Great video from “Howdini – get yourself a gru”

Website that provides a variety of information.

This video is by  Carolyn Bigda, Money Magazine check it out – How to prepare for a job interview

• Dress appropriately and conservatively. Suits are safe.

• Shake hands firmly.

• Make eye contact.

• Develop a sales pitch about yourself. Use specific examples of your work and mention key points that will appeal to your interviewer.

• Practice this sales pitch until it’s routine and easy to deliver calmly and with sincerity.

• If you were fired from your last job, be honest, but positive. No negative remarks about the former employer.

• Say you’re looking for the next opportunity, the place to take the next step in your career, or that you’re looking to apply your skills in a different way.

The 10 Toughest Job Interview Questions

Article written by Barry Golds

Q1. What did you not like about your last employer?

A. OK, so the interviewer has asked you to say something negative about your ex-employer. You need to turn this around so that it makes it sound like the negative is in fact a positive!

Remember, you will not get any credit for complaining or describing a negative situation without adding a positive ending. Here are some examples of what you should say if you are faced with this question:

Start with “Actually there are a lot of good things to say about my ex-employer, however if I need to highlight one area…

“I used to get a bit annoyed when I noticed inefficiencies in the processing workflows and controls. A number of times I made suggestions as to improvements that could be made which would have saved money but the ideas were effectively ignored.”

or

“I always tried my utmost to make sure that all customers were treated fairly and honestly but I noticed a malaise creeping in which meant that some staff didn’t always try their best to meet the exacting standards required. I feel this reflected badly on everyone.”

Q2. I see from your resume that you have never actually been in this role in any of your previous companies. How are you going to manage?

A. Firstly, this is an obvious weakness. Weakness means risk to an employer and they are looking for re-assurance that you will adapt to the new environment.

Relate your previous experience to similar situations where you moved departments and had a new role or were faced with new technology which you had to learn quickly.

Turn this into a positive about ‘how you are able to adapt to changing circumstances and have a flexible approach. How you pick up new skills quickly. How you enjoy the challenge of the ever changing technology’.

Try to broaden the answer by saying ‘we are all faced with a fast moving and changing environment which constantly presents new challenges. I have always been able to rise to these and perform effectively despite tight deadlines and little support.’

Importantly, then go on to list examples of similar experiences where you have demonstrated such skills. This should close the issue in the interviewer’s mind and paint a positive picture.

Q3. What is your typical working week in hours?

A. Whatever it takes to get the job done. However, be careful not to suggest you work long hours purely because you are inefficient.

“I like to think I am an effective and efficient worker who gets through a full workload each week. However there are times when I need to work late and weekends and this is fine. This is often due to uneven demands on my time. I will put whatever effort it takes to complete my role.”

Q4. How long would it take for you to start making a real contribution to the organization?

A. There is no point in blurting out an answer here because the contribution could be anywhere and you could go off in the wrong direction. Bat the question back to get a more precise idea and allow yourself some time to think.

“In what particular area of my responsibilities did you have in mind?”

“Of course there will be a short learning curve while I get up to speed but in the past I have prided myself on being a quick learner who can make an effective contribution in a short space of time. I see this opportunity as no different although I accept it will be a challenge.”

Prepare an example of how you had a similar situation where you had to learn a new skill quickly.

Q5. What have you learnt most from your past career?

A. A truly open ended question and the opportunity to talk positively. But you need to keep your answer at a high level.

“I have learnt many things as you can imagine. But one point always rings true. Every one needs to be treated with respect, their opinion should be valued and they should be encouraged to contribute to the good of the organization.”

Q6. What would you most like not to do in this role?

A. Dangerous question. The interviewer is probing for things that you didn’t previously like and then they can ask a follow on question about why you didn’t like them. Beware of this trap.

Turn the question around and give a ‘model answer’…

‘In an ideal world…I would like to avoid any bureaucracy or red-tape which can delay decisions. Like anyone, I am always keen for good progress to be made at all times and everything to run smoothly’.

…or perhaps you have an example such as this….

‘I would like to avoid the situation in the last role where we had tight deadlines and three of my staff went off on long term sick with the winter flu last year. Although we achieved our targets, it was only through hard effort, team-work and long hours’.

See how these answers portray you in a good light and turn a negative into a positive.

Q7. What would your job references say about you?

A. Try to make sure that any job references have been sought and written before you go interviewing. This is not always possible but would allow you to repeat their positive comments.

Where you do have job references, then you can say you have references, and they are very complimentary around a number of aspects of your work.

It is not a problem if you don’t have references and the question implies that you would probably imagine what they would say.

Effectively, the interviewer is therefore asking to list your strengths. Take the time to list your job strengths and behavioral qualities. Start the sentence in the 3rd party with…’My references would say…’

Any time you are able to reply in the 3rd party, it sounds like someone else is endorsing your candidacy which in effect references do. Everyone will say they will receive good references but if you say this using a 3rd party endorsement, then you add greater credibility to your statement.

Q8. Why should I hire you?

A. This is one question which you should have prepared for thoroughly.

You need to have a personal pitch of 3 – 4 sentences prepared. This needs to relate to the job description which you need to go through line by line. Then add in the additional personal qualities that you bring to the role. Apply these to the personal summary statement.

It is always worth using a qualifying phrase such as ‘colleagues have said of me…I am a great motivator/team-builder/technician etc.’. It sounds better if there is a 3rd party endorsement. It doesn’t sound like you are bragging but a colleague is speaking on your behalf.

In addition, you will need to have relevant examples which you can offer to expand on. The personal qualities for the role will be attributes such as hard-working, motivating, good communication skills, desire to succeed, etc…

You should end your answer with a statement such as ‘do you think these qualities are what you are looking for from a successful candidate?’

It plants a seed in the mind of the interviewer that you are.

If they reply that they were expecting other qualities, then discuss them and offer examples of how you have these and examples of them in action. You need to leave the interviewer in no doubt that you have the skills and can demonstrate this with relevant examples.

Q9. Why do you want to leave your current job?

A. Negative connotation and expectancy that you will say something negative about ex-employer or ex-employee. Resist the temptation and keep the answer upbeat concentrating on the advantages of what the new job would offer. You could mention the increased salary but do not dwell on it, emphasize the other benefits first.

“I enjoy my previous job and as I have demonstrated, I make a solid contribution which is appreciated. However I am looking for more experience, a greater challenge / increased responsibility / more dynamic organization that this role offers.”

Make sure you have a list of reasons for joining this company.

You need to reply using one or a combination of the following five replies:

Challenge: You need a new career challenge.

Traveling: The commute to work was taking too long or I was constantly being asked to travel with work.

Career: I had reached the likely top and there was no room for advancement until someone else above me left.

Money: You feel you were not being paid what you were worth.

Security: The organization was unstable and my role may have been at risk.

Q10. What, as an organization, can we offer that is better than your current employer?

A. It is asking for a direct comparison between your current employer and your future employer.

An interviewer wants to hear that you are a valued member in your current / previous role. You have worked for an organization that has trained you to a high level and you have been providing a strong contribution to their skilled workforce. They hope to leverage these skills in their organization.

A typical answer which deals with such a comparison should be…

‘My current organization has been a great career move for me. I have learned many new skills (eg. x). There is a great team ethic and I feel I have made a strong contribution to their sales team / office / project team etc.

However, I see your organization and the role it offers as a new challenge which can leverage my skills and allow me to challenge myself and set new goals and further my career in a way that the current organization perhaps doesn’t offer.”

Of course, this answer needs to be tailored to meet your particular circumstances. Start by listing what you like about your current organization and the experience you have gained. Compare this with the list of skills and benefits you expect to find in the new organization. Use this list to tailor your answer.

Stay clear of talking about money. The sub text of this question and so many others like it is the interviewer is asking ‘What’s in it for me?’

You should be replying “I am making a contribution and this is how…” include examples of how you can make the contribution, which backs up your claims.

By saying you want to leverage your skills in the new role and show how you can make a strong contribution is precisely what the interviewer wants to hear.

If you say or even imply the reason for the new job is that you are looking for more money or additional benefits, then this does not imply you are making a contribution to the new organization.

You are in fact saying “what is in it for me” and does not address the interviewers needs!

After  6 years of recruiting restaurant managers and 20 + years as a restaurant manager, general Manager and Area Director, I have interviewed over 10,000 people.   What I can honestly tell you is this; It is much easier to get a new job if you are currently employed then if you are unemployed.  Now don’t get me wrong I successfully place unemployed people all the time however if you are currently employed and want to look for a new opportunity without posting your resume all over the job boards, You will get more interviews and be paid a higher salary then if you are not currently working.  The reason is simple, companies want the best managers out there and they often like the challenge of taking a great manager from one of their competitors.  Managers who post their resume on all of the job boards are not a challenge and usually not the best.  If someone put a Honda Accord next to a BMW 3 series and said choose the one you like, 9/10 people would pick the BMW not because it’s a better car but because it’s more expensive and their for harder to acquire.  Honda makes a great car and I have one myself but what I’m saying is be the BMW.  Make yourself more desirable through marketing yourself to the select few.

Managers who are unemployed are unemployed for a reason and usually that reason is they were let go or forced to resign. Sure people quit every day because they need time to interview and want to take a break before starting something new but what I will say is this.  When you are hired to run a business, you are hired to make good sound decisions and quitting a job with no job in your pocket is a reckless and a reflection on your ability to make good sound decisions.  Before you give notice, call me and we can discuss all of your options, you won’t regret it.

When you receive a gift that was unintentional is it more special than if you expected it? I’ve always believed that answer to be true however as a businessman, when you receive a gift from a client that also pays your salary, how special is that?

They say that your employees are a true measure of the integrity of your organization and I’m a true believer that those core qualities start from the top on down. I’ll stop babbling right now and get to the heart of the story. For the past 7 years, Gecko Hospitality holds it’s franchise meetings in different cities throughout the United States every 6 months. In January, 2010, our meeting was held in Orlando, Florida. Right as the flight attendants were ready to signal to everyone to turn off your cell phones for takeoff, I just so happen see my light blinking that I’ve received a new e-mail.

As I disregard the flight attendants request, I opened the message and saw that it’s from the Director Of Recruiting from one of our clients. Susan (our client) got word that our meeting was  being held in Orlando and was inquiring who was taking care of our food and beverage needs for all of the attendees while our meeting was taking place. As I read further, the words “I INSIST” shot out of the email that I should call Susan immediately.

Miller’s Ale House has been a client for the longest time and regardless, it’s very unusual for a client to display such a gesture of generosity. However, I will soon learn that Miller’s Ale House would be different. As I contacted Susan after landing in Orlando, Susan in her energetic but girlish voice tells me that a call has already been made to the restaurant closest to your hotel and you just tell me how many people. I tell her in a very stand offish voice, “Susan, we have over 25 people and are you sure you want us taking those seats?” After all it was the BCS Championship Game that night!! Without hesitation, Susan says “consider it done and one of my managers will be there to take care of you.” I was truly blown away.

Needless to say, our entire group was blown away that a client would extent this much generosity on what would be a great revenue day for a restaurant with the BCS Championship Game on that night. Not only was the food, drink and service top notch, but a member of the executive team drove in to meet and greet us to make sure everything was okay. All I could think is if a company such as Miller’s Ale House treats its vendors this way then being an employee has to be incredible. After speaking to not just to the management team at the restaurant as well as several of the  hourly employees, they confirmed my notion that Miller’s Ale House is a class act and they treat everyone like they are part of the family!

I want to send out a big thank you to the staff of the Miller’s Ale House in Orlando Florida and especially Susan and Kim who oversee the management recruiting selection process for this growing organization. You are true ambassadors of your organization and to the word “HOSPITALITY”

Any candidate looking to join a company that treats their people like gold, do not hesitate because this company practices what it preaches.

One of the most important tools in a job seeker’s arsenal — and possibly the one that is treated most casually by the job seeker — is the resume. How well could a carpenter perform with a broken hammer, or a surgeon with a faulty instrument? Likewise, landing the job that’s right for you will be far more difficult without a powerful, accurately targeted marketing tool.

Crafting an effective resume requires stepping back, making objective assessments of oneself, being organized, and writing well.

Where to Start

Before sitting down to write your resume, it is best to have a clear plan. As a result, it will be helpful to consider the following:

Find your direction

As you would for any journey, decide where you want to go. The more specific you can make this decision, the better. If you have been a widget-maker all your life and you wish to continue in this field, the decision is simple; if you want to switch to making thingamajigs, you will need to dig a little deeper and possibly do some in-depth personal assessments.

Once you have decided upon a goal, you have a resume target. This will guide you in selecting the details that match (as closely as possible) the requirements of the type of position you seek.

Uncover your qualifications and accomplishments

Identify the information you will be using including work history, education and/or training, certifications, accomplishments, strengths, etc. Keep in mind that your accomplishments and strengths help ensure you stand out from other candidates with similar skills; therefore, it is essential to draw out those most relevant to the position you are targeting so that you may showcase them in your summary and work history.

Many people, surprisingly enough, have difficulty recognizing their strengths and completely overlook some of the best accomplishments they have to offer. The trick to uncovering these key points involves looking at what you do (and/or have done) from the employer’s point of view: How have your actions benefited the organization?

Everyone has accomplishments, yet often we are unaware of them. If you are particularly proud of something you have done, it is probably an accomplishment. Also, it can help to think in terms of challenge / action / result: What challenge existed? What action did you take? What was the result? If you can quantify the results — by using percentages, dollar amounts, or time frames, for instance — you will give your resume more authority and “punch” when an employer reviews it.

Consider the visual elements

Determine the design of your resume. If you generally submit a resume utilizing 8-point font and quarter-inch margins on all sides (a mistake often made by those who believe in the one-page myth), objectively assess the entire document. Will it stand out in a stack of resumes? Will your skills, strengths, and goals be quickly and easily identified?

White space can be used to your advantage. In fact, if you are at a mid-career level, a two-page resume is most common; and executives or those at highly experienced levels may find a two- or three-page resume is appropriate (depending upon your history and goals).

The idea is that you need not be concerned about keeping your resume to one page. It is more important that you present your most relevant qualifications and strengths in a clear and concise manner that maximizes the impact.

As You Craft…

Now that you have a plan, the next step involves crafting the resume; it is important to keep these fundamental strategies in mind:

The 15-second review

Employers are likely to spend only about 10-20 seconds on the initial pass. Your objective is to capture his/her attention while encouraging a more in-depth reading. This can be a valuable guide when deciding what to include in the summary and what to eliminate: Will it have enough impact to pass this rule?

The basic elements of an effective resume will include:

• A clean, visually appealing appearance that invites tired eyes to read.
• A dynamic and powerful summary of qualifications that targets the position requirements.
• Accomplishments emphasized in the initial summary and/or work history.
• Keywords and phrases appropriately placed throughout the document.
• A strong, well-written work history that highlights the last 10-15 years; earlier positions may be included in condensed fashion unless the skills are particularly relevant to your current goals.
• A section highlighting education, professional development (workshops, seminars, or other training that relates to your job goal), and other relevant certifications, publications, etc.
• Depending on your level, field, and goals, a table or list of specific technical skills may prove beneficial.

Summary of qualifications

Think of this as the “headline” to the “advertisement” that will “sell” you to the employer. Select your top skills, abilities, and strengths while ensuring they pertain directly to the type of job you are pursuing.

While it is critical to align your qualifications with the type of positions you are pursuing, quality of the writing is important, too. Write concisely, and write well. Keep in mind that while the language should be strong, sentence fragments are standard practice for resumes; however, cover letters need to be complete sentences (i.e., in first-person narrative form).

Work history

If you have a resume that details every job you have held beginning in high school, it will be a relief to know you may be able to eliminate them and free up a great deal of space for important information. You want to include information that demonstrates your strengths and illustrates your track record utilizing skills relevant to your job target. Positions you have held during the last 10-15 years are considered the most important unless you are a Senior Executive and you need to show a more complete career track. Sometimes earlier positions can be included in a block of additional experience.

It is important to be concise and pointed. Back up the statements made in the summary of qualifications with information that demonstrates how you used your skills and how they benefited your previous employers. Here, too, it is vital to remember your target, choosing and arranging information so that it will highlight your most relevant abilities and background.

Education and Training

An overview of your education is typically reserved for the end of the document; however, if it directly relates to your job target, you may place it early in the resume following the opening skill summary. This can be especially helpful if, for instance, you have a degree in widget making even though your work history has been largely in thingamajigs.

Give brief information that includes the level (e.g., associates, bachelors, etc.), kind (e.g., arts, science, etc.), and area (i.e. major and/or concentration) of degree(s) that you possess as well as the awarding institution and location.

If you have attended seminars include these. If you have obtained certifications in your chosen field, or ones that show you could easily secure any required certifications, list them either before or after the continuing-education portion of this block. The relative importance of the certifications will determine their position; for instance, a technical certification will be more important for a job involving information technology than one involving hospitality services.

Finally — A Resume that Gets Noticed!

You are just about done, and you should have a much stronger resume document. Just a few additional points to consider:

• Personal information — age, marital status, health, religion, and ethnicity should not be listed when seeking positions within the US. (When pursuing jobs in other countries — particularly with non-US employers — various personal data is often included, depending upon the country.)
• References are rarely included because they are submitted at a later stage in the process when mutual interest has been established between you and the employer.
• Often, particularly for a job you really want or need, there is no substitute for having a resume professionally prepared. Just knowing that writing specialists — who are highly trained and keep up with industry and job trends, and innovations in resume preparation — are preparing a powerful document for you can be a big boost of confidence, which allows you to wow interviewers. And you can’t put a price on that.

Either way you do it, think positive and be confident as you enter your job search!

Resume Strategies for New Graduates

Emphasize skills gained through experience and studies to fully develop a powerful, qualitative resume.

An effective resume captures an employer’s interest within the first 15 seconds. Typically, a new graduate’s most relevant skills are gained through academic study. However, unless a candidate’s education is in a highly sought after area, competing with more experienced candidates may prove challenging—especially if one does not have related work experience. Thus, a well-designed resume with a qualitative (versus quantitative) focus will immediately pique interest and maximize the marketing potential of your recent education, practicum, internships, etc.

Rarely will the title of a program or degree fully convey the full breadth of one’s skill set. A carefully designed resume—through strategic presentation of key program elements and your personal areas of focus—will quickly demonstrate to an employer the skills you bring to the table; this in turn allows you to stand out from other candidates. An Academic Skill Conversion™ resume leverages your hands-on classroom, project, lab, and internship activities as they pertain to your current career goals. And if you have related work and volunteer experience, it can be used to add further value to your overall presentation.

Also, it is not uncommon for new graduates to underestimate the strength of transferable skills gained through work that is unrelated to the degree. For example, you may have held service-oriented positions in the retail or hospitality industries. In these instances, it can be advantageous to show professional strengths that demonstrate aptitude in customer service, administration, or general operations. This is achieved by developing a well-targeted qualifications profile.

In addition to an effective qualifications profile, you can present specific details of projects in the experience section that follows your profile and education. If you have work, volunteer or internship experience, it would be listed here, in reverse chronological order. Ultimately, the key to a successful job search will be largely determined by the power of your presentation. You’ve worked hard to earn your degree, and now it is time to have your degree work for you.