Job Interview Archives - Official Blog-Phoenix Pop

How Much Time Should You Spend Preparing for a Job Interview – How can I be successful in an interview?

January 15, 2020

If you are going to a job interview, please remember to think of it as a school exam – midterms or finals even. The biggest mistake job seekers make is showing up for interviews clueless. Overpreparation is also an issue, where you work like mad on a gazillion of potential interview questions, then you show up acting like a robot. The thing about the mind is if you spend a lot of your brain resources trying to comprehend or remember information, then you won’t enjoy conversations; then, bang goes any fond hopes of landing that job.

How Much Time Should You Spend Preparing for a Job Interview

If you are searching for a job, it is important to prepare for the interview. Professional recruiters say when you show up for an interview, therefore, you’ve got to be prepared. But how much time should you

spend preparing for a job interview? Well, preparing for midterms or finals exams at school takes 5 to 10 hours plus, therefore it’s only logical that you dedicate the same for interview preparations.

If you want to ace your first interview or your internal interview, here’s how to do it correctly:

How to distribute your interview preparation time?

Now that you know you need to commit 10+ hours to prepare for a promising interview, how do you allocate the time to researching the organization, polishing your answers, and practicing pay negotiations?

Follow the 20:40:40 approach

The 20:40:40 approach is a technique of allocating 20 percent of your time researching your potential employers. The other 40 percent is used in identifying potential interview questions and answers, and the last bit is spent honing those answers.

20 percent of the time researching the company:

The interviewers won’t miss asking you about the sector to gauge your interest. So be ready for questions about the firms, what they do, breakthroughs, challenges, and opportunities, etc.

40 percent researching questions and answers:

The next batch of questions is going to be as described in the job advert, your qualifications, skills, and qualities. This is where those academic hours and internships come in handy. Just make sure you

understand what you are going to be asked about. Familiarize yourself with the how to’s and be ready to give examples of success stories or moments when your skills came in handy in previous jobs/ internships.

40 percent polishing your answers:

This point where you build confidence by speaking the answers aloud, recording yourself, asking for other people’s feedback, and making the necessary adjustments on sound, speed, length of speaking time, etc. By polishing, your answers are going to stand out from the competition.

Lastly, remember that interviews are not gameshows. Overpreparation is just as worse as under preparation. You are going to look phony if you start to blurter answers like a robot. The key is to build a relationship. So, make those hours count because you can prepare for a day, a week, or two, but if you don’t comprehend what you are preparing for, then you are surely going to lose. And make sure to bring your resume with you.

Are Resumes Necessary?

August 9, 2019

Resumes have long been the equivalent of the “Get Out of Jail” card in a game of Monopoly. But the big question is: Are resumes necessary? The straightforward answer is that you really need a resume to stand out from the crowd. Without a resume, navigating the murky waters of finding a good job may seem tougher than it should.

Are Resumes Necessary?

So, are resumes necessary? Resumes are necessary because they showcase your capabilities and what you can offer to your potential new employer.

Showcase Your Capabilities

Without a resume, companies will have no idea about your skills and capabilities. You may be the best salesperson, a tech whizz or a CEO with an impeccable record, but without a resume highlighting your achievements and accomplishments, no company will know of your existence.

For instance, you’ve graduated from college, entered the workforce, gained some experience and built some expertise in one or more fields, and climbed the ladder of middle management with a broad range of titles and increased responsibility. If you’ve only worked with a single employer since graduating, then the internal HR know you through personal files and memos. However, if you’ve changed jobs several times, then your best way to enter the next phase of your career is the resume – it’s the document you need to present your professional career experience in a strong format and get you called in for an interview, one of the job search steps.

What Makes a Good Resume?

But what makes a good resume? Your resume needs to be more than a bunch of information typed up on a piece of paper. A good resume needs to highlight your skills, individual career experience, accomplishments, achievements and education. Consider using the lingo appropriate to your industry and condense the information in one or two pages. The object of a resume is to get called in for an interview based on the information presented therein.

A professional resume often starts out with a brief summary of your qualifications followed by a short overview of your work experience. In today’s digital age world where resumes are likely to be scanned electronically, it helps to include a section of keywords entitled Areas of Strength, which can demonstrate at a glance the areas in which you’re most experienced.

The Professional Experience section is the heart and soul of your resume. This is where you list the names of present and previous employers, your dates of employment, titles, responsibilities and achievements. Rather than a laundry list of tasks and responsibilities under each section, describe your responsibilities briefly and add a separate list of accomplishments under each position. This is what separates you from other potential candidates applying for the same position.

Highlighting your achievements and accomplishments on each job demonstrates how you’ve cut expenses, made the company money, expanded market share or reduced employee turnover.

Bottom Line

So, are resumes necessary? The short answer is that they are indeed necessary. Try to keep your resume short and straight to the point, preferably not more than two full pages. Most prospective employers simply want to know and expect to see what you’ve done in the past 10-15 years and only need a synopsis or brief summary of your previous jobs. By using all of these tricks, you’ll be able to easily get a call back for an interview.

Good Characteristics for a Job Application

June 18, 2019

Employers consider numerous factors when separating the average worker from the most ideal candidate for a job. While every business has inherently unique needs, there are several qualities and employee characteristics that everyone seems to value, the most common being; work ethic, attitude, and dependable. Here are some of the good characteristics for a job application.

Good Characteristics for a Job Application

When it comes to landing an interview, it’s important to know how to showcase yourself on a resume. Here are some characteristics recruiters look for when it comes to job applications.

Strong Work Ethic

A strong work ethic is one of the most popular qualities recruiters look for in a candidate. Over 70% of recruiters expect job applicants to demonstrate a strong work ethic. Job applicants who set high goals for themselves, or are receptive to stretch goals from their superiors, are willing to do more than just show up at work when they’re needed and leave when their shift is over.

Dependable

According to hiring managers at Indie Boutique Apartments, Dependability can make a world of difference between a job applicant who usually follows through and one who consistently does. Candidates who demonstrate a commitment to completing tasks on time, as assigned, during the application process are more likely to continue with the same trend as employees.

Positive Attitude

A positive attitude has plenty of benefits for individual employees and their colleagues. Positivity increases productivity and creates a more conducive environment for fellow employees. Outstanding employees consistently stand out for their positivity and earn great reputations for themselves.

Resilience is an important trait for anyone who wants to have success in their work life, but it’s especially crucial when you are working with other people. Maintaining positive energy even after making mistakes shows that person has what it takes not just day-to-day mentally or emotionally; but can handle stressful situations.
– PHX interior design firm in North Scottsdale.

Self-Motivated

When seeking employees for a job vacancy, recruiters often look for candidates who can work effectively with little to no direction. These employees need no more than sheer interest and enthusiasm to take initiative and get work done. This is why you need to be self-motivated when searching for a job. And self-motivation goes hand-in-hand with confidence as a skill that’s highly sought after among candidates.

Team-Oriented

An ability to work well with others is also a critical trait. Hiring managers often look for candidates who are comfortable working with a team. Many companies attribute their success to synergy and teamwork, and not just individuals. So, it’s not uncommon for interviewers to look for candidates with a history of collaboration.

Effective Communicator

Communication is also a top soft skill chosen by recruiters. An ideal employee will understand the value of good communication, as well as the consequences of poor or ineffective communication. Job applicants need to be able to demonstrate their ability to communicate in a manner that aligns with the expectations of the company.

The ideal employee will have a diverse range of communication skills, from being able to discuss problems at work and resolve them effectively or raise concerns without fear. Geneva Arizona Mortgage Lenders

Flexibility

The ability to adapt in a meaningful way, especially in the face of change, is an invaluable characteristic. For instance, candidates need to be comfortable with the unknown elements of a job, adjust to shifting goals and pick up new skills. Applicants who demonstrate flexibility can adapt more easily to their new work environment.

With the recent rise in technology, it is more important than ever for people working at a company to be happy. A good employee will do anything as longs their job provides them with an opportunity and treats fairly by management or other employees within the business environment that they work around every day.
– Dr. Afshin Malaki OBGYN in Phoenix.

Qualities of a Good Employee

While there are plenty of other good characteristics for a job application, the soft skills mentioned are considered among the most important. Not everyone will possess each of the qualities of a good employee, but some traits can be developed over time.

Recap of Good Characteristics of a Job Applicant

When applying for a job, one of the most important things is to make sure that they have good character traits. A person’s resume will only get them so far in an application process- it needs more than just being well written and organized; there needs to be something special behind every piece of paper you submit! The best way I’ve found myself successfully using these qualities as part of my applications was through personalizing each field with relevant experience, while also making sure not too much space wasted on unnecessary details or information (such as titles). This made me stand out among other candidates because employers could see how much care went into crafting this document which reflects what kind of employee would become a great addition to their company. – Phoenix Pop Team

First Time Job Interview Tips

March 22, 2019

Are you going to be attending an interview in the near future? Whether this is your first or 100th interview, it’s important to know how to interview successfully. The first time job interview tips provided in this write-up can help you in being successful in your next interview.

First Time Job Interview Tips

Research the Company: Before appearing for an interview you must search online to know as much as possible about the company and its industry. This way, during the interview you can explain why you would be such a great fit.

Prepare for Questions: You should not fumble while answering the questions asked normally in every interview. Make sure to practice your answers so you know how explain why you’d benefit the company. Typically, at the interview they will ask if you have any questions. Interviewers will feel that you care more about the position if you ask them questions as well.

The First Five Minutes Matter: According to various studies interviewers usually make up their mind about a candidate in the first five minutes. Make sure you prepare for those first five minutes, so you can make a lasting impression.

Think positively: While answering questions your attitude should be positive, complaints are not appreciated in interviews. Do not focus on your negative experiences. Instead, you can talk about a problem you experienced, and how it was a learning experience and improved your knowledge in the industry.

Always Bring a Copy of Your Resume: Even if your interviewer has a copy, it shows you are always prepared. It’s best to print your copy on resume paper, instead of regular printing paper.

Be Prepared to Talk About Yourself: Interviewers usually ask the candidates to tell about them. So you should prepare to talk about yourself and your work history. Make sure to relate your job experience with the position you’re interviewing for.

Prepare to Discuss Specific Incidents: Today most interviewers ask the candidates to describe how they handled a specific experience. Make sure to prepare prior to the interview, think of some situations you experienced while working and how you handled it.

Body Language: You should be dressed appropriately without any perfume or deodorizer. You should handshake with the interviewer firmly. It is also important to have good posture, while also not looking too stiff when talking. Also, eye contact is important, but do not over do it to where they become uncomfortable.

Do not get Discouraged: If you were unsuccessful in the last interview, then instead of giving up, you should start preparing yourself for the next one. Do not get discouraged from applying for jobs you are interested in getting.

Conclusion

If you are appearing for a job interview for the first time, then the first time job interview tips provided in this article can help you in ensuring your success in the first attempt. Remember to research the company you are interviewing for, and prepare yourself for answering tough questions. It’s also important to bring a copy of your resume, as this shows them you are always ready.

What to Do During a Job Interview – 6 Tips & Tricks

January 10, 2019

Do you have an upcoming interview? No need to panic. Interviews are a great way for the employer to get to know you, but also for you to get to know the employer. Every interview you attend is basically a chance to meet new individual, sell your skills and get the third degree on what you don’t know and you need to remain fervent through it all. The key to a successful interview is preparation. If you have been wondering on what to do during a job interview, here are some guidelines to help you out.

What to Do During a Job Interview

Do Comprehensive Research On The Company

Bristol Associates says doing comprehensive research on a company before attending the interview is essential since it can help you answer some interview questions. For example, a question like” why do you want to work with us?” can be asked. Unless you understand a company’s dynamics and what an employee must possess to be integrated into the company, then you are likely to fail the question.

What to Do During a Job Interview

Bring Copies of Your Resume

Even though you are sure that the organization or the company you are walking into has a copy of your resume, it is essential to tag your copies along just in case the interviewer needs to refer to it but doesn’t have a copy in front of her.

Be Early For the Interview

Turning up for the interview five to ten minutes early is essential. Arriving late for an interview is often a red flag, while showing up early will leave a great impression on the interviewer. Avoid unexpected delays resulting from traffic and other inconveniences by being around the interview spot. If you are late for the interview, demonstrate that you are considerate of your interviewer’s time. Call in to let them know the time you’ll be arriving.

Practice is Vital

It’s one thing to have a mentally prepared answer, and it’s another thing to say it out loud. Make sure to practice several times before the interview. You can ask a friend to be the interviewer while you are the interviewee and let him or her ask you some common interview questions as you answer them out loud. You can also tape record your answer and play it back while assessing where you went wrong. When you prepare and practice right answers, they will be at the tip of your tongue, and you will be able to say them with more confidence. Even company executives practice for interviews, so you can see how crucial it is to practice prior to interviews.

Prepare Some Questions For the Interviewer

When attending an interview, make sure you’ve got some right questions prepared for the interviewer at the end or during the interview. Prior to your interview, grab a pen and jot down some questions you would like to ask the interviewer during the interview. Interviewers always ask if you’ve got any questions and you should have at least one or two questions lied up. Also, make sure you pay attention throughout the interview so that you’ll have questions related to what the interviewer was talking about. This will show him or her that you are an active listener.

Use the Appropriate Body Language

Always be cautious of how you carry yourself throughout the interview, because eye contact, good posture, a firm handshake, and a relaxed position can make a positive impression on your interviewer. Also, avoid using strong perfumes when attending an interview since this can be a major turn-off, especially if the interview room is small and not well ventilated.

Below are tips and tricks on what to do during a job interview. Interviews and be stressful but with preparation, practice and following the right interview etiquette can attain his or her dream job with ease. The more time you invest in preparing for the interview, the more confident and comfortable you’ll feel during the interview.