How To Avoid Scary Job Interviews

How To Avoid Scary Job Interviews 175 Sometimes, those bad things actually happen. This is a guest post by Katherine Burik. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. Walking through the park one evening when from behind the bushes a hand reaches out and grabs your sweetie… With a blood curdling scream, she is GONE!!! Scary… Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up a little doesn’t it?eval Why is something scary anyway? Much of it is in our heads.eval It can be paralyzing to ruminate on the bad things that can happen. But bad things really can happen when disruptive, unexpected situations get out of control. Job interviews can be scary too for the same reasons. Surprisingly, interviewing is about the same level of scary for candidates and for the company. Each party imagines all sorts of bad outcomes. Sometimes, those bad things actually happen. 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 3 ways interviewing can be scary for candidates and for the company 1) It is disruptive For the company, a vacancy means extra work with little time to recruit. It is hard to overlook the short term workload to see the long term advantages to recruiting now. It is a question of time and workload. For the candidate, finding a job means changing from the known job to an unknown. The devil you know and all that. Will the people be nice? Is this company in sound financial shape? Will I like the work? Will the change be worth the hassle? 2) There can be financial risk Company doesn’t want to make a mistake â€" can be expensive to hire then terminate someone in a short time â€" loss of productivity and expense only to have to recruit again. Candidate is either changing jobs for a promotion which has a financial risk or out of work changing jobs, which has its own financial risk to family. A lot is riding on every interview. 3) Finally, there’s the unknown: neither side really knows how to do it Most hiring managers have not been trained. Have you? Most candidates have not been trained either. Have you? An interview is a terrible thing to waste. It is a shame for either party to go into the recruiting process unprepared and paralyzed with fear. The solution? Just like the Girl Scouts, we want to always be prepared. Everyone needs a Job Search Marketing Plan! The level of preparation is similar for companies and candidates. A great deal of work needs to go into the front end to make the process smooth and increase the chances for success. This is the 80/20 rule. 3 ways both parties can prepare Answer these questions as you plan. 1) Know what you want Company â€" what are the 2 to 3 critical success factors for this job? How will you know if the new incumbent is successful? It is more than the job description. Candidate â€" what is your ultimate career goal? No one will figure this out for you. You must be specific. 2) Know how to express what you want Company â€" What are the KSAs that are critical to achieving the 2 to 3 critical success factors? The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities are hidden in the job description usually. Pull them out and be specific. Candidate â€" What stories demonstrate you have the KSAs to do the job? Know how to tell your story in the context of the competencies you think are necessary to do the job successfully. 3) Create a plan Company â€" Where do you want to look for candidates; how to build relationships with talent in advance? What questions should you ask each candidate to learn whether the candidate possesses the KSAs to do the job successfully? Put the questions in writing. Who will be on your interviewing team? Prepare them to ask questions that help you discover if the candidate can achieve the 2 to 3 critical success factors. Candidate â€" Where do you want to look for contacts? How will you build relationships with target contacts in advance? How will you answer questions related to the KSAs that you think are important to the job? Prepare written answers to the questions you think might get asked including answers to the 30 FAQs. In short- Avoid the nightmare by being prepared. Some advance preparation will help you sleep better and take you closer to your goals. After all, an interview is a terrible thing to waste! 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! About the Author Katherine Burik, a partner in The Interview Doctor, Inc., coaches people preparing for interviews and companies improving their interviewing skills. She blogs regulary on job search at jobinterviewcoaching.org. She outlines her unique approach to job search in the three book series, The Job Seeker Manifesto: The Job Search Marketing Plan, Resumes 3.0: Tools to Find Your Next Job, and the latest book, “Tell Me About Yourself: Secrets to Strategic Job Interviews” available in September 2014. Connect with Katherine on LinkedIn and follow her on Twitter @interviewdoctor. This article is part of the The $11K 8th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest. If you want Katherine Burik to win, share this article with your friends. READ NEXT: How To Cope With A Bad Job Interviewer

Methods For Commuting To Work - Driving Isnt The Only Option!

Methods For Commuting To Work - Driving Isnt The Only Option! Of all the travels you make, your daily commute to work is probably the most important. No employer likes their workers to show up late. Since it’s a trip you’ll be making all the time, you’ll want to ensure you have a reliable method of getting there. Of course, cars are the most popular option. But don’t forget, there are many other ways you can handle your commute. There are quite a few options for transportation to work. You can choose between public and private transport. You can also focus on speed, reliability or even getting fit. You may even want to try a few different ways to see what suits you best. Here are some of the different methods for getting to work, along with their pros and cons. Driving Most people who own a car will want to make use of it, so commuting daily in your vehicle is natural. It has the benefit of being reliable, fast, and easy. Your car will always be there for you, and you can make your trip on time each morning. But according to psychologytoday.com, driving can also be the most stressful way to commute. Sitting in traffic jams can ramp up your stress before you even get to work. There’s also the worry of road accidents or car breakdowns. You’ll also have to consider fuel prices. The biggest drawback is the costs. Car insurance and maintenance can cost a lot each year. Driving often can also lead to a lot of mileage and wear, which reduces your vehicle’s value. You can save yourself some money by cutting down on bad driving habits, like the one shown in the main image above!    And while driving to work might seen like the most efficient way to get there, there are options. Cycling Cycling is gaining popularity as an alternative method of commuting to work. It has the same benefits of driving as far as being always available. Naturally, it’s a little slower, and you may still have to deal with traffic. It has a few unique benefits, though. Many people choose to cycle to work for the health and fitness benefits. There’s a lot of evidence regarding the advantages of cycling. In addition to helping you lose weight and build cardio, it can also reduce stress and increase productivity. It’s a great option for anyone looking to give themselves a boost in the morning. If you want to go a little faster, you could use an electric bike for extra speed. Ridesharing Ridesharing is a highly useful alternative for your work commute. Many people carpool with a friend to get to work. It can get you to work fast without you having to spend extra money on running costs. There are also many rideshare services available nowadays. Sites like http://rideapps.co can help you find some of the best apps for calling for a lift. Most rideshare apps are relatively cheap, and some are even free! Even if you don’t choose to rideshare daily, it’s useful on days where you can’t use your car. You can get a ride instantly using an app, or just call a friend. Public Transport Many people use public transport to commute to work. It’s a particularly helpful option in areas where roads are too busy for commuting reliably, such as London and New York City. Buses and trains are common options. A lot of cities also offer their own inter-city transportation services, such as metros and subway systems. The problem is, the reliability of your public transport can depend largely on where you are and what’s available. It can also be stressful to be crammed in with so many people. You may also worry about getting to work on time when delays set in. On the bright side, you can often sit back and get work done while commuting on public transport. It’s a useful option as long as you have cheap and reliable services available. Walking/Jogging Of course, you could always just walk to work! It may be the slowest method, but if you live close enough to your workplace, it’s a good option to consider. Walking to work can boost creativity, according to a Stanford  study. It can also reduce stress, so you can be relaxed and productive when you get to work. If you want to ramp it up a bit, you could even jog or run to work. This will get you there a little faster and also help improve your fitness. The drawback is you might get into the office a little sweaty. Deodorant and perfume can help you keep fresh. It’s a useful option available to everyone, but not always the best when time is of the essence or the weather’s bad! Image credits: Main    Bicycling    Subway

10 Lessons My Dad Taught Me About Business

10 Lessons My Dad Taught Me About Business My dad  influenced me to be the businesswoman I am today.   My dad  is  a pretty impressive financial guru and has  been  a stock broker,  option day trader, entrepreneur  and was even featured on an investment trading  television show called Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser. I learned a lot from my dad growing up. Here are the 10 Lessons My Dad Taught Me About Business: 1. Don’t Waste Money.   Every penny counts.   Get deals.   Use coupons. Be frugal.   Use your money for what is important, don’t waste it.   Be risk averse with your investments. 2.  Be Determined. Work your  butt off.   Hard work and determination will get you where you want to go. 3.  Stay Aware. You must always know what is going on the world to predict the future of your business and investments.   Read, read, read and  strive to understand. [RELATED: 21 Business Books You Should Read] 4. Be Tough. Be firm and stand up for what you believe in.   Don’t let anyone take advantage of you. 5. Travel Often. Travel as much as possible to learn about other people and countries.   Dad…where haven’t you been? 6. Get Educated. Nothing is more important than learning.   My dad was the first one in his family to graduate college and  he could sit in a bookstore all day reading.   My dad is the reason I finished  college and business school. 7.  There Are No Limits. My dad taught me that the sky is the limit.   Why not start a business?   What not call up Warren Buffet and personally ask him to invest in  his business?   My dad taught me that I can do anything and be anything I want to be. 8. Family is the Most Important Thing. My parents have been married for 31 years!!   My dad has taught me that you have to work hard BUT it is very important  to make  time  for your  family.   My  parents take a “break” every night on the front porch.   How cute is that? 9. Dance a Lot. Ok, my dad definitely didn’t teach me how to dance and it really has nothing to do with business but he sure has some moves!  If you think these moves are great, wait until you hear him sing!   His favorite song… Sherri…baby… (yes, he’s got  a falsetto like you wouldn’t believe. 10.  Do Work You Love. I recently  posted about how my brother taught to do what you love but I think my dad has to get  the credit for modeling this  to my  brother and I.   Although  his work is  stressful sometimes, you can tell that he loves trading the stock market otherwise he would be retired by now! Thanks, dad for being the best dad in the world and helping me become the Classy Career Girl  I am today!   Love you! xoxo What important lessons have your parents taught you?

A peek at the office of the future

A peek at the office of the future I was checking out the information about the upcoming conference Office 2.0. I wanted to get a sense of what the future workplace would look like. Theres not much information there, but I got a bit from the list of speakers: 1. There are two links next to every speaker name: blog, and profile. If you think you dont need a blog, you need to look at this list. Its long. And every person on it has a blog. Blogging is essential for big thinkers, serious careerists, and anyone who wants to be part of a wide-reaching conversation. 2. The list of photos is pretty unremarkable, mostly men, mostly headshots. There are a lot of visions for what the future of the office will be. Our computers will have no client application other than a web browser, for example, and virtual collaboration will be easy. But maybe the most wide-reaching vision of Office 2.0 emerged before the conference even started. The image is on the speakers page, where David Young, CEO of Joyent, makes room in his own small square headshot for his babys head, too. Because Office 2.0 must make room for children.

Tips to Make Your Architecture Resume Impressive

Tips to Make Your Architecture Resume ImpressiveWhen writing architecture resume, one of the first things you need to consider is the scope of the career. You should start with the most basic criteria for your architecture resume. These are as follows:The basic aspects to consider when composing your architecture resume are as follows. These will help you tailor your resume specifically to the requirement of the employer. It is important to add at least three of these basic factors in your architecture resume. You should also make a general note of what educational institutes you have completed and if you have received any training. In addition, if you have any prior experience in a technical job related to architecture, this is also a very good idea to include.Writing architectural resumes, should take into consideration your educational qualifications and experience. This is one aspect where the right format for writing is quite different from personal letters. You should use all o f your experience and qualifications to create an architecture resume that will ensure an ideal placement. It is highly recommended that you focus on the past employment experiences of the applicant as this will be a very strong point against the applicant.The next type of information that is required for the construction companies is specific aspects. The details that you need to include on the architecture resume are as follows. You must mention the job title, year of hire, salary, vacancy dates, qualification details, and much more. Architecture resumes can be difficult to write but the quality is great and this is a good start. For an architect, the job of a resume writer is to put all the things into a readable manner that the potential employer can easily read.Your architecture resume must include all of the most relevant aspects about the position. There should be a section dedicated to the duties of the architects and a section for each aspect of work. This is a highly impor tant aspect that needs to be included in your architecture resume. This will enable you to create a workable strategy that will enable the applicant to get the job.As much as architecture resumes are written by people, it is still possible to look at them for ideas and information. If you are able to pick up some information from the architecture resume, this is an indication that you have a good idea about the job and the work. On the other hand, if you think that there is nothing useful on the resume, then this will also prove to be a waste of time. The next factor that you need to consider while composing the architecture resume is your professional experience. This is where it all starts, this is where you will begin to build a strong resume that will enable you to get the best place for your work.Personal character is also an important aspect to consider when it comes to writing architecture resumes. This is because this is where the applicant will make their attempt at the int erview. As much as the application is for the prospective employer, this is also where the applicant will make their own approach to get the best possible place for the employment.One excellent way to prepare for writing architecture resumes is to obtain the work samples of past and present candidates. There are many construction firms that provide this service to its employees. This is a great way to find out what works and what does not when it comes to architecture resumes.

10 Tips to a Fast Career Change

10 Tips to a Fast Career Change 10 Tips to a Fast Career Change 10 Tips to a Fast Career Change September 4, 2009 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas 2 Comments Its true that the economy and the job market arent doing well, BUT companies are still hiring! Just check out theLadders.com, and your local Business Journal for a list of companies looking to add great talent to their line-up. Its not enough these days to put your resume up on Monster.com and then sit back and wait for the phone to ring. You have to work at finding a job, and making yourself stand out from your competition. So to help move into a new job fast, here are ten (10) career change success strategies. (The first five were covered in a previous blog post Bullet Proof Your Career with 5 Key Strategies. Below are strategies 6 through 10 put them all together and you have 10 simple yet effective career success tips. 6. Network strategically. Many people dont enjoy networking. It can be awkward, uncomfortable, and you dont know what to say! So heres a tip when you meet someone who could potentially hire you (or introduce you to others who could potentially hire you), be sure to talk about the kind of work you enjoy doing, and the results youve achieved for other companies. For example, you could say something like, I like to create marketing campaigns that include TV and radio ads. In fact, the last campaign I worked on generated a 4% increase in sales for the customer! 7. Power up your resume. Customize your resume for every job you apply for. Yes, its a pain, but it works! Showcase those skills and requirements that are listed in the job description. Think of it this way, the hiring manager doesnt want to know about every skill you have â€" they only want to know if you have the skills to do their job. If you dont meet every requirement listed in the job description â€" dont worry! Very few people do. A great rule of thumb is to match at least 60-percent of the requirements. If you can do that â€" then I say to “go for it! 8. Focus on results! On your resume, in your interviews, and in your networking opportunities instead of focusing on responsibilities, talk about your achievements. Also, try to quantify your achievements with a number, dollar, or percentage. For example, dont just say that you managed a team of 9 people in the sales department. Instead, say that you led a sales team that generated $250,000 a year for the past 3 years! This says that you take your job seriously, and take your career seriously! 9. Interview smart. Everyone dreads the big question, What are your weaknesses? The best way to answer this question is to identify an area that youre already working on, and say what youre doing to strengthen that area. For example, if the job calls for someone who can create PowerPoint presentations and you dont know how to do that â€" then maybe you could say something like, I want to learn more about how to create PowerPoint presentations so Im taking the Microsoft on-line training course. But of course, only say that if youre actually doing it! 10. If youre stuck get professional help! Never let your career sit on shelf longer than it has to â€" it means thousands of dollars every month in missed income that you should be making! So if youre not getting results, then get help. Invest a couple hundred dollars in some professional advice wherever you need it A Professional resume writer, or An interview coach, or Or a career coach   Great companies are ALWAYS looking to hire great talent and that means you! So, if youre serious about getting into a new career, then

How to Gangnam Style Your Video Resume - CareerEnlightenment.com

Dress to impressIf there’s one thing PSY knows, it’s how to dress snappy. In fact, PSY’s “Gangnam Style” uniform of brightly colored tuxedo jackets and bow ties is likely to be a  Halloween staple  this year.You should dress for your video resume just like you would for an important in-person interview. Leave the jeans and T-shirts for your leisure time and treat this important opportunity with the respect it deserves. After all, you only have one chance to make a first impression.Show your unique valueIn “Gangnam Style” PSY created his own dance move like he was riding an invisible horse. He said his style is to “dress fancy and dance cheesy.” PSY played to his strengths and created his own unique style and started a dance craze in the process.You shouldn’t be dancing on your video resume, not even with invisible horses, but you should be showing off your unique value. You’re not just any job seeker, you’re the person specially suited for the job. Let employe rs see the value you will bring to the company by listing concrete examples of what you have to offer.“Gangnam Style” is a huge Internet sensation because singer PSY knows the importance of being himself and being confident. These same attributes should be present in any good video resume if you expect to land your dream job. Then you’ll have the perfect dance moves to celebrate!What are some lessons from “Gangnam Style” you can apply to your video resume? Share in the comments!