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Archive

Archive for the ‘Job Interview Preparation’ Category

How To Answer Interview Questions About The Fire In Your Belly To Do This Job

So what does it mean to have the fire in your belly to do the job? It means, 'Do you have the energy, the drive, and the commitment to dig in and get this done?' All employers want to know this about all candidates, but this can be a particular sticking point if you're an Over 40 job seeker.

Of course, YOU know you're going to do a great job in this role you're interviewing for, but how can you communicate that to them?

In the video below, I will give you specific ways you can convince the interviewer that you would be a great hire, with more than enough 'fire' to be successful. Click on the video to watch.

Get more suggestions for how to answer interview questions about the 'fire in your belly', aka your desire, drive, and commitment to getting the job done in my blog article on this subject, How To Answer Interview Questions Q15.

For the best answers to interview questions of all kinds, see my entire blog series, How To Answer Interview Questions.

Phone Interview Tips - How To Stay Focused And Put Your Best Foot Forward

To many candidates, phone interviews seem like they're not a big deal--it's not even a 'real' interview.  It's just a phone call.

But in reality, this is a critical tipping point...this is what determines whether you get invited for the face-to-face and have a shot at the job.

You have to plan ahead and put your best foot forward here to make that happen.

In the video below, I will give you some of my best tips to stay focused and have a great conversation.

Click the video to watch.

Read my more-detailed blog article on this subject here: Phone Interview Tips #4

Check out my entire list of the top 25 Tips for a great phone interview in my Phone Interview Tips series.  

 

How To Answer Interview Questions About Your Value or Ability to Generate Revenue

Your job is not just a job. It's one part of the whole money-making venture that is the company. That's true whether you're the janitor or the CEO.

To be super-successful in an interview, you need to have thought about how you can generate revenue for that company. Why do they need you? What benefits do you bring?

In the video below, I show you how to think about that, and how you can apply it to yourself so that you can answer that interview question, 'How can you apply your abilities to generate revenue?'

You can find out more about this, with examples and suggestions, in my blog article, How to Answer Interview Questions Q13.

This is part of my blog series, How to Answer Interview Questions. It's a series of 101 tough job interview questions and answers that will give you the best answers to job interview questions.

Phone Interview Tips - How To Help Them Qualify You For the Face-To-Face

What does it mean, to 'qualify' you for the face-to-face interview? It simply means to decide that you are going to be worth the time to talk to some more, in person. That's the goal of the phone interview, for the company. It's to help them make the decision about who deserves a seat in an in-person interview.

There are two things you need to know:

First, not all interviewers are necessarily good at interviewing, which means that they won't always come to the conclusion they need to talk to you again, even if you'd be great at the job.

Second, you have much more control over this outcome than you think.

In the short video below, I will tell you how to comfortably, positively help that interviewer to qualify you for the face-to-face.

Click the video to watch.

If you want more tips for how to control the outcome of your phone interview, read my blog article with more details: Phone Interview Tips #17.

And don't forget to check out our entire Phone Interview Tips series. It's 37 of the best tips for your phone interviews.

How to Answer Interview Questions About Giving Difficult Feedback

Have you ever had to have a difficult discussion with someone to correct their actions or performance? Your interviewer is going to want to know how you handled that.

In the video below, I will tell you why they're asking this question and the 3 things they're especially looking for in a good answer to this question.

Read my blog article where I go into much more detail about this question, and give you more suggestions for how to answer it: How to Answer Interview Questions Q40. It's part of my 101 question series, How to Answer Interview Questions.

Phone Interview Tips - Etiquette Rules

What's a sure-fire way to guarantee the interviewer won't want to invite you to a face-to-face interview? Poor phone manners.

There are lots of common, everyday things that we all do when we're on the phone that will mean death to your chances for that job.

In the video below, I will tell you about some of the most important things to watch out for that you might not even be aware of.

Click the video to watch.

I have many more phone interview etiquette tips for you in my blog article on this subject: Phone Interview Tips #24.

And don't forget to check out our entire Phone Interview Tips series. It's 37 of the best tips for your phone interviews.

How To Answer Interview Questions About Your Personal History

If an interviewer says, "Tell me a little of your personal history," what do you do? Just like with 'Tell me about yourself,' you may be tempted to talk about your family, your social life, your politics, or your last vacation. But don't.

In the video below, I will tell you how to best answer any questions about your personal history in a job interview.

Click the video to watch.

If you'd like more information about exactly how to answer questions about your personal history or 'life story', please see my blog article that goes into this in much greater detail: How to Answer Interview Questions Q42.

If you would like more great answers to interview questions, check out my 101-article blog series, How to Answer Interview Questions.

Phone Interview Tips - Don't Talk Too Much

Even though the whole point of an interview is for you to answer questions, there is such a thing as talking too much, or too long.

In the video below, I will tell you how long you should talk, how to make sure you aren't talking too long, and how to help the interviewer keep the conversation going in your favor.

Click the video to watch.

I have many more phone interview tips for you in my blog article on this subject: Phone Interview Tips #22.

And don't forget to check out our entire Phone Interview Tips series. It's 37 of the best tips for your phone interviews.

Phone Interview Tips - Here's A Checklist For Success

There are a lot of details to remember to make sure you have a great and successful phone interview.

In the video below, I will give you a list of things you should always remember for your phone interview, from your preparation to your follow up.

Click the video to watch.

Need a more detailed checklist? See my blog article, Phone Interview Tips #30.

And don't forget to check out our entire Phone Interview Tips series. It's 37 of the best tips for your phone interviews.

Phone Interview Tips - Where You Should (And Should NOT) Do Phone Interviews

Is your physical location really a big deal when it comes to phone interviews? Absolutely.

I have seen candidates try to phone interview in pretty common places that actually kill their shot at the job because they can't represent themselves well there.

In the video below, I'll tell you what places to definitely avoid, and give you the best place for your phone interview.

Click the video to watch.

You can read my entire blog article on this subject here: Phone Interview Tips #3

Or, you can see the top 37 Tips for a great phone interview in my Phone Interview Tips series.

Phone Interview Tips To Help You Relax and Make a Good Impression

Do phone interviews make you nervous? Do you dread them, even?

In the short video below, I will give you my #1 Tip to relax, be calm, and make a fantastic impression in your next phone interview.

Click the video to watch.

Want more tips to help you relax, be calm, and make a good impression for your phone interview? See my blog article, Phone Interview Tips #31.

Then, check out our entire Phone Interview Tips series. It's 37 of the best tips for your phone interviews.

Phone Interview Tip: How To Build Your Confidence To Have a Great Interview

The impression you make in an interview is critical to your chances of getting the job. But interviews are incredibly stressful, so even the best of us get nervous.

In the video below, I will share with you a few ways to build your confidence before your phone interview.

Read my article about this to get 3 great tips to build your confidence and have a better phone interview: Phone Interview Tips #5

And don't forget to check out my entire Phone Interview Tips Series.

Phone Interview Tips - Use Cheat Sheets

In school, 'cheat sheets' are the notes you sneak in to help you ace the test. In phone interviews, you can use cheat sheets, too--except in a phone interview, it's not cheating. It's just smart. (We can call them 'smart sheets.') They will help you ace your phone interview.

In the video below, I'll tell you what kinds of notes you should keep in front of you so you can refer to them during the interview. Click the video to watch.

Check out my blog post for more details on this issue: Phone Interview Tip 7

You can even read my entire series on Phone Interview Tips.

How to Write a 30-60-90-Day Plan for Job Interviews

If you understand just how much 30-60-90-day plans can help you get the job, then your next question is, "How do I write a 30-60-90-Day Plan?"How to write a 306090 Day Plan

These do take some work to research and put together, but the investment you make in time and effort is going to pay off big for you in terms of money and job offers.  This plan is going to help you have a wildly successful job interview.  So, now what?

How do you write a 30-60-90-Day Plan?

1.  The first 30 days of your plan is usually focused on training–learning the company systems, products, services, software, vendors, and/or customers.  So, most of the items in your 30-day plan should be along the lines of attending training, mastering product knowledge, learning specific corporate systems, traveling to learn your territory (if you’re in sales), meeting other members of the team, or reviewing accounts.

This part of the plan is all about getting your feet wet.  Not every boss has a lot of time to train you.  If you can show how you can get up to speed on your own, they love it.  No hand-holding necessary for you.

2.  The next 30 days (60-day) are focused on more field or independent time, less training, more customer introductions, more vendor introductions, reviews of customer satisfaction....just getting deeper into things. More details, more responsibility.

A big point here in this 60-day section is getting feedback from your manager to see how you're doing.  Put this in your plan.

3.  The last 30 days (90-day) are the "taking off on your own" part.  By now, you should be up to speed, rolling with some independence, and contributing significantly.  You should know your way around by now and be initiating things on your own:  thinking of ways to increase customers or revenue, generating ideas to save time or money, implementing plans or schedules, fine-tuning your schedule, and continuing  to get performance feedback.
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Phone Interview Tips - What Are Your Goals and How Do You Achieve Them?

Do you know what your phone interview goals are? It's not just to answer their questions and hope they like you. You do have a goal, and you do have to know the best way to hit it.

In the video below, I will tell you what your phone interview goal is, and tell you what has to happen in order for you to hit it.

Then, I will tell you the absolute, most important thing you can do in your phone interview (or any interview) to get you one step closer to the job offer. Click the video to watch.

Check out my blog post for more details on this issue: Phone Interview Tip 12

You can even read my entire series on Phone Interview Tips.