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3 Critical Salary Negotiation Tips For 2024

3 Critical Salary Negotiation Tips For 2024
  • April 29th, 2024
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The job search market has completely changed. It is now an employer’s market. Companies have a lot of options to choose from, and they’re being very strategic and picky about who they hire. They’re also being budget conscious; they want the best bang for their buck, the greatest return on investment. So, how do you successfully negotiate salary in this kind of labor market?

If you want to negotiate a higher salary in 2024, follow these three critical salary negotiation tips.

1. Don’t Negotiate Salary When It’s Listed In the Job Description

Many hiring managers are given a set salary or bonus structure for a new hire that they’re told not to exceed. With that in mind, if a company has the salary range for a job publicly listed in the job description, please understand that they’re not even going to entertain talking to anybody who doesn’t agree to that amount.

So if your walkway rate, which is the least amount of money you could accept without having to still look for another job, is not in that range, it is not worth your time to apply.

If they post a range, you better be in that range—or don’t bother applying.

2. Use Evidence-Based Answering In Job Interviews To Prove Your Value

The interview process is where you make sure that you get the highest amount of money possible, and you’re going to accomplish that through evidence-based answering.

Evidence-based answering is when you provide very clear and concrete examples of how you achieved results in your career that show you can do the job. You can’t just say that you have the experience and give hypotheticals in this competitive market. You need to provide the evidence with storytelling.

At Work It DAILY, we call this storytelling technique the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model. It’s a framework for making sure that you answer behavioral interview questions correctly, giving the right amount of evidence to prove your value.

When you correctly use evidence-based answering in a job interview, you are proving to the hiring manager that you have the value that they need. I talk about how important your unique value add (UVA) is all the time. You demonstrate your UVA through this kind of evidence-based answering.

3. Create A Table To Show You Exceed Their Expectations & Requirements

When you get the job offer and it’s time to negotiate salary, you should have a two-column table ready to give to the hiring manager.

In the first column of this table, list all of the things that are required to do the job you’re interviewing for. Go back to the job description, but also add in anything else they told you through the interview process that is a requirement to do this job.

In the second column, match up your experience to these requirements. If they said you need five years of experience and you have seven, put seven in this second column. If they said you need to be able to do a certain type of project and you’ve done it 20 times, say you’ve done that project 20 times.

Then, go through the document, and any place where you exceed the requirement that they asked for, highlight it in green.

This becomes the document that you are going to use to negotiate a higher salary so that if you get the offer and the salary is lower than what you expected, you can go back to the hiring manager and say…

“I’m really honored and excited to get this job. However, I was hoping for X. I put together this table because this shows that I not only meet all your expectations, but in green, you can see where I exceed them. I truly believe I’m going to give you the best return on your investment if you pay me X, and I would love it if you would consider that because it would give me the confidence that you believe in me and I will make sure I am worth every penny.”

These three tips are going to help you maximize your salary negotiation in this current job market. Spending the time to create a table and use evidence-based answering in the job interview will make all the difference. You don’t want to wing it. The more you prepare for salary negotiation, the better off you’re going to be. I promise.

Good luck, and go get ’em!

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How To Answer 3 Interview Questions For The “Over 50” Job Seeker

How To Answer 3 Interview Questions For The “Over 50” Job Seeker
  • April 23rd, 2024
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Navigating a successful job search can be tricky for job seekers over the age of 50 (and very often those over 40 too). Age discrimination is alive and well, and even though your resume got you to the interview, your “experience” might be a drawback.

Here are three interview questions you may be asked as an older job seeker with the best strategies for how to answer them.

1. You Seem To Be Overqualified For This Job.

This isn’t framed as a question, but it does demand a response—or you’ve lost the opportunity. You know they liked what they saw in your resume, but when they’re staring you in the face, they’re wondering if you’re really going to be a good fit. Will you be unhappy that you’re taking a job that’s “less than” what you’re capable of? Will you be bored? Will you fit in? Are you only marking time until retirement?

Help them see that you’re a good fit with an answer that addresses those underlying concerns:

“I may be overqualified, but I see that as a bonus for you. I am more than ready to do this job, and I understand what it takes to be successful in it. Aside from learning the specific way you do things at this organization, my actual task learning curve would be flat and I could produce results almost immediately.”

Pointing out what they stand to gain from this deal is always a good idea.

“I may be overqualified, but this particular position looks great to me because of X.”

“X” may be any number of reasons: you really like their product /service, you are excited about the work they’re doing, or even a more personal reason.

One gentleman I know told his interviewer, “My current job is over an hour away and I don’t want to move because I like where I live. The quality of life I’d get from eliminating that long commute would mean a lot to me.” It was a real reason and calmed their fears about hiring him.

2. How Do I Know You’ll Be Really Motivated To Do This Job?

This is not just a question of motivation, but also one about your energy and enthusiasm. You have several good options for answering it:

  • Offer your references to speak for you and your work ethic. References are powerful.
  • Point out a recent big accomplishment. If it’s only been a few months since you won an award or conquered a major challenge, the motivation question should be answered.
  • Bring a 30-60-90 day plan to your interview. There’s nothing like putting together a plan for success on the job before you get it. It’s a powerful demonstration of your work ethic, your knowledge, and your critical thinking skills.

3. How Would You Feel If You Worked For Someone Who Knows Less Than You?

Working for someone who knows less than you do is not great—and if you truly are someone who’s been around the block, you’ve probably gained a lot of wisdom and judgment that a younger person just can’t have. However, to answer this question, the only really good answer sounds something like this:

“I have found that even if someone knows less than me in one area, they know more than me in another. I usually find that I can learn something useful from everyone, and I think it’s exciting to work with a wide range of people because of that.”

Keep all your answers focused on the positive, and they will go a long way toward supporting your candidacy.

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Interview Questions About A Time You Went Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty

Interview Questions About A Time You Went Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty
  • April 18th, 2024
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We all put a lot of thought and effort into how to answer questions about times we failed so that we don’t look bad in the interview, but how much thought do we put into choosing stories to answer softball questions like, “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond the call of duty?”

Even though this is a positive question, it’s very important to carefully choose a good story to answer it well. You should always have a story or two to tell about times you went above and beyond at work. It points out that not only did you meet the expectations of your employer, you exceeded them. That shows you as extremely valuable to a future employer.

The key to keep in mind when choosing a story to tell is to choose one that speaks to how you could and would be successful in this new role. Think about the job description for this new role. Your first choice of story should be one that describes how you went above and beyond in relation to a central task in the description. This should talk about a conflict or a difficult situation related to your job that you overcame. If you don’t have a story like this, then a story that highlights a positive character trait can also be good, although there should still be a conflict and a resolution.

Whatever story you choose, you’ve probably heard you should tell it using the STAR method: (S)ituation or (T)ask; (A)ction you took; (R)esult you got. So it sounds like, “I faced this situation, and we needed that done. Based on (specific factors), I decided to do (specific actions), and the results were (whatever they were).”

However, a more effective way to answer behavioral interview questions like, “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond the call of duty?” is by using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” format. Employers nowadays can spot the STAR method a mile away, and your answer will come off as more genuine by using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” format instead.

An alternative way to answer this question is to bring out your brag book for a little show-and-tell time. Brag books are wonderful visual aids for your job interview. They help you communicate more clearly and more powerfully about who you are and what you can do.

Evidence can do great things for the impression you make with your answer. So, along with your story, show the note from your happy client or boss; the graph that shows how the production numbers went up after your action; or the award you received from your action.

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Being Your Own Reference: Rating Yourself As A Professional In The Job Interview

Being Your Own Reference: Rating Yourself As A Professional In The Job Interview
  • April 18th, 2024
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Have you ever been asked, “How do you rate yourself?” in a job interview? The qualifier could be “as a professional,” “as an employee,” or maybe as the holder of a certain skill set. In most cases, they want you to give them an answer between 1 and 10 in order to get some concrete idea of where you and your skills are.

This is a tough question to answer. You will find advice that you should always rank yourself as a 10, or even higher. They say that anything less makes it look like you don’t have confidence in yourself or that you’re admitting a weakness.

In my opinion, automatically rating yourself at a 10 makes you seem a little conceited (at best). It sounds like a false answer, just like “I’m such a perfectionist” does to the “What’s your greatest weakness?” question.

At the same time, answering “5” may keep them from offering you the job.

Here’s how you should really answer, “How do you rate yourself?” in a sincere, job-winning way:

The best answer for someone with experience is a 7 or an 8. You’d elaborate on that by saying something along the lines of you see yourself as someone who’s learned a lot and is valuable at this point in your career, but you also realize that you can learn more from this organization—and then say what that is. This is reasonable, positive, and appealing.

If you’re just out of school or have very little experience, you should answer a little lower, at maybe a 6 or a 7. Again, elaborate on your answer. You see yourself as better than average (5) but with room to grow. You’re excited about what you can learn from this company and how you can contribute to it.

Is it ever okay to rate yourself at a 9 or a 10? Yes, but only if you’re a true subject matter expert with extensive experience. In most cases, we all have room to learn and improve.

Your interviewer will be surprised that you don’t automatically tell them “10” (or in some cases “11”). So make sure you explain your thought process. Say something like, “On a scale of 1 to 10, a 5 would be a true average, and a 10 is perfect. I think I’m better than average, and no one is perfect.”

Continue the conversation in a positive vein by pointing out what you’ve learned that makes you valuable, qualities that make you a great fit for the job, and why you’re excited to continue your career at this company.

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3 Types Of Questions You Should Ask At The End Of Job Interviews

3 Types Of Questions You Should Ask At The End Of Job Interviews
  • March 18th, 2024
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3 Types Of Questions You Should Ask At The End Of Job Interviews

There are three types of questions I teach all of my career coaching clients to ask when they are in an interview. These three questions are especially important when you’re in those final stage interviews with higher-ups. If you ask these critical questions, you are going to be seen as more intelligent, more engaging, and the candidate who will give them the return on the investment they’re looking for if they hire you.

At the end of your next job interview, make sure you ask the following three questions so you can stand out as the best candidate for the job.

1. A Connection Question

When you get to the end of the interview and the hiring manager says, “Do you have any questions?” the first type of question you want to ask is a connection question. This type of question allows you to ask them about their experience at the company. Here are some examples:

  • How did you get your job here?
  • What do you like most about working here?
  • What’s the most impactful part of your job?

I particularly like the connection question around how they ended up in their job and what they like most about it because it gives the hiring manager a chance to talk about their own professional journey and people enjoy sharing that.

2. A Question About The Company’s Challenges

Man asks about the company in a job interview

The second type of question you want to ask should be about the company’s difficulties and challenges. Here are some examples:

  • What is the greatest challenge your department will face this year?
  • What do you think is the biggest challenge the company will face this year?

Then, you end the question with this:

  • And how will the role that I am interviewing for help overcome that challenge?
  • And how would the job I’d be doing positively impact overcoming that challenge?

By asking this type of question, you’re saying, “I get it. You’re hiring me to solve problems and alleviate pain. So tell me about the big challenges.” In fact, I’ve even coached people to say:

  • Can you tell me the one thing that’s keeping you up at night with respect to the business? And how will the job that I’m doing help with that?

No matter how you phrase it, this type of question lets the hiring manager vent and talk about what concerns them, and it also gives you the framework of what you would need to do in order to succeed in the role.

3. A Question About Next Steps In the Process

Woman shakes hands with the hiring manager before a job interview

The third and final type of question that is so important to ask in a job interview is about the next steps in the process. Here are some examples:

  • Can you tell me what the next steps in this hiring process process are?
  • Can you tell me what I can expect going forward in this hiring process?
  • Can you tell me how you feel about me as a candidate for this role? And is there anything else you feel I could provide for you that would help me stand out? Because I’m really interested in the job.

This closing question is all about you getting to the bottom of what to expect (managing your own expectations), and the hiring manager should be able to frame that out for you.

I’ve given you a few different examples of how to ask these questions because everyone has to find their own voice. So, at the end of your next job interview, remember to ask these three types of questions (we’ll call them the three Cs), and ask them in a way that feels right to you:

  1. Connection question
  2. Challenge question
  3. Closing question

When you ask these questions consistently, you’re going to see much better results from your interviews. I guarantee it.

Good luck, and go get ’em!

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4 Ways To Recover From A Bad Job Interview

4 Ways To Recover From A Bad Job Interview
  • March 7th, 2024
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4 Ways To Recover From A Bad Job Interview

Did you ever leave a job interview feeling like it didn’t go so well? Self-doubt can creep in as soon as you walk out the door. Little things nag at you like your posture, tone, and the answers you gave.

You can turn these negative experiences into positive ones and become better at interviews.

Every setback in life is an opportunity to learn, and there are multiple things that you can learn from a bad job interview that could lead to success in the next one.

Here’s what you need to do to recover from your mistakes and put yourself in a position to ace your next job interview.

Take Notes Following The Interview

After the interview is over, take a step back and think about the interview.

Write what you feel may have gone wrong. Putting your thoughts on paper after the interview gives them the most validity. This is when raw emotions come out and your thoughts are true. After a couple of days, revisit what you wrote. Look at your entries completed in the heat of the moment. Reflecting on these thoughts with a clear head can help you focus on how to develop your interviewing skills.

It also may be helpful to talk to a friend or professional acquaintance about your poor interview experience and get their feedback.

Identify Strengths

Woman identifies her strengths with a career coach before a job interview

The job interview can be a crucible. It is a source of stress for most job seekers. The thought of saying something wrong or not presenting yourself correctly can be taxing in an already nerve-wracking job search. However, stress and adversity can make you stronger going forward in any job interview process.

Think about what you did that went well. Did you explain situations you were in through solid storytelling? Reflect on what parts of interviews you were most comfortable in. Think about your approach and mindset in these areas. Develop an interview strategy with this as your foundation.

Set Up A Routine

Confident man waits before his job interview

Many great figures in sports set up a routine before every game. Whether it’s because they are superstitious or not, there is a level of comfort in doing something familiar. It eases their minds and gets them into the flow of the game. Develop your own routine for yourself with job interviews.

Set up a consistent practice routine where you dedicate a certain amount of time on a daily basis to preparing for the interview. Try to do at least one mock interview with a trusted friend or colleague.

The morning of an interview, go for a run, read, or do something you enjoy that gets your mind off the interview. Develop a routine and set your own flow, and you will improve in the job interview.

Send Thank-You Notes

Woman on laptop writes a thank-you note after a job interview

You should not only send a brief thank-you note after the interview thanking the company for the opportunity to interview for the job, but you should also send a brief thank-you note after receiving a job rejection.

A job rejection can be an opportunity to get some feedback—just don’t be too pushy about it.

In responding to the rejection, once again thank them for the opportunity to interview, express disappointment for not getting the job, but congratulate them on finding the right candidate. You can then ask them if there’s anything that you can do to improve as a candidate and stay on their radar for future opportunities.

If they respond, it’s free feedback! If not, just let it go and move one.

Everyone has made mistakes in job interviews. The important thing is to learn from them and focus your efforts on improving. Follow the tips above to recover from a bad job interview and ensure success in your next one.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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What Your Interview Body Language Reveals About You

What Your Interview Body Language Reveals About You
  • February 27th, 2024
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Poor body language can derail an interview regardless of how confident and well-spoken you are. Body language is as much a part of your communication style as what you say verbally—it’s really about how you say it. Impressions are made within seconds of reviewing body language.

Consider the first step to entering an interview—the handshake. While it may take less than 10 seconds to complete a handshake, in that time, the interviewer has already developed an impression of your character based on eye contact and the firmness of your shake. A weak handshake and lack of eye contact can leave the impression you are timid and insecure. A sincere and firm handshake with eye contact expresses professionalism and confidence. An overpowering handshake with a fixed gaze may come across as overconfident and arrogant. So, be cautious with your next handshake and start the interview off with a positive impression.

In an interview, body language is present from head to toe. Consider the following…

Posture

Whether you are sitting or standing, your posture projects a level of confidence and engagement in the conversation. When one slumps, it implies to the interviewer a lack of confidence and interest. Sitting stiff as a rock implies nervousness and it creates an uncomfortable situation for building rapport. Sitting at the tip of the chair implies you don’t want to be there. Lying back on the chair with your ankle on top of your other knee may appear unprofessional and too relaxed. In general, crossing your arms and legs may be interpreted as building a barrier.

To project professionalism, confidence, and engagement, consider sitting on the chair with your lower back touching or close to the back panel while leaning 10 degrees forward. Keep your hands relaxed in your lap or on the table, and your feet grounded on the floor. When standing, avoid crossing your arms or placing them in your pockets. The point is to project a balanced posture that is not limp or overly stiff.

Eye Contact

Woman maintains good eye contact during a job interview

Eye contact allows you and the interviewer to connect beyond words alone. However, there is a fine balance between good eye contact and when eye contact becomes a weird gaze or stare that can make the other person feel uncomfortable. When you stare without having breaks in between, a casual conversation can come across as a lecture.

Whether you are listening or speaking, maintain eye contact with your interviewer for a couple of seconds at a time (no more than 7 to 10 seconds) and then glance away before returning eye contact again. If you are looking down to take notes, look up occasionally, especially when it appears a special point is being made or when you are asked a question.

Voice

Woman attends a virtual job interview

Speed, tone, and pitch combined make an impression. Talking too fast can be hard to understand and appear as nervousness. When your tone projects apology or defense, you can come across as unconfident and insecure. When you don’t make changes between your tone and pitch, you can sound monotone, making it more difficult for the other person to stay engaged.

Learn to take control of your voice. If you are nervous, it can come across in your pitch, so take a breath to help you relax before speaking. Be conscious of your tone and pitch to offer variation and to help emphasize certain points.

Bobblehead

Man with good body language answers a question during a job interview

Some people have a tendency to bobble their heads as a gesture of agreement, but when you nod in excess during a conversation, it becomes a distraction and can be interpreted as though you are agreeing on everything for the sake of wanting to please. You can lose credibility in such instances.

To avoid appearing like a bobblehead, nod occasionally to show you are still engaged and have control over how you nod. You can also tilt your head slightly to the side as though you are trying to listen more carefully as another way to show you are engaged.

Extremities

Woman with good body language smiles during a job interview

There are people who do certain things out of habit, such as flaring their arms while talking, twirling their hair, playing with a pen in hand, rocking back and forth on a chair, and shaking or thumping their feet. Many of these actions occur unconsciously; however, these are distractions to the person you are speaking to and may be perceived as signs you are bored or have trouble focusing. Some people also touch their nose or face frequently when they are nervous. An interviewer may perceive this as a sign you are not being totally honest.

Be conscious of what you do with your hands, legs, and feet and that will help you take control of your movements. Be aware of your own body language and also read your interviewer’s body language to give you hints about how they are responding to you.

The interview may start very formal, but as you both become acquainted with one another, the mood may relax and you may adapt your body language to reflect what you sense from the interviewer. There is no absolute rule around body language, but it would be wise to avoid any chance of being misinterpreted.

You can properly prepare your body language before heading into an interview by watching yourself in the mirror act out how you introduce yourself and speak. Another helpful way is to have a friend or colleague interview you and record the entire session. Review how you present yourself and become aware of problem areas to adjust before your interview.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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“Why Do You Want To Work From Home?” Tips & Samples

“Why Do You Want To Work From Home?” Tips & Samples
  • February 26th, 2024
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“Why do you want to work from home” is a question you’ll inevitably get asked if you want a remote position. Many applicants will consider this to be one of the key points of the job, and employers want to know why it appeals to you. This guide will teach you how to prepare an […]

The post “Why Do You Want To Work From Home?” Tips & Samples appeared first on Career Sherpa.

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How To Answer “Why Did You Choose This Job?” Effectively

How To Answer “Why Did You Choose This Job?” Effectively
  • February 6th, 2024
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“Why did you choose this job?” is an incredibly common interview question that you must be prepared to answer. This guide will teach you everything you need to know, so you can make a great impression and land the job you want. Table of contents Why This Question Gets Asked How to Answer “Why Did […]

The post How To Answer “Why Did You Choose This Job?” Effectively appeared first on Career Sherpa.

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“What Is Your Philosophy Towards Work?” Tips & Examples

“What Is Your Philosophy Towards Work?” Tips & Examples
  • January 23rd, 2024
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“What is your philosophy towards work?” is an interview question that many people aren’t prepared to answer. But the ones that are will impress a potential employer. This article will cover how to come up with a great answer to this question and discuss your work philosophy in a way that’s honest and effective. Table […]

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3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview

3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview
  • January 11th, 2024
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Informational interviews are an essential part of a successful job search. Not sure what you need to do? Marcy Twete, author of You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works, offers some great tips for nailing your next informational interview.

1. Give Them Some Options

“The good news is, most people will want to help someone new to the business world,” says Twete. “The bad news is, people are busy!”

When you reach out to a potential networking connection, be respectful of his or her time by providing more than just a handful of dates you might be available to meet.

Instead, offer to come to their office or a coffee shop near them, even if it requires a long drive or a train ride on your part. Or ask for a quick 15-minute phone call.

“Someone is much more apt to give you 15 minutes on the phone than an hour in person,” says Twete. “If you come to the table with great questions on that call, they’ll be more likely to want to meet you and mentor you.”

A virtual informational interview is another great option, especially if the company’s employees are remote.

2. Do Your Homework

Woman asks a question during an informational interview

“No one wants to dedicate an hour to a meeting and spend the first 20 minutes talking about things you could learn from a LinkedIn profile,” says Twete.

Come with questions that are pertinent to that individual’s background and be curious about how that relates to your own potential career path.

Not only will it make you feel more confident, but it can give you topic ideas. Twete suggests finding the answers to these questions before you meet with someone:

  • Where did he/she go to school?
  • What does his/her company do?
  • How long has he/she been in his/her position?

“When a college student or recent graduate meets me armed with great questions and it’s clear she has done her research, that’s when I’m ready to open my network and help her grow,” she says.

3. Keep Your Social Media On Point

Professional takes notes during an informational interview

“Your online persona introduces you to anyone you’re meeting well before you do,” says Twete.

In this day and age, you should expect to be googled by employers, recruiters, and other professionals, especially if you’re meeting with them.

Make sure your social media profiles are either private or 100% appropriate for business consumption. The last thing you want to do is show off that infamous picture from Spring Break 2010. Not a good look.

In addition to managing your social media presence, consider creating an online portfolio with a .com in your name. Start a blog. Upload your portfolio. Showcase your personal branding statement. This will help you control your online reputation and make you look super professional.

Nothing can help your job search quite like an informational interview. By following the tips above, your informational interview will surely be a success!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle Criticism
  • January 11th, 2024
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Criticism comes with the territory in any job—and in life. So in your job interview, the hiring manager will probably ask how you handle it.

It may come in the form of a behavioral interview question such as, “Describe a time when your work was criticized and how you handled it.” Your answer—the story you choose and how you talk about it—will tell them a lot about your character and how you perform under pressure.

The truth is that in order to be successful, we all need to be open to criticism. If you aren’t, then you aren’t coachable. You won’t be open to learning things that make you better than you were before. And if you can’t do that, then you won’t grow and you’ll never become as accomplished or as valuable as you could be in your career.

Ask Yourself, “Am I Coachable?”

Hiring manager asks a job candidate about how he handles criticism in an interview

The question we all need to ask ourselves is, “Am I coachable?” Our ability to take criticism and learn from it is crucial to our success. If you don’t take criticism well and always become defensive, eventually people will stop trying. That may feel nicer, but ultimately it hurts you. If your boss can’t communicate with you and help you become better at your job, eventually they’ll just cut you loose.

No one is perfect. We can all learn and improve. Everyone can be corrected or coached to a new place. We’ll be better and stronger because of it.

How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle Criticism

What does a good criticism response story sound like?

If you’re asked about how you handle criticism in a job interview, your response should sound like this:

  1. Tell them about a time someone told you how you could do some task differently or better.
  2. Talk about how you responded and what you did after receiving the criticism (how you did that task better).
  3. Mention what the results were.

This structure fits the STAR technique (situation or task, action you took, and results). Many times, job seekers miss telling about the results of the story (what happened as a result of the action you took), and this is one of the most important parts.

At Work It Daily, our version of the STAR technique is called the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model, and it actually works better in job interviews because the STAR technique is overused and it’s easy to forget the “results,” how you “grew” from the experience.

As with all of your job interview answers, be strategic. Don’t choose a problem that someone criticized you about that is a central component of your job—for instance, an accountant who was criticized for her sloppy math would be a bad story to tell, no matter how much she improved. Choose something that is a side component. Maybe the accountant was weak in communication skills with colleagues but took a class and made an effort and now works collaboratively on six team projects per year. Whatever it is, talk about how you responded and how you became better, and give evidence of that.

Hiring managers will always ask about adversity of one kind or another in interviews, so be prepared to talk about a few of these types of topics. Remember: It’s all about how you frame your criticism story!

Give interview answers that sell you for the job. Find more than 200 job-winning answers in How to Answer Interview Questions and How to Answer Interview Questions II, available on Amazon.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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