5 Tips To Excel At Interviewing

Currently, for my day job, I work on contract to develop software. Most of my contracts run months, not years so I have ample opportunity to go in to a company and interview for a position. In addition, I am asked on occasion to take part in an interview to help a client determine if a prospective developer would be a good fit for the organization.

So having sat on both sides of the table, with a frequency higher than most, I was asked by a client to come up with a short list of tips for interviewing. This short list of five tips will help you get an edge in your interview.

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Tip #1 - Understand what you are doing there (an interview goes two ways)

This is the one tip that will influence all the others. What is an interview? Inter- as in intersection, interruption, and even Internet. The prefix inter means among or between. There is a bidirectional component. An intersection is where two roads cross, an interruption is where two thoughts cross, the Internet is where our collective networks cross. And an interview is where our views of each other cross.

Many people lose this perspective when interviewing. I think I'm going into an examination and being judged on whether I'm good enough to get the job. This is only partially true. The other half of the event is that I'm "viewing" them. I am deciding if this is a place I want to work and I can contribute with my talents and time to be a happy and productive partner.

So I'm going to be viewing very closely this hiring manager, the surroundings, the technical interviewer, the process they use, the tests they may give - everything I can to help me determine if this place is for me. I'm going to kick the tires. I'm not a lab rat in this process, I'm a participant in an inter-view.

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Tip #2 - Be prepared (you've got to know what you want to know)

The last time you bought a car, did you just pull up at a dealer, walk around the lot and point at a car as the salesmen came running out to help you and just say, "I'll take that one over there in the corner?" Of course not. You probably looked at models, prices, fuel efficiency, comfort and amenities, horsepower, and safety features, oh don't forget the color, and maybe even more.

Knowing that I am making a decision about my potential hire, I don't want to go in unprepared. What am I looking for? Does this company do meaningful work? Will I be doing something that interests me? Or am I just looking to get a paycheck and hoping nobody notices me. I need to take a little time to decide what I'm looking for and actually ask about the situation and environment I'd be in.

For example, I've been put in places where contractors share a cubicle. It's a tight place to begin with, and I'd want to know who my bunk mate is before such a voyage. I've been at places where I worked in a meeting room with 6 other developers shoulder to shoulder around a big table with laptops. It's always fun when somebody takes a phone call, because we all get to listen in! I've even sat at a small table in the copy room where the faxes practically floated down onto my keyboard. At one place I came to work and didn't have a computer or even a chair, I sat on my desk for the first week reading manuals. And at another place I was given a box with my desk ready to assemble. We spent two days with electric drills assembling our desks before we could start working! If I wanted that, I would've been a handyman (which I'm not!). If I'm going to work somewhere - even for a few months - I want to see where I will be sitting.

What's important to you? The location, some of the other people? If you get a chance, stop and ask a future colleague what they think, how they're liking it. Don't expect the whole truth, but if you listen, you can get enough of a clue.

So be prepared for your interview with some questions and an idea of what you are looking for.

Tip #3 - Don't sweat it (everybody's nervous if you pay attention)

I'm always surprised how nervous people get in interviews. I guess I shouldn't be, I get fairly nervous myself. And as a person who often suffers from sweaty palms, that first handshake can really make me on edge. But a chuck to the shoulder or a parade float style wave just aren't acceptable, and a friendly hug is right out of the question! So just get used to the fact that you are going to be some degree of nervous.

But again - this is an interview. Stop and look at your interviewer, they're a little nervous themselves. They come in and shuffle through your resume. They have a stack of 50 on their desk and they have to talk to you like they know a little about you, that's stressful. They are usually meeting with you because they have a position they need filled. They have a need and it's not currently being met, this is stressful. They probably needed to fill this spot weeks ago and it got to the point where they had to get going on this, time is of the essence and stress is piling up.

So, understand and accept that you will be nervous, but it's not too hard to see the signs from your co-interviewers, that they are nervous as well. This can be a great comfort knowing that you're all in this together.

Tip #4 - Making a first impression... on purpose

As I've said, you are viewing them, so they are giving you a first impression. You need to pay attention and get the full benefit of what they have to offer. But you are also making your first impression and you should take some time to put your best foot forward.

They say, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." But often we don't know when we are going to have that first encounter. You bump into a friend while out running errands and they introduce you to their friend who they've "told all about you." There you are - BOOM - a first impression, hope you were ready!

Interviews are very convenient in that you know you are going there to make a first impression. So make it count. Look your best, be confident, be excited for the new possibilities this opportunity may present to you - this day could change your life! For me moving from no paycheck to having a paycheck is a major difference that impacts my whole family. So I need to take advantage and get on edge and use the fact that this is my first impression for all it's worth.

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How to make a business plan

The presentation of a business plan can mean the difference between a potentially lucrative project being turfed into the wastebin or enthusiastically accepted by a prospective investor. The basic structure is important.

Begin with a Cover Page displaying your company's specific logo or brand. This will indicate a professionalism and a desire to be taken seriously.

The next section is the most important, the Executive Summary. This is the first and most widely read part of any business plan so make sure the summary packs the necessary punch. Briefly explain your revenue model, market potential and how this venture will rake in the cash. Illustrate the difference between your business model and those of your competitors, what delineates your idea and sets it apart. Keep this short, three pages at most.

Include a table of contents for easy reference.

The Business Description forms the meat of the proposal. A short description of the company, your products and the method of business is necessary. Aleviate investor concerns by addressing into what sector this business will fall, how advanced the development of your product is at this stage, from where revenue will be sourced and explain the competitive advantage your business will enjoy. Explain the focus of your service or product, as investors are often scared off by vague and tenuous plans.

The next crucial section relates to the Market Opportunity of which you intend to avail yourself.

You'll need to explain the market gap or industry need that your service will fulfil, describing the state of that industry to the investor. Through a detailed market analysis, convince investors that your timing is right and that there is a significant market demand. If you have an existing business or other investors who have already been willing to back your venture, mention this, it shows that others believe in your credibility.

The following section covers the risk and critical success factors. Candidly set out the risk involved of the enterprise and explain how these will be addressed by your enterprise.

Differentiate between external risks - such as government regulations on your proposed enterprise, economic recesssions and market fluctuations - and internal risks, such as the necessary speed of the project, deadlines and the cash amounts involved.

Explain too the risks incurred should the supporting factors upon which your success depends not materialise.

Cover all the bases and present the appearance of a thoroughly researched market sector with nothing left to chance.

Another important issue that will need to be addressed is how you intend to market and promote the enterprise. Illustrate to the investor that you have highlighted the target market and explain ways in which your service or product will be marketed to that sector. Identify the demographics (age, income group and similar) and explain your strategy. Cite any relevant market research which you have at your disposal.

Following on from this, a sound business plan will need to explain how daily operations will be carried out. Explain the legal structure, the management team, number of employees and incentives for these employees. Detail the supply chain process, outsourced business functions, and the timeline for technological upgrades.

The management team will be something that investors will examine closely. Investors will need to know that the venture is in sound hands and will therefore look for solid expertise and experience. Teams of industry experts, often academics or people with solid credibility in the sector will improve investor confidence.

The crucial backbone to the proposal will be the financial statements. These include current and past bank statements, financial projections as to the business growth, expense and revenue projections and other variables within the specific sector.

Cash flow statements are also a vital ingredient and a balance sheet listing the assets and liabilities of the company should also be included.

A more comprehensive statement will also include a 'Break Even Analysis' determining at what point the enterprise will return a profit and a 'Return on Investment' analysis.

Use these financial statement to draw up a financial analysis. This will include 'highlights' from the statements and will often make use of graphs and flowcharts. At the back of the document, attach more detailed information in the appendix. Ensure that the appendix is no longer than ten pages.

Throughout all, the emphasis should be on presenting a realistic attainable and justified picture of a profitable business.

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How To Earn An Income While Staying At Home

How To Earn An Income While Staying At Home
By: Chris Simpson

Staying at home doesn't mean that you need to give up on the idea of having an income. There are many ways that you can make money without going "out" to work. Here are some tips and suggestions for finding a stay at home income.

Consider Your Interests

If you are not sure about what kind of work you want to do, start by thinking about what kinds of things you are interested in and enjoy doing. Make a list of all of these things, and then go through it to see how you can make money from doing what you love.

For example, if you enjoy working with young people and have the necessary credentials, then you might want to offer tutoring services to students who are having difficulty in school. Do you know how to play a musical instrument? Then offer lessons to others who want to learn.

Look at Your Employment History

Looking over your employment history listed in your resume is another place to get suggestions and ways to generate a stay at home income. Instead of looking at you past job titles, break each job down into specific duties. What parts of each job did you like the most and the least?

If you enjoyed having contact with other people as part of your job, you might want to look into work at home opportunities where you are answering calls for a business or making outbound calls for telemarketing purposes.

On the other hand, if you prefer to work on your own, you may want to consider doing work that doesn't necessarily require phone contact with a client or customers. You may be more comfortable interacting with people by e-mail, and this certainly is an option.

Do you enjoy shopping or organizing things? Can you cook? Many people have elements in their lives where they simply don't have the time to do things for themselves. You could promote yourself as a personal shopper or offer to buy and deliver groceries to seniors or people with mobility problems that make it difficult for them to go to the store themselves.

Many people don't have the time to deal with the clutter in their homes and would welcome the opportunity to have some help in getting (and staying) organized. Perhaps a good fit for you would be to go to a client's home and prepare meals in their kitchen that they can freeze and enjoy through out the week.

If you are able to find a match between your own skills and abilities and a need that business owners or homeowners have, you are well on your way to being able to generate an income while staying at home. Don't be afraid to promote yourself to potential clients and say, "I can look after that for you!"

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Principles of Credibility When Doing Presentations

Public Speaking Tips and Advice

Principles of Credibility

Bacal & Associates publishes a help card with tons of tips to help you deal with resistant, difficult or hostile groups. If you speak to, or present to groups who are not keen on hearing or accepting what you have to say.

It doesn't matter who you are speaking to. Whether to a group of a thousand, a radio or television audience, or one person in the privacy of your office, much depends on your ability to come across in a credible and honest fashion. Good intentions are not enough. Many the honest, open speaker has created an impression of shiftiness and dishonesty due to a lack of understanding about how to structure content, and how to use language and speaking style to come across in a credible manner. In this column, taken from notes from our "Dealing With Hostile Groups" seminar, we provide some tips for you.

What Does Credibility Mean?

You will be perceived as credible when you:

• appear relatively unbiased
• appear similar to the audience
• communicate in ways the audience understands
• demonstrate understanding of the audience's opinions
• do not sound defensive or aggressive
• do not over react to criticism

Specific Tips

1. Don't oversell or ignore downsides from the audience's points of view. Research suggests a mix of focusing on evidence to support your position AND considering objections is most effective.

2. Pre-empt attacks by bringing up audience concerns yourself. For example: "I know some of you are probably thinking [fill in objection]. Let me address that."

This is much better than ignoring these until an audience member attacks you with an objection.

3. Match your language to the audience. That is, stay away from all bureaucratic language and abbreviations, unless your entire audience is very familiar with them. Even then, explain the abbreviations.

Match your language to the anticipated educational levels and dialects of the audience members. Don't use huge words, or language that isn't used in the world your audience lives in. Don't use long, convoluted sentences, either. Speak like them!

4. Whenever possible DON'T READ A PREPARED SPEECH. This reduces your power of influence, and credibility. Very few people are able to read a speech effectively. Most attempts at reading make you appear to be unconfident, stiff, and artificial. Reading occasional quotes, however, is OK.

5. Generally, a lectern separates you from the audience. Consider using a wireless microphone so that you can leave the lectern, or dispense with it entirely. However, if you must use a lectern, don't use a death grip on it. The audience will perceive this as discomfort and stiffness. By the way, walking around is relaxing for you (usually), and is more interesting for the audience.

6. Use a well-organized structure for your presentation. Use the old saw: Tell em what you are going to tell them. Then tell them. Then tell them what you told them. This corresponds to the introduction, body, and conclusions/summary.

7. When using the above structure, indicate in your opening that you imagine that some have concerns, that you will be addressing. Then, in your body, present both sides. You may want to emphasize any positives you have identified.

8. Speak with energy and intensity to show your commitment to your topic, but don't go "over the top", by sounding like a preacher or sales-person.

9. Make an extra effort to make eye-contact with people in the group. The listeners need to feel that your primary concern is each of them, not selling them on the ideas YOU have. So you want to appear as listener focused as possible.

10. Don't try to accomplish too much, or present too much information. The more you present, the less impact each point has. By trying to do too much you risk the possibility that the listeners will miss your main points, or simply get lost and frustrated.

Conclusion:

While most of the tips we have presented relate to sounding credible to a group of people, most apply to talking to individuals also. Remember that the best way to sound credible is to focus on the audience, and its concerns, rather than your concerns, or the concerns of your government. There are a good many other tactics you can apply to difficult groups or difficult people. Our half-day seminar on the subject is available to help. For more information, call us at (204) 888-9290. (work911.com)

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