âHow do you prioritize your work?â is an interview question that you need to be prepared for. It directly connects to your abilities as an employee, so interviewers will be paying close attention to your answer. Letâs take a look at how to answer this question in a way that improves your chance of getting […]
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âWhat is your superpower?â is an interview question that feels quite different than the others youâll get asked. But underneath this seemingly silly question is an opportunity to make a great impression. Read this guide to learn why interviewers ask it, and how you should approach your answer. We even provide some examples to get […]
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Figuring out how to tell a company you have another offer can seem a bit uncomfortable at first. For many job-seekers, they fear that doing this will make it seem like theyâre playing hardball or being rude. But it doesnât have to be that way! This guide will teach you how to inform a potential […]
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When an interviewer asks you to describe a difficult situation and how you handled it, theyâre looking for a few specific things in your answer. This article will help you understand the purpose of this question, and how you can come up with an answer that makes a great impression. The Reason Interviewers Ask This […]
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Sharing a time when you used logic and good judgment to solve a problem seems easy, but many job-seekers get stumped when asked this during an interview. This helpful guide covers why interviewers love asking this question, and how you can answer it effectively. Table of contents Why Interviewers Want to Hear an Example of […]
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Answering questions about your organizational skills in a job interview is something that everyone needs to do. Staying organized is an essential part of being a productive employee, so hiring managers will always bring this up! This guide will teach you how to talk about your organizational skills in a way that makes a great […]
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The dreaded interview question, “Tell me about yourself,” stumps a lot of folks. People of all ages and experience levels often fail to answer this one correctly, in a way that conveys meaningful information to the interviewerâinformation they will actually use to consider your candidacy.
First off, please know they are not asking you for a boring chronological recap of your professional history. That is the quickest way to lose their interest! What an employer is really asking is, âWhy should I hire you?”
That being said, here’s my three-step process for giving them an answer that gets their attention.
Enthusiasm for solving a business problem they need help with is the quickest way to get a hiring manager’s attention. Let’s face it, they aren’t hiring you for the heck of it. You need to explain how you can make things better for an employer.
You are a business-of-one. At the end of the day, you provide a service for your employer. By talking about the problems you love to solve and how you go about solving them, the hiring manager will clearly see the type of employee you are and could be for their company.
Companies hire people who can save and/or make them money. So when you provide examples from your personal and professional past that demonstrate the value your problem-solving skills bring, you are proving your worth.
It also shows that you are thinking like an employee who understands that their job is to make things better for the company.
The research you conducted on the employer before your interview will come in handy here. Connect your past accomplishments and problem-solving experience to the current problems you know the company is trying to solve (from your research). You’ll impress the hiring manager with your knowledge of the company and you’ll further answer the question, “Tell me about yourself.”
Let them know how you hope to grow your skills and abilities by taking your problem-solving skills to the next level. Also, mention how passionate you are about what the company does and how you feel connected to its mission (echoing what you wrote in your disruptive cover letter). This lets the employer know you plan to focus on being successful and expanding your value to the organization if you get hired.
Employers love candidates who clearly plan to hold themselves to a higher standard. If you make it to the last round of interviews, you should consider coming prepared for your final interview with a 30-60-90 day plan.
But that’s the long game. In your first interview with an employer, combining your problem-solving expertise and your passion for the company in your explanation is an excellent way to answer the interview question, “Tell me about yourself.”
If you follow this three-step guideline when answering, “Tell me about yourself,” in your next job interview, I guarantee you’ll create a compelling story that will have the employer sitting up and taking notice. This is your chance to sell your valueâdon’t pass it up!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
If it has been two weeks after an interview with no response, itâs only natural to wonder what that means for you. Are you officially out of the running? Has the hiring process been delayed? Should you follow up? This guide will help you understand why this happens, and what you should do next. Potential […]
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If you’ve never heard of a 30-60-90 day plan, you’re not interviewing as well as you think you are. A 30-60-90 day plan is one of the most effective interview tools any professional can use, no matter their industry or job level.
Unfortunately, not a lot of job seekers know what 30-60-90 day plans are, or why they would need one in the first place.
A 30-60-90 day plan is a timeline for your first three months on the job. It lists your goals and the tasks and actions you will take to accomplish those goals. What will you do when you get hired? When will you do it? How will you make a difference from Day 1?
The idea is to run through your plans/ideas for those first three months on the job in your final job interview. Present your 30-60-90 day plan to the hiring manager and have an in-depth discussion about how you will approach the job and be successful in the role.
There are a few things you should always include in your 30-60-90 day plan. In the first 30 days, outline the steps you’ll take to complete any onboarding or company training. Also, explain your process for getting to know your teammates, and list any immediate goals that can be measured.
In the next 30 days, set realistic goals related to people, processes, and productivity. These goals shouldn’t be too detailed. A high-level approach is enough.
The last 30 days are the most important part of your 30-60-90 day plan. It’s the section that shows your potential as a long-term employee. Here, list achievements you expect to have accomplished by the three-month mark, and highlight additional goals geared towards exceeding expectations.
You’ll need to have a solid idea of what the job entails before creating your 30-60-90 day plan, so make sure to ask good interview questions and use the job description as a guide.
Ultimately, a 30-60-90 day plan is a competitive advantage. It’s something so few job candidates use that if you bring one to your final interview you’ll already have that edge over the other applicants. It could be the reason you get offered the job.
When you present your 30-60-90 day plan to the hiring manager, they’ll be extremely impressed by your “go-getter” attitude. They will automatically envision you being successful in the position because you’ve clearly outlined how you will be. And that will make them much more likely to hire you.
We hope you now have a better idea of what a 30-60-90 day plan is and understand why it’s important to have one while interviewing for jobs.
Remember: Not only does bringing a 30-60-90 day plan to your interview boost your chances of getting the job, but it also gives you a solid foundation once you start.
With your 30-60-90 day plan, you know that you and your new boss are on the same page. You can start your job with confidence, knowing you’re on the right path to success.
So, what are you waiting for? Write your 30-60-90 day plan today! Once you realize what a game changer it is, you’ll never interview without one again.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
âWhy do you want to work here?â is an interview question that seems easy to answer, but trips up applicants all the time. And we can guarantee that youâll have to answer it at some point in your job search. This guide covers why interviewers ask this question, and teaches you how to answer it […]
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I’m a big fan of the X-Men comic books and have always loved the powers of Dr. Charles Xavier, who is telepathic. Who wouldn’t want the ability to instantly read a person’s mind and affect their behavior? This skill would come in extremely handy during interviews with hiring managers, many of whom seem to belong squarely to the school of âsay little and express even less.”
Here are five ways to turn off a hiring manager and ruin your chances of getting the job.
A big mistake job seekers make is submitting overly general resumes. This makes sense in theory. After all, the more applications you can shoot off, the more interviews, right? But this can really turn off a hiring manager, who wants to know exactly how your background will enable you to tackle the problems they need to be solved. Clichés just won’t cut it at this stage.
Here’s what you should do instead:
Once you have a solid framework in place, include metrics-based quantifiable accomplishments on your resume for every major position you’ve held that proves your ability to execute.
Here’s an example: Saved global Telecom company $500M over 2 years through development and deployment of end-to-end Complexity Reduction methodology resulting in purchasing and inventory efficiencies.
Look, it’s great to be ambitious. And of course, the job you’re after today is probably not the one you want to retire on. But you need to place your focus squarely on becoming the ideal candidate for THIS job before even talking about the next step. Neglect to do this, and a hiring manager will naturally start thinking that you might jump ship within a year, and they’ll be back to square one.
Create a short “value presentation” for the interview that talks about how your three to four strongest skills can be applied immediately towards helping the company. It’s similar to a 30-60-90 day plan. Get creative here!
For example, if you’re going after a product development position, why not run some quick usability tests on a company’s products, document them, and develop some design suggestions?
A hiring manager is not a career counselor. With the latter, it’s perfectly fine to be honest about vulnerabilities in your personality or “pet peeves” that drive you crazy in the work environment. But if you take the same approach with a hiring manager and confide things like you have trouble balancing family responsibilities with workplace demands, you’ll most likely get passed over.
They’re not only looking to find the best candidate but manage risk.
Learn how to “spin” negatives into something that ultimately leads to success. For example, if you’re asked what your greatest weakness is, you can tell a story about how you once had chronic shyness and needed 30 minutes to “amp yourself” up for a simple phone call, and now, through courage and repeated exposure, you can handle dozens of calls with high-level clients per day. Negative to positive.
This is also known as the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model, which is the best way to answer behavioral interview questions. Therefore, you should definitely learn this strategy before your next job interview.
Following up matters! It shows that you’re truly invested in landing the position and aren’t just treating it as one of many potential opportunities.
We recommend emailing everyone you met at the company within 24 hours of your interview thanking them for the opportunity, followed by an email sent a week later that essentially continues the conversationâadding greater detail to questions raised, sharing an industry article of interest, and so on.
You’re making it clear that the interview was the beginning of an ongoing relationship, no matter the outcome of the interview process.
If a hiring manager has to choose between the most qualified candidate on paper and a less qualified candidate who brings genuine passion to the table, they’ll go for the latter every time. You can teach someone almost anything except enthusiasm.
So, if you have a personal connection with the company you’re interviewing for, and believe that this is a meaningful step in your life’s ambitions, or simply love the unique culture they’ve developed, take time in the interview to let them know!
It also doesn’t hurt to explicitly state, “I’m very interested in this position, and would love to see a positive outcome,” or something similar. Excitement fuels job offers!
Making the five mistakes above will ruin your chances with a hiring manager every time. To secure your chances of getting the job, be sure to tailor your resume, create a 30-60-90 day plan, learn how to answer behavioral interview questions, follow up after the job interview, and state your enthusiasm for the position.
It’ll be impossible to ruin your chances with a hiring manager with that strategy.
Need more help with your job search?
We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
âHow did you hear about this position?â is an interview question that seems innocent enough. However, itâs still important to know how to answer it effectively! This guide will explain why interviewers ask this question and help you come up with an impressive answer. Table of contents Why This Question Gets Asked in Interviews How […]
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