Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Everyone MUST Have Interview Preparation

INTERVIEW PREPARATION!
While having the necessary skills is key to landing a new job, so is acing the interview.
The online career site Glassdoor believes one of the best ways for job seekers to get ready for an interview is to practice their responses to any questions that may be asked. To help those who are preparing for an upcoming interview put their best foot forward, Glassdoor sifted through tens of thousands of their interview reviews to find out some of the most common questions candidates are getting asked.
The 50 most common interview questions for 2014 are:
1. What are your strengths?
2. What are your weaknesses?
3. Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?
4. Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years?
5. Why do you want to leave your current company?
6. Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?
7. What can you offer us that someone else cannot?
8. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?
9. Are you willing to relocate?
10. Are you willing to travel?
11. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
12. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
13. What is your dream job?
14. How did you hear about this position?
15. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
16. Discuss your résumé.
17. Discuss your education background.
18. Describe yourself.
19. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.
20. Why should we hire you?
21. Why are you looking for a new job?
22. Would you work holidays/weekends?
23. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
24. What are your salary requirements?
25. Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.
26. Who are our competitors?
27. What was your biggest failure?
28. What motivates you?
29. What’s your availability?
30. Who’s your mentor?
31. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.
32. How do you handle pressure?
33. What is the name of our CEO?
34. What are your career goals?
35. What gets you up in the morning?
36. What would your direct reports say about you?
37. What were your bosses’ strengths/weaknesses?
38. If I called your boss right now and asked him what is an area that you could improve on, what would he say?
39. Are you a leader or a follower?
40. What was the last book you've read for fun?
41. What are your co-worker pet peeves?
42. What are your hobbies?
43. What is your favorite website?
44. What makes you uncomfortable?
45. What are some of your leadership experiences?
46. How would you fire someone?
47. What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?
48. Would you work 40+ hours a week?
49. What questions haven’t I asked you?
50. What questions do you have for me?

see full article at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5796-job-interview-questions.html

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Will You Be Happy at Your NEW JOB?

How to Know If You'll Be Happy at Your New Job


You're looking at a new job, and the salary is solid, the expectations are reasonable, the work is exciting and the location is stellar. The company is successful, there's lots of room for you to move up and ample opportunity for you make an impact along the way.
But how do you know if you're going to be happy there?
There's a lot to consider when you're looking for a new job, and a company's culture is a major factor. Everything else about your new potential role can be outlined, drawn up and contracted, but mission statements can only tell you so much about what it will be like once you get to work.
However, there are a few things you can do to learn about it, and figure out if you can be happy there before you sign on the dotted line.

How to find out

The most direct way to gauge a company's culture is by asking the people who work there about it. If you don't have friends at a given company, asking your interviewer specific questions can help you get a sense of what life at the company is like beyond your job requirements.
You can ask her directly about the company's culture, or focus on a few key areas, such as what she loves most about the company, what the company values in an employee, what kind of working atmosphere exists and if employees socialize outside of work.
If you think the answers to those questions didn't give you enough information, see if you can arrange a tour of the office. Some interviews might include a brief look around the office, but if that doesn't work out, use the time before your interview to observe what's going on around you.
Pay close attention to how employees are interacting with each other, what they are wearing, how the office is laid out and decorated, and anything else you think is important for your happiness.
If you're still searching for more, hit the web. Glassdoor features reviews and ratings of companies by their employees that focus on working environment, employee benefits beyond health care and time off, the vision of the company and whether the company is moving in a positive direction.
You can also check out the company's social media accounts for an inside look at what's going on there, and you can even check Twitter to see how the employees interact with each other.

What to look for

The tools are there, but gauging a company's culture starts with what you value most in a working environment. There are a few generally beneficial things, including a collaborative and open environment and the presence of puppies, but an important office perk for one might be an unwelcome distraction for someone else.

Openness vs. privacy

First, think about what kind of workspace works best for you. This can vary by industry and position, but do you appreciate a bustling office with constant communication, or a place where you can hide away and knock out assignments with minimal interference? Or, do you prefer a company that will let you work from home frequently?
While a mindset of openness and cooperation is important for good communication, a physically open office without enough space and privacy can have a detrimental effect on employee productivity, work quality and health.

A healthy career

Your employer's investment in your health should go beyond insurance and sick leave. When considering a new company, see if it pushes its employees toward healthful choices — like restful breaks, an active life and a balance between work and leisure — or away from them.
As much as you might love the work you'll be doing, it won't matter if you don't stay healthy enough to do it.

Team camaraderie

Working well together is one thing, but how frequently do employees spend leisure time with each other? Whether it's weekly breakfasts and after-work events, a company ritual or just casual hangouts outside working hours, employees who enjoy each other's company typically make for a better working environment.



Full article at: http://mashable.com/2014/08/12/company-culture-tips/

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Learn to MASTER These Leadership Skills!

What is the most important characteristic of a leader? Some might say it's integrity. Others may say that it's being a good motivator. But psychologist and author Sherrie Campbell believes that self-awareness — the ability to monitor one's own emotions and reactions — is the key factor in leadership success.

"Self-awareness keeps us grounded, attuned and focused," said Campbell, author of "Loving Yourself: The Master of Being Your Own Person" (AuthorHouse, 2012). "When leaders are grounded, they are able to be efficient and deliberate in staying on task, and being attuned to those around them. Leaders who have the ability to control their minds and emotions help to guide those around them to develop their own self-knowledge and success."

Learning to be aware of yourself isn't always easy, but mastering this skill can help you become a much more effective leader. Campbell shared these seven tips for improving self-awareness.



  • Keep an open mind. When you have the ability to regulate your own emotional world, you can be attuned the emotions of others. To be a successful leader, you have to be curious about new people and all they have to offer. This shows that you can be a team player, and don't need to be No. 1. The more open you are to others, the more creative you become.
  • Be mindful of your strengths and weaknesses. Self-aware individuals know their own strengths and weaknesses and are able to work from that space. Being mindful of this means that you know when to reach out for assistance, and when you are good on your own.
  • Stay focused. Making connections with those around you is important as a leader. But you can't make those connections if you're distracted. Train yourself to focus for long periods of time without getting sucked into social media, emails and other small distractions.
  • Set boundaries. A leader needs to have strong boundaries in place. Be warm toward others, but say no when you need to say no. Be serious about your work and your passions, and keep your boundaries firm to maintain the integrity of your goals and the work you put into them.
  • Know your emotional triggers. Self-aware individuals are able to identify their emotions as they are happening. Don't repress your emotions or deny their causes; instead, be able to bend and flex with them, and fully process them before communicating with others.
  • Embrace your intuition. Successful people trust their gut instincts and take the risks associated with them. Your instincts are based on the survival of the fittest and the need to succeed. They tell us what to do next. Learn to trust these and use them.
  • Practice self-discipline. Good leaders tend to be disciplined at work and in every area of their life. It is a character trait that provides them with the enduring focus necessary for strong leadership.

See full article at http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6097-self-awareness-in-leadership.html