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Author: Rebecca Metschke

“I wish I would have said….”

We’ve all had that moment (or, as the case may be, those moments). Whether 5 minutes later or the following day, the amazing comeback or witty response pops into your head after the fact. Too little, too late.

Obviously, lapses like this aren’t limited to everyday conversations; they happen during interviews, too.

You’re asked a question, your brain freezes up - so you stumble and give a weak response.

Later, when you’re more relaxed and you’ve had some time to think it over, the right words pop into your head. You know exactly what you should have said. Why did this not come to you when you needed it? You just know it would have been a slam dunk answer!

But you blew it. And there are no do-overs when it comes to interviews.

You’ve got one chance to make the right impression…one opportunity to convince the person you’re talking with that you’re the person they ought to hire.

You need to try to anticipate everything you might be asked and know how you’re going to respond. You must be able to articulate what’s unique about you - why should they hire you and not the next person? (They’re not going to coax it out of you…) You need to be able to speak to and support every line on your resume. You’ve got to do your homework and thoroughly research the company.

The better prepared you are, the less likely you are to fumble your responses. Or worse yet, find yourself at a total loss for words.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Don’t let it happen to you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/interview-regrets-the-great-reply-that-comes-too-late-884306.html

Author: Tina Pestalozzi

Whether you are new to the workplace or still looking for the right place to start, here are a few things to keep in mind to make your first working experience a successful one.

#1. You show a great deal about who you are in your approach to your work. Demonstrate that you respect yourself enough to honor your commitment to your job. Be willing to give your best and be happy to be useful.

#2. Be courteous. Are you pleasant to work with? Are your co-workers happy to spend time with you? Look carefully at your behavior. Employers want employees who can get along with everyone and are pleasant to be around. Never put people down or engage in mean gossip, or allow others to gossip to you. Keep both your promises and your confidences.

#3. Make sure you are never late. Being late must never be more than a rare occurrence. Show that you are both dependable and responsible.

#4. Truly make it a habit to think before you speak. Communicate as clearly as you can and always speak with respect.

#5. Being a good listener is a skill that few fail to appreciate. This skill alone will help you immensely and when coupled with not interrupting others, will greatly contribute to your on-the-job success.

#6. Make sure to dress appropriately. Overly suggestive clothes are not for the workplace. Dress the way the person responsible for your promotions expects you to dress.

#7. You may find that now is a good time to change how you manage your time. Work on developing the habit of planning ahead; for instance, make sure your work clothes are clean and that you have gas in your car well ahead of time. You may want to start a few new routines such as using a daily planner. Take the necessary actions to remain organized and to adjust to your new responsibilities.

#8. Approach every job challenge and difficult situation as an opportunity to increase both your workplace and your interpersonal skills.

#9. Whatever your job, remember that there is dignity in work, and great satisfaction can be gained from knowing you do your particular job well and give your best.

#10. Don’t forget that the contacts you make during your first job may turn out to be life changing and affect the course of future events. For instance, leaving a lasting good impression with your employer may go a long way. You may need another job in the future or a strong personal reference for college or for a better job!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/first-time-on-the-job-ten-workplace-tips-you-need-to-know-865495.html

Author: Julia Penny

Telephone job interviews are becoming more and more popular. Organizations are receiving increasing numbers of job applications for each opening and the phone interview provides a cost-effective and time-efficient means of initially screening out unsuitable applicants. Using phone interviews allows employers to be selective about the candidates they invite for a face to face interview. Use these important tips to get the most out of the phone interview.

Be prepared

Unlike a planned face to face interview telephone job interviews can come at any time. Sometimes you will get a call to schedule the interview but often they call hoping to interview you straight away. Prepare an interview portfolio that you keep with you. It should include details of the job opening, a copy of your resume, background research information, some key words you have prepared for answering likely phone interview questions and a list of good questions to ask the interviewer.

Practice your phone skills

If you don’t feel confident about how you come across over the phone you can practice answering questions with a friend over the phone. Ask for honest feedback and work on any areas for improvement. Or you can record yourself and listen to how you sound. Check your voice pattern, the level of enthusiasm in your voice, the clarity and pace of your speech. It is common to talk too quickly during the phone interview. Take a conscious pause before you answer the question and between sentences.

Pay close attention to the interviewers verbal message

You have no non-verbal cues from the interviewer to help you to understand how you are coming across. Instead you need to pay close attention to their voice pattern and tone. Listen very carefully and maintain a high level of concentration throughout the call. If you sense that the interviewer’s attention is wandering bring them back with a well-timed question.

Make sure the place you take the call is free from any distractions. Preferably sit at a table where you can lay out your portfolio documents and take notes. A relaxed but upright posture helps you to breathe properly and improves voice clarity.

Monitor your rate of talking

Speak slowly and clearly. Avoid interrupting the interviewer and make sure they have finished their question by waiting a few seconds before you answer. Give yourself time to organize your thoughts before answering. You can rephrase or repeat the question to give yourself time to think about your answer. People fail in telephone job interviews because they tend to dominate the conversation and speak too fast. Don’t feel you have to fill the silences. Breaks in conversation happen and are usually because the interviewer is making notes are referring to you resume. Allow time for this.

Close the call

Ask the interviewer if there is any other information they require. Restate your interest in the position and find out what happens next. Get the correct name and title of the interviewer for your thank you note. Follow up with a thank you within 24 hours of the phone interview.

The goal of the phone interview is to get the face to face interview. Be well prepared for the call and stand out from the competition.

The Telephone Interview Guide includes common phone interview questions, phone interview tips and techniques and helps you to succeed in your phone interview.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/win-in-telephone-job-interviews-823667.html

Author: Bob Stanley

Almost half of the jobseekers and employees are embarrassed to be the first to raise the pay issue even though in reality they are unhappy with the salary they are offered or salary they are currently receiving. But, negotiating your salary is not that difficult as long as you tackle it professionally. Nowadays, salary negotiation is generally discussed during job interviews.

Ideally, the first person to raise this sensitive issue is the employer (interviewer). Before laying your cards on the table of what you are willing to accept, ask the employer how much he/she is willing to offer. But, if that is not the case, do your homework. Ask around for the salary range of employees with the same position and industry you are applying to. You should be familiar with how much employees carrying out similar roles and responsibilities are being paid. The culture and attitude of different employers vary, but at least you have an idea of the prevailing market rates so in the end you will never feel like you are the injured party.

It is also essential to find out as much information as you can about the company’s financial situation and capabilities. Of course, if you are applying in major companies, you can demand or ask for a higher salary. But, if you are thinking of applying to positions in charitable institutions or small and medium enterprises, then your chances of getting a higher compensation is not that great.

If asked about how much you are currently earning, politely avoid answering the question. I always believed I was paid fairly and I was happy with my compensation, but at this point in my career I’m looking for new challenges. It is a good idea to be honest, but no need to limit yourself by telling the interviewee your existing one.

In many cases, if you will be asked what sort of salary you are looking for, you could tell your prospective employer that you need more detail of the role you are going to engage in the company. If pressed with time, it is fine to tell the interviewer that you need time to think about the ideal salary range, and then move the conversation along.

Most importantly, when you negotiate about the pay, negotiate for a win-win situation with your employer. A good negotiation is a discussion in which both parties understand and respect each other’s position and responsibilities. It ends when all parties feel that their concerns are heard and their needs have been addressed well.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/career-management-articles/negotiation-for-pay-effective-ways-to-negotiate-your-salary-801007.html