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Articles from Peggy McKee | Selfgrowth.com
- How to Answer Interview Questions – Q76 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat was your most difficult work experience and how did you deal with it? This is a great job interview question to talk about how you have overcome a challenge and ended up a winner! You can talk about how you stepped up to a difficult situation and got a good outcome, or how you overcame ...
Views: 1646 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q27 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you? It’s not ideal to work for someone who does, in fact, know less than you. In fact, it’s kind of aggravating. But typically, they don’t know less than you in all areas. There is usually a reason they are where they are. ...
Views: 1645 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q39 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeTell me about a time when you failed. The key to answering the failure question is that you can’t say you’ve never failed. I know you probably really want to, because you don’t want to be seen in a bad light. But you can’t. And it’s OK. Everybody fails. If you’ve never failed, it ...
Views: 1645 - How to Work with a Recruiter to Get a Great Job - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2009 from Peggy McKeeAs painful as looking for a new job can sometimes be, job seekers often overlook the simplest way to make the search easier: work with a recruiter. A recruiter can ease the pain of the search in several ways: she has contacts you can only dream of, she knows where the jobs are that you probably ...
Views: 1643 - Job Search Tip: What’s the One Thing You Must Understand In the Job Search? - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2010 from Peggy McKeeHow many jobs have you applied to online—only to receive no response? Or maybe you received a “thanks but no thanks” letter. Either way, you aren’t making much progress in landing a job. If this applies to you, I have a question: Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Maybe you don’t think it’s ...
Views: 1643 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q81 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat would you do first at this job? When they ask you this question in the job interview, they want to get a picture of how you would be in the role. How you answer tells them about your personality and your work style. Do you attack it from day one? Do you take it all in and analyze it ...
Views: 1640 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q42 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeTell me your life story (more of your personal history). Hiring managers want to find out as much as they can about you in the interview. It’s a little bit of a risk management thing. The more they know, the less likely they’ll make a mistake by extending you a job offer. But even if they ...
Views: 1638 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 17: Help Them Qualify You for the Face-to-Face Interview - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2013 from Peggy McKeeFor companies, the phone interview is a screening process. The hiring manager or human resources manager has a stack of resumes of potential candidates sitting in front of them, and their job is to wade through the stack and get it to a manageable number. Many candidates don’t realize just how ...
Views: 1636 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q83 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat would your manager say was the area you needed most development in? This question might also sound like, “What would your boss say you need to improve on?” No doubt about it…impressing your boss is always important, and we all have things about ourselves that we could improve on. But, as ...
Views: 1633 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 36: How to Keep Them From Screening You Out - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2013 from Peggy McKeePhone interviews are really phone screens. They are screening candidates, narrowing down a list that’s too long, figuring out who to invite in for a face-to-face interview. So really, in a phone interview, they’re looking for reasons to mark you off the list—to screen you out. Your job in ...
Views: 1627 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 27: Biggest Phone Interview Mistakes - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2013 from Peggy McKeeFor such a short conversation, phone interviews are a surprisingly wide-open opportunity for screw-ups. Why is that? Partly, it’s because in a phone interview, the interviewer is really looking for mistakes. Telephone interviews are a screening process—a way to weed out too many candidates. ...
Views: 1626 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q17 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow do you deal with stressful situations? If I got asked about how I deal with stressful situations, the first thing that would pop into my head is, “You mean like this one?” (Job interviews are very, very stressful. The way you deal with that stress is recognizing that it’s going to be ...
Views: 1624 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q29 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeI noticed that you are applying for a position that is not as senior as your past positions. Why would you consider a job that is, in effect, a demotion for you? This is a question you might get asked early on in the process, like in a phone interview. If you have a lot of experience, it’s ...
Views: 1624 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q73 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat type of work environment do you prefer? The best answer to this job interview question of what work environment do you prefer is the same answer you’d give to “What’s your ideal job?” The correct answer is: “This one.” Of course, you need to respond with the type of work environment ...
Views: 1623 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q44 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeTell us about a time that you went against corporate directives. Why? How did it turn out? I once did a survey of job seekers as part of my mock interview program, asking them to give me actual questions they’ve been asked in job interviews, and this was one of the responses. I almost ...
Views: 1621 - Mid-Life Career Changes: What You Need to Know to Beat Out the (Younger) Competition - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2010 from Peggy McKeeThe days when a young college grad could start with a great company and settle in for a 30-year promotion-filled career with them are gone. Not only do we job-hop from company to company these days, more and more of us career-hop….but that’s where it gets tricky. Career-hopping in mid-life ...
Views: 1617(1 vote) - Phone Interview Tips - Number 18: Speak the Right Body Language - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2013 from Peggy McKeeEven though your interviewer can’t see you, using the right body language in your phone interview will help you to have a better outcome. Smile One of the simplest things you can do to project confidence and enthusiasm over the phone is to smile while you talk. It’s amazing what smiling ...
Views: 1617 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q53 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat are your workplace values? Asking about your workplace values is similar to asking “What is your work ethic?” Or, “What are your workplace ethics?” They want to know what kind of person you are. What matters to you? It’s really an easy question to answer because your answer should ...
Views: 1616 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q24 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow long would you plan to stay with us? Asking about your future plans in this way is really not asking you about your future plans. You don’t have to go into your 5-year life plan or your career goals. It’s a brief question that requires only a brief answer. Personally, my response to ...
Views: 1614 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 24: Phone Interview Etiquette - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2013 from Peggy McKeeIn any job interview, it’s important to use your best manners—and telephone interviews are no exception. Besides your resume, this is their first impression of you. Make it a great one by being super-polite and professional. Set Up Your Space for Quiet Nothing says “I don’t care about ...
Views: 1601 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q85 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhere do you see yourself in 5 years? In other words, are you going to bail on them in a few months for another job, or are you going to stick around and make their training and investment in you pay off? Is this a stepping stone on your career path, or is this a job to pay the bills until ...
Views: 1598 - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 22 Resume Blasts - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2012 from Peggy McKeeResume Blasts I included resume blasts on my Fastest Way to Find a Job Series not because I like them, but because some job seekers think these are the way to go, and I have a better alternative. Resume blasts used to be the hot, hot thing back in 1999 and before. When I got my first job ...
Views: 1592 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q57 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat do you consider to be your most significant accomplishment? This is a fantastic job interview question. It sets you up to shine a giant spotlight on yourself as the ideal candidate for this job. Never, ever answer this question by talking about something you achieved or accomplished ...
Views: 1590 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q62 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat have you been doing since you got laid off? I know…this job interview question makes you want to roll your eyes. The painfully obvious answer is, “I’ve been trying to find a new job!” But you can’t say that. Why would they ask you this question? It turns out, they have several ...
Views: 1590 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 20: Ask Questions - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2013 from Peggy McKeeIn every interview, whether it’s a phone interview or a face-to-face interview, it is absolutely, critically important to ask questions. Why? (1) It makes you seem more engaged and interested in the job. No hiring manager wants to hire someone who isn’t going to be excited about working ...
Views: 1590 - Fastest Way to Find a Job – Tip 1 – Networking - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2012 from Peggy McKeeHave you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you know…it’s WHO you know”? That’s not entirely true, but there’s a healthy-enough grain of truth in that statement to make networking a very powerful strategy for your job search. The most important thing you can do when you’re in the job hunt ...
Views: 1589 - Phone Interviews Tip 3 – Where’s the Best Place for a Phone Interview? - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2012 from Peggy McKeeThink you can talk on the phone anywhere? That might be true if you’re discussing dinner plans, but it is not true for your phone interview. For that, you have to choose your location carefully. Why? Because this phone conversation is the gate you have to pass through to get to your ...
Views: 1588 - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 21 Career Coaching - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2012 from Peggy McKeeCareer Coaching If you’re in the job search, you have certainly heard advice about job boards, networking, or even temporary work. But have you ever considered a career coach as a path to a new job? When I say “Career Coach,” I do not mean the kind of life coach who helps you decide what ...
Views: 1587 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 28: Small Phone Interview Mistakes That Cause Big Problems - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2013 from Peggy McKeeEven if you’ve got all the big factors covered for your phone interview (quiet spot, landline, preparation), there are still some pretty small phone interview mistakes that will get you screened out and marked off their short list. Sometimes it doesn’t take much….phone interviews are real ...
Views: 1587 - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 14 - Job Shadowing - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2012 from Peggy McKeeJob Shadowing Job shadowing is ideal for college students as they graduate, but it’s not just for the kids. Anytime you’re transitioning into a new field (either by choice or because you were laid off), a job shadowing experience can give you a big boost in your job search. Why should you ...
Views: 1586 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q75 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat was your least favorite part of your last job? Why does the hiring manager want to know about your least favorite part of your last job? Because they want to find out more about you, and they are hoping to uncover any potential weaknesses or problems before they hire you. What you say ...
Views: 1586 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q78 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat were your responsibilities in your last job? Your answer to this question about your job responsibilities depends entirely on the role you played in your last job. What were your major responsibilities? You want to list those out. A reasonable person might think, “Why would they ask ...
Views: 1585 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 12: How to Hit Your Phone Interview Goals - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2013 from Peggy McKeeWhat are your phone interview goals? The bottom-line goal of any phone interview is getting the invitation to come in for a face-to-face. That’s the whole point of a phone interview. Your goal in this interview is not the job. It’s the next interview. The phone interview is a screening ...
Views: 1579(1 vote) - Phone Interviews Tip 8 – Research the Interviewer - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2013 from Peggy McKeeWhy research the interviewer before your phone interview? Look at it this way: The job interview is a sales process in which you are both the product and the sales rep. One of the first rules of sales is “Know Your Customer.” You can’t sell effectively unless you know a little something ...
Views: 1577(1 vote) - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q19 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow do you handle stress and pressure on the job? Hmmm….how DO you handle on-the-job pressure? I cry, yell, or complain. I hide in the bathroom. I love stress! It’s so motivating! I don’t get stressed. Obviously, they want your answer to be (c) or (d)…either one works. Either ...
Views: 1574 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q15 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow do I know you still have the ‘fire in the belly’ to do this job? If you’re of a ‘certain age’ in the job search, you already know that age is a big issue. It’s a very real obstacle to getting a job. Older workers have a reputation of not being up on the latest technology, not being ...
Views: 1573 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q23 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow long will it take for you to make a significant contribution? I love, love, love this question. This is a ‘roll out the red carpet, here’s your golden ticket’ opening to introducing your 30-60-90-day plan. If you’ve never heard of a 30 60 90 day plan, it’s very simple: it’s a ...
Views: 1572 - Phone Interview Tips – Number 25: How to Get the Face-to-Face Interview - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2013 from Peggy McKeeWhat’s the point of a phone interview? A phone interview is an inexpensive, time-saving way to determine whether or not you are worth the time, effort, and expense of a face-to-face interview. That’s it. For the employer, it’s a screening process: Do you merit further consideration? For ...
Views: 1572 - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 9 - Companies you’ve interviewed with before - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2012 from Peggy McKeeCompanies you’ve interviewed with before Companies you’ve interviewed with before but never worked for are a place to network that most people don’t think about. It’s really overlooked. It won’t work for everyone, but it will work for some and it will be extremely fruitful. Let me give ...
Views: 1571 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 33: Typical Phone Interview Questions - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2013 from Peggy McKeeHere’s a secret: There’s really only so many interview questions you can ask. Some hiring managers like to break out of the rut and ask crazy things to catch you off guard, like “What kind of tree would you be?”, but most of the time they tend to ask the same kinds of questions. There’s just ...
Views: 1570(1 vote) - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q68 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat kind of money would you be interested in making? Hiring managers always want to know how much you’re going to cost them, so they will ask the salary question a hundred different ways: “How much did you make at your last job?” “What are your salary expectations?” Or this one, “How much ...
Views: 1568 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 22: Don’t Talk Too Much - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2013 from Peggy McKeeWhat happens if you talk too much in a phone interview? Or related to that, you offer up Too Much Information? Both show poor communication skills that could keep you from getting the invitation to the face-to-face. It’s important that you know how much to talk and what to say to have a ...
Views: 1567 - Phone Interview Tips - Number 11: Practice Your Phone Interview - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2013 from Peggy McKeeHow do athletes win championships? Practice. How do violin students become virtuosos? Practice. How do you get better at interviews? Practice. Interviewing is not a talent. It is a skill. Most people don’t get a chance to spend much time honing that skill, because most of us don’t ...
Views: 1566(1 vote) - Phone Interview Tips - Number 13: The Best Phone for Your Phone Interview - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2013 from Peggy McKeeAre you going to have your phone interview conversation on a landline or on a cell phone? I personally think you should always, always use a landline. The sound quality of the conversation is better, there’s no risk of dropping the call, and there’s never any questions like, “Can you hear me ...
Views: 1563 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q47 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat are some of your greatest and/or proudest accomplishments? This is a great job interview question, but a lot of people don’t do it or themselves justice when they answer it. One of the worst mistakes people make is that they will say that their greatest or proudest accomplishment is ...
Views: 1559 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q80 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat will you do if you don’t get this position? This question is mostly likely to be asked when you’re interviewing for an internal promotion. You’re probably going up against other candidates in the company, and maybe even some external candidates, too. They’re worried about how you’ll ...
Views: 1558 - How to Answer Interview Questions - Q22 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow have you responded to a colleague who is putting you down at work? This is a pretty specific question, but it’s basically just another version of “How do you react in difficult situations?” This type of question is often asked in one version or another in behavioral interview situations. ...
Views: 1551 - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 11 - YouTube - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2012 from Peggy McKeeYouTube Posting a video on YouTube to try to find a job might sound like a desperate, last ditch effort, but think again. If you’re on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google Plus, or other social media networks, why wouldn’t you be on YouTube? There are lots of things you can do on YouTube that you ...
Views: 1548 - How to Answer Interview Questions – Q79 - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2014 from Peggy McKeeWhat will you contribute to this job? This job interview question is very similar to “Why should we hire you?” Or, “Why do we want you over the other candidates?” The job interview is a sales process in which you are the product and the hiring manager and company is the buyer. Your salary ...
Views: 1547 - Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 15 - Alumni Organizations - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2012 from Peggy McKeeAlumni Organizations Alumni organizations are great networking resources for you, which means they are also great resources to help you find a job. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma, so I have attended many OU alumni functions in Dallas. (Most alumni organizations have groups in ...
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