Interview Behavior

Great interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next interview if you:
1. Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self chatter in your head through meditation or visualization prior to sitting down in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-condemnation.

2. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet real. Engage in true conversation with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you did prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs with another person simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's the same as anticipating the questions you'll be asked on a final exam.

3. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities, experience and achievements. If you sense there are misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't get around to asking you important questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get further interviews, especially with other key players.

4. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to, "Why should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is a question about your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer is probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to ask you whether your family responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find a way to address fears if you sense they are present.

5. Follow up and propose useful ideas that demonstrate your added value to the team.

6. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer. He or she has the responsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the job will need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses here?" "Will this person fit the culture of this organization?" These as well as other questions will be heavily on the interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above and beyond just doing the job.

7. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything you include should answer the question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare your answer to include examples of achievements from your work life that closely match the elements of the job before you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the job description as you can before you respond to the question.

8. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to 35% of what people actually communicate; facial expressions and body movements and actions convey the rest. Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the opportunity before you.

9. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer your financial expectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money and in each case ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask what salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a money discussion until you have a better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job.

10. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales that are inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview. State your previous experience in the most positive terms. Even if you disagreed with a former employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you can. Whenever you speak negatively about another person or situation in which you were directly involved, you run the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like a troubled person who may have difficulty working with others.

Top 10 Issues You Need to Know to be Resume Ready

Your resume is your ambassador to the work world. It functions for you 24 hours a day, opening doors to opportunities you didn't even know existed. But not all resumes are alike or are used alike today with all the electronic means available to reach your potential employer. Here are the most important issues to consider as you prepare your resume to represent you in the marketplace:

1. Write your resume in your own words. It may be challenging - especially if writing ranks among your least favored activities - but if you write your own resume and don't hand it off to someone else you'll be able to be sharp in your interview. No embarrassment not knowing what the resume expert meant when he wrote that smart phrase on your resume! If you do hire an expert to help you, work closely with that person to be sure your resume realistically reflects your abilities and your vocabulary.

2. Put your best foot forward. People remember what they see first and last, so place your least important information in the middle. Have an objective or a key word summary or both in the beginning of your resume and end your document with strong content - such as your educational background.

3. Tell war stories. Make a list of all the work or volunteer experiences you have had that support your candidacy for the job. Select the best ones and write them so that they show what Problems you've solved, Actions you've taken to do this, and the bottom line Results you've achieved. For example:
a. Managed the design, equipment selection, installation, and start-up of a four-aisle, man-aboard storage and order-picking system 10 meters high and 12 meters long, handling 6,000 items. Project was completed on time within the $400,000 budget.

4. Use resume etiquette. The word resume does not belong any place on the document. Never use "I" to start out a sentence. The language of your resume should be specific, clear, succinct, positive, and exciting. Make it easy for someone to contact you. Of course references are available. Don't use valuable resume real estate to say this.

5. Know what format to use. The two most commonly used and accepted resume formats are the chronological and the functional. Often elements of both are combined. A chronological resume is most widely used and preferred by recruiters and interviewers. It is good for someone with a consistent work history. A functional resume focuses attention on your accomplishments and is often used more successfully if you are trying to change careers or industries or to downplay gaps in your career.

6. Tell the truth. If you lie about your education, job experience or any other element of your work history, you will probably live to regret it. True stories abound of professionals receiving awards, only to have their careers ruined when research revealed that portions of their resumes were fabricated. On the other hand, if a job title you had does not adequately reflect the work you really did, clarify it. "Clerical Assistant" does not tell the scope of responsibilities as well as "Meeting Planning Coordinator."

7. Know your audience. Your resume and every interaction in your job search should answer the question to the employer - "Why should I hire you?" Communicate the information necessary to evaluate your ability to do the job. Use language that is appropriate to the industry or field, but be aware that extreme jargon may not speak to those who are intermediaries between you and the ultimate hiring manager.

8. Get some objective feedback. Have others who have not worked as closely with the resume as you have read it for accuracy and typographical errors before you submit it. Ask questions about whether the resume communicates what you intended. Does your resume support your claim of being qualified for the job? Does it address the requirements of a specific job description you're after? Does it need to be modified to fit the situation exactly?

9. Know your parts of speech. Action verbs are the bedrock of good writing. Use them liberally throughout your resume to communicate your accomplishments: Developed, streamlined, pioneered, implemented, produced - use your word processor's thesaurus to identify alternatives so that you don't need to repeat yourself. Key words are nouns demonstrating essential skills that are most effective for electronic formats, scanned by computers who are the first line screeners: Operations manager, project planning, data analysis. Use a KeyWord Summary at the top of your resuming, choosing the top 20 or 30 words that represent your abilities.

10. Hit the highlights. Remember that your resume is only one element of your job search strategy. It's important and needs to get you in the door, yet cover letters, email and fax communications and telephone interactions will extend the conversation and add further evidence of your ability to do the job. Be prepared to give more detail later. Think of your resume as your personal brochure.

Networking

Q: How do you develop a network?
A: Keep every contact. Make your list and constantly add to it. Make sure you don't lose touch with a contact. A note, a call, a clipping, a lunch. Keep yourself in touch and top-of-mind. When you read about a job change, send a note of congratulations. When you hear about a contact losing a job, be there ready to help. As they move up, you move up.

Q: How do you make new contacts?
A: Read everything to keep current. Don't be afraid to write letters to people you read about and have never met.

Q: How can I distinguish myself?
A: Think of yourself as a "brand". You are different, better than your competitors. To achieve this, seek a specialty. Some idea of interest where you can accumulate knowledge. And hopefully, be able to look ahead for new developments in your specialty. Given this expertise, you could be offered some additional venues (speeches, articles, consulting, etc.). and as you become better known, you will become more valuable.

Common Job Interview Questions

By rehearsing interview questions, you'll become more familiar with your own qualifications and will be well prepared to demonstrate how you can benefit an employer. Some examples:

"Tell me about yourself."
Make a short, organized statement of your education and professional achievements and professional goals. Then, briefly describe your qualifications for the job and the contributions you could make to the organization.

"Why do you want to work here?" or "What about our company interests you?"
Few questions are more important than these, so it is important to answer them clearly and with enthusiasm. Show the interviewer your interest in the company. Share what you learned about the job, the company and the industry through your own research. Talk about how your professional skills will benefit the company. Unless you work in sales, your answer should never be simply: "money." The interviewer will wonder if you really care about the job.

"Why did you leave your last job?"
The interviewer may want to know if you had any problems on your last job. If you did not have any problems, simply give a reason, such as: relocated away from job; company went out of business; laid off; temporary job; no possibility of advancement; wanted a job better suited to your skills.
If you did have problems, be honest. Show that you can accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes. You should explain any problems you had (or still have) with an employer, but don't describe that employer in negative terms. Demonstrate that it was a learning experience that will not affect your future work. "What are your best skills?" If you have sufficiently researched the organization, you should be able to imagine what skills the company values. List them, then give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.

"What is your major weakness?"
Be positive; turn a weakness into a strength. For example, you might say: "I often worry too much over my work. Sometimes I work late to make sure the job is done well."

"Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?"
The ideal answer is one of flexibility. However, be honest. Give examples describing how you have worked in both situations.

"What are your career goals?" or "What are your future plans?"
The interviewer wants to know if your plans and the company's goals are compatible. Let him know that you are ambitious enough to plan ahead. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your performance, and be specific as possible about how you will meet the goals you have set for yourself.

"What are your hobbies?" and "Do you play any sports?"
The interviewer may be looking for evidence of your job skills outside of your professional experience. For example, hobbies such as chess or bridge demonstrate analytical skills. Reading, music, and painting are creative hobbies. Individual sports show determination and stamina, while group sport activities may indicate you are comfortable working as part of a team.

Also, the interviewer might simply be curious as to whether you have a life outside of work. Employees who have creative or athletic outlets for their stress are often healthier, happier and more productive.

"What have I forgotten to ask?"
Use this as a chance to summarize your good characteristics and attributes and how they may be used to benefit the organization. Convince the interviewer that you understand the job requirements and that you can succeed.

Your Qualifications

• What can you do for us that someone else can't do?
• What qualifications do you have that relate to the position?
• What new skills or capabilities have you developed recently?
• Give me an example from a previous job where you've shown initiative.
• What have been your greatest accomplishments recently?
• What is important to you in a job?
• What motivates you in your work?
• What have you been doing since your last job?
• What qualities do you find important in a coworker?

Your Career Goals

• What would you like to being doing five years from now?
• How will you judge yourself successful? How will you achieve success?
• What type of position are you interested in?
• How will this job fit in your career plans?
• What do you expect from this job?
• Do you have a location preference?
• Can you travel?
• What hours can you work?
• When could you start?

Your Work Experience

• What have you learned from your past jobs?
• What were your biggest responsibilities?
• What specific skills acquired or used in previous jobs relate to this position?
• How does your previous experience relate to this position?
• What did you like most/least about your last job?
• Whom may we contact for references?

Your Education

• How do you think your education has prepared you for this position?
• What were your favorite classes/activities at school?
• Why did you choose your major?
• Do you plan to continue your education?

General Questions

Tell me about you!
Keep your answer to one or two minutes; don't ramble. Use your resume summary as a base to start.

What do you know about our company?
Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company.

Why do you want to work for us?
Don't talk about what you want; first, talk about their needs: You would like to be part of a specific company project; you would like to solve a company problem; you can make a definite contribution to specific company goals.

What would you do for us? What can you do for us that someone else can't?
Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving previous employer problem(s) that may be similar to those of the prospective employer.

What about the job offered do you find the most attractive? Least attractive?
List three or more attractive factors and only one minor unattractive factor.

Why should we hire you?
Because of your knowledge, experience, abilities and skills.

What do you look for in a job?
An opportunity to use your skills, to perform and be recognized.

Please give me your definition of a .... (the position for which you are being interviewed).
Keep it brief -- give an actions- and results-oriented definition.

How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?
Not long at all -- you expect only a brief period of adjustment to the learning curve.

How long would you stay with us?
As long as we both feel I'm contributing, achieving, growing, etc.

Job Search Questions

Why haven't you found a new position before now?
Finding a job is easy; finding the right job is more difficult. (You are being "selective.")

Had you thought of leaving your present position before? If yes, what do you think held you there?
Challenge, but it's gone now.

What do you think of your boss?
Be as positive as you can.

Would you describe a situation in which your work was criticized?
Be as positive as you can.

What other types of jobs or companies are you considering?
Keep your answer related to this company's field.

Salary Questions

How much are you looking for?
Answer with a question, i.e., "What is the salary range for similar jobs in your company?" If they don't answer, then give a range of what you understand you are worth in the marketplace.

What do you know about our company?
Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company.

How much do you expect, if we offer this position to you?
Be careful; the market value of the job may be the key answer, e.g., "My understanding is that a job like the one you're describing may be in the range of $______."

What kind of salary are you worth?
Have a specific figure in mind ... don't be hesitant.

Check salaries in Lebanon

Experience and Management Questions

You may be overqualified for the position we have to offer.
Strong companies need strong people. A growing, energetic company is rarely unable to use its people talents. Emphasize your interest in a long-term association, pointing out that the employer will get a faster return on investment because you have more experience than required.

What is your management style?
(If you've never thought about this, it's high time you did.) "Open-door management" is best ... And you get the job done on time or inform your management.

Are you a good manager? Give an example. Why do you feel you have top managerial potential?
Keep your answer achievement- and task-oriented; emphasize management skills -- planning, organizing, controlling, interpersonal, etc.

What do you look for when you hire people?
Skills, initiative, adaptability.

Did you ever fire anyone? If so, what were the reasons and how did you handle it?
You have had experience with this and it worked out well.

What do you see as the most difficult task in being a manager?
Getting things planned and done on time within the budget.

What do your subordinates think of you?
Be honest and positive ... they can check your responses easily.

What is your biggest weakness as a manager?
Be honest and end on a positive note, e.g. "I don't enjoy reprimanding people, so I try to begin with something positive first."

Industry Trend Questions

What important trends do you see in our industry?
Keep your answer to two or three trends.

Your Work Habits and Style

If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Emphasize skills -- don't be overly negative about your weaknesses; it's always safer to identify a lack of a skill as an area for improvement rather than a shortcoming.

Can you work under pressures, deadlines, etc.?
Yes, it's a way of life in business.

How have you changed the nature of your job?
Improved it ... of course.

Do you prefer staff or line work? Why?
Depends on the job and its challenges.

In your present position, what problems have you identified that had previously been overlooked?
Keep it brief and don't brag.

Don't you feel you might be better off in a different size company? Different type company?
Depends on the job -- elaborate slightly.

How do you resolve conflict on a project team?
First you discuss the issues privately.

What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?
Try to relate your response to the prospective employment situation.

Your Career Goals

If you could start your career again, what would you do differently?
Nothing ... I am happy today, so I don't want to change my past.

What career options do you have at the moment?
"I see three areas of interest..." Relate those to the position and industry.

How would you describe the essence of success? According to your definition of success, how successful have you been so far?
Think carefully about your answer and relate it to your career accomplishments.

If You Are Leaving a Job

Why are you leaving your present job?
Refine your answer based on your comfort level and honesty. Give a "group" answer if possible, e.g. our department was consolidated or eliminated.

How do you feel about leaving all of your benefits?
Concerned but not panicked.

Describe what you feel to be an ideal working environment.
One in which people are treated as fairly as possible.

How would you evaluate your present firm?
An excellent company that afforded me many fine experiences.