Tag: interviewing

Answering the Interview Question “Who Has Inspired You?”

Everybody has had a mentor, hero, or supervisor who has been inspiring.  Interviewers sometimes ask applicants “Who inspired you?” or “Who has been the biggest influence on your career?” or “Who is a role model for you in your professional life?”  While it may not necessarily be a tough question to answer, it can throw you if you’re not prepared. Read More

Answering the Question “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?”

Where do you see yourself in five years?  It’s a question many people face in interviews, yet don’t take the time to prepare for it.  You may be tempted to envision where you’ll be in five years on a personal level, but that’s not an appropriate way to answer the question. Read More

The Importance of Stories During Interviews

Imagine you ask your friend about her recent vacation. She says “We spent a lot of time on the beach.” Sounds fun. Now imagine instead she says, “We were out on this beautiful powder-white sand beach watching dolphins out in the surf. We jumped in the clear blue water and floated in the gentle waves, then came back to the beach where we sipped tropical cocktails and watched the sunset.”  Which is a better answer?  Read More

Showing an Employer You’ve Got “Fit” – Part 1: What is “Fit”?

“They told me they decided to go with someone who is a better fit,” a job seeker told me last week. “What does that mean? I feel like I would fit in fine. Why didn’t they think so?”

It’s very common to be told another candidate was chosen due to “fit”.  That word can have lots of different meanings and evaluating fit can be very subjective. Understanding what is meant by “fit” is the first step toward demonstrating you’ve got it. Read More

Pre-Interview Research

You got the interview, now what?  Time to dig in and learn all you can so you can shine in the face-to-face meeting.  Having good background on the company will make you look interested and prepared, but the research will give you valuable knowledge that will help confirm that this is in fact a place you want to work. Read More

The Art of Telling An Effective Story

Preparing for an interview can be an exhaustive process.  Do you have the proper wardrobe? Do you know how to get to the office?  Do you know every piece of your resume and why you put it on there?  If you have all of this down, you probably feel pretty prepared, but you forgot something.  Do you have effective stories to tell? Read More

Revealing Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

We’ve all heard you should come to an interview prepared to ask questions. But asking the right questions and responding to what you hear can be the secret to landing the job.  While questions show your preparedness and interest, they are also a critical way to learn what the hiring manager is really looking for. Read More

Answering the Question “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”

One question you can almost always count on hearing in an interview is why you left your previous job.  Whether you were laid off, fired, or left by choice, the question must be answered thoughtfully because the reasons for leaving a past job are used as a gauge for your stability in future jobs.

Prepare an answer that will draw Read More