Posted November 9, 2008

Posted July 8, 2008

Foreign Policy Association Job Board

Interview Tips From Nonprofit Times
by Deborah James

A difficult interview question... "What are your major weaknesses?"
Here's a tip: Package your weaknesses keeping the following in mind and the interviewer will know that you are the perfect match for the job.

Illustrate weaknesses with examples if you can. Then tell how your weakness impacted others in a negative way to let the interviewer know that you were aware of your weakness and how it affected others. This shows that you are not showing it as strength. Finish by stating what you are doing to fix the weakness. Everyone has them, but knowing that you have a weakness, admitting it and fixing it, is a strength.

Asking Questions at the Interview:
Prepare five good questions:
Ask questions concerning the job, the company, and the industry or profession.
Your questions should indicate your interest in these subjects and that you have read and thought about them. For example, you might say, "I read in the Wall Street Journal that ... I wonder if that factor is going to have an impact on your business."

Don't ask questions that raise warning flags:
For example, asking "Would I have to work weekends?" implies that you are not available for weekend assignments. If you are available, rephrase your question. Also, avoid initiating questions about compensation (pay, vacations, etc.) or tuition reimbursements. You might seem more interested in paychecks or time-off than the actual job.

Don't ask questions about only one topic:
People who ask about only one topic are often perceived as one dimensional

Clarify:
It's OK to ask a question to clarify something the interviewer said. Just make sure you are listening. Asking someone to clarify a specific point makes sense. Asking someone to re-explain an entire subject gives the impression that you have problems listening or comprehending. You can preface a clarifying question by saying: "You mentioned that ABC Company does... Can you tell me how that works in practice?"

Sample Questions You Can Ask at an Interview:
"What career paths have others followed after completing the program?"
"Can you tell me what a work week is really like for a sales rep at your company?"
"What best describes employees who have been successful in this position?"
"How will you evaluate my performance?"
"How often will you evaluate my performance?"
"Who does this position report to?"
"Does this position offer exposure to other facets of your organization?"
"Do you encourage employees to pursue additional education?"
"How would you describe you organization's personality and management

Job Hunting In A Down Market by Judi Perkins

"The market is down, foreclosures are up, your bank account is emptying,
and you're becoming increasingly desperate.  With fewer companies hiring and more people competing for the same spots, your future doesn't look too rosy.  But if that's true, why are people still getting hired?  How come they are.....and you aren't?
         
It has nothing to do with what you did or didn't do in your last job. It has nothing to do with why you left - even if you got fired.  And it doesn't hinge upon your age, either. 
         
But it does take doing things a bit differently than you've probably been doing them, and these techniques work even better in a market where job seekers - instead of employers -  have the edge.  This isn't the time to be passive.  You need to step outside your comfort zone and be assertive about the process.  And "good enough" doesn't cut it. 
         
Most likely you've been sitting at the computer, trolling the job boards and submitting your resume to anything that looks good.  "I can do that," you say.  But the question is, "Does the company think you can do that?"  If you don't have at least 80% of what the ad says the company wants, don't bother applying, because it will up your rejection rate. Rejection increases dejection which increases pessimism which increases rejection which......  Not a productive pattern.
         
Pro-active means following up with the company.  This is a hotly contested point and I'm very firm on doing it.  Contrary to popular belief it does not make you look desperate.   Companies value people who are attentive to detail (that's probably in your resume summary) and know how to communicate (that's probably in there too).  What better way to demonstrate those skills? 
         
It also makes you stand out from the pack.  Who wants to be a faceless name in a pile of resumes?  Forge a relationship and attach your personality to the application.  And yes, there's a difference between polite, professional follow up and annoying persistence.  The first is good.  The second is not.  Call about every other day.  Don't leave more than three messages.  Don't email.  It's creative avoidance.  Pick up the phone, and smile when you talk.
         
Your resume.  Are you a victim of one-page-itis?  If you are, it's invariably cramped with tiny print or missing relevant information. Or are there deserts of white space, hence it's four pages long?  Make use of those margins and bring it in a page or two.  Do your bullets say what you did instead of how well you did it? 
         
If your cover letter talks endlessly about your accomplishments (which are probably missing from your resume) then you haven't told the company how they'll benefit.  You've let them figure it out. Does your letter regurgitate your resume?  Is it generic? You should be using the words from the ad and providing examples that connect to what that ad says they want.
         
Are you networking?  Finding groups that meet regularly?  Do you have a
personal business card with a few lines of your skills and what you want?  Are you carrying around resumes? You also need a ten-second speech.  It's a pithy, informal, synopsis of the norm.  Note the long sentence: "I'm in IT.  I do a lot of project management.  I just finished up with Buzbee Consulting who does IT projects for large retail companies, but I've done quite a bit of manufacturing projects too with very successful outcomes. Know anyone that needs my talents?"
         
Contacting companies cold works well.  Although they may not be actively looking, companies are always in flux.  You might be in the right place at the right time.  Make sure you follow up on these letters.  Read the business journals.  New management frequently makes changes, and any new hire has created an opening somewhere.  Access your reference librarian for directories.
         
 If you want to work, you've got to work."

MANAGING YOUR EXPECTATIONS
REGION RANKS NUMBER 2 IN NATION FOR TECH JOBS