How to Answer the 5 Most Common Interview Questions

How to Answer the 5 Most Common bewerberinterview QuestionsIn a 1981 interview, TV journalist Barbara Walters famously asked actress Katharine Hepburn, What kind of tree are you? Ever since then, the tree question has been a byword for out-there interview questions. And while you probably wont get any tree-based questions in your next job interview, you should be prepared for open-ended questions designed to test your readiness for a job. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are some answers and strategies you should have in your pocket for when an interviewer asks you a question slightly outside of your resume.1. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?Relax. The interviewer isnt expecting a full audit of your personal failures or a speech about how you remind yourself of Mother Theresa and Mark Zuckerberg. When youre asked about your strengths, make koranvers your answer is directly relevant to the job youre interviewing for. If youre interviewing for a sales sttte, mention your knack for turning a slammed door into a promising lead. Or if youre under consideration for a management position, talk about how your leadership led your former group to its best year ever.For your weaknesses, dont answer with something that will likely make the interviewer roll their eyes, like I work too hard or I love my job too much. Instead, be honestbut again, make sure it can be spun as a positive for the specific role youre landseeking. For example, instead of saying that you work too hard, say that you have a tendency to try to solve every problem that comes along.The key is tomake sure the interviewer knows youre aware of your limitations. In this case, you could say that you tend to take on a lot, but that youre aware of the need to work with the team to find solutions together instead of putting it all on one person. A little self-awareness goes a long way.2.What was your reason for leaving your previousjob?Chances are , the interviewer will ask you why youre looking to leave your current jobor if youre currently unemployed, why you left your last job. If its the former, stress that youre seeking to grow by taking your skills and experience to the next level with this job. If its the latter, and you left your last job under less-than-ideal circumstances (like being fired), dont panic. Emphasize that the job wasnt a good fit for you, and youre seeking a job that fits with your long-term goals (with a bit of explanation of what those are and how they relate to the job youre trying to get).3. What are your salary expectations for this position?Asking what kind of salary youre expecting may just be the interviewers way to determine what you expect from the job. Its a risky question to answertoo high a salary, and they might think youll jump ship for the next high-paying opportunity that comes along. Too low, and that could impact the salary and benefits they propose to you as part of a job offer. Its okay to punt this one a littleexplain that youre flexible on salary depending on the role and benefits package and would be happy to discuss that further in the future.4.Tell me about yourself .When an interviewer asks you about yourself, this is not the time to talk about your hometown, your elementary school spelling bee trophies, or your allergies. They want you to cherry-pick your bio to show whether youll fit at their company, in their openposition. Heres where a quick summary of your relevant education would come in handy, along withan overview of jobs youve had in the field or other experiences appropriate to the job itself. This is something you can prepare ahead of timejust a few sentences outlining who you are as a professional and what makes you a strong candidate for the position.5. Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem.Another popular interview tactic is to have the candidate tell a story about a time they demonstrated a particular skill, like problem solv ing. Before you go into the interview, think about the skills youd like to emphasize and come up with a few (honest) anecdotes about how you applied those in real life. Write them down, or at least jot down notes that will help them stick in your head and make them easier for your brain to grab when youre on the spot.If you do know what kind of tree you would be, great Youre all set if that somehow comes up. Much more likely, youll see questions like these. The more you think about them beforehand, the more ready youll be to answer them like a pro.

Companies Are Expanding their Parental Leave...Whos Doing it Best

Companies Are Expanding their Parental Leave...Whos Doing it Best Many working parents across the U.S. had extra reason to celebrate the New Year. Numerous companies have been announcing much-welcomed changes to their parental leave policies, amending them to be mora generous and comprehensive. Were so excited about this trend that weve started keeping track, maintaining a list of the employers that are leading the effort toward improved paid leave for all women in the U.S. Coinciding with some of these companies announcements of new leave policies, council members in Washington, D.C. recently passed a bill that will provide private-sector workers in the city with some of the most generous benefits in the country. The plan allows new parents to take eight weeks of paid leave and offers six weeks to workers caring for ailing family members, as well as two weeks of personal sick time.American Express, one of the companies that has improved its policies for U.S. employees, announced in mid December that theyre now (as of Jan. 1, 2017) giving both men and women with new children 20 weeks of fully-paid leave. This applies to parents who birth, adopt, or have a child through surrogacy. The policy is unique in that it doesnt distinguish between primary and secondary caregivers (though female employees who give birth to a child are eligible for an additional six to eight weeks of paid leave if its medically necessary). In addition to extending its leave, the company is offering employees benefits worth up to $35,000 for adoption and surrogacy events, as well as $35,000 for infertility treatmentincluding advanced reproductive technology procedures through its health plan, according to Fortune. Both full-time and parte-time employees in the U.S. are eligible for these new benefits once theyve worked at AmEx for a year. Kevin Cox, chief HR officer for AmEx, told Fortune that the company was prompted to adapt its policies following conversations with both employees and ma rket forces it was also inspired to update its programs in order to seek out and retain top talent.AmExs new benefits program also includes a personal concierge for employees who are adding to their families, 24-hour access to lactation consultants, and free breast-milk shipping during business trips, reports Fortune.First Data, a leader in commerce-enabling technology, announced its new workplace policy on Dec. 22. It offers 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave to both full-time and part-time employees who are primary caregivers (and two weeks for secondary caregivers), so long as they have worked at First Data for at least a year. Those with a new child whether through natural birth, surrogacy, or adoption are eligible.Exelon, another of the companies that has recently adopted more expansive policies, has improved benefits for employees who have or adopt a child or for those with a family member who is critically ill. The new package, which also went into effect on Jan. 1, prov ides mothers who have given birth with up to 16 weeks of paid leave. New fathers and adoptive parents can get up to eight weeks of paid leave. In addition, Exelon allows primary caregivers to take two weeks of paid leave to care for a family member with a critical health condition. Exelon is also on the right track in the fight for equal pay the company is one of the recent signatories of the White Houses Equal Pay Pledge, an initiative to encourage major companies to take action and commit their support to closing the national gender pay gap. As part of its commitment, Exelon conducted an organization-wide gender pay analysis of all occupations and will renew this analysis on an annual basis.Science-based company 3M has also expanded its parental leave benefits to 20 weeks (10 of which paid) for moms and dads, with the option to work part time. These benefits now extend to both biological and adoptive parents, and the company says theyre part of 3Ms continuing commitment to support greater work-life balance across the company. Biological mothers will continue to receive 6 to 8 weeks of short-term disability time off, for a total of 28 weeks of maternity leave.Remember to check out our data on companies that are leading the way in implementing improved policies and please contact us at infofairygodboss.com if you think theres a company weve missedFairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer

Unanswered Issues With Writing a Cmo Resume Uncovered

Unanswered Issues With Writing a Cmo Resume Uncovered The resume sample has a strong ability to keep up a readers interest over the duration of the whole document. Resume updates are among our favourite things to do. Ruthless Writing a Cmo Resume Strategies Exploited For instance, in CV, if youre attempting to find work in education, you have the capacity to to want to tischset your teaching experience in addition to the CV. Taking the opportunity to concentrate on your resume is vital. Building work application isnt a task you may leave up to chance. Possessing a superior and expert job application is important in the health healthcare field. Hiring managers skim your resume bullets, and that means you wish to have the fruchtwein crucial information first. Resume Advice for Keeping It Up-To-Date Once you complete an application for your work nowadays, its probable youll have to be proficient in some type of technology or software program. Resume Scripters clients have g otten hired at a few of the very best corporations in the planet, like Apple and Amazon. In some instances what youll need isnt a work application schablone in any respect. Type of Writing a Cmo Resume Use the checklist to be sure you have included all appropriate data in your resume. So once youre contemplating how to compose a resume, dont forget that you ought to be selling your abilities and accomplishments, not simply listing your work history and your old responsibilities. Our process after the first consultation comprises a comprehensive questionnaire that works to extract information about the customers full employment history, career targets, and accomplishments. You will find three forms of resumes, every single using its own advantages and pitfalls. Writing a Cmo Resume Secrets Choosing a professional writer is an investment in your career that may exponentially boost your odds for a telephone interview by turning your previous experiences into your distinctive sto ry. You should guide and monitor the job of telephone operators once youre recruited. Efficient resumes are excellent for highlighting transferable skills which will be relevant to your brand-new area of work. Employment may be an fest building stepping rock if you already really know what type of career you wish to make in future. If youre at present seeking employment, you should sell yourself be considered a work application that shows the company your specific skills. Unfortunately, not too many men and women care they may be searching for employment. Therefore, if youre trying to receive a job ( not just virtually any job, no matter how the job which you want), be certain to do things correct and learn to create an outstanding resume. Unless you believe you possess a great deal of that, then perhaps you should locate a job thats more highly related to your experience. Vital Pieces of Writing a Cmo Resume What candidates have to understand is theyre not likely to have a conversation for their resumes and their qualifications on Twitter. Resumes can be used for many reasons, nevertheless frequently theyre utilised to create new work. They are created to focus on the most effective side of an individual. They should never be written in third person. The Dirty Truth on Writing a Cmo Resume Likewise resume writers arrive in various tiers and levels. There are a lot of online selections for creating design-worthy resumes. They are quite expected in features and data, however, many choices have to be built. A complete selection for candidates with tons of experience who want to have a great one-page continue template.

4 ways to know if youre knocking it out of the park at work

4 ways to know if youre knocking it out of the park at work4 ways to know if youre knocking it out of the park at workWith good days and bad days, long commutes, and less time for fun with friends, it can be difficult to tell if youre actually good at your job.Heres how to tell that youre most likely doing well in the amtsstube.Your coworkers and boss like working with you - because you listenUnlike someone whos difficult to work with, youre receptive to others because you actually listen to them. It isnt all about hearing the sound of your own voice.In meetings, you contribute fresh ideas without overpowering the conversation or causing it to go off-track.People feel like they can confide in you, but youre not a chronic time-waster.You dont get too caught up in the gossip milline Cain writes in Business Insider that you rise above office politics.In corporate America, no one is 100% immune to office politics. Learning to navigate your workplace is an important part of succeeding at your job, she writes. However, if youre one of those people who can successfully sail through potentially contentious workplace situations without ever getting mired in the drama, thats a good sign.Heres how to handle office politics the right way.Youve been a reliable ambassador for your companySara McCord, a freelance writer and editor, writes in The Muse that getting more visibility is a sign that youre doing well at work.The best bosses find opportunities for their people to learn by doing. But they also know when they need their best foot (read employee) forward, she writes. Who are they going to ask to run the account for a high-profile client or represent the company at a conference? Someone who they have complete faith in, and who they think represents the company in the very best light. Without a doubt, when youre asked to speak on behalf of your team, its because your boss thinks youre doing a great job,When people really trust you, they have no problem having you represe nt both them and their work.People talk about your workGhostwriter and author Peter Economy writes in Inc. that when youre doing well, your projects are talked about.When people are moved by work, they feel compelled to discuss it. Theyll usually pass it along to their friends, other co-workers, and their peers. No matter what the subject matter is, if youre being positively talked about, youre probably doing a really sternfrmig job. People only talk about others they notice, he writes.

Why You Should Want to Throw Up A Little In Your Career

Why You Should Want to Throw Up A Little In Your CareerWhy You Should Want to Throw Up A Little In Your Career 18 Best Places to Work with Top CEOs Have you ever had a serious case of the jitters? Or been at work preparing for a presentation but the thought of public speaking made you practically queasy? This kind of edge-of-your-seat anxiety and professional nervousness can be crippling. However, it can also signal professional growth.Stretch assignments - or tasks given to an employee that is currently beyond their level of knowledge or skill can - can produce this type of anxiety but also present a prime opportunity. It is important to accept new challenges and push yourself beyond your comfort zone, says Jodi Euerle Eddy, SVP of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer of Boston Scientific . You may even experience a nervous feeling of uneasiness, which is normal. Accept this feelin g as encouragement knowing you are pushing yourself forward to new heights.It is her belief - and experience - that wanting to throw up a little sometimes, is a healthy sign of challenging yourself with new opportunities to expand your technical, personal and management skills. So if youre ready to step out on faith to up-level in your career , heres tried-and-tested advice on how to look for the right stretch opportunities in your current role or elsewhere.1. Evaluate your current company & manager.Before raising your pfote for a stretch assignment, you should be very clear about what kind of company you work for and the type of manager you have. While many employers profess to be advocates for learning and development , some can be more rigid about allowing employees to try something new or think outside of the box.At Boston Scientific , we know the value of investing in our employees on multiple fronts, including education, says Eddy. Within the IT organization, we enc ourage parteicipation in learning programs designed to improve their technical and personal skills. We want our employees to experience improvement. Challenging employees with stretch goals is part of the learning process and keeps interest high.Even earlier in her career, Eddy was sure to eye various opportunities and had the benefit of a supportive employer that selected her to participate in a leadership development program which exposed her to assignments in a variety of IT disciplines. From there I continued to focus on building out my own skillset, driven by a passion for learning. That meant rotating through just about every possible role in IT ERP systems, networks, cybersecurity, application development, etc. and soaking up as much as I could. In addition, over the years, I was also able to attend many world-class formal business and management training programs. Stretching yourself isnt always about a specific assignment sometimes its about raising your hand for those ot her learning opportunities.Now that she is CIO, Eddy assigns stretch assignments and takes into account two key factors. First is the need of the company and the criticality of the assignment. Second is the abilities of the employee and, to some extent, the relationship of their current work to the work involved in the stretch assignment.2. Discern between a stretch assignment & a menial task.Practice smart judgment when you are evaluating or considering taking on additional work with the goal of professional growth. As much as you want to be the utility player or eager employee, its vital to choose your assignments wisely and think through the outcomes and consequences. Having clear and consistent communication with your manager as well as a career development plan can help with this, and save you from the pitfalls of meaningless assignments.The key is to make sure you and your manager have a shared understanding of how work-related decisions are made, says Eddy. Mutual respect and genuinely caring for one anothers well-being are the foundation for this mindset and enable you to respond with confidence to work challenges including stretch assignments.To help you evaluate a stretch assignment, Eddy says you must do two things3. Capitalize on every aspect of the stretch assignment.Once youve taken on the task, enthusiastically approach the stretch assignment as a unique opportunity and bring it to a successful conclusion. If done well, you may position yourself for additional responsibilities, a raise or a promotion down the road. Therefore at each turn, attention to detail is imperative.It always makes sense to track your results and articulate where youve been able to add value- we should all be prepared to advocate for ourselves , advises Eddy. But the greatest gift of a stretch assignment is the learning. What did it teach you about this new area? What lessons can you bring to the next assignment? What questions did it raise that youd like to continue exploring? Its important to be focused and have clear goals at the same time, taking on a stretch assignment to check a box is missing the point. Theres so much upside in the exploration.And when you feel the urge to throw up - or worse, quit- remember that your manager has faith that you can take on the challenge.4. Stay in regular communication with your manager.Taking on a stretch assignment should not be confused with taking on projects for your colleagues.If you feel overworked or overburdened by the actions or inactions of fellow employees, it should be addressed through appropriate management channels, says Eddy.Being mindful of your work-life balance as important as realizing the sacrifice you are making can pay off in the end. Obviously, these assignments will require additional effort- if you believe there are viable reasons why you could not expend that additional effort at that time, its a good reason to have an open discussion with your leadership.5. Do not be discoura ged by setbacks.On occasion, we all make a mistake or come up short on an assignment. Naturally, there will be setbacks . The key is to minimize these misses, learn from the experience and keep a positive attitude. If you can do this, you will continue to move forward. Oh, and volunteer for the next stretch assignment that comes your way.Whether you have the capacity take on a stretch assignment or not, another way to be invaluable to your team and babo is to suggest ways the business can grow and tee up others for new challenges. Your manager depends on you for your ideas, insights and talents, so share them.As a leader, its my job to play to my teams strengths as much as it is to help them bridge gaps. Theres no one way to approach it, but I believe in having open conversations in both directions. By defining clear goals for my team and knowing my people, I can look for the points of intersection where someone can stretch into a skill that will help us move the needle in a me aningful way. At the same time, I rely on my team to tell me about new projects or learning opportunities that get them excited, and how that can help us innovate faster and make an impact on the business. I see it as part of my responsibility to create space for those conversations to happen.

According to a recent study cleaning makes people less hostile

According to a recent study cleaning makes people less hostileAccording to a recent study cleaning makes people less hostileThe things that make us happiest seem to consistently be the worst things for us. From junk food to alcohol consumption its hard to make pleasure and productivity harmonious. Research that attempts to establish a link between healthy productive activities and emotional satisfaction is important for this very reason.You might be surprised to learn that there is actually a wealth of literature championing the simple act of cleaning for boosts to wellness. A recent study examining 998 African Americans between the ages of 49 and 65, showed that the participants that kept their houses clean were healthier than those that did not.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAnother study revealed that making your bed increasesyour chances of a good nights sleep by 19%. A Clo rox study from last year stated that children that grow up having responsibilities like tidying around the house and taking out the garbage are 64% more likely to grow up to be empathetic, and 60% more likely to help others in their community.The philosophy that bridges the gap between organization and well-being has garnered a notable publicity boost thanks to the work of consultant and author, Marie Kondo, and now a recent cleaning rush study furthers its intimations, in more specific terms.Cleaning and emotional intelligenceResearchers from Ipsos examined a swimmingpool of adults between the ages of 25 and 45.By strapping them with small medical grade, biometric devices, they were able to successfully record Galvanic Skin Responseand Heart Rate while each participant completed various cleaning objectives on the sinks and stoves in their kitchen. The adrenalinerush that came from performing these tasks inspired feelings of enthusiasm and excitement.One-hundred percent of responden ts said that cleaning gave them peace of mind and a sense of control over their environment. Eighty-two percent felt a sense of accomplishment, while 81% felt a strong sense of accomplishment.More broadly, most of the individuals in the study reported feeling more determined, inspired and less jittery and hostile. Some key participantquotes includeI feel like everything is in order, I have a fresh clean house thats neat and orderly for appearance sake for when people come over but also for us to live.I find it really soothing just seeing a mess, kind of like, disappear and I also like the sound of scrubbing and the bubbles I dont know, I think I find that very soothing.The benefits are both practical and therapeutic. Many of the respondents said that this experiment incentivized them to keep things orderly. The survey reports, Cleaning is also seen to bring about peace of mind and a sense of control over ones environment, with all participants saying they strongly/somewhat agree w ith these statements. Two thirds also strongly agree that a good, thorough clean can be a mood-boosting workout.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The most common reason job seekers abandon applications

The most common reason job seekers abandon applicationsThe most common reason job seekers abandon applicationsGhosting employers is nothing new, butrecent data from Clutch shows that the most popular reason why job seekers abandon applications is to accept another job, at 30%. Its important to note that this was only among the 389 people surveyed who admitted to doing so in the first place.The research also shows that 71% of people looking for jobs said they have abandoned the application process.The company polled 507 adult, full-time, American workers who started a new job within the past 6 months. In terms of gender, its important to note that 69% of respondents were women and 31% were men.Heres why people have given up on job applicationsWhile all the responses werent listed, behauptung were the most popular onesAccept another job 30%Ghosted by company 23%Realized not a match for the job 19%Had doubts about company 8%Experienced technical problems with application 7%Had a bad int erview experience 7%This data shows that potential employees arent the only ones doing the ghosting.How job seekers feel about professional ghostingThis Clutch infographic shows that people have a variety of opinions on this topicBut in terms of who interviews job seekers, 54% said the manager, while 32% said an HR representative and 22% said recruiter. Furthermore, 21% said future colleagues and a slim 16% said a C-suite leader.This infographictakes things further by breaking down the professional ghosting time frame among job seekers and employers alikeCompanies that experience high rates of ghosting should examine their recruiting processes and consider changing steps that trigger ghosting. Additionally, companies that routinely ghost candidates should take steps to give candidates closure or risk earning a bad reputation among job seekers,Michelle Delgado, researcher and marketer at Clutch, told Ladders.Heres how people found out they didnt get the jobAmong people who havent go tten a position they applied for before, not hearing back at all was the top way they found out. Heres the breakdownNo response 36%Impersonal rejection note 30%Phone call 21%Personal rejection note 13%Its clear that ghosting also happens well outside the dating world, where someone youve been getting to know romantically immediately stops responding to calls and messages. Just keep in mind that no matter which party is doing this under professional circumstances,there are productive ways to work through it.