Will there be opportunities for me to take on leadership roles in the near future if I am hired?
How does the company measure and gauge the output of its employees?




10
Winning Interview Techniques / Questions Job Interviewers Like To Hear
« on: April 19, 2020, 09:11:17 PM »

11
“What are your greatest strengths?” is one of the most common questions asked by an employer or human resources professional during a job interview. Ensure you are fully prepared to answer this question and its subsequent follow up questions because if you can’t think of an answer, you might not be on the receiving end of a job offer.
 
There is no right or wrong answer to this question per se, the interviewer more or less just wants to see how well you can express yourself, and will be looking for confidence in your delivery. They will definitely not be overly impressed if you sit there for 30 seconds saying "ummm" over and over.
 
If you have strengths that you are aware of, be sure to point them out during the interview. Just remember that the person conducting the interview will also want to know how you have applied those strengths to benefit your employer, so you will want to think of examples before hand.

Success Tip: Be confident, but not boastful, when answering the question!


Some areas of strength may be:
• Customer service skills

• Time management

• Effective prioritization of tasks

• Strong customer acquisition/retention abilities

• Proficiency with specific computer software

• Ability to effectively lead and guide team members

• Gain understanding of customer/client/stakeholder needs

 
Also, make sure you list a strength that is part of the job description that you are interviewing for! For example, if you are interviewing for a sales position, make sure that you mention how you have always exceeded sales goals set by you or your supervisor.

 
You can strategize how to best answer this seemingly difficult question by sorting your potential answers into categories. Here are a few different responses, sorted by category, you can offer the interviewer when you are posed with this all but inevitable question:


Ability to Meet Deadlines:
"I schedule my work activities in order to meet deadlines"
"I structure my workload such that I am able to meet deadlines for high priority items, while still accomplishing those of lesser priority"


Confidence:
"The ability to face challenges with confidence allows me to overcome them"
"having confidence quickly relieves feelings of failure when things don't work out the way you plan"

 
Power of Positive Thinking:
"Having a positive attitude allows me lead by example, it also inspires those around me when things may seem difficult"
"Positivity is contagious, when dealing with a customer, my positive attitude conveys a sense of confidence in our product"

 
Customer Service Skills:
"I am able to relate to customer frustrations because of past experiences of mine, this allows me to see things from their point of view"
"I am a patient person by nature, this allows me to treat customers in a respectful and attentive manner"

 
Client Focused Approach to Business:
"I have a client focused approach to business, which allows me to keep their needs and wants at the forefront of my mind"
"I am able to think like a client, I provide them an answer to the all important question, 'what's in it for me?'"

 
Remembering Success and Learning from Failure:
"I remember times and have succeeded in difficult situations, and what got me the desired results"
"I don't dwell on failures, I have a short memory for them, I simply learn from what went wrong and apply those lessons the next time I'm in a similar situation"

 
Low Absenteeism:
"I have a history of low absenteeism, I don't get discouraged easily"
"I have a high degree of respect for my team, I'm not in the habit of having others pick up my slack and I expect the same in return"

 
Motivation to Learn:
"I firmly believe in life-ling learning, I believe that if you stop learning you are ineffective in an environment that is constantly changing"
"I want to continuously learn in order to improve on my skills and competencies"

 
Respect for Others:
"I don't suffer from a need to be right in every situation, I take the opinions of others into account and analyze them from a critical viewpoint"
"I don't get entrenched in my views, I keep an open mind to problem solving"

 

Answering the question, "What is your greatest strength?" properly during an interview can be the difference between getting the job and continuing your job search. Feel free to rehearse these answers and deliver them with confidence when a prospective employer asks you what your greatest strengths are.



12
Winning Interview Techniques / JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND INTENTIONS
« on: April 19, 2020, 08:45:36 PM »

13
Winning Interview Techniques / Interviewing Etiquette
« on: April 19, 2020, 08:39:25 PM »

14
Winning Interview Techniques / Top 10 Interviewing Tips
« on: April 19, 2020, 08:32:51 PM »

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