Job Interview Questions >> The Correct Way to Answer

by  job- search- adviser. net

Question 1 : Like me – Like me NOT

Image of a man using a computerOne of the most common interview questions is, “What did you like most, and what did you dislike most about your last job?”

When you give your job interview answer for this question you want to make sure that you do not speak too negatively about your prior company. If you do so, this may lead the person that you are interviewing with to assume that you will do the same with their company. Job interview answers are not always the easiest to spin into something positive. You may need to write, rewrite and rewrite again to get this answer correct.

Try an answer something like this: “I enjoyed the company because they rewarded the employees when all goals were completed. It showed us that they really cared about our hard work and us. I would have enjoyed the it more if they would have had more advancement opportunities.”  

Question 2 : weakness VS. STRENGTHS

Employers tend to ask about your strengths and weaknesses. They may form the questions like this, “What is your greatest weakness?” and “What is your greatest strengths?”

Most individuals can come up with a job interview answer for strengths in a heartbeat, but can’t come up with a weakness that they are willing to share with others. So they stumble over the answer and end up sounding a little weak in the interview. Make sure you do not refer to your weakness as such, spin it to a positive.

So look at the better way to have a job interview answer for this question: “I enjoy taking pride in my work so I tend to take a little too much time checking it. Luckily I have learned some new features of Microsoft office 2007 that have helped me to better and more efficiently check my work.

Question 3 : The boss is wrong!

There are times when interview questions that will ask you about your judgment. They may ask you, “What would you do if your boss told you to do something and you knew that was the wrong way to do it?

This question may make you start to squirm a little in your seat. How in the world are you going to answer this without getting them upset? Try a job interview answer along these lines: “To be honest with you, I’m not sure what I would do. If it was something minor I may just do as I was told, and go with the flow, but if it was something that I knew was really wrong I would have to talk to him about it.”

You may also want to mention the fact that some people take confrontation differently than others. There are supervisors that you can approach and would have no problem with you letting them know they are wrong. There are also supervisors that do not care to have their authority challenged, even in private conversations.

Question 4 : Have you done your homework?

Sometimes the interviewer will ask you this question, “How did you get ready for this interview?” or “What do you know about our company?”
 

OK, your first responses is Oh no, not a pop quiz! I can’t do that! There has to be a way to avoid this job interview answer! Alas, this is not so!
 

Make sure that when you do send in your resume that you look up the company on the Internet and see if they have a website. See what they are about, what their mission statement is, and if this would be a company you would want to work for. Then a great job interview answer would look like this: “When I found the ad in the Anytown Daily Press I did a Google search on your company and went to your website.

I was impressed by your mission statement and the amount of community service that you do every year, that is something that is important to me as well. I looked over your annual report and noticed that the company had a slight increase in the equity this year. I think that with me in the accounting office that I will be able to assist the Accounting Manager in at least doubling that target. As you can see on my resume…”

As you can tell, the interviewee did their homework, and was able to show the employer that he or she had as well. It’s important to keep the employer on your side. The best thing to do is to have knowledge, for knowledge is power.

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Cover Letter Tips: Making Yourself Irresistible Part II

By interviewmastermind .com

Here are cover letter tips to keep your resume from ending up in the trash can:

>> Don’t just parrot your resume.

Your cover letter, though short and simple, is an asset that will pave the way for your future income, and a lot of prospective employees make the mistake of writing exactly what is on the resume.  Don’t do this—it shows a lack of creativity.  Your cover letter should expand and serve as a bridge to your resume.  Since it’s the first thing they see, make it count.  This goes back to the previous point- it’s one of the crucial cover letter tips.  Brag and talk about how great you are but don’t just summarize your resume.

>> Don’t come across as a Harvard prude, even if you are one.

Professionalism is nice, but no one wants to work with a pompous ass.  If that’s not how you talk on a daily basis, tone it down.  If that is how you talk, you’ve got bigger problems than I can solve.  Write like a kindergartner.  Okay, I don’t mean write sentences like “Jane likes jobs.  Jane wants money.”  I mean be clear and simple, and sound out your words while you write to make sure they aren’t too sophisticated.  And definitely don’t talk about how this is one of the awesome cover letter tips you found here.  You don’t have to spill the beans like a kindergartener would either, just be clear, concise and readable.

>> Email letters should be short and sweet, like a one-night stand.

Long emails waste time that could be better spent on Facebook.  Once they open your resume they’ve decided to invest some time in you, so they are psychologically prepared for more information.  Einstein once said, “Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.”  Anything more will make you seem like a possible future headache.

>> Attack them from all angles.

If you don’t have submission guidelines, send the resume as an attachment and an email.  Then point it out.  “I’m such a great fella I sent this as an email AND an attachment.”  The message is you are the type of person who will make their life easier.

>> The most crucial of the cover letter tips- Don’t be weak.

“My professional resume is included if you would like to look at it.”   Subconsciously, you just told them you aren’t even sure if your resume is worth their time.  Grow a pair.  Say something direct and casual like, “As you can see in my resume, I’ve worked in the midget porn industry for forty-three years.”  EXPECT them to read it, and they are much more likely to do so.  Ok, so that actual line is not one of the cover letter tips you should utilize, but you get what I mean.

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Cover Letter Tips: Making Yourself Irresistible Part I

By interviewmastermind .com

Most employers could go their whole lives without reading another resume  if it was up to them, so that’s when truly helpful cover letter tips come in handy.  If they are not in a hurry to hire, the last thing they want to do with their time is pick through anonymous resumes.  A cover letter gives you a quick chance to tell them why they should take a closer look at you.

Here are cover letter tips to keep your resume from ending up in the trash can:

>> If you’ve got connections, use them.cover letter tips

Name-dropping works.  For one, an employer feels a subconscious obligation to give you a solid chance if you have a mutual contact.  In fact, they will probably have to find a good reason not to hire you if it might affect their social life or business.  Also, human beings are ethnocentric creatures — which means they’re hesitant to let anyone into their world that they don’t know.  This is one of the oldest cover letter tips ever used, but it still works.   Establish a connection and they’re more likely to take a chance.

>> Never address “To Whom it May Concern.”

This is one of the cover letter tips you need to keep at the forefront of your mind.  Even if they know you don’t know them, saying their name gets their attention, as if the letter is truly to them.  It makes it more personal.  Besides, if you don’t have the brains to research a name, they don’t want you.  It shows you care about the position and are willing to do some homework.  Otherwise you’re like that shameless spammer on Facebook who is always promoting his band that no one likes—“Be my friend!  Be my friend!”  No one likes that guy, so don’t act like him.
 

>> Keep it Conversational.

Keeping the cover letter conversational is one of the best cover letter tips out there.  Show some personality and the reader is less likely to crumple it up and shoot a basket.  This type of language makes people feel like you have rapport even if you’ve never met.

>> Brag about yourself.

While your dedication to telling the world how awesome you are hasn’t scored you many friends in the past, here is your chance to put it out there without everyone leaving the room talking about what a douche bag your are.  Finally.  Tell them why you’re the man or woman for the job.  Having the confidence to state it straight up sends the signal that you really are qualified.

The more specific, tangible, and measurable the better because it tells them you’re not just winging it.

>> Always talk about your achievements.

They don’t just want another employee—they want the best, and achievements mark you as a high-value individual.  Use bullet points to cover more space, creating the illusion there is more information than there actually is.  Most cover letter tips will tell you not to list your accomplishments, but this is where you want to brag away.

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Job Tips -> Top Ten Tips for Attending Career and Job Fairs

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

1. Have a pen/pencil and paper available for notes.
2. Bring resumes and a folder or portfolio to hold your materials.
3. Take the time to find out what companies will be represented before the day of the career fair.
4. Research information about the participating companies and organizations prior to approaching the recruiters. Use the Internet, news sources and career fair materials to learn about the companies' booths you plan to visit. You can impress a recruiter by knowing about his or her company and can discuss its current situation.
5. Use time wisely. Determine where employers are located and in what order to visit them. Focus on three companies that you are truly interested in.
6. Broaden your focus and include many types of employers. For instance, you may not have considered working for a hospital, but hospitals recruit and hire professionals in many different fields (e.g., management, information systems, or health care).
7. Be aware of time demands on employers. Do not monopolize an employer's time. Ask specific questions and offer to follow up after the fair, as appropriate.
8. Be direct. Introduce yourself, including your name and career interests. If you are job-seeking, state the type of position in which you are interested. If you are gathering information, let employers know that you are only interested in materials and information. Remember to use good eye contact and a firm handshake. Career fairs are the perfect place to use your elevator speech.
9. Make sure you learn from the recruiter employment and/or hiring trends, skills necessary for different jobs, current openings, salary, benefits, training, and other information about the organization. Also make sure you know whom to contact for follow-up discussions.
10. Ask the employer for the next steps in the recruitment process and try to obtain the recruiter's business card for follow-up discussions/correspondence.

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Job Fair Tips > Career Fair Success Strategies

by Maureen Crawford Hentz

 

Career Fairs can occasionally be intimidating. As a job-seeker, you must distinguish yourself from hundreds or even thousands of other job applicants. The following are a few simple strategies to help you stand out from the crowd.

• Find a Fair. Many career fairs are free, but some require a registration and/or fee. The first place to look for a career fair is your alma mater. Colleges and universities routinely hold career fairs for students and alumni. Call your college's career service office and find out if you need to register and what the general format of the fair will be.

Professional organizations also often sponsor large career fairs at their national and regional conferences. Many organizations require membership for admission to the conference and career fair, but some sell day-long "placement-only" admission. Unsure about which professional associations would be best for you and which career fairs will have what you want? Query the Internet for professional associations in your field (for example, Interior + Design + Association) and see if the resulting Web sites indicate career-fair participants.

Finally, look in the Help-Wanted section of your local newspaper. Many career fairs are listed in their own column. Also look for employers with large ads to see if any indicate "We will be at the ElectroMechanical Job Expo next week!"

• Choose the Right Fair. You probably don't want to waste your time at a medical-technology fair if you are looking for a position in education. Do your research. If possible, get the names of companies that will be recruiting at the fair. Hosting agencies often post an abridged list to attract job-seekers like you.
• Arrive Early. As a career-fair recruiting veteran, I can confidently attest that my ability to remember names, faces, and details of candidates waned as the day went on. Rolling my materials into each career fair, I set up my table in eager anticipation of the fabulous candidates I would find. As the fair picked up, while my eagerness never diminished, my ability to remember candidate details did. Go early to ensure quality time with the recruiters.
• Do a Reconnaissance Circuit First. When you get to the fair, don't go into a frenzy of resume dropping-off. Sit down with the program and decide on the order in which you will talk to recruiters. Many career fair veterans agree that beginning in the back of the room and working your way to the front is the way to go – you are seeing recruiters fresh, while people who started in the front may be starting to lose energy. While you are getting the lay of the land, pick up information from the tables. Information, as well as freebies such as pens, magnets, and stress balls, are there for the taking. Gather information on companies of particular interest and sit down in the candidate lounge. Information may include company annual reports, brochures, and a list of open positions. Review the materials so that you have a starting point for conversation with each recruiter.
• Have a Booth Speech. Too many times I would see candidates going down a row of tables asking the dreaded question "Can you tell me a little bit about your company?" As a recruiter, no matter how much you like to talk to people, this question becomes old quickly. Better to have a booth speech that you give to the recruiter. "Hello Aurora, I wanted to introduce myself to you. My name is Janet Ridge. I am an Asian-studies trainer with six years of experience, and I wanted to talk to you about the Training Specialist vacancy at XYZ Company." [Editor's note: See our article, The Elevator Speech is the Swiss Army Knife of Job-Search Tools.]
• Hone In. As you begin talking, the recruiter then may ask you questions about yourself or tell you about the position. Ensure that you make eye contact and listen carefully for tidbits that are not mentioned in the written materials. If you are interested in the company or a position therein, ask for the recruiter's business card and leave a resume.

In addition, go back to the candidate lounge and write a short note to the employer. Attach it to your resume and redeposit into the employer's resume box. Your note should be brief and professional and reference your conversation. "Dear Aurora, thank you for spending time with me today at the AsiaAlive! Recruiting Fair. I appreciate your making time to explain the detailed requirements of the Training Specialist position, as well as the history of the position. Please do feel free to contact me directly if you need additional information." This note can be handwritten but should be stapled directly to your resume. At the end of the fair (or sometimes during it), recruiters go through the resumes making notes on impressive candidates. Attaching a note to the resume is a way to distinguish yourself from other candidates who don't bother with this step.

• Don't be a Booth Buffoon. Recruiters are there to find many good candidates – not just one. Don't monopolize a recruiter by taking all his/her time. If a line develops behind you, be sensitive to that. Say something like "Thank you so much for speaking with me. I see you have quite a line, and I don't want to monopolize your time." Then, get out of the way. If you are particularly interested in making another contact, it is fine to come back again when the line has died down.

If a recruiter is speaking generally to another candidate, it is perfectly acceptable to join the conversation, make eye contact, and ask questions. It is not necessary to wait in a line for individual one-on-one attention, particularly if you plan to ask a similar question.

• After the Fair. Follow-up is extremely important. Recruiters will collect hundreds or thousands of resumes at a large career fair. If you are interested in applying for a specific position, go to the company Web site and apply directly using the company's preferred format. Open your cover letter by indicating that you discovered the position at theAsiaAlive! Career Fair and in speaking with recruiter Aurora Crawford, you became convinced that this was the position for you. You may also want to follow up with an email to the recruiter directly, if that information is on the business card.

In the future, if other positions are advertised for that company, use your inside connection with the recruiter. Apply using the company's preferred process and then send an email along with your resume to the recruiter you met at the career fair. That recruiter may or may not be working with the new position but could be provide the foot in the door that you need. Your email would say something like "Dear Ms. Crawford, I met you last March at the AsiaAlive! Recruiting Fair. At that time we discussed XYZ Company and the Training Specialist position. I see you now have a Country Specialist position available in the Tokyo office, and I wanted to contact you directly to express my interest. My resume and cover letter are attached. Of course, I have also applied through your company Web site."

Final Thoughts
Career Fairs don't have to be intimidating. Remember that the recruiters are there to find you. Recruiters' success is determined by sourcing appropriate candidates and funneling them toward the company. Remember that you are what they are looking for. Employing these success strategies is sure to make a difference in the kind, quantity and quality of your career-fair interactions.

Source : www .quintcareers. com

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Career Tips > 9 Job Search Tips for New Graduates

By Kathy Kristof

College graduation season is set to launch millions of youthful job seekers into an already depressed employment market. If you’re among the masses, realize that preparation is key. Here’s what you need to do to get hired.

1) Edit your profile. Those drunken party photos might have impressed your Facebook friends, but now they could dissuade a prospective employer from hiring you, says Stephen Miles, vice chairman of executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles and co-author of Your Career Game. Recruiters do extensive web searches on people they intend to hire, including checking social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. If you’ve posted compromising photos or a stupid status update (i.e. Nice day. I think I’ll call in sick and go to the beach…) it could cost you a job. Get rid of it.

2) Do your homework. Don’t just figure that you can post a resume on monster.com and find work, says Janice Bryant Howroyd, CEO of staffing company AppleOne. You ought to study all aspects of your chosen field and seek information about the companies doing business in that area. Go to the company web sites and see if they’re posting open positions, too. If you send a resume, tailor it specifically to the job you’re seeking, Howroyd suggests.

3. Prepare to relocate. Live in a city where the job prospects are bleak? You can vastly increase your chance of getting work by seeking employment in other zip codes. The folks at job search site Indeed.com recently came up with a list of the best and worst cities to find work.

4) Think small. Many graduates focus on big, brand-name companies, but it’s the smaller and mid-sized companies that are doing most of the hiring now, Howroyd says. Taking jobs that “no one wants” is often an opportunity that no one else sees, adds Nathan Bennett, professor of management at Georgia Tech and the other co-author of Your Career Game. A first job is an opportunity to get experience. The smaller the company, the thinner the staff, the more likely you are to learn a wide array of skills.

5) Set targets. Set goals every day for either sending out a set number of resumes; filling out a set number of applications or finding a set number of new opportunities. Don’t hit the beach until you’ve hit your goal. You can’t change the job market, but you can determine how hard you try. Trying harder than your peers makes you the one most likely to get work.

6) Be persistent. If you go to an interview and don’t hear from the employer, follow up with a phone call. If they gave the job to another person, don’t be angry — be interested. Politely ask the hiring manager if he or she can tell you whether there was something that the other person did that particularly impressed them or something that you did wrong. If your approach is respectful and aimed at learning (rather than second-guessing their actions), they’re likely to help you better position yourself for the next interview. And if they tell you that you were fine, the other person was just more qualified, don’t be shy about asking them to keep you in mind for the next opportunity. If you don’t have a job in three or four months, call again and see if anything has opened up.

7) Work your network. Ask your friends, your parents, your parents’ friends, if they know of anything that would suit you. Check in with your college career office and attend their alumni functions. When there are hundreds of people applying for a given job, a personal referral can make your application stand out.

8) Be a temp. Some companies may not be willing to hire permanent full-time staff, but need help. You can sign up with a temporary company, like AppleOne, that will send you out on a daily basis to these companies. The benefits: You earn money; you get to know employers and employers get to know you.

9) Don’t despair. It’s a rotten job market, so it could take time to get work. And when you do get work, it may not be the ‘perfect job’ that you envisioned. Keep a good attitude and don’t let it get to you. Every job — even a nightmare job — is experience on your resume and a potential reference for a new employer. Do you best no matter where you end up working, and chances are good that you’ll get a better job in no time.

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5 Tips on Employee Performance Reviews

By SCORE

1. Concentrate on what you and the employee can achieve together in the future. Don’t use performance reviews just as a means of telling workers everything they’re doing wrong.
2. Strive for consistency and fairness. Apply performance criteria to all employees, not just a few.
3. Encourage employees to evaluate themselves and to discuss their own strengths. Your view of an employee and the employee’s view of himself should match fairly well. Otherwise, it’s a warning signal.
4. Be honest about poor performance, but not brutal. Document your observations in writing.
5. If you’re small enough that constant communication and feedback are taking place, you may be able to avoid performance reviews. But don’t send the message that performance isn’t critical.

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5 Tips for Hands-On Leadership

By SCORE

1. Be there. Entrepreneurs warn that a successful business can slip when an owner is not there at least part of every day, keeping in touch with how things are going.
2. Set an example for working hard. One wholesale bakery owner sometimes sleeps on the couch in his office so he can be there when the early shift comes in at 4 a.m.
3. Don’t confuse “hands-on” managing with micro-management. Set objectives and offer guidance, but don’t make employees do every little thing your way. Gauge what they do by the results.
4. Understand your business down to the last detail. The founder of a toy-store chain visits the stores and spends time doing each job (selling, clerking, etc.) and observing customers’ reactions.
5. Stay in touch with “stakeholders”—including customers, employees and suppliers.

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Careers 0> 12 Ways to be a Confident Public Speaker

by Sandra Schrift

Jobs Indonesia,  Careers,  Indonesia Vacancy

Speak from your heart. If you believe in what you say, than others need to hear it. All confident speakers fall in the P2 (passion plus persistence). Be sure your speech contains your most fundamental beliefs and comes from authenticity.

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare!

2. Practice in front of a full-length mirror, for small groups. Join Toastmasters. www.toastmasters.org

3. Be positive. “I am a good speaker/trainer.”

4. Expect to be nervous. [deep breathe, exercise by walking, stretch, visualize your success, meditate] Make anxiety your ally. Increase your energy; heighten your awareness.

5. Focus on your audience. [It is NOT about you. You are there to help your audience]

6. Simplify. Use your time wisely and keep your presentation clear and simple so that your audience can understand what you are saying.

7. Connect with your audience. Look people in the eye, one at a time, as you speak to them. The audience wants you to succeed.

8. Act confident. Smile. Hold your chin up. Stick your chest out. When you do this, you will feel confident. Remember, YOU are the authority on the subject and they want to hear what you have to say.

9. Use humor wherever possible.

10. Offer the right message mix (inform, persuade, entertain, interact)

11. Establish credibility by the use of facts, statistics, and stories.

12. Learn from your mistakes. Making mistakes is part of your learning process. Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, said, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

Careers : Top Ten Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills

by Dorene Lehavi

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

1) Listen without judgment. The key to good communication is listening well. Save your judging for later after you have heard and understood what was said.

 

2) Listen with the willingness to be swayed to the other person's opinion. No obligation to actually being swayed, but stay open to the option.

 

3) Listen without thinking about what you will say next. Take time before you respond.

 

4) Do not be invested in being right. Being right is not the point. If you must be right, you are not able to listen nor communicate because you have set up a barrier already. If you are always right that means the other person is always wrong. That cannot be true.

 

5) If your mind wanders, ask for repetition. We all are subject to distraction. Try to stay focused.

 

6) In all cases repeat back what you heard and ask if it is correct.

 

7) Listen to yourself. Find quiet moments and pay attention to what you are hearing from yourself. Does your body tighten up about certain issues. Body language is not something to read only in other people.

 

8) Say it honestly, but with consideration for the listener's feelings. Be polite, respectful and sincere.

 

9) Understand and acknowledge that most things are not black or white, but somewhere in a gray area. Get comfortable with gray.

 

10) Have integrity and build trust. Don't say what you don't mean. Don't promise what you won't or can't fulfill. Follow through with any committments you make.

 

Good listening skills take practice. Specific coaching may be necessary if you find you have communication issues with your boss, colleagues, subordinates, partners or personal relationships.

Indonesia Vacancy : 5 Interviewing Tips To Get That Job

By Marie Roker

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

Anyone who is a jobseeker knows that looking for a new job or careers is a job in itself. Once you have completed the laborious task of writing your resume and submitting it to various companies, you now have to pass the screen test to get the job. Interviews are the gateway to landing your ideal job. These five tips will help you get own your way to making that job yours.

 

1. Be Confident

 

Your first impression is your only impression.

Nothing is worse than a limp handshake, slumped shoulders, poor eye contact or poor communication skills. A potential employer can tell immediately if you are the man or woman for this job by your body language. Although aggressiveness is a turn-off, being passive gives the indication that you are not sure of yourself or your qualifications. Keep eye contact when answering questions or when the interviewer is speaking directly to you. Smile occasionally to show your interest and enthusiasm. Keeping a steady gaze on the interviewer can be disturbing to an interviewer. Look away occasionally. Lean forward to show that you are interested in what the interviewer is saying. Speak in a concise and clear voice. If you have problems annunciating certain words, don’t try to use them on an interview. If this is difficult for you, practice with a mirror and pay attention to your facial expressions. Other interview killers: Slouching in a chair, Crossing your arms, Playing with your hair or jewelry, Leaning back in chair

 

2. Act As If

 

You are what you believe.

Act as if you had the job. What would you do if you had this position? How would you act? How would a person in this position act and speak? What are your responsibilities in this position? What is a typical day like for you in this job? Change your attitude towards yourself and your strengths. If you start thinking that you won’t get the job, you will do small unnoticeable things to sabotage your chances. Great free resource: www.confidenceworld.com.

 

3. Know The Company

 

Know the business.

I once sat on a couple of interviews where the interviewees did not do any research on the company. This sends a message that you are looking for any job, not this specific job. Once you’re interview is scheduled, get on the net and start finding out everything you can about the company. A good place to start is www.hoovers.com, which gives you industry information, top competitors, names of CEO, etc. If you’d like to know what current or former employees have to say about the company, try www.wetfeet.com. Beware of disgruntled postings. Call the company headquarters and ask for the marketing department to get specific information. Weave your research into the interview by stating. I read an article in the Wall Street Journal, which mentioned that your company is thinking about XYZ. This lets the interviewer know that you have taken the time to know more about the company. You can ask questions about something you read, but don’t challenge them or you’ll come across as a know-it-all.

 

4. Be Prepared

 

Know what to say.

Most interviewers ask the same standard questions about your strengths, weaknesses, former employers, work history. If you are being interviewed by several people, this might be a good cop, bad cop situation. Pay attention to who is playing bad cop, they are looking for signs of weakness and dishonesty. To be well prepared, before the interview, write out all your accomplishments, both personal and professional. List your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest, it’s easier to remember the truth than it is a lie. Extra Tip: Write out situations in which you have demonstrated: leadership skills, determination, stress management, creativity, and flexibility. Be prepared to answer the question: Why do you want this job? If you’re not sure, reevaluate your decision. If you arrive a few minutes early, review what you wrote in the waiting room before the interview.

   

5. Ask For The Job

 

You get what you ask for.

The most important step in the interviewing process is one most people miss. ASK FOR THE JOB! Most interviewers are waiting for that closure. If you have done everything exceptionally well during the interviewing process, but have not asked for the job, you’ve just wasted an interview. Asking for the job shows the potential employer that you are assertive, confident and right for the job. It might feel uncomfortable, but this is your only chance to ask for something you really want. Make sure your voice is firm and you make eye contact. Think of it as your closing argument, you’ve got to win over the jury. You should also ask the interviewer if he or she thinks you are right for the job. Even if they tell you something unpleasant, think of it as a lesson learned. However, do yourself a favor and ask for the job. You deserve it!

10 Tips on Choosing an Outsourcing Partner For Computing Services

By H Johns

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

In tempestuous financial times, it's usually the pattern that the rate of outsourcing increases. Indeed, it's proved to be the case of late, in a climate in which business owners and employees alike have recognised the urgency of cutting costs and maximizing productivity.
 
IT outsourcing is more popular in 2009 than it has ever been. Many companies are choosing to outsource to an IT provider, rather than maintain an IT department. But how do you choose a reliable supplier? If you aren't an IT fanatic yourself, how do you know whether your systems are up to scratch or not? Whether you're being given appropriate advice? Or whether you're getting value for money?

In Gartner's 2009 outsourcing study, it was reported that many companies are developing outsourcing strategies to help them through tough times, but that organisations need to regularly assess their service levels and contract terms to achieve greatest return on investment. Allie Young, Vice President of Gartner, explains: "The well-educated buyer and provider will have the advantage. The potential for outsourcing to address immediate cost pressures as well as long-term recovery goals will be unprecedented...Many organizations that are not outsourcing will consider or move aggressively to outsource their IT or business processes to focus on their core business."

What to ask your prospective suppliers
Once you've decided that you want to outsource, ensuring that you ask questions of the companies you approach based around the following 10 subjects should give you a headstart.

1) Company Size How many engineers does the company have? How many full-time members of staff? Where are all these staff members based? Do they sub-contract or outsource any work? If so, what? If they are a very small company or a one-man band, what happens in the event of a crisis at another client's premises? Do they arrange cover if they are sick or on holiday?
 
2) Payment Structure What exactly is it that you are paying for? Are you entitled to unlimited support or do you pay per unit? Are there any extra/hidden charges?
 
3) Response Times Will you receive guaranteed response times in the event of an IT issue? What hours of the day can you call them?
 
4) Network Safety Will your network be monitored 24/7? If your website or email goes down in the middle of the night or at the weekend, will anyone know about it? Or be able to help?
 
5) Other Clients Do you get the feeling the supplier understands your business? Do they have any other clients in your industry?
 
6) Accreditations What accreditations does your supplier have?
 
7) Points of Contact Who will they be? Will you be given access to a dedicated account manager as part of your contract? Have you met him or her and do you trust them?
 
8) Stability How long has the supplier been in business? Are they financially stable?
 
9) Value Added Services What services does the supplier offer in addition to the ones you are in talks about? Network design? Bespoke software development? Disaster recovery and security consultancy? Who are their clients for these extra services?
 
10) References Will you be offered the chance to speak to any of their existing clients to find out first-hand about the services they provide?

Domestic Outsourcing Partner

By Marie Jacob

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

Where overseas outsourcing has already gained a mature market, domestic outsourcing is gaining momentum for emerging nations like India where both the main business and the freelance contractor are located in the same nation. One of the primary reasons for outsourcing is to lower expenses in terms of labor, infrastructure and technology.

Though many domestic players have sprung up owing to the demand the ITES industry has, it is always necessary to know your vendors thoroughly before you could hook up a good deal for your outsourced projects. You can resort to the following points, in order to choose a better domestic outsourcing partner:

1. Work experience and credentials
The vendor that you wish to outsource your projects/domains should possess relevant work experience and credentials to support its credibility.

2. Reference checking
Reference checking has always helped to know a third party well. Checking with the references can help you to understand the vendor's capabilities properly.

3. Quality assurance
The vendor should be quality focused and these days many companies have adapted to standard norms and quality certification such as ISO 9001:2008.

4. Cost
If the pricing of any vendor I not cost-effective, then it primarily isn't serving the purpose of outsourcing. Thus, gather price quotes from all vendors available and see at your convenience which budget suits you the most.

5. Contract terms or SLAs
The vendor must be committed to the Service Level Agreement or SLAs and must be clear in its contract terms. The contract must also provide flexible terms for both the parties.

6. Confidentiality
You must always ensure that the vendor has a well defined set of security policies in place. How secure is your data at your vendor's site and what measures are taken to keep data safe are the questions that must be asked to the vendor.

Other points that you can further consider are location of the vendor, additional resources and capabilities offered by the vendor, reporting methodologies, vendor processes, financial stability of the vendor and cultural similarity etc. All these points may help you in deciding your best domestic outsource partner.

In Jaipur, one of the fastest growing outsourcing partners in the industry is Go4 Call Centre. Under the flagship of the parent company Cyber Futuristic Private India Limited, Go4 Call centre aims to serve your customer first with excellent customer support. Go4 Call Centre offers wide range of services through Inbound and Outbound call centre operations some of which include helpdesk services and remote troubleshooting of IT-related queries, transaction processing, accounting services, remote network management, end-to-end processing services etc.

Outsourcing : 5 Tips to Help You Select an Outsourcing Partner to Help Build Your Business

By Patti Malone

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

To make this job easier, here are 5 tips that will help you select an outsourcing partner.

1. Does the outsourcing partner have experience with similar projects? or a record of accomplishment? Find out what projects the outsourcing person or company has handled before or are currently handling. Can you see who they have worked for, what kinds of projects they have done, and some real examples of their work? It is also going to help you narrow down your list if you find out that the person or firm has completed projects similar to yours.

2. Can you identify the outsourcing partner's business aims? Your company has its business goals and directions. It is worthwhile finding out what the outsource company's business aims are as well. Having an alignment in both companies' aims will give you an idea on how the project will turn out.

3. Will the outsourcing partner provide references from other firms that have hired their services? Being able to contact other employers gives you the peace of mind that the outsourced workers fulfilled their contract well and in a timely manner. Get feedback from them and make an assessment as to how long the project took them to fulfill or if they are able to deliver within your time requirements.

4. Does the outsourcing partner agree to your terms and conditions? Transparency between you and the outsourcing company will help both parties work harmoniously. You should document how long the project is going to run, when you expect it to be finished, and how many people will be involved in ensuring that the project will finish on time. Payment terms should also be clear when signing off the documents.

5. Can you build a long term relationship with the potential outsourcing partner? Do not select an outsourcing partner based solely on how long they have been in business. Initially, you may want to select two or more potential partners, give them the same job, and then decide which one you want to continue working with.

Five Great Tips for the Interview Appointment

Five Great Tips for the Interview Appointment

Written by Craig Travis Jun 07, 2009 www.jobsarticle.com

The whole purpose of an interview is for the employer to meet you, to get acquainted with your professional background and experience, learn about your special skill sets and qualifications, and of course, to see how you match up with their organizational needs. You obviously have piqued their interest with your resume, so now is not the time to disappoint them by not paying proper, close attention to the important details related to your interview appointment. Plus, this is the opportunity for you to do your homework, learn everything possible about their interview plans and process, learn all about their firm and key people, and plan how you will knock them over with your winning interview.



CONFIRM THE DETAILS: DAY, DATE, TIME, LOCATION AND PEOPLE
It should go without saying you must always confirm the details of your interview appointment, but we have seen too many times candidates missing their interviews because they did not think to confirm the details. When called about your interview appointment, before getting off the phone, confirm the exact day, date, time and location of the interview. This includes the address and room where the interview will take place. Just as important, confirm all of the names and titles of the person(s) you will be meeting and a contact phone number should you require additional information prior to your appointment. This is the ideal time to learn who will be conducting your interview, the type of interview they are planning and the expected duration of the interview process so you can plan accordingly. Will you be expected to meet other personnel? Who are they? Will there be multiple interviews that day conducted separately by other key personnel? Who? Where? How long? How many resumes should you bring along? Should you take along sample materials so you can leave it with them? How many copies should you make? These are all important questions you need to have answered so you can take away any surprises that might crop up. In the likelihood your first interview will be by telephone, make absolutely sure they have the correct phone number to call you and you have theirs in the event you should become disconnected during the interview. Just as important, ensure you will be in a location that is completely private and that you will not have any disturbances or interruptions of any kind while you are on the phone. You do want any unbecoming or unprofessional background noise (children playing, dog barking, colleagues walking in and out of your office, etc.). It also goes without saying that should you have a telephone interview, you should never be driving in your car. Find a quiet remote location to park with no distractions.



RESEARCH THE ORGANIZATION
Now is the best time to conduct your research on the organization and after confirming your interview plans, you now know the names and titles of the key people you will be meeting the very ones whom you need to impress and win over to land the job. Get to know everything you possibly can about the firm, its key personnel, management and the interviewers. It seems overly simplistic, but ask your self what kind of business is this firm? What do they do and what are they most noted for? You would be surprised how many candidates have no clue about the organization with whom they are interviewing with, and it places them at a distinct disadvantage in the competition. What is the stock price? Where is the headquarters? Are there any regional offices? Where? Who are their clients? What is their reputation in the marketplace? How many employees? What is their annual revenue? Read the annual report from the past three years to familiarize your self about the core nature of their business, earnings and revenues, and future plans. This will help you prepare to answer questions related to how you see yourself fitting into their organization. In fact, why are you applying for this position? What do you envision you will do for this firm and where do you want to fit in? What do you have to offer and contribute? Who will you be working for and where? Is the interviewer your prospective boss? What are the future plans of the company/division where you will be working? Finally, read the posted job description if you have not already. If you have not, ask for a copy of it when you confirm your interview appointment. Knowing the details of the job description will prepare you to intelligently address the qualifications and requirements of the position.



TRAVEL PLANS: GET A MAP AND PLAN YOUR TRAVEL ROUTE
If you are meeting at the prospective employer’s office, which is generally the case, take time beforehand to confirm the location on a map, obtain driving directions and the best route to use for the time and day you are traveling to the appointment. If possible, drive the route days before so you are familiar with it and the traffic congestion at that time of day. This will help you to know for certain how much time you need to allow yourself to travel and arrive with time to spare. Ask yourself where you will park; is parking free or paid? Covered or uncovered? This might be important on a stormy day. How far will you need to walk from the parking lot to the office and how long will it take you? If possible, doing some reconnaissance days beforehand so you will not be surprised about how long it may take. After all, you do not want to be late for your job interview, ever. It will not only make a bad first impression, it may take you out of contention before you ever have the chance to sell your qualifications.



OUT OF TOWN TRAVEL
Likewise, if you are traveling from out of town for the interview put in the same effort as you would at home by doing your reconnaissance beforehand. If possible, arrive into town the day before a morning interview (it allows you to be rested and better prepared) so you will have time to get your bearings. Always check and double-check your travel arrangements, including air, hotel and rental car reservations. Get a map and ask for driving directions if necessary. Be absolutely sure you know where you are going and how long it will take you to get there from your hotel. If you are traveling into town, it is advisable to arrive the day before to acclimate yourself to the surroundings, region, climate (higher elevation in some cases) and to help you feel rested and ready to go the following day. You certainly want to be your freshest, sharpest self so it only stands to reason you need to prepare yourself in every way possible, including getting into town early. After traveling far distances and over a long time, you will not be at your best, so avoid such an interview appointment at all costs.



CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST
Also, it is advisable you check the weather forecast regularly. If it rains or is exceptionally windy (any foul weather) you want to be properly prepared to weather the elements. Carry an umbrella, overcoat, hat, gloves and scarf if necessary. You want to be sure that when you arrive at your interview you are still well dressed and properly groomed, so it is worth taking every ounce of precaution against inclement weather. Should you encounter foul weather, then make sure you have extra time upon your arrival to use the restroom to freshen up and take a good look in the mirror so you will look sharp. Reconnaissance can prepare you for this situation as well.

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TRAINING - UGH! What Is It Good For...Anyway...?

Training Effectiveness

What's Training Good For Anyway?

Training may be the solution, but what is the problem it solves. Much training value is lost because there is a mismatch between the business problem, and training as a solution. If you like this article and you are looking for more material, advice and help with training, instructional design, return on investment, visit The Training World. There are good reasons to mandate training and development in your organization, and there are bad reasons for mandating training. There are ALSO good reasons for NOT training, in some circumstances, and bad reasons to refuse. Knowing what training can and cannot accomplish enables you to make the right decisions at the right time, ensuring that your limited training dollars are used effectively.

The Chaotic Work World

If our work worlds were stable, and un-changing, we might not need to worry too much about training. We might still do it to provide employee development but it would be less critical to our organization's success.

It ain't so. All you need to do is look around at your own organization, and what you are likely to see is significant changes that have occurred during the last year. You may have lived through down-sizing, re-structuring, changed mandates, increased workloads, flattening of management structure, and a host of other changes. It is not likely that these changes will cease in the future, and we may be looking at changed political imperatives that will result in movement towards Special Operating Agencies, and making government more entrepreneurial.

You know all this. Change has accelerated to the point where some organizations are in chaos, and most are at least staggered. What all this means is that as our work worlds change, new skills, knowledge and concepts are needed to achieve our corporate goals. And, our personal goals. Just to stay even, and just to keep our sanity.

Since change is occurring at such a rapid rate, while we may have taken our jobs at a time when we were fully qualified, we may now have gaps in our knowledge. At a management level, the skills needed to manage a flat organization, a Total Quality Management organization, or a Special Operating Agency are different than those we have. At an employee level, it is no different. Technology changes, or changes in the way organizations are managed, or even increased workloads change the actual JOBS in an organization, and change them in such away that new skills and abilities are needed so that new expectations can be met.

What Training Can Do

Training CAN accomplish many things. It can help people learn the new skills that are required to meet new expectations, both formal and informal. For example, a support staff person may have been hired originally for his/her ability to type, to answer the phone and file. But now, with increased workloads, we want that person to be able to do much more...perhaps to solve client problems, to use desktop publishing processes, to handle more of the day-to-day issues, so we can use our time more effectively. Training can help people accept the challenge of their evolving jobs.

Training can also help to:

. build a common understanding of the organization's purpose.

. show management's commitment and loyalty to employees

. develop people so they can increase their responsibilities and contribute to the organization in new ways.

What Training Cannot Do

There are many things that training can't do. Training, on its own, cannot change ineffective employees into effective ones. It is unlikely to address ALL the causes of poor performance. Limited training also will not turn a poor supervisor or manager into an effective one, unless it is coupled with ongoing coaching from above.

Training will not erase problems that occur as a result of poor structuring of work, mismatching of work with the person, unclear authorities and responsibilities or other organizationally related issues.

Training As A Tool

The best way of thinking about training is to think of it as a management tool, much like a carpenter's tool. Just like a carpenter picks the hammer and not a screwdriver to pound a nail, the manager should be choosing training because it is the RIGHT tool for the job.

Also, to continue the analogy, if the supporting structure (the wood) is rotted, only the foolish carpenter would attempt to pound the nail into the wood, and expect it to help. It is the same with the manager. If a manager expects things to improve as a result of training, he or she needs to ensure that the supports are there for the use of the tool, and that there are no other non-training related problems hanging about.

To conclude, training can be a valuable tool for the organization and the manager, provided it is the RIGHT tool to solve the problem or address the identified issues. Even then, there must be supports in the organization so the training can be effective. Other articles in this edition discuss some of these supports. (work911.com)

Job Info , Jobs , Career

Learning File - Going To Training? Some Hints

People attend training for a lot of reasons. The obvious one is to learn some new skills to use on the job or to further one's career. There are other reasons too. Sometimes training sessions provide an opportunity to visit with people you don't ordinarily see and find out what's going on elsewhere. Or, sometimes, it's just a pleasant (hopefully) break from the usual routine.

If you are attending training, whether it's for learning new software, or to learn to cope with stress, what you learn from it is going to depend on what you put in, and how you plan the process. In this article we'll provide some hints so you can maximize your learning and make use of what you have learned on your job (or perhaps the next one).

SELECTING TRAINING

There's lots of training out there, some of it great, some average, and some poor. Since tastes differ, it's hard to help you choose what will work for YOU. However, if you have a choice of choosing the training you will attend, compare the topics to be covered to your own needs (see next section). Don't make your decision based on the length of a course. Often the shorter ones will only give you an overview and not help you use new learning on the job. Ask around to see if others have attended the course, and solicit their opinions, but remember that tastes differ. If the course you are interested in is offered internationally by a large company, you can ask on the Internet.

WHY ARE YOU GOING?

It's always good to be clear about why you are going to a training session. If someone has requested that you attend (let's say your boss), make sure you understand your boss's expectations before you go. Ask: "How do you expect me to use what I have learned?" If you are going because you have a training need, ask yourself what you want to learn, and how you might apply it to your job (or career development). The clearer you are about why you are going and what you want to get out of it, the more likely you will get what you are hoping for. Knowing this will allow you to be more of an active learner.

INVOLVE YOUR BOSS

Most organizations require that you get approval to attend training sessions, since there is a cost involved and you will be away from your desk for the length of the session. When you approach the boss, there's several things to discuss. Again, why are you going? Second, how it will be useful. And third, what you need from the boss to make use of the training. For example, if you are taking a course on a new software package, let's say the Acme Word Publisher, you aren't going to get much use from it unless it's already set up on your work system and easily accessible IMMEDIATELY upon you return to work. If something is "missing" on the work end that will mean you can't use what you've learned IMMEDIATELY, then consider delaying the training.

It's always a good idea to schedule a "debriefing" with the boss after the training, to explain what went on, your opinions of it and how you intend to use it. The best reason for doing this is that it reinforces your own learning, and serves as a reminder.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE

Trainers can't read minds (although the really good ones seem to). While you shouldn't be pressured to participate actively if that's not your style, it really helps everyone if you ask questions when things aren't clear, and express your opinions and experiences. Remember that you and your fellow training participants can learn as much or more from each other than the trainer (and sometimes know more than the trainer!). In the event that things aren't to your liking, approach the trainer privately and break time. If you don't get some positive response, then you can always choose to leave (provided that's OK with the boss). If you do get into such a situation, communicate your reasons to the boss. Still, try to be flexible. Sometimes some kinds of training can be personally uncomfortable due to the subject matter, but that may pass if you hang in there.

AFTER THE SESSION

Here's a few hints so that whatever you learned doesn't get lost.

• Consider doing a presentation to your colleagues on what you learned (that's a great review process that helps you remember).
• Try to begin using what you have learned the FIRST DAY back on the job.
• Remember you have both the course material and your notes to use. Periodically go through them (you'd be amazed how many people chuck this material in a drawer, never to be viewed again.

There you have it. If you follow these basic hints, you'll probably get more out of the training session. That helps everyone, and justifies the company's investments (both present and future) in training programs.

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Success File - Know Your Role. How 'Bout Their Roles?

It seems pretty obvious that employees need to know what their own jobs require -- their roles, responsibilities and authority levels. We don't expect people to do their jobs effectively if they don't know what they are supposed to be doing. However, one area that people tend to ignore is how well employees understand what OTHER PEOPLE DO in their organizations. Why might that be important?

Recently, I was doing some training in customer service and defusing hostile customers for a fairly large organization. A constant theme kept emerging (and it's quite common). A customer would call in with some sort of difficulty or problem, and the person answering the phone would transfer the caller to someone else. Unfortunately, the next person taking the call was not the right person, or was unavailable, leaving the customer to leave voice mail, or once again, get shuffled to someone else. Often the frustrated customer would end up calling the first person back to holler at them.

How does this happen? Are employees stupid? Or perhaps can't be bothered? Probably not. They simply lack the information they need to provide good quality customer service to callers. And what's the outcome? First, angry customers. Second, stress and frustration on the part of staff caught in this shuffle. Third, some terrible inefficiencies for the organization itself, which impacts the bottom line.

The problem is that we don't educate staff in the "bigger picture". In this case, that bigger picture relates to what other people do, their various expertise, and the relationship of other employee's jobs to each other. Before we talk about specific "fixes", consider this.

It's very rare that employees work is independent of the work of other people in their workplaces. These days, getting jobs done has become more complicated, where the ability to get something accomplished often involves cooperation with others, or some degree of teamwork. Customer service aside, workplaces where people understand their own jobs and the jobs of others (like how the whole puzzle fits together) are going to be more effective and more productive.

Helping People Understand The Larger Puzzle

New employees should be oriented and educated not just about their own jobs, but about what other people do, and who to talk to when faces with different kinds of situations. They need to know who has decision-making power, and who has expertise they may need. That's far more important than knowing where the washrooms are (well, that's debatable!).

Workplaces are constantly changing. Responsibilities change, and so do job roles. Management should take an active role in keeping employees up to date about changes that affect not only their own jobs, but the jobs and roles of others. This is even more important in team based and project based environments. Regular staff meetings can be used to do this in an ongoing way, and need not be time intensive. Often, staff updates can take only a very few minutes.

Here's the most important part. And this applies to every employee. Employees tend to hesitate about asking too many questions, for fear of looking stupid or being perceived as a nuisance. They rely on the human resources department or their supervisor to tell them what they need to know. Unfortunately, supervisors don't always know what employees need to know, or haven't thought about it, and they can't read minds. So, it's important that employees take on responsibility for their own understanding of what other people do. Employees! Listen up! ASK! You can't do your job well if you don't know your own role and what other people do. You can't do your job if you don't know where to refer a customer with a particular problem.

Let's end this by listing some things that people should know:

• Who has authority to make decisions about specific issues (which people, which issues)?
• Where does the expertise lie to deal with particular issues?
• What procedures should be used to involve people who need to be involved in a particular issue?
• When a particular person who needs to be involved is unavailable, is there a backup procedure (someone else to contact)?

The nice part about all this is that it isn't rocket science, but it is neglected. Human resources, managers and employees can all take responsibility and make sure that employees know and understand their own job responsibilities and roles, and those of others who fit into the completed "puzzle" of getting things done effectively and efficiently. (work911.com)

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