Daily Job Hunting

Some super modest people would be shy enough to demand their desired salary. Instead, they would ask the hiring manager what range she is considering. Why don’t you try a different approach? Think of the lowest figure you would likely accept, and the highest figure you would want to have. Determine the mid-range, and have that as a ballpark figure. Don’t give them your minimum, of course. Best to initially state the highest you want, since the hiring manager would likely negotiate down anyway.

If you are asked how much you earned in your last job, it’s best to be honest with this matter. If you got a meager salary, then tell them so. It’s not really a bad thing, since the company is also gauging their figures. More often than not, they would offer you a higher compensation. If you be a little coy and tell them you’d reconsider, there’s a probability they might give you more incentives and benefits. This, of course, depends on your credentials, experiences, and accomplishments.

You might be asked how you handle pressure. This question helps the interviewer determine if an applicant can focus on organizational skills. A lot of companies prefer to hire people who don’t cram and procrastinate. They also look for candidates who don’t blow their top when given heavy workloads. If you’re the plan-ahead kind of individual, then this shouldn’t be so hard for you.

Pressure doesn’t also mean the amount of load assigned to you. It could also be pressure with working with a person who just rubs you the wrong way, or the team in general. As a staff member, you are supposed to work with a team. The purpose of this question is to see whether you are professional enough to overlook personal matters for the sake of doing the job properly. Team building is very important for companies!

Your strengths and weaknesses also won’t escape the prying abilities of interviewers. As for the former, it’s not enough to say “I’m good at relating with people,” or “I’m an efficient worker.” Always remember the follow-up question “In what way?” and supply the answer to that. Be specific! Relate your strengths to the position you’re applying for. Basically, you have to keep an eye on their job qualifications and provide examples of situations that would highlight your strengths.

Be honest with your weaknesses, but offer ways to help you deal with them. Tell them how you could resolve the problem. I, for example, have been upfront about my weakness with numbers, so teaching geometry was definitely out of the question. But when I was asked if I could just help the directress prepare activity sheets for grade school Math, and teach basic operations from time to time, I obliged. It’s important that though you admitted your shortcomings humbly enough, you also show that you’re ready to improve them by looking for strategies to help you get around it.

The hiring manager might ask you for your future plans. It’s best to answer in an honest way how you foresee yourself in the medium and long term.

This isn’t a beauty pageant so they wouldn’t need mushy answers here. Tell them about how you envision yourself in a company. Interviewers take this as a clue whether the job seeker is really goal-oriented, or just out there to look for “experience”. This question also tests your commitment to a job. If you’re the type who cannot settle in a company for a year, and keeps on jumping from one fence to another, then you’re more likely to get negative impressions, and not get hired!

Try to focus on responding how you would like to grow with the company, and the industry, rather than just how you see yourself. This gives the impression that you’re concerned about their company, too, and not just with landing that job.

Proper planning prevents poor performance – even in interviews! Preparation is the key to bagging that job you’ve long been wanting for. So go ahead, tag along your best friend and stage a mock interview.

What are the questions the hiring manager would be likely asking? One of the top questions would be for you to tell something about yourself. You don’t have to give the minutest details. This is not your autobiography. Recruiters would be more interested in your academics. If you have been consistently in the honor roll, then that’s a plus. They would want to know how excellent you were in school or in your previous work experience.

If you want to get a job and you have no experience or if you want to change jobs but feel like your skills are limited, here are some ways to go for it:

College degree – a college degree can always find you a job since this leaves an impression that you can be trained and are open to any new experience

What field? – know what particular kind of field you want to get into and assess yourself if you have skills that can be honed and which can be suitable for the field you want to get into.

Management skills – look for companies that are open to train people for management that only requires basic skills.

A second degree – if you want a change of career, you might consider taking up a second degree that is specialized to the field or industry you want to get into.

Part-time job – getting a part-time job in a different field will surely give you new experiences. Start small and you will soon perfect it.

Volunteer work – volunteering in non-profit jobs are usually jobs that you don’t think of encountering. You might discover a hidden skill or passion.

Resume and recommendation – a good resume and a good recommendation from an esteemed higher-up are sure to get you a job.