Interviewing Answers Turning Job Interviews Into Offers!
Interviewing Answers is for you if you can answer yes to any of the following questions:-
- Do you want to get more invites to job interviews?
- Interview invites to specific jobs or companies that you value highest?
- Would it help to know what skills & attributes employers value most?
- And how you can honestly, and compellingly, demonstrate those same skills and attributes?
- Would it give you an advantage to know the questions you will be asked?
- And how to answer those questions better than your competitors?
- Want to know the questions you should ask?
- What questions will reinforce your best points, and make you stand out from the crowd?
- Would you like the very best self marketing materials on the planet?
- And to round things off, master how to close your interviews and negotiate great offers?
Welcome,
My names Richard Penfold, and as a head-hunter my job is to find my clients the very best people for their individual needs. My role is a kind of careers match-maker; because for these relationships to blossom both parties have to benefit.
I don’t say this to try and impress, it’s simply that to do this job properly I must deeply understand and often help my client employers define exactly what skills and type of person they need. And on the flip side I must ensure that these requirements and values are aligned to the skills and ambitions of everyone I recommend to my clients.
I’m really lucky as this role gives me fantastic insight into what careers advice works and what doesn’t.
My short term objective is to make Interviewing-Answerers.com your resource for getting the interview invites you want, acing those interviews and negotiating offers that you’re delighted with.
Answering all the questions listed above along the way.
My ongoing objective is to then continue to add career development information and tools to help people develop careers they will love.
I hope this sounds good to you, as were now go to get into the thick of it.
Firstly, a brief explanation of the site navigation. In the right hand column under the heading Categories you’ll see listed the content headings. These are ordered in a typical job finding process, identify job, research, apply for job, go through interview / assessment stages, negotiate offer, accept or start over.
Those same heading will also appear as text links within some of the page information or at the end of pages to link to the next one, if you are following the suggested order.
As this is my blog site I review it daily and would welcome, questions, suggestions, comments, its early days but I do want this site to work for you, and care deeply that it does.
Right lets get started.
ALL organisations are looking to either MAKE MONEY or SAVE MONEY (increase efficiencies); what we have to do is DEMONSTRATE in a likeable way how YOU will either MAKE them, or SAVE them more money than it COSTS to hire you.
This site will show you how YOU can do this.
Even if you think YOUR role isn’t important enough on its own, the process shows you how to build a COMPELLING PROPOSITION to hire YOU.
I promise everyone can do this.
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Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on May 15th, 2010. Comment. 
Okay, you are looking for a resume writing service because you want a resume that will really stand out, be professional and flawless, and help you get a new or better job, right? Well, there are certainly many resume writing services lined up and eager to help you. They will cost you, the fees vary, but if that doesn’t bother you then you should enter your search for “resume writing service” into Google right now and start weeding through your prospects.
However, if you do not feel like paying someone to write your resume for you, or if you cannot afford it, there are many other options available to you. You can get assistance in writing your resume simply by procuring a career book that shows many different samples of resumes. Thumb through this guide and choose a couple of formats that you like, then base your resume on that format.
You can also choose to use a resume template. This will make things a bit easier for you because part of the work is already done, and you just fill in the blanks. Again, you can utilize a book from the library or bookstore, or your school, to find such a template, or you can turn to the Internet.
Even searching for a resume writing service on the Internet will probably yield some results directing you towards a resume template. If you choose, you can even download a template to your computer and create your resume right then and there.
However, let’s say you are determined to use a resume writing service, what are some of the first steps you should take in this process? Well, obviously, choosing the service you wish to use would be a helpful first step! The next thing you will need to do is pick out a resume package that meets your needs. There are many different resume formats and prices and you will need to look through what the resume writing service has to offer to determine exactly what it is you need.
The resume writing service is going to want to know if you have a current resume or not. If you do not, you will probably have to fill out some sort of questionnaire that will help them determine how they can best serve you.
If you do have a resume, you will be asked to fax or email a copy to the resume writing service, and also to provide them with any additional information they request. This way, they can begin to go about customizing a resume that is going to highlight your accomplishments, skills and interests and format them in a way that will be most appealing to the prospective employers in the field you wish to find employment in.
Using a resume writing service can be a very beneficial option, as not only will they craft a custom resume built around your unique abilities and accomplishments, but they offer additional services as well that might be very attractive to you.
Some of these services might include free interview and job search coaching, free storage of your custom resume for any future revising that may be needed, and perhaps most valuable, free detailed analysis of your previous and current resume. Having this done by professionals can really help shape your resume into a “job magnet!”
By: Mario J. Churchill
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Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on Apr 29th, 2010. Comment.
The Senior Executive Service (SES) is a group of federal employees who serve at the top levels of the U.S. government. These individuals fill federal managerial, supervisory, and policy positions above GS-15 that are not filled by presidential appointment. In order to be considered for these positions, an individual must submit an SES resume to be reviewed by an independent Qualifications Review Board who evaluates it utilizing criteria established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The majority of SES positions are filled by those already in government service often for 5 or more continuous years. Further, previous leadership often at a specified series and grade is required. Therefore, most applicants requiring an SES resume have a basic federal resume to build from. However, for SES positions, it is crucial to ensure that leadership and supervisory skill is demonstrated. Therefore, it is important to revise and adjust a federal resume to reflect these attributes and skills from previous positions. The most effective manner in which to demonstrate this information is to provide a situation or example, describe the problem you faced in the situation, and then how you resolved it. Utilize key words from the job announcement to ensure that the examples in your resume meet the qualifications for the position. Anticipate your resume to be long – on average 3 to 5 pages.
Once your federal resume is updated, an addendum that addresses the “Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ’s)” must be attached. Successful candidates must demonstrate their competency in each of these five executive skill areas. The five basic ECQ’s are:
1. Leading Change
2. Leading People
3. Results Driven
4. Business Acumen
5. Building Coalitions
These ECQ’s are further broken down into 22 competencies that have been identified as needed to successfully perform in these federal positions. Additionally, there are 6 additional overall competencies that are designated as important to all five ECQs. These competencies are interpersonal skills, oral communication, integrity/honesty, written communication, continual learning, and public service motivation.
While each ECQ statement covers a separate ECQ, the competencies that are applicable to all can be addressed in general terms as warranted in the statements. The overall main focus of these ECQs is leadership and these statements should reflect this fact.
Similarly to creating content for your resume, ECQs should follow a format in which an applicant describes the situation and its context, explains the action taken to address it, and then provides the result of the action taken. Each ECQ statement should contain at least one specific job related example from the last 10 years that integrates the competencies that are linked to it. As applicable, highlight awards and recognition, volunteer experience, and training that are related to the ECQ. Finally, each ECQ statement is typically a page to a page and a half.
Together an applicant’s resume and ECQs should demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in federal leadership role. Ultimately those tasked with filling SES roles are seeking applicants who can foster a culture that is results driven, customer oriented, and capable of creating successful teams inside and outside an organization.
By: Jason Kay
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Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on Apr 23rd, 2010. Comment.
Do these things
Include your full name – don’t use nicknames or abbreviations
Use a telephone number that you can always answer – use a cell phone if possible or make sure there is an answering machine at the listed phone number
Use bullet points to highlight information – it is much easier for an employer to absorb relevant information while scanning your résumé
Print your résumé and cover letter on high quality paper – when printing your résumé you should use paper with at least 50% cotton content
Be concise and get to the point – say what you need to say and nothing more
Use action words and descriptive phrases – be creative when trying to get your point across using as few words as possible
Target your résumé – address your résumé to the position you are applying for to show that you are really interested in working for that company
Focus on relevant facts only – list skills, accomplishments and personality traits you know the employer is looking for
List quantitative support for statements made – back up your skills and experiences with real scenarios, facts and figures
Begin statements with action verbs – action verbs demonstrate your importance to the achievement or experience being described
Don’t do these things
Have any grammatical errors – always have someone else proofread your résumé for errors and flow
Have any spelling mistakes – always spell check your résumé, your contact’s name, and the company’s name
Misrepresent your background or experience – employers oftentimes verify this information and can fire you if it is discovered that you were dishonest
Fill in employment gaps with unrelated information – wait to discuss this information in person to put a positive spin on it
Use lengthy paragraphs – employers notoriously skip over paragraphs in résumés
Use long sentences – just like paragraphs, the reader easily skips over long sentences
Use personal pronouns – keep your résumé impersonal for a more professional image
Forget to list basic skills – all employers want to see that you are a team player, take charge of situations and are reliable
By: John D Williamson
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Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on Apr 21st, 2010. Comment.
The first step of getting noticed by a potential employer is a well written professional resume. Although most job seekers know this, it is absolutely incredible how many resumes we have seen over the years that contain misspelled words, poor grammar, terrible formatting and a lack of information in regards to knowledge, skills and experience. We have observed these mistakes in resumes from University graduates through CEO. Which leads us to consider, if a resume is considered to be “putting your best foot forward,” then why are so many job seekers not taking the time to write a good resume or seeking professional help? Our first impression is that the job seeker is not detail oriented, lazy or not technologically savvy and passive. But maybe, it goes beyond that?
Here are a 10 common resume writing mistakes we has noticed by job seekers:
Hidden information – Looking for specific information within the resume becomes time consuming for an employer. You want to make sure you catch the employer’s attention by describing your knowledge, skills and abilities up front in a Skills and Experience Summary.
Poor grammar and spelling – Along with spell check on your computer, it’s a good idea to have a few different people read your resume to check for spelling and grammar errors. This extra effort will keep your resume from representing you poorly to the employer.
Formatting – Did you bold one header and forget another? Do all your bullets line up? Is font size and style the same throughout? Employers look at your resume as a writing sample that you’ve had time to polish and proofread before submitting. The resume should be without flaw.
Too busy - If your resume reads like a book with page to page text it will most likely give the employer a headache. Show your resume to several other people before sending it out. Keep the resume simple and effective with relevant information that is not too wordy.
Date gaps and False information – You need to be able to back up and explain what you have on your resume. Make sure that all information is true and ethical. If there are gaps (e.g. taking time off on maternity leave), list it in your resume or cover letter.
Lack of information and key words – One or two job descriptions under each position will not get you far. Don’t sell yourself short or your experience. Describe all important information you were responsible for under each positions. Key words or competencies are important to use as they optimize your resume for filtering software and target key descriptions in the job posting.
Irrelevant or out dated information - Don’t list irrelevant work experience just to fill in space. If you are applying for a project manager position, your previous server experience at a restaurant does not apply. Keep information relevant to field and industry. Also, if the work you did 10+ years ago is not related to a job you are applying for today, leave it off. This information is out dated.
Fail to provide key accomplishments – The resume is your chance to shine, so don’t be afraid to show off your previous accomplishment. Focus on accomplishments that set you apart from other job seekers. For each position, what special things did you do to set yourself apart? How did you do the job better than anyone else? How did the company or group benefit from your performance? etc.
Personal information or picture – Personal information does not belong on a resume. Do not include your age, race, gender, marital status or picture.
Contact information – Ensure that all contact information is current and all methods of contact is listed on resume (home, cell, email)
The resume is the single most important document you will need in your job search so don’t sell yourself short. A professional resume in hand will greatly increase your odds of earning a closer look.
By: Moshin Manji
About the Author:
HRinmotion, your complete employment center.
For business, we provide online education that can be branded to help you prepare your candidates for job interviews and write better resumes. Since our employment center can be branded with your logo, it will not only strengthen relationships, but increase your placements. If you are looking to hire, post your jobs online and receive top applicants from Canada, USA and UK.
For job seekers, our online education and services will help you get more job interviews and more job offers. Use our employment preparation services to give yourself a stand out resume and sharp interview skills. We have made job search easier than ever by providing you one of the largest job boards in Canada, US and UK. We have over 1.5 million jobs online, apply today and find the right job!
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Filed under Interviewing Answers Articles by on Apr 18th, 2010. Comment.
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