Interviewing
A Huge Miss by Those Reentering the Workforce
Your professional network matters and is highly marketable because as an executive it means you can call an “old friend” and get things done. Top firms are looking for this and are willing to pay for it. Now, if you’ve been out of the workforce for a while then a key concern employers may have…
Read MoreMessy Job Search? Here’s an Anchor
Is your job hunt all over the place? I’ve been noticing this as it relates to the corporate Olympians that I’ve been coaching of late. The crux of the matter is that many are unclear about their work history and objectives. Ironically, the same professionals who lead due diligence efforts prior to implementing a plan…
Read MoreBehavioral Interviews: Outdoing Your Peers
I’m noticing a trend in interview rooms that I’d like to nip in the bud. Many business leaders are scratching the surface when it comes to responding to behavioral questions. Most leave too much to the imagination and as a result are not landing the best roles. Let me explain and offer one…
Read More4 Ways to Show Your Personal Brand in Interviews
What do Oprah, Michael Jordan and Madonna all have in common? Sure, they’ve all attained a certain level of success, but one is a media mogul who likes to give her favorite things away while another is one of the most well known basketball players of all time and the third is a musical artist…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Interview Question: Who are our competitors?
Interview Question: Who are our competitors? *This is particularly helpful if you are trying to land a job in a newer industry or one where there are fewer direct competitors. Any senior professional looking to land a role in a Fortune 500 firm should be able to confidently list a handful of key competitors. It’s…
Read MoreInterview Question: What would you rather do X or Y?
Interview Insights | Interview Question: What would you rather do X or Y? This is a very frequent occurrence. A recruiter accepts your invite for a call. They start out by saying we don’t have any immediate openings. This is simply exploratory. If after this call there is an opening then I will throw your…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Interview Question: Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
Interview Question: Where would you like to be in your career five years from now? While this is a common question, the truth is that no one has a crystal ball. Chances are that five years ago you wouldn’t have imagined being where you are today. So take this question with a grain of…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Interview Question: What other companies are you interviewing with?
Interview Insights: What other companies are you interviewing with? Sometimes it’s out of curiosity that interviewers ask this question. Other times it’s a critical data point that taints their evaluation of your marketability. If you are interviewing with other companies then you can share this information if you are a junior to middle manager. If…
Read MoreWhat to Expect During an HR Interview? – 5 Questions You’ll Be Asked During a Screening Interview
Screening interviews with human resources professionals are a crucial step to getting the job. A good or bad interview with HR will determine how far you go in the interviewing process, so it’s best to know what to expect and go in prepared. As a career coach, I have worked with job candidates on how…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Interview Question: Tell me about your soft skills.
Interview Insights: Tell me about your soft skills. This question came up for a recent client who was a consultant for McKinsey and was looking to transition into a general management role within an energy start-up in Boston. There were no questions related to his critical thinking skills nor his ability to crack a case…
Read MoreCareer Assessment Program
Do any of these sound like you? Are you at a crossroads—you have a myriad of options in front of you, yet are unsure how to evaluate each one? Have you reached your breaking point? Has your role shifted? Has your employer changed priorities or leaders? Are you not certain of your next step? Are…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Interview Question: How did you hear about this position?
Grab my 24-hour interview guide to get the job. [contact-form-7 id=”5866″ title=”Prepare yourself in 24 hours for your HR Interview”] Interview Question: How did you hear about this position? This question is a great excuse for you to explain why you were drawn to the opportunity. In some instances, you heard about this job from…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Interview Question: What do you like to do for fun?
Grab my 24-hour interview guide to get the job. [contact-form-7 id=”5866″ title=”Prepare yourself in 24 hours for your HR Interview”] What do you like to do in your free time? The best employees have outside interests. They can include spending time with family, running marathons, organizing cook-outs, or reading novels. A well-rounded employee is marketable…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Key Question: Are you willing to relocate?
Interview question: Are you willing to relocate? Which bucket do you fall into? You have no intention of moving. You are you single and flexible. You love to explore the world. You need to learn about the specific opportunity before saying yes or no.
Read MoreInterview Insights | Key Question: What didn’t you enjoy about your former bosses or managers?
What didn’t you enjoy about your former bosses or managers? Make sure to do extensive research on your new boss in anticipation of having to answer this question. Specifically, look them up on LinkedIn. Read their recommendations and endorsements to get a better sense for her leadership style. If you do not find anything then…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Key Question: What didn’t you enjoy about your last job?
What didn’t you enjoy about your last job? You likely have a laundry list of items; yet, it is in poor form to complain during an interview. So what’s behind this question? What are interviewers trying to figure out?
Read MoreInterview Insights | Interview Question: What are your salary expectations?
What are your salary expectations? There are a few great ways to approach this question as well as lame ones. The best way to tackle this question begins with your expected financial contributions to a firm. The worse way to respond to this question is with silence. This question takes as much self-awareness as it…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Key Question: Why don’t we start with you asking me questions. [Template & Sample]
Interview question: Why don’t we start with you asking me questions. Typically interviews begin with a broad description of the role that you are gunning for. Admit it, at that time, you’ll usually gather your thoughts, breathe, and prepare yourself mentally for responding to the eventual onslaught of interview questions that you prepared for.
Read MoreDon’t Know What to Ask Human Resources Professionals? – 5 Killer Questions to Ace Screening Interviews
Schedule an Express Coaching Session Oh, the awful, painful, repulsive HR screening interview. Root canals are more fun than screening interviews with human resources professionals. As a career coach, I have conducted thousands of mock interviews for anxious job candidates who are about to step into a room with human resources managers. The waiting room…
Read MoreInterview Insights | Key Question: What role will you play on the team? [Template & Sample]
Interview question: What role will you play on the team? This question comes from a recent client engagement. The goal was to uncover my client’s unique selling proposition. The best way to do this is to see how you stack up verses your peers.
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