Easy Answers to Tough Interview Questions

If you were invited for an interview, you’ve conquered half the battle; the recruiter already thinks you can do the job based on your resume. The next half, though, is about proving them right. Things like body language or your outfit play a part, but only a supporting role to what really gets the spotlight: how you answer those tough questions. Here are some tips on how to deliver.

Q: “Tell me a little about yourself.”

What they’re really saying: “I’m trying to figure out why you want this job and if you’re a good fit.”
What they’re not saying: “Tell me a funny story from your frat days or what you watched on Hulu last night.”

There’s a way to be honest, express your individuality, and still tailor your answer to their expectations. For example:

A: “I studied social work at the University of Michigan because I knew it would be the best way to apply my passion for people. Since then, I’ve worked as a counselor for refugee agencies, where I became more informed of global, systemic issues. Those experiences paved a specific long-term career path for me, which is why when this position opened up, I knew it would be a good fit.”

Notice that the answer has a chronological, thematic structure. Your answer doesn’t have to be so formulaic, but the interviewer’s takeaway should be that applying for this job was the next natural step.

Q: “What are your weaknesses?”

What they’re really saying: “You’re not perfect, so how do you compensate?”
What they’re not saying: “What are your weaknesses?”

Employers are moving away from asking this question, but if you get it, avoid either extreme, i.e. sounding fake (“I work too much”) or too transparent (“I’m not very punctual, I tend to lose things,” etc.) It’s all in how you spin it:

A: I pay incredible attention to detail, but sometimes it causes me to miss the bigger picture. I’ve been working on that by approaching projects from a bird’s-eye view throughout the process.”

Q: “How do you handle stress?”

What they’re really saying: “Do you have good problem-solving, time-management, and decision-making skills?”
What they’re not saying: “How do you unwind?”

Cite at least one–if not all three–skills in your answer, and use a specific example. Sometimes a personal answer can work (e.g., I exercise three times a week to stay balanced), but it’s safer to answer how you handle stress or pressure on the job.

A: “In stressful situations, I take a step back and analyze the best ways to solve the problem. For example, in my previous position, there were moments of high volume that were stressful. In order to provide quality customer service to each individual, I prioritized their needs, quickly assessed which cases could be handled by colleagues, and addressed the most urgent situations first.”

Q: “What would others say about you?”

What they’re really saying: “Are you a good fit for our team?”
What they’re not saying: “I care what your friends and mom think about you.”

Always answer this question based on what previous colleagues and employers would or have said about you. Include any weaknesses to give a well-rounded answer, too. Don’t be afraid of commenting on relational skills.

A: “I’ve been consistently commended by employers for my initiative and ability to think outside the box. My colleagues would say that I’m willing to go above and beyond to get the job done, and that I value working relationships marked by mutual trust and respect.”

Q: “Where do you see yourself in five (or ten) years?”

What they’re really saying: “Do you know where you’re going in life, and are we a part of it?”
What they’re not saying: “Tell me the truth.”

If the job is an entry or even mid-level position, chances are that they know you won’t be there in five years. They’re testing to see whether you’re stable, reliable, and have clear goals. Start with the big picture, then narrow down to the specific company and/or position.

A: “I see myself at a creative marketing firm that pushes the envelope. My goal is to be a senior copywriter that oversees and ideates multiple projects, and I see this position as the starting point.”

These just scratch the surface, but remember these recurring principles when interviewing : be confident, be specific, and be honest–just not too honest. Looking for more interview tips? This video is full of gems that you can use to ace your next interview:

Source: Yellow Brick Road

Nine Tips For Getting Hired

Takeaway: Job seekers sometimes approach interviews too eager to please. Here are his tips for getting around that feeling and putting your best foot forward.

The problem with career advice, there’s just so darn much of it out there. Everybody has a personal slant on how best to present yourself in an interview. It’s refreshing to come across something as simple as a bulleted list of best practices to follow. That’s why I like this advice, provided by Jim Camp, an internationally coach and trainer, and author of NO: The Only Negotiating System You Need for Work and Home.

Camp recognizes that job seekers feel like they’re at a disadvantage. They go into the interview feeling nervous about rejection, ashamed of getting fired from their last job, or too anxious to please. He cautions however, that if you let such emotions and attitudes overtake you, you’ll be unable to think about the challenges facing this company and unable to articulate why they need you and should hire you.
Here are his nine other tried-and-true tips to getting hired:

1. Do impeccable research on the company and position before the interview. Read recent business articles, visit the company’s website, and read press releases and annual reports. Write down anything and everything about this company.

2. Don’t try to impress them with your dress, attitude, or speech. It will backfire. Be honest, direct, and authentic. Look decent and be comfortable in your own skin.

3. Find out what your interviewer wants by asking questions. Your aim is to discover the company’s problems, issues, and needs so you can position yourself as the solution. Example: “What are the biggest challenges facing your company?”

4. Ask interrogative-led questions–what, how, and why–to help YOU direct the dialogue. These get your interviewer spilling the beans. Example: “How do you see this position developing and changing over the next three years?”

5. Get your interviewer to reveal what a “good fit” means to them. Your objective is to find out how you might uniquely enhance this company. Example: “How would you describe your employees and the culture of this organization?”

6. Don’t volunteer too much information. You might think your previous working environment is relevant. You might think your family life is important. You might think your hobbies are character revealing. But telling too much gives your interviewer fuel to make assumptions and draw conclusions about you.

7. Be a blank slate. Learn to clear your mind of assumptions, fears, and expectations so you will be emotionally neutral and can maintain an open-minded perspective. If you start to feel hopeful or fearful, needy or overconfident, drop your pen, shift in your chair, take a deep breath–do anything to distract yourself and get back to neutral.

8. Don’t be needy. Neediness kills your advantage in a job interview. You do not NEED this job. You need water, food, and air.

9. Focus on what you can control. The only thing you can control in the interview is your behavior and your responses. Focus on listening carefully–taking notes if necessary–and on answering questions in such a way that you are always keeping your interviewer’s requirements and goals in mind. Your answers should reflect how you fit in with this employer’s aims and enhance the employer’s objectives.

Source: TechRepublic

Don’t Decide Until Decision Time

Have you ever made a decision in haste and regretted it at leisure? Maybe you were too tired to realize you were too tired to think straight. Maybe you were rushing to complete your daily to-do list, and forgot that sometimes more haste equals less speed. Or maybe someone was pressuring you for a decision, and you gave them an answer to get them off your back.Whichever, you ended up deciding without thinking through all the implications. Or you simply chose something that you didn’t really want.

I have a personal rule that I don’t make important decisions after four o’clock in the afternoon. To my friends and family, this is just one more tick in the column labeled “eccentric.” But to me, it’s perfectly logical.

For one thing, all of us are subject to circadian rhythms of arousal and rest during the daily cycle. If you want to be truly productive, you need to know whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, and take advantage of the times when you are most alert to do your most important thinking. For me, that’s the morning.

"I have a personal rule that I don’t make important decisions after four o’clock in the afternoon."

And for another, toward the end of a typical day I’ll have spent several hours doing mental and emotional heavy lifting – writing, planning, delivering coaching or training sessions, and dealing with all kinds of people facing all kinds of challenges. If the mental batteries aren’t running a little low by this time, then I probably haven’t been working hard enough. Your day is probably very similar.

But the main reason I prefer to consider decisions in the morning is that a wise decision is based on emotions and intuition as well as logic. Toward the end of the day, especially when I’ve been using digital and social media intensively, I’m likely to be “in my head” and slightly out of touch with my body. Whereas in the mornings, having started the day with meditation, I’m much more centered in my body and aware of my gut feeling about an issue.

When I’ve made a decision based on logic alone, I’ve often made mistakes. But when I’ve combined reason and intuition, I’ve never made a decision I couldn’t live with. My friend John Eaton would say this is because I’m in touch with bodymind, the distributed intelligence of the body, incorporating the solar plexus, endocrine, and immune systems, as well as the neurons that happen to be located inside my skull.

"When I’ve made a decision based on logic alone, I’ve often made mistakes."

And I often decide very quickly. I once made a snap decision to move to London, at a friend’s invitation one Sunday afternoon. The next day I handed in my notice at work and to my landlord, and the next month I was living in the capital. One of the best decisions I ever made.

There’s nothing wrong with a quick decision, but decisions made in haste – i.e. rushed, and without considering your emotions as well as the logical pros and cons – can be dangerous. This is why the Vikings were reputed to make every important decision twice – once when sober, once when drunk.

So how can you decide when it’s time to decide?

1. Don’t stress about trivial decisions. You’re probably safe to choose your paperclips or menu order whenever. I’m talking about the big decisions, like taking on a new project, changing job, booking the family holiday, or what you’re going to say to that tricky request from a client.

2. Get to know yourself. Pay attention to your levels of energy and alertness during the daily cycle. When do you feel most clear-headed? When are you most aware of your body and emotions? As far as possible, make it a priority to consider important decisions during this time. If it’s not possible, especially if you’re in a high-pressure job where you need to make decisions at all times of the day and night, pay particular attention to the next three steps…

3. Get “out of your mind” and into your body, as this will help you tap your feelings and intuition. I’m not suggesting you go for the full-on “Viking method,” although you may sometimes find that your feelings are clearer after talking to a friend over a beer. More “work friendly” ways to get centered in your body include yoga, meditation, exercise, going for a walk – or even just getting up from your desk, stretching, and walking around the office.

4. For each option, weigh up the pros and cons. Write them down on two different columns if it helps. Ask yourself: (a) What’s the opportunity here? How will I feel if I succeed? How will I feel if I turn it down? and (b) What’s the risk? How will I feel in the worst-case scenario? Could I live with my decision?

5. Ask yourself: How do I feel about this? Take the question literally. Pay attention to the physical sensations in your body. What does “YES!” feel like to you? Light, energized, animated? How about “NO!”? Tense, heavy, uncomfortable? Learn to tell the difference. And watch out for any mismatch between what your head tells you and your gut feeling – when this happens, slow down, take more time, and get more information.

Source: the 99 percent

Starting a Business: Advice from the Trenches

 If you’re like thousands of other designers, programmers and other creative professionals out there, at one point in time you’ve considered starting your own business. Unlike most, you’ve gone against common sense and decided to open shop for yourself. And not just freelance full-time, mind you, but file for the company name, get some stationery, and wade through the legal mumbo-jumbo. Maybe even get a real office with a water cooler.

This article offers real-world advice from the trenches of a small start-up, and is applicable to designers, web developers, copywriters, usability experts and all manner of service providers. Freelancers take heed: there are several items that are just as pertinent to your profession.

Write a Business Plan

 

The most important thing you can do to prepare for starting and operating your own business. Developing a business plan requires a lot of time and energy, but it’s invaluable for one primary reason — it forces you to come to terms with your business idea. You must decide how you will generate income, what your expenses will be, who your competitors are, and most important, WHAT YOUR BUSINESS DOES. This may seem obvious to you now, but write it down. Think about it. What sets your business apart? What service do you offer that is superior or unique? What’s going to put you ahead of the competition?

Beyond the mental exercises, a good business plan will give you a much better chance of getting a small business loan from a bank than walking in and saying, “I like Photoshop and maybe a can do some websites or something. Gimme money.”

A few years ago, new age business rhetoric said forget the business plan and just run with it. Obviously, that didn't work out so well, so if you go that route, God bless you. The business plan exists for a reason. There are libraries of books written on them and huge websites devoted to developing good ones. Some resources:

• SBA
• Scott Kramer’s articles on A List Apart
• Businessplans.org
• Business Plan Archive

Take a few weeks and develop a strong and thought-out plan. Give it to friends, co-workers, even family to read. Your business will be immeasurably stronger because you took the time for this step.

File for a Fictitious Name

 

A fictitious name (called a doing-business-as or DBA in some states) is the government’s term for your company name. If you choose HyperGlobalMegaSoft as the start-up’s name, it has to be registered with the state to ensure no one else is using it. This will cost about $100, but prevents you from accidentally using someone else’s registered name, or from someone else using YOUR name. Also note that two companies can usually register the same name for different industries. For instance, Luigi’s (design studio) and Luigi’s (pizza joint).

Note the fictitious name is not the same thing as a registered trademark. A trademark involves a whole separate process, more paperwork and additional fees. Unlike a fictitious name, however, a trademark is not required.

Funding

 

This is a pretty involved topic, and enough books and articles have been written about it to make for years of boring bathroom reading. Advice in a nutshell: start the business with your own savings or borrow from a bank. I highly recommend the former or a combination that includes it, since it makes you pinch your pennies a little more. If you go the bank route, make sure the business plan is polished to a high shine. This may be a good time to hire a professional business plan writer/editor.

There is one Golden Rule: Don't borrow money from family or friends. 99% of the time, you won't be able to pay them back, and on the off-chance you are, it won't be for months or years. The amount is irrelevant; $1,000 or $100,000 can quickly create bad blood.

Get an Accountant

 

In starting your business and maintaining its future financial health, there is no greater ally than an accountant. He or she (or they if you go with a firm) will be able to give advice on innumerable aspects of your new venture. They can advise on what type of business entity to start with, setting up bank accounts, a means of invoicing and collecting, and more. Most importantly, they also guide you on paying taxes properly and punctually.

Brief advice on accountants:

• Go with an accountant or a firm in your state. Each state has different laws.
• Make sure the accountant knows business taxes. Do not hire a family-oriented accountant.
• Unless, you are really, really strapped for cash, hire an accountant who is not a family member. While it may be tempting to get a family discount, it is better to have an unbiased viewpoint about your finances, and also better to keep your family’s nose out of your funds in general.
• Try to trade services! Maybe your accountant wants a new logo, website, or brochure.

 

Start with a Partner

 

If you can, start the business with a partner. This person should be another designer or programmer with a level of experience equal to or greater than your own, but with a different skill set. If you’re the God of Annual Reports, your partner can be the Overlord of Identity Design. Having two Annual Report Gods will make for some lacking identity work when the client requests it. And for the record, once again, it will be better if this person isn't family.

“But why a partner?” you ask. “I'm a darn good designer, and I'm really really gonna do this right.”

New York Business Partners Warns of Employment Scams

Be careful that your new job isn't a scam!

For most new college graduates, finishing school and starting a career is a very difficult and frustrating time. Employment rates for graduates have been on a steady decline over the last two years. In 2010, just 56% of college graduates had a job at the time of their graduation, compared that to the 90% of graduates from the classes of 2006 and 2007. (nytimes)

While the outlook might seem bleak, New York Business Partners CEO Rafael Diaz sees things a little differently. “There are many companies across the country that will provide opportunities for success and personal development,” says Raf.

However, he warns prospective job seekers of some of the most recent employment scams affecting candidates. Most recently, companies are attempting to trick prospective employees into parting with their money. Many companies will encourage new employees to either invest in their own training, to make an investment in their client’s product, or to buy the products that they are selling. “The issue with these companies,” says Raf Diaz “is that they are costing applicants not only to waste their time and money, but to also walk away from other great opportunities.”

Among some of his tips for avoiding these situations, Raf suggests researching a prospective place of employment. This can be done with a simple phone call. You can ask their recruiting department or human resources contact for information or for their website. You can also view sites such as The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and The Better Business Bureau to confirm what the business does and that they do not have complaints filed against them. There are a few key areas that one should cover when researching a prospective place of employment:

• Ensuring the company has real customers, clients and products. Call the BBB or Chamber of Commerce, or simply verify this on their website.

• Check that the position advertised is coming from a credible, well-know career site such as CareerBuilder or Monster.

• You should not have to invest any money in training or employment with the company 

• Arranging a preliminary or informational interview to gain a better sense of what the company offers, what the work environment is like, and who you could potentially be working with.

“I would automatically raise a red flag if there are any promises made in regards to how much money you can make from what amounts to a few hours of work per week,” says Bart Yates, Managing Director, New York Business Partners. “You only get paid a lot of money for working hard, and I would not believe promises of financial gain if not proven.”

New York Business Partners is a privately owned direct sales and marketing firm located at 1350 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. For more information, visit our website.

You're 20 Percent More Likely to Get the Job if ...

Spending less than five minutes could improve your chances of getting a job by 20 percent, according to a recent survey of employers. That small amount of time should be spent on writing a simple thank you note. More than one-in-five (22 percent) hiring managers say they are less likely to hire a candidate if they don't send a thank-you note after an interview.

Of those who would dismiss a candidate for the faux pas, 86 percent say it shows a lack of follow-through and an additional 56 percent say it sends the message that they aren't really serious about the opportunity. This is from a national survey of more than 2,800 U.S. employers, conducted by CareerBuilder.

And that thank you note doesn't necessarily have to be handwritten; the majority (89 percent) of hiring managers say it is OK to send a thank-you note in the form of an e-mail, with half saying it is actually the way they prefer to receive them.

IT hiring managers are the most eager to receive e-mail, rather than written thank you notes. The majority of those in the financial services like hand-written and USPS delivered notes better, but say that e-mail is still acceptable.

"While the job market has begun to move in the right direction, competition continues to remain high for open positions and job seekers need to stay on their toes," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.

So what should be included in a thank you note? CareerBuilder gives the following suggestions:

Repeat, repeat, repeat. While a lot of what you include in your thank-you note may seem repetitive, restate your enthusiasm about the job and your qualifications for the position. Include any interesting topic that may have come up during the interview.

Cover all your bases. If you interviewed with more than one hiring manager, send a thank-you note to each person.

Edit, edit, edit. Make sure everyone's name, department and title are written correctly. It's a good idea to ask for a card from each person you speak with, so you can make sure you get everything right.

Source: Aol Jobs

Back To New York

New York Business Partner’s CEO Rafael Diaz returned to New York last weekend after a nearly one month stay at our office in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Much like our offices in the United States, our office in Brazil offers consulting services to Fortune 500 companies and non-profits. Clients such as Bank of America and Doctors without Borders work with us because of our unique ability to groom account executives and inexperienced entry-level candidates into managers and leaders.

Every child deserves the right to live. ( Summer, 2010 )

In addition to being our client for over a year, Doctors Without Borders is a cause near and dear to Rafael’s heart. Just last summer, Rafael and several NYBP team members traveled to El Salvador to be translators between doctors and patients and their families. While there, Rafael met many children suffering from ailments, and families who were grateful for Doctors Without Borders and the aid that they provided. This e-mail below is an update on one of the children Rafael met in El Salvador from a colleague who works in our Brazil office:

Dear all,

I just spoke to Inmer's mom. She was so happy! She says she has

prayed so much for her child to be healthy and he was able to be

operated on and is doing fine.

She asked me to let you all know that she blesses you for what you

have made possible. She says you will all be in her prayers

for always.  Isn't that the best ?

God bless you all.  I feel really privileged to be working with such a

wonderful team.

-Lisselot

Here the interview video with Dr. Martinez who introduce some of the children and explain the situation in El Salvador. 

For pictures from that voluntary organization CLICK HERE. 

Navigating the Boys Club

Every organization has a set of unwritten rules. Which executives to butter up, how late to stay at night, or whether it's okay hit on your co-workers. While such quandaries apply to men and women equally, there a few situations women face that underscore their "otherness."

These rules differ from institution to institution, said Laura Sabattini, director of research at Catalyst, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for women in business. Mentors and sponsors help with these issues, but suppose you haven't established that rapport yet?

We spoke to industry experts, current and former professionals and career coaches to help you navigate five challenging scenarios women sometimes face in the workplace.

1. What if you aren't a big drinker? 

You've just finished a deal and the team wants celebrate. A senior executive buys a round of tequila shots and you're wondering what to do with your still-full shot glass.

"Socializing outside the workplace is an important way to further your career," said Lois Frankel, career coach and author of the forthcoming "See Jane Lead: 99 Ways for Women to Take Charge at Work." "With that said, it doesn't mean you have to close down the bar."

In fact, as a woman, it's best not to drink as much as your male cohorts, simply because most women can't tolerate as much liquor. The ideal situation is for you to show you're willing to have fun while remaining as close to sober as possible. Don't call attention to the fact that you don't want to join in the merry-making. Simply order a drink that looks clear and if people ask, say it's a gin and tonic. Or, if you're sharing a bottle of wine, sip one glass -- no one will notice that you haven't refilled it.

What do you do if you make a mistake at work?

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes. -Confucius

Of course most of you are perfect and never make any mistakes - I know I don't.  So this blog is directed at the one or two of you that are not the shiny bastion of perfection.

So, you messed up, dropped the ball, committed a faux pas - whatever you want to call it, you screwed up and someone(s) is/are mad.  What do you do?  Here are five things you could and should do ASAP.

Show up and own up. Don't disappear - stand up and take ownership of your mistakes.  If you hide, your detractors can say whatever they want and you can't defend yourself.

Be open and don't get defensive. Tell the truth, be honest and forthright.  Whenever you beat yourself up, it takes away the ammo from your critics which leads to my other point - whatever happens, don't get defensive and don't blame others - this is your mea culpa be a man/woman and own your mistakes - folks will remember it.

Stay cool, calm and collected. Take a deep breath and count to ten or a hundred if need be.  Pauses indicate poise and intelligent thought.  Don't yell, in fact, the louder they talk the quieter you should be - this trick works with children most of the time as well.

Acknowledge your shortcomings. Making believe you have no weaknesses doesn't fool anyone - whether you are a line manager, the CEO or the president of the USA, you have weaknesses.  They are part of you and recognizing them is a first step to addressing them.  Know yourself and share what you know with others.

Smile often. Smiles are contagious - smile and the whole worlds smiles with you.  Sometimes it may be tough to smile in the face of adversity, but do it.  Smiles put people at ease and will make you and everyone around you calm and moving towards happy.

Messing up is part of growing and maturing - no matter how far along your career is, you can always grow and mature.  But what you learn from your mistakes could be invaluable.

Source: Human Capital League 

Dressing For Summer In The Office Can Be Tough

Dressing for summer in the office can be tough. Ninety-degree weather and a suit jacket don’t exactly mix, but neither do guys in shorts and corporate boardrooms. Not to mention the fact that, at any given point during the summer, it’s about 40 degrees cooler in the average office building than it is outside.

But it is possible to create a summer work wardrobe that’s comfortable yet professional, and cool yet collected. Here’s how.

1. No flip flops: Ladies, this faux-pas is typically committed by you, so listen up: “Flip flops are beach wear which transpired into ‘commuter-wear’ and then slowly into office wear,” says Lizandra Vega, author of “The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want.”

Not only do they look unprofessional, but their namesake “flip-flop” noise is an easy way to drive your co-workers nuts every time you walk by their desks, so opt for strappy sandals, espadrilles or ballet flats instead.

2. Choose light colors: “Lighter color garments help you keep cool during hot summer months,” Vega says. “Dark colors absorb heat, while light colors reflect heat.” That said; make sure the color isn’t too light. See below.

3. No peep shows: Summer clothing is often made of lightweight, lightly colored fabric. This can make for a comfortable commute, but it can also make for awkward over exposure. “Avoid apparel in fabrics that are so lightweight that they are see-through,” Vega says.

4. Wear an undershirt: It may seem counter-intuitive to add an extra layer when it’s hot out, but (men especially), if you don’t already wear an undershirt, you might want to start now. The extra layer will help absorb sweat during a mid-summer commute.

“Wearing a cotton undershirt actually helps men feel cooler as it will absorb perspiration,” Vega says. “[Plus],if a lighter fabric shirt is chosen, the undershirt will prevent it from being see-through.”

5. For women, dresses are best: Women are at a serious advantage when it comes to dressing for summer at the office for one simple reason: They can wear dresses.

“Dresses are a great option because it avoids having to wear a jacket,” Vega says. “A wrap dress, a sheath or shift dress are appropriate options.”

If you will be forgoing the jacket, look for styles with short or three-quarter length sleeves, even sleeveless if you feel comfortable. Tank-style dresses are too casual for the office without a jacket or cardigan, though.

6. Keep an extra layer at work: Women can keep a wrap or lightweight, neutral-colored cardigan in their desks in case the air conditioning is kicked into overdrive. Men can do the same with a blazer or sweater.

What is your go-to outfit for summer? What’s the biggest faux-pas for office attire? Share your opinions in the comments section, below.

Source: ResumeBear