Job Interviews: “What’s Your Greatest Weakness?”
Going for a job interview is already stressful enough without the interviewer asking point blank, “What’s your greatest weakness?”
There is no easy way out – but understand that the very nature of this question is designed to catch you off-guard. Don’t fall for it.
Go In Prepared
Preparation is the key to successful job interviewing. Know as much about the company, their products and their people as you can before the interview begins. That way, your interviewer will have fewer chances to make you uneasy during the interview process.
They will probe you with various questions to find out what your weaknesses are. Do not try to bluff your way out of difficult questions. It will only give the impression that you will resort to cheating when you are put under pressure.
Answer Straight And To The Point
Some interviewers still like to ask the question “What’s your greatest weakness?” during an interview. You can answer this question by either stating a weakness that you encountered during your previous job and how you overcame it, or you could reveal a weakness not at all related to the job profile.
Don’t say that you do not have any weaknesses, because after all, you are human. This is the quickest way to torpedo your chances. Rather, you should use the approach of converting your weakness into a strength. You will sound confident and resourceful if you are able to recognize your own weaknesses and find strategies to overcome them.
Being prepared for this question before each interview is the key to succeeding. Try to turn negatives into positives. You will impress your interviewer with your adaptability if you handle this question well.
How To Plan Your Negotiation Strategy
It is very important for you to plan your salary negotiation strategy before you get to the interview stage. Going in without a plan could mean that your prospective employer can take advantage of your lack of knowledge and hire you at a lesser salary, or you will end up with your ideal salary but too many extra responsibilities.
Here’s how to negotiate and come out ahead of the game:
Skills vs. Job Profile
You need to evaluate your skills against the job profile. That way, you know where you stand. Then, you should conduct some market research to find out what the salary range is for the position.
By knowing the salary range beforehand, you’ll have a good idea as to where you should start based on your education, experience and background.
You’ll also know if the company is lowballing you – would you want to work for an employer that does this?
The Power of Persuasion
When you start negotiations, be firm but polite while speaking with your interviewer. Don’t get personal and maintain your professional demeanor. If the company is large and you feel that the salary they offer you is not enough, then you could mention the salary offered is equivalent to those offered by smaller companies; and since their company is large and the scope of responsibilities greater, you deserve a more lucrative compensation package.
This is where your persuasive abilities come in.
Convince them that you have advanced skills and experience, so you will be more useful to them in the future. The more you steer the negotiations towards how much the company needs your services, the greater your chances are of getting the salary you want. Also, always evaluate the total compensation package, such as health benefits, bonuses, and other incentives when you’re negotiating salary.
There is a very thin line between negotiating and haggling - so once you think that you have reached a fair figure, don’t be greedy. The idea is to negotiate, not haggle or force your potential employer into submission.
Have a definite plan in mind before negotiations begin - and you just might get your dream salary, along with your dream job.
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Job Hunting While Employed Elsewhere
You may not be happy at your current job: you may feel it’s time for a raise, you may be expecting lay offs or you may just want to try something new. You’re ready to start looking for a new position. The problem, though, is that you still have this one. You don’t want to give notice before you have another job lined. Just letting your boss get a hint that you’re shopping around and you may not have that cushion while you job hunt. Worse, many prospective employers are reluctant to hire someone that they know is hunting for new employment without quitting a current job. Most will assume that if you’ve done it once, you’ll do it again.
How do you keep your job search quiet while you consider moving on? The first step is simply not mentioning it. Your co-workers may be your friends, but that’s not a guarantee that they’ll keep their mouths shut. Wait until you’ve actually handed over your letter of resignation to pass around the good news.
You also need to make the effort to be discrete. Don’t take phone interviews at work, and direct any email about new jobs to an account separate from your work email. Prospective employers can recognize a work email address and realize what you are up to. Your work email is also subject to review by your employer, depending on where you work.
You should be careful about scheduling interviews. While you may have to take time off of work to interview for a new position, you should ask for personal time off, rather than trying to lie about the reason you won’t be in. Additionally, if you suddenly need to take off several days closely spaced together, your boss may become suspicious. It’s worthwhile to try to schedule all of your interviews on one day or to time them during your lunch hour or normal time away from work.
Another obvious interview error is showing up to work in your suit or nice clothes, if your work place is generally more relaxed. This sort of change in your behavior can quickly clue your employer in to your strategy.
If you are found out, the only thing that you can really do is own up to the fact. If you claim innocence, and then quit a week or two later, you’ll have burned an important bridge. Your employer is less likely to give you any sort of references, no matter how good your previous work was. Even if you are honest about the situation, don’t count on retaining your job for those last few weeks. Many employers will ask you to leave immediately if they find you have been seeking new employment elsewhere, no matter the circumstances.
You may manage to complete your job search with no one the wiser, though. You should keep quiet about that fact during the resignation process, and make every effort to be polite about the matter, in order to maintain a good relationship with your former employer.
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PROFESSIONAL AND EXECUTIVES!
Hottest High-Paying Jobs Are Still in New York
As of the beginning of 2008, TheLadders.com reported that New York still
offers the best jobs for the $100,000+ executives, attracting the highest
number of job-seekers from other parts of the country. While other cities
such as San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Chicago are in the race, New
York stands out as a winner raking in an incredible 3:1 ratio of job-seekers
to job postings. Some of those hiring firms include JPMorgan Chase,
Johnson & Johnson, and General Electric.
3 Easy Steps To An Effective Resume
An effectively written resume is the perfect tool to achieve the objective of securing an interview. In short, it’s an advertisement matching your skills to the employer’s needs. An OK resume may win you a personal interview, but a strong resume will increase your chances of landing the job.
An effective resume should clearly indicate how you will positively affect the company’s bottom line. Companies look for specific skill sets for every position. You need to look closely at the job requirements, and then emphasize those very skills in your resume.
Keep It Short
Keep your resume short and easy to comprehend - after all, you will give a detailed explanation of it during your personal interview. Employers have to go through many résumés to find the ones they find interesting, so make yours stand out from the crowd.
A typical employer is likely to spend little more than half a minute on each resume. That’s why perfecting yours is a must; it should be short, eye catching and promising enough to get them to call you.
Clearly State Your Objectives
Your objective is your ‘goal statement’ - it should be brief, but strong enough to keep the reader interested in reading further. Objectives should be written from the employers’ perspective, detailing how your past experience, skills, and educational qualifications will benefit their organization.
Highlight Your Skills
Broadly outline your skills; keeping it brief will enable you to put your strongest points first. Include soft skills like effective communication, being a team player, and leadership qualities. Also include your technical skills, mentioning how you acquired them.
Highlight your functional area of expertise. Mention any special skills and certifications earned. All of your computer skills are important, as they indicate how versatile you are. However, list your skills sets in the order that meets profile of the position you are seeking.
Any accomplishments that you mention should be supported with documentation. Be prepared to bring proof of anything contained in your resume if you are granted a personal interview.
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