?? 7 Common Job Interview Questions That Can Trick You

?? 7 Common Job Interview Questions That Can Trick You 670 Sometimes the question to answer isn’t the one that was asked. Photo credit: JD Hancock This is a guest post by Amy Chambers. The prospect of a job interview is enough to make anyone nervous. However, no matter how much you prepare, there’s often the possibility that your interviewer may have one or two questions up their sleeve designed to catch you out. What may seem like an unremarkable question may actually be a window for you to slip up. Here are some of the questions that will usually come your way and how to prepare for them:eval Did you practice answering job interview questions before your last interview? Yes No View Results Free bonus: The One Job Interview Resource You’ll Ever Need is a handy reference to help you prepare for any kind of job interview. Download it free now 1) “What are your weaknesses?” Key: be honest, but don’t volunteer informationeval You don’t want to say something that is obviously a strength in disguise, such as ‘I’m a perfectionist’ or ‘I’m a workaholic’. This is too transparent and suggests that you aren’t aware of any flaws that you do have, or aren’t willing to admit them. You’ll probably benefit from being honest here, but not too honest. Offering a minor flaw, something that won’t affect your work or suggest you have any major issues, will demonstrate your honesty. This is an opportunity to turn an answer into something positive. For instance, you could say that you are aware that you need to work on your team building skills, your confidence with public speaking or that you need to remember to take more notes. Suggest something that isn’t too bad, and word it in a positive way to show that you are self-aware and willing to improve. Also, if you have been specifically asked about your ‘weaknesses’, say that you don’t perceive yourself to have any weaknesses, just parts of yourself that need to be worked on. Cath Newbould, a Resourcing Consultant for RBS Insurance, advises choosing something that you have made positive steps to overcome. She says: “Your initiative could then be considered a strength rather than a weakness. Under no circumstances should you say ‘I don’t have any weaknesses’ as nobody is perfect and it’s unlikely that the interviewer will believe you. 2) “Why should we hire you?” Key: do your homework This may not sound like a trick question, but the interviewer could be asking you in order to test your preparation skills. If you have done your research on the company, you will answer this in relation to what they’re looking for, as opposed to a generalised answer of why you’re a desirable candidate. 3) “Why did you leave your last job?” Key: be truthful and positive Again, use this as an opportunity to be positive. Never be defamatory towards your ex-colleagues, no matter how difficult they were to work with. Say that you wanted to push yourself out of your comfort zone, seek new opportunities and learn new things. This is a chance to be positive and show your determination. Equally, you don’t want to appear negative. If the role genuinely wasn’t challenging enough, say so in a positive way. This is not an opportunity for you to rant about your last employer, how the office was too cold or your computer mouse too sensitive. This is asked so the interviewer can test your maturity. Laura Kilduff, Assessment Selection Manager with Direct Line Group’s insurance job recruitment portal, advises: “Be honest about why you left your last job, as companies are likely to check this through the reference contacts you provide. Whether you left on good or bad terms, try to be positive about your previous employer and your reasons for leaving, rather than focusing on the negatives. For instance, talk about what you learnt in your previous role and how it helped to develop your skills in a certain area, or reference the opportunities to develop your career and expand your experience by leaving.” 4) “Give me an example of when you have become angry at a colleague.” Key: don’t make yourself look bad Don’t fall for these types of questions. Avoid answering a question where you have to offer an example of something that could show you in a bad light. Reply by saying that you have never become angry at a colleague. The clever thing done by interviewers here is, by asking questions like this, you think it must be an acceptable behaviour. Just because you’re being asked to give an example â€" doesn’t mean it is expected of people. Don’t give any examples of being angry, lazy or unreasonable. 5) “Give an example of a time when you under-performed and how you overcame this.” Key: sidestep the trap by going hypothetical Similar to the above, if this question is asked, it is so you will admit that you have, in fact, under-performed at work. Modestly reply by saying that it has never happened and then offer a for instance as to what you would do if it were to happen. 6) “What would be your ideal job?” Key: be realistic, but passionate “This one” is an answer that should be avoided as you may come across as too willing to please. Even if it is your ideal job, it’s always good to demonstrate to the employer that you have constantly evolving aspirations and something to work hard for. Your first response should be to ask if the question is intended for now, in five years’ time or longer, as this will assure the interviewer that your thoughts are organised and you are focused. The best way to impress would be to answer the question from a realistic point of view, and answer passionately. 7) “What would your references say about you?” Key: be positive, but modest Don’t fall for this trap and say something negative, as any references you are relying on will most likely be completely positive. However, don’t give a great list of your strengths, either, be modest and keep it precise. Free Bonus If you want a handy job interview resource that you can keep on your smartphone or print out for easy reference, I’ve got a special bonus for you. This free download contains: 165 positive personality adjectives to describe yourself 444 of the most popular job interviewer questions to prepare yourself with 175 questions that you can ask in job interviews to make a good impression and learn about your future employer Click the image below to get access to The One Job Interview Resource You’ll Ever Need: JobMob Insiders can get this free bonus and other exclusive content in the JobMob Insider Bonuses area. Join now, it's free! Bonus: 3 Tough Job Interview Questions and Answers About the Author Amy Chambers was unemployed for six months after graduating, but found her perfect job after maximising her CV using the tips and tricks she discovered online. She’s an HR geek and lives in the sunny South West of the UK. READ NEXT: 10 Tricky Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Tips for Writing Resume For Older Person

Tips for Writing Resume For Older PersonWriting a resume for older people is not really difficult. What needs to be done is to make it more professional and appealing for your reader. In the following paragraphs, I will reveal some tips for your consideration.First, find a blank old resume. Here, you can test a few templates that will be very useful. For example, you can take off the header section and place a short description or keywords in its place. This will be very helpful for you. After doing so, you can go back to the part where you have filled out all your previous work history and contact information.Before you can continue, you need to make sure that you are aware of what you want to write in your previous resume. First, you should start with your educational qualifications. You can write down all the degrees you have completed in order to get the most important points across.Remember that there are many types of degrees. So it is important that you take time in reading ea ch and every one of them. It is also necessary for you to compare all of them for accuracy. This means you should take note of the degree type, year you received your degree, the field you are going to specialise in, the degree title and the grades you have earned. Keep in mind that the higher the grade, the better the degree.Keep in mind that graduates from graduate schools are more respected than those who received their degrees at the post-graduate level. In this case, you should make sure that you have listed the institutions that you have attended. Moreover, it is good to mention all the subjects you have studied. You should try to do a thorough research in order to find out how much time you have spent in the various subjects that you have studied. As a result, you can highlight your achievements in them.You must write down all the different job titles you have held. It is a great idea to look for them in a human resource database. It will be very helpful if you have kept a re cord of all the jobs you have held in order to keep a record. This will be very helpful for you to list all the job titles that you have held.Make sure that you have written down all your personal details. For example, you must write down your children's names, place of birth, age, contact details and contact numbers. Remember that your loved ones may be looking for you. It is best to create a resume that has contact details that will enable them to contact you when you are not available.Remember that writing a resume for an older person can be very challenging especially when you do not have much experience in this area. It is also important for you to make use of the internet in order to get the details you need. In doing so, you can get access to plenty of free samples that you can use in writing your own resume. I hope that you found this article informative.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Become More Resilient Under Stress

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Become More Resilient Under Stress The sometimes unrelentingstress of a jobcan keep both employees and leaders awake at night. They toss and turn as they ruminate about a variety of issues, such as whether an important customer will sign a new contract or if there will be layoffs after a merger. But two workplace scientists say that there is a way to make teams more resilient so that they can handle whatever changes come their way without having sleepless nights. Even leaders can learn to let go of fruitless worrying and focus on finding new solutions or ideas, they say. The only thing that should legitimately keep you awake at night is a book you just cant put down or a movie you just have to see through to the end. Rumination never solves anything. In fact, it has the opposite effect and may well be giving you a definitely more miserable and probably shorter life in the process, says Derek Roger, a psychologist who has spent three decades researching the causes and effects of stress. Roger, along with Nick Petrie, is author of Work Without Stress: Building a Resilient Mindset for Lasting Success. They say that rumination prolongs the emotional misery and isnt just a by-product of stress. It is stress. If theres no rumination, theres no stress, they write. Petrie, senior faculty member at the Center for Creative Leadership, says that if teams dont develop a more resilient approach to problems or challenges, then organizations will see an increase in stress, sick leave, disengagement and suffering. It is hard to watch the way people who have no coping tools, and ruminate so much, are suffering in the workplaces, he says. It seems predictable but unnecessary. Roger and Petrie point out that rumination is primarily a conditioned habit, and it can be changed by individuals who practice doing it. One way to do that, for example, is by an individual considering the last time he or she was up all night, fretting over an issue. What did it look like in the morning? The problem hasnt disappeared, but the catastrophizing about it has generally dissolved, at least to an extent, Roger explains. This is not to suggest that sleeping on it will solve (read more here)

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Learning To Love a Job You Hate

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Learning To Love a Job You Hate For whatever reason it has great health benefits, you like the location and theres a really cute programmer who works on the fourth floor you have made the decision that youre staying with a job you hate.It wasnt an easy decision. People job hop these days faster than Matthew McConaughey can rip off his shirt. But even though you have to drag yourself into work every day, youre not going to quit. The boss seems to like your work, so theres not even the chance you might get fired. In fact, you just got a pay raise. Dammit.That was the last straw. Now you really feel trapped in this job you despise, the job that you began with such great expectations.To be honest about it, the job wasnt that bad in the beginning, or even in the middle. Its just been lately that youve come to feel youre being led to the gallows every time you enter the front door. You look around at others, and they dont seem to be as miserable as you. Why, you think, are they so darn happy? Why arent they mired in th e same pit of despair?You know youre staying put, but can you survive? Are you just kidding yourself?The answer is yes and no. Yes, there is a way to survive, and no, youre not just kidding yourself.I speak from experience. I once had a job that I despised so much I used to think about chucking my degree and all my years of hard work and going to work at an IHOP. I envisioned getting pancakes at an employee discount. That seemed like a pretty good alternative to spending my days writing about subjects that were so boring I thought I would lose my mind.And then, the boss took me out for lunch. I thought I was going to get a scolding for sleeping with my eyes open, but he offered me a lateral move within the company. That didnt sound so appealing why would I want to move from one job I hated into something equally as noxious?But he talked me into it. He didnt know at the time how bad I hated my job, and how the call of an all-you-can-eat pancake feast was a constant battle. In the en d, he persuaded me and I took the new job.By the end of the first day in the new position, I had been transformed. While I was doing much of the same work, it was different.I wasnt bored anymore. It was a new subject, new territory to be conquered. I could feel my sluggish brain begin to re-engage, to fire all cylinders. I met new people, immersed myself in learning new stuff. Within the week, I realized I no longer craved pancakes. I liked the new tasks I was given. And then it hit me: I loved my job.The lesson: Yes, Virginia, you can learn to love the job you hate.Here are some tips to get you started: Make a list of what you like and dont like about your job. Its OK to say you really like the cute programmer or the hours you work, but also think of what tasks you enjoy doing. I always liked writing, but I didnt like the subject. By changing the focus of my work, it made a world of difference. Envision a new way to work. Think about all the things you need to make you like your jo b again. Would you like a chance to experience something new, such as interacting with others in another department? Receive more recognition from your boss? Get a mentor? Structure a plan. Put together some ideas for how youd like to change your job, the new duties and goals. Talk to the boss as soon as possible. Dont let a manager put you off until a performance appraisal; let the boss know youve got a plan youd like to present. Explain to the boss in a reasonable, conversational tone that youve been thinking a lot about your current situation, and you believe youre ready for some new challenges. Point out your contributions, and how youre committed to continuing to do a great job. Lay the groundwork about the changes youd like to make, pointing out the advantages for the company. Dont give up. It may take weeks, even months, for changes to be made. Bosses can be resistant to changing employee duties, not wanting to upset the apple cart. But if you remain professionally persistent , and keep pointing out what a positive move it can be you may find that reinventing your job was the right move for you.What are some other ways to find more satisfaction and joy in a job?del.icio.us

How Do You State Research Papers Currently in Writing on Resume?

How Do You State Research Papers Currently in Writing on Resume?It is difficult to know how to state research papers currently in writing on resume because there are too many variable that you need to make sure you do before you even consider trying. It is only natural that when you are writing for resume and CV, you have to ask yourself the same questions on how do you state research papers currently in writing on resume and CV.If you want to come up with a good writing style, one of the first things you need to consider is the objective of the job. This will help you to write a well structured resume and CV. You have to be very clear as to what the employer's goal is.Now when you are dealing with the CV, it is your responsibility to make sure that every part of the CV is properly formatted. You need to make sure that every section of the CV is correct in format and content. Do not try to skip any sections of the CV and its attachments. Remember that you are being given this as a be nefit to the employer so it is their duty to ensure that all of their information is there.A researcher needs to take note of what kind of work he or she has done before they begin writing. Since research papers will vary in form, it is a good idea to create a list of research papers currently in writing on resume. This will give the researcher the idea of how to state research papers currently in writing on resume. These should be those that are related to your field of study.The name of the researcher should be one of the most important criterion in your resume. You should always try to use his or her name at the beginning of the CV. You have to make sure that the CV is professional and the information is correct.Research papers should be presented in chronological order as well as chronologically. You should take note of the manner in which the research paper was written. You have to put the keywords according to the nature of the research paper.CV is a document that has to be pr ofessional. You need to make sure that the CV is appropriate in style, content and format and you need to make sure that your CV is properly formatted.There are a lot of things that need to be considered when you are writing your research papers and CV. You have to be sure that the CV and research papers are properly formatted and in chronological order.

5 memes that sum up your final year as a student in university

5 memes that sum up your final year as a student in university This post was written by an external contributor. George Cook has scoured the depths of the internet for five memes that represent the final leg of being a student.   Memes and gifs are often a means through which we can laugh at our own suffering. Hence, there is no better description to sum up the final year of your degree. Whether it’s procrastinating on that dissertation, or cramming in endless hours at the library. There’s something for everyone to relate to. Also, we should not forget the amazing moments that are thrown in between the despair of writing an essay three hours before the deadline. Final year is the last opportunity to take full advantage of the student lifestyle, and tick off those items from the bucket list. These five memes will act as the story to your final year of university, and all the emotions that come with approaching your entry into the big wide world. …plus how old you now suddenly feel. Is this as bad as it gets? Whether your dissertation is due in the first semester of final year or not, this first term will undoubtedly be full of great stress and misery. That, along with many drunken antics. However, you must not forget that the worst is yet to come as you approach the end of your degree. You may think you’ll get used to it and that things may get better as the year goes on. But trust me, it doesn’t. You will suffer more pain yet. Stress taking over This worst times throughout the year will summed up by many a stressful moment. Whether that be in public, the library or in your room. It might be the smallest thing that makes you cry with the stress you’re feeling. This meme demonstrates the main emotion you’ll feel during final year. Particularly as you sit in the library, close to tears at the 57 words you’ve written in the last 6 hours. Weve all been there. I have done LITERALLY NOTHING ALL DAY Those 57 words that you’ve written all day will have been done originally in the spirit of being really productive. You’ll walk into the library, brain food in hand, with a set plan of what you want to achieve for the day. Yet you’ll leave the library a stone heavier (after all the biscuits you’ve eaten) with no work completed. The story of my life. Of course there are always tips to help improve your  productivity, but just prepare yourself for days like this. Theyre inevitable. You will actually miss it… Despite all this pain, misery and despair at the seemingly endless amounts of work to do, you will feel a sense of sadness as it comes to the end. Therell be no more waking up at midday and not feeling guilty. You’ll envy the days of going to all the student pubs and getting hammered off a tenner. You’ll miss all the great people you’ve met, and the city that youve lived in. But surprisingly for many, you may realise that you miss studying your subject. Even if the last year has seemed like hell on earth. SUMMER! Now that you have got over the sadness of university, it’s time to make the most of the last summer you’ll have before entering the adult world (*sobs*). Whether that’s lounging in a pool with a drink, or travelling around the world, you will never want this summer to end. And lets not forget the experience of graduation you’ll have over the summer as well! The perfect end to probably the best years of your life. Plus you can now focus on what direction you want to take next over your  summer break. So, despite all the hard times, when you look back at university, final year will probably be the most memorable of all. Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

5 Ways to Display Confidence in a Job Interview - Wolfgang Career Coaches

5 Ways to Display Confidence in a Job Interview - Wolfgang Career Coaches Lately, I have been helping a number of clients with interview preparation. We spend a lot of time reviewing industry relevant interview questions and developing examples from their resumes. While doing this, I’m reminded of small but critical items that are often times overlooked as individuals prepare for an interview. It is critical that you practice these little things in order to make you appear confident in your ability to succeed in the position and at the company. Here are 5 ways you can portray confidence during the interview. Use a Firm Handshake When Greeting Your Interviewers Practice your handshake with a friend or family member. What is their feedback? Is it the ‘limp fish’ weak handshake? Is it the ‘body builder’ crushing handshake? Is it somewhere in the middle â€" firm, but not too firm? Your handshake leaves an impression with the interviewers before you even open your mouth. Limit Use of Filler Words ‘Um’, ‘Ah’, ‘Like’ . . . those little filler words add nothing to your answer. In fact, they are distracters that focus the interviewer on things other than the great example you just shared. First you need to identify your filler words. Videotape yourself practicing for an interview or practice with a friend as the interviewer. What are your filler words? You might be surprised by the words or phrases you rely on to fill the silence or use to stall while you think of an answer. It is very difficult to completely remove filler words from your answers during an interview. Fortunately, the more you practice, the easier it will be to remove those words from your answers. Choose Confident Wording Do you think you are the right person for the job? Or do you know you are the right person for the job. During interviews, many people become very modest. You do not want to appear arrogant, but if your wording demonstrates that you do not have confidence that you can do the job, why should the interviewer be confident about recommending you to be hired? Pay attention to the times you say “I think” or apologize during the interview for giving a poor example. Your choice of wording can be your worst enemy. Demonstrate Your Accomplishments During an interview, you will want to demonstrate that you are a good team player and have solid teamwork skills. However, if all of your examples focus on what your team accomplished and you don’t mention any individual contributions, you may leave the interviewer assuming you are unable to succeed at an individual level or be able to lead a team. Make sure the interviewer knows what you were able to accomplish individually in your prior roles. Make Eye Contact No one goes into an interview purposefully wanting to avoid eye contact. However, sometimes our eyes wander. Some people lose eye contact when they are thinking of an answer, when they are not confident in their answer, or when they feel they are staring at the interviewer. Breaking eye contact during the interview can make you appear less confident in your answers and ultimately in your fit for the position. While you practice for your interview, make sure you get feedback on your eye contact. Add these five tips to your interview preparation and you will be well on your way to displaying confidence during your interviews. Do you have additional tips on displaying confidence in the interview? Share them in our comments below.

Overcoming Fear and Adjusting your Attitude - Hallie Crawford

Overcoming Fear and Adjusting your Attitude If you go through your job search with the wrong attitude, it’s going to be a downward spiral with a potentially unhappy ending. The good news is… you can prevent this. You need to make career decisions from a position of strength or possibility and not out of fear, weakness or other negative feelings. It may take practice, but creating that feeling of strength and optimism can happen. Here are some suggestions on how to do this: Worrying does not help Taking action does. Do something about the challenges you’re facing. Evaluate your decision making process Take some time to notice how you approach decisions. Are you approaching them with confidence and strength? If the answer is yes, then you’ll know that you’re getting a positive outcome as a result of your positive attitude and actions. If you approach decisions with fear or anger, then, conversely, you’ll notice the result is much less constructive. Practice being positive â€" Consciously practicing being positive may feel strange at first so I encourage you to take small steps. Notice how you are feeling about the decisions you are making. If you are experiencing ‘bad vibes’ then it might be time to shift your mindset, or to table that important decision until you feel more comfortable and confident. Invest in yourself While money may seem tight right now, one of your best bets is to spend your resources making yourself invaluable to your current or potential employer. When you invest in education â€" through additional classes to beef up skills or through advanced programs to learn new skills â€" you enhance your value and marketability. Join our job search teleclass Stop Spinning in Your Job Search 3 Ways to Get Ahead of the Traffic on Friday July 17, 2009 at 12:00 noon ET. Register here. Helping you get back in the drivers seat, Job Search Coaching