Job Interview Questions And Tips For Anyone Who Wants To Get The Job
op job interview questions my own life.
you might be asked during
an interview range from why Years ago I worked in fundraising
do you want this job to what is for a nonprofit. I liked the
your greatest weakness. So fundraising field. Anyone who has
quickly now, tell me just what is worked in it will tell you there
your greatest weakness? And tell is never a dull moment. It's a
me in the next 20 seconds. I'm fast-paced work environment,
staring at you, tapping my always with one more thing to do.
fingers on my desk and waiting And you're usually doing it for a
for your reply. good cause. However, I wanted to
do even more with my career in
Gotcha, didn't I! the same field but for a
different employer. So my job
While I don't know what your search began.
greatest weakness in your last
job or in life is, I do know your My resumes probably resulted in
greatest weakness in relation to 90 percent success with getting
your job interview. called for a job interview. It's
been that way just about forever
Questions asked by the for me. I mastered resume writing
interviewer? a long time ago, perhaps because
I'm also a professional writer.
No, it's your "answers". At least I've even written resumes for
partly. There's more to it... friends who weren't getting
interviews. And then they did get
Your greatest weakness when it those job interview calls
comes to blowing job interviews immediately. And if you're
may be your lack of preparation. wondering, these were honest
Let me give you an example from resumes. I've never exaggerated
on a resume---mine or others. question. The interviewer and I
clicked. He was a fundraiser. I
So this day my resume writing was a fundraiser (though to a
skills got me a call for a job lesser knowledgeable extent). And
interview I REALLY wanted. we understood each other. When I
finished that interview I KNEW I
I'd be working for another was in his top picks if not the
nonprofit in a position where I'd top pick. I was a smart and
be learning from an established "hungry" fundraiser willing to
fundraiser in a fast-paced manner work for the right price and
too. Back then I craved an follow his lead. And that's what
experienced mentor like this in he wanted. But then...
the fundraising field. And I
wanted to be on a "fast-track" ...I had to go through round two
like this job offered. But here's of the job interview process. I
what happened next... was to return on a separate day
and interview for the job with a
I interviewed with a gentleman top executive of this small
who was hired on a contract nonprofit. I did. She was clearly
consultant basis to handle this not a fundraiser (though it is
nonprofit's fundraising campaign. important, perhaps vital, for a
It would be long-term, perhaps a top executive to understand and
year or two or more for this play their role correctly in
campaign. I was enthusiastic fundraising, especially for a
during the job interview, nonprofit like this one which was
projected experience and on the decline in funding and
knowledge about fund-raising needed a fast rebound) . But this
(mostly self-taught), and visibly lady executive was cold. I did
eager to get started. During the not get a warm vibe from her.
job interview, I aced every Quite opposite, fundraisers, or
anyone trying to raise funds, are questions (and a popular one).
usually gregarious, friendly
people. Apparently no one told Needless to say that upon leaving
this woman that it's important to that second interview with that
make any community member feel lady executive (who was required
comfortable, even one who is to approve the final hire), I
interviewing with you for a job KNEW I killed all my chances at
(hey, my daddy COULD have been a getting that job. And so did the
rich member of the community!). original interviewer, the
fundraiser consultant who I'd
Well, this woman was so cold and really be working with and under
matter of fact (and not even anyway (and whose facial
totally focused on me and the expressions--yes he was
interview at times), that she got eavesdropping--said he knew I
me. I was already nervous about blew it too).
the job interview and now the
questions felt more like an Notice I said that "I" blew it.
interrogation---one I was failing Sure, the second interviewer was
at. First came the stammering. a cold-hearted...well, you get
Then came the blank mind on my the idea. And surely I was better
part. And then came dumb words, off not working for her or for a
followed by no words. When I was "struggling" nonprofit on the
asked something as simple as "So rebound. But the job still seemed
tell me about yourself", I so exciting and I wanted it. And
goofed. What the heck did she I BLEW the job interview.
want to know? My hobbies? My age? Questions I should have been able
My experience? My current job? to answer, I couldn't and didn't.
How long I'd lived in the city?" I could do the actual job had it
So tell me about yourself" is been given to me. I just couldn't
quite general among job interview ace the job interview.
preparation. And it showed.
Do you know WHY I blew that job
interview? I do. Dumb!
I'm A LOT smarter and more savvy If you want to get your dream
with job searches now so I know job---because ONLY ONE person
the answer. And quite frankly, I will get called for that job out
knew the answer to why I didn't of all the interviewees---then
get that job I so badly wanted you must prepare for the job
right after I blew the question interview. Preparation means
about "so tell me about everything from preparing what
yourself". you'll wear to how you'll greet
the interviewer to how you'll
And the answer was and is... follow up with the interviewer.
Job interview preparation is
I did not prepare for the job knowing beforehand exactly (or
interview. nearly exact) what you'll say to
"So tell me about yourself" and
"Preparation" might possibly be "What is your greatest weakness"
the most important job interview and any of dozens of questions
tip you ever hear. you might be asked during a job
interview.
What was I thinking? I never
passed a test in high school or It IS true that the most
college by NOT studying. As a experienced or most qualified
fundraiser, I never asked a donor person will not always get the
to give me a gift by NOT job. The person who aces the
preparing a proposal or preparing interview, even if they only have
for the ask. Yet I walked into a half your smarts and experience,
job interview with NO WILL get the job. That's life for
you! most times. And eventually I did
get the job I wanted. Also I was
So what did I do before my next never again personally
job interview? embarrassed about my performance
in a job interview.
I went to the store and bought a
book to help me prepare for Yate's book is just one source
answering job interview and one method to help you
questions. The book was called prepare for the job interview for
Knock 'Em Dead, The Ultimate your dream job. You can find
Job-Seeker's Handbook by Martin other equally good sources to
Yate. It's a popular book with help you ace your job interviews.
many since updated editions. In And I highly recommend you do
particular, when I read Yate's seek out some job interview
section on handling tough job preparation resources before your
interview questions and practiced next job interview---if you
my responses at home, I never really want to get that
goofed at another job interview job---particularly some tips
again. Never! I didn't always get about responding to job interview
the job, but I sure came close questions.
About the Author:
Karen Fritscher-Porter publishes a website for administrative professionals at http://www.admin-ezine.com that contains practical on-the-job advice and career advancement tips. But no matter what field you work in, or desire to work in, you can get help with acing the interview (including the tough job interview questions) through her recommended job interview tips resources at http://www.admin-ezine.com/getthejobnow.htm .
Read more articles by: Karen Fritscher-Porter
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