Effective Approach in Getting Interviews
Job Strategy, Job Tips, Job Search, Interview Questions 
The ABCs
A for ATTENTION
You must be noticed. The must read your cover letter or they won’t read your CV. They must listen to your phone or you won’t be invited in.
You must have something to offer – a capability, a problem you can solve, a service you can render, an answer to give. You must also communicate this benefit I sufficiently convincing manner so that the reader or the listener will want t hear more about you and how you can help. Remember the previously mentioned universal hiring rule: Any employer will hire ( or interview) any individual if the employer is convinced that he will bring more value than it costs.
C for CLOSING
Get the interview scheduled then and there. Ask for and get specific time commitment – or a definite turndown. It’s important to avoid procrastination.
What the Employer Wants to Know About You
During interviews, the employer will usually attempt the following.
- To verify the accuracy and completeness of your CV and application form and to resolve any gaps or apparent contradictions.
- To quantify the information you gave. (For example, say you were a country club manger. How many members? What was the membership fee total? Were you responsible for recruiting new memberships? If so, how did you do? Did you manage a monthly budget of 25,000 or 100,000?)
- To appraise your verbal skills. This include you ability to respond to questions sensibly, and with originality and sincere interest. Off-the-self responses can lose a job offer.
- To probe your experience and accomplishments, and to evaluate their pertinence to the present job possibility.
- To judge personality or social factors (interpersonal skills etc.) that may be relevant.
- To describe the position, and note your response and interest.
- To determine salary requirements.
HOT TIP: An interview is not intended to be and artificial experience. It is a chance to showcase the “real you” and see if you and the job are a good fit. Be yourself!
Interview Planning Form
Take a look at the Interview Planning Form. We recommend you use a copy of this form for each interview you have. The form will help you organize in advance all the information you can possible manage that might be relevant during your job interview.
The various items on the form are explained below.
ABOUT YOURSELF
Review your CV
Is all the information complete? Can you amount for all the time since you started full-time employment? If the are gaps, have an explanation planned. If you are not sure of the dates of specific events, check.
Work Accomplishments
In the interview you will be asked to provide information about the previous positions, education and special training or skills. List at least one accomplishment from each experience that is slanted toward you present job target.
Private-Life Accomplishments
Often, accomplishments in one’s private life can contribute to one’s aptness for a job in the commercial world. Write down prepare strong responses to questions you could be asked.
Anticipate any areas in your past that might stand in the way of your getting the job offer. Review these points and prepare strong responses to questions you could be asked.
Questions to Asked the Interview
There are two types of questions to prepare here.
Work Oriented Questions will help you decide about the quality of the company, and where it is going. “Who are the firm’s major competitions, and how are they doing?
‘What is the company’s strategy for being a leader in the field?’ ‘What are the newest technologies most appropriate to the work you will be doing?’
The second type of question to prepare in advance is about specific elements of your perspective job. This category is not about holidays and benefits but more professional matters such as these:
- What are the job day to day duties? (Do they meet with your concept of work pleasure?)
- What is the working style (participative, highly managed, tight, and loose)?
- How much authority will you have over decisions?
- What is your growth potential one, two or five years hence?
- To whom does your future boss report?
- What happened to the person who last held the job you want?
- What would be the best continuing education for you to consider if you were to have a job?
Note: Before the interview, prepare six to eight question in advance on the form provided or on an index card you take with you to the interview.
ABOUT THE EMPLOYER
Get the correct address. If there are multiple offices, the interview might be at an address other than the one which you’ve been in touch. If the location of the building is unfamiliar, get explicit directions so you are not late.
Individual Getting the Interview
Get the exact name and title of the person with whom you are meeting. Also, get the name and title person who will make the hiring decision.
Job Description
Even if you feel familiar with the nature of the job, write down as detailed a description of it as possible. Don’t be shy about ringing the secretary or the person who is interviewing you to ask for additional information.
Before to your interview, accumulate as much information as you can about the salary range in this job-target area. If you know the range in advance, you will be in a better position to negotiate salary. You can get salary information by contacting officers of trade associations or people you know who are in the field. Another tack is to contact a career counselor who deals in the field to see if he or she can give you and idea what the going rate might be at this firm or a comparable companies.
You should know the major products and/ or services that the employer produces or delivers to the public. You should also know the responsibilities of the department or section which you are being interviewed.
Competition
Know the relative position of the company within the industry. Are they among the larger or smaller firms? Are they growing or declining? The more you know about your potential employer’s competition, the more you may able to show yourself to be a value to them.
How does the company’s public image compare with its industry image? Find out what people in the same business think of them.
History
The higher the job level, the more you must know about the company’s past, present and future. At any level it’s wise to know the major changes occurred in recent past and what trends are apparent in the near future.
Day-to-day Problems
Before your interview, try to find the kind of day-today, month-to-month problems faced by the person who would hire you. Those problems could be budgets, overload or overwork poor organization. You want to get this information in as specific terms as possible.
Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.
Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness”
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Top Degrees in Demand
Think better
Top Degrees in Demand (Bachelor’s Level)
Accounting
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science
Business Administration/Management
Economics/Finance
Information Sciences & Systems
Computer Engineering
Management Information Systems
Marketing/Marketing Management
Top Degrees in Demand (Master’s Degree level)
M.B.A.
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Accounting
Top Degrees in Demand (Doctorate Degree Level)
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science
Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Most Interested Employers (Associate’s Degree Level)
Utility companies
Research organizations
Communications services
Electrical/electronic machinery and equipment manufacturers
Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.
Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness”
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Self Confidence : An Interview with Ms. Jiggler
Job Strategy, Job Tips, Think better
#1 Were there times that you are not so confident about yourself? And at w/c stage of your life was that?
There were lots of times where I really lost self confidence. It was because I viewed myself as inferior to others. The stage where I looked other people as superior than me.
#2 How were you able to recover from such?
I told myself “I must not view myself as inferior to others”. I don’t walk around with the conscious mindset that others are better or more qualified than me, whether it's related to work, school, or just socializing. To a certain degree, it's good to walk around with a feeling of superiority. However, I don't take this too far, or I’ll come across as a jerk.
#3 What attitudes do you believe that helped you survived in this complex working environment?
I have this positive thinking “Be Positive Attitude”, even if I don't feel positive. I avoid self-pity, or the pity and sympathy of others. I never allow others to make me feel inferior--they can only do so if I let them. If I continue to belittle myself, others are going to do and believe likewise. Instead, I speak positively about myself, about my future, and about my progress. I do not be afraid to project my strengths and qualities to others. By doing so, I reinforce those ideas in my mind and encourage my growth in a positive direction.
#4 When you came to understand and accept yourself , what way have you paved yourself for?
It might be tough, but if I don't have something I can believe in, I don't have anything. If I don't stand for something, I will fall for anything. No matter what's happened in my life, I can always lay claim to the fact that from this day forward, I've followed my principles and accept myself to the best of my ability.
#5 What problems have you encountered while working in the organization/company and how were able to resolve them?
For this question, I think I Don't Care What Other People Think that’s why I haven’t got problems while working. In my mind, I shouldn't care about what other people will think or are going to think because what's important is that I am fine with myself and if I am fine with myself, others will be fine with me!
#6 What contributions had you got from working in the organization /company in terms of attitudes ,perception and values?
Aside from my successful work contributions, accomplishments and high level work performance, I also help others. It’s because When I know I am kind to the people around me, and are making a positive difference in other people's lives (even if it's just being kinder to the person who serves you coffee in the morning), I’ll know that I am a positive force in the world--which will boost myself confidence.
Contributor: Kira Permunian, SEO Specialist (Media Buyer) of Sticky Media Solutions Incorporation. He is a blogger and a webmaster of SEO Bonds blog. He was urged to contribute this article to help jobseekers build an effective job searching techniques.
Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness”
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Best Undergraduate Degrees
Best Degree
The 2009 PayScale College Salary Report Released.
The list is based upon PayScale Salary Survey data for full-time employees in the United States who possess a Bachelor's degree and no higher degrees and have majored in the subjects listed.
Take a look at the result!
This has something to do with your job search and your career.
The Best Undergraduate Degrees By Salary (Best Listed First):
Undergrad College Degree / Starting Median Salary / Mid-Career Median Salary
1. Aerospace Engineering / $59,600 / $109,000
2. Chemical Engineering / $65,700 / $107,000
3. Computer Engineering / $61,700 / $105,000
4. Electrical Engineering / $60,200 / $102,000
5. Economics / $50,200 / $101,000
6. Physics / $51,100 / $98,800
7. Mechanical Engineering / $58,900 / $98,300
8. Computer Science / $56,400 / $97,400
9. Industrial Engineering / $57,100 / $95,000
10. Environmental Engineering / $53,400 / $94,500
This means that college-bound students with an interest and talent for math- and science-related subjects should think about engineering as a major. When choosing a major, students need to think about not only their interests, but also their skills, talents, and personality. While employers consider communications one of the most important characteristics in potential employees, other important characteristics include analytical skills, ethics, leadership abilities, work experience, motivation/initiative, teamwork skills and technical skills.
Just think about it!
Contributor: Kira Permunian, SEO Specialist (Media Buyer) of Sticky Media Solutions Incorporation. He is a blogger and a webmaster of SEO Bonds blog. He was urged to contribute this article to help jobseekers build an effective job searching techniques.
Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness”
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Thinking 'bout Career while on College
Think better
It’s really good to think about career and employment, but I think - over the course of the next 5 or six years, plans will change drastically.
Focus on doing well in school, but don't focus too hard on any one thing that you hedge your bets for success on. There are many paths... don't force one because you think it might be better - it might only be for some people.
With that said there are a few things you can do to improve your chances:
Control your image: Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Myspace can make you look bad. You are growing up in a world of social-image permanence which no other generation has had. Bad behavior can be researched by your company. You can have fun, just make sure you and your friends put your best food forward on all these sites when possible. Also - you need to be on all these sites - professionally... just keep the image clean.
When you go to college, if you need a crappy job consider working for a screen printer. T-shirts have fast turnover, varying level of interest, provide you opportunities to market a high volume product, give you some level of creative outlet and testing, and can leave you with a negative profit margin if you overprint an unpopular T-Shirt. These are good experiences to have in college and are directly applicable to any marketing job in the real world.
Econ is not Marketing - its good to understand, but Econ and Finance are measurements. Marketing is enticing people to buy something. Econ and finance can effectively set budgets - but creating a successful campaign can make you priceless as a marketeer... Neither is more important. Neither is in charge... Neither ensures that you'll reach the food chain - its an interdependent relationship. Both are god paths if you are at the top of your game. Maybe - just maybe, you have a bit more flexibility with an economics or finance degree...
Stay computer savvy - particularly database savvy. Learn how SQL works, learn how Access works. Learn to leverage data. Learn statistics. Learn how to manipulate statistics. Learn how people are manipulating statistics you see.
Blog on a financial or product target. Start now. Review advertisements, advertisement campaigns... poll your school. Start doing your own research... start reading the WSJ and learn how stuff works...
Contributor: Carlo Till, Graphic Artist of Graphic All-in Store. He is a freelance graphic artist also. He designed logos, tarpaulins, brochures, cards, booklets, book covers,etc. He was inspired to provide this article while looking for a job. Within three weeks, he found job following this blog.
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Getting the Job You Want
Job Strategy, Job Tips, Job Search Lesson, Job Search Video
The career and employment world is inundated with jobseekers, many of whom are applying for the very same jobs as you. Disappointing? Sure. Hopeless? No way.
Many smart companies are using the deluge of talent saturating the job market to improve their talent base, and in the book Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring, [Wiley, 2009] executive career coach Ford Myers [ExecuNet] details how to distinguish yourself from the competition and find a great job even in these difficult times.
In this exclusive interview of ExecuNet Editor Will Flammé asks the author to discuss the elements of a successful approach to job search. Here's an excerpt:
Q. What are the most important job search tools?
A. Candidates need to stop relying exclusively on their résumé, which is actually one of the least important job search tools, in my opinion. Vital tools include the professional biography, target company list, testimonials sheet, professional references list, networking agenda, accomplishment stories, positioning statement and so forth. Using all these tools "synergistically" takes some education and practice — but once the approach is mastered, it generates exceptional results.
Q. What role does networking play in one's search for the right job?
A. I'm telling my clients they should be spending 90 percent of their time networking. For people in career transition, networking is no longer part of their job search — networking is their job search! Until someone comes up with a better idea, networking is still the single most effective means of researching, identifying and securing the RIGHT position. Of course, there is a right way and a wrong way to network — so I'm obviously talking about a structured, proven, effective approach that consistently leads to interviews and eventually, job offers.
Q. How does an online presence help in a job search, and how does one go about creating such a presence?
A. In today's world, executives MUST have an online presence. It has to be positive, and it needs to project the sort of image you desire. This is what my colleague Eric Kramer calls "Online Identity Optimization" (OIO). Job seekers can create their online presence by posting their résumés online and by using blogs, personal websites, email campaigns and social media websites (such as LinkedIn). It's also a good idea to buy the domain of your own name (www.yourname.com). Having a strong web presence is a great way to differentiate yourself.
Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.
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