Understanding Yourself is the Key to Interview Success

Understanding Yourself is the Key to Interview Success By Benjamin Wise


Understanding yourself is the key to interview success. When you go on a job interview you are in essence selling yourself to your potential employer. You need to be well-prepared for your job interview. You need to have a clear and accurate picture of what qualifications and skills you have. Try writing down your qualifications and skills and memorizing them before you go on your job interview.
Knowing what strengths and weaknesses you have is essential on a job interview. Many interviewers will ask you the question what is your greatest strength and what is your biggest weakness?
The way that you answer this question will greatly affect the outcome of your job interview. You need to really think about this question before you go on your job interview.
Try to be very personal with your response so that the interview can connect with you and understand you better. Good answers for your greatest strength can include that you are efficient, responsible, prompt, and a hard worker etc. When you are asked about your biggest weakness you should be honest you could say that you are too organized or too structured.
A good interview is one that leaves the employer feeling like they have found someone special in a stack of similar resumes. Your answers need to connect with the interviewer so that you make a strong impression on them. You should be as thorough and descriptive as you can when describing yourself on an interview.
The main reason you go on a job interview is to show the employer who you are and what you bring to the table. You need to fully understand yourself and what positive attributes you would bring to the job position if the employer hired you.
You should come up with at least five positive attributes about yourself before your interview so that you have some talking points to discuss on your job interview. Hopefully, this article will help you understand yourself so that you will have interview success.
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You Can Get Interviews: Use a Letter of Introduction

You Can Get Interviews: Use a Letter of Introduction by Darrell Z. DiZoglio

Why use a letter of introduction? So you will get an invitation where you don't already have a strong contact. With all the press social networks get like facebook.com, myspace.com, brightfuse.com and linkedin.com you might think they are indispensable. Not me, first of all they are a lot of trouble to set up, get pictures for and maintain. Then too you become searchable on Google and visible to the whole public.
What if you like your privacy? I myself prefer the simple and direct approach just like nature. When you need a great new job all you need to do is ask for it. Now since we all do not practice networking much in real life. Do not just pick up the phone to ask for it, put it in writing.
I believe the shortest distance between any two points is a straight line. This is why I believe in letters of introduction, or cover letters as some folks call them. My dear reader hopefully this incredible technological revolution we have all entered has not caused your brain cells to stagnate. Let me make it clear a cover letter is a magical door opening introduction. No doubt it is a sales letter but it takes you and your career places that are usually inaccessible. However, a high quality creative cover letter is required to do this. You are addressing a key figure in your target industry remember.
The main purposes for the cover letter: It allows you access to perfect strangers, in companies where you do not have a contact. It acts like the sizzling plate of fajitas that passes you by at your local TGI Friday's Restaurant. It provides an irresistible essence of you and your skills to the right people who will be receptive to your talent. It provides a bit of insight to your true writing abilities, intelligence and creativity which could give you a significant edge over the competition. It allows you to address how you will solve the most pressing challenge that particular company has to face. Finally, it allows you to beat the usual stampede of applicants that otherwise would be your competition if you hadn't just finished first already.
Is it frustrating to show up at an employers HR department only to find out you have so much competition that interviews will end five days from now? Is it frustrating to see a stack of resumes six inches tall on your interviewers desk? Do they ask you for another copy of your resume since it will take too long to dig through that big stack on their desk? Would you believe you can by pass that needle in a haystack routine with eye popping cover letter? That is exactly what cover letters are for my friend. Occasionally, to test my new ideas and the current business climate I'll ask for feedback from a cover letter client. Recently we got five email responses & an interview invitation from a single cover letter. Who would have thought a great cover letter could get passed along with in a company even before your interview?
Not only have I heard stories of outstanding results from my clients in the resume writing business, I myself certainly have experienced them first hand. Once without warning, I was laid off work as a successful store manager after the Gordon's Jewelers merger with Zale Corp in 1989. I needed a good job quick and I was stuck in St. Albans, VT in the winter. Naturally, I wasn't going out to pound the pavement in -10 degree temperatures with a snow storm on the way. So I made an executive decision, I sent a few cover letters out. Two days later, I had an interview in Providence, RI at Tilden-Thurber Jewelers with both the CEO and owner together. After an hour of tough questions, I was hired.
Know this wasn't just any jeweler; this was the finest jeweler in all of RI and certainly one of the best in the entire nation. American Gem Society, in business since 1767, Ideal cut diamonds only, these were just a few of the things that made them so special. Honestly, I couldn't believe I was lucky enough to get an interview. But to by pass the HR department entirely and interview directly with the owner and the CEO that was monumental. Since I had no competition and was qualified, I was hired right on the spot. They did naturally, do a full background check before I started that was just routine though. Ever since my first experience with a cover letter, I have always used them and highly recommended them. In fact, in my own professional writing business they are always included with the price of a professionally written resume.
Keep in mind, the cover letter only was sent out. My resume only was shown at the interview. Should they ask though I will email it directly to them. My point is a well written cover letter that is tailored to each company's needs is your ticket to success. I am trying to open your mind up to a world of opportunity that exists outside of the help wanted ads. Many of the finest companies don't even use help wanted ads anyway.
In closing, if you would like to really advance your career, open your mind to all the possibilities and opportunity out there. Look beyond the help wanted ads which are mere fallen bread crumbs. You are invited to the unlimited abundance that the world has all around you. Welcome to your five star catered table Mr. Employee of the Year. We have been saving a chair for you thank goodness you sent us that cover letter a year ago. Yes Virginia, there really is opportunity everywhere all you have to do is ask. From Matthew 7:7 in the Bible: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you." Cover letters work and are time tested and proven.
Finally, if you are not skilled writing about yourself and more importantly selling yourself, you might want to leave the making yourself irresistible part to a professional writer. Remember cover letters should be custom tailored to each particular job target and company to have maximum impact. Resumes should follow this rule too. Would you as an employer find a generic resume and cover letter even mildly interesting? Do you know the hot button words that act like high powered magnets for employers? Do you have super editing and proofreading skills as your whole career is riding on your writing? If the answer is tentative, a maybe or no, ask for professional help. A wise man once said: "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
About the Author
As a former Sales & Marketing Manager and Recruiter, I learned all the hiring secrets that worked. After all I was the one doing the hiring. I am sharing them with everyone go to: http://www.RighteousResumes.com
Want to know how the competition got the job you interviewed for? Go to: http://www.RighteousResumes.com/services.html

Choosing a Resume Service

Choosing a Resume Service by Jason Kay

There is no doubt that we are in some of the toughest economic times that we have seen in more than 70 years. Rather than looking for people to hire, companies are laying people off in numbers not seen in 25 years. The unemployment level is now over 6% nationwide.
How do you find a job in these tough times? One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to update your resume. Experts suggest having a professional writer resume rather than trying to do it yourself.
Why Do You Need a Professionally Written Resume?
Face it. There is a lot of competition for the job you're seeking. Computer job classifieds don't cater to just a few people; instead, they leave the job openings for the entire public to view. If you want your resume to stand out in the crowd, it needs to be the best of the best. Unless, you know what you're doing, you may spoil your chances for getting an interview.
You may be tempted to pass on the idea of hiring a professional, because writing a resume seems so easy. Your word processing software has several different templates that you can modify for your own use. It seems like a good idea until you consider that everyone else has the same templates you want to use.
How Do You Find the Right Company?
There a lot of individuals operating freelance businesses that will write your resume for you. In addition to the individuals, there are also a lot of professional companies that produce professional resumes. How do you sort through all the propaganda offered by these services to find the gem at the bottom of the pile? Here are some strategies that should help you find the right service to produce your new resume.
• Does the professional have a website? If they are serious about producing resumes, then they should have a website detailing their credentials and the services that they provide. Look it over carefully. Does it impress you? If it does, then research further. If it turns you off, then look elsewhere.
• Is the professional a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers? While it is not required to produce a quality resume, anyone who has the designation CP RW (Certified Professional Resume Writer) is serious about the resume business. If they care enough to maintain membership in the PA RW, then they will understand the latest and best information on how to make your resume stand out.
• Do they have samples of their work? Ask to review some samples of previous resumes on which they have worked. Ask if they have any testimonials from previous clients.
• Do they guarantee their work to be error-free? Any serious professional will guarantee that their work will be delivered error free.
• Price is important too. How much do they charge for their services, and what services do they provide for the price they charge? Will they provide you with a CD copy of your resume? Is the cover letter included?
Even though you find the best resume writer, you will still need to have the ability to adjust your resume on every job that you apply for. The changes you make will only need to be minor, but these days, you need to target your resume specifically for every job. That is one way to make it stand out from the crowd.
About the Author
Jason Kay recommends you read resume service reviews before choosing a resume writing service.

The 3 Steps Job Interview Success

The 3 Steps Job Interview Success by Owaduge olumide

The latest report in the world over is that there is a great economic downturn in every country. Therefore it is no gainsaying that it is very difficult to get a job these days. Unemployment is on the increase as many companies are cutting jobs. In fact, just getting a job interview can be quite a challenge let alone getting the job itself. You need to make sure you do everything you can to make your cover letter and resume stand out amongst all other competitors. Unfortunately, eventhogh if you do that it still might not be enough to get an interview. Therefore, you must also use all of your contacts and connections to help you secure the interview. However, once you have landed a job interview closing the deal and securing yourself the job goes a long way beyond just answering the interview questions correctly. Whether you get your dream job or not will depend on how you present yourself during the interview. I'm mean how you present yourself through your body language, the way you respond to questions, your mannerisms, your dress etc. Many people do not spend much time preparing for job interview. And the few that do prepare most of the time usually focus solely on how to answer the job interview questions. While that is important there is much more to it if you want to truly secure yourself the position. If you truly want to get yourself that dream job of yours, you need to go the extra mile. Bellow is some of the things you should consider:
1. Getting the Interview If you really want to get the job and want to get a call for an interview then your resume should stand out from the others. This include relevant information and highlight headings. In the beginning, include your career objective that describes your skills and qualities along with what you are looking for in the job. Make sure your resume, and particularly your résumé's objective, are very specific. In other words, you want to create a job-specific resume. A one-size-fits-all resume is NOT going to get you the job. You should also, print your resume on high quality paper and do not overcrowd it...make sure there is enough "white space" so your resume is easy to read.
2. Acing the Interview Once you have gotten a call for the interview you should start preparing for it right away. While preparing for the interview, remember the key things mentioned below. I. Be optimistic, self confident, and believe in yourself during the interview and tell yourself you are the one for the job. II. Remember, you are a salesman and the product is YOU! You are going to the interview to market yourself and this will definitely determine your future. III. Your first impression is the last one, so dress appropriately and watch out for any bad speaking habits you might have (too many hand gestures, biting nails, cracking knuckles etc.) IV. From the beginning of the interview be yourself and speak about your skills that specifically match the job you are interviewing for. V. Take your time to answer the questions...think about what you are going to say before you say it. VI. Do not lie. This will come back to haunt you later. VII. Ask questions during the interview. However, do not ask unrelated questions...that may turn out to be an interview killer.
3. Following up on the Interview At the end of the interview you should ask when you should expect to hear from them about the position. The very next day you should send a hand-written thank you note on professionally monogrammed paper to each person on the interview committee. Mention something specific from the interview in your thank you note so your interview stands out from the others. Wait a couple of days and then send an email...follow that up with a phone call etc. When the competition is tough it is often times the person who follows through that gets the job. With so much competition out there getting a job these days can be tough. The people who get the jobs are the ones who think of it as a three step interview process...getting the interview, acing the interview, and following up on the interview.
About the Author
No one will even look at your resume if your cover letter sucks! To discover some of the greatest... Owaduge olumide is an expert author,an article writer cum ace infopreneur.You can learn more on how you can be happy doing your job here: www.mydreamjob.tk

Are You Ready For Your First Job?

Are You Ready For Your First Job? by Wei King

Perhaps you are just a young student, but you need more money to afford your life, so you may want to find a proper job. However, don't be so impatient to find a job, you should think if you have good ability for job.
Good communication skills. Communication skills are important for any jobs, good communication skills allow a person to express themselves in words, speech, or writing so others can understand them. if a person doesn't have good communication skills they have trouble expressing their thoughts, emotion, and opinions. Some of us may be smart, but when it comes down to the real world, Good communication is the key to success. Why with today's use of computers it seems that people are lacking this skill more and more by the day.
The best way to better communication is simple: practice, practice, practice. Many people are so used to simplistic internet lingo that it is hard to communicate professionally. Reading books is also helpful to increase vocabulary.
Good learning ability. Good learning ability can make you progress well. There are many ways to improve your learning ability. Boost your interest because this is the only key to give your full capacity. Try to develop motivation because this will keep you working in spite of difficulties and hindrances. Do your best and always realize that you have to pay for the price it costs after all it is you who will gain. Read books and apply them to your life feeling that it is such an enjoyment. Listen to the others' advices and whatever criticism they would give just accept it and think that it is for your improvement. Learn to socialize with different kinds of people for learning from others is greater than learning with the books. Remember that iron can only be sharpen by an iron also just like man is being sharpened by his fellow. And lastly be open to all opportunities that would challenge you to strengthen your ability.
Teamwork skills. In graduate school and on the job, students will be working as groups, and many jobs require you have teamwork & social skills, such as at Mcdonalds, good teamwork skills is a must. What is the most effective method of improving teamwork effectiveness? Aside from any required technical proficiency, a wide variety of social skills are desirable for successful teamwork, including listening, discussing, questioning, persuading and so on. Also you can try to get your head out of the class room and think how this stuff would work in the real world. Giving a presentation on team work will be ineffective if the concept of team is not evident in in the way you conduct your business, make it flow through your work unit.
Job interview skills. You must know some important job interview skills. First and foremost: proper preparation prevents poor performance! Go over some interview questions out loud with yourself. Make sure to shake everyone's hands when you meet them and when you leave; thank them as well. Greet people by their names when they are introduced to you.
Make sure you thoroughly understand the position you are applying for as well as the department it is in. Read up on the company at their website; be familiar with their work; you may even be able to see pics of their staff and maybe even the person/people you will be interviewing with. This is really helpful because their faces will be familiar to you when you meet them; calms the nerves a bit.
About the Author
Wei King is a webmaster, his website offers information about Jobs for 14 Year Olds & Jobs for 15 Year Olds, if you are 14 or 15 years old, and you want to find a job, watch his articles, these articles will help you.

Here's How You Can Run An Employee Background Check Or Criminal Background Check On Anyone

Here's How You Can Run An Employee Background Check Or Criminal Background Check On Anyone by Glen Pearson

Any employer should make sure to include employee background checks in their hiring process. These checks allow employers to have a perfect method for finding out background information about all their applicants. It's information you wouldn't get otherwise! This can be an important step in finding out if someone is the right person for the position.
Employers who decide to skip this important step almost always end up regretting it later. Just running an ordinary background check could allow you to get a full list of information on someone's history. No matter what they did, where they lived, or who they worked for, you'll know about it.
This could be a big help when the time comes to make your decision. Just doing a simple employee background check could help you find an amazing amount of information. It's sad, but some applicants lie on their resumes about previous jobs, or don't mention previous criminal convictions. While you might have hired them if they'd come clean, turning up the information on a background check tells you they're dishonest, and you avoid making a big mistake.
Of course, employers aren't the only people who can get a lot out of running a background check. Run one on yourself if you're applying for a job, too. That'll tell you what might come up in an interview, and even some things you might have forgotten about your past.
Having your background report on hand before the interview lets you anticipate any and all questions, and you'll be able to decide what the best response is to all of them. You'll also get a better idea what your potential employer does and does not know about you.
Not sure how to run an employee background check?
This process is now a lot easier than it used to be. Everything can be done online, and there's no need to hire any kind of investigative service.
That's because the Internet contains a number of companies that have put together full background databases on almost everyone. Just log into the site, enter the name you want to inquire about, and you'll get all the information available on that person.
You will pay a small fee for the service, but it's worth it. You have two basic options - paying once for a single background check, and again for each subsequent one, and paying a flat membership fee for unlimited checks. Since the membership is usually only about two or three times what a single report costs, it's the best idea for employers.
Keep in mind that you can use this same process anytime you want to look into someone's background - not just for an employee background check. Whether you need to run a criminal background check on someone or are curious about somebody's past, this will help you get the answer you want.
Any company that's trying to find the right people for their positions should make sure to do background checks on all applicants. This screening process is inexpensive, easy, and effective.
About the Author
Your personal background check report will include full information about anyone's past and will be instantly displayed on your computer screen. Click Here to run a free sample background check report to see how this works.....

Basic Job Interview Skills for Teens

Basic Job Interview Skills for Teens by Wei King

Interview is very important for teens to get a job successfully, following job interview skills are basic and important, read carefully and keep them in mind, they will help you pass the interview.
Be honest and be yourself. Dishonesty gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good match between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer will both be unhappy. Do expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were treated inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Services advisor or the director.
Prepare, prepare, prepare! Find out as much as you can about the program and prepare some insightful questions to ask in the interview that will differentiate you from the other candidates. Prepare good answers to standard interview questions such as "Why should we employ you?". Prepare for possible behavioral questions that explore relevant competencies for this job such as initiative and judgment.Have an interview portfolio ready that contains employment references and appropriate work samples.
What to wear. I was a human resources manager before I became a stay at home mommy, so I have interviewed MANY teenagers. Wear your dress pants and long sleeved shirt, if thats all you have. NO jeans, no capris, no tees of any kind. Hopefully the interview will be conducted inside in air conditioning. If need be, wear a tank top underneath while driving to the interview, and put the dress shirt on in the car if you want to be fresh and not too hot. Otherwise, try borrowing a short sleeved, button up and higher necked blouse from a friend or family member and wear with your dress pants. I have interviewed many people who were not dressed appropriately, and was very distracted by it. First impressions are everything.
Body language. Smiling will send good messages to the interviewer. Don't smile too big or too much b/c that's just plain cheesy & he or she will think you're fake. Nodding a lot shows agreement & understanding. Sit up tall, feel on the ground, shoulders back and hands folded on the table in front of you. Make sure your clothes fit well & your hair is done nicely & out of your face. You don't want to be making any adjustments or seem distracted by your own clothing/hair decisions.
About the Author
Wei King is a webmaster, his website offers information about Jobs for 14 Year Olds & Jobs for 15 Year Olds, if you are 14 or 15 years old, and you want to find a job, watch his articles, these articles will help you.

How to write a CV that will get you an interview

How to write a CV that will get you an interview by Perry Kramer

How to write a CVWhether finding a new job is your top priority or something you have just started thinking about, you will find that there are plenty of reasons to stop and consider how effective your CV is. Your first and only chance to catch the eye of a recruiter or a human resources department,yours CV is in many cases.
It does need to be in top form. You will find that knowing how to write a CV is a powerful tool that can help you secure the interviews that will get you where you want to go,in today's job market.
Find out the correct CV layout for the industry you plan to apply for when you start thinking about how you're going to put together your CV. You want to make sure that it paints a strong picture of who you are and what you can do for them as an employee,and you want a CV that will put you and your accomplishments forward in the best possible light.
The most common type is a chronological CV which provides a list of your prior jobs in order by date for a period of time. A functional CV outlines your strengths, is perfect for your needs especially if there are gaps in your employment. A combination of these two styles is ideal,you may find that.
When you are looking at how to write up a CV, you need to make sure that you think all of the major parts of it. Typically, you start off with a general summary or an aspiration in less than a few sentences. You should list the positions you held and your responsibilities you had while holding them, however if you are building a functional resume you need to think about different segments for your different types of skills. Next, list your formal education and, if applicable, certifications, then contacts or references.
Knowing how to build a good CV is imperative to the success on the job hunt. This will be the information that gets you into an interview where you will figure out that your CV is an important mirror to the person you are and that now you can prove what you can give to the company. Your CV should not contain your complete personal history, it should give a prospective employer what he needs to know to employ you.
Make sure that you are getting the right information across,when you are looking at how to write a CV. This is your best shot at getting you the job you are after, so give it the time it deserves.
There are less jobs to go around and far more people competing for each and every job,with the Credit Crunch. An well written CV makes you stand out from the crowd and makes all the difference to get an interview.Visit here for additional free information about How to Write a CV. http://www.topcv.co.uk.
About the Author
Perry Kramer writes regularly about business related topics. I hope you enjoy this article.