Behind every interview question there is a concern or another question. Your job is to process the question thinking about what the interviewer's concern might be. In other words, why is the interviewer asking you this question? Q#1 - How long have you been looking for a job? (Concern - is there something wrong with you that other employers have picked up?) A#1 - "After I was laid off from my last job, I took the opportunity to take some time out to examine my career goals and where I was going with my life. I have just begun my search in the last few weeks. I have a definite goal in mind and have been selective about the positions I consider. Your company and this position are of great interest to...

Most career or interview coaches end up in this line of work because they love working with people and have a gregarious personalities. These traits can help network and land clients but need to be tempered when it comes to coaching. Coaches all have different styles when it comes to techniques but providing honest and feedback is paramount to help candidates land the job or get to the next level. We had a client show up for a mock interview session this week in a running suit. We sent her home. Our client was enraged and tried to remind me that she was my customer (the customer is always right). I made the point that if you are not going to take this seriously, then we can't help you. To quote...

Be knowledgeable about the company you would like to work for. Make an effort to familiarize yourself with everything the company involves itself in and the requirements the job you are competing for can include. It will also be very useful to know the products pr services the company offers as knowing these things will make you feel more confident when you are asked specific questions about the company. It is absolutely necessary to be carrying an up to date professional resume, documenting all things of interest to your future employer such as past work history and educational achievements. Eye contact can be very important as this shows that you have confidence in yourself and that you are...

interview for job

Have you applied for a school teaching job? Do you have a school teaching job interview coming up in a few days? You may be qualified for the job. It is possible that you are over qualified for the job. But that doesn't guarantee that you will get that job. You have to succeed in the interview to get that job. Teaching is a great job and it is recession proof. So there are more people trying to chase the teaching jobs. During the final interview for the school teacher's job, the other candidates may be better prepared than you. That can really reduce your chances of getting that job even if you are more qualified for the job than others. What kind of questions can you expect in the Teaching...

Here are 3 most asked interview questions faced by job seekers. Spend a little bit of time thinking about these questions and learn the best ways to tackle them. What do we need to know about you? This one is, perhaps, one of the major questions, interviewees are faced with. So what do you do when they say, "Tell me about yourself"? Actually, this question is like a blank check... you can say anything here. The interviewer is just trying to gauge your intellect and natural psychological reflexes here. So don't bore them by describing the city you were born in or what your hobby is. The interviewer is trying to understand whether or not you have the qualifications for the job. So the moment you get...

Categorize this question under "trick questions" because it is meant to tempt you to vent. Double the temptation if your last job was less then wonderful. Often my new clients share with me that if they are asked this question during an interview, they will openly describe both the good and bad elements of their last company," in the name of honesty". That's a slippery slope. Let me share with you why. You may be the most ethical, wonderful and pleasant professional ever, but unless you are personal friends with the interviewer, he or she has no way of knowing if your comments are "fair and balanced" or if you are a malcontent. Why risk the potentially negative exposure? The general rule is to...

phone interview

The phone interview is typically used by hiring managers to screen possible job candidates rather than having to invite all of them in for longer face to face interviews. The phone interview is used to then cull the list of potential candidates down to a smaller group of people who meet certain criteria and appear to be suitable for the job. In my experience, employers who I've worked with who utilize phone interviews often do so for two main reasons. First they might be the type of hiring manager who for whatever reason likes to start with a large group of potential candidates and then quickly go through the list to identify a smaller group that they want to interview face to face in more detail...

Have a job interview coming up? Here are a few tips that you NEED to implement in preparing for job interviews. 1. Make sure that you are confident. Yeah, I know you've heard this a lot, but allow me to explain. Go in there knowing that you're the man for the job. If you can properly show them, by how you act, that you are perfect for the job, you'll REALLY increase the chances that they want you. Trust me, they can tell what you're thinking. If you're scared, they'll see it. If you KNOW that you're the man, or girl, for the job - then you'll be in a much better position. 2. Dress to impress. Dress better than they are expecting you to dress. Look sharp. Have your hair done in a professional looking...

job interview don ts

Give me a specific example when you had to resolve a difficult team situation? Behavioral Event Interview (BEI) questions have been used for over 20 years and are widely used by skilled interviewers. In today's job market, you're likely to encounter an interviewer asking this type of question. The following article describes how to recognize and handle skilled interviewers who ask BEI type interview questions. Overview During the interview, you may be asked to describe how you dealt with a specific situation in the past. Asking you about the past indicates this is a most likely a behavioral-event interview (BEI) question. Responding requires you to recall an example when you dealt successfully with...

You've submitted your resume and cover letter. Now you've been offered an interview. Congratulations! To make sure you'll be successful at this next stage of the job application process, you'll want to prepare. Think of the many celebrities and politicians you've seen interviewed; no doubt they have been well prepared. Practice will enable you to quickly answer the interviewer's questions without being caught off guard. You'll also be able to convey the information that you feel it's important for the interviewer to know about you. Most of the questions will likely be about your past work experience. Be prepared to summarize your responsibilities at jobs you held with other companies. Even open...

Every job interview features two broad categories of questions: (1) Questions specific to the role, and (2) General questions. We have compiled a list of some of the general/popular questions and have given advice on each. Remember one thing though - no matter how good you are, you must not slouch, fidget, look distracted or appear over-eager while answering any question at an interview. Instead maintain a calm, confident and positive appearance and answer the questions honestly. Here are the general questions and their answers: "Tell us more about yourself". Reconcile your personality with the skills required for the job and then answer the question honestly. Basically, the interviewer wants to...

mock interview

This is a question that is asked in almost every job interview. The interviewer wants to know, "Why are you available?" The answer you give regarding your departure from your last company will be either simple and straightforward, or very challenging - depending on your circumstances. The following are three possible categories to answer the question of why you are available: Need a Change/Challenge Even the simple, straightforward answer can raise suspicions if the wrong message is conveyed. What if you are just tired of your job, don't like your boss, or need a change? Everyone is entitled to a new position or challenge now and then, right? Of course, but the tricky part is telling the interviewer...

behavioral interview questions

Behavioral interviews are becoming more and more popular in this highly competitive job market. The main reason that employers like the behavioral interview is that it can predict the future actions of candidates quite accurately. What do we mean by this? Interview Secrets Click here Traditional interview questions - the ones you may be more used to - typically call for highly objective answers and can be based on misperceptions. For instance, how you answer the question, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" is based on your own perception of yourself. Since the employer does not yet know you, he or she cannot judge the accuracy of your answers. However, behavioral interview questions provide...

Are you looking at changing career? Are you looking for work? Have you been invited to a job interview? Are you looking for advice about interview techniques? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, this article may well be of help to you. I am going to give advice and information about how to be successful when attending a job interview. In my opinion preparation is the key to most things in life and it certainly is for people who want to gain employment. When I was in my early twenties, I decided to leave the company where I had worked since leaving school. I wanted to become a financial advisor and had already passed all of the relevant examinations. Now all I needed to do, was to a...

Going for job interview and do not know how to prepare! Well,here are some points, which you must consider while going for the job interview. Giving an interview is not any simple task. Remember that interview is not any general conversation, but is a test to assess you. Going for interview without any preparation, will land you in trouble and you will lost your impression forever. You must do good, planned preparation for the interview. Before going for a job interview, collect all the data about the employing company. Visit the web sites and point out necessary information about the company. Write down the standard type of questions you will be asked by the interviewer. Prepare for your answers...

1. Spend some time researching the company. Check out there website and make note of anything interesting or particularly relevant to the job you are applying for. Print a page or two of relevant information off the website and take it with you to the interview. This demonstrates interest and professionalism on your part - what you want as a first impression. 2. Rehearse your answers for likely questions and think of things relevant to the company and position to include in your answers. 3. Wear a suit (skirt or pant suit for ladies). This is the only appropriate attire to wear to a job interview. I don't care whether you are applying to be CEO of the biggest company in the world or are applying for...

Getting job interview answers correct is one of the keys to fulfilling your career goals and landing your dream job. Best of luck at your next job interview. Q. What part did you play in a recent success? A. Another question where the interviewer is giving you a chance to shine. However it is interesting to see how many people attend interviews and never have a suitable example to share for this type of question. The whole point of the interview is for the interviewer to find out what BENEFITS you are going to bring to the organization. The simplest way to do this to talk about your successes. As always you can use the Situation, Task, Action, Result formula for constructing an answer. We recently...

Nearly everyone has had to go on a job interview at least once in their lives. But noteveryone knows what to answer to questions fired at them during the interview. Thisarticle lists sample answers to the top ten questions interviewers are known to askduring a job interview. But first, you have to realize that your job interview unofficially starts the momentyou answer that call from the organization you are applying to. Thus, you have to makea good impression on whoever is calling even if they turn out to be just a secretary orassistant. Treat the caller as though he or she is a VIP at the organization because younever know if that person will help determine if you get the job or not.o The top...

Here are typical interview questions you should use in practice: 1. Questions You May Be Asked By An Employer: 1. Please describe your present job responsibilities. Which do you find most enjoyable? Which are most difficult, and why? 2. What was the best idea and the greatest accomplishment you contributed to your present employer? To previous employers? 3. What would you like to have accomplished in your present job that you have not? What interfered with this accomplishment? 4. What do you know about our company and the position we offer? 5. What particular strengths and weaknesses do you feel you would bring to the job? What would others say? 6. What do you think it takes to be successful in this...

Tips on Answering Job Interview Questions

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Interview questions at times can be hard. If you prepare for them ahead of time, you can make your interview much more comfortable. Most people are a bit nervous about going to an interview. There is pressure about getting the job, coming across clearly, and doing a good enough interview to get hired so that you can have a job or get a better job. The key is to prepare properly for the interview so that you can answer the questions properly. First of all, be sure to prepare your looks appropriately. If there is something offensive in the way you dress or wear jewelry, your answers won't be taken as seriously unfortunately. Be sure that you don't have anything about your appearance that will make...

Job Interview Tips and Advice

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To get a job, you are most probably going to have to attend an interview. Pretty much everyone has had a job interview in some form or another at some point in their lives. It is the most vital part of any job application process as it is where the employer gets to judge you face to face. Because it is such a significant event, most people get very nervous as they are fearful of rejection, but if you follow some guidelines and have an idea of what the interviewer expects from you, it does not have to be an ordeal, and you can stand a much better chance of securing the job you want. First impressions count for a lot, that is a fact. Although a job interview is centred around your skills, experience...

The best bit of advice you can offer anyone going for a finance job interview is to be prepared. The time you put into preparation will have a direct relationship with how well you perform in the interview and how likely you are to get the job. Firstly, find out as much about the company as you can in advance. The more you know about the potential employer the better. You can never know too much and it will help in two ways. You will show you are an observant individual with an outwardly looking understanding of the industry and the knowledge you have learnt will show you know what you are talking about. Secondly it will also show that you have researched the company. This time commitment of the...

prepare interview questions

If you're looking for a job, this is known as the opportunity you've been anticipating. Your resume made it to the top of the recruitment stack and now you have the opportunity to show an employer why you should be hired. So what now? Creating an interview plan can help relieve any anxiety or stress, and position you as a great asset to an Employer. Listed below are 5 simple things you can apply to elevate your value before you go to any job interview. The job interview begins well ahead of the first interview meeting. 1. Develop An Entrepreneurial Attitude. Imagine yourself as a business owner. Get focused on how you can help maximize profits, reduce expenses, strengthen customer service. Emphasize...

If you go to a job interview, you will have to showcase your skills, talents and competencies. In order to land that job, you'll need to convince the interviewer that you can help their company to solve some of their problems, and that you would be an enrichment to them. In this article, we're going to look at the right way to present yourself favorably, without having to brag. Not 2 in 10 job hunters get this right, so you'll have an huge advantage over your competitors in landing that job if you just get this one thing right. Let me also tell you that if you turn into a nervous wreck in an interview situation, no amount of preparation will save you. You got to fix that issue first - and I'll show...

After landing a chance for a cruise ship job interview, you should take time to prepare for the questions that may be asked. It is important to think of the best answers to these questions to increase your chances of having your own cruise ship job. This preparations can also help you decide on whether a cruise ship career is for your as this questions are designed to tell the recruiter if your are fit for a job on board. Questions to be asked are to find out whether you can do a cruise ship job and if you would be a good cruise crew. Some of the questions to be asked may include: Are you able to work and live as part of a team composed of people from different nationalities? Would you be able to...

Hardest Job Interview Questions

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job interview don ts

Well, here they are! We don’t like to hear them, we don’t like to think about them, but of course, we have to answer them! Just to add a little twist, they are not just the hardest interview questions, they are also the most common! 1. Tell me about yourself. 2. What is your biggest pet peeve? 3. What can you tell me about our company? 4. Why do you want to work for us? 5. What can you do for us that someone else can’t? 6. Why do you want this position? 7. How are you qualified to fill this position? 8. Why should we hire you? 9. What do you look for in a job? 10. Do you want a job or a career? 11. What do you think your responsibilities should be? 12. How long will it take you to make a...

Prepare to answer this question before going to your next interview. Do this simple exercise to learn how to formulate your answer at your next job interview. It's difficult to believe that employers are still asking this type of question. Don't they read the newspapers or listen to the news? If they were informed, they would know the answer; i.e. jobs are very scarce and difficult to find these days, and unemployment is at an all time high since 1994 - in some areas reaching 14% - 30%. (California and Arizona) Unfortunately, quoting these facts probably wouldn't get you a job offer and could even result in the interview ending rather quickly. So, what is the correct answer to give an interviewer...

Almost everyone that goes into an interview gets nervous. But what if you're not nervous? What if you sit down and find instant rapport with the person doing the interview? There is one mistake you must avoid! Don't put your old job down. Maybe you and the interviewer have similar backgrounds, you come from the same home town, or you both like the same sports team. Soon, you're talking like best friends. You barely talk about the job you're applying for. But eventually you do. And since you think the interviewer "knows where you're coming from" you proceed to talk about all the problems at your job. You tell them that the company is tight with the benefits, or that they favor the wrong people. There...

job interview don ts

I was sitting in on an interview with one of my clients recently, when out of nowhere came a question that not only made the candidate take pause, but also probably eliminated him for the job. It wasn’t a trick question or illegal question. It wasn’t a question that the candidate couldn’t answer. In fact, it was so simple the candidate should have been able to answer it easily. Instead, he sat there like a deer in the headlights thinking, because he didn’t have an answer. The mere fact that he had to think on such a simple question was a problem to begin with. So what was this simple question, “What is the most recent book you have read that will help you be a better employee?” This...

Handling Out-of-Bounds Job Interview Questions

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Going to a job interview and answering questions can be stressful. But being asked certain questions can take you over the top into uncharted territory. There are firm rules and laws about interviews and what questions cannot legitimately be asked. Knowing those rules and laws can save your job prospects. Or they can put the interviewer into hot water. Some questions are illegal in most interview situations: What are your disabilities or health problems? The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) makes it illegal to ask most questions about disabilities. Asking for a medical exam before a job offer is made is also illegal. Except in very, very limited cases it's also illegal to ask about the last...

Problems from "Time and Work" have become very common in Infosys placement papers and interviews. Generally these problems are very easy to solve. For example consider the below question. Sample Question 1: Two and a half artists with 2 and half canvases in two and a half hours can paint two and a half drawings. How many artists are needed for 24 canvases and 24 drawings in 24 hours? Solution: 2 and half artist have 2 and half canvas hence 1artist for 1 canvas 2 artists can work in 2.5 hr to make 2.5 drawing. This relation can be expressed as, 1 artist: 1.25 hour: 1.25 drawing = 4: 5: 5 The question is to find the number of artists to paint 24 drawings on 24 canvases. Increasing the values in the...

Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For

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job interview don ts

an employer decides to conduct an interview with you, there are certain things that they are looking for from you. Naturally, you are likely to focus on these things during an interview, but you should remember all of the tips in this manual because following those tips is what is going to make the employers see all of those things in you. Since everybody wants to have a leg up when it comes to an interview, it naturally seemed to be appropriate to let you in on what the employers are evaluating you on during an interview. So here is that list. Your Enthusiasm : Employers want to know that you are willing and eager to be a part of their company. Being fully stocked with knowledge about the company...

phone interview

Are you someone who interviews job applicants in the insurance, market research or call center industries? Are you someone who wants to work in one of these fields? I have worked as a telemarketer and market research telephone interviewer and I have a good idea of what it is like to work as a call center representative. If you hire candidates for these fields, you can learn good questions to ask to find the right employee. If you are a job seeker who handles people, stress and adversity well, you will learn how to answer questions you might be asked in an interview while saying what is truly in your heart. Insurance Agent: "I would sometimes give you a script to follow when calling a particular...

job interview don ts

In any organization, teamwork will be core to an efficient work environment and process. You will need to impress at the job interview that you understand this. The role on offer or some of your previous roles may have appeared to be more individualistic or maybe you were a one person show. But in reality, you more than likely did depend on other functions or departments within the company. The mechanics of teamwork can vary from company to company but you should be able to communicate effectively at the job interview on the following structures. Large teams A large team is considered to be greater than 20. The interviewers will be interested in how you structure the team and what the issues that...

What is the one question you KNOW you will get asked at the beginning of each and every first interview? "So, tell me a little bit about yourself....." My clients continually share with me that although it seems like this should be an easy question to answer, they struggle with exactly what to say! The really good news is that I am going to give you a short script to answer this question and you will only have to fill it out once! It will work for multiple interviews. This is a simple way to break down what to say each time you are asked to share a little about yourself. You will want to keep your response to something you can say in under a minute. This ensures you don't lose your listener. Your...

This is the one question that seems to strike fear in the heart of every job seeker. Not only does it put you, the candidate in an uncomfortable position but the tone of the question itself is deliberately provocative. However, this is one of the easiest questions to answer if you know the right formula! First, a little preparation. You want to take whatever job description you have of the position with you into the interview. If you do not have a job description that is OK. At the beginning of the interview, you want to ask the interviewer to describe the qualities and skills that the company is looking for in a top candidate. Discretely jot down the highlights of whatever they tell you. By the way...

This is a question that often is asked in job interviews. Try simply responding with a smile and say: very well. You may be surprised that your interviewer smiles back and moves on to the next question! So, why is it important for you to give a short simple answer that discourages additional discussion on how you handle stress? Because this question is categorized under trick questions. Meaning the nature of the question is primarily focused on generating an answer that may screen you out (versus screening you in) of the interview process. Here's a valuable tip: your goal is to invest the majority of your time answering questions that speak to your strengths and the value you bring. You want to...

You were fired from your last job. Of course you need the income, so therefore you are now looking for a new job. Whether you are the in mist of your job search or already landed a few interviews, one question may be haunting you; you know the chances are high for the job interviewer to ask why you left your last job. You were fired. Does this automatically make you a bad candidate? Not necessarily it all depends on how you answer the question and here are some helpful dos and don'ts. DO answer the question honestly. If you listed the position you were terminated from on your resume or job application, the hiring manager can easily call your former employer and ask. So if you were terminated, you...

job interview don ts

"If you are as cool as a cucumber... you're probably as exciting as a cucumber." -Roger Ailes, Media Guru Think about that the next time you walk into an interview. The GOOD news is that it's good to be nervous before (and even during) an interview. Yes, being nervous is good! Why? Because if you can learn how to channel this nervous energy into positive energy, you will appear to be more animated and energetic in the interview. So, that's good. Most people try to control their nerves. It doesn't work. What happens is that people try to bottle up the nervous energy, hold it in. They grasp their chair, fold their arms, try to modulate their voice - and the result is that the nervous energy will find...

interview techniques questions

One of the most important influence moments in your career is the moment where you must convince someone to hire you. Whether you are just out of college, looking for a change, or a contractor who must convince others of your services almost daily, you will find that a set of simple influence skills will propel you through the interviewing process on your way to a successful career. Assert It is imperative that you state your objectives clearly. Most organizations are looking for people who take action and will engage in helping the organization move forward. Your organization will first see your potential for such behavior in the hiring stages. Jay and Mary are both interviewing for a position at...

The division you’d be managing has its head right down at the moment: how will you set about re-motivating them? A fair and difficult question. Answer with a process to fix the immediate problems, and a plan for boosting motivation in the long term. Remember that the members of the team at the coalface are the best people to ask for ideas to improve matters. This is not an uncommon situation. The team needs a new leader perhaps because the old one didn’t get them to perform to their best or achieve their objectives. The new leader faces more than the normal problems of taking on a new team – wariness about a stranger and so on. THE FIRST FEW WEEKS Start your answer with an assurance that you...

The Job Interview Follow Up Letter

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Your letter could be the tiebreaker between you and two, or even three, candidates so put some thought and effort behind what you say. Even if it doesn't get you the job, what do you have to lose - the cost of a postage stamp? Hedge your bet it could land you a job. To send or not to send - will it really make a difference? Catherine was looking for a business analyst for a position that had been vacant for four weeks. She was eager to hire, but wanted the right person in the job. She had narrowed the field to three candidates, Jim, Kelly, and Steven. She had promised to call them by Friday, and on Wednesday afternoon she was still vacillating. Each had a strength she was looking for, but each also...

Job Interview Follow Up Do's and Don'ts

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Do 1. Do call your prospective employer to get feedback Most companies will give you a timescale within which feedback will be provided. If it goes beyond the date specified call them and ask whether there is any feedback available. Keep calling every 3-4 days until you get an answer. Calling everyday may be misconstrued as harassment but every 3-4 days will be viewed in a positive light as it shows your commitment to wanting the job. Tip: Get the name of the hiring manager who interviewed you and a direct dial number and check out that it's okay to call them to get feedback. 2. Do be polite but assertive When calling for feedback be polite, pleasant but assertive. Explain that you are considering...

Job Interviews Tips - Get Your Dream Job

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job interview don ts

I hate interviews, always have. You sit there in front of a panel of your (supposedly) peers who are judging you on your ability to perform a job that you could probably do with your eyes shut ( and when they do the job, you would think that they had done). Back when I was a youngster most jobs went through word of mouth, and the majority of the good jobs were filled by children following their parents into the business, nowadays though with jobs being harder and harder to find you might find yourself having to jump through more and more hoops to land your dream job. First things first though, get your CV right, there is no point in gearing yourself up for interviews if your CV is a load of old tosh...

Sometimes a Telephone Interview can be simply a screening interview and sometimes it is a real full-blown interview as important as a face-to-face interview. Screening Interview If it is a screening interview, is will probably be short - 10 - 15 minutes -and will be conducted by someone in Human Resources or someone on the administrative staff of the hiring department. The purpose of this interview is threefold. First, it is designed to fill in any gaps between the job requirements and your resume. If you look like a pretty good candidate but your resume doesn't reflect a skill that they would like to have, the screening interview is to check whether you do in fact have that skill and it just didn't...

This is a question that you can almost count on being asked at your next interview What the interviewer wants to know is, "Why are you available?" The answer you give could set the tone for the rest of the interview. For instance, if you were to indicate that you were bored or burned out at your last job, the interviewer would quickly become concerned about your performance at this company. The question can be especially tricky if you've had less than favorable conditions regarding your departure from a company. Regardless of the circumstances that have caused you to move, or are causing you to think about moving, you should be prepared to answer this question. Below are examples of possible answers...

This question is somewhat of a trap, because it asks for a negative answer. If you haven't given it some thought, you may blurt out something about your boss or the company, and talk yourself right out of a job. One of the purposes of the question is to find out if you are going to be satisfied in this job. If you were dissatisfied before, you may be dissatisfied again if the circumstances are similar. Three candidates answers: Roopal - "I didn't have enough challenges. After a while, all the projects became repetitive and the same. I thrive on challenge." Interviewer's thoughts - "A lot of the tasks here are repetitive. What makes her think she will like it here any better? Will we be able to keep...

This open-ended question, and others like; "Where do you see yourself in five years?" throw most candidates off balance. The object of the question is to check for your self-awareness and communication skills. Dan Harrison is the staffing manager for Wesco Corporation and is about to interview three candidates for a project manager position. He is looking for someone with planning and long-range vision skills. Phil Holmes describes his goal - "To be a Marketing Manager within five years, and have a hand picked team reporting to him." This is a very specific and narrow goal, which may not be an option at this company. The "hand picked" team demonstrates a lack of flexibility. Best to stay away from...

Interviewers do not want to end up hiring an inflexible and unadaptable employee. I'm sure you know the type - the grumpy person who complains about how things are 'nowadays' and constantly reminisces about the 'good old days' before such and such a change. The world of work is changing quickly - with factors at play such as globalisation, mergers and acquisitions, change programmes, and efficiency drives. Talking about how you have coped with one of these changes will illustrate your ability to deal with change. Make sure that you can show that you're willing to adapt to new circumstances, maybe along the lines of: A couple of people left our team in the space of just a week, which meant that we...

It is important when answering this question to put a positive spin on your answer, even if the circumstances under which you left were less than perfect, i.e. due to a conflict of personalities, poor performance, money issues, being bored or any of the reason. When answering this question keep it short and to the point, don't waffle on. Interviewees who try to explain in length can come across as trying to overly justifying their answer or trying to do a cover-up job. Reasons for leaving Stating that you left for "better career opportunities" sounds to cliché, it would be sound better to say " I am looking for a position which enables me to use my skills and experience as an ___" Here again...

The medium used to advertise a job can tell you a lot about the job being offered. If an advertisement is in a national paper then it usually means that the employer has decided that they will spend more money in order to cast their net wider, i.e., nationally instead of locally. Some companies use agencies. This means that they have chosen to have the screening done by another party. In this case, it will be your job to convince the agency that they should introduce you to the company. Sometimes, the agency carries out initial interviews and only submits the short list to their client. You may want to consider making your application more general if the agency handles many jobs in the industry in...