Words That Get You Hired

-


At the age of 44, with no job, two kids in college and a third about to start, Jim had fallen on rough times. Dismissed by his employer in a major cutback, Jim had talked with nearly 200 people in search of another management position. As he arrived for his first interview with a large glass company, however, he was smiling and confident. This time, he felt, he had a job-winning strategy.

In preparation, Jim had listed questions that kept coming up in earlier, unsuccessful interviews. Then he had a friend ask him the questions in front of a home video camera. Would I hire this person? Jim wondered as he watched himself on playback. No, he decided. "I sat sternly with arms folded - like a kid called to the principal's office. I scrambled. What I thought was self confidence came across as arrogance.”

After more practice, Jim knew he was ready. And sure enough, the glass company hired him as a regional vice President.

The same approach that helped Jim triumph over mid-life unemployment can work for others too.

The eight key questions that, in one form or another, almost every good interviewer asks

1.Who are you, really?

That's what your questioner wants to know when he or she greets you with "Tell me about yourself". The interviewer has already noted that whether you arrived on time and are appropriately dressed. Now you have to make sure your first words impress favorably. In a concise, two minute reply, you might talk about your education and work experience, bridging into why you're right for the job.

You should include a sentence that will make you memorable. For one winner, it was: "I graduated from an undistinguished college, but look at my job progression in ten years." That marked him as clever and hard-driving, and helped him outpace elite school competitors. Don't fudge facts.


2.Why are you on the job market?

The interviewer will be alert for deceptions. Be direct and quick. Never breaking eye contact, Jim said with a chuckle, "I was the victim of a downsizing plan I designed myself." Even if you were fired, "your best answer is always the honest one"

3.What can you do for us?

The interviewer is seeking evidence that you researched his company. In a survey of 320 company recruiters it was found that "lack of knowledge about the company and industry" was ranked with "arrogance/cockiness" and poor oral communication as principal job-interview turnoffs.

4. What are your strengths?

High energy level, Enthusiasm, Assertiveness, Decisiveness, Maturity, Social sensitivity, Results, Tough mindedness, all these are sought after traits. Back your assertions with concrete examples from work or college. "I sold more tickets for the college play than any other student" would be a good evidence for a fresher.


5. What are your weaknesses?

Tell at least about one of your failures." The wrong answer is "I can't think of any.” Safe ground is the weakness that is really overuse of strength.

Example:"Sometimes people mistake my decisiveness for impatience, but I have learned to watch how I express things.” Always try to show that you profited from your mistake.

6. What type of boss do you like?

"Forget the wisecrack like "One I see once a year". And don’t knock your last boss. The interviewer is probing for whether you’re likely to have boss conflicts.

Here's the ideal boss as defined by one successful executive: "A competent and strong leader I can learn from, who will let me take chances, coach me and be critical of me when I need it."


7. What are your most significant accomplishments?

Some bosses never hire anyone who can't list at least one outstanding achievement. Write down what made you proudest in each of the past five years.


8. What salary you are looking for?

Don't bring up pay in an initial interview. Your prospective employer will typically talk compensation in the second or third interview. If pressed don't quote a low figure.

Job interviews often close with a question such as "Is there anything you'd like to bring up that we haven't talked about?" This is a good time to ask about job content, the boss's expectation and why the last person had left the job. As parting words, summarize why you'd be right for the job. After practicing, the correct comment should come easily - and help get you hired over candidates less prepared for winning interviews.


Courtesy - How to be Successful yet Happy

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Your Biggest Weakness is Your Greatest Strength

-
A 10-year-old boy decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese Judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his master, the boy kept training. Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, a...
Read more

Potatoes, Eggs and Coffee Beans

-
Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?" "Potatoes, eggs, and coffee," she hastily replied. ...
Read more

The Story of KFC

-
Image
Image via Wikipedia Do you recognize the genial looking old man in white suit in the KFC logo? It is Colonel Harland Sanders. Read on, if you still haven’t heard his rags to riches story. Sanders first served his fried chicken in 1930. In 1935 he was granted the title of honorary Kentucky Colonel in recognition of his contribution to the state's cuisine. In 1940 Sanders devised what came to be known as his Original Recipe. The Sanders Court & Café generally served travelers headed to Florida. But he had to shut down his restaurant business because a new highway was being built where his restaurant was located. The only option for Colonel Sanders was to live off of $105 in the form of social security checks. Not wanting to accept that as his fate, he decided to franchise his chicken recipe at the age of 65. He started travelling by car to different restaurants and cooked his fried chicken on the spot for restaurant owners. If the owner liked the chicken, they would enter...
Read more