Winning on an Interview

Most of the time we ask ourselves after being turned down on the job application. We often ask ourselves this question, “I’m totally qualified why they didn’t offer me the job?”

It’s a painful that you were not hired though you are really fitted best for the job. Considering the years of experience in the field, the contributions you did, the loyalty and so on and so forth. So, why you didn’t get the job? Answer: “Company hires person who they like to work with!”

In the interview process, company can actually gauge you if you are worth it to work with them or not. You may wonder why they won’t consider someone who is technically fit for the job. It is easy to train people in the technical aspect; it is hard to train people on attitude.

So how to win over that interview and get the job and fit in the company you desire to work with? There are five steps that I can actually advise you to do.

Step 1 – Research the company.

This is a very basic thing to do. I know that you did your homework in looking at websites and clicking on “About the company.” You should not stop there. Check on their Vision and Mission statements if you can get one. This will tell you what type of company they are and how they deal with people. Pattern this to you objective on your resume. If it matches, you gained 10% of getting the job.

Step 2 – Dress to Impress

Regardless if you are applying for a temp, part-time or a full-time basis, you have to dress to impress. Specially, if you are applying for a notch higher position than what you are right now. You should dress as spiffy as possible. The company will have an impression of what type of person you are. Spiffy-Great, Sloppy-get another clothes to wear!

Step 3 – Relax

How to cover that nervousness? As we all know, the time we step outside your house, you are starting to feel the pressure. When pressure builds up, you will get stressed. If you are stressed, you will lose focus.

Be prepared. Sleep early than usual. This will help your body regenerate for the energy that needs for the D-day. Review on your resume. Review the job description that you are applying for. Smile in front of the mirror and tell to yourself “This going to be a great day!”


Step 4 – Prepare for the questions

You have prepared so much of yourself for the questions that they might ask you. You are so confident that you will be able to answer their question pertaining to your job. Yes, there maybe questions like that but prepare for Behavioral questions.

Behavioral questions are the make or break for an applicant. This is where the deciding factors come in. This is where the impression of “can-this-guy-work-for-us.” So you better be wary on those types of questions. You should buy books or search the net for sample behavioral questions (I might do this in one of my blogs, so watch out for it)

Step 5 – Questions you might want to ask at an interview

If you are asked “Do you have any questions?” On an interview, be it first round of final, the almost never response you will give is “No, all of my questions have been answered.”
If you do this, you are closing the door and even the windows. You should at least have a couple or few questions for them. This will show your interest in them. Remember there are a lot of people technically inclined than you are.

Now I have listed a few that you might want to consider:

What are you looking for in the person who will fill this job?
What areas need the immediate attention of the person you hire?
What skills are most valuable in this job? ***
What activities could I engage in now that might help me on the job if I’m hired? (Be careful in this coz you might sound you are fishing)
What kind of training I would receive?
How do the duties change once the training program has been completed?
What is the retention rate for people who have been in this training program after one year? (You will have an idea if they are a slave driver or not... ha ha!)
How one is evaluated both formally and informally?


I guess I have shared some of the things can gain you in getting that job. I wish you all the best of luck. Do not forget, the attitude is the one thing that they look at you.

Team Lunch

Working in a call center is really something I should say. The atmosphere creates the real meaning of camaraderie. Just try to imagine, people from different walks of life, religion, culture, beliefs and even sex preferences, would work together as one team.

One thing in common that they do is (for those who are fortunate to have a the same schedule) is to have a team lunch. All of them including their supervisors (sometimes their operations manager), would gather around the pantry, get a long table and setup their food. In some cases they do call to order food and they chip-in. Some would assign a couple to bring food. But the thing that awes me is how amazing these people would really spend quality time with each other over lunch.

During this one-hour break, they would still talk about the same thing, their work. They talk about their experiences. Some are good, some are bad and some really frustrating. The one thing noticeable when they talk about those frustrating encounters is they do listen to the one who shares it. After that, everyone is not expected to give their opinions, but they do. They share a common solution to that experience. At the serious part, they would give out burst of laughter thinking that its part of the job. They would give out scenarios that would turn out to be a funny and forget about the frustration.

In this kind of experience, most people enjoy their jobs. At some point, its really hard to leave their team specially if someone gets promoted or leave the company for career advancement.

The call center industry leaves a true memory in each and every person who works here. They would not forget the team. This industry revolutionize the four-corner-office scenario. It erases the monotonous in the job. Finally, it created a second home.

Something to ponder

A Creed to Reflect Upon
By Author Unknown
Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important,
Only you know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart
Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.
Don't give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,
It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks,
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,
And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your Dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope.
To be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget where you've been,
But also know where you're going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

Quotes:

"Sometimes we take things for granted and we forget to stop, look, and listen.It's an awesome world we live in."Author Unknown

"Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you."
Richard Bach

"Life has no limitations, except the ones you make."
Les Brown

"Life is not a 'brief candle'. It is a splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing on to future generations."
George Bernard Shaw

"You are a living magnet. What you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts."
Brian Tracy

"Today is life - the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto."
Dale Carnegie

I want to get out of here and get another JOB!

It was a late afternoon on Saturday when I received a call from my old friend. She tells me that she wants out and wants to get a new job. When I asked her what kind of job? She told me “anything but here!”

I really do understand her frustration about her current job. It’s a tormenting 12 hours a day and six (6) days a week. Yes! You read it right. Six days a week. I just can imagine how painful it is for her not having that WLB (Work-Life-Balance).

Just think of this. She will wake up like 5AM to prepare herself and breakfast for her family. Travel for about a 2 hours while getting jammed up with millions of people in one train! You literally would smell, feel, and worst – even share the awful smell of someone who forgets totally their hygiene.

By the time she arrives at her place of work, she has to take care of everything and make sure that it is 100% operational. Should there be any problems would arise, she would have to make all the necessary measures in accordance with the guidelines.

Within the day, she would have to deal with all sorts of problems, from customers to co-workers. On top of that, her local phone would ring and her bosses would be all over her asking for reports. Report’s were told a minute ago and tells her that it’s very urgent and should be on top priority. Well knowing the boss, everything else should be prioritized and with urgency. She would not even get a simple pat-on-the-back or a small note of commendation in completing the process. Instead these bosses will grab all the credit and let their bosses knows that they are done with their job.

End of the day, she has to make sure everything is balanced to the last item. All of the staff was able to comply with their task with integrity still intact with them. She has to be the last person to leave of course.

Arriving at home late, she would see her children all asleep. Her husbands arrived an hour earlier than her. Her husband works a complete 9 hour job. She now computes if she was able to take home the bacon. Not even close sad to say.

There are a lot of people like my friend here who wanted to get out of the painstaking job but could not do it. Why? She could not afford it because it is so hard to find a decent job these days.

So why did she accepted the job? All the sugar coatings were given to her. She did not even see why the company offered her a high salary. She might have overlooked the fact that this company will give everything but will get everything from her as well.

Why am I saying this? I came from the same company.

Well that is beside the fact of what I would like to brought up. What I would like to brought up is this, how will we be contended with our jobs? The answer: Never!

You heard me, NEVER! An employee will never be able to get contentment with their job because for a fact that people who does the same thing for so many years will not be happy. Unless a person will find a way to balance their: professional career and their personal life.

Simple being said but its really hard being done.

In my personal experience with the same company as my friend works for now, I know how hard it is working for them. At first when I was given the salary and the opportunity for the advancement of my career, I was so thankful. I was even surprised that they gave those kinds of benefits and opportunities. But as the days and months pass by, the reality starts to sink in. Of course a company would never give anything without getting any return.

Then I realized, I am not able to balance my life. My career was stagnant and my personal life has been totally forgotten. I consulted my friends, family and even peers of what I should do. One thing in common that they told me, get out and find another one.

I was not getting any younger as I have told to myself. I do not want to go back to square one and start all over again. But my mind keeps telling me get out this is not for you!

And so I made my decision, I quit! I left the company and seek another one. Then it started my career as a job hopper.

So up until now I am a job hopper. I am new in the company that I work for now. It pays me well, it gives me career. I can even see myself having more of what I think of. But deep inside me, it tells me this is not for me. Why? I am now working on a graveyard shift. The one thing I never thought it would happen. I started with this job on a normal day shift. Now here I am adjusting my body working at night. I start to ponder where is the WLB in this kind of job?

I am still an employee. I have to abide by the rules of the company. If I want to have that WLB, I should adjust my life.

What I did was to look at the other side of the coin. When I started working on the grave yard shift, I was thinking that how will I ever get a time with my family. Working on a graveyard shift gave me an edge. Now I can be with my family the whole day! I adjusted my sleep which is important to regenerate my body. I go home early and once home I sleep while they are still asleep. When they start to wake up, I wake up as well and have breakfast with them. Lucky for me my shift starts at 8PM and ends at 5AM. I get to get home at 530AM and sleep until 9AM where my wife now starts to prepare herself to get to work.

I appreciated my job now because, not like my friend, I still get to see my wife and kid during the day. On weekends, we go out and spend each others time so well.

Am I contented with my job? The answer is still NO! But when you look at your family the time you go home, everything else does not matter anymore.

Resume writing

We all know for a fact that when we create a resume we are selling ourselves. It is a brochure of ourselves as job seekers in order for us to land the job we wanted and hope to give everything (almost!) of our needs.

But many of us, struggles in creating one that would really define our capabilities, talents, skills and everything we want to brag about. When we start drafting our resume we believe that we created one that tells of who we are and fits the job opportunity perfectly. Once we give our resume to employers, more often than not we get an instant answer “We’ll get in touch with you, thank you for your time!” When we start to hear that we know that all doors are closed and even windows for the opportunity we aspire for.

So how do we get an edge on everyone in the job market just by showing our resume, the answer: Create a strategic resume!

I know some of those eyebrows are raised when I said strategic. Some of you might think that: “is this a game?” My answer: YES it is a game! A game of survival!

Resume strategy # 1: Who are you and how do you want to be perceived?

Who you are? This is to be answered not by stating your personal information. Rather what you have done professionally and academically. Remember we are applying for a profession that will be our bread and butter. Basically, you can start by answering the question: “What is it that you have done for a living all these years?”

How do you want to be perceived? First impressions last. Remember that employers are seeing you for the first time. Of course, you want to create a very expressive impression. You want them to see at first hand how you have been handling your job to excellence. You focus on the key points of your talents, skills, capabilities and even your creative thinking. Be careful though, there is a fine line between job description and the things that I have mentioned.

Resume strategy # 2: Sell it to me… Don’t tell it to me

If you “tell it,” you are simply stating facts. If you “sell it,” you promote it, advertise it, and draw attention to it. Make use of those adjectives. Paint the picture you want to show the employer. Employers already knows the fact. How you do it makes a difference.

Resume strategy # 3: Use Keywords

Keywords are vital in your resume or cover letter. Words should convey of what you are expert of doing in your career. Keywords are also an integral component of the resume-scanning process, whereby employers and recruiters electronically search resumes for specific terms to find candidates with the skills, qualifications, and credentials for their particular hiring needs.

Resume strategy # 4: Use the “Big” and Save the “Little”

When deciding what to include in your resume, try to focus on the “big” things— new programs, special projects, cost savings, productivity and efficiency improvements, new products, technology implementations, and more.

Then, save the “little” stuff—the details—for the interview. With this strategy, you will accomplish two things:

• You’ll keep your resume readable and of a reasonable length (while still selling your achievements).

• You’ll have new and interesting information to share during the interview, instead of merely repeating what is already on your resume.


Resume strategy # 5: Make your resume “Interviewable”

At this point, you should make a good use of strategy 4 and 2. You should be able to get the interest of the employer after they have cross-matched your resume to their needs. Make your resume highly readable. Meaning you should have an adequate space for font size, and a logical flow from start to finish.

Don’t devote lots of space and attention to areas of your background that are irrelevant or about which you feel less than positive; you’ll only invite questions about things you really don’t want to discuss.


Resume strategy # 6: Eliminate Confusion with Structure and Context

Be consistent. Put job titles, company names, and dates in the same place for each position.

Make information easy to find. By clearly defining different sections of your resume with large, highly visible headings

Define the context in which you worked. Specifically, define in concise the function of the department / organization you worked. After that you briefly describe your activities and accomplishments.


Resume strategy # 7: Use Function to Demonstrate Achievement

Use as much adjectives as you can but use it appropriately. Every employer knows the job functions, what you need to do is to show them how you have performed in your job.


Resume Strategy # 8: Remain in the Realm of Reality

Do not push your skills and qualifications outside the bounds of what is truthful. You never want to be in a position where you have to defend something that you’ve written on your
resume. If that’s the case, you’ll lose the job opportunity before you ever get the offer.



Resume strategy # 9: Be Confident

You are the only one in this world. There is no one else like you. You should always be at your best. You might see that you are listed among the qualified candidates but still you have your own advantages and disadvantages. Make sure that you will are able to express truthfully of the things you have stated.


Best of luck!



















Source:

Expert resumes for career changers
By: Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kusmark

Five Quick Steps to a New Job

By: Atul Mathur
Source: Manila Bulletin Oct 15, 2006

Some people blame their qualifications. Some see the general scarcity of jobs as the main problem. To those who have many years of experience, the age appears to be the main barrier. There is no doubt that economy, market demand; qualification, experience, age and luck all play a part in making it easy or difficult for you in the job market.

But unfortunately, what most people do not realize is that a set of completely different factors is more responsible for their long, inconclusive job search. To understand these factors, you have to first understand the hiring process.

Getting a job is like surviving a multi-round game of elimination, which begins with spotting job opportunities and ends at interviews. Some people do not use the right job search methods and thereby fail to even spot job opportunities. They get eliminated even before the real game begins. Some do see the job opportunities, but their weak and unacceptable resumes fail to open doors for interviews. Out of those who survive up to the interview stage, many bow out of the race because they fail to project their own value to the employers. Finally, the winner is someone who survives all through and proves to be the best among fellow survivors.

If you have been looking for a new job for quite some time and are in the mode of blaming lack of opportunities, educations, experience, luck, age, etc. for your current situation, it is time you shift focus to the way you are playing the game. Specifically, pay attention to the following five steps:

Play by the rules
It was Albert Einstein who said: “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” Play by the following rules:

Rule of least effort: At every stage of your job search, ensure that employers spend least

effort (and time) while dealing with you.
Rule of Needs and Means: Your success lies in understanding employer’s needs and then

showing that you have the means (experience, education, skills) to satisfy those needs.
Rule of seeds: If you want something to happen, plant more seeds – make more attempts

and be prepared that many of these attempts will not bring the desired results.
Rule of obsession: When you chase jobs that you are obsessed about, you are bound to

succeed. Your obsession is your trump card.
Rule of perceived value: What matters is not what you think about yourself, but how

much value employers see in you.

Conduct smart job search

If you ask 500 different persons how they got their jobs, you might see two interesting insights emerging from the replies. First, there are not just two or three methods of searching for a job. There are at least 10 different ways of finding a job. Second, not all methods are equally effective. For example, seeking help from your colleagues and friends can be one of the most productive ways of getting a job.

The smart job search is about knowing all the different methods of spotting job opportunities and then focusing on the ones that promise quicker results.

Prepare compelling resume

Once you spot a job opportunity, it boils down to how compelling is your resume. In the job market, your resume is like a brochure about your capabilities. And employers treat it the same way you treat the brochures you come across in your daily life. If your resume is neat, without mistakes, it can open doors for interviews and vice-versa.

Send impressive cover letters

An impressive cover letter accompanying a well-written resume can make a significant difference to your job prospects.

The purpose of a cover letter is to connect personally with a specific person on the other side and also to show how well positioned you are to meet and even exceed employer’s needs. The cover letter is a critical document as it makes the first impression.

Be a success at interviews

If everything goes well, you will reach the final stage: the interview. How you conduct yourself not just during the interview, but also before and after it, decides your ultimate fate. If you prepare well, avoid well-known pitfalls and follow proven strategies, your will come out a winner.

Scores of highly capable sincere and hard-working people may stuck in their jobs or suffer unemployment just because they lack the skills to survive and play the hiring game. You need not be among them. If you learn the above five steps, you might find it is after all not that difficult to get a new job.

September 22,2008

Hi!

I wanted to create a blog that I can really post about anything but still would give people something to think about. I thought of giving a title to my blog, Office Pantry. Most of the things happen here. Most of the grapevine is talked in here. There are tons of emotions going on in here. What makes it more interesting is, people might be able to relate on the things that I will post in here.

I would really appreciate your comments and suggestions to improve further this blog.

Thanks

Eric P. Garcellano
Philippines