dilbert on interviews

Ideal Working Environment

sirianne : ano po pwede isagot pag tinanong "ideal working environment?"

You may answer something like this:

An ideal working environment is one where innovative and creative ideas are encouraged and received, where teamwork plays a vital role in achieving output and where motivation is one of the keys to one’s professional growth.

first job, interviews and assessing performance

silly_ka_jax Hello : Do companies offer you the job right on the spot during the final interview or do they get back at you after a couple of days? The final interviewer told me I have a chance of getting in, do you think it's a "pambobola" or does it hold water? Although, I think my chances are not that big because the interviewer gave a specific scenario and told me to sell the product to her. I babbled on and on, I have no experience selling anything whatsoever, BUT the interviewer knows this because I just graduated. They didn't require any selling experience for the job. But, the job requires you to endorse the product. Do you think it's a minus point in my interview not knowing how to sell or market their product properly? Please kindly answer all the questions. Thank you.


yes it does happen that you're offered the job right there and then.

if they ask you to wait for results, they probably want to finish interviewing all those on their list. but your should follow-up. better yet, at the end of the interview, ask when you can follow-up.

no, its not necessarily "a minus" not knowing how to sell. i say that because as you said the interviewer knew you were a fresh graduate and did not have previous selling experience. perhaps rather than selling skills, what the interviewer was looking for was communication skills, confidence, analytical skills and thinking process. specially for new graduates, doing well on these can get you the job.





#92

follow-up

AnGeLJoLi : I just had an interview last Tuesday and I do think it went smoothly. The interviewer, an HR head, told me to wait for a while so that the associate publisher could interview me, too (the interview with the associate publisher was quite unexpected because the scheduled interview was with the HR head only) and so that, practically speaking, I wouldn't go back and forth to the office. Unfortunately, the associate publisher was nowhere to be found and the interviewer told me that he would call within this week to schedule the postponed interview. He even asked me if I'm planing to go out of town this week. But up until now I haven't heard from him. If, by any chance, next week, he didn't call, is it ok to follow-up my application or should I let it go? Any opinion would be highly appreciated. Thanks.


yes, by all means, make the call as soon as possible and follow up.

ask if a schedule with the next interviewer has been scheduled. calling signals your interest and assertiveness, very good qualities for anyone to have. dont be shy. be confident. sound smart. dont be apologetic.






#90

sirianne : ano po pwede isagot pag tinanong "ideal working environment?"


remember that for you, the purpose of the interview is to sell yourself to the employer. you want every answer you give in the interview to say something about you and more importantly to persuade the employer you are the best candidate for the position.

that strategy or thinking should be in your mind when you answer even that question. your answer should be more about making a sales pitch for yourself - your attitude and your skills.

an ideal working environment for you can be something like one that nurtures growth and challenges. that tells the employer you are ambitious, you like challenges and you are someone who values growth.

your answer should depend on the kinds of messages you want to communicate about yourself. you should form in your mind what you think are the qualities that the employer is looking for and make sure your answers fit that.

"ideal working invironment" - turning questions into your favor

sirianne : ano po pwede isagot pag tinanong "ideal working environment?"

kevin Costner : Here is the thing.. I had a good score on the Technical exams, i mean, I think, that I really did very well.

Then comes next the PERSONALITY EXAM, which i think is very odd since ive got to finish the test in 30 short minutes for a 120-question module.I don't know if the company gives emphasis on the personality test but i damn sucked.. at some instance, i wanted to be an introvert, and at some instance i prefer to be an extrovert so that may look confusing when they find out what type of personality I have. IS THE PERSONALITY TEST OF THE APPLICANT A VERY BIG FACTOR IN HIRING THEM? I MEAN, Its just a Test,.. or does it really have a strong impact on the employers?

Moving on, here comes the Workshop.. I dont have any Idea at all what this workshop is all about. I even thought that It was an acting or singing workshop or whatever whimsical workshop I might think since the word "workshop" is stereotyped.. anyway, i soon found out that the workshop is like a test of your communication skills, and your skills to reason out and make some firm judgement on the data that they will give you..so then it came, all 9 qualified applicants has to point out their decisions and justify such decisions.. The thing that really sucked in me is that I am a born debater, so whenever some people made some "negative" remarks on my statements, i always follow it up with a further elaboration but I don't threw their statements in back in their faces. I mean, I just can't help but to elaborate. Is this a bad attitude?.. What kind of interpersonal skills should be "desirable" in these kind of matters??Please help me.

Personality Tests --- there are no right or wrong answers here. and its damn hard to cheat. you really can't answer the questions to get to a pre-determined outcome. personality tests are designed in a way that take these into consideration. some questions are re-stated differently for the purpose of getting a good read.

on the workshop if i was the one hiring and you performed the way you said you did, i would have given you HIGH MARKS if i was there. you would passed in flying colors just because you participated. it says you are a person who is not afraid to speak your mind, has ideas, knows what you are saying and hopefully a good communicator. congratulations!



kevinCostner: Thanks... That really made my day.. sometimes, i cant help but to think that there is something missing in me that is why i didn't make it to the job.. anyway, im just thankful that i still have one..A big thanks...PS.. i just wish that i have read this thread before my interview, it sure is a big motivation..




#85

applying for more than 1 position

Britneys_Jugs : What's your opinion about my hanging question, abcxyz?Question: (to abcxyz or to anyone who wants to share his/her views)Is it ok to apply for several positions in just one company? I recently submitted my resume(s) in a company that has several openings, and applied for each position that I know I have the necessary qualifications to begin with. Can this be considered normal or do I look desperate enough to apply for all positions? Any opinion from any of you would be highly appreciated.

for experienced applicants, applying for several positions in a few cases might not be a good idea. kasi may kaunting "specialization" involved.

but its ok for new graduates. many companies hire new graduates as management trainees --- they get you to work in several departments for a period of time and decide later on where to put you. they will be looking for BEST FIT.







#83

it's all about selling yourself

Britneys_Jugs : These are my questions: Do you think companies would merit my part-time job as a full-time job? What do you think would be the best job description for this? Or more importantly, how could I make it sound interesting?Do you think companies would still call me for an interview even if there's a minor (hehe, I prefer it as minor) hindrance (which in my case, is inexperience)? Or do you know any instance wherein a company was looking for an experienced applicant, but, in the long run, hired a fresh graduate? Hope you could help me again. Thanks.

no, a part time job cant be seen as a full time job. part time is part time. but you SHOULD mention it still. specially if you were able to contribute something to the business or department.

but in this case as you mentioned, you didn't do much. but that is NOT A LOST CAUSE.

though you didn't do much in terms of actual work, you must have learned something about relationships at work or dealing with people. don't forget that the work place is made up of two basic components --- the work and relationships.

think this through and figure out what you learned about work relationships. let me just give you two points you can use :

1) i have learned that at work, i need to be more ASSERTIVE to ask for work because i like to work and i can do the job.

2) that people tend to behave based on the info they know about others (that info was my dad's, the boss).

work out the rest and how you can use them in interviews. i can't help you on how to describe the part time work you did. be creative and inventive about it. but when you do that, make sure you can defend it and talk specifics. if companies are purposely looking for experienced employees, its a tough for you to be called.

but IF YOU HAVE A KILLER COVER LETTER AND RESUME, you can get interviews. the reality is --- BOTH experienced and new graduates are first assessed through cover letters and resumes. another truth ---- EVEN EXPERIENCED APPLICANTS SUBMIT LOUSY COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES. what does that tell you? ---- all is fair in love and war, and jobs.





#82

what to do after interview - how to follow-up status

by all means follow up your application and/or decision. it's not good to be left hanging.

• you can follow up by calling them up.
• if you're shy about calling, write a letter.
• if you write a letter, make the letter work harder for you by including in your letter some smart comment about the company you're applying for or its business.
• IT IS ALWAYS SMART TO SEND A LETTER RIGHT AFTER AN INTERVIEW. do you guys do this? in that letter, remind them on your strengths. this is a good idea because the interviewer will be reminded of you and shows real interest on your side.

#81

no job experience - how to win

Britneys_Jugs HI abcxyz, hope you could answer my question. Several companies I've applied for are looking for someone with experience. I still sent my resume, anyway. I highlighted my strengths yada yada yada, so that I could at least have a slight advantage. Do you think my resume will be a given a second glance? I know I have a lot to offer, my resume shows it, too. But, it just depresses me that they always look for someone with experience. Hope you could help. Thanks

here's how it is from the employer's standpoint :

• you look to hire people to fill up SPECIFIC needs for the group and the company.
• these could be to (1) replace someone who resigned or someone who got promoted or (2) expansion, need someone to fill up a new position.
• when the above happens, you tend to look for someone with experience. you do that because you want the new person to hit the ground running, because you have no time for training or no time to lose. or at times, you don't know how to train.
• some companies very smartly purposely look for new graduates, those without experience. they do that because they have a corporate philosophy that says they like to develop and promote from within. they also like to nurture people, they have a distinct culture that they want their employees to have.
• also, new graduates tend to be paid less than those with experience.
• or its a company who believes fresh blood and new thinking is good for their business and future.

that is the basic thinking. analyze that and see how it applies to you and how you can go around it. these are the realities you face when you look for a job. while these are realities, they can be overcome by playing it smart.

some ideas have been posted here, but let me recap a few :

• make sure you have a well written resume.
• demonstrate real life skills and achievements, not too much theory.
• DO RESEARCH on the company you are applying for.
• do some tailor fitting SPECIALLY on the cover letter.
• pay extra attention to your COVER LETTER. the cover letter is THE FIRST DOCUMENT they will read. so in the cover letter do a lot of tailor fitting, include something relevant and unique to the specific company (that's why research is important)
• when u get an interview --- apply the same principles.
• ANTICIPATE questions on your handicap of not having any experience.

ok, ok ----- i know that seems to be a lot to do. and it seems really tough. but what can i say? that's how it is in the real world. you know your handicap and you want to overcome it, so you need to work harder than most. be tough. and don't give up.

#73

not getting the job, failing the interview

the WORST thing you can do to yourself is to BLAME YOURSELF or to feel something is wrong with you. when you don't get accepted for a job, it does not mean you are worth nothing or that you have done something terribly wrong or you failed one or all the things you did (interview, test, panel, workshop).

the truth is you hire someone using the BEST FIT principle, not as much as hire the best person for the job. now best fit could be anything, it could be budget (another applicant willing to work for less), or plain vibes (personality fits the job more) --- there's no one formula. interviewers like you are humans.

so when you don't get a job, don't be too harsh on yourself. learn from it, and move on.

now whats an analogy ---- might sound corny but this reminds me of the gf-bf thing. you can't get all the women you court to be your gf. sometimes you like the person but no chemistry so you don't get into it. sometimes the thinking part does not work but the chemistry is great so you go into it. sometimes you really don't like the person but you cant put your finger into why so, so you don't pursue. but whatever happens, you learn from the situation and you move on.






#81

No job experience looking for a job

question po, hindi po kaya ako mahihirapan maghanap ng work kasi matagal akong hindi nakapagtrabaho kasi nagaral uli ako. i'm a economics grad and worked for a month in a currency trading company then left to study nursing kasi pinagaral ako ng mom ko. graduating na ako dis october and i'm trying to look for a job after i graduate habang naghihintay to take the board exam. hindi kaya maging pangit ang dating sa employer na matagal na ako hindi nakapagwork saka parang hindi counted yung "first job" ko? nakakatakot lang kasi yung mga fresh grads nga hirap maghanap ng work paano pa kaya ako. besides, lahat na ata ngayon kelangan ng job experience. i worry about it too much na natatakot tuloy akong magapply.hopw you can help me on this.

I don’t think it would be a point against you if you had not worked for quite some time. You took another course that’s why you didn’t have any work experience, except of course the one-month job you had. But that won’t count if you ask me. From what you have stated, it seems to me you are into pursuing a career as a nurse. If you mention you’re waiting for the board exam, they know you wouldn’t be staying long in their company if they hire you. Better if you don’t mention this but, this is my apprehension… the company will definitely ask why you took nursing and what your plans are, considering that nurses are very in demand and have more lucrative offers abroad. And throughout the interview, they will know you don’t have plans of staying long in their company. Why not apply as a nurse? Hospitals know nurses don’t stay long and yet they still hire them. That would be easier on your part, as you do not need to deny something like waiting for the board exam and at the same time, you will gain experience.

master's degree and no job experience

Zzz_18 : I have an MS degree in IT from a reputable university but no work experience (aside from a 3 month OJT) . How do I package that on my resume and cover letter? Will employers (especially those seeking applicants with 1-2 years work experience) be willing to consider my MS degree as equivalent to "work experience?" Is a master's degree useless without work experience? Thanks!

your MS desgree SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

yes, package your MS degree to make it appear as something equivalent to having some work experience. how do you do that? its hard for me to say specifically how because i dont know what you did in your ms course.

having said that, here are my suggestions for your resume and during the interview :

• emphasize "case studies" you did in ms. say you enjoyed it the most because it was realistic and close to the real thing.
• use words like "close to real work experience" , "tough situations", etc
• cite one or two examples of what your case studies or anything close to work experience and mention your specific contribution to solving the case. talk about some smart idea you had.

#69

1st job, how to beat those with experience

Bea19: any advice on how fresh grads can even be considered since halos lahat ng companies ay may requirement na at least 1 yr experience.

i agree its not easy. the reality of the situation is working against you. BUT you need to make a go at it. these are suggestions on how to go around it or how to fight it.

areas to work on :

• make sure your resume handles this issue in some way
• IT IS A GOOD THING if you get an interview and you know that they are looking for someone with experience.
• the fact that you are being entertained for an interview despite of your experience handicap means there is something in your resume attracted them. figure out what that is and exploit it to the hilt during the interview.
• better yet at some point in the interview, ask the question --- why are you interviewing me when you're looking for someone with experience? then build on that after they give you an answer.

#68

applying for an art director / graphic designer job

yayaymm : may art director or graphc dsigner ba dito or someone from creatives pano nyo pinepresent resume nyo? Kelangan b tlga kakaiba sya s ibang resume from other field? yung tipo bng kung itatabi mo s resume ng isang IT, or accounting, etc. mag-sstand-out sya artistically? kse medyo dilemna ko yun e. I'm applying s mga ad agencies e simple lng resume ko may naisip n ako actually n concept for my resume kya lng medyo kakaiba nga tlga sya bka kse di sya maging ok s hr department e bka prefer nila yung simple resume lng na mas magegets agad nila yung content kse nga d ba andun yung credentials ko kya lng I want kse a position s creatives naisip ko d kya medyo nakakahiya nmn kung makikita ng creative director na wlang ka-art-art yung resume ko kung baga I want sana s resume ko p lng makita na nila how "creative" I am hehe help naman advice lng dyan o.

----
you can do both.

do the usual resume, then attach your portfolio to the resume.

be conscious of bulk and style. it cannot be bulky that it's hard to manage. it will only irritate the person handling it and might throw it away.

make sure the style is of great appeal. don't just do anything. think it through. imagine the person handling your resume and attachment and make sure the design is fitting.

some do blogs as well also. do a blog, upload your work and also give the link to the companies you are applying to,

no job experience looking for a job

do not mention to the employer or HR that you are just waiting to take the board exam. that will be a point taken against you. employers will prefer to hire someone who will tend to stay long in their employment.

if you take a job now, will you be able to concentrate and do well when you take the board exam for nursing? from what i know that is not an easy board exam. wouldn't you want to just focus on the board exam and do nothing but prepare for it? many even take up extra courses to review for the board exam.

no job experience looking for a job

question po, hindi po kaya ako mahihirapan maghanap ng work kasi matagal akong hindi nakapagtrabaho kasi nagaral uli ako. i'm a economics grad and worked for a month in a currency trading company then left to study nursing kasi pinagaral ako ng mom ko. graduating na ako dis october and i'm trying to look for a job after i graduate habang naghihintay to take the board exam. hindi kaya maging pangit ang dating sa employer na matagal na ako hindi nakapagwork saka parang hindi counted yung "first job" ko? nakakatakot lang kasi yung mga fresh grads nga hirap maghanap ng work paano pa kaya ako. besides, lahat na ata ngayon kelangan ng job experience. i worry about it too much na natatakot tuloy akong magapply.hopw you can help me on this.

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dilbert on leadership

1st job - how to beat those with experience

any advice on how fresh grads can even be considered since halos lahat ng companies ay may requirement na atleast 1 yr experience.


you obviously wont beat those with 1 year experience because you don't have any.

so beat them on these things :

• be a quick learner
• show them you're a hard worker
• show real interest on the job and the company

do some research on the company you are targeting so you can say something about their business and how you can contribute. do some research on the job and mention things you have done in college where skills you used are applicable to the job.

keyword : research

1st job

I have a bunch of questions too

1) I had an interview for an OJT before and it seemed like it was going well untill I started thinking that the terms were rather disadvantageous for me. Anyway, I was trying really hard not to be too honest but I think my facial expression revealed too much... The interview was very relaxed and in fact the interviewer and I were getting along pretty well... I think at first my charm was working heheh but in the end, I guess due to my obvious hesitation, the interviewer asked me to think about it and call her as soon as possible regarding my decision...The next day I decided I might as well take the OJT there since it was just an OJT anyway. I called the person who interviewed me but as I feared, she wasnt as enthusiastic. She just said she'd be in touch but as expected I wasn't called again...My concern is this... would the company/HR remember this incident if and when I apply for a job there in the near future? Keep in mind that, that was my very first interview... I was just trying to be honest cos I wouldn't have wanted to break a commitment in case another company, offering the terms I was looking for, would take me in...

2) Although I've experienced this only once: Kung mejo nababarok yung nagiinterview sayo... is it ok to slip in some tagalog words in the interview? I feel really awkward kasi whenever I'm talking to someone not as fluent (not sure if this is the approporiate word right now)... And besides... marunong naman ako magtagalog e! (Hope I'm not sounding cocky here)Finally,

3) Is a 3 page resume too long? Would it be ok to leave the title of your awards etc on their own or would it be better to include a short description of them? Finally, are fresh grads really supposed to include a section on the research papers they've prepared? I'm just following my school's format kasi e and so far... that's whats lengthening my resume...

• do not accept a job if you are not totally happy with it. your first job is YOUR MOST important job. it will be in your resume forever.
• your first job is also the foundation of your career. it will teach you the basics. unless of course you really need the money, then perhaps you can accept it immediately.
• yes most hr people will remember what happened during the first interview. but its ok --- prepare for the interview. what happened the first time will probably the first asked of you when you come back. so prepare for it.
• too many filipino companies paying their employees poorly. so dont let them get away with it.
• its ok to use pilipino specially if the interviewer speaks in tagalog. i use tagalog to interview sometimes just for kicks, to unsettle the person i am interviewing. its the equivalent of asking left field questions. i do that to see how fast the mind of the interviewee.
• reasearch papers? i have not seen a resume that includes that. unless of course you are applying for a researcher job. i find that unusual. i guess it depends in the industry your trying to break into. like if its in marketing/advertising, i would be more interested in leadership skills, communication skills and achievements than research papers.
• this is my personal view : the real world at work is not really a geek's world. its more of street smart with applied intelligence than purely intellectual and scholastic.

clarifying whose fault it is

I am currently working as a supervisor in a supermarket. I had an argument recently with the manager and It was clearly not my fault. Then in the end parang ako pa ang may kasalanan. Pansin ko most of the time she covers her mistakes. Parang babaligtaran niya ang story then ikaw ang magiging kawawa in the end. Tipong magaling talaga maghugas kamay.I am just wondering if its really part of the Manager's role? Ganyan ba ang being professional sa work? Kasi in my place, If I have a mistake when it comes to work, I usually admit it. But now, I felt unfair, kasi most of them they usually cover up their mistakes.

were you actually blamed for the mistake? how was this shown or expressed? in a written document or report? verbally?

you need to clarify this. if it was eventually blamed on you, then you need to set the record straight as that may eventually end up on your performance appraisal. it is best to get this cleared out as soon as possible. the longer you wait the more people will forget the details and getting to a clear point of view will be difficult.

exactly how to do that will be the challenging part. you already had a discussion on the matter and as you have said, an "argument", so that means when you talk to her about it, it might not be a good one.

when you get a clarification on whose fault it is, you need to do it in a different way and a fresh healthy attitude so that the discussion do not get into an "argument". you have to avoid having an argument, you need to discuss it calmly. and since you are the initiator and the "aggrieved party" you specially have to change your attitude.

perhaps the way to do this is a discussion with the objective of improving things or changing things for the better that will lead to the same mistake not recurring again. you can give it a thought and think up of solutions to it. that will be the framework of the discussion you will have that will lead to getting a fix or a conclusion that it was not your fault.

think about this carefully. remember - no arguments.

Manager's fault - my fault?

My point of view on the question below.....

The fact is that this happens in many workplaces. It isn’t part of a manager’s role. It’s one of a manager’s or a person’s idiosyncrasies. It’s part of his attitude, his personality. And I can’t blame you for feeling that way. You feel it’s totally unfair, or that the world is all against you. It's very unprofessional. But yes, it does happen... you're blamed for something that is not your fault.

Now, how should you deal with it? You need to ask yourself these questions: Did that mistake create a negative impact on the company’s operations? Is it of great deal? Or something you can just ignore? Would being a scapegoat affect your performance? Would it destroy your career path? How would you feel if you just let it go? Would it be bothersome?

I know people who share the same sentiments. I myself have had similar experiences. In my case, those were the questions I asked myself and from there, i was able to deal with it. BUT... to do it right, you have to know your boss or your manager - his personality, his idiosyncrasies, how he reacts - AND your office dynamics, so you would know what approach you need to make. Now, I cannot give you specific approach on how to deal with it as I do not know the nitty gritty of your situation. You can share it here or send e-mail and we would be happy to give you tips and strategy.

read the question from here: http://upnextlevel.blogspot.com/2008/08/managers-who-do-not-admit-their.html

managers who do not admit their mistakes and managers who cover up their mistakes

this is a good question:

I am currently working as a supervisor in a supermarket. I had an argument recently with the manager and It was clearly not my fault. Then in the end parang ako pa ang may kasalanan. Pansin ko most of the time she covers her mistakes. Parang babaligtaran niya ang story then ikaw ang magiging kawawa in the end. Tipong magaling talaga maghugas kamay.I am just wondering if its really part of the Manager's role? Ganyan ba ang being professional sa work? Kasi in my place, If I have a mistake when it comes to work, I usually admit it. But now, I felt unfair, kasi most of them they usually cover up their mistakes.

terminal leave - what is it?

terminal leave is the leave you take when you resign. there are usually two types of leaves - vacation leave,15 days and sick leave, 15 days for every one year of employment.

let's say you have been working for 1 year in a company and you have unused 5 days vacation leave. the requirement is you need to give 30 days notice before you resign. when you resign and tender your terminal leave, you can report to work for 25 days, with the 5 days of unused leave subtracted from the 30 days notice. that means you can stop reporting to work after 25 days only (rather than 30).

probationary employees usually do not earn vacation or sick leave days yet. that usually starts after becoming a regular employee.

time to ask questions

if you didn't ask the interviewer anything at the end of the interview, will it reflect negatively on the results of the interview? i had an interview kasi kanina and the interviewer asked me twice if i have any questions and in both instances, i answered NONE... not that i don't really have any questions but then when she asked me that, my question just suddenly disappeared... i couldn't remember it, in other words...

you will not fail the interview if you are unable to ask a question. while its NOT a negative, you may have lost an opportunity to score more points.

use this opportunity to do any of the following :

• opportunity to reverse what you think was a negative impression you may have made during the interview
• opportunity to further highlight your strengths and achievements. you can never have enough of good things
• ask about the health of their business. ask questions like did the company make money last year. did business improve. how is the business doing now? what were the drivers for success for the company.
• ask what the greatest threat to the business. this will give the impression you are truly interested in the company.
• and when you get an answer to any of these that you can use to further your cause, do so. lets say they tell you customer service was a challenge, tell them what you think about it.
• often, i use this portion to make the interviewer feel stupid. i do this only if during the interview i decide i don't like to work for the company or i find the interviewer too arrogant that he/she needs to be pulled down to earth. i grill the interviewer on something he/she has said that i can prove wrong. i make the interviewer defensive. sometimes i succeed, sometimes i fail but boy it does feel good being able to get back to the interviewer.

what salary to ask

on salary :

• its always good to have in your mind what salary you want.
• when asked dont be shy saying it. be confident, make the interviewer feel you really deserve it.
• whats the amount? make it a little better than norm --- a slightly higher amount than what the industry pays for the same position for someone with similar experience as yourself.
• when asked that question on the first interview i answer this way -- i expect to get paid what the industry pays for the position.
• if probed further, i say --- i expect to be paid within the range of what those already in your company is getting at the same position. (of course these answers are lies!)
• i try not to quote a price on the first interview because i dont want to turn them off too early. i try to lure them in for a second interview.
• so giving an answer they like to hear on the first interview is a good thing. its on the final interview or interview second to the final when i give them the bomb!
• when you reach this stage, they already like you so telling them the truth about salary is a good thing. at this stage, they like you so much, theyd give you what they want.
  
  

your turn to ask questions

When the interviewer finishes asking his set of questions, they usually go out and asks the interviewee if they have any questions they would like to ask. I've learned to ask 2 things: First, I ask about what products the company is making or manufacturing, and second, what the job position is really like, what it's all about specifically. abcxyz, do you have any other suggestions on the questions the interviewee could ask the interviewer?

oh yes, you can use these questions they allow you to ask at the end of the interview several ways, one or or a combination of them :

• make more points for yourself. sell yourself more. get things about you on the table that were not discussed or not asked of you.
• paybeck time! -- make the interviewer squirm, put him on the spot (this means you probably dont like the job so who cares if he gets pissed at you)
• get answers to some of your questions.

its always best to do some research about the company and its products before the interview. ask these questions so that you make it appear you are intetrested in their company/products.

here are some good questions (not these words exactly, but pick up the thoughts):

• how finanacially stable is the compnay? did the company make money last year? why/why not? (shows you are interested about your future, that u wont join a company that is about to fold up)
• what has been the key drivers of success for the company? what company is its biggest competitor, how is this company doing against that. (shows you are interested in the business side, not just employment)
• how important is new blood/hiring of fresh grads to the company, any training programs? (will tell u if they will take care of you)

there are a lot more you can ask, but these are the guidelines :

• ask quetsions that make it sound you are interested in bigger things other than employment
• questions that say something about you, can add to building a good impression of you
• questions that when an answer is given, you can add to or contribute an idea to
• ask questions if you think you didn't do a good job during the interview and you want to improve your standing
• you should do mock interviews with friends to help you out

lies, yabang and bola

This is tricky. What's the best way to sell yourself without sounding so full of yourself or sounding like 'nambobola'.

your answers should always be job-related, your experiences and achievements, your skill sets. NEVER LIE, because they will probe and you will be found out. just SELL yourself. it's in the choices of the words.

there is a difference between sounding "full of yourself" versus confidence. show confidence not be boastful. be factual, editorialize at the right topics. be SINCERE. a lot of it has to do with the WAY YOU DELIVER the lines. so practice, practice.

i went to ALL the interviews i was called for, even for jobs i did not like or companies i did not like. i went to get some practice. and i would try out a few lines with companies i don't like just to see their reactions to it. then change it next time.

taglish and mini skirts during interviews

Turn-off ba yung Taglish?? or as long as you deliver well and express your thoughts that counts?Mini skirts(4 inches above knees) on/off during interview? or masyadong maiksi na yun?

taglish? if the person your interviewing you talks in taglish, it is ok then. for me, the rule is --- it is safest that you use the language the interviewer is using and the language you are most comfortable with.

mini-skirts?

the over-riding consideration is -- you want to look professional and sincere. so you dress up according to that.

it really depends on the industry and the job you are applying for. if its marketing/brand management and advertising --- being trendy and daring is acceptable. or even in the leisure/travel industry. but not in the banking industry.

there are companies and industries that tend to be traditional and conservative. it is ok to be you, but you need to bend that just a little to suit the occasion and scenario.

questions during interviews

the first that is usually asked is --- "tell us something about yourself".

have a prepared answer to the question. its best that your answer immediately says "im the guy you want for this job".

another typical question --- "why do you think are you qualified for the job". have a prepared answer for this one. note that to answer this question properly, you need to know about the company and the job you are applying for. that tells you research is important.

applicants with work experiences

Can you also give info about applicants with experience already?

essentially the same principles apply.but the more work experiences you have, the less important what school you graduated in and your course becomes. what becomes more important are :

• the companies you have joined
• the experiences you have had
• career development
• promotions
• achievements
• business results of what you have done

high school achievements in resumes

Another thing, should resumes contain high school achievements? I notice some of my friends include high school awards received way back in their freshman year (1st year HS- onwards). Is that proper? Would that clutter the resume or would that concretely show off your capabilities?

clutter on the resume is a good consideration. but the more important consideration is - will including the high school achievements help your cause? will it improve the resume on the over-all? how meaningful are they? use your judgement.

also, if there is a noticeable difference between the high school and college achievements, be prepared to explain why there is a significant difference.

Could anyone of you give me tips on how to deal with panel interviews?

treat panel interviews like any other interview. you need to do the same kind of preparation and mental attitude.

these things work :

• do some research on the company and products, form an opinion on them
• work on a few "images" you want to cultivate about yourself and make sure your examples about you and your answers go back to these images.
• work on a very few and select images, no more than 3 --- "leader", "fast learner", "good communicator" for example could be the images you want to cultivate
• make sure these images are meaningful to the company, to the job and you can deliver.

on panel interviews:

• panel interviews normailly mean they are in a hurry to hire.
• it also means you might not get another chance, so make sure you pass the panel interview.
• it would be good to connect and cultivate a dialogue with one panel interviewer who appears to be the person who has the most power to hire.
• but do not snob the others. don't ignore everyone else because if you do they will be antagonostic against you. they might give you a hard time during the interview.
• make eye contact to everyone

making "bola" during interviews

Do HR people know when "binobola" lang sila ng new graduates? How? Sometimes its really hard to strike a balance between sounding good, confident and pure "bola".

its really hard to tell if its "bola" (white lies or outright lies, untruthful). but when i feel its "bola", i change the topic in the meantime, then go back to it after awhile and ask other qualifying questions. will also probe for more details. if the person is unable to provide details, "bola" iyon.

cover letters

cover letters should:

1. error free, absolutely no typo or grammar flaws
2. shows the person did some research about the company
3. mentions a skill or interest that is specifically applicable to the company
4. shows a lot of interest on the job
5. has spunk, is confident

note : this is not exhaustive and detailed. read other posts on same topic.

grades and extra-curricular activities

Would you go for the person with high grades and no extra curricular activities or the person with a lot of extra curricular and low grades?

both will be considered - person with high grades and no extra curricular; and person with lots of extra curricular but low grades.

high grades and no extra curricular activities to me mean the person might have good intellectual abilities but might need to work on leadership or people skills. in the interview i will probe on leadership and people skills.

low grades and lots of extra curricular activities means the person might have good people and leaderships skills. in the interview i will probe on how responsible or irresponsible the person is. will also probe in intellectual skills and communication skills.

what will get me an interview?

this is how resumes are looked into specially for new graduates. if at any one step, the resume does not match the criteria, the resume is junked and the person does not get a call for an interview :

1. read cover letter - needs to grab the reader. no typo and grammatical errors, please.
2. good school? good school reputation?
3. check major - fit for the job?
4. check school activities - look for leadership roles and achievements (most important, actually)
5. good grades? (the least of my concerns, actually)

next step during interviews, looking for the following :

1. confidence
2. verbal communication skills - communicating his/her ideas, persuasiveness, correct grammar a must
3. quality of ideas and opinions (important!)
4. ability to handle pressure - tough questions are asked
5. being late for the interview and not dressing well for the interview is an automatic delete!

when to follow up status of application after job interview

when is the most appropriate time for me to follow up the status of my application after a job interview?

• there is no real rule on the most appropriate time. common sense tells you you should give it a few days before you call.
• it's best you make a phone call to ask. when you do, be prepared to handle any kind of response from the person you are asking about the status. know how to respond if it's bad news or good news.
• next time, make it a practice to ask the interviewer when is the most appropriate time to follow-up.