Types of interview questions

Types of interview questions by Amber Rolfe Interview questions come in all shapes and sizes… Preparing for an interview can be a difficult task. Why? Because coming up with answers to all the possible questions you could be asked is easier said than done. But almost every interview question can be categorised â€" making it much easier to figure out why an employer is asking it, and how you should formulate your answer.We’ve already covered the types of interviews you might have, but here are five of the most common types of interview questions (and our top tips on how to answer them):  Classic interview questions What are they? Classic interview questions form the basis of almost every other interview question. Whilst they come in all shapes and sizes, they’re generally asked to put the ball in your court. In other words, the interviewer is saying they want you to do the talking. So nope, one word answers won’t cut it here.When are they asked? Classic interview questions are likely to come up in almost every interview â€" making them the most common across all fields and interview types.How to answer them: Answering a classic interview question well comes down to your ability to talk about how your skills, experience, and personality match up with what the employer is looking for. Many also require you to talk about certain aspects of your CV in more detail â€" so take this as the perfect opportunity to prove you’re a good fit.The worst thing you can do: Tell your entire life story, complete with why you stopped believing in Santa at age 6.Examples: Tell me about yourselfWhat are your weaknesses?Why is there a gap in your work history?Why did you apply for this position?Common interview questions and answers  Career goal questionsWhat are they? Career goal questions are asked to let employers know where you are in your professional life, and what your future plans are. Your answers will tell them whether you’re a good fit long-term, or if their role is simply a steppin g stone to something else (and/or a second choice).When are they asked? Career goal questions are likely to be asked in a number of circumstances, but are mostly commonly aimed at recent graduates, career changers or serial job hoppers.How to answer them: Preparation is key. Aside from creating a clear picture of your professional outlook (see: a career plan), you also need to make sure your future aligns with theirs. This means doing your company research â€" not only to understand what they’re looking for right now, but also what they’ll need to have further down the line.The worst thing you can do: Tell them you want to be doing their job (or similar, cliché answer).Examples:Why do you want to work at this company?Where do you want to be in five years’ time?What’s your dream job?What motivates you?Five career goal questions, and how to answer them  Character questions What are they? Character questions are a reliable indicator of what we’re capable of achieving. After all, even the most intelligent person on earth won’t get anywhere without a solid character to match. Your answers will reveal everything an employer needs to know about your morals, integrity, values, and generally speaking â€" who you really are.When are they asked? Character questions could feature at any kind of interview, but will often be asked when the role involves team work, difficult situations (e.g. with customers or clients), and making quick, fair judgments.How to answer them: Focus on demonstrating your appreciation of values (both your own and the company’s), positive work ethic, ability to work well with others and handle tough situations. Show you can do the job, and fit in (without breaking anything), and you’ll be on the right track.The worst thing you can do: Lie.Examples: What are your core values?Who do you admire, and why?Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult personWhen were you last angry, and why?Five character questions, and the answers that will get you hired  Competency questions What are they? Competency questions (or behavioural questions) focus on finding evidence of your ability to do the job, requiring you to provide real examples of ‘times you’ve demonstrated [blank]’ or ‘how you’d react in [hypothetical situation]. Their purpose? To weed out the candidates who are all talk, and shortlist the ones who can actually back up their claims.  When are they asked? Competency questions are often asked when practical ability takes precedence over previous experience, achievements, or qualifications. Because competency can be demonstrated in any area of your life, these questions are particularly common for entry-level roles.How to answer them: Three words: Prepare. Your. Examples. Interviews can cause the best of us to draw a blank, and relying on thinking fast is unlikely to yield the best results. So before the interview, highlight the key skills in the job description. Secondly, think of an example that pr oves you have each attribute. Then, use the STAR technique to give context to your answer.The worst thing you can do: Make it up as you go along.Examples: Tell me about a time you’ve worked to/missed a deadlineTell me about a big change you’ve had to deal withTell me about a time you supported a member of your team who was strugglingGive an example of a time you’ve had to improvise to achieve your goalFive key competency questions: revealedCurveball and creativity questions What are they? These questions are designed to put you under pressure, whether it’s to throw you a curveball and see how eloquently you can dodge it, or test your ability to be creative on the spot. Although these two question types aren’t exactly the same, they have one key similarity: there’s no one right answer.When are they asked? It’s not uncommon for a curveball or creativity question to be thrown into just about any type of interview â€" but will be most prominent in roles that require a high level of ‘thinking on your feet’ and creativity. They’re also used to spot talent in group interviews.How to answer them: Remember: your answer isn’t as important as your reasoning. So instead of looking at the question literally, take a deep breath and think about why they’re asking it. It might seem irrelevant to discuss what type of biscuit you’d be â€" but since the employer’s looking for someone who can improvise on abstract subjects, that’s exactly what you should focus on doing.The worst thing you can do: Cry.Examples: If you were an animal, what would you be?Every CV has one lie in it. What’s yours?Tell me about the last good idea you hadSell me this penHow to answer curveball questionsStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions app licable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Job interview tips Preparing for an interview

UMass Amherst Resume Writing

UMass Amherst Resume WritingIf you are trying to get a job at UMass Amherst, then you will need to write a quality UMass Amherst resume. In this article, I will go over a few things that you should know when you are trying to get a job with a school of this caliber.* First and foremost, know your stuff - this goes for all job seekers, but especially the ones that go to this prestigious institution. If you want to get hired, then you must be able to show off your work ethic, your experience, and most importantly, your abilities to do the job. By having a good grasp of what you have done, you can make yourself more marketable.* Plan your cover letter well - remember, it is not just about what you put on your cover letter. You need to do a good job of explaining why you would be a good fit for the position. Make sure that your cover letter tells the person why you are the right candidate.* Good organizational skills - No matter where you go, if you know how to work things efficiently, t hen you are an asset to a school. Be prepared to be asked to report to the staff and you will be better able to be an asset to them. Also, if you feel that you are not organized, then this may be a good opportunity to start working on your organizational skills.* Discipline - do not ever give up - no matter what happens, you should always be committed to your work, and you should never let yourself be distracted. This might be a trait that are desirable in a manager, but it can also be a huge detriment.* Great References - always makes sure that you have a nice list of references. These people have a great deal to gain by recommending you to the school. Give them a call, and remember to fill out the form completely so that you do not forget to put in your contact information.* Use proper grammar - make sure that you know how to write clear, yet concise paragraphs. This will help you out when you are writing your resume.These tips are meant to help you in getting hired at any college . If you follow these, then you will be much more likely to be hired for a position, and your work will reflect that.

Hello Phone My Old Friend

Hello Phone My Old Friend It’s a funny recruitment world we live in these days. Funny, in that so many new consultants (and to be fair the managers who teach them) have grown up in a world dominated by email, and online recruitment systems. Funny, for those of us who grew up in a world of desk phones, private incoming phone lines, and fax machines. When I talk like this I feel really old, but in lots of ways, I feel sad too. It’s not nostalgia that makes me feel this way. I feel sad for the solid sales skills that are being lost, the confidence-building practices that are disappearing and the influence and persuasion skills that aren’t being learned. Gone are the niceties of speaking with people. Gone is the ability to understand, influence and sell. Gone is the opportunity to differentiate and build real relationships with clients. Gone…. Hang on a minute. That’s not true. None of these things are gone at all, they are just not being used as well, or as often. I have a really simple view on this. Email is great and has many, many advantages over the now antiquated technologies of post and fax. It’s fast, it is effective, it is cheap. It is not a replacement for the telephone, and it is certainly not a means to have a real conversation. And please don’t get me started on using it as a cold calling alternative…… When I was a very new consultant, I was sent to meet one of the company’s top billing temps consultants and he taught me a very simple lesson. He said “listen, it’s really simple. You pick up the phone, and money comes out of it”. You pick up the phone, and money comes out of it. Was there ever a statement, so well put, so simple or so true. Phone skills are an incredibly important part of a consultants skills toolkit. In my mind, they should be the first skills taught. Learn to love the phone. Use it as a means of introduction, a door opener, use it to keep in touch with people, use it build relationships. Use it whenever the urge comes to email. The best tool for the job is the best tool for the job. Before you reach for a keyboard, please stop and think. What is the best way to achieve what I want to achieve? If it’s the phone, pick it up. If it’s the keyboard, then go ahead. But, be honest with yourself. Are you typing to avoid having to call? And, if so, what’s stopping you? When I walk into one of my client’s offices and all I can hear is people talking on the phone, invariably the fee boards on the walls look very healthy too. When I walk into a client’s office and all I can hear is clicking on keyboards, the fee boards are often empty too. Co-incidence? Of course not. About the author:  James Nathan  runs the James Nathan experience; the Business Development, Sales and Service Excellence Expert for Professional Recruiters.

Complex Interviewing Strategies for All Levels - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Complex Interviewing Strategies for All Levels - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career If you’re going to go for a job, you might as well take the time to focus, properly prepare and get the position. Naturally, this entails integrating complex business ideas so you appear competent, intelligent and knowledgeable to the interviewing party. Below, we will show you how to integrate some complex business theories into your everyday interviewing techniques. Not only will you impress, you’ll end up teaching the hiring manager or recruiter something they didn’t know. 1. When the interviewer discusses the more challenging parts of the job, don’t get discouraged. Rather, respond by reiterating that nothing worthwhile is easy. However, there is not a problem out there that could not be solved via proper analysis and learning. 2. If asked about the failures you’ve had, you can explain how you consider mishaps to be one step closer to the solution which keeps up your energy, fuels resiliency and puts aside unnecessary frustration. 3. When asked about current positions, discuss what the company did in a very basic sense, discuss the overarching goals of the organization then touch upon what you were asked to achieve, how you went about accomplishing those goals and the outcome the company saw from this performance. 4. Although most of the time, you will not directly be asked as to what your strengths are during the interview, you should still mention them throughout the meeting in the course of answering the interviewer inquiries. 5. Don’t worry if you are not from the exact industry. While not every employer keeps an open mind, many will and will not judge you less than other candidates within that vertical. What is most important to a smart employer or recruiting expert is whether or not the individual fits within the corporate culture, shows a great deal of competency, is friendly, though candid, loves his job and displays passion and has a resilience that is conducive to the company being able to gain competitive edge over other organizations in the field. 6. Throughout the interview, you should touch upon the reasons you’ve been successful in your career or within your education (for recent graduates). Answers such as the following will catch the interviewer’s or recruitment professional’s attention: You’ve developed the right habits and work ethic which gives you a competitive advantage in the productivity aspect of your job. Essentially, you do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not” You’re competent, easy to work with, though not a pushover, loyal to the companies you’ve worked for and always are able to envision the bigger picture and drive towards those goals with vigor and dedication. You know what you want out of a career and you’re focused on getting it regardless of hurdles. While anyone can learn an industry, traits are character, work ethic, basic intelligence, dedication to filling commitments and ingrained values are something that cannot be taught. 7. Put the past in the past. Some interviewers are just difficult to deal with. Our recruitment agency comes across prospective individuals who don’t interview well, are abrasive and unwelcoming to candidates. They don’t get very far and do it to everyone so please don’t take it personally when this has happened in the past. It is an illogical way to do business and never benefits the hiring company. 8. If you’re coming from being unemployed you can say that you were fortunate enough to do very well at your past positions and instead of rushing into another job, you thought it would be more strategic to dedicate full-time to the search so you found something that again, you would excel in. Mention that great jobs are not found overnight and good decision making is not impulsive nor are you. You can further this thought with the thesis that having a break on your CV is much more preferable than ending up with an organization in which success is not possible. 9. You could also discuss what interested you about the company. Some examples would be: The firm makes a decision concerning what they want to accomplish, how they want to do it and when they plan to complete the project You got the inclination that the company rewards hard work and performance rather than utilizing non-performance measures. In the End Remember, thank the person for their time and understand that you can only control your own behavior and performance. Try to go further than that and you’re much more likely to fail. People shy away from manipulative behavior and it can ruin what would have been a job offer.

Steps To Writing A Resume

Steps To Writing A ResumeThe process of writing a resume can be tough for college students just out of college. As a result, many of them take to heart the advice given in this article and use it as a template for their resumes. If you are a recent college graduate then chances are that you are running out of time before you submit your resume. So do not be alarmed if you have just graduated from college and do not know how to start writing a resume.Step one is to identify what you want your resume to say. Make sure that you put as much effort into this task as you did into your work. After all you do not want to go back to your college days and find that you were not being taken seriously by your potential employer.Step two is to contact people who can help you. You can search the net and ask for help. Also ask for tips on what to write about and where to look for those who can give you good advice. There are many career training organizations who can offer you information and guida nce in writing a resume.The final step is to write your resume on your own. Many people today find that writing their own resume is not as easy as they expected. So they simply choose to use a template for writing resumes. This can work but remember that any business you apply for may already have a template that they are using.Step three is to spend some time thinking about what type of candidate you want to be. Keep in mind that there are a lot of professionals who just graduated from college who are now trying to break into the workforce. They also want to make sure that they can get a job with a company that will fit their skills and personality.Step four is to keep your resume as professional as possible. This means that you need to be aware of any issues that may arise when a company sees your resume. This is true for every job you apply for and to every employer you apply to. Never ever lie about anything when it comes to your background. Whether you graduated from college or are a veteran.After you have checked your work history for anything that is questionable, you then need to think about your skill sets. Make sure that you do not leave anything out. While it is important to mention your experience when applying for a job, you should also make sure that you are specific with what you want out of life.Step five is to research the company you are applying to. Take some time to look around at the company and see if you feel comfortable with the people at the company. Make sure that you are not applying to just anyone. A little bit of research can go a long way and help you feel more confident with your resume.

How to Become One of the Best Trend Traders Out There - CareerMetis.com

How to Become One of the Best Trend Traders Out There Source : Pexels.comAlthough it’s been around since the dawn of the stock market, trend trading is only recently gaining recognition as a challenging and rewarding way to make some gains in the financial sector.It is an intricate process that brings incredible benefits to those who pursue it correctly. But what is it, and how can one get into it? Let’s find out.About Trend TradingevalAccording to Investopedia, trend trading consists of analyzing an asset’s momentum either going up or down and capturing gains due to it. In this particular strategy, one has two options depending on the type of trend identified. When a stock is moving in an upward direction by exhibiting successively higher highs, you enter on a long position.evalConversely, if the stock is in a downtrend with successively lower highs, a short position is open. Depending on the underlying conditions on the market, these movements go on for days, weeks or even months at a time. However, they are sometimes suspended by unforeseen changes, such as government interventions.3 Valuable TipsGetting started is easy. All you need is a reliable system at first. A lot of people use Metatrader 5, or the mt5 platformfor short. Still, there is a lot more that you need to bring to the table if you want to succeed in this game. Installing software is simple, but gaining the necessary knowledge to use it toward your goals take a bit more time and ambition.Like all the other varieties of this occupation, trend trading is sometimes unpredictable and hard to get into. However, with a little expert knowledge and a lot of patience, you too can master this art.Here are 3 valuable tips that will help you become one of the best trend traders out there.2. Use the Strong/Weak ApproachThe surest way to approach trend trading and come out on the winning side is through the strong/weak approach. When you put the strongest currency Known as the “golden rule”of trend trading, it’s no secret that any tendency, no matte r how long-lasting, will encounter an intraday or intraweek counterreaction which is triggered by various factors such as major news releases that go against it. This is not to be feared. In fact, one important lesson to be drawn is that this is an amazing opportunity.People who have entered the trade short-term will get scared out of their position when this happens. But if you’re in it to win it, you need to hold your ground because you have a chance to buy dips in an uptrend or sell rallies in a downtrend.3. Protect Yourself Against ReversalsAt the end of the day, the one thing that can truly be predicted in trading is that it’s completely unpredictable. This sounds like an oxymoron, but it is actually an important aspect to be kept in mind. Even forecasts made by the best analysts can change in the blink of an eye due to unexpected governmental interference or any other geopolitical and social factor.This is why you must protect yourself against trend reversals. To do so, se t some stop-loss orders along the tendency. This entails that, if the price of an asset moves above or below a predetermined level, you need to buy or sell it right then and there.evalHowever, these margins need to be carefully considered, because if the change is only temporary, you will risk being locked out.Conclusion The strong/weak approach to currency trading is the best way to go about this.However, if you want to spice things up, staying alert and spotting counter-trends is also immensely rewarding. Just remember to protect yourself against any reversals that might take place along the way.

5 Ways to Get More LinkedIn Profile Views

5 Ways to Get More LinkedIn Profile Views Youve heard the news, LinkedIn is the place to be for job search. But why isnt your phone ringing off the hook with job offers?   Your LinkedIn profile is always searchable, unlike your resume, that lives on your computer, locked away. Did you know:   90+% of recruiters are using LinkedIn to search for talent! And according to Jobvites social recruiting study, recruiters use LinkedIn to search, contact, keep tabs, and vet candidates.  Heres what you need to do to ensure recruiters are looking at your LinkedIn profile! Jobvite social recruiting study 2013 Building a great profile is a small part of what attracts people to view your profile. If you really want more people viewing your LinkedIn profile, youll need to do these 5 things. 1. Use The Right Key Words In Your Headline By default, LinkedIn uses your most recent job title and employer in your headline. CHANGE THIS. Remember, your LinkedIn profile is about showcasing you, not your employer. Think about the keywords or phrases that a recruiter or hiring manager would use to search for someone to fill a job. These are the words you would want to use in your headline. You have 120 characters, use them wisely! If you are about to graduate, you dont need to include that information in your headline. Use keywords found in job postings you are interested in applying for. See examples here. It is doubtful anyone would search for team player, organized, other similar buzzwords (via  LinkedIn), so avoid using them in your headline (and in your LinkedIn profile). 2. Say More In Your Summary Your summary should provide a high-level overview of what you do (and what you like doing). LinkedIn provides you with 2,000 characters. Here are just some of the things you can include in your summary: Use keywords and skill sets that are valued by future employers. Describe the successes you have had (and quantify whenever possible) List the industry experience you have accumulated Include processes, procedures, software and other tools you are familiar with Consider adding samples of work, pictures and other media too! Here are examples of great LinkedIn summaries. 3. Create A New Status Update Every Day As I skimmed through my home page, looking for status updates from job seekers in my network, I was sadly disappointed. I couldnt find a single one! One of the best ways to stay top of mind and build a memorable reputation is by sharing on-brand news, stories and events. On-brand for a job seeker is NOT job search stuff. It is content related to the next desired occupation. Here is an example of an update sent by someone in marketing. Here are 10 LinkedIn status update ideas you can use. 4. Connect with  Recruiters and HR If you are job searching, then you should absolutely be connecting with corporate recruiters, HR staff, and third-party recruiters! It doesnt guarantee anything, but, it just might help! Glassdoor asked top corporate recruiters two questions- How would someone get on your radar? and was there a candidate that totally wow-ed you and if yes, how did they do it? The answers might just surprise youHeres one: How would someone get on your radar? It’s fairly easy to get my attention since I’m fairly transparent. Reaching out to me via Twitter and LinkedIn are one of the easiest ways to get on my radar and even better when those individuals begin interacting with my posts, especially Philips related posts.   That level of interaction demonstrates their passion for Philips and even if I don’t have an employment opportunity available for that person at that precise moment, I’ll remember that person. Chrystal Moore,  Senior Recruiter,  Philips Healthcare 5.  Add Your Thoughts To Group Discussions Some recruiters lurk in groups looking for talent. Use occupation or industry-specific groups to network! (Networking = building relationships and helping others!) Use these concepts to connect with new people, offer advice/help, share interesting news.  This example would be great for leadership or recruiting.  12 Ways to Build a Better LinkedIn Profile has more helpful tips for improving your LinkedIn profile. And here is a 20 point checklist for creating an awesome LinkedIn profile. Monitor Your Profile How do you know if the changes have helped? Check out the stats! They are on the right side of your profile. Do this before you make the changes and then check the stats about 2-3 weeks after youve made the changes. You should see the numbers increase!

near Brooklyn want a plan to quit your job, read me! - When I Grow Up

If you live in/near Brooklyn want a plan to quit your job, read me! - When I Grow Up Theres only 7 spots left in my live Brooklyn workshop on 10/23 for An Effective Escape: Make Your Plan So You Can Ditch the Dreaded Day Job and I realized I didnt even tell ya about it! I was approached by Holstee they of the manifesto pictured above to be part of their first round of Learning Labs (aka workshops in their space). They wanted to bring to life each line in their manifesto (eventually), and I was asked to speak on the line: If you dont like your job, quit. Of course, I didnt just wanna talk about what I did in the 2 years and 7 months it took for me to quit my day job as an Executive Assistant (in March 2010!) and become The When I Grow Up Coach full-time. I wanted to help the attendees figure out  their effective escape, and walk out of that room with the structure for their own plan. This class is my workbook brought to life, where  youll find out how I created a sturdy safety net so that I could leave my corporate job in March of 2010 and make the leap to full-time coach and what Id do differently if I had to do it again. You’ll also leave with the framework of your own sturdy safety net; potential Plan B’s that won’t leave you beaten down without a soul; and your Breathe Easy number that’ll give you enough of a financial cushion to make your escape before 2024. With the workshop maxed out at just 20ish people, therell be plenty of QA time, ukulele playing and a free copy of my Effective Escape workbook included in the ticket price. If you live in/near Brooklyn and are stuck in  how you can actually leave your job to do what you love (while still being a responsible grown-up!), I really hope to see ya there!