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Personal Strengths

•  Ability to see details and relate this to the past, present, and future needs of theorganization

• Practical maintenance know-how and project management skills, electrical andmechanical, gained through actual hands-on experiences

•

Resourcefulness / multi-tasking

Six Must-Ask Interview Questions

y !oe "urner

#nter$iewing can be a gut-wrenching process% &ost books on how to inter$iew list hundreds of'uestions you need to be ready to answer, but few talk about the 'uestions you need to ask%

"ake more control at your next inter$iew by asking some pointed 'uestions of your own% (ere aresix must-ask 'uestions and why you should know the answers%

1. What happened to the person who previously did this job? I! a new position" #ow hasthis job been per!or$ed in the past?% 

Why &ou 'eed to Ask" )ou need to know any problems or past history associated with thisposition% *or instance, was your predecessor fired or promoted+ #s this a temporary position orbrand new+ "he answer will tell you about managements expectations and how the company isgearing to grow%

(. Why did you )hoose to work here? What keeps you here? 

Why &ou 'eed to Ask" Although you may like this company, youre an outsider% )ou need to findout what an insider has to say about working there% ho better to ask than your inter$iewer+ "hisalso forces the inter$iewer to step out of their official corporate role and answer personally as anemployee and potential coworker%

*. What is the !irst proble$ the person you hire $ust attend to? 

Why &ou 'eed to Ask" )ou need to be on the same page as your new manager, as well as beclear on what the initial expectations are and that you can deli$er% hat you dont want is to allowyourself to be misled about the job.s re'uirements and end up o$erwhelmed and o$er your headafter the first week on the job%

+. What )an you tell $e about the individual to who$ I would report? 

Why &ou 'eed to Ask" #t doesnt matter how wonderful the company might be your time will bespent working for a specific manager% )ou need to find out who this person is and what kind of

manager he is -- earlier rather than later, before personality clashes de$elop% #f youre anindependent type used to working through solutions on your own, for instance, youll chafe whenyou find youre being super$ised by a micromanager % 

,. What are the )o$panys !ive-year sales and pro!it proje)tions? 

Why &ou 'eed to Ask" )ou need to know about the future of the company you plan to spendse$eral years of your life working for% #t doesnt ha$e to be this exact 'uestion% *or example, youmight want to ask about the companys future plans for new products and ser$ices or any planned

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market expansion% 0f course, you$e done your own research, but nothing can beat an insider.sobser$ations and insights% "his also shows you$e done your homework and are serious aboutthis company%

. Whats our next step? 

Why &ou 'eed to Ask" "his is your  closing and the most important 'uestion to ask at the end ofthe inter$iew% )ou need to know what happens after this point% &any books ad$ise asking for the

 job now, but most people may feel too intimidated to bluntly do so% And with more candidatesalready scheduled for inter$iews, the company is not likely to make you an offer yet% )ou mayalso need to do some additional research on the company, making it too early to ask for the job%

 A good compromise1 "ake the lead and set a plan for follow-up% )oull also be able to gauge thecompanys enthusiasm with the answer% 2ont forget to ask for your inter$iewer.s direct phonenumber and the best time to call%

What to /e$e$ber  

 As a job seeker, the key to a good inter$iew is to find out as much about your potential employeras possible% Asking these six 'uestions will not only make you appear more committed as a

candidate, but will also gi$e you better insight into both the challenges and opportunities that maylie ahead for you%

0rep !or the op 12 Interview Questions

y 3arole &artin, &onster 3ontributing riter

"oo many job seekers stumble through inter$iews as if the 'uestions are coming out of left field%ut many inter$iew 'uestions are to be expected% 4tudy this list and plan your answers ahead oftime so youll be ready to deli$er them with confidence%

1. What Are &our Weaknesses?

"his is the most dreaded 'uestion of all% (andle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizingyour strengths% 4tay away from personal 'ualities and concentrate on professional traits1 5# amalways working on impro$ing my communication skills to be a more effecti$e presenter% # recently

 joined "oastmasters, which # find $ery helpful%5

(. Why Should We #ire &ou?

4ummarize your experiences1 5ith fi$e years experience working in the financial industry andmy pro$en record of sa$ing the company money, # could make a big difference in your company%#m confident # would be a great addition to your team%5

*. Why 3o &ou Want to Work #ere?

"he inter$iewer is listening for an answer that indicates you$e gi$en this some thought and arenot sending out resumes just because there is an opening% *or example, 5#$e selected keycompanies whose mission statements are in line with my $alues, where # know # could be excitedabout what the company does, and this company is $ery high on my list of desirable choices%5

+. What Are &our 4oals?

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4ometimes its best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourselfinto the distant future% *or example, 5&y immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-orientedcompany% &y long-term goal will depend on where the company goes% # hope to e$entually growinto a position of responsibility%5

,. Why 3id &ou 5eave 6r Why Are &ou 5eavin7% &our 8ob?

#f youre unemployed, state your reason for lea$ing in a positi$e context1 5# managed to sur$i$etwo rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 67 percent reduction in theworkforce, which included me%5

#f you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job1 5After two years, # made thedecision to look for a company that is team-focused, where # can add my experience%5

. When Were &ou Most Satis!ied in &our 8ob?

"he inter$iewer wants to know what moti$ates you% #f you can relate an example of a job orproject when you were excited, the inter$iewer will get an idea of your preferences% 5# was $erysatisfied in my last job, because # worked directly with the customers and their problems that isan important part of the job for me%5

9. What :an &ou 3o !or ;s hat 6ther :andidates :ant?

hat makes you uni'ue+ "his will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits%4ummarize concisely1 5# ha$e a uni'ue combination of strong technical skills, and the ability tobuild strong customer relationships% "his allows me to use my knowledge and break downinformation to be more user-friendly%5

<. What Are hree 0ositive hin7s &our 5ast =oss Would Say About &ou?

#ts time to pull out your old performance appraisals and bosss 'uotes% "his is a great way to brag 

about yourself through someone elses words1 5&y boss has told me that # am the best designerhe has e$er had% (e knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor%5

>. What Salary Are &ou Seekin7?

#t is to your ad$antage if the employer tells you the range first% Prepare by knowing the going ratein your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point% 0ne possible answer would be1 5# am surewhen the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount% #n what range do you typically paysomeone with my background+5

12. I! &ou Were an Ani$al Whi)h 6ne Would &ou Want to =e?

#nter$iewers use this type of psychological 'uestion to see if you can think 'uickly% #f you answer5a bunny,5 you will make a soft, passi$e impression% #f you answer 5a lion,5 you will be seen asaggressi$e% hat type of personality would it take to get the job done+ hat impression do youwant to make+

weakness responses 8

 5# sometimes get frustrated when we cant do all the things that we want to do as 'uickly as wedlike to do them - usually due to resource constraints but #$e learned o$er the years to be morepatient, prioritize and find inno$ati$e ways to do more with the resources a$ailable%

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5# get frustrated when people dont seem to understand that we can do so much more tohelp%5!0(9 :2AR241 5# sometimes ha$e a $ery powerful emotional response to pain that # seearound me%5ARA3; 0A&A1 5# ask my staff ne$er to hand me paper until two seconds before#ll need it because # will lose it%5&ichael 4cott1 5# work too hard% # care too much% And sometimes #can be too in$ested in my job5%

hat do you think you would take as an hourly rate for this job+5,could be answered with 5Areyou offering me the job+5, followed by 5 # am sure you pay a competiti$e salary5, and do notanswer the 'uestion directly, but if possible, put the onus on the inter$iewer<%5"he topic of pay isdefinitely something negotiable to me% = # am sure you would offer me a pay rate commensuratewith = my experience and abilities in comparison to the workforce you currently employ% = # amnot specifically looking for any job just based on pay, but definitely must keep it in mind whendeciding my next career mo$e% = #f offered this postion, # would be more than open and a$ailableto discuss the topic of pay% = >ntil that time, # will lea$e that specific answer in your hands%

?6@ Reason for lea$ing when terminated1 = remember the root as to why you were terminated -poor performance issues 5not challenged enough in the last position5 or 5the position, employerand # were just not a good fit the B of us did not gel and a happy medium was unatainableunfortunately5 fight or conflict with a coworker 5hostile working en$ironment5 or 5# did not feel

emotionally / physically safe working there5 attendance issues the work schedule was notconduci$e to my / my familys needs and the employer was not willing to negotiate a happymedium or modified schedule%%% A key thing during an inter$iew is to be honest with yourself%

 = Remember that you are being inter$iewed by the prospecti$e employer, but you should also beinter$iewing them% = Ask 'uestions like, 5hat are you looking for in your next CCCCC5 5hy isthis position $acant+5 5hat type of super$isor is the person to whom this position reports - amicromanager, a mentor, non-existent, etc5!ust put yourself on the other side of the table as oneof the indi$iduals that would be hearing your answer% = #f you think it sounds like a line of bull, itprobably isD = #f anyone on the panel during an inter$iew thinks you are wasting your time, youcan pretty much asure yourself you will not land the job%%%%%

# would ne$er answer the money 'uestion unless you dont really intend accepting position ifoffered% #f you really are after the position, and you do ha$e the skills, and experience, switch the

inter$iewer to the inter$iewee by asking what your predecessors reason for $acancy was, andwhat their compensation was, also did they fully reach their potential in the position%%%

12 Questions to Ask When 'e7otiatin7 Salary

y 2ona 2eEube, &onster *inance 3areers :xpert

hat you ask for during a salary negotiation doesn.t just influence how much you earn -- it alsotells your future employer whether you.re good at negotiating, which is a skill you can put to workfor the employer once you.re hired%

9egotiating salary doesn.t come naturally to many Americans, says &atthew 2eFuca, author ofPerfect Phrases for Negotiating Salary and Job Offers: Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases toHelp You Get the est Possible Salary! Per"s! or Pro#otion% G&ost people in our country are notused to bargaining,H he says, Gut if you don.t bargain, you.re not going to get all you should%H

Perfect Phrases explains how to negotiate salary, but 2eFuca.s tips also apply to contract andproject-based pay negotiations% #n both cases, the people on the other side of the salarynegotiations are trying to get you for the most cost-effecti$e price%

"o win your best salary, continue talking until you get e$erything you want, whether that.s ahigher base, an early salary re$iew or company-paid childcare, 2eFuca says%

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G"here.s always a risk in$ol$ed with any 'uestions you raise when the offer is made, but it.s betterto ask 'uestions then, because if Ithe company isJ uncompromising, that.s not a healthysituation,H he says% G#f they ha$e no tolerance for 'uestions, you need to know that up front%H

"hink of a salary negotiation as your chance to shine% G"he person on the other side of the desk ise$aluating you,H 2eFuca says% G"his is going to show you.re astute in dealing with the outsideworld% hen you get the offer, don.t let your guard down -- you.re still on the firing line% *eelconfident, because they.$e come to you with an offer%H

"o make sure you get all you deser$e, 2eFuca recommends asking these K7 'uestions1

1. @hanks -- is this a !ir$ job o!!er?

2emonstrate that you.re professional, polished and polite by saying thank you, and immediatelyfollow to make sure that you really ha$e just been offered a job%

(. @Is this ne7otiable? 

0nce the salary offer is re$ealed, it ne$er hurts to ask if they.ll put more money on the table% #fthey say no, you can mo$e on to negotiate other items%

*. @Is this base only? 

 Asking if the figure you.re offered is total compensation or base compensation lets the inter$iewerknow you.re interested in the details of bonuses and stock options, and it opens up other'uestions about bonus opportunities%

+. @When would you like an answer? 

9e$er accept a job offer on the spot% #n our society, you.re percei$ed as more effecti$e if you.rethoughtful% Plus, stalling gi$es you time to consider your negotiation strategy% )ou can say, G"hisis a great job, and # really want it, but in my experience, #.m better off thinking about it and comingback to you%H 9e$er say you need to discuss it with your spouse -- you want to appear confident

and capable of making a decision on your own%

,. @Will I 7et the o!!er in writin7? 

2on.t accept an offer that isn.t in writing% 9ot e$eryone is honest% #f you 'uit a job based on the$erbal promise of a new job that then falls through, you.ll ha$e no job and no recourse%

. @Will there be a si7n-on bonus? 

#f they say no, your response is, G0;, #.m just asking%H !ust because the pay isn.t negotiabledoesn.t mean other aspects of the job aren.t% Ask for flextime, telecommuting or anything elsethat.s important to you%

9. @What is the start date? "his is a way to reaffirm that the offer is serious% &ost people want you to start immediately butwill be disappointed if you agree to do so% #f you lea$e your current employer in the lurch, theconcern is that you might do the same to this company someday% #f you.re switching jobs ratherthan coming off unemployment, build in time to close out your existing job and take a $acation%

<. @May I please have a job des)ription? 

"his 'uestion $erifies the job you.re being hired to do is the job described during the inter$iew

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process -- and is a job you.re capable of doing%

>. @#ow and when will I be evaluated and will there be an in)rease on the basis o! thatevaluation? 

"hese 'uestions separate out when you.ll be e$aluated and when you.ll be eligible for a raise%"hose two e$ents are often, but not always, linked%

12. @/e7ardin7 bene!its please provide the details -- when do they start? 

#f your current employer.s health co$erage will end before you.re co$ered by the new employer.splan, you can negotiate for the new employer to pay the cost of extending your old policy under30RA%

 As you ask these K7 'uestions, keep in mind that in addition to gathering necessary information,you.re showing your new boss that you.re a good negotiator% G)ou want them to know they.resmart to offer you the job, but you.re not going to come cheap,H 2eFuca says%

12 #abits =osses 5ove

y &argaret 4teen, for )ahooD (ot!obs

:$ery boss wants employees who do their jobs well% ut e$en among highly competent employees, there are distinctions%(ere are K7 tips for making sure youre on the bosss A-list1

:o$$uni)ate :o$$uni)ate :o$$uni)ate

:specially at the beginning of your relationship -- that is, when either you or the boss is new to the job -- err on the side ofgi$ing your boss too much information and asking too many 'uestions%

5"heres no such thing as a dumb 'uestion,5 says &arianne Adoradio, a 4ilicon Lalley recruiter and career counselor%5Fook at it as information gathering%5

2ont keep up the constant stream of communication unless your boss likes it, though% #ts best to ask directly whetheryoure gi$ing the boss enough information or too much%

A)knowled7e What the =oss Says

osses appreciate 5responsi$e listening,5 says !ohn *arner, principal of Russell :mployee &anagement 3onsulting%hen your boss asks you to do something or suggests ways for you to impro$e your work, let her know you heard%

:ollaborate

hen your boss has a new idea, respond to it in a constructi$e way instead of throwing up roadblocks%

5e willing to brainstorm ways to get something done,5 says &ichael easley, principal of 3areer-3rossings and aleadership and career de$elopment coach%

=uild /elationships

)oull make your boss look good if you establish a good rapport with your departments customers, whether theyre insidethe company or outside% ring back what you learn -- about ways to offer better customer ser$ice, for example -- to yourboss% "his is also helpful for your own career de$elopment%

5:$erybody wins in the long run,5 Adoradio says%

;nderstand #ow &ou Bit In

#s your boss detail-oriented, or someone who keeps his head in the clouds+

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5"he bosss personality is just incredibly important,5 says 9orm &eshriy, a career counselor and principal of 3areer#nsights%

:'ually important is understanding what your boss wants in an employee% #t may be, for example, that a boss who isdetail-oriented will expect his employees to be as well% ut a boss who has no time for details may actually appreciate anemployee who does%

5earn the =osss 0et 0eeves

#f your manager has said repeatedly that she hates being interrupted first thing in the morning, dont run to her office togi$e her a project update when you first get in%

Anti)ipate the =osss 'eeds

0nce you ha$e worked with your boss for a while, you should be able to guess what information he will want beforeappro$ing your purchase order, for example%

#f you pro$ide it ahead of time, 5thats a gold star,5 *arner adds%

hink 6ne 5evel ;p

)ou still need to do your own job, of course% ut when managers consider who deser$es a promotion, they look for people

who understand the issues that their bosses face%

6pen &oursel! to 'ew Ways o! 3oin7 hin7s

hen your boss comes to you with a new idea, dont simply dismiss it% #f you dont think it will work, offer to discuss itfurther in 5a mature, responsible, adult-like way,5 easley says%

=e Cn7a7ed in &our Work

 Arguing with your boss o$er e$ery re'uest is not a good strategy, but neither is simply shrugging your shoulders andagreeing with e$erything your boss says% 5"he manager would like to see an engaged indi$idual,5 easley says% "hatmeans both showing enthusiasm for your work and speaking up when you see room for impro$ement%