Interviewing

Tips from the Pros

Sep

Job Interview First Impressions

Are first impressions really that important? The answer is… YES!

When the decision comes to hire a new employee, the candidates that are chosen almost always will share similar educational backgrounds, skills and experience. Because of this, it can be the small things that make the difference between getting the job or not. A lousy handshake or dirty shoes can be all it takes to lose out on getting the job.

Top tips to make sure that your first impression counts!

Dressing appropriately

A person who looks professional portrays the image of being professional. A person who looks sloppy portrays an image of being sloppy. If two people walk into an office and candidate one is perfectly dressed with clean shoes a shirt tucked in and brushed hair, and candidate 2 walks in looking like they just woke up, it goes without saying which candidate will more likely get the job. Before even discussing their skills, the hiring manager’s first impression about professionalism has already been made.

Hygiene

As a hiring manager, I can tell you there is nothing more off putting than interviewing a candidate with bad hygiene. No matter what job you are applying for, bad breath or lack of hygiene is not going to help you to get ahead. There is a fine balance between wearing the right amount of perfume/aftershave or too much. If the interviewer can smell your perfume from across the table you are probably wearing too much!

Addressing the interviewer properly

Showing respect toward the interviewer is paramount. Remember the interviewer is not your best friend who you have known for many years. Using slang or shortening their name (“Wassup Dave”) is not the correct way to make a good first impression.

Listening

A great mistake you can make in the interview is to speak too much and not answer questions. Interviewing is a 2-way process. Not only do you need to directly answer the interview questions, but you need to listen to what the interviewer is saying. Unless it is a direct yes or no answer, always provide examples and evidence to support what you are saying. Make sure you leave the interviewer with no doubts that you are the right person for the job.

Handshake and Smile

When you walk into the interview, a solid handshake and smile will go a long way to building rapport with the interviewer and will also leave a positive memory in their minds after the interview has finished. Typically the person who is interviewing you will often be your boss, and therefore they will want to know that not only do you have the skills required to do the job, but that they are going to want to work with you on a daily basis.

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Tags: first impressions, how to interview, interview questions, interview secrets, interview tips, interviewing, job interview, job interview tips, job interviewing, professional resume, resume writing, sample job interview

Aug

Starting to Prepare For The Dreaded Job Interview

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Rule number 1: Research:

Congratulations! You have been invited for the interview. Now what do you do?

The first step is beginning to research the company. Once you have done this you will be ready to prep for the interview questions, learn how to improve your interviewing skills and begin to think about what you’re going to wear to the interview.

In order to succeed in the interview you need to do your homework on the company. There is no set of rules to how to do your research but preparing yourself as much as possible will greatly enhance your chances of getting hired.

Make sure you use every available resource to help you with your preparation. By doing a basic Google on the company you can easily learn important facts about the company. Publically listed companies are easier to prepare your background research than privately listed companies as public companies are legally required to make certain information available. In the 21st century the Internet has made a lot of the pre interview research more available and easier to find. Don’t forget that you can also use other sources of information like public libraries or bookstores. Many magazines and journals can provide important and up to date information on your company and also provide you with information that your competitors who are also applying for the same job won’t know.

A true story…

A candidate of mine was applying for a job at one of the large investment banks. Out of 150 candidates the hiring manager had selected the top 10 best resumes to perform first round interviews. Every interview was 15-20 minutes long. The final question the hiring manager asked to each of the candidates was “Tell me something about the company.” Nine out of ten of the candidates rattled off information they had read from the company’s “about us page”, but one candidate stood out. After reading about the company’s strategic purchase of a new acquisition, the candidate was able to impress the hiring manager with his (somewhat different) knowledge.

The hiring manager later offered this candidate the role not because he was the smartest candidate, but because he showed his dedication by going the extra step in his interview preparation.

Your research for the job interview preparation should give you a better insight on:

The history of the business

How old the business is

The types of services the business offers

The hierarchy structure

How many offices/locations the business has

Number of employees

Career progression

The business culture

Competitors

Benefits

Check out the Competitors websites as well – they are also a good source of information for your job preparation.

During the last decade, RedStarResume has successfully written hundreds of professional resumes for candidates across the globe. From the student or entry level position to the CEO, our unique, custom-made resumes are written specifically to match the goals and desires of our clients and to help them land jobs.

Tags: free interview questions, interview questions, interview sample, interview secrets, interview tips, job hunt, job interview, job interview questions, job interviewing, job interviews, job search, need a job, prepare for interview, professional resume writer, sample job interview, successful job interview, telephone interview, writing a resume

Aug

How To Answer Behavioural Job Interview Questions

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Interview questions are typically divided into three main categories: Traditional interview questions, Behavioural Questions (competency-based interview) and Situational questions (hypothetical questions).

Behaviour Job Interview Questions:

“Past behaviour is a better predictor of future behaviour”

It is estimated that 80% of the interview is made up of behavioural questions. In order to understand how to answer behaviour questions we need to first define what a behavioural question is.

This type of interviewing is based on the philosophy that your past actions and behaviours will be a good indicator of your future behaviours. Therefore, how you acted to certain circumstances in your previous job is a reliable indicator of how you will act in your new job. As there are literally thousands of behaviour type questions, you can best prepare for this type of questioning by researching the culture of the company to get an understanding of the behavioural traits that are essential to working at that particular organisation.

Behavioural questions differ to standard interview questions as they focus more on experiences, behaviours, knowledge, skills and abilities. Rather than the standard question of “Do you have leadership skills” a behavioural question is more likely to be “Give me an example of your previous role when you displayed leadership abilities.” As the interviewer has already determined which skills are necessary for the role it is important that you are prepared for these questions.

The best way to begin studying for these questions is to look at the job description! The list of skills that they require are the skills they will more than likely focus on. When the job description mentions they require a person with good teamwork skills or negotiation skills, it is more than likely that this will be turned into a behavioural question to see if you really do possess these skills.

In good news, behavioural questions are not to be feared. When prepared properly, these questions can be easily answered.

How To Answer Behaviour Job Interview Questions:

The best way to answer a behavioural question is to use the STAR format.

Situation: The interviewer wants you to present a recent challenge and situation in which you found yourself.

Task: What did you have to achieve? The interviewer will be looking to see what you were trying to achieve from the situation.

Action: What did you do? The interviewer will be looking for information on what you did, why you did it and what were the alternatives.

Results: What were the outcomes of your actions? What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your objectives. What did you learn from this experience and have you used this learning since?

The Star Model:

Tags: behavior interview, behavioral interview questions, behavoural interview, interview, interview questions, interview tips, job interview examples, job interview questions, sample interview, sample interview questions

Jun

Questions to ask in the Job Interview

By RedStarResume No comments yet

How to nail your job interview

As a job candidate what is the best question to ask in an interview? At some point in the interview (typically at the end) the hiring manager will turn to you and ask “Do you have any questions which you would like to ask me?”

There are two main benefits in asking the right questions. Firstly don’t forget the number one rule from chapter one. The interview is a two way process and you need to ensure that this organization is the right fit for you. If you are uncertain about certain aspects of the role or need greater clarification, than this is the time to ask those questions. Don’t be shy or intimidated. Secondly by asking clever questions will not just help you in deciding if this job is right for you but will impress the interviewer and leave a positive image as someone who comprehensive and professional.

What you need to do:

Prioritize your questions based on the interview situation – Is this the first interview or the second interview?
The best questions you can ask are open ended questions
Have 3-5 questions prepared (The more the better)
Only ask questions that you are interested in knowing the answer!
Only ask questions that are relevant to the job, department, management and organization

Sample 15 Job Interview Questions to ask:

How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured?
Do you provide any sort of professional development or training?
How do you measure performance and how often is it reviewed?
Who was in this job before and why did they leave?
Is this a new position? How long has this position existed?
Could you explain your organizational structure?
How many people work in this office/department?
How much travel is expected?
What’s the makeup of the team as far as experience?
With whom will I be working most closely?
Why do you enjoy working for this company?
How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured?
Can you describe the company’s management style?
What would be the goals of the department in the coming year?
What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within the organization?

Types of Job Interview Questions NOT to ask:

Salary and benefits
Questions that are clearly stated on the website
Generic / Obvious questions
Questions that the interviewer is unable to answer. Do not try to “outsmart the interviewer” Asking questions that appear to be challenging the interviewer or a question that the interviewer is unlikely to know will only create a negative vibe between you and the interviewer. Remember you are trying to build rapport with the interviewer not challenge the interviewer.
Questions that are irrelevant to the job or organization

Sample 15 Job Interview Questions NOT to ask:

How many sick days and holiday days do I get?
Do I still get paid for a sick day?
If I start next week how long until I will get a pay rise?
How long is the lunch break?
What is it that your company does?
Are the working hours flexible?
Am I able to have my own office?
Who are the “coolest” people on my team?
How many warnings do you get before you are fired?
Are there many coffee shops close by?
How financially sound is this company?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Will I be given an employee handbook?
What is the company policy on internet use?
Can I use Facebook?

RedStarResume the number 1 choice for resume and CV writing services. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, we will be right by your side the entire journey until you have secured your brand new job.

The journey to finding your dream job starts with a brand new professional resume

Tags: cv writing, expert resume, expert resume writing, interview questions, interviewing, job interview, professional resume writing, resume writing, resume writing service

May

Are you prepared to answer all the tough Job Interview Questions?

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Unless you are born extremely rich and plan on spending the rest of your life lying on your own private island or you have a family business you can move into, chances are at some stage in your life you are going to have sit face to face with a hiring manager in a job interview.

The interview is your time to shine. Don’t be intimidated because you don’t think you have all the skills that are wanted in the job specification. Most businesses will teach you as you go, so lacking a certain skill will not mean you can’t get the job. If you do lack certain skills or experience, you need to work twice as hard in your interview to portray the skills that you have and can bring to the job. It is a myth to think that the most skilled person will get the job. When it comes to hiring the right person, it is about the overall package – skills, personality, confidence and also the passion you show in your interview.

The brand new Ebook from RedStarResume – “Interview Secrets Exposed” will teach you everything you need to know to easily prepare yourself for your next important job interview and most importantly be able to nail the job interview. Rather than going into the interview feeling nervous and unprepared, you can stand out from the competition and force the hiring manager to take notice. This simple, powerful formula guarantees you will be prepared for any question that comes your way.

Learn everything you need to know to prepare yourself for the interview including

Researching and preparation
How to answer Ice Breaking Questions
The most frequently asked interview questions and answers
Open Ended and Closed Ended Questions
General “Standard” Interview Questions
Behavioural questions and examples
50 most asked Behavioural Interview Questions
Situational Questions
What to wear to the job interview
Asking the interviewer questions
Dressing for the Interview
Top 10 Job Interview Blunders
How to Answer Illegal Interview Questions

Plus: Bonus material “how to nail the Telephone Interview” and “following up after the Interview”

Job Interviewing does not have to be a scary experience! Research, Prepare and Practice and you are already another step closer to landing your next job.

IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD –

INSTANT ACCESS!

Time for an Interview?

Interview Secrets Exposed

Interview Questions Interview Samples Interview Tips and Advice

May

Job Interview Secrets Exposed

By RedStarResume No comments yet

The Brand new EBook from RedStarResume “Interview Secrets Exposed” is an insider’s guide on everything you need to know in order to nail your job interview.

Follow our steps and make sure that you are well prepared to answer every possible interview question when the opportunity presents itself. This E-book is a compilation of many months of research and discussions with hiring managers and career experts in recruitment, career counselling and interviews.

Time for an Interview?

Interview Secrets Exposed

Interview Questions Interview Samples Interview Tips and Advice

The interview is your time to shine. Don’t be intimidated because you don’t think you have all the skills that are wanted in the job specification. Most businesses will teach you as you go, so lacking a certain skill will not mean you can’t get the job. If you do lack certain skills or experience, you need to work twice as hard in your interview to portray what you do have that you can bring this job. It is a myth to think that the most skilled person will get the job. When it comes to hiring the right person, it is about the overall package – skills, personality, confidence and also the passion you show in your interview.

Did you Know – In less than 30 minutes you can have all the answers you need to quickly and easily prepare yourself for your next important job interview. Rather than going into the interview feeling nervous and unprepared, you can stand out from the competition and force the hiring manager to take notice. This simple, powerful formula guarantees you will be prepared for any question that comes your way.

What you will find in this EBook:

•Everything you need to do to prepare yourself for the interview
•How to answer Ice Breaking Questions
•The most frequently asked interview questions and answers
•Behavioural questions and examples
•50 most asked Behavioural Interview Questions
•What to wear to the job interview

•Plus: Bonus material “how to nail the Telephone Interview” and Following Up After the Interview

IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD –

INSTANT ACCESS!

Tags: behavioral interview questions, cv writing, free interview questions, interview question, interview questions, interview secrets, interview secrets exposed, interview tips, interviewing, job interview, job interviewing, job interviews, nail your job interview, resume writing

May

Position Ignition Tips to Finding Courage For Your Career Change

By RedStarResume No comments yet

By Nisa Chitakasem, Co-founder Career Change Specialist Position Ignition Ltd

Creating an ending and making a shift isn’t always easy. Why? We’re used to the routine we have and the way things are. Change is scary, it’s unknown, it’s different and we have no guarantees of success. We can remain in one place due to fear of change. It requires us to take a leap of faith before we can reach a different destination and way of being. A career change is significant but it can also be life changing in a great way. Here are some key tips on overcoming your fear:

1. Acknowledgement

The first thing to do is to acknowledge your inner fear instead of ignoring it. This is the first step to dealing with it. There’s no shame in admitting that we’re scared, however old and ‘battle-worn’ we are.

2. Gain Clarity

We know that the next step is about being clear and that you’ve decided to end your old life. You need to be totally clear about what you want to do next. Otherwise the leap feels like a very huge one. It’s a leap of faith and a jump into the darkness if you aren’t clear about where you are going. However, when you have that clarity you will have reached the point at which the courage to take the leap doesn’t seem like a big step at all. It becomes a more obvious step. Something you want to do. Something you have to do. For many, it is when and how people recognise they’re in the wrong place in their life and in their work.

3. Understand that Mistakes are Normal

Even if you make mistakes, or don’t do something in the job application process that you should have, it’s not the end of the world. Learn from mistakes and remember that you’re still evolving as a human, never mind as a job seeker, whatever your age. If you’re frightened of moving forward, you’ll never move forward!

4. Forget about Other People

Perhaps you’re scared of what others will think of you if you change careers ‘at your age’. Do what’s right for you instead of being put off by what you imagine people’s opinions to be. It’s unlikely that anyone will think a mid-life career change is strange, given the increasing fluidity of today’s labour market.

We know such a small minority of people who are clear about what they want to do early in their life. For those of us in the majority, it’s hard work to get to that point. Some people never get there. Funnily enough, when you do get clear, courage doesn’t come into it because you feel energised and your intention is so clear, it doesn’t feel courageous at all. It’s natural and it’s the right thing to do. Explore, experiment, get clear and then when you are ready take that jump and make that shift into new ground – the right new ground for you.

Author: Nisa Chitakasem is the co-founder of career consulting firm www.positionignition.com. He specialises in supporting individuals through key career transitions including making a career change, finding a fulfilling role and shaping personal life and career plans.

Time for an Interview?

Interview Secrets Exposed

Interview Questions Interview Samples Interview Tips and Advice

Tags: interview questions, interview sample, interview samples, interview success, Interview Tips and Advice, interviewing questions, interviewing success, interviews, job interview, job interviewing, job interviews, sample interview questions, student interviews, telephone interview

May

How do we know what questions are going to be asked in the job interview?

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Have you ever sat in a job interview and been sweating uncontrollably as you stumble through the interview questions? Have you found yourself shaking hands with the hiring manager on the way out of the job interview and thinking to yourself how you just completely messed up the entire interview? Of course you have. Who hasn’t!

Why does this happen? Do you remember back in school or university before an exam you would study hard to make sure you were well prepared and ready to answer any question that could come your way. When you buy an expensive item such as a car or house you don’t just wake up one day and go to the dealership and purchase a car. You do your research. You study and become knowledgeable on the subject. Only once you have done your research and preparation do you get ready to make your purchase.

The same is true for your job interview. How many times have you walked into a job interview having done 5-10 minutes of preparation? Let me guess you scrolled through the company’s website and re-read the job description a couple of times.

Finding your dream job is no game. We spend on average 40 hours a week in the office. Over the course of a single year that is 2080 hours per year. (Minus vacation, holiday time and few more “personal days”) When an opportunity arises to seek new employment and you are invited to the job interview you have one opportunity to shine and stand out above the other job competitors who are all vying for that one vacant position. You need to ensure that you are 100% prepared for the interview and have answers ready for every question that may come your way. To quote William Wallace in Braveheart – you have “just one chance”

So how do we know what questions are going to be asked in the interview?

The answer is we don’t. There are thousands of different interview questions that may be asked. However, by planning for the interview we can be in a situation where we already have our answers ready for any type of question that a hiring manger may ask.

Here is my tip: The key to interviewing success is simply preparing a mental outline to follow when responding to each question. When you are sitting at home preparing for the interview, write a list of achievements, stories and examples that illustrate how you solved a particular problem or how you performed in an outstanding way. That way rather than going to the interview and thinking of your answers on the spot you will already have your mental list of answers ready to go.

Here is a very basic example to prove my point.

“In my previous job I was promoted to manager after 6 months because of my hard work and dedication on a particular project ….”

With this example in mind I am ready to answer any interview question that is related to my success and I have a story to emphasise my point.

Every person brings unique characteristics and value added skills to a job and as the interviewee; you need to be ready to demonstrate all the great qualities and achievements in order to succeed in your job interview.

Check out Interview Secrets Exposed

Interview Questions Interview Samples Interview Tips and Advice

Apr

Standing out in your Job Interview

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Interview Secrets Exposed

A true story…

A candidate was applying for a job at one of the large investment banks.

Out of 150 candidates the hiring manager had selected the top 10 best resumes to perform first round interviews. Every interview was 15-20 minutes long. The final question the hiring manager asked to each of the candidates was

“Tell me something about the company.”

Nine out of ten of the candidates rattled off information they had read from the company’s “about us page”, but one candidate stood out. After reading about the company’s strategic purchase of a new acquisition, the candidate was able to impress the hiring manager with his (somewhat different) knowledge.

The hiring manager later offered this candidate the role not because he was the smartest candidate, but because he showed his dedication by going the extra step in his interview preparation.

Check out Interview Secrets Exposed

Interview Questions Interview Samples Interview Tips and Advice

Tags: cv writing, free interview questions, interview help, interview questions, interview samples, interviewer questions, interviews, job interview, job interview questions, job interviews, job questions, job search, resume, resume writing, resume writing service, telephone interview

Apr

Job Interview Questions

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Imagine going to your interview today and starting your new job tomorrow …. You Can

The Brand new Ebook from RedStarResume “Interview Secrets Exposed” is an insiders guide on everything you need to know in order to nail your job interview.

The purchase of this E-book is your first step in ensuring that you get the job! Interviewing is all about research, confidence and creating a good rapport. The hiring manager needs to know that you are capable of performing the tasks of the job and also that you will be a good addition to the team. The interview is your time to shine. Don’t be intimidated because you don’t think you have all the skills that are wanted in the job specification. Most businesses will teach you as you go, so lacking a certain skill will not mean you can’t get the job. If you do lack certain skills or experience, you need to work twice as hard in your interview to portray what you do have that you can bring this job. It is a myth to think that the most skilled person will get the job. When it comes to hiring the right person, it is about the overall package – skills, personality, confidence and also the passion you show in your interview.

Did you Know – In less than 30 minutes you can have all the answers you need to quicklu and easily prepare yourself for your next important job interview. Rather than going into the interview feeling nervous and unprepared, you can stand out from the competition and force the hiring manager to take notice. This simple, powerful formula guarantees you will be prepared for any question that comes your way.

Check out Interview Secrets Exposed

Interview Questions Interview Samples Interview Tips and Advice

Interviewing

Tips from the Pros

Job Interview First Impressions

Starting to Prepare For The Dreaded Job Interview

How To Answer Behavioural Job Interview Questions

Questions to ask in the Job Interview

Are you prepared to answer all the tough Job Interview Questions?

Job Interview Secrets Exposed

Position Ignition Tips to Finding Courage For Your Career Change

How do we know what questions are going to be asked in the job interview?

Standing out in your Job Interview

Job Interview Questions

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