Randy’s Career Tips

Questions for job interview situations are almost certainly the most frightening element of the whole job interview process, striking fear into the very heart of all but the most confident interviewees. So, how do you go from being one of the fearful, to one of the fearless?

1. We need to understand exactly why the fear exists in the first place; after all, how else are we going to be able to overcome it?

Fear of job interviews (or any interviews for that matter) can be caused by:

• a general lack of self-confidence
• fear of failure
• a genuine interview phobia
• inexperience in interview situations (very first job interview or, conversely, previously in long-term employment)
• long time since last interview (maternity leave/redundancy/sick)

2. We need to identify which type of interview question causes the most panic.

Is it a fear of answering interview questions, or of not knowing which questions to ask at interview?

Typical interview questions include:

• Can you explain this gap in your employment history?
• Exactly why do you want to work here?
• Why do you want to leave your current job?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you really want to do in life? What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

Questions to ask at interview might include:

• What are the day-to-day expectations and responsibilities of the person hired into this position, … and what would make that person a “superstar”?
• What does your boss expect of you and your team in terms of performance? How could I help you Read the rest of this entry »

Many of the job seekers I have counseled over the years were able to find a job once they got the hang of promoting themselves in a confident yet realistic manner.

One of the problems many job seekers have is the fear of promoting themselves. They will send a resume’ to a prospective employer, and submit to an interview, but they have trouble separating themselves from the pack. This short article will address critical facets of the art of self-promotion to help you stand apart from the competition.

It is absolutely critical to portray yourself in a positive light, while calling attention to your assets.

For example, if you are young and inexperienced in your career, you should decide what assets you may have that will help you overcome your lack of experience . . . and communicate them clearly to the prospective employer.

Perhaps you are a very hard worker, and you’re loyal and reliable. Those are assets all employers value. So find a way to say it! Don’t assume people will know that about you. Say it in your cover letter in a way that really captures attention.

Say it on the telephone or in person. For example, “I work very hard at my current job. I am one of the first to arrive and the last to leave. I give 110%.”

Don’t be afraid to toot that horn.

Actual Case

One of the young women I worked with was having trouble finding a job. She was just answering classified ads and filling out applications on-line. The problem was she wasn’t doing anything to make her resume’ stand out from the crowd.

And her resume’ was selling her short.

We worked out a plan for her to rewrite her resume’ to make it more complimentary of her skills and knowledge, and turned her resume’ into a first class marketing tool, not just a piece of paper with some dates and facts on it.

In talking with Read the rest of this entry »