Interview Guide Part II: The Actual Process of a Job Interview

The actual face-to-face interview also has a similar process to that of preparing for an interview beforehand. This section of the job interview guide will consider the following five steps for a successful interview.

Part II: The Actual Interview

[1] Arrive on time: Never be late for an interview. Arriving on time is part of the interview hiring process. By arriving on time, it shows the interviewer that you are prompted, ready, able to follow directions, prepared, and serious about your desire for the position being offered. Arriving at the location five to ten minutes early is your safest bet not to be late. Be warned though, arriving too early is frowned upon as well. You may seem too eager and might be interrupting what the interviewer was doing before your appointment time. Call ahead if you cannot make it on time, providing a good reason for the delay (be prepared for the possibility of having to reschedule if late).

[2] Introduce yourself: For your interview preparation beforehand, you might want to work on your introduction and handshake because the first thing the interviewer will be appraising is how self-assured you look. Make sure you carry yourself with confidence when entering a room. Also remember that a firm handshake conveys strength. Try remembering the interviewer’s name when introductions are being made, the interview will progress on better terms if you respond using the name of the person you are speaking with. Also have in mind that anyone who is introduced to you is an important figure within the organization and may have an input in the decision making process, so act accordingly. After the introductions are made, a seat should be offered to you. But do not sit anywhere, wait until the interviewer motions exactly where he/she would like for you to sit. Once seated and introductions are over and done with, the interview is ready to begin.

[3] Conversing with the interviewer: Probably the hardest process of a job interview is the conversation itself because unlike your daily conversations, an interview conversation is a technical process. You must be truthful, yet not too much. Answers should be answered in such a way that nothing negative is given away, while sounding natural. Don’t mumble or rush your speech. Make sure you speak clearly, loudly, and slowly enough for the interviewer to hear you because the more you sound sure of yourself, the more the interviewer is confident that you are capable of doing the job. Treat the interviewer with respect by listening and responding with interest. The biggest thing to remember is that enthusiasm makes the difference between a good or a bad interview.

[4] Responding to questions: There are four things to keep in mind when you’re responding to the interviewer’s questions:

• Listen Carefully—Make sure you hear the questions correctly because it does not look good if you answer inappropriately for not understanding the question being asked.

• Answers should be specific and organized—Make sure you consider the use of time during your job interview preparation of how you want to answer the most common asked questions, mentioned in Part I of this job interview guide. The interviewer has many things to accomplish in addition to your interview throughout the day, so make sure your answers are precise and short. When asked, think about the question and then consider your reply before answering.

• Frame answers positively while emphasizing your strengths—Avoid going into detail unless it is requested when you answer a question. The key is to highlight your positive assets only and show the interviewer why it would be a good idea for the company to hire you. This does not mean you should be dishonest with your answers though.

• Discuss your weaknesses honestly—More likely than not, you will be asked what you believe is your greatest weakness. Honesty enhances your credibility with this question. Discuss your weaknesses and then tell the interviewer what you have learned from them and how you intend to improve upon them. Turn a weakness into a positive learning experience. Remember, interviewers have interviewed many times before, they can spot a fake answer before it is even out of your mouth (i.e. “I’m a workaholic”).

[5] Do’s and don’t of interviewing: Avoid any bad habits that show your nervousness (i.e. biting your nails, playing with hair, fidgeting, tapping your hand or pen). Practice hiding your bad habits during your interview preparation beforehand if it’s hard to break. Do not assume what the interviewer is going to say or ask. If uncertain about a question, it is better to ask the interviewer to repeat it or explain it further for you to comprehend. Do not lie, exaggerate, or speak badly of your former employer or company (interviewer will wonder if you would do the same thing to his/her company).

Do make eye contact with the interviewer. By making eye contact, you’re showing the interviewer that you are listening and that you are fully involved within the conversation. Watch for the interviewer's body language. Folded arms, yawning, picking up papers, concentrating on something else are signs that the interview lasted too long, or the answers you are giving are too long and vague. React quickly and positively to any negative signs. And most importantly—SMILE.

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Interview Guide Part I: Preparation for the Interview

You finally received the phone call you have been waiting for, “We would like for you to come in for an interview.” The first step through the hiring door is now open. But what comes after that? The process of a job interview is like a performance and with every successful performance, there are preparations to take for a successful show. This job interview guide will go over the three essential parts to a successful interview.

Part I: Preparing for the Interview

Job interview preparation is an important first step to take because your degree of preparation will be noted by the hiring manager. For the interview to be a success, you must be willing to prepare ahead of time. Here are five steps to prepare before an interview:

[1] Identify your personal goals: Understand exactly you want out of a job. What type, kind, and requirements are you looking for? Do you want a 9 to 5, a job that allows you to travel, office position that handles paperwork or a position that requires a more physical challenge? Understanding your personal goals and needs is an important first step to an interview preparation that will help guide you in what companies you should be looking into about possible job openings.

[2] Learn about the company: Part of the interview hiring process is to understand the company you are interested in working for. Understanding what the organization is all about and showing that you are still interested after gathering all the information shows the hiring manager your ability to commit. A basic search should suffice, unless the position requires a more extensive research. There are number of ways to find information on a company: public library, a search on the internet, or speak to a current employee.

[3] Think of questions you may want to ask: Most often than not, the hiring manager will ask if you have any questions about the company and the position being offered. This is where your knowledge that you have researched before the actual interview comes into play. Prepare to ask thoughtful and useful questions. Make sure to ask well thought out questions and avoid “me-centered” questions (i.e. salary, vacation time). Here are some questions to ask at interview:

• What are some the responsibilities of the position offered?
• Is there mobility within the organization, a possibility to grow within the company?
• What are the career paths in this department?
• What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
• What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?
• Could you describe a typical day or week in this position?
• The typical client or customer I would be dealing with?
• What are the most immediate challenges of the position that needs to be addressed in the first three months?

[4] Consider the type of clothing to wear: Clothes is also an important part for job interview preparation. First impression is made with your appearance, before any words are spoken. You want to dress properly and professionally. Here are some tips on what is considered appropriate interview attire for both men and women according to Career Services at Virginia Tech University:

• Suit: A two piece matched suit is always the best and safest choice.

• But what if the job is in a non-suit-wearing work environment: Even if you would or could wear jeans on the job, or the work environment is outdoors and very non-suit, wearing a suit to the interview shows you take the interview seriously as a professional meeting. Dressing well is a compliment to the person(s) with whom you meet. If you think the industry in which you're interviewing would frown on a suit, or the interview will involve going to a work site where a suit would be inappropriate, look for advice through professional organizations, your professors who have been employed in that industry, and/or by asking the employer directly and politely.

• Conservative colors / fabric: Navy, dark gray (and black for women) — are safe. Other color trends may come and go; avoid the extremes. Solids or very subtle weave patterns or plaids (the kind that look solid across a room) are safest. Wool, wool blends, or good quality micro fiber for women only, are generally the best fabrics in all seasons. Avoid acetate / rayon blends.

• Cost / quality: You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a corporate CEO. Do invest in quality that will look appropriate during your first two or three years on the job. One good quality suit is sufficient for a job search if that is all your budget allows. You can vary your shirt/blouse tie/accessories.

• Details: Everything should be clean and well pressed. Carefully inspect clothes for tags, dangling threads, etc.

[5] Practice answering questions: You will be asked a lot of questions and the more you answer with confidence and eloquence, better the chances are that the position will be given to you. It is the job of the interviewer to find out as much job-relevant information about you as possible, so some of the questions will be easy to answer and others might be a bit more difficult (i.e. why did you leave your last job?) You can’t foresee every question the hiring manager is going to ask you, but there are common questions asked by most hiring departments. Here is a list of some of the most common employment interview questions:

• What are your major weaknesses?
• What type of work experience do you bring to this job?
• What do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What assets do you bring to this company?
• Discuss a project or undertaking in which you have been successful, why do you believe you succeeded.
• Discuss something at which you did not succeed, what you learned from the experience.
• If you have supervised others, how do you think your staff would describe your management style?
• How do you feel about working in stressful situations?
• Would you describe yourself as a thinker or an action taker?
• Describe a goal you have set for yourself in the past and the steps you took to accomplish it.
• Pick someone in the business or professional world that you admire- why do you respect this individual?
• What do you do for fun? What are your personal interests?
• Describe the type of manager you would like to work for.

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Online Training: 5 Reasons Corporate America Favors Online Training Courses

It’s no surprise why corporate America fancy’s web based e-learning over traditional universities. According to an article featured on USA Today, “Online Courses the Rage in Corporate Training,” employers spent $57 million to train their workers. There are numbers or reasons why corporate are trending away from the traditional university model, the top five being:

1. The current economic situation necessitates the need to economize—any discovery to decrease expenses are welcomed by most corporate companies and with so many e-learning platforms that offer affordable monthly subscription based services, distance corporate training and development programs can help companies save millions of dollars each year.

2. Companies perception of training employees as an unredeemable cost has changed—unlike before, corporate do not view expenditures to develop the human potential a wasted investment anymore, but a worthy cause with infinite potential in return. The return on training improves performances and attitudes from employees necessary to achieve organizational growth.

3. Online training allow learners to learn at their own pace—Whether learners are required to learn technical work related training, complete full degrees or certification programs, web based e-learning allows learners to work at their own pace without having to wait for others.

4. Corporate training institutes has removed the need to travel—by removing the need for learners to join together to learn and study reduces a significant amount of cost in lost time and opportunity for companies by not having their employees away from their responsibilities for extended periods of time.

5. Online training is learner-centered—online corporate software training can deliver the concept of group learning and collaborative problem solving right to the employee’s home. Allowing learners more control with course pacing, sequencing and styles, online training is learner-centered.

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Human Resource Management: The Fundamental and Importance of HRM Function

What is human resource management (HRM) and its importance within a business context? Human resource management, interchangeable with talent management, is the department that functions within an organization in charge of the overall responsibility of implementing strategies and policies relating to management. Talent management system reflects business management’s adoption of a more quantitative, strategic approach to workforce maintenance.

Purpose and role of a talent management system
Human resource’s reputation used to be thought of as a department that handled mostly administrative activities, coordinating ranges of worker related processes. Not so much today though. HRM in today’s business society is believed to play an intimate role in the systematical operation of the business in maintaining relations with its workforce.

There is a reason why human resource management is also called “talent management.” Large and small companies look up to the talent management system not only for paperwork, hire and pay workers, but also for staffing, human resource training, and managing workers so that the workforce within the organization is performing at maximum capacity. Because human resource management’s main purpose is to maximize return of investment (ROI), secure future survival and success while minimizing financial risk for the business.

Talent management key functions
Some of the set strategies, policies, standards, systems, and processes talent management system departments implement are:

• Recruitment and selection
• Organization design and development
• Business transformation and change management
• Hr courses for performance, conduct and behavior management
• Industrial and employee relations
• Workforce analysis and personnel data management
• Compensation, rewards, and benefits management
• Human resource training development and management

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Career Goal Setting: 10 Criteria for Goal Setting

The importance of setting goals cannot be stressed enough, especially in the terms of building a fulfilling career. Online dictionary defines the word goal as “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aimed; end.” Aimlessness is bound to ensure without setting career goals.

Without set plans to further advance, navigating your career is going to be difficult. To become the next Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, or Meg Whitman, carefully construct career goals around these 10 following criteria’s to not get lost—emotionally and physically, down the long road.

Goals must be specific—First and foremost, state exactly what you want out of your chosen career or what you want from a career. Be specific as possible. What market? What position? What do you want to do? Once you’ve figured out where you’d like to be five, ten years down the line, the next plan is how to get there.

Set short and long term goals—You are not going to be a CEO of a multi-billion dollar company overnight and it shouldn’t be rushed either if you want it done right. Business goal setting should be realistic. Take baby steps first to prepare yourself, learn the skills, change career path if needed to get to where you want or need to be to become the next Steve Jobs.

Measure the outcome—When you have your sight on a goal, make sure you take measurable steps to reach it. With each goal set should be tied to an action or a deadline. For example, if you desire a career in the publication industry in the next five years, take the proper steps: graduate in four years, and during those four years you’re going to have two internships and a part-time job to gain invaluable experience.

Write down your goals on paper—Although this may seem like a waste of time, it’s an integral part of career goal setting. Being able to visually see your goals in the context of the written word makes your goal a viable action instead of a dream.

Keep your goals realistic—Do not set yourself up for impossible goals. When constructing business goal setting, take realistic steps to your ultimate goal.

Set different career goals in different timeframe— You are not going get hired as an editor right after college. Your short term goal to get to your long term goal as an editor is to get an editorial assistant position.

Don’t set yourself up for disappointment—Success cannot be measured by standards of others because everyone measures success differently. Becoming a top executive might measure up as a successful career to some, while owning a small flower shop can be the dream job to others. Measure success from your viewpoint, not you peer.

Expect the unexpected—There is always the possibility of something going wrong or an unexpected event that can delay you from your dreams. Don’t stress too much and try to take everything in stride.

Prepare to fail—There’s an old proverb quote, “You win some, you lose some.” The ride to your career goal is going to have its ups and downs. There may be times when your best intentions or your best efforts might not be good enough. Be prepared to fail along the way to your dreams.

Learn to be resilient—Goal setting is a plan to help guide you, it’s not set in stones. Life is life, there are no guarantees. Do not despair if you’re thrown of your set career goals. To survive and come out for the better, it’s important to grow a thick skin and learn to be persistent.

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Video Tutorials: A Growing Medium for Advanced Career Training

Traditional academic settings, such as universities and trade schools are starting to make way for technological advanced mediums to support students and working professionals who are always in constant locomotion. And due to the explosion of the “information highway,” video based training tutorials of learning multimedia software applications are growing in momentum.

Especially within the realm of business and higher education, online tutorials are increasingly the favored method of learning due to the fact that there is no constraint, unlike a traditional academic setting such as the classroom where it’s allocated with time and place restrictions and limitations.

With video tutorials, training courses can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Computer training is much more accessible than being interrupted from your daily activities and schedule to get to class on time. The beauty of online training is that it can be accessed without the disturbance in your personal and professional life.

Online training tutorials are also time efficient in the sense that learners don’t have to waste time in reviewing materials they already know. For example, learners interested in a particular course can just click on the software tutorials that pertain to their interest without having to go through the unnecessary segments.

Skeptics might point out that with virtual training, learners are unable to ask questions, problems, or concepts that they might have, unlike a traditional class where instructors are there in person to answer students’ questions. But most video tutorials performed are presented by specialists in their given field. The chances of having any concepts or problems unresolved in their tutorials are pretty slim. If there is a concern, all you would have to do is play the tutorials again and look and listen carefully for your answer.

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Job Searching Training Tutorial: Objective of a Resume

One of the most important tool or resource during a job search at your disposal is the resume. A resume ultimately demonstrates your qualifications for the job position you are applying for. If making comparisons, a resume is similar to a product spec sheet, where it outlines all the qualifications and functionality of the product.

The ultimate purpose of a resume is to help applicants get a job interview, not the job position. You are advertising yourself to the hiring department and your resume should be attractive enough for the hiring manager to take action and call you in for an interview. There are three different types of resume:

• Chronological Resume: The most preferred resume by hiring departments is the chronological resume, where the applicant’s work history and employment history is listed in reverse chronological order. This type of resume format is advantageous if your most recent job experience is aligned with the job you are seeking. It’s the most favored because the progression of your career is easy to follow since the chronological resume lists jobs in a time sequence. Resume training tutorials are available for the format construction of a chronological resume.

• Functional Resume: For job applicants in search of a new career or has a gap in between employment, a functional resume would serve you better. A functional resume is more skills focused rather than where you’ve worked. Hiring managers are able to see all of the skills, accomplishments, and qualifications of the job applicant. In a functional resume, prior work history is not listed.

• Combination Resume: A mixture of the functional and chronological resume format, the combination resume allows the reader to first match your qualifications up against the job opening while giving the reader a sense of security by identifying where and when these accomplishments have been accomplished. Resume tutorials are available for the format.

Deciding on which resume format is the best for you comes down to two main factors:

• The amount, consistency, and depth of work experience you have accumulated in your career

• How well the job position you are seeking aligns with your past work experience.

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