When Youre Balancing Multiple Projects How Do You Keep Yourself Organized
Employers want to understand how you use your time and energy to stay productive and efficient. Theyre also looking to understand if you have your own system for staying on track with the work beyond the companys schedules and workflow plans. Be sure to emphasize that you adhere to deadlines and take them seriously.
Discuss a specific instance when you stayed on track. Talk about the importance and urgency of the projects you were working on and how you allocated your time accordingly. Explain how you remain organized and focused on the job in front of you.
Example: Im used to juggling projects at my current job where Im often moving between coding one software program to another. I use the timeboxing technique to make sure theyre all on track, allocating time on my calendar for certain tasks. Ive found it really helps me prioritize what needs to get done first, and it holds me accountable for the more repetitive day-to-day tasks Im responsible for.
Able To Achieve Work Life Balance
You wont be any good in the workplace if you arent taking good care of yourself. No one can serve from an empty vessel.
Employees who focus on work life balance are more engaged, more productive and happier in their positions. Doing a little extra hustle in the early days while you learn the ropes and get to know your team is one thing skipping lunch hours and staying late multiple times a week is another. Show the hiring manager that you have alignment and you arent just your job.
What are your hobbies or interests?
What strategies do you use to make good use of your down time?
Take Care To Answer The Questions
When interviewers ask for an example of a time when you did something, they are asking behavioral interview questions, which are designed to elicit a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don’t answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.
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Tips For Great Job Interviews
From researching the company to handling certain key interview questions, make sure you make a great impression and ace your next job interview by following these 20 tips.
Want to ace your next interview and land thatopen job youve been seeking? Here are 20 tips to help you prepare.1. Research the industry and company.An interviewer may ask how you perceive his company’s position in its industry, who the firm’s competitors are, what its competitive advantages are, and how it should best go forward. For this reason, avoid trying to thoroughly research a dozen different industries. Focus your job search on just a few industries instead.
How Much Should You Charge To Wash All Of The Windows In Seattle
Some interview questions are meant to sound intimidating. The best response is a straightforward answer, such as a fixed amount per window, or an hourly rate youd charge. Of course, be sure to explain your thought process when calculating your rate. The interviewer is more interested in how you come to your answer and the steps you take to get there.
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Be Friendly And Assertive At The Same Time
One fascinating study, from the University of Guelph, in Canada, sought to address the reasons why candidates who seem anxious are less likely to land the job.
Turns out, at least in mock interviews, its not nervous tics like fidgeting that hurt your chances. Rather, it could be that being anxious makes you seem less warm and assertive, and makes you speak slowly.
If youre not naturally extroverted, you need to make sure you sell your skills, study coauthor Deborah M. Powell told Forbes. Dont be afraid to take ownership of your contribution to a project.
Powell told Forbes that slow talking hurt candidates chances because interviewers may have assumed that the candidates were having a hard time answering their questions.
Consider The Hiring Managers Perspective
Keep in mind that, even if youre desperate for a job, the company is almost as anxious to find someone capable to hire. Most companies need to attract the best talent, but dont have their pick. Even at Google, the talent war is real.
And heres a pro-tip that will help boost your confidence: The hiring manager wants to hire someone who will make them look good in front of their boss.
If you can show them that you are that person, then youll be exponentially more successful in your interviews.
With those two perspectives in mind, heres how I went about preparing for my interview at the accounting firm.
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Is Your Interview Remote Check Your Equipment And Find A Quiet Place
Phone or video interviews often precede in-person interviews lately. Although everyone is familiar with the frustration of technical difficulties, a bad connection, dim lighting, or a noisy background can distract from the great impression youre hoping to make.
Ace an interview with the following remote interview tips:
- Find a clean, uncluttered background.
- Either set up a ring light or face a source of natural light.
- Make sure your webcam is at eye level.
- Try to make sure youre in a quiet space. If its a phone interview, make sure youre in a spot with good reception.
- Do a practice run with a friend via video to make sure everything goes as planned.
Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years
Employers are asking you this question to see if you have somewhat of a plan for your career. It doesnt have to be completely mapped out in a step by step manner but, a general overall plan is good to see. It means you are goal oriented and are working towards something.
Dont worry about answering in a way that states you are planning on sticking with the company until you retire. Rather, focus more on how its important to you to continue to learn and get better and better at what you do. Companies like to hire self-motivated people.
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Ask The Interviewer Why They Brought You In
Why did you invite me to interview today? might seem like a pretty weird question. But according to psychologist Robert Cialdini, it works. Specifically, it draws the interviewers attention to your strengths and to the reasons they like you.
You will have focused those evaluators on the positive features, the strongest elements of your case, Cialdini told Business Insider. With that in mind, they will now be in a mindset to see you in a positive light.
This article first appeared on Business Insider.
Explain A Database To Your Eight
Google commonly asks this question, and its core purpose is to see if you can simplify a complex idea and eliminate all technical jargon. This skill is especially important when in client-facing roles. The key here is to keep your answer short and sweet. A database is a machine that remembers a lot of information about a lot of things. Boom. Nailed it.
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Dont Interview On The Same Day As The Strongest Candidates
Research suggests that interviewers base their evaluations of individual candidates on who else theyve interviewed that day.
One study, from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, found that applicants who interviewed at the end of a day after a series of strong candidates were rated lower than expected. On the other hand, those who interviewed after a series of weak candidates were rated higher than expected.
Its not clear whether this is an unconscious phenomenon, or whether interviewers are consciously rating the last candidates higher or lower than they should because they dont want their supervisors to think theyre giving everyone the same ratings.
Either way, if you have any knowledge of who else is interviewing and when, choose to come in after comparatively unqualified candidates.
Don’t Be Too Familiar
The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer’s demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.
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Prepare For Some Brain
If you were a kitchen tool, which one would you be and why? These questions dont always come up, but if they do, try to be relaxed and confident when answering them. Theyre there to test you on your critical thinking skills and how well you think on your feet. Make sure to highlight your personality with your answer and make your answers as fun and interesting as you can And what about that kitchen tool then? Consider an answer like this: Im a can opener. Even though its not the first tool that comes to mind in the kitchen, it can be crucial for every course of the meal.
Common Job Interview Questions And How To Answer Them
Interviews can be high stress, anxiety-driving situations, especially if its your first interview. A little practice and preparation always pays off. While we cant know exactly what an employer will ask, here are 10 common interview questions along with advice on how to answer them. The questions include:
- Could you tell me something about yourself and describe your background in brief?: Interviewers like to hear stories about candidates. Make sure your story has a great beginning, a riveting middle, and an end that makes the interviewer root for you to win the job.
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?: Share an instance when you remained calm despite the turmoil. If its a skill youre developing, acknowledge it and include the steps youre taking to respond better to pressure in the future.
- What are your salary expectations?: Before you walk in for your first interview, you should already know what the salary is for the position youre applying to. Check out websites such as Glassdoor, Fishbowl, or Vault.com for salary information. You could also ask people in the field by reaching out to your community on LinkedIn.
Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here.
Below is a list of 10 common job interview questions, along with answering techniques that will help you dazzle your prospects, and hopefully, secure the role you want.
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Relax You Came Prepared
Youve done your research. Youve practiced. Youve come prepared. Youre early and well dressed. And chances are, youre nervous. Thats normal. Take advantage of your early arrival and draw your shoulders back and down, unclench your jaw, and take several deep breaths.
Consider the fact that feeling nervous and being excited share a lot of the same physiological symptoms. Try to reframe anxiety as optimistic anticipation. Spend a few quiet moments reviewing any notes youve taken, remind yourself that youve prepared the best you can, and assume an air of confidence. After all, youre as ready as youll ever be!
Ask About The Interview Format In Advance
This is important to know because there are different types of considerations. For example, software developers often go through a technical interview before a behavioural one. Then they go on site visits. And sometimes, the interviews can go on for many rounds, with individuals or groups of interviewers.
For my case, there was a recorded video interview, before an in-person one. During the in-person interview, there was a 45-minute case analysis , before two separate 30-minute interviews with the partners.
Knowing this helped me have the right mindset going into the interview I knew it was going to be long and I mentally armed myself.
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Make Eye Contact When You First Meet Your Interviewer
Dont be bashful when your interviewer comes to greet you, look them in the eye.
In one study, a pair of Northeastern University researchers asked participants to watch videos of strangers talking to each other for the first time and then rate how intelligent each person seemed. Results showed that the people who consistently made eye contact while speaking were considered more intelligent than those who didnt make eye contact.
Make Everything About Them
Heres a little secret: The interview isnt really about you.
If you want to start getting a TON of job offers from your interviews, you need to start thinking about what the company wants. Make yourself seem like a solution to their problems.
How can you help them make money, save money, save time, etc.?
How will you make the hiring managers life easier if he or she hires you?
Figure out how to show this, start thinking about their needs and answering their questions with this mindset and you will be in the top 10% of job seekers.
Same goes for writing your resume. If you want to stand out, start thinking of your resume as being about THEM. Its a document that should be tailored to the employers needs, showing them how your qualifications and past work will help you step into *their* job and be successful in their organization.
Thats the general idea, and its true for resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
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How Do I Ace My Video Interview
So you’ve been invited to a video interview – congratulations
I mean, there’s no formula we can give you to guarantee you land your dream role but there are some key things you can do that’ll help you impress at your interview:
Show up on time: Put yourself in the manager’s shoes – You’re busy, you need a new awesome person you can trust to turn up and get the job done. If someone shows up for an interview late, it doesn’t exactly scream “this person’s going to be someone I can rely on”.
Prepare yourself ahead of time, plan to log into your video interview a few minutes early – that way you can check your technical equipment and test the sound so you know everything is working ok. If a real emergency happens and there’s no way round it, make sure you text or call to let them know you can no longer attend.
Look presentable: This is customer service – first impressions really count. If you’re clean, tidy and friendly, people are more likely to feel comfortable asking you questions. This is the vibe your interviewer is looking for too so dress appropriately for your video call and be sure look directly at the camera. De-clutter your space to minimise distractions.
Have some questions prepared: Avoid that awkward silence after the inevitable “so, do you have any questions for me?” question at the end of the interview. Have a list of a few things you can ask before you log in – things like “what do you like best about working here?” or “What kind of training do you offer?”.
How To Prepare For Your Job Interview
Research the company
Use resources like Yahoo Finance!, D& B Hoovers, , and the company’s website to learn more about its business model, the competition in its marketplace, industry news, and other key pieces of information that will help you determine if the company is financially stable.
In addition, reach out to anyone you know who currently works or previously worked for the company use sites like Glassdoor, Firsthand, and CareerBliss and check out the company’s social media accounts especially if they use social media to recruit to research the company culture.
Then, think about the places you’ve worked in the past where you thrived and consider how the company operated, what the work environment was like, and what core values the company stood for. This will help you determine if a prospective employer is a right fit for you not just if you are the right type of employee for them. Remember, you can have the perfect skill set for the job, but if you’re not a good cultural fit, you won’t be successful. Click on the following link for more tips on how to research a prospective employer’s company culture for the right fit.
Consider the position’s requirements
Look into the market rate
Practice your interview answers
Whether they realize it or not, some interviewers may ask questions that are inappropriate or even illegal. Read the following article so you’re prepared to dodge these off-limits interview questions.
Prepare questions to ask during the interview
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Show Interest And Passion
Enthusiastic people are interesting. Dont hesitate to share your curiosity or excitement about a subject or project. If possible, provide examples of how the subject matter is relevant to your personal life or professional experience.
Explaining why something is interesting or important to you can make you more memorable.
Review The Job Description
Study job listing so you are prepared to explain your fitness for the jobs roles and responsibilities during your interview. Pay attention to keywords such as required skills and experience, and focus on the responsibilities that a successful candidate will have. Consider how your qualifications and goals align with the description so you can discuss relevant examples with the hiring team.
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Practice Answering Interview Questions
While your conversation may include several company- or job-specific topics, most interviews include at least a few standard questions. To prepare, review a list of the most popular interview questions, and practice how you would answer. Focus your responses on the organization, the position and your relevant qualifications and goals.
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