"What Are Your Strengths And Weakness as an Employee?"

What Are Your Strengths as an Employee?

What Do They Want to Hear?

key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before you answer questions from your analysis of the job advert, you can work out the key skills and characteristics that the employer is looking for. Paraphrasing a few of these back to the employer is an effective way to answer this question. When paraphrasing key skills and characteristics, make sure to change the wording slightly – simply repeating them verbatim will make you sound like a mindless parrot. 


Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive achievements. Then, once you uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs, you can choose those achievements from your list that best match up.As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:1. A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match up with the employer's greatest wants and needs.2. Intelligence...management "savvy".3. Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.4. Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team player who meshes well with interviewer's team.5. Likeability...positive attitude...sense of humor.6. Good communication skills.7. Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.8. Definiteness of purpose...clear goals.9. Enthusiasm...high level of motivation.10. Confident...healthy...a leader.
A couple of examples:
[1] As an office manager with Global Gadgets, I have excellent organisation skills and really good attention to detail – I’m not the sort of person who does things by halves. I also believe that I have good communication skills in dealing with not only external customers but also all members of the internal team – from the senior managers to the junior researchers. [2] I have been told that I’m a very good manager. My team tells me that I give them a lot of freedom in how to do their work, which they really appreciate. They also say that I’m really enthusiastic, so when we’re faced with too much work, they tell me that my manner really helps to keep them motivated and calm. My boss also tells me that I’m very innovative in terms of finding new ways of working that cut out inefficiency. 

Have an example up your sleeve to justify each of your alleged strengths. An interviewer can easily ask you, Why do you believe those are your strengths?
For example, the Global Gadgets manager mentioned earlier in this section may go on to reply: As just one example, our company moved offices recently. I had to co-ordinate the entire move and make sure that our server and all of the computers were set up correctly in the new office. At the same time, I dealt with all of our staff and customers to ensure that day-to-day business was not at all disrupted.

Try to sound confident without sounding over-confident or arrogant. If you’re worried about sounding over-confident, use phrases such as I’ve been told that I am . . . and I believe that I am . . . rather than just saying I am. . . .

What’s your greatest weakness?

Variations
1- If You Could Change One Thing About Your Personality Just By Snapping Your Fingers, What Would It Be and Why? 
2- Tell me about the one thing in your life you’re proudest of.3- Tell me about the worst decision you ever made.4- Tell me about the one thing in your life you’re most ashamed of.

What Do They Want to Hear?An answer most interviewers would fine acceptable would reveal a weakness that you’ve already corrected or, in a slight redirection of the question, a mistake you made in a previous job and the lesson(s) you learned from it. In both cases, you would be turning a negative question into a positive response. - This is an eliminator question, designed to shorten the candidate list. Any admission of a weakness or fault will earn you an “A” for honesty, but an “F” for the interview.  
That you have weaknesses (of course you do!) but none that are lethal. Conventional career advice has been to cite a weakness that you can easily show is really a strength: “You know, sir, I just work too hard. I have to take more time off than just Sunday from 5 to 7.”

PASSABLE ANSWER: Disguise a strength as a weakness.Example: “I sometimes push my people too hard. I like to work with a sense of urgency and everyone is not always on the same wavelength.”Drawback of This strategy is that it's so widely used, it is transparent to any experienced interviewer.BEST ANSWER: 

“Nobody's perfect, but based on what you've told me about this position, I believe I' d make an outstanding match. I know that when I hire people, I look for two things most of all. Do they have the qualifications to do the job well, and the motivation to do it well? Everything in my background shows I have both the qualifications and a strong desire to achieve excellence in whatever I take on. So I can say in all honesty that I see nothing that would cause you even a small concern about my ability or my strongdesire to perform this job with excellence.”

Alternate strategy (if you don't yet know enough about the position to talk about such a perfect fit):Instead of confessing a weakness, describe what you like most and like least, making sure that what you like most matches up with the most important qualification for success in the position, and what you like least is not essential.Example: 

“If given a choice, I like to spend as much time as possible in front of my prospects selling, as opposed to shuffling paperwork back at the office. Of course, I long ago learned the importance of filing paperwork properly, and I do it conscientiously. But what I really love to do is sell"

Example (For one thing in your life that ashamed of):
“You know, I really can’t think of anything. I would add that as a general management principle, I have found that the best way to avoid regrets is to avoid causing them in the first place. I practice one habit that helps me a great deal in this regard. At the end of each day, I mentally review the day’s events and conversations to take a second look at the people and developments I’m involved with and do a double check of what they’re likely to be feeling. Sometimes I’ll see things that do need more follow-up, whether a pat on the back, or maybe a five minute chat in someone’s office to make sure we’re clear on things…whatever.”

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"The Importance Of Cover Letter"

Why Cover Letters Are Important?
The cover letter is your first opportunity to engage a prospective employer. It is a key marketing tool to convince the employer to take the time to look at your resume.The primary purpose is to get an interview and The second purpose is to communicate “the intangibles” not readily apparent from the factual content of your resume.It should be written in a tone that is direct, unassuming, and conveys enthusiasm. Your cover letter must contain and convey your personal brand message so that hiring managers are compelled to contact you.

How to Make Your Cover Letter Really Work? 
1- Make it different and unique (BRAND).
2- Provide specific ways you might be able to help the prospective employer.3- Tell an interesting, compelling story that makes employers want to read further.4- Be sure it contains the “wow” factor.5- Persuade employers that you are the best candidate for the position.

What Makes a Successful Cover Letter

1- Attract the reader to read your resume.
2- Summarizes your major achievements in brief statements that make an impact.
3- Shows you will be an asset to prospective employers and will be able to improve their businesses grow and/or meet their challenges.
4- Compels employers to call you in for an interview. 

How To Write A Cover Letter?
Your cover letter should be one page with approximately 4 to 6 paragraphs. The first few sentences should entice the reader with your general qualifications right up front (a benefit-driven statement), indicate what type of position you are applying for, and explain why you would be an asset to the firm.
The middle paragraphs substantiate why you are a qualified applicant for this particular position and summarize some heavy-hitter achievements you have already accomplished as proof.
The last paragraph states your call to action, what you plan to do next or want the reader to do.

"Personal branding is critical in today’s world of work. Knowing your personal brand, developing it, and using it is a trade secret that will greatly increase your odds of getting hired." 

Personal branding is an essential career and reputation management marketing tool that creates a successful, credible identity so that hiring managers who view your brand know your value proposition and your return on their investment and seek you out.

THE BENEFITS OF PERSONAL BRANDING
1- Make readers want to read your resume and call you in for an interview.
2- Helping you sell yourself to prospective employers and increase your earning potential.
3- Employers will immediately know what position you are seeking and what distinguishes you from the competition.
4- It helps to establish you as an expert in your own professional niche and build a solid reputation in your field.
5- When you brand yourself, you make it clear to employers that you can help them solve their problems, meet their challenges, increase their bottom line.
EXAMPLE:
"As a marketing specialist, I develop and launch innovative new products and brands for new untapped target markets of forward-thinking companies so they can dramatically increase their revenues through my visionary creativity."

THE 5 CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF PERSONAL BRANDING 
1- Assets/features: (Qualities, Attributes, Skills that can be valuable to employer)
2- Benefits: (the ways in which your features help employers)
3- Competitive edge: (Unique strengths of you that make you stand out from others in your profession)
4- Value proposition: The total worth of all of the benefits you can offer an employer in exchange for salary by way of promised deliverables backed by matching achievements. (Obviously, employers want the value of all the benefits you offer to be higher than the cost of paying you.)
5- Return on investment (ROI): A measurement of your contributions (expected future value) to an employer. You can get this number by dividing the amount of money you have saved or earned (or a similar measurement appropriate to your field) for your employers by the cost of hiring you. (Naturally, prospective employers want this number to be high.)

A WINNING COVER LETTER FORMULA

Now that you have developed your first cover letter paragraph to attract and spark the interest of your prospective employers, think in terms of this sequence for the remainder of your cover letter: 

1- The first paragraph attracts your audience via your personal brand message or other “wow” factor.
2- The second paragraph explains what you have to offer through your matching qualifications and value proposition.
3- The third paragraph validates your value proposition describing your related achievements.
4- The fourth (optional) paragraph sparks additional interest via a related story or eye-opening comment.
5- The fifth paragraph summarizes the letter and closes with a statement of interest and a call to action.

FIRST PARAGRAPH EXAMPLES:
"I believe my [broad experience/professional skill set/background/other: ___] in all [phases/aspects] of ___ [area or industry] coupled with my [master’s/ bachelor’s/ associate degree in __ (major) or other feature: ___] uniquely qualifies me for a ___ [job title or type of] position in your [firm/company/organization]. I am enclosing my resume for your consideration." 

"As a successful ____ [type of] [executive/manager/professional], I bring to your organization more than ____ [number] years of progressively responsible experience in ___, _____, and ____ [areas of expertise] for the ___ [type of] industry. My expertise lies in____ and ___ [competitive edge knowledge]. My resume is enclosed for your consideration." 

"Working within the___ [which?] industry to [sell/promote/provide/other: ___] beneficial [products/programs/projects/services/other: ____] is my passion. Throughout my career, building outstanding _____ [what?] and securing ____ [what?] have been major sources of challenge and [achievement /satisfaction /reward/other:____] for me. My enclosed resume details my career thus far." 

"With more than ___ [number] years of____ [type of] experience and a consistent track record of [increasing profitability/improving service/decreasing costs/other: ___], I am confident that I can do the same for ____ [whom or what?] at____ [prospective employer]. A ____ [asset], I have ____[accomplishment]. As such, I am enclosing my resume for your review."

SECOND PARAGRAPH EXAMPLES
"I am experienced in ____, ____, and ___ [doing what?] for my employers. I believe my _____ [type of] expertise, _____ [skill or attribute] abilities, and ____ [type of] skills are a perfect combination for a(n) ____ [type of] professional. I am confident that the enthusiasm and experience I can bring to your organization will prove to be assets in achieving your firm’s goals as they have been for others." 

"In addition to my expertise in ____, ____, and ___ [areas of expertise], I am actively involved in ____ [what area?] as well as ____ [what area?]. I am committed to [embracing modern technological improvements for ___ (area)/other: _____] while ____ [doing what?]." 

"Complementing my ability to ____ [do what?] and effectively_____ [do what?] are equally strong qualifications in ____,_____, _____, and ___ [areas of expertise]. I am able to provide strategic direction with appropriate tactical action plans to meet those needs while responding to the constantly changing demands of the _____ [type of] industry."

" Throughout the past ____ [number] years, I have been [actively/heavily] involved in the [strategic/tactical/other:__] planning required to align ____ [type of] initiatives with budget dollars in the support of [business/mission-critical/other: ___] needs for ____ [whom or what?]. I have established a reputation built on _______ [type of] excellence through the delivery of [innovative/practical/costeffective/ other: ____] solutions that [increase efficiency/boost performance/elevate revenues/other:___]. Prior to this, I spent [a number of/______ (number)] years working as a(n) _____ [job title]." 

THIRD PARAGRAPH EXAMPLES
" I have a proven track record of [increasing sales and profits/elevating profits/decreasing costs/streamlining operations/ increasing productivity/other: ____]. Notable achievements include ____, ____, ___, and _______ [your most significant accomplishments]. Please see the attached resume for details."

"Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to ______ [benefit or value provided] by ______ [skills] to ensure attainment of goals. I have gained a solid reputation for_______ and _____ [personal attributes or areas of expertise] resulting in______ [what ROI?] for my employers." 

"Currently as ___ [job title] of ______ [employer name], I have taken [the company/  my department/other: ___] from ____ [dollar amount, percentage, or other measurement] to___ [dollar amount, percentage, or other measurement] in [annual sales/market share/other:___].  I also have received [awards/ promotions/ commendations/other: ____] for______ [primary achievements]." 

"A sample of my achievements in _____ [areas of expertise] include
● Earning ___ [what?] from ___ [whom?], honoring my ____ [achievement honored].
● Overseeing _____ [whom or what?], resulting in______ [benefits].
● Developing ____ [what?] that identified and resolved ___ [employer/industry issues].
● Managing_____ [what?], _____ [benefit to past employer].
● Initiating____ [what?] to ____ [benefit]." 

"I offer a brief overview of my expertise and invite you to peruse my resume, which provides more in-depth information:
● History of undertaking challenging ____ [type of] assignments, including_____, ____, and ____ [what?]. I have repeatedly been sought out to undertake these and other [projects/events/ other: ___] due to my ____ [features], which ______ [benefit], and my ability to______ [value proposition].
● Instinctive knowledge and ability to___ [skills] and to implement _ [what?].
● Vital ability to ____ [area of expertise] and to_______ [area of expertise].
● Excellent ______ [type of] qualifications include ____ and ____ [what degrees, certifications, software, or special knowledge?], which I have found invaluable when combined with my_____ and ___ [features]."

FOURTH PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE
"Consistently Achieve _____ [what?] There can be only one reason for these results: a consuming passion for ______ [your field]! Working within the____ [which?] industry and with individuals to [sell/promote/educate/other: ____] on a beneficial [mission/product/program/project/goal/other:______]—this has been my [lifeblood/passion/interest/ other:____]." 

" My search for companies who share my passion for success put ___ [prospective employer] at the top of my list. Here’s why: As the ____ [job title] of a successful company, I took it as job number one to_____ [do what?]. And because nobody told me it couldn’t be done, I made it happen. Now that________ [separation circumstances], I want that dream to come true again, this time in a partnership with ____ [prospective empployer]. I would never make such a bold suggestion if I couldn’t offer a strong return on investment for both of us." 

CLOSING PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE
"I believe ______ [prospective employer] will benefit from my ______ [type of] approach to [operational excellence/enhancing the bottom line/improving productivity/other: ______]. I look forward to speaking with you soon to discuss how my expertise can bring immediate and lasting results to your company. I will contact you soon to set up an interview, or you may contact me at ______ [phone number]." 

"Thank you for your time and consideration, [Mr./Ms.] ____ [hiring manager’s last name]. I look forward to the possibility of discussing the opportunity of contributing my ______ [benefits] to your highly [innovative /motivated /productive/other: _____] team. May I hear from you soon? "

"I am excited by the prospect of an opportunity to work with ____ [prospective employer]. I would like to meet with you to discuss my ____[type of] qualifications in more detail and would appreciate a personal interview. I will [call/email] you next week to follow up." 

"I would welcome the chance to meet with you to discuss ______’s [prospective employer] business needs and my qualifications in more detail. I am confident that I can deliver results similar to those described above for your firm and look forward to a personal interview. Please call me at _______ [phone number] or email me at ________ [email address] at your earliest convenience for a mutual return on investment."

What to Do and What Not to Do in a Cover Letter? 

Don’t:
1- Copy generic statements.
2- Bore your reader with job description information they are already aware of.
3- Replicate the information contained in your resume.
4- Send out broadcast cover letters if you can help it.
Do:
1- Write compelling, marketing-savvy statements that make readers take notice.
2- Back up your outlandish, head-turning statements with achievement facts.
3- Make promises you can keep.
4- Determine what your possible return on investment is to prospective employers.
5- Conduct company research so that you can obtain the name, title, and company name and address of your targeted employers.
6- Show how you are a match for a position opening by including all of the requirements in the original job posting and noting your expertise and qualifications in these areas.

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"Tell Me About Yourself ?"

This is probably the single most popular question that interviewers use for opening an interview. But don’t take the question as an invitation to recount your entire life’s history. And if you’re unprepared for such an open ended prelude to the series of standard questions about your skills, background, and aspirations you’ve been expecting, it can stop you dead and earn you an immediate one-way ticket out of the interview.

Why is this question a favorite of so many interviewers? 

Many consider it a nice ice-breaker, giving them a chance to gauge initial chemistry, get a little insight into the cipher sitting before them (that would be you), and force you to do all the talking, for at least a couple of minutes.

- If you are prepared, you know this can be your golden opportunity to provide an answer that demonstrates four of the traits every interviewer is desperately searching for: intelligence, enthusiasm, confidence, and dependability.


Remember: NEVER memorize  the answer word for word. It’s important to remember that the interviewer  is not asking you to present a perfect essay, just to talk, person  to person.



What Do They Want to Hear?

It should take you no more than 2 minutes to recite an answer that features the following information:

1- Brief introduction.

2- Focus on What Interests the Interviewer

3- Key accomplishments.

4- Key strengths demonstrated by these accomplishments.

5- Importance of these strengths and accomplishments to the prospective employer.

6- Where and how you see yourself developing in the position for which you’re applying (tempered with the right amount of self-deprecating humor and modesty).

The recommended, correct way to answer the “tell me about yourself” question is by utilizing a three-part:

Part one will consist of a one-sentence statement of your career history,Here is an example:

"I am a management consultant with 12 years’ experience gained across industries and sectors ranging from financial services and retail to petrochemicals and media."

Part two consists of a one or two sentence summary of a single career accomplishment that you are especially proud of and one that can reasonably be expected to capture the potential employer’s attention. Here is an example:

"I am responsible for business development activities and last year sold projects totalling £400,000 to clients. On a day-to- day basis, I also manage a team of up to 8 consultants and junior consultants. But more than being a good consultant, I like to think of myself as a fair and democratic person as I try hard to listen to my clients as well as my team."

Part three
It needs to be a one or two sentence summary of specifically what you want to do in your next career move AND it must be relevant to the position being sought. Here is an example:

"For the next step in my career, I would like to find myself as a direct employee of a small to medium sized firm (or large sized firm) that is looking to hire a Business Development Manager so I can continue growing my career by getting exposure to different areas of business. As the firm’s business needs grow, I would love to apply my past team project management skills to managing the members of a small, growing team.”

Put all parts together:

"I am a management consultant with 12 years’ experience gained across industries and sectors ranging from financial services and retail to petrochemicals and media. I am responsible for business development activities and last year sold projects totalling £400,000 to clients. On a day-to- day basis, I also manage a team of up to eight consultants and junior consultants. But more than being a good consultant, I like to think of myself as a fair and democratic person as I try hard to listen to my clients as well as my team, For the next step in my career, I would like to find myself as a direct employee of a small to medium sized firm that is looking to hire a Business Development Manager so I can continue growing my career by getting exposure to different areas of business. As the firm’s business needs grow, I would love to apply my past team project management skills to managing the members of a small, growing team."

Other type of questions that more aggressive and have the same target:

1- What makes you special (unique, different)?
2- What 5 adjectives describe you best?
3- Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10.
4- How would you describe your character (Personality)?
5- Why should I hire you?
6- Why should I consider you a strong candidate for this position?
7- What’s better about you than the other candidates I’m interviewing?
8- What can you do for us that someone else can’t?

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"How to Ace Any Interview"

Relax
Try to enjoy yourself. Imagine that the interviewer is a sports star, famous author, or movie celebrity you’ve always admired. (Try to overlook the middle-aged paunch or glaring bald spot.)

Keep Smiling
No, not a fake grin. Just maintain a pleasant, relaxed smile that is, hopefully, a by-product of your involvement in an interesting conversation. Put yourself in the interviewer’s place "Who wouldn’t want to work with such an agreeable person?"

Be Enthusiastic
Be enthusiastic about the position, your accomplishments, and what you know about the company.

Be Honest
Lying about even the smallest or least important details could be grounds for immediate dismissal.

Make Lots of Eye Contact
Have you ever known someone who wouldn’t look you in the eye? After a while, you probably started to wonder what that person had to hide. You don’t want your interviewer wondering anything of the sort. So meet his or her eyes while you’re shaking hands, then frequently throughout the interview. But don’t stare, unrelenting eye contact is as bad as none at all.

Remain Positive 
As we’ll see when we discuss questions about your previous jobs, you must learn to put a positive spin on everything, but especially loaded issues, such as your reason for leaving a job, troubled relations with your superiors, or the lack of required qualifications.

Don’t Let an Unskilled Interviewer Trip You Up
Make sure the preparation you’ve spent so much time on comes shining through, especially when a manager throws you a curve. If need be, your advance preparation should give you the power to take control of the interview, allowing you to emphasize the many ways in which you will benefit the prospective employer.

Turn weaknesses into strengths

Never talk for more than 2 minutes straight

Never speak badly of past supervisors or employers

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"Interview Skills"

‘‘There are just too many interviewing books and training tools available that teach people the right things to say. After a while, all their responses start sounding the same, and interviewers don’t feel like, I’m actually getting to know the real person,’’

What is an interview?

An interview is a face-to-face meeting for the purposes of consultation. In other words, it is a discussion between two or more people for one reason or another.

Employers have to make their decision based on three areas relevant to any job:
1- Your qualifications and skills – what you know and what you can do;
2- Your experience and work background – where you have been and what you have done;
3- Your personality and character – who you are and how you behave.

Types of Interview:

One-to-one: 
- Probably easier to build rapport with the interviewer
- Could be one of a series of interviews as different specialists take turns to assess you
- Likely to be quite specific and focused as the interviewer could be directly involved in your future work

Panel: 

- More challenging than one-to-one
- Could involve facing between 3 to 6 interviewers & The Director of the organization may be present together with the H.R Manager.
- Popular with large organisations

Group: 

- Consists of several applicants answering questions either individually or as part of the group
- Could be given a topic to discuss as a group
- Could be asked to make a presentation either as a group or individually

Competency based
- Increasingly used by organisations which look at key skills and qualities such as communication, problem solving and team work
- Questions based on providing examples of how you possess these skills and competencies
- Could involve detailed and persistent questioning – be prepared to be challenged

Assessment centre
- Multi-disciplinary method of assessing applicants
- Could involve up to 2 days of intensive interviewing, testing and exercises
- Could expect to experience all the above types of interview

You need to prepare for the interview, because if you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Whoever makes the best impression at the interview gets the job.

1- PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW

- You need to check the company website and look at any company literature (if there is any) to find out as much as you can about the organisation.

- A valuable tool you need to prepare is a statement about yourself so you can answer the key question which is often asked "Tell me about your self ?"

- Analysing the job "The job description": Underline the words which mention the main activities of the job,

Make notes to show how you have gained experience of all these activities

- Dress for impress: Your visual appearance is very important and you want to make the right impression. Looking good will also boost your confidence.

2- BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

- Take with you copies of any documents sent with your application (CV, Cover letter), The letter inviting you to come for interview which confirms the address and telephone number (if there was no letter, take a note of these details), Notepad and pen to make notes during the interview and record the names of people you met, Any company brochure which you will have studied before the interview.

- BE ON TIME: You will have confirmed in writing the date & time of the appointment, so they know to expect you. About 10 minutes is perfect as this gives you time to freshen up, calm yourself, perhaps with deep breathing exercises and to take the opportunity to get a ‘feel’ of the place.

- Be pleasant to the receptionist, turn off your mobile phone when you arrive.

3- DURING THE INTERVIEW

- The interview is designed to find out whether you are the best person to do the job. this is the time that show your skills, abilities , activities and experience that match to the job description to the interviewer.
- Some important tips for you in any interview:

1-Give a firm but gentle handshake when you meet your interviewer2- Sit when invited to do so3- Make direct eye contact 4- Remember to smile. 

From the moment you meet, your communication with the interviewer forms part of the decision-making as to whether to recruit you; in fact most decisions are made within the first three minutes!
So, you need to be aware of both your verbal and non-verbal communication skills

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Verbal communication- Show genuine interest in the position
- Listen and answer the questions asked
- Never argue a point
- If you do not understand or hear a question, ask for it to be repeated
- Do not interrupt
- Appear at ease with other people
- Initiate conversation 

Non-verbal communicationAppearance and mannerisms are VERY important – think of body language and facial expressions
- Put anything you are carrying on the floor
- Rest your hands in your lap
- Nod your head to show you are listening
- Do not fidget
- Be serious but do not forget to smile

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DEALING WITH CORE QUESTIONS:

- Employers are looking for someone to do the job well, not for problem people. Your role is to persuade them that you are the answer to their problem, so it is important to: Look enthusiastic, Emphasise your strengths and achievements, Play down your weaknesses, Smile now and then.
- Always listen carefully to the questions to avoid misunderstandings.
- Questions about your interests are designed to find out the sort of person you are:
Active or passive (player or observer) - Active in solo or team activities - An outdoor type - Mechanically minded - Intellectual.
- Interviewers will be taking notes or marking you evaluating you on all or any of the following:
Appearance - Ability to express yourself - Achievements and experience - Education and training - Work history - Performance in present job – Aptitudes – Personality.

- For first jobbers:

1- Tell me about your school/college.
2- Did you have a good attendance record? 3- Which subjects do you feel you could have passed, given the opportunity? 4- Did you do as well in A levels as you expected? 5- Why did you decide to do business studies for BTEC?
6- What special projects did you undertake at school? 7- Did you consider applying for Youth Training? 8- What do you really want to do in life? 9- Do you see your hobbies/interests/sport as separate from work or connected with it?
10- What was involved in your Saturday job with Safeway? 11- Do you live with your parents? 12- Do you have any brothers or sisters? 13- Are they older or younger than you? 14- Do your parents work? What do they do? 15- Are you ambitious? 16- Do you plan to continue your education later on? 17- Have you considered a vocational course?

- Graduates

1- Why did you choose your degree subject? 
2- Why did you prefer Reading when you had an offer from Cambridge? 
3- What aspects of your course are most relevant to this job? 
4- What experience did you gain from your vacation work or course? 
5- Were you prominent in any university activity or society? Which? 
- Some employers see politically committed candidates as potential troublemakers. Too much interest in sport may be interpreted as a lack of dedication to the job, but on the positive side, builds leadership and teamwork skills. Always emphasize the positive aspects. 
6- Which of your existing skills do you think will be useful if you come to work for us? 
7- Why have you applied to this company? 
- Here is your chance to praise the company and demonstrate what you have learned about it: it seems to be the best, the leader, most reputable, expanding, a good employer, offer outstanding research facilities, etc. 
8- What do you know about this industry/profession? 
9- What do you want to be doing in five years’ time? 
- You should have achieved appropriate professional qualifications, deserving of promotion, as well as considerable experience. You look for advancement in your chosen career. 
10- Tell me about yourself. 
- Have a short presentation already prepared which you can memorise, so it comes across as spontaneous. Emphasise your sound education, skills, and how they integrate with your leisure activities and career aspirations. 
11- What are your strengths? 
12- What are your weaknesses? 
- Turn past weaknesses into present strengths. ‘I used to...but I realised that...and so I...." 
13- Describe a tricky situation where, with hindsight, you should have acted differently. 
- Have a story ready. If you admit to a mistake, follow this by showing how you remedied it, and present the incident as a learning opportunity from which you have benefited. 
14- Describe a difficult situation which you consider you handled well. 
15- What are your greatest achievements? 

- Job changers:
1- Why do you wish to leave your present job?
2- What exactly do you do?
3- What have you achieved in this job?
4- What have you learned from this job?
5- Why have you stayed so long in each job?
6- Why have you changed jobs so often?
7- What was your attendance record in your last job?
8- Did you get promoted in your last job?
9- Why did you leave your last job?
10- Are you computer literate?
11- Do you write your own letters/reports/agreements/ press releases?
12- Can you handle figures? Prepare budgets? Work out commission?
13- What training have you had since starting work?
14- Did you ever disagree with your manager?
15- How did you resolve the disagreement?
16- What was the worst situation you faced?
17- How did you deal with it?
18- What has been your greatest achievement at work so far?
19- What do you dislike doing most at work?

- Career Movers:

1- Why are you planning to leave your organisation? Is there no scope for promotion? 2- What has been your experience of managing staff? 3- How do you react to working under pressure? 4- Are you able to undertake travel abroad at short notice? 5- What size budgets are you used to handling? 6- What control did you have over your department’s expenditure? 7- Did you engage your own staff? 8- What motivates you? - They want to know how important status, power, money and achievements are to you. 9- Are you good at motivating others? 10- What have you achieved in your present job?

At The End of The Interview:

- Having told you about the job, outlined the terms and conditions, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions.
- You may have no questions at all, so instead of a bald ‘No’ which may sound like lack of interest, say that the information already provided covers everything you can think of at present.
If you can manage a question or two, it looks better, and shows you have been taking notice.
- Select questions with care. If yours all centre on salary, perks and holidays, it looks as though they are all you care about. The employer wants someone dedicated to the job in the first instance, not to the benefits. These questions can be raised once you have an offer if the interviewer has not dealt with them.
Questions everyone should feel free to ask: 1- When can I expect to hear from you again?
2- How soon do you expect to make a decision?
3- When would I be expected to start, in the event of an offer?
4- I have two weeks’ holiday arranged in September. Would this be any problem?
5- Is there a probationary period before a job is firm?
6- Would any offer be subject to satisfactory references? To any other condition?
- If a whole new employment area is being opened up, you can ask about training, but training questions are best avoided if you have presented yourself as skilled and experienced in the particular field. Anyone recruited as a trainee will have a programme prepared for them. If relocation is on the cards, you could raise the issue:
1- There are rumours of relocation following the takeover. Have they any foundation?
2-Will the company have a relocation package to assist with the move? — This should come up when a job offer is made.
3- Does the company expect to expand in this country or abroad?
4- Could you tell me a little about what personal development you support for your employees?

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- The most common reasons for failure at interview:1. Arriving at the interview unprepared for what is to follow.2. Having a bad appearance or negative attitude to the interview.3. Not showing any enthusiasm for the work.4. Not seeming to understand the requirements of the job properly.5. Not answering the questions fully and giving answers that are too short.6. Not being clear about their skills and abilities.7. Seeming overly concerned with what they can get from the job rather than conveying exactly what they are offering.8. Using pretentious language instead of normal speech.

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"Some Useful Links"

Web sites will help you match your personality and interests to a good career:

1. The Career Key 
2. Holland Codes Self-Directed Search 
3. Keirsey Temperament Sorter 
4. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 
5. O*NET Online: Skills Search 
6. PersonalityType.com

Helpful Web sites About Values and Ethics:

1. The Character Education Partnership
2. Ethics Resource Center 
3. Ethics Updates
4. Leader Values
5. Legal ethics
6. Poynter Online 

Internships 

1. About.com:Finding an Internship 
2. University of Dreams 
3. CooperativeEducation and Internship Association
4. Wet Feet

Cover Letters

1. CareerLab: Cover Letters 
2. CareerOneStop:Resumes and Interviews 
3. JobStarCentral: About Cover Letters 
4. MonsterCareer Advice: Resume & Letters
5. QuintessentialCareers: Cover Letter Resources for Job-Seekers 
6. TheRiley Guide: Resumes & Cover Letters

Body Language

1. Answers.com:Body Language
2. QuintCareers.com:Situational Interview Practice Questions

Time managment

1. Free Management Library: Time Management
2. MindTools.com: Time Management

Salary

1. Glassdoor.com
2. Salary.com

Miscellaneous

1. First 30 Days: How to Handle a New Boss
2. SeekingSuccess.com: Getting Along with YourBoss
3. Career Portfolio: Harrington Center for CareerDevelopment and Community Service
4. AssociationJob Boards
5. Weddle’sAssociation Directory

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“Looking for a job where you can find yourself”

After years of hard work in college and you’re about to graduate and enter the workforce. Your life is changing, and going to be exciting. You’ll control your own destiny by choosing a career path, learning new skills, and becoming a productive member of society. It’s time to take all of that education you received and find a career (not “job”).

A job is simply something you go to every day so you can pay your rent and cable TV bill while a career is a rewarding occupation that offers the potential for advancement and higher earnings if you do a good job.

It is okay if you don’t know what you want to do with your life yet. The important thing is to begin identifying your type of personality and your interests and match them with a career.Values and ethics are extremely important when searching for a job. It is key that you match your moral code with appropriate employers.

Matching your personality, interests, and skills with a career

“ People with introverted and quiet personalities may have a hard time working in jobs such as sales which require a lot of public speaking and interaction with different types of people, while those with outgoing personalities would probably thrive in such careers. Finding a job that suits your personality will make it easier to succeed in your career.”

Match with your values

“ If you work for a company that does not meet your moral and ethical standards, you will be unhappy and less productive. Values are the things and principles that are most important to you. They involve our feelings, ideas, and beliefs and Ethics are a system of morals, a code of unwritten rules that guide how we act toward others. Strong ethics consist of fair, honest treatment of others.”

"I won’t be able to get a job because I don’t have any job experience"

Recent graduates may worry that they don’t have enough experience to list on their resumes. But it is very important for any recent graduate to know that "experience is not limited to paid employment.” It advises job seekers to include on their resume any activities or accomplishments that demonstrate their skills and abilities like 

1. Internships
2. Part time employment
3. Work study
4. Study in a foreign country
5. Undergraduate research
6. Student activities
7. Community service/volunteer work
8. Athletics or club sports
9. Student newspaper or radio
10. Student government
11. Resident assistants
12. Admissions ambassadors
13. Tutoring
14. Theater
15. Honor societies

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WHAT ARE INTERNSHIPS?

Internships provide short-term, practical experience for students, recent graduates, and people changing careers and last from 10 weeks to 12 months and are designed mainly for college students (although some are open to high school students and career changers). Internships provide you with an excellent way to try out a career, learn valuable job and soft skills, and build a network of contacts in your industry.

Best Places to Find Internships are On-campus recruiting events, job fairs, campus career centers, and via assistance from college faculty.

Not every internship, unfortunately, provides interns with a good learning opportunity. Some companies simply use interns to perform grunt work and never give them a chance to learn new skills. Overall, the entire process will go more smoothly if you participate in a formal, supervised internship.

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There are many tools and resources available to help you find a job, including college career services offices, on-campus recruiting, internships, volunteer opportunities, newspaper classifieds, Internet job-search sites, employment placement offices, company Web sites, job fairs, professional associations, networking, and the hidden job market. Be sure to use all in your job search.

there are two new tools used in job search are 1- NETWORKING & 2- HIDDEN JOB MARKET

What is meant by NETWORKING?

1. Networking is simply the process of building quality relationships that help you obtain job leads. 
2. There are many places to network, including formal settings (professional association meetings, career fairs, and in your office) and informal situations (talking with your friends, family, and neighbors; participating in social clubs, religious groups, volunteer activities, and internships; and joining online social networking groups and posting messages in chat rooms or discussion groups)

Some important advises for you when you are in network events:

1. Define your goals
2. Wear your best outfit "Dress To Impress"
3. Be enthusiastic
4. Observe people who network effectively, and learn from their examples
5. Follow through after the event with individuals whom you have met
6. DON'T ask for a job outright because it may turn off recruiters
7. DON'T spend the entire time linked to a friend you attended the event with
8. Speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard & demonstrate good body language

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E-Networking

- Social Networking Sites: Here are the Web addresses for some popular social networking sites used by job seekers:
LinkedIn – Facebook - Networking for Professionals - Ryze: Business Networking 
- Web Forums and Chat Rooms

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Whats is meant by HIDDEN JOB MARKET?

These include cold calling/emailing, information interviewing, volunteering, company Web site searches, job-hunting business cards, broadcast cover letters, and analyzing industry trends and employment projections.

1- Cold Calling/Emailing

Involve contacting companies that have not placed a job advertisement to see if they are hiring.

2- Volunteering

By volunteering, perhaps during summer break, you’ll get the opportunity to experience firsthand how a company works and find about the various career paths that are available.

3- Company Web Site Searches

Nearly every company has at least some type of presence on the Web today. These sites can provide you with valuable information, including the types of services or products companies offer, names of key managers and other employees, and, most importantly, job openings that may not be posted on major job-search sites such as Monster or Yahoo Careers.

4- Broadcast Cover Letters

To write a successful broadcast cover letter, you need to have good analytical skills and powers of persuasion. You need to learn as much as possible about the company (through its Web site, industry publications, etc.) and identify areas or sectors where a person of your skills and background may be needed.

NOTE:

- People often make a critical mistake during the job search process: they send resumes to large companies (such as Dell, Coca-Cola), thinking that because these companies are so big, they must have jobs available. What job applicants don’t realize is that many other people have the same idea, and these companies are inundated with resumes.

- This issue is compounded by the fact that many companies may be in the process of downsizing or may be experiencing poor sales due to changes in technology, overseas competition, or other factors. When hiring managers receive piles of resumes during a time of downsizing or a poor business cycle, they often come to the conclusion that the applicants haven’t done their research about the company or simply want a job whether they are qualified or not.

- Do you think the majority of these people will be hired? The answer is no because they have not conducted research about the company or are indifferent to market conditions that will influence hiring. To avoid making this mistake, you need to conduct research to learn which companies and industries are most likely to be hiring and which are not. You should also remember that many large companies (such as Microsoft) started out in somebody’s basement or garage. It’s a better idea to try to find unlisted jobs at small- to mid-sized companies that are successful and growing, rather than applying for positions at large companies that are shedding jobs.

FINALLY, If you have found the job that suits you and make an interview and get hired. There are new tasks to learn, office politics to navigate, and the challenge of building a good relationship with your boss.
On your first day, you will make impressions that will be hard to shed no matter what you do thereafter. And if you fail to fit into your company’s culture, you may even lose your job. That’s why it’s key to ace this first workplace test.

Some important advice for your FIRST DAY and beyond:

1- Get to Work On Time. 

You want to send a message to your boss that you are motivated and dependable.

2- Introduce Yourself to Your Coworkers. 

It’s important to begin building positive relationships with your coworkers as soon as possible. This will help you to avoid miscommunications, become a member of an effective team.
3- Learn your coworkers’ names and job functions as quickly as possible.
4- Be Positive. 

Smile, speak in an upbeat voice, and use good body language.
5- Work Hard. 

You will get a good reputation as someone with a can-do spirit
6- Be a Good Listener and Learner.
7- Ask Questions to boss or coworkers for clarification 

(There is no such thing as a dumb question).
8- Pay close attention to everything in your workplace 

(office politics, to the protocol for standard tasks, to the unwritten rules)
9- Dress to impress

10- Develop Your Soft Skills. 

The most in-demand soft skills are: Organization - Verbal communication - Teamwork and collaboration - Problem solving - Tact and diplomacy - Business writing - Analytical

11- Learn the Unwritten Rules

12- Get Along With Your Boss

• Know your boss’s likes and dislikes
• Solve your boss’s problems
• Avoid making unreasonable requests
• Develop a good reputation in the office
• Always keep your boss up to date on the status of projects
• Never embarrass your boss 

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