There are many varying reasons why someone may want to change jobs, after all jobs for life are few and far between these days. Timing is key in making that crucial decision to work elsewhere or even to change career so today we look at 5 questions to ask yourself in order to reach the right conclusion.

                                                                                                                                                   1. Have you lost interest in the job and dread going to work everyday?
If you have been doing the same job for years, been passed over for promotion on more than 1 occasion and are going through the motions at work just to get paid, then it probably is time to look around for other opportunities. A new challenge might be just the thing to put a spring in your step and make you passionate about work again.

                                                                                                                                                   2. Are your stress levels increased and affecting family life?
There are few jobs without some level of stress in them but if you are coming home on a constant basis in bad form then that is a sign that perhaps it is time to move on, or at the very least to speak to your manager to see if things can be improved.

                                                                                                                                                   3. Has your relationship with your manager or co-workers disintegrated to the stage where it is beyond repair?
Disagreements in work are nothing new and happen on a daily basis in firms around the world, but if your relationship with a co-worker / boss is damaged in such a way that it makes life in work uncomfortable then it is worth considering whether it is worth staying in the job.

                                                                                                                                                   4. Have you reached the proverbial glass ceiling?
If you feel you are in the highest position that you can possibly attain in your existing company then it may be worthwhile looking for opportunities in larger companies in order to reach your own goals in business. Staying in the same job without possibility of progressing further will eventually cause you to lose interest in the role.

                                                                                                                                                   5. Have changes happened within your company that may harm your career prospects?
If a key client has given it’s business elsewhere or if you hear that there are to be cutbacks in the company then it is worth planning ahead. It is easier to find a new job when still working so don’t wait for bad news to come, instead be proactive and have a new job with secure prospects waiting for you.

                                                                                                                                                    A handy way of deciding whether you feel it is time to switch jobs or not is to get a blank piece of paper and list the pros of staying against the cons of staying and using the outcome to decide what is best for you.

Changing careers can be a rewarding experience for many employees disillusioned with their current job, however it is important not to try to change career for the wrong reasons as this will harm your career rather than improve it. With that in mind it is worth scrutinizing the 5 questions below and answer them honestly to be sure that you are making an informed decision that will see your career reap the rewards they deserve.

1. Are you changing careers because of salary reasons?

Certain careers and industries pay higher salaries because of the stress that goes with them, so if you do change career and are earning a higher salary but hate the job you will find yourself looking to switch careers again in a short space of time and that will not look well on your resume.

2. Are you changing careers because you dislike your job?

If you dislike your boss or your company that does not necessarily mean you dislike the career you are in, so get to the root of your unhappiness before deciding on whether you truly want to move careers or not.

3. Are you prepared to prove yourself all over again?

A change in career usually means investing time, training and effort in trying to prove yourself in a new industry, quite often with a reduction in salary to start off with. Make sure that you take all these factors into account before firming up on a final decision on whether to switch careers or not.

4. Do you know what you truly want to do?

Before making a definitive decision on changing careers make sure that you research the pros and cons in working in that industry. Things to weigh up include opportunities for advancement, average pay within the industry and the economic stability of companies working within that sector.

5. Are my existing skills transferrable?

When changing career it will be of great advantage to you if your existing skills are transferrable to the career you want to work in, so if you are undecided on what career to choose try to find one where your skills are in demand.

Changing careers is a major decision and one that should not be taken lightly, however everyone has a right to work in an environment where they enjoy what they do and feel there is career-progression available, so do not dismiss the thoughts of changing career just make sure you have asked yourself the questions outlined in this post.

How you sell yourself during a job interview will have a major impact on your chances of success, however it is very important that you do so in the right manner otherwise you run the risk of sounding desperate which might be a major turn-off for the prospective employer. In order to be in a prime position to showcase your ability you need to fully understand the job description and be aware of the most important criteria in the description.

1)  Build a rapport from the start.

From the minute you enter the interview room you are being scrutinized so make sure you make a good first impression. Be positive, greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, relaxed smile and do likewise to any other staff members who may be in attendance at the interview.

 2)  Use examples to your advantage.

If you have a good understanding of the job description then you will have a fair idea of what areas the interview will focus upon. Have examples ready to support your answers, there are fewer things more powerful to back-up your statements than examples that will prove to the interviewer that you have the relevant experience that he/she is looking for.

 3)  Have research done on the company.

One of the questions that you will most likely be asked is “why do you want to work for us?”, in your answer demonstrate to the interviewer that you have spent time researching the company. A thoughtful response based on information garnered from the company’s website will be appreciated by the interviewer.

 4)  Be relaxed.

Talking in a relaxed confident tone where you are in control of your speech will stand you in good stead with the interviewer, it will demonstrate a level of confidence and show that you have belief in what you are talking about.  Be mindful not to be overly relaxed mind you and similarly don’t allow your confidence to interpreted as cockiness.                                                                                                                                                       

 5)  Spend time practicing for your interview.

Study the job description and put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes, what questions would you ask based on the description? Write these questions down and use them as a platform to rehearse for the job interview, like with most things, you will find that the more you practice the more confident you will become, thus ensuring an assured interview. 

To truly sell yourself in a job interview you need to prove to the interviewer that you have the talent and energy for the role and are also the right fit for their company. You will achieve this by avoiding common interview mistakes, by conveying your passion for the job and by having a friendly approach, leaving the interviewer in no doubt that you would be a perfect fit to gel with existing team members.

It is important for candidates interviewing for a job to be aware not only of the things they say, but also of their nonverbal communication which can be just as telling as the answers they provide during the interview. The first impression you make on the interviewer will go a long way to deciding whether you will be considered for a second interview or not.

By now you should be aware of the importance of being dressed appropriately for the interview which is one method of nonverbal behavior your interviewer will take into account. From the moment you walk in to the interview room the interviewer will be scrutinizing your body language to see if you show confidence, or if you are the type of person that gets easily distracted, for example.

 1)  Make eye-contact.

Making good eye-contact during a job interview is important as it implies confidence. When making eye-contact do so in a natural manner don’t stare in a constant gaze at the interviewer as this will be off-putting for him/her.

2)  Smile when appropriate.

Smiling at the right time will work in your favor when interviewing though avoid laughter unless the interviewer initiates it. Smiling portrays a positive, confident demeanor so be sure to smile at the appropriate moments during your interview.

3)  Keep your arms relaxed rather than crossed in a tense position.

Aside from what could be viewed as a defensive position, having your arms crossed does not easily allow for taking notes or using your hands to gesture. You are best served by leaving your arms rested on the armrests on the chair or resting on a notepad on your lap.

4)  Get your posture right.

It is important to avoid slouching in your chair as this may be perceived as showing a lack of interest in the job which will seriously harm any chance you had of getting the job.  Try to sit up straight and refrain from fidgeting as this will be annoying for the person interviewing you.  Avoid looking overly relaxed as this could hint at an air of cockiness on your behalf, which is a trait that your interviewer will not be seeking in prospective employees.

Most interviewers will allow for the fact that interviewing can be nervous occasions for most people so won’t be too harsh on you if your non verbal behavior is not 100% correct but be sure to adhere to the important ones outlined in this post if you want to give a successful interview.

The difference between getting hired for a job or not can sometimes hinge on the tiniest factor, with this in mind today we focus on the do’s and don’ts of a job interview to help you achieve a successful job interview. The best prepared candidate ensures that he/she leaves nothing to chance when it comes to interviewing for a job, so once you read this post you may find The A to Z of Job Interviews a worthy read.

DO

Do arrive on time.

Do dress appropiately.

Do provide a firm handshake.

Do turn your phone off before going in to the interview room.

Do show a friendly positive attitude.

Do have questions ready to ask the employer.

Do display a high level of interest in the position.

Do focus on portraying your strengths and achievements throughout the interview.

Do suggest your goals for the role should you get the job.

Do send a thank-you letter following the interview.

DON’T

Don’t criticize former employers.

Don’t chew gum.

Don’t provide false answers to questions.

Don’t smoke before the interview.

Don’t answer your cell-phone during the interview.

Don’t lose your cool during the interview, if tough interview questions are asked, remain composed at all times.

Don’t forget to maintain eye-contact throughout the interview.

Don’t wander off topic when answering questions.

Don’t allow yourself to come across as cocky or over-confident during the interview.

Don’t forget to reiterate your interest in the role when shaking hands at the end of the interview.

The more research that you undertake on both the role and the company will allow you become more confident about the interview which is a good thing once you ensure that you channel that confidence into enthusiasm for the position.

Being fully prepared for a job interview is vital if you want to be the winning applicant, today we look at the A to Z of Job Interviews to help you with your research and to allow you focus on your interviewing skills.  Please excuse the creative leeway I took on the letters X and Z, my vocabulary alas, is not as creative as it once was!

A) Answers.

Have research done so you are able to impress the interviewer with your interview answers particularly answers to tough interview questions.

B) Behavioral interviews.

This type of interview will usually have questions beginning with “describe”, “give me an example”, “tell me about a time”, open-ended questions where yes/no doesnt suffice.

C) Charm.

Charm plays an important role when interviewing so be polite to all from the minute you arrive at the interview destination.

D) Dress for the occasion.

To impress at an interview one of the most important tasks is to ensure that you are dressed appropriately for the interview.

E) Examples.

There are fewer more compelling ways to convince a prospective employer of your talent than by providing examples of your work, so provide examples either physically or descriptively to enhance your application.

F) Former employers.

It is crucial not to criticize former colleagues /employers during a job interview, this will serve no purpose other than to harm your chances of getting the job. Criticizing former employers features amongst the biggest job interview mistakes. 

G) Go in with confidence.

Don’t be nervous when going for your interview, after all they selected you based on the skills in resume so go in confidently but don’t appear cocky.

H) Have your research done.

Be prepared for questions like “why do you want to work for our organization?” and use your research to your advantage when explaining why you want to work for the company.

I) Interview pack.

Bring an interview pack with you which may include  copies of your resume, samples of your work along with a pen and notepad so you can scribble notes during the interview.

J) Job spec.

Having the job spec with you will allow you to ask questions that you may have regarding the job itself. In advance of the interview highlight parts of the spec where you wish to seek more clarification.

K) Know who you are meeting.

It is important to know the name of the person you are meeting so you can greet them with a firm handshake addressing him/her by their name.

L) Location.

Ensure you know where you are going so you don’t run the risk of being late for your interview.

M) Mind your language.

Be careful not to use slang terminology in your interview as this may portray a lack of professionalism about you and damage your employment prospects.

N) Notice-period.

If asked “if successful when would you be able to start?”, be sure to have a clear definite response so the interviewer knows what notice-period you must serve should you be offered the job.

O) Outline your main skills and achievements.

You should go into the interview focused on highlighting some of your finest achievements, wait for the appropriate question to be asked then wow the interviewer with your experience to date.

P) Passion.

You need to transfer your passion for the role to the interviewer, explain why you want the job and provide the credentials that prove why you deserve the job.

Q) Questions.

There is a good chance that the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions, so it is important to have some relevant questions to ask relating to the vacancy.

R) References.

You should make sure to bring a copy of your references with you to provide if asked. These should provide the name, job title, company and contact details of each referee.

S) Salary.

During the 1st interview stage allow the interviewer to bring up the issue of salary initially. When discussions over salary begin be sure to come across as confident, not cocky.

T) Timing is everything.

You cannot afford to be late for a job interview so make sure you know your route (allowing for traffic issues depending on time of day) and arrive with time to spare.

U) Understand that you may be asked difficult interview questions.

Don’t take it personal if difficult interview questions are thrown at you, they are commonplace in interviews so answer each one honestly and be careful not to over-exaggerate your abilities.

V) Vision for the role.

Providing an insight into the ways in which you plan to add value to role will impress the interviewer if done in the correct manner.

W) Why you should we hire you?

Have an answer prepared for this question as it crops up time and time again in employment interviews.

X) X-Factor.

If you can provide good answers, great examples, get on well with the interviewer while showing an overwhelming desire for the role then you will certainly have the X-factor for the second interview.

Y) Your biggest weakness?

This questions is often considered amongst the most difficult interview question to answer, so be prepared with a winning response.

Z) Zzzz.

You should come across in an enthusiastic fashion, speak with passion as a mundane interviewee will be more likely to send the interviewer asleep rather than encourage him/her to hire you.

Providing great answers is 60% of the work, transferring your enthusiasm for the role while showing how you can add value make up the other 40%, if you manage to get that blend right then you should be able to look forward with confidence to a positive response.

Asking appropriate questions in a job interview can help you in your quest for a successful job interview but also work well in helping you decide whether the role is suitable based upon the interviewers answers to your questions. Here is a list of questions that you should consider asking the interviewer, however remember that they are interviewing you not the other way round so, don’t ask more than a few throughout the interview.

1. How did the job come about?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           You can find out if this is a new role through company expansion, or if the role arose due to an employee leaving, if so (at 2nd interview stage) it would be reasonable to ask why they are leaving.

2. How long was the previous employee in the position?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                If they were only in it a short period of time then ask about the employee before him/her, if he/she was also only in it for a short time then you need to ask the interviewer why they did not last long in the job.

3. What are the salient tasks?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Ask the interviewer what the most important tasks are expected of the successful applicant. Once they reply you can say “that is great because one of the areas upon which I have most expertise is related to that..(and give an example).

4. To whom does the role report?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            For your own sake you need to know who you will report to should you get the job, ask if you would have an opportunity to meet this person in the interview process. This shows enthusiasm from your end while providing you the chance to get information on the person you might be reporting to.

5. When can I expect to hear from you?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A positive pro-active demeanor will reflect well upon the interviewer so before the interview ends politely ask when you should expect to hear back from them.

When asking questions during your job interview you should do so in a polite, friendly tone, it is important that you do not come across in a confrontational manner as that would severely damage your application. You should be aware of the different types of job interview and know in advance what type of interview you will be facing.

Coping With Rejection After A Job Interview

From a recruiters view the hardest part of the interview process is contacting applicants to tell them they have been unsuccessful in their quest for a job. Similarly it can be a distressing time to realize that you were not the best applicant for a job and that someone was chosen over you, particularly if you had your heart set on that particular job. Unfortunately for every one person hired there will be many more passed over for the job so at least you can be assured that it is nothing personal, just that the company found someone who is a closer match for their needs than you, and the many more who applied.

Requesting feedback is a way to enhance your employment chances at your next interview so try to find out whether your rejection was due to a lack of experience, through poor interviewing skills or for any other factor. Take constructive criticism professionally and use the criticism as a way to improve your candidacy for other job opportunities. It is important not to get too despondent and to refocus on the task in hand, that being, getting a new job.

If the job interview was for a promotion in your current company be careful not to harbor a grudge against the interviewer, aside from sowing a lack of professionalism it may impact your future chance should other jobs become available with the company that you might tempt you to apply.

You can console yourself with the fact that you at least got interviewed for the position, meaning there was sufficient skills and experience on your resume to warrant being interviewed, you can bet hundreds more will have applied and not quirked enough interest to be brought forward to interview stage.

If you had an interview with another company you should still send a thank-you letter despite being unsuccessful. Maintaining a good relationship is vital as other jobs could arise that may be more suited to your strengths and you don’t want to burn any bridges thus harming your chances of getting future roles with them.

There are many factors that come into play when hiring someone, these include (but are not limited to);

Salary

Education

Experience

Availability

Future career-path

Interview skills

Finding the person who ticks the right boxes in each and every one of those categories is not easy so take solace in the fact that there will be many more people getting rejection calls and rejection letters than just you and stay focused with a positive attitude to your next interview.

8 Questions To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer.

When you receive a job offer you should be delighted with yourself for being chosen above all other applicants as the best candidate following the interview process. Even if the salary you are offered matches or exceeds your expectations there are other important criteria to consider before officially accepting the offer letter. This post looks at 8 questions definitely worth pondering over before making your mind up on the job offer.

1.  Will the role stimulate you and allow you to look forward to going to work?
2. Is there a future career-path associated with the position?
3.  Will you be thrown in at the deep-end or will training be provided?
4.  Does the benefits package match your expectations?
5.  Is the location of the company in a reasonable distance from your home?
6.  Have you met your new boss yet, if so did you get on well with him /her ?
7.  Are you happy with the hours of work?
8.  Can you picture yourself staying with the company for a significant period?

If you answer all these questions in a favorable manner then you can be confident that the job is ideal for you, even if you can only answer 5 or 6 of the 8 questions favorably then the job is still worth considering. If unsure about whether to accept a job then get a blank piece of paper and write the advantages and disadvantages of the job down, once written weigh up the importance of each issue before coming to a final decision on whether to accept it or not.

3 Sample Situational Interview Questions And Example Answers.

In a situational job interview, questions are asked based on hypothetical situations in order to ascertain how a job applicant would react should such a scenario arise. The questions often begin with phrases like “How would you react…?” or “What would you do…?” or “How would you handle…?”. The ability to think on your feet and to remain calm under pressure are key in this type of job interview.

 1.  How do you react to pressure?

I enjoy the challenge of working under pressure, the sense of accomplishment can be very rewarding. Through good management and work practices I try to avoid a situation becoming pressurized.

2.  How would handle delivering bad news to colleagues?

Laying off colleagues is a never a nice thing to do, however the ability to do so in an emotionless manner is a fundamental aspect of any supervisors role. I faced a task in my previous job where I had to tell a colleague, who was also a friend, that due to downsizing his job was being made redundant. I explained to him the unfortunate reasoning as to why the job was no longer needed, despite his disappointment he understood and we remain friends to this day.

3.  How would you react to indecision between team members?

I would reiterate the importance of coming up with a solution in a timely manner. I would listen to any questions or queries between colleagues and provide solutions to those queries.  My goal would be to repair any conflict between colleagues to ensure that work is carried out effectively,with the group working in unison and well within deadline timelines.

Situational interviews allow you to prove to employers that you have the ability to handle the most difficult of scenarios.  A confident situational interview will help ensure you stay ahead of other job seekers in the search for employment.