| Copyright (c) 2007 Carole Martin, The
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| | if you did it before, you could do it
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| Interview Coach
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| | again � bad or good.
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| You didn't see it coming � at least not
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| | The Most Common Interview Questions
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| this fast. The call came in last night
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| | While there is no way of predicting what
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| and you have until Friday to prepare for
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| | will be asked in an interview, you can
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| that important interview � and today is
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| | prepare for general questions often asked
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| Tuesday. What to do!! Don't panic. You
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| | in interviews. Why did you leave/are you
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| can prepare in three days by using this
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| | leaving your last position? What do you
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| step-by-step guide. If you don't have
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| | know about this company? What are your
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| three days � you may have to stay awake
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| | goals? What are your strengths
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| a little longer to prepare by compressing
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| | weaknesses? Why do you want to work for
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| the exercises.
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| | this company? What has been your most
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| Day One
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| | significant achievement? How would your
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| Key Factors
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| | last boss/colleagues describe you? Why
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| The first step is to get a copy of the
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| | should we hire you? Scripting your
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| job posting and study it. Read it first
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| | answers before the interview will assist
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| for content, the second time for words,
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| | you when you are under pressure during
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| and the third time for the factors that
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| | the interview.
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| are needed to do this job - reading
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| | Prepare To Ask Questions
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| between the lines.
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| | At some point in the interview, the
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| By doing this exercise you will be able
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| | interviewer usually asks you if you have
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| to identify the "Key Factors" needed for
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| | any questions. The wrong answer to say,
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| the job. For example, if there are many
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| | "No, I don't have any questions as this
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| references to "deadlines and pressure,"
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| | point." It is important for you to ask
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| you will need good "Time Management
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| | questions.
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| Skills." That will become one of the
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| | You can write a list of questions that
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| factors that you will prepare to discuss
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| | are important to you. Do not ask
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| and how you work well with deadlines and
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| | questions regarding salary, benefits, or
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| pressure.
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| | time-off until you are sure that there is
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| How Do You Fit The Requirements?
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| | some interest in you. In other words,
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| Next, do a quick exercise comparing what
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| | "sell yourself first."
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| they are looking for against what you
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| | Some good questions to ask will come as a
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| have to offer. This is a simple
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| | result of the things you discuss or the
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| two-column exercise � one side of a
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| | questions asked during the interview. If,
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| sheet of paper list what "They Want" and
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| | for example, they have been talking a
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| the other side of the sheet what "You
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| | great deal about a subject such as
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| Have to Offer." How do you size up? Where
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| | "customer service." It would be
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| are you strong? Where will you have to
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| | appropriate for you to ask about customer
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| stretch?
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| | service. You might say, "We've been
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| You will also want to research the
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| | talking about customer service, could you
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| company; the industry, and the
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| | tell me about the biggest problem in this
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| competition. The Internet is full of
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| | area?"
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| easy-to-get-to information. Be sure and
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| | If you can get them to tell you about
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| look at the company's website and
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| | "their" problems or challenges in this
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| "google" the company to find out any
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| | job, you can sell yourself as a "solution
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| current information.
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| | to their problem." Someone who
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| Day Two
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| | understands the problem and can come in
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| Begin to focus on what you have to offer
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| | and make things better.
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| and how you will let the interviewer what
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| | Day Three
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| you have to offer.
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| | Salary Information and References
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| Your Personal Statement � You will want
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| | One of the most dreaded questions asked
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| to prepare a personal statement that you
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| | in any interview is, "What is your salary
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| will be able to say in two minutes or
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| | expectation?"
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| less. This personal statement will be
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| | By doing some research on salaries and
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| used to answer questions such as: "Tell
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| | what the "going rate" for this type of
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| me about yourself," or "What experience
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| | position is before the interview you
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| do you have that qualifies you for this
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| | won't be caught "off guard" if they ask
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| position?"
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| | you for a number or a range. You should
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| Your statement should be focused and
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| | know your salary needs, based on your
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| include your education, and experience;
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| | living expenses and your bottom line or
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| your expertise or areas of knowledge;
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| | walk away point � when you can't afford
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| your strengths; and something about your
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| | to take this job.
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| work style or work ethic � what other's
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| | This is a good time to put your reference
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| might say about you. Lastly, end with
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| | sheet together as well. Be sure to get
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| something of interest � maybe a hobby
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| | permission from your references to use
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| that is job related or something that
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| | their names. Make up a sheet of names and
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| makes you a good fit for the position.
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| | contact information in the event that you
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| Your personal statement is very important
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| | are asked for references during or after
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| because it is a summary of you and your
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| | the interview. .
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| experiences and what you have to offer.
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| | Appearance Counts
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| It is worth spending some time writing it
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| | Make sure your interview outfit is in
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| in a concise manner, trying to include as
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| | good order � clean and wrinkle-free.
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| much as possible so that the interviewer
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| | Remember, you are selling yourself and
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| has a good image of who you are and what
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| | first impressions stick. Stay away from
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| you've done. This statement will also
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| | trendy clothes unless you are going for a
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| assist you if you are asked, "Walk me
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| | job in the fashion industry. It is best
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| through your resume," because you will
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| | to be conservative in everything about
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| have already flushed out what you want
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| | you � hair, jewelry, handbag/briefcase,
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| the interviewer to know about you.
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| | shoes.
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| Your Examples � Success Stories.
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| | Items To Carry To The Interview
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| You may find it helpful if you write out
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| | Several copies of your resume on good
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| at least five success stories to answer
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| | paper Copy of your reference sheet Pad of
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| any questions that ask for examples
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| | paper to take notes (notes are optional)
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| (known as behavioral interview
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| | Directions/map to the interview site
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| questions). Your stories will give
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| | That's it. You did it! Prepared for the
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| specific examples to answer such
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| | interview in three days.
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| questions as: "Can you tell me about a
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| | Should you have the luxury of more days
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| time when you �," or "Describe a
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| | to prepare, use that additional time to
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| situation when you�." Look at the key
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| | put more time and practice into the
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| factors that you identified earlier to
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| | preparation. Preparation will make a huge
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| focus your stories on what they are
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| | difference in your confidence, and
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| seeking.
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| | confidence will make a big difference in
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| These stories should be written with a
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| | the impression you make, and making a
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| beginning � where and when; a middle
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| | good impression will make you a more
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| � what action took place; and an end
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| | serious candidate to consider for a job
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| � the result. The importance of the
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| | offer!
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| story is not the story itself, but what
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| | Carole Martin, America's #1 Interview
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| the interviewer hears from the story
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| | Expert and Coach, can give you
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| about your past behavior as an indicator
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| | interviewing tips like no one else can.
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| of your future behavior. In other words,
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