Saturday April 27, 2024
 

Utter a Lie in an Interview? No Way!

One of the toughest components to landing a job centers is the ability to succeed in a job interview. It is never easy to succeed on a job interview even when your responses are positive ones. However, when the interviewer asks a question that may not exactly lead to a positive response. Those looking to land a job may feel nervous when posed with a difficult question that does not end up presenting the questioner in a good light. The desire here will often be that the individual may consider lying to the interviewer. Is this a wise idea? In one word the answer is NO. More accurately, it needs to be a resounding no. It is extremely unwise to lie during a Job Interview because can prove disastrous as your credibility will be shot. You will burn bridges and develop a very negative opinion surrounding you. This is not a good idea to lie when seeking employment say the least and it could sink a career.

There are common tough questions that can be asked on a job interview and giving honest straight forward answers will serve you much better than making flippant responses that do not effectively or properly cover the truth of the matter. People look for long careers by landing the jobs they apply for will undermine their own cause if they slip into stretching the truth. Hence, it should be avoided.

A common tough question that may be brought up when seeking jobs may be pointed towards those that came close to graduating college but did not because they narrowly missed completing all their credits. If the reason was the result of financial issues or family or personal responsibilities, then mention such issues in brief; do not go into too much personal detail as this will undermine the cause. However, avoid making up any outlandish stories as Successful Careers will never be built on transparent hyperbole.

Probably the most frightening question one can ask is have you ever been fired? Probably the best way to respond to this would be that you amicably parted ways from your Previous Employment. Unless you had a very bad blowup with a previous employer, this would be the most honest description of a termination as possible. Again, keep specifics to a minimum because this may lead to you appearing defensive which is never a good career move.

There may be issues that surround the decision to hire you and an honest response may undermine your chances of being hired. In some cases, this is a good thing. Common examples would be that there are certain aspects of the job you would be unable to perform or the salary offered is just too low for your needs. Do not “fake it” and try to put forth an affirmative answer when you cannot commit to certain components of the position. This will only lead to you quitting or being fired at a later date. Would you really want to do that? Probably not which is why dishonesty or holding back on your concerns should be avoided.

The moral of the story here is an oft repeated one: dishonesty can be an outright Career Killer. It is never worth the risk to appear dishonest on a job interview and those that have strong skills at interviews understand this completely.

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Non-lawyering is Helpful

There are times when a licensed attorney is the only person you want working on a case. Laws protect those who practice and taking legal advice from somebody other than a bar number holding attorney is not beneficial. But, what about non-lawyering? There is a growing trend that shows non legal help can sometimes take the place of a licensed attorney.

Let’s face it; we live in a litigious society. The court systems are bogged down with cases that range from property lines being crossed to dogs that bark and disturb your neighbors, are these problems always worthy of a law suit that has to be litigated? Sometimes they are but a lot of times they are not.

If you think about all the people that are qualified to work on your case before it ever hits the lawyers desk you might be surprised at who can solve the problem. Paralegals are not allowed to give legal advice but they are the first people you will probably talk to when it comes time to see if you even have a case. They do the initial interview, they gather discovery and many times will conduct a phone interview with both parties to see if the firm is even willing to take the whole matter under advisement.

Paralegals do a lot of the legal work and can recommend, based on the information whether or not a case is even worth pursing or if it has enough merit to be filed in court. Attorneys often rely on Para-professionals to give them all the data they need. So is having a non-lawyer decide your case is really worth it? Yes, the fact that a person who knows all the facts and can present them to a lawyer helps you out in the long run. Now the case may need to be litigated if there is harm or serious laws have been broken but a misunderstanding can be taken care of by a Paralegal or by a mediator.

Mediators are often used in negotiations that don’t require monetary value or if no harm has come to either parties. Often times a mediator sits in the middle, impartial, and hears both sides. Many times after each person hears the other person’s perspective and value about the matter it can be solved with an apology or a written but not binding contract. Arbitration is court binding, mediation is both parties agreeing to work together without compromising their values.

Legal nurse consultants often deal with hospital issues such as: dissatisfied patients who are bringing a law suit against a hospital or a certain doctor. Such matters are very personal and nurses carry the Hippocratic Oath along with them all the time. Nurses who have a Paralegal degree are able to handle legal issues that other nurses cannot. They often talk with attorneys and try to work out solutions so that a law suit is not filed or the issue gets resolved without legal action. Legal nurse consultants are registered nurses who can help attorneys read medical records because of their experience. They help to consult and give medical procedures to lawyers so they know what should be considered gross negligence.

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Types of Job Interviews

Interviews are the processes where by the short listed candidates are called by the recruiters for screening and testing them for a suitable job. The job seeker, about to face the interview panel is required to brush up his interpersonal and communicative skills along with technical aspects. This article gives you an overview of various types of interviews.

Screening interview: This is one of the first stages in an interview says A. Harrison Barnes, CEO of Employmentcrossing.com. In such interview, you–the candidate, are required to meet the recruiter, there after you need to go through the follow up process, where by you come in contact with the person who is hiring. At times, you may also be required to meet the hiring authority directly. The hiring authority goes through a thorough screening process, where they shortlist the most capable candidates. Panel Interview: Another kind of interview that A. Harrison Barnes talks of is the panel or group interviews where there is a panel of interviewers try deliberately to upset you by asking challenging questions. This is test to test your stress handling abilities. The situations are quite different when there are a group of members interviewing you. There are also cases when group of applicants are called in at the same time by the panel.

Some of the jobs require the candidate to perform under pressure and stress. The interviews for this kind of jobs are called stress interview, says A. Harrison Barnes. Here the recruiter tries to build in stress in the job seeker and test his handling capability. People are generally very averse to negative comments or criticism. The hiring professionals criticize candidates to see how they react. He may be firing questions at you too quickly, interrupt you in the middle of a sentence, or switch from one question to another. Other pressure tactics include, not believing in whatever you say purposely to check your reaction.

The large organizations, these days are making use of structured interviews says A. Harrison Barnes. The recruiter here sees whether the job seeker possess necessary skills and qualifications to carry out their jobs. The interview of this kind is highly structured. The job seeker must not leave out any essential information about his career and qualification.

The styles of interview may be of two kinds, either behavioral or traditional interviews. The traditional interviews mainly focus on basic and broad based questions, like the reasons for you choosing the company, revealing of your past weaknesses and strengths. The interpersonal and communicative skills of the job seeker, the recruiter tries to figure out, whether the candidate will be able to perform in a group and whether he is fit for the organization says A. Harrison Barnes.

Another style of interview may be the behavioral job interview. The job interviews of this kind are based on principle that your past performances are the indicators of your future performances. You may be asked about your past performances, the cases when you failed to achieve your targeted goals, or fraught with an unexpected problem. The fresher and the fresh grads need to sharpen their communicative skills to face the interview board. Social services provided by you, or hobbies may increase your job prospects. The job seekers are required to prepare answers for four types of questions, such as description of a particular situation, discussion of the actions that you under took, elaboration on the outcomes, specifications about the lessons learned.

Reality interview is another kind of interview. Traditional questions like the way in which you have handled a particular stressful situation, the way in which customer complaint was handled may be asked. The main objective is to figure out the techniques applied in the past and the ways in which the techniques will be improvised in case of future problems. The questions of these kinds help the job seeker to display his talents and skills.

Disorganized interview by the most incompetent, unprofessional and inexperienced employers are not very uncommon says A. Harrison Barnes. The best way of handling these interviews is by showcasing your skills and abilities.

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How to Get Ready For an Unexpected Job Interview?

(more…)

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Interview With a Law Student

Future attorneys and doctors have the most difficult and stressful schedules while they’re working towards their degrees. Many will enter college immediately following their high school graduations, but as A. Harrison Barnes points out, there are a growing number who are waiting until after they’ve begun their families before they return to college. LegalAuthority.com recently spoke with an aspiring lawyer and he tells us of the unique struggles of returning to law school after forty. He is employed as a corrections officer full time and attends school full time as well. Keep reading for this enlightening interview.

LA: How many hours of the day are devoted to either school or work?

Stephen: Because I’m in corrections, my work schedule is never consistent. I work midnight shifts, day shifts and second shifts with the prison system. That’s where most of my difficulties come in to play, but I have managed to keep the total hours to around twelve a day on average.

LA: What about your employer? Is the facility aware of your educational pursuits and what, if anything, does it do to ease the burden?

Stephen: Well, first…my boss is very supportive and has encouraged me the past couple of years since I made the decision. He works with me each semester in an effort to ensure I can realistically juggle the demands of school and a crazy work schedule. I don’t expect preferential treatment, but everyone I work with is extremely supportive and they keep saying my success is their success since my goal is to make a difference in the American prison system as a whole.

LA: And family?

Stephen: They’re great. Absolutely the best ever. I don’t have children, so I can’t say how children would affect my days, but my wife is very supportive and in fact, she’s the one who surprised me with converting one of the guest rooms into a quiet place for me to study. My parents live in the same city, and they too are great.

LA: Is it ever too overwhelming and have you considered walking away?

Stephen: (Laughing) Oh yes…on a daily basis. But I know it’s nothing I’d ever do, it’s just frustration with there not being enough hours in the day. I wouldn’t abandon this journey for anything.

LA: So why now? Why not transition from high school straight into college?

Stephen: Wow. Well, honestly, I think we gain confidence as we grow older. I’m not sure I felt like I could handle the pressures then. And too, I wanted to get to work, start making my own money and like every other 18 year old kid, get my own place. I guess I just wanted that more than a degree at that time.

LA: Where are you now? How much longer before this journey is completed?

Stephen: Actually, two more semesters and then I’m off to take the state bars. I’ve been preparing – and dreading – that part since the beginning. It’s that whole sense of the unknown, I guess.

A. Harrison Barnes, who is also an attorney and founder of LegalAuthority.com, says he can relate to Stephen’s journey. In fact, he says most lawyers can and especially those who wait several years before returning to school can relate.

So what’s next for Stephen? Graduation, bar exam and then his first stop is LegalAuthority.com. He knows the best career paths can be found here and the most prestigious firms trust the LegalAuthority.com process.

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Steps of Conducting Interviews

If you are in a place where you are thinking about how to bring quality people into your organizations, you are going to need to look at the way that you are evaluating for the jobs that you are putting out there. There are more job seekers out there than ever before; and there is a lot of fierce competition for the jobs that exist. For any position that you put out there, there may be a large sea of applications, and choosing between them can be extremely tough. Take a moment to learn more about the steps for conducting a good interview, and make sure that you consider how you are going to move forward with the work that you would like to do. You are looking at something that can make a huge difference in the way that your company runs, and this is something deserves your time and efforts.

In the first place, you are going to have to find a pool of applications for the employment that you are looking into offering. Finding the right candidates for employment can be as easy as looking around internally. There are plenty of reasons why you might want to look into hiring internally and they will range from getting someone who already knows the ropes at your company to making sure that you are providing loyal employees with something to strive for. The opportunity for advancement is something that can make a huge difference in the way that people move forward, so take a moment, and consider how you are going to move forward.

If you are not hiring internally, you will find that it is time to start a much directed search. Get on the web and make sure that you post your positions there, and don’t forget to do the same for local print publications. You will find that you can also contact colleges and that you are going to be able to screen candidates for interviews. Consider the place that taking calls from interviewees can do and also make sure that you look into computer tests as a primary way for people to get started with the choices that you are giving them. The more you can weed people out at the early stage, the better your chances are going to be for getting the process over with, quickly and simply.

When you have done that, you should also consider what kind of interviews you are looking at holding. The most traditional interviews that you have available to you include one on one interviews and serial interviews, where you arrange to see people on a rotation and where you will get to see them over several days. This can let candidates who are having an off day shine later on. You might also want to consider panel interviews, where there are three interviewers to one candidate or group interviews, where you are going to be able to learn more about how the prospective workers work as a group.

Take some time and learn more about how to effectively offer employment; this can be an important way to make sure that the people that you hire are going to be a good fit with your company.

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Surviving Behavior Based Interviewing

Are you someone who is looking for a career change and are you interested in the career advice that will get you there? If you are going to a career counselor, one thing that he or she will remind you of is that you need to be ready for the behavior based interview! Most pieces of career advice will tell you to be ready, but can you really be ready if you are looking at something that you have never seen before? Behavior based interviewing is something that is getting much more common and if you are looking at a career change for the first time in years, it is something that you are going to need to consider. Take some time and consider how you are going to move forward and what you can do to get the results that you want.

The first thing that you should be aware of is how a traditional interview will differ from a behavior based interview. In the first place, think about traditional interview techniques that will use close ended questions. They are going to be using questions that will allow you to just give them the answers and to grade you accordingly. This is a very stripped down interview and it might be accomplished in roughly fifteen minutes or twenty minutes. They will simply be asking you things like what you were paid at your last job and they might be interested in what duties you held at your last job. The issue that they run into is that while this tells them what they need to know, it might have been discovered through your resume!

When you look at behavioral interviewing, you will find that you are looking at something that really shows them your best side. It will allow them to get an idea of how you react while under stress and it will also show them how well you function when you are allowed to communicate naturally. This is something that can allow you to show them how charismatic you are and how well you would suit their company. This is something that can make a huge difference in the way that your interview goes and the better you are at open ended questions; the better you are going to be. This is a style that really suits a natural interview or one that is quite chatty. Take some time and make sure that you are getting the results that you need when you go in for an interview like this.

Some questions that you might be running into when you are looking at behavior based interviewing include things like, “describe a problem that you have solved,” or “what is your greatest personal challenge?” Things like this are important to think about and while you do not want to look as though you have a rehearsed answer that can just fall out of your mouth, remember that they are judging you on how you speak as well as what you are saying!

Take some time and make sure that you consider what your options are going to be and how you can make the most out of this style of interview. The more time that you spend looking into your interview skills, the better your chances are going to be for success!

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How to face a Phone Interview?

In the present age of information technology, there has been rapid growth of buying and selling services over the phone. Phone interviews too are quite common. Research revealed that about 30% of the organizations are making use of telephonic interviews, and about 45% of the private sector companies are also increasingly making use of phone interviews.

The phone interviews, says A. Harrison Barnes the CEO of Hound.com are smart and easier method for eliminating the unsuitable candidates. In this article, he mentions certain points, which should be kept in mind while a job seeker is being interviewed over the phone.

Behave your self: In a phone interview, the recruiter gets the chance to test a candidate’s telephone manner. Ensure that you are polite and are not having chewing gum or smoking while conversing. Smile as it gets reflected in your voice. Talk slowly and clearly. Don’t interrupt the interviewer when he is talking. Listen carefully and answer accordingly.

Have confidence: Before the phone interview, you can prepare your self with the possible questions that can be usually asked by the recruiter. Your conversation must include points such as details about yourself, educational qualification, work experience and career history. This will enhance your job prospects says A. Harrison Barnes. Since you are talking over the phone, make sure that you are loud and clear. You may have to pay the price for not sounding confident says A. Harrison Barnes. Make sure that you are not losing perspective and answer directly to the question. If you think you need time to compose your thoughts, be honest enough to admit that.

Garner interest: While you are on the phone interview, try and make connections. The job seeker must go ahead and discuss with the recruiter on phone about any information he has read about the company. You can also ask the caller about his experiences in the company. This way you will be able to establish connections with the person on the other side of the phone and garner interest in him about you. Silence is golden, listen attentively and make sure that you are giving him enough time to speak.

Converse in the right atmosphere: While you are having a phone interview, take care of the fact that the room, in which you are seated, is silent with no music playing or mobile ringing beside you, it can be a major cause of distraction. It is a good idea to have a pen and paper at your disposal. The job seeker can keep a note of the questions asked. A. Harrison Barnes says that you may be asked the same set of questions if called for a second round of interview. Since the phone interview is a two way process, the job seeker must not hesitate to ask any questions that he thinks need to be clarified. It is a good idea to make use of the phone interview log. If you sneeze or cough, make sure that you are apologizing for it by saying “excuse me”.

Positive attitude: A. Harrison Barnes says that it is very important that the candidate has a positive outlook. Smiling and dressing up with confidence obviously does not fit in this type of an interview scenario. However, when the candidate smiles, it can definitely help them to sound confident and positive enough. A. Harrison Barnes suggests that you may stand up while conversing on the phone, for that boosts your confidence all the more. Last but not the least; you must end on a positive note. Follow ups are very important. You can stay in touch with the recruiter via e-mail or phone. The job seeker must not hesitate to ask if he has qualified for the next stage or not.

It is better to avoid salary negotiations over the phone says A. Harrison Barnes. Do not hesitate when you can meet face to face for another round of interview. Keep a glass of water by your side in case you feel the urge to drink to ease your tension. Keep your resume in hand and try to “sell” your self to the needs of the recruiter. Try to sound good, and do not play poker, although the employer can’t see you, he or she can definitely read your body language says A. Harrison Barnes. The job seeker must retain his or her self confidence because always remember that you have been selected for the interview only after the recruiter found you suitable going through your resume. It is better to have the phone interview on your landline. Mobile phones are fraught with network problem and it is quite distracting if you keep breaking up in between the conversation. By following these expert tips, you surely will succeed in your telephonic interview.

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Keeping Things Simple at Your Interview

When you are up for a job that you know that you love and when it feels like everything is riding on your interview, you will find that you need to look into some important points. Finding the right job listing is hard enough, but actually getting the employment is dependent on what you are doing in your interview. The truth of the matter is that making sure that you are someone who interviews well is an important part of getting the employment that you are after, so take some time and learn more about the interview that you might be preparing for. There are definitely a few tips that can make it easier for you, so don’t miss out and make sure that you learn more about what you can do to get ahead.

The first thing that you should remember when you show up for your interview is that you should be presentable and prompt. These are really basic things, and they seem self-explanatory, but the truth of the matter is that there are plenty of people who fail to do them. The truth is that if you do them, it might not be remarked upon, but if you do not do them, you can count yourself out of the game right away! Make sure that you check out your interview clothes before you head to the interview yourself and make sure that you know where you need to go. Being able to get there on time is essential, so consider what your options are and make sure that you are in a place where you can take care of these two basic facts.

Another thing that you need to look into when you are thinking about keeping things simple at your interview is going to be having a nice smile. A nice smile should definitely be your default expression, and there are definitely people out there who will tell you that they would much rather work with an optimist than a pessimist. Take some time and learn more about what you look like when you walk in. If at all possible, sit down for a mock interview with a friend and make sure that you tape yourself. How do you look and sound, and are you able to maintain eye contact with the person who is interviewing you? You may find that you are sitting in a way that is very defensive and not at all friendly!

If you are someone who is ready to move on and to make sure that you are hitting the right notes at your interview, remember that you should not answer the questions in too lengthy a manner. While you should definitely be complete and while you should definitely make sure that they understand what you have to offer, if you catch them cutting you off, it might be time for you to look into what you need to do to curtail your answers. Keep the dialogue going and remember that you can always ask questions yourself.

Take some time and learn more about how you are going to be able to move forward with your interview; be personal and personable, and the rest will come.

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When Can I Bring Up Salary in the Interview?

Are you someone who is in a place where you are going to be interviewing for a position that you care for a great deal in the months to come? There are many people out there who are interested in getting jobs and part of going into the interview is wondering how much money they are going to give you. Finding the right jobs out there can be difficult and when the time comes for your job interview, you might be feeling a little stressed. Take some time and consider what your options are going to be when you are thinking about what your salary should be and what your new job is going to give you. There is a right and a wrong way to do this, so take some care, and remember a few tips that you need to keep in mind.

In the first place, remember that if you are applying for a high-level executive position, you should take a moment and think about the fact that there will likely be two or even three interviews before you hear a yes or a no. While getting a second interview can be very heartening, you will also find that it can be a bit nerve-wracking. In situations like this, many of us find that we are in a place where we want to be able to get everything out of the way immediately, but remember that your salary is not one of those things! In fact, if you are fairly sure that you are going to be going in for another interview shortly, you should take your time and make sure that you do not bring up your salary until the second interview.

Remember that discussing salary during an interview does have a few important functions. First, remember that you do not want to come off as greedy. Coming off as greedy is a big no-no during a time when everyone is meant to be banding together, and you will discover that this is something that can get you the cold shoulder fairly quickly. Remember that you should also remember that you do not want to waste your time with a company who will not pay you what you are worth. Remember that bringing up your salary is an important part of the interview and that it can tell both you and the employer some important facts.

Ideally, you need to make sure that the interviewer asks the question about salary first. You need to be in a place where you are looking at the right salary and where you can answer honestly the kind of salary that you are looking for. When you are looking into giving them a salary quote, remember that it will help to give them a range of numbers that you would be happy with. This allows the interviewer to do some negotiation between you and his or her own top management.

Take some time and look into what you need to remember when you want to look into getting the best salary for you. There are so many ways to do it, and so many ways to do it wrong!

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