Questions for consideration include:

1. What happened to the previous employee or why is the position available?
This will allow you to determine if the employee was promoted (This is a good sign, as it will indicate future opportunity if the company promotes from within.), did they move on (This will inidcate that you may have to dig deeper in your questioning to determine management style and corporate culture to determine “fit”.), is it a newly created role, or it may also reveal the amount of turnaround in the position. If the position has had five people in that role in the last four years this may be a red flag, especially if they are no longer with the company, it could signal management style concerns, etc.

2. What type of training is provided? How does (insert name of organization) support continuing education or training?
This question allows the company to express the fundamentals they have in place to ensure your success.

3. What is the preferred management style of the (insert department, company, etc.) ?
This will determine if you are just a worker bee or does the culture support input allowing you to contribute concepts and ideas for growth and development of your role and the organizational goals.

4. Would you paint a picture of the typical day in the role of a (insert job title)?
This will allow the organization to provide a snapshot of the role and what you can expect. Look for defined, confident replies.

5. What challenges need to be met within (insert the department, the role, the company)?
This will reveal the pain they need to address and may open the opportunity for you to share background, skills, or abilities that may assist in overcoming the various challenges revealed.

6. How are expectations measured?
This will allow you to get a sense of how your progress and success or failure will be viewed.

7. What are the next steps in the hiring process?
This question should be asked at the end of the interview. You will gain insight as to their processes for moving forward and you will be able to navigate your next steps for outreach and expectations.

It is “ok” to ask questions. It is necessary! You are interviewing the organization just as much as they are interviewing you. Why? Because you need to also determine “fit”, to learn if this organization “fits” with your work style so that you can flourish and succeed and contribute in a productive and meaningful capacity.

Click here to view the new thoughts on leadership in business and the movement for more collaborative efforts in business organizations.

#1. Your Communication Style. If you are unable to clearly communicate about who you are, where you have been and your key skills and abilities in an effective manner; how can the interviewer expect you to clearly communicate about their products or services effectively once you are hired?.

#2. Organized Communication. When you can communicate in an organized, easy to follow manner, then this demonstrates your ability to communicate in that same capacity once you are hired.

#3. Confidence. An individual that can exhibit a confident demeanor while expressing their work history will make a more significant first impression.

#4. Extended Conversation. It allows for the interview to take on a greater depth, and allows you to expand on accomplishments that correspond with the job posting. In other words, you get to sell yourself.

Most candidates self-sabotage their ability for success in this all important area by saying too much or saying too little.

One of the most asked questions during the interview is “Tell me about yourself…”, and it is the single most requested question I receive when candidates are in the process of interviewing. So here is the formula:

Maintain a chronological format, keep it under two minutes, practice, practice, practice, and evolve shorter versions for career fairs and networking (a 60 second commercial).

Step 1: Start with your most recent position, state company name, your title, and job responsibility overview (one or two sentences) and a key accomplishment. (Be brief.) You goal is to generate interest and you can expand further into the interview.

Step 2: Next, take them back to the beginning of your career history (How I began my career…) and walk them forward (chronologically) back to your current position; (dates in this statement are not required) stating company name, position and job responsibility overviews, add a key accomplishment, here and there, that applies to the job posting.

MAKE CONNECTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER!
“I accomplished…..and noted that you were looking for someone with this particular skill, expertise, etc., or “This is where I gained the experience noted in your job posting.”

Step 3: Speak with confidence, enthusiasm, and practice so that you sound as though you actually did the work; avoid sounding as though you are uncertain as this will create a red flag for the interviewer.

Avoid talking about hobbies, family matters, where you were in kindergarten etc., keep it professional. If you left the workplace for personal reasons (stay at home mom, caretaker, etc.) state something like; “I made a personal decision to leave the workplace to attend to family matters ( to further my education, etc.) .” If you are confident about your choice; they will remain confident.

Good luck!

Tips for a successful interview dining experience:

Show up on time and at the correct location. Be sure to map out your route if going to an unfamiliar location. It is up to the host to choose the venue.

Avoid gum. Use mints, as gum chewing is seen as a sign of bad breeding in many parts of the world and becomes an issue when you do not know what to do with that sticky glob once you begin to dine.

Avoid waving, pointing, or flailing the silver. When engaged in conversation do not wield the knife and fork around as you are speaking. This creates a distraction and is unprofessional.

Avoid the use of salt or pepper prior to tasting the meal. Many individuals will salt or pepper their meal without first sampling. This sends a non-verbal message of making hasty or rash decisions and can compromise the ability to move forward in the hiring process.

You were not invited to a meal because you are hungry. Avoid ordering expensive menu items, finger foods and difficult to manage items (ribs, lobster, fried chicken, spaghetti, etc.). If a food item is difficult to manage, you spend more effort on eating the meal and less on building rapport with emphasis on the main mission; getting hired. It is not about the food; it is about the relationship building process.

Order menu items that allow you to focus on the interview. Safe items to order when on an interview lunch or dinner include; soup, a main entree’ featuring poultry, fish, meat, starch and vegetable. A salad may be cumbersome as not all leafy greens are cut into bite size pieces.

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol inhibits the ability to recall important details, impairs the ability to remember names (especially in a networking setting), may cause improper conversations to emerge, and is not advisable when being considered for hire.

The purpose of the interview lunch/dinner is to determine the social savvy of the candidate. Many times this form interview is the determining factor in hiring as it sets apart candidates that are closely matched in technical ability. You are an extension of the organization you represent, and dining etiquette/table manners demonstrate your ability to be an ambassador for that potential hiring organization. Good luck!

#1: Create an email address that is solely utilized for your job search.

This will allow you to filter and track your job search submissions and track your research in one place while avoiding any SPAM or unsolicited email from clogging your personal email. Be sure to use a Google gmail account or Yahoo account which would be featured on your resume to show you are contemporary and current. The use of others such as Earthlink etc. can appear dated and not savvy.

#2: Sending Your Resume

Due to the strong SPAM filters at many companies you may want to consider building your cover letter and resume into the body of the email versus sending an attachment. Why? If it is a job you really desire it may get filtered out of the system, companies rarely communicate receipt unless they are interested in your submission, therefore, if it was filtered you would never know.

By copy and pasting documents into the body of the email, you ensure that it is submitted.

#3: Your Email Address

Be sure to use your name or some portion of your name in the email address you create for your job search. For example: John.Smith@gmail.com or JSmith@yahoo.com, or JSmith123@gmail.com, etc. Avoid emails that do not identify you in a professional manner. For example: Harleyman@gmail.com, Kitten4you@yahoo.com, grandma1@gmail.com, etc. as they may not be taken seriously and are difficult to decipher among the submissions for hire.

These are just a few tips to consider when taking on the next steps in the job search process! Happy Hunting!

Using my blog to outreach to build awareness about an issue that will pale in comparison to the demand for oil….WATER!

Learn more by clicking on this link regarding Water Wars:

http://waterwars.pulitzergateway.org/

Do something today! Visit http://www.charitywater.org

One billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. That’s one in six of us. charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water projects.

Have gratitude and respect for a valuable resource that is so widely available in our culture. Gratitude for the ability to turn on a faucet or reach for a cool glass of hydration…on demand, or to take a dip in that backyard swimming pool…

See Category-Stewardship for connection to sites referenced in this article.

First, make a list of all connections and contacts and outreach to meet over coffee or over the phone to discuss options with those in your industry and to gather information and possible leads for opportunity. This is strictly to information gather and for no other purpose, do not ask to give them your resume at this point, unless it is requested.

Two, tell everyone and anyone you are looking for work, they will be your extended “eyes and ears”.

Three, your resume will reflect your specialized field, however, in the cover letter you can separate the transferable skills and abilities that apply across industries to transition to another area.

Four, do not hesitate to reach out through networking events and engagements in your area through a local chamber of commerce or trade association. Research shows 80% of your success will be due in part to your circle of influence.

Five, have you considered going back to school to brush up on skills and bring them current for the marketplace? Is this an option? If you graduated from a local university, contact their career services department and they will guide and assist you as well.

Finally, be sure to send a letter of thanks to those that have supported your efforts during your transition and update them on your successful landing of a new opportunity.

Begin with these steps and see what evolves. Good luck with your search.