Archive for the ‘Job Recruitment’ Category

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Proper Job Etiquette

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

After working for quite some time, most people tend to forget the proper working etiquette. This may cause them to be look upon badly by their peer as well as their employers. It isn’t hard to change the attitude if the worker can persevere.

· Learn to appreciate. This is very important. Whenever somebody helps, it doesn’t hurt to say thank you. Do not think that because the person works below you, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to appreciate the person. Give some compliments. It won’t give you much trouble.

· Dress neatly and appropriately. This gives a good impression to everyone that you meet. May it be the employer, the office staff or even the client; they will surely regard a neatly dressed person better as compared with someone that does not dress appropriately.

· Learn from the comments from other people. Most people do not take comments from other positively. Instead of doing so, try to stop being stubborn and do what they recommend you to do. Most often than not, it will lead to a better result provided that what these people say are actually good to follow in the first place.

· Be punctual. It is important to be punctual for any occasion. It simply gives a good impression to others and in case of an important event; you would actually have some time to get ready before the event starts.

· Put personal feelings aside. Work is one thing while personal feelings are another. Do not mix them up together or you’ll find yourself in quite a complicated situation. Be professional and try to do activities that will make you forget all the personal problems while you are at work.

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Dos and Don’ts in a Job Interview

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Job interview can be quite scary in nature. The person getting interviewed might be nervous and thoughtful of the questions that may occur during the interview. There are ways of handling an interview and if done well, it can be very profitable to that person as well.

Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to a job interview.

DO come to the interview place at least 15 minutes early. This gives an impression that the person is punctual. Not only that, it also allows the interviewee not to rush and he or she will be able to know a bit more or less about the company as well during the 15 minutes period. Be sure to know where the interview place is so that there will be no delay of actually getting there.

DO wear appropriately for an interview. In some countries, wearing a coat and a tie might be appropriate but for others, a simple long sleeved shirt and a tie would suffice. Be sure to ask the much more experienced people for advice on what to wear. Trim the nails properly and dress neatly. This will definitely give a good impression to the interviewer.

DON’T ask about the salaries or any other incentives during the interview. It is best to delay them until an offer has been made by the company. Try to delay this question even when it is posed.

DON’T answer any questions with a one word answer such as a Yes or a No. In fact, try to elaborate more about the questions and try giving answers that would actually focus on the strength of the person being interviewed whenever it is possible.

There are many other tips and advices that are available on the Internet regarding job interviews. It is best to be fully prepared for the interview so that there will be a higher chance of impressing the person interviewer.

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Can You Tell Me One Project Where You Failed To Deliver?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Whenever answering a question that affects the negative side of the person, the applicant should always reply with something honest but put into the positive light. This is the perfect example. Employees want to know if the applicant will admit to failing at something, which everyone does, and what they have learned from that experience. This being said, the failure should not be a massive one that cost the company to lose a lot of profit.

One type of answer could include not making a deadline. This answer should not be filled with excuses, but the applicant should give a legitimate explanation of what went wrong that caused the project to be late. For example, there could have been other employees missing that put the project behind, or maybe it was mismanaged time. The applicant should include details about how the situation was solved and the positive results. Any reason that is given should be one that can be was already fixed in future projects. For a missed deadline, the applicant can state that they have taken measures to allocate responsibilities to other employees when others are missing, or that they have been making improvements on how to manage time better.

Another answer may be that a project failed because of outside reasons, such as another company not delivering on their promise. Since many applicants would place the total blame on that company, a person that wants to stand out should not take this route. An applicant can explain how they went on to other projects always doing more research on other companies, or contacting them within a better time frame. It should be ended in a positive light.

An applicant should not mention failures that have not been solved or that positive things have not been taken from. There should be some sort of resolution to the project.

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Why Do You Want This Job?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

This type of question is one of the most important as employers don’t want to hire individuals who want to work at the establishment for the wrong reasons. An applicant just wanting any job does not present loyalty or commitment, which are important qualities in an employee. There needs to be the right motivation for applying for the position and how the applicant conveys this message is of utmost importance.

The applicant will of course need to be sincere in answering because generally employers see a lot of applicants and can tell when a person is being dishonest. When an applicant speaks about personal growth and development it is a good sign. It means that they have motivations. However, this is not the only part. They should incorporate the love of learning and the need of having a challenge. Anything else of a positive note that an applicant truly feels about this position should be made known here as well. Being passionate about one’s work is a great blessing for an employer and it can be important in how they choose their employee.

There is another vital part of the answer but it requires the applicant to have done their research on the firm before applying. Explaining how the firm matches what they believe in, what they are interested in, and how they feel that the firm is the best place for them will be sure to make an impression. Employers don’t want an employee who is not informed about the company and not really sure about what the firm can offer in return for an employment position. Lack of knowledge shows lack of preparation, and in the world of the employer, it also means many other things. It could show laziness, lack of motivation, poor work habits amongst other traits that they won’t want to see. For an applicant, creating a positive image of themselves is of utmost importance.

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Which One are Your Best Skills?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Job applicants can choose from a number of good answers to give for this question concerning their best skills. Giving a false answer is not a good route however, so they should think of something that really applies to them.

Communication skills are something that employers skills and something that many people lack. However, when an applicant is in an interview talking about having these skills they will have to demonstrate it as well. They should be able to convey their ideas clearly and without adding too many words in their sentences. They should speak with good grammar but with the ability to be expressive as well. If one can do this doing the interview then their communication skills will be presented.

Motivational skills are also something that can be mentioned. This is good for both leadership and team player positions. This means having a positive attitude towards work that is contagious to others people, and working at the best of the ability all the time. It also means that the person can get along well with other people in everyday situations including the more stressful ones.

The ability and willingness to learn is a skill set that is harder to find that one might think. Many people may say that they have this skill but can come off as defensive when questioned on something. For those applicants who truly do thrive on learning and accepting challenges should use this as the answer to the question and supply an example which will probably be requested.

Applicants may want to have a couple of skills in mind to elaborate on, one for the primary skill set, and the other being secondary. There should also be an explanation ready as for how these can be used in the job that is being applied for as this will most likely be a connecting question.

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What Would Your Colleagues say is the Worst Things about You?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Though this may seem like a difficult question because it sounds like it requires a negative answer, this doesn’t have to be so. There are so many reasons why a person may not be liked by their colleagues that can be turned into positive attributes that an applicant can really impress the employer with.

Having a few different key attributes ready to give will help the applicant however they need to have an explanation for these as well. One term may be stubbornness. While this does tend to rub some people the wrong way, this can also be a good characteristic in some ways as long as it is harnessed. Stubbornness is a feature that all great business people have as long as it is well worked with some flexibility. This may seem contradictory, but successful people need to have both elements to achieve want they want and to listen to others as well. This type of attribute is always something that the applicant can say that they are working on to improve themselves.

Colleagues may also say that an applicant takes their job too seriously and that they spend too much time at work, or maybe that they are too enegetic. This is a good one for turning in to a positive trait. Employers love dedicated, energetic workers and leaders in their establishment. It shows loyalty, commitment, and drive which are three things that companies look for all the time but are hard to find.

The applicant needs to make sure that the qualities that they are speaking of are truthful because the employer will see through it otherwise. Even if the traits can seem negative there are always ways to turn them around. They can be applied to the work force in positive ways to make them seem better suited for the job than anyone else.

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What is the Biggest Mistake in Your Career?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

This is a really tough question to answer for most applicants and employers realize this but are curious to see the reply. It shows a lot about personal character and the ability to learn. The key here is to choose a mistake that was actually made, but to provide the positive side to it.

For some applicants it might be their level of education. This doesn’t have to be formal education either, it could be street smarts. Having lower levels of formal education can be changed by taking courses, so if the applicant mentions this as a mistake and explains that they have or are in the process of fixing this mistake by going to get their education, then this is a great answer to have. The aspect of street smarts is not one that is easily conquered however learning from life’s mistakes can be enough. If they explain that they made a big mistake costing them a little fortune, they can also state how they would have changed it and what they would do in the future.

The biggest mistake may not lie in education but it could simply be the choice of listening to wrong advice and going against one’s own instinct. Again the applicant should state what they have learned from following the wrong path, such as having more confidence or listening to their own instincts more while listening to advice from many different directions, and the process for resolving this mistake.

An applicant should not discuss mistakes that are overbearing in an interview or explain a mistake that was not resolved. The employer should be made to feel like they are part of the applicant’s decision to make their career better and that it is in their best interest to employ that particular applicant. They should feel very confident that the applicant is not making another mistake.

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What are Your Weaknesses?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Everyone has weaknesses and when an employer asks this question they do expect an answer. Applicants should be prepared to answer this question without reluctance or hesitation and in an honest fashion. This being said, the applicant also should not give an overabundance of them as this will look poorly on their self-confidence level. Before heading into an interview, they should choose two weaknesses to focus upon and perhaps a third as backup. These weaknesses that are chosen should be ones that can be also looked at under a positive light.

 

For example, when an applicant answers that they can be too stubborn sometimes, it should also be added that they are this way because they want to achieve something so much that it is hard to for them to listen when someone tries to stop them. The applicant can also use the word determination to describe this. Another good tactic is to use something that there is lack of experience in. For example, the applicant might say that they aren’t very good with computers. In saying something like this, they should always add that they are learning, and what they are doing to improve themselves upon it.

 

An applicant should always remain composed when answering a question like this. They should not be defensive or arrogant. Even admitting to being soft hearted when it comes to errors can be a good solution, because this is still something that managers can work with. These are all weaknesses that can affect performance but they are not completely damaging to the person’s attributes. The applicant should always make sure they emphasize that they are working on this weakness and turn it into a positive thing instead of weighing on the negative without being over-confident. Having such an answer will make a longer lasting impression on the potential employer.

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How to Make a Strong CV?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

A strong CV is what entices the employer to want to take the applicant to the next step of the interview process. There are certain key issues that a person must do in creating this type of CV to grab the employer’s attention and they have to do with the content and the way that it is written.

The applicant should try to limit the details on the CV to what is relevant to the position that is being applied for. This pertains to education and qualifications. If there are college degrees completed then that is wonderful, but it is not necessary to add all of the high school results. As for qualifications, if the applicant has held a number of positions that have been short term that don’t relate to the job being applied for then it is best to take those out. Only the keep the ones that are applicable. If there aren’t any, then the applicant should choose only the best past positions.

The applicant should also make sure that they highlight their skills. The employer wants to know the skill set that each applicant has. If the individual does not include it then the employer will have no indication of what to expect. They will have no reason to call the person. Making these features known plus the most important educational assets and qualifications or experience is part of selling oneself to the employer. The key is for an applicant to do this without making a complete show of themselves or appear to be arrogant or like they are exaggerating.

When writing the content, the applicant should use clear writing that is short and to the point. Employers like bullet-points and other items that are quick to read. They don’t have much time to spend on each one. Having all of these points included in a CV will make the applicant more attractive to the employer.

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How Do You Compare with Other People Doing the Same Job?

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

The applicant really has to start selling their work habits to the employer without making it seem embellished. This can be a little difficult, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If the applicant can take their natural working abilities and skills along with some personality traits then they can come up with a great answer.

When doing the same job as others the applicant has to compare themselves to those people and think about why they are better for the job. Such things as motivation and drive are good ones. Employers like motivated workers with lots of drive and energy. They may ask what the motivation is, and the answer could simply be the love of the type of work, or the goal to succeed, or anything along those lines. Other answers could include qualification and experience. If the applicant has more qualifications such as training, or more on the job experience, then the employer has more reason to accept this applicant over anyone else.

Other things that one could bring to the table include leadership qualities. Although employers want good team players, they also want leaders in the field that they can promote into other positions. Versatility and flexibility are also valued. Being able to move employees to various sectors or ask them to complete various projects is a very good trait to have. Since these are traits that not everyone has, if an applicant does in fact fit these qualities then they need to be mentioned.

Items that should be left out are traits that while may work well in some areas, can also be potentially annoying. Mentioning extra self-confidence is not something that is taken extremely well generally speaking. An applicant should have confident, but also should be respectful to others at the same time. Leaving out these items and mentioning the better traits will go over much better.

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