Tag: job search
Rounding out the list of common interview mistakes that job seekers make (see mistake #1 and mistake #2):
Mistake #3: Assuming a great resume is enough to get you hired
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because you have been called for an interview the job is already yours. No matter how great your resume is, you still need to prove yourself in person. Keep in mind that the impression you make on a prospective employer may begin as soon as you walk through the company’s front door.
From the moment you arrive for an interview, remember your body language. Pay attention to your posture and your facial expressions, and keep a professional demeanor both with the person interviewing you as well as with anyone else in the company that you may meet. This includes the person that greets you in the front office or reception area.
I’ll share a true story with you about when I interviewed candidates for Account Executive positions at a broadcasting organization. Our receptionist was instructed to observe the candidates as soon as they walked through the front door. She noted how they greeted her, how they treated her, if they made small conversation with her, how they handled themselves at the front office, whether they talked to other employees — all of this while waiting to begin the job interview. If a candidate wasn’t polite and friendly to the receptionist, they would not be considered for the position, mainly because they were going to be working with people, and we took pride in treating people right. This illustrates how a job candidate’s behavior is taken into consideration from the moment they enter the front office.
November 12, 2009
In additon to the first big mistake job seekers make when it comes to interviewing (going unprepared to the job interview), here is another common mistake:
Mistake #2: Failing to impress with your overall presentation
In addition to preparing for an interview with practice questions, the job seeker needs to make a great impression with their overall presentation, which includes everything from their cover letter and resume to their personal appearance and follow-up. You can refer to these posts for cover letter and resume tips, as well as suggestions for appropriate interview attire and etiquette:
Feeling comfortable with your overall presentation includes feeling confident and positive about the challenge in front of you. Knowing that you have put forth your best effort helps you feel that confidence. If you don’t like your resume, or if you doubt that you look as good as you should for the job interview, the interviewer will see that lack of confidence enough, and may assume it reflects a lack of interest in the position or the company. Your attitude — what you believe about yourself — will be projected to the interviewer, and may have an effect on the outcome of your interview. Pay attention to what your overall presentation portrays to the interviewing company about you as a potential employee. You must believe for others to believe.
November 11, 2009
So you got the call! You’ve been asked to come for an interview with a prospective employer. Now what?
This week we’re focusing on common mistakes to avoid during the interview process.
Mistake #1: Going unprepared to the job Interview.
There are several things a job seeker can do to prepare for a job interview. First, spend some time thinking about your unique assets before the interview. To take it a step further, it is helpful to write out and read over a list of the qualifications which make you unique. Practicing answers to possible interview questions is another important tool that can help you feel more comfortable once you are face to face with an interviewer. (See this post, this post, and this post for some sample interview questions to practice with.) You may not know in advance which questions to prepare for, but you can use sample questions to practice speaking about your experience and your qualifications. No matter how much you have practiced answering sample questions, remember to listen carefully to the questions that you are asked in an interview, and don’t be afraid to iake a few seconds to compose your thoughts before answering.
Finally, taking some time to research and learn as much as you can about the company you are interviewing with can be a crucial step in your preparation. Coming to an interview with some questions for the interviewer about the company shows that you have put effort into learning about your potential future employer.
November 10, 2009
This week we have assembled a list of questions that might be asked in a job interview. (Find the first and second set of possible questions here and here.) Practicing your answers to these questions is a good way to prepare yourself for a job interview.
POSSIBLE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
• When looking at all of the positions you have held, where have you been the most successful?
• What did you like the most about your most recent job and what did you like the least about it?
• Tell me what personality traits you have that will help you succeed in this field?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this field of work?
• What was the worst job you have had? The best?
• How long will it take you to start showing a profit for our company?
• Do you foresee any complications you might have in completing the job requirements as we have described them? Would you be able to overcome them, if any?
• Any concerns you personally have that might not allow you to do the job to your fullest potential?
• What does ‘Customer service’ means to you?
• Describe one instance in which you received POOR customer service, and one instance in which you got OUTSTANDING customer service.
• Please describe a time when you were praised by your manager for something extraordinary you did for someone else in the team.
• Do you have good oral and written communications skills? (In more than one language?)
• How good are you at writing business correspondence?
(Note: Everyone always replies: “I’m really good at writing letters”. However, this is not necessarily the case. That’s why some companies test this ability, including our company. Be prepared for this question, and with the answer. If you are not good at writing letters, be honest and say something like: “I would like to get better at writing letters and would love the company’s help if I’m hired. That’s a personal goal of mine.” Again, honesty is the best policy. Keep in mind that the interviewer can read your body language and whether you are comfortable writing letters or not. At this point, there could be a surprise for you. The company might ask for a written exercise as part of the interview process.)
November 4, 2009
This week we have assembled a list of questions that might be asked in a job interview. (For the first set of possible questions, read this.) Practicing your answers to these questions is a good way to prepare yourself for a job interview.
POSSIBLE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
• Who is the person you admire the most in life – and why?
(Note: Here the interviewer is looking for what personality traits you admire and want to emulate.)
• Recall an incident in which you felt like you made a major mistake. What was it and how did you remedy it? What did you learn from it?
• What type of manager do you like to work for? – Or – Describe “the boss of your dreams”.
• Tell me about a recent experience with a fellow team-member, in which your team member impressed you, and why?
• How do you handle stress related to the job?
• How do you feel about feedback on your work – both positive and negative?
• If you are chosen, what particular personal goals would you like to achieve in this career opportunity? Please describe.
• What are you looking for in your next job and in the next company that employs you?
• Have your previous jobs prepared you for greater tasks and responsibilities? If so, how?
November 3, 2009
This week we’ll focus on possible questions that a company could ask you in a job interview. This will allow you to think about the answers beforehand and prepare for the interview. (For more interview preparation tips, read this post.)
POSSIBLE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
• Tell me about yourself. What are your qualifications for this position?
(Note: Here, you must have a copy of your resume ready to hand over. Read this post for tips on writing a memorable resume.)
• What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in life so far?
• Tell me about your work experience. What makes you a good fit for this company?
(Note: You need to know enough about the position you are applying for to be able to spell out how your skills will be a benefit to the company.)
• Tell me what you know about this company and why you want to work here.
(Note: You must do your homework about the company you’re interviewing with before the interview, and be an expert on their products and services. Read this post for more about the importance of doing your research.)
• What kind of company do you want to work for?
(Note: This question will help the employer decide if you will fit in with their team.)
• What are your two greatest strengths – which would make you an asset to this company?
• What do you consider to be your two biggest weaknesses? Please describe in detail.
• What would you say were your most important accomplishments in your last (or present) job?
November 2, 2009
The final of our top five emerging industries for bilingual employees is retail. (The other emerging industries on our list are telecommunications, banking & finance, health care and education.)
Retail
The retail world is a large employer of bilingual personnel. The large chains such as Target, JC Penney, Sears, Wal-Mart and K-Mart, in addition to smaller retail outlets in malls all over the country, need to fill positions in human resources, management, sales, inventory management and customer service. In all of these job areas the chance for interaction with bilingual customers is high. It is a fantastic advantage to be able to serve and communicate with a multicultural customer base. The hiring of bilingual personnel can mean higher sales volumes for retailers because they can sell and service this growing segment of the market.
The possibilities are endless for bilingual personnel. For more thoughts on marketing bilingual skills to potential employers, read The Advantages of Being Bilingual, and How to Write a Cover Letter that Showcases your Bilingual Skills.
To browse the bilingual job opportunities in retail that are available on BilingualJobFair.com, click here!
October 30, 2009
We have a couple more industries to cover as part of this series on emerging industries for bilingual jobs in the U.S. The fourth industry that offers a growing opportunity for bilingual job candidates is education. (For previous emerging industries, read this post, this post and this post.)
Education
Participation in the local, national, and international community is strengthened by knowledge of the language and cultures of other people. The key is to teach language skills so we can communicate with each other and give everyone an equal chance to become a productive member of society. The increase in the number of students in the U.S. who use English as a second language is creating more positions for bilingual personnel in our primary and secondary school systems, as well as at the college and university levels. Opportunities will continue to expand for bilingual teachers, administrators, translators, financial aide advisors and school social workers.
There are many dedicated bilingual employees at schools and colleges who are helping our bilingual students advance. To learn more about what students go through to acquire a second language, read this post about the stages people go through to become bilingual.
Check back tomorrow for the final industry on our list.
Also, to browse bilingual job opportunities in education on BilingualJobFair.com, click here!
October 29, 2009
This week’s focus is on emerging industries for bilingual jobs in the U.S. and the types of jobs bilingual candidates can find within those fields. The third industry that we feel is among the top five for bilingual jobs is health care. (For previous emerging industries, read this post and this post.)
Health Care
Nowhere is it more evident than in the field of health care that the United States must respond to the needs of our diverse population. We need to increase the access to quality care for all citizens, including those who only speak a foreign language. Hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance agencies all hire bilingual employees to address these needs. In addition to improving communication between health care providers and their patients who come from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, medical care employers are also looking to broaden the diversity in health care leadership and administration.
Hospitals in particular are excellent sources of jobs for the bilingual job-seeker. The types of positions that are needed to be filled include: hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, medical assistants, emergency medical technicians, case managers, health educators, counselors, and billing/accounting representatives.
We have two emerging industries for bilingual jobs left to cover!
In the meantime, to browse bilingual job opportunities in the health care field on BilingualJobFair.com, click here!
October 28, 2009
This week’s focus is on emerging industries for bilingual jobs in the U.S. and the types of jobs bilingual candidates can find within those fields. (See yesterday’s post for the first industry on our list.) The second of the top five emerging industries for bilingual jobs:
Banking and Financial Services
This industry offers career opportunities for the following bilingual professionals: bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, realtors, insurance agents and automobile dealers. These professionals represent and discuss very personal matters with their clients, who want to make sure that they are well understood. With the ability to communicate effectively in more than one language, the bilingual professional can expand their clientele, and can reach out to people of other cultures. (For more thoughts on the advantages of being bilingual, read this post.)
Additional jobs available in professional offices include customer service representatives, administrative assistants, billing/accounting representatives, claims representatives, tellers and loan personnel. The banking industry in particular is eager to provide services to all populations, including the Hispanic community — the largest minority group in the United States. They also want to service the more than 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S., and are therefore a key employer for those seeking Spanish-speaking jobs.
We have three more emerging industries for bilingual jobs coming. Stay tuned….
In the meantime, to browse bilingual job opportunities in banking and finance on BilingualJobFair.com, click here!
October 27, 2009
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