I'm in HR and have noticed that a lot of interviewees say 'we', 'us' or 'the team' when talking about examples of what they've done. You may have been in a successful team but the interviewer wants to know what YOU personally did to achieve the outcome.
If the interview is competence based, thoroughly research the competencies and the format the company wants them to be answered in. This goes for application forms too. It still amazes me that applicants completely ignore the competencies asked for and instead just list their education and work history.
If the competence they ask for is "Communicates effectively" or "Ability to solve problems" don't just say "I communicate well with colleagues and customers" or "I use my initiative to effectively solve problems", tell them HOW you have done it. Think of a few examples (they may ask for different examples from those used on the application form). Even if you are in a low level job where you do not have the power to make decisions, talk about how you took positive steps to understand changes or shared new information with others in your team and made an effort to find extra information for customers. Also include any challenges you faced, how you overcame them and the outcome achieved.
Also go prepared with key information you want the interviewer to know. It may be that the questions asked of you don't cover all the information about you. Take a cue card or sticky note with you with a list of main achievements or qualities you think are important so that when they ask if you have any questions or if there's anything else you want to know, you are prepared.
You could even go as far as preparing a shortened resume to hand to the interviewer to remind them of who you are and what you have achieved. Some HR departments who just do the sift and decide who goes for an interview do not pass on the resumes/application forms to the interviewer so they will not know anything about you.
If it's a big organisation you're applying to, don't bother with a thank you note. The recruitment department will not pass it on to the manager who is recruiting and interviewing (ie. the decision maker) and it will just end up being deleted and shredded. The relevant person will never see it and it just creates extra admin work for the recruiting department.
Sam,
Your financial advice is great. In the other hand, I think you are suggesting to start to live life after retirement.
We have to start to live right now, and a condition for this is to do what we love every single day. We always will have the money and the time to do anything that we really love!
(More about this subject in my site)
All the best,
Boris
I remember I once took 3 no doze at once when I was 18, not knowing you were only supposed to take 1 at a time. It was the worst feeling, EVER! Made the mistake of staying out the night before a long day at work and not reading labels.
"Starbucks (Grande) iced coffee, 16 oz: 190 mg. This is double-brewed. Without the ice it contains 380mg."
So if I tell them to hold the ice the drink automatically doubles in caffeine? Is this a side effect of having twice the volume of coffee, or a magical byproduct of the double-brewing process?
Enthusiasm is a must. I'll gladly take a little less ability for a little more enthusiasm.
Number 1 is tricky. When we hire, the office admin opens the mail and then immediately photocopies everything and saves the originals in the main files. I never feel that lovely paper or see those eye-catching colors. There are exceptions of course for positions like graphic artists but it's better to focus on the words themselves.
I also think you're misusing the term "BS," which always has a bad connotation. If the person is spinning or embellishing, they move down in the ranking. You should be able to discuss everything on your resume. If I catch even one half-truth, that's it.
Much better (and memorable) is to tell me HOW you did your job. Your copy clerk's quote is still honest even if she messed up every order and was fired for gross incompetence. A bullet point like "Duplicated and distributed an average of 125 reports and memos per week with 92% accuracy rate." tells me you did well and you are results oriented. That REALLY stands out to me. This means you have to regularly update your resume while you have a job and can access your performance reviews. Simply put, a person who had the job before you or after you shouldn't be able to write that same point.
I find the "strong weakness" bit a real turn-off. "I just work too hard!" just comes off as disingenuous. Even a person who is 99% perfect has a weakness. Just be prepared for the question and don't BS. Tell me what it is, what you are doing to improve and how that's working out.
Oh, and If you are a recent grad and I ask your GPA, your response better have a number. If you start with "Well, I was involved in a lot of activities..." it tells me you think it's too low. So tell me and we'll move on. Otherwise you waste time you could be using to tell me positive things to (at best) neutralize a negative.
Simply put, a person who is polite, brief, and answers the question I ask them (not the talking point they want to make) will get my attention.
And Marla's right: a note is great because most of your competition didn't write one.
I weighed my pressure cooker, and it weighs close to five pounds, including the lid. It definately doesn't feel light like aluminum does. I even did the scratch test with a fork tine, and I had to apply considerable pressure to put a scratch on it. It also has these tiny pits on the metal like pin pricks just like on the one my mom used to own. Having said all that, can I assume that it's a stainless steel model? It doesn't say on the cooker what type of metal it is. I also noticed that after I did my temperature testing with just water, the water looked a little cloudy....would that be from the minerals in the water, or does that indicate an aluminum cooker? Thanks.
I work in H.R. and would like to add this suggestion. After your interview, promptly send the interviewer a handwritten thank-you note. Thank them for the interview opportunity, their time, and reiterate your interest in the position. It is a very nice personal touch that we like to see.
Pricecheckah is better than all of these. It uses the same great redlaser barcode scanner, but gives you results from Amazon, eBay, walmart, overstock, buy.com as well as Google. It even let's you put in your own stores.
I use an outdoor high voltage timer to regulate my space heater. I only use it in the morning, to heat the shower room for an hour before and during the regular shower time. Takes the chill of and I know it is off the rest of the day.
It NEVER makes sense to pay someone else to use their money when you can use your own. If you calculate ALL the costs that go into purchasing a house, not only the loan, but the taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc. you'll find that it often costs 3x the amount it would if you simply rented.
I have a programmable and keep it set at 55 during the work day and 68 for awake hours and 62 at night. I have city based steam heat. Save money monthly.
I do not understand turning up the heat when it is colder outside. The thermostat is there to keep the temp at constant no matter what the outside is. It call comes down to how important saving a few bucks is to a family. Call people names and poking fun at those who are trying only exemplifies ones state of mind.
This is going to sound crazy, but since our budget has been tight, I have been creating my own cat toys using old and worn pairs of socks, toilet paper rolls, catnip and some string. I found that my cat LOVES new toys, but like us humans, gets bored or tired of them after a while (with the exception of two toys which she seems to always love).
The homemade toys aren't the prettiest, but it's satisfying to see them grab her attention (and eventually her claws)!
Living in DC I have found that Amtrak is almost always more expensive than flying or taking a higher end bus from here to Boston and most places in between. That said the train is by far the most comfortable option.
It is quite true to say that being debt free does not relieve one from having to make stressful financial decisions. We paid off our mortgage last August and being debt free but which leaves us very little cash. Now I found myself worrying about the savings for retirement, savings for kid's education, etc. I even worry about our grocery bills. It will take a lot of effort and consistency to build up savings again. Every financial decision that I make even it is small for example buying a book, requires a lot of thinking because I really do not want to be wasteful. I have reviewed my financial decisions for all these years and I realize that I could have saved a lot more money if I had been more careful in spending for the past years.
Having sifted through resumes and interviewed candidates for multiple positions I think point #5 is the worst. About 70% of people tell me their greatest weakness is "being a perfectionist". It sounds like a pre-scripted answer that job seekers have been advised to use for over a decade. If you use this in an interview it shows that you don't care about the question enough to come up with your own response or even think about what's being asked.
I'd like to add this tip: Take Props! I aced the interview for my last job because I took a folder with sample work, letters of recommendation, copies of client surveys that mentioned me by name, past performance reviews that I rocked, as well as the standard copy of resume and cover letter and reference info.
The guy interviewing me was blown away. I also had my business card with my personal brand statement on the back. He LOVED that. We talked about my life philosophy, etc. and he quickly figured out that I was the one for the job.
Thanks for this list! I just discovered I'm allergic to caffeine, so keeping this list in mind will definitely come in handy when I'm in a situation where I can't check labels. I've found that at restaurants, if I ask if a certain drink contains caffeine, they just stare at me for a few minutes and finally say, "I'unno."
I'm shocked at how many people seem to be in the same situation I am. Due to pregnancies and family oral health issues, my teeth are falling apart. I also need to have my bottom wisdom teeth removed because they're growing parallel to my jawbone instead of up through my gums.
I'm in constant pain and can no longer eat solid foods. I visited a dentist and found out that just removing the wisdom teeth would cost just over $3000. I'm a full time student who was laid off 6 months ago and have been unable to find work since then.
How can I afford that kind of money? I've checked into Dental Schools and there are none within a 6 hour drive of where I live. I checked into dental plans and that's what led me here. Are there any other solutions out there for people like me? I don't expect my dental work to be given to me for free, but I certainly can't afford what I was asked to pay. I understand dentists must cover their costs and pay their employees, but there has to be someplace I can go. I miss being able to chew.
Could you source the comment on "The longer a tea is steeped, the higher the caffeine content"? I have been told for ages now that the opposite is true: more steep = less caffeine, as the tannic acid breaks down caffeine the longer they are in contact with each other.
Depending on the person and the situation -- and how he (or she) views the job, #2 can be perfect. Deception isn't good but taking pride in your work and seeing how your day-to-day, mundane tasks benefit the organization are truly what separates the so-so employee from the outstanding one. It reminds me of the parable of the men who are laying brick upon brick and asked what they are doing: one says he is laying brick, another is making a wall, and the third is building a cathedral: which one would you hire?
To be sure, a Kindle is not a frugal purchase. Then again, personally, I feel more comfortable paying for something upfront and using it without continuing fees than buying a smart phone and then paying for the data plan every single month.
Still, I think people who already own expensive gadgets or are thinking about buying one might still want to save money once they have it. It's like, just because you drive a Lexus doesn't mean you're not interested in what kind of mileage it gets, right?
How many of you pulled just about completely out of the market?
I hear that last year 2009 and the year prior, 2008, 26% of those in the market sold everything they had.
I was just trying to find out what a truer number is.
Thank you - so much!
I'm in HR and have noticed that a lot of interviewees say 'we', 'us' or 'the team' when talking about examples of what they've done. You may have been in a successful team but the interviewer wants to know what YOU personally did to achieve the outcome.
If the interview is competence based, thoroughly research the competencies and the format the company wants them to be answered in. This goes for application forms too. It still amazes me that applicants completely ignore the competencies asked for and instead just list their education and work history.
If the competence they ask for is "Communicates effectively" or "Ability to solve problems" don't just say "I communicate well with colleagues and customers" or "I use my initiative to effectively solve problems", tell them HOW you have done it. Think of a few examples (they may ask for different examples from those used on the application form). Even if you are in a low level job where you do not have the power to make decisions, talk about how you took positive steps to understand changes or shared new information with others in your team and made an effort to find extra information for customers. Also include any challenges you faced, how you overcame them and the outcome achieved.
Also go prepared with key information you want the interviewer to know. It may be that the questions asked of you don't cover all the information about you. Take a cue card or sticky note with you with a list of main achievements or qualities you think are important so that when they ask if you have any questions or if there's anything else you want to know, you are prepared.
You could even go as far as preparing a shortened resume to hand to the interviewer to remind them of who you are and what you have achieved. Some HR departments who just do the sift and decide who goes for an interview do not pass on the resumes/application forms to the interviewer so they will not know anything about you.
If it's a big organisation you're applying to, don't bother with a thank you note. The recruitment department will not pass it on to the manager who is recruiting and interviewing (ie. the decision maker) and it will just end up being deleted and shredded. The relevant person will never see it and it just creates extra admin work for the recruiting department.
Sam,
Your financial advice is great. In the other hand, I think you are suggesting to start to live life after retirement.
We have to start to live right now, and a condition for this is to do what we love every single day. We always will have the money and the time to do anything that we really love!
(More about this subject in my site)
All the best,
Boris
Drink beer and wine and you will be healthier and happier - not these junk beverages...
I remember I once took 3 no doze at once when I was 18, not knowing you were only supposed to take 1 at a time. It was the worst feeling, EVER! Made the mistake of staying out the night before a long day at work and not reading labels.
"Starbucks (Grande) iced coffee, 16 oz: 190 mg. This is double-brewed. Without the ice it contains 380mg."
So if I tell them to hold the ice the drink automatically doubles in caffeine? Is this a side effect of having twice the volume of coffee, or a magical byproduct of the double-brewing process?
Enthusiasm is a must. I'll gladly take a little less ability for a little more enthusiasm.
Number 1 is tricky. When we hire, the office admin opens the mail and then immediately photocopies everything and saves the originals in the main files. I never feel that lovely paper or see those eye-catching colors. There are exceptions of course for positions like graphic artists but it's better to focus on the words themselves.
I also think you're misusing the term "BS," which always has a bad connotation. If the person is spinning or embellishing, they move down in the ranking. You should be able to discuss everything on your resume. If I catch even one half-truth, that's it.
Much better (and memorable) is to tell me HOW you did your job. Your copy clerk's quote is still honest even if she messed up every order and was fired for gross incompetence. A bullet point like "Duplicated and distributed an average of 125 reports and memos per week with 92% accuracy rate." tells me you did well and you are results oriented. That REALLY stands out to me. This means you have to regularly update your resume while you have a job and can access your performance reviews. Simply put, a person who had the job before you or after you shouldn't be able to write that same point.
I find the "strong weakness" bit a real turn-off. "I just work too hard!" just comes off as disingenuous. Even a person who is 99% perfect has a weakness. Just be prepared for the question and don't BS. Tell me what it is, what you are doing to improve and how that's working out.
Oh, and If you are a recent grad and I ask your GPA, your response better have a number. If you start with "Well, I was involved in a lot of activities..." it tells me you think it's too low. So tell me and we'll move on. Otherwise you waste time you could be using to tell me positive things to (at best) neutralize a negative.
Simply put, a person who is polite, brief, and answers the question I ask them (not the talking point they want to make) will get my attention.
And Marla's right: a note is great because most of your competition didn't write one.
I weighed my pressure cooker, and it weighs close to five pounds, including the lid. It definately doesn't feel light like aluminum does. I even did the scratch test with a fork tine, and I had to apply considerable pressure to put a scratch on it. It also has these tiny pits on the metal like pin pricks just like on the one my mom used to own. Having said all that, can I assume that it's a stainless steel model? It doesn't say on the cooker what type of metal it is. I also noticed that after I did my temperature testing with just water, the water looked a little cloudy....would that be from the minerals in the water, or does that indicate an aluminum cooker? Thanks.
Great post, Kate!
I work in H.R. and would like to add this suggestion. After your interview, promptly send the interviewer a handwritten thank-you note. Thank them for the interview opportunity, their time, and reiterate your interest in the position. It is a very nice personal touch that we like to see.
Thanks for the link and mention!! Have a great weekend!
Pricecheckah is better than all of these. It uses the same great redlaser barcode scanner, but gives you results from Amazon, eBay, walmart, overstock, buy.com as well as Google. It even let's you put in your own stores.
And at only 99c.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=300264...
I use an outdoor high voltage timer to regulate my space heater. I only use it in the morning, to heat the shower room for an hour before and during the regular shower time. Takes the chill of and I know it is off the rest of the day.
It NEVER makes sense to pay someone else to use their money when you can use your own. If you calculate ALL the costs that go into purchasing a house, not only the loan, but the taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc. you'll find that it often costs 3x the amount it would if you simply rented.
I have a programmable and keep it set at 55 during the work day and 68 for awake hours and 62 at night. I have city based steam heat. Save money monthly.
I do not understand turning up the heat when it is colder outside. The thermostat is there to keep the temp at constant no matter what the outside is. It call comes down to how important saving a few bucks is to a family. Call people names and poking fun at those who are trying only exemplifies ones state of mind.
This is going to sound crazy, but since our budget has been tight, I have been creating my own cat toys using old and worn pairs of socks, toilet paper rolls, catnip and some string. I found that my cat LOVES new toys, but like us humans, gets bored or tired of them after a while (with the exception of two toys which she seems to always love).
The homemade toys aren't the prettiest, but it's satisfying to see them grab her attention (and eventually her claws)!
Living in DC I have found that Amtrak is almost always more expensive than flying or taking a higher end bus from here to Boston and most places in between. That said the train is by far the most comfortable option.
It is quite true to say that being debt free does not relieve one from having to make stressful financial decisions. We paid off our mortgage last August and being debt free but which leaves us very little cash. Now I found myself worrying about the savings for retirement, savings for kid's education, etc. I even worry about our grocery bills. It will take a lot of effort and consistency to build up savings again. Every financial decision that I make even it is small for example buying a book, requires a lot of thinking because I really do not want to be wasteful. I have reviewed my financial decisions for all these years and I realize that I could have saved a lot more money if I had been more careful in spending for the past years.
Having sifted through resumes and interviewed candidates for multiple positions I think point #5 is the worst. About 70% of people tell me their greatest weakness is "being a perfectionist". It sounds like a pre-scripted answer that job seekers have been advised to use for over a decade. If you use this in an interview it shows that you don't care about the question enough to come up with your own response or even think about what's being asked.
I'd like to add this tip: Take Props! I aced the interview for my last job because I took a folder with sample work, letters of recommendation, copies of client surveys that mentioned me by name, past performance reviews that I rocked, as well as the standard copy of resume and cover letter and reference info.
The guy interviewing me was blown away. I also had my business card with my personal brand statement on the back. He LOVED that. We talked about my life philosophy, etc. and he quickly figured out that I was the one for the job.
Thanks for this list! I just discovered I'm allergic to caffeine, so keeping this list in mind will definitely come in handy when I'm in a situation where I can't check labels. I've found that at restaurants, if I ask if a certain drink contains caffeine, they just stare at me for a few minutes and finally say, "I'unno."
I'm shocked at how many people seem to be in the same situation I am. Due to pregnancies and family oral health issues, my teeth are falling apart. I also need to have my bottom wisdom teeth removed because they're growing parallel to my jawbone instead of up through my gums.
I'm in constant pain and can no longer eat solid foods. I visited a dentist and found out that just removing the wisdom teeth would cost just over $3000. I'm a full time student who was laid off 6 months ago and have been unable to find work since then.
How can I afford that kind of money? I've checked into Dental Schools and there are none within a 6 hour drive of where I live. I checked into dental plans and that's what led me here. Are there any other solutions out there for people like me? I don't expect my dental work to be given to me for free, but I certainly can't afford what I was asked to pay. I understand dentists must cover their costs and pay their employees, but there has to be someplace I can go. I miss being able to chew.
Could you source the comment on "The longer a tea is steeped, the higher the caffeine content"? I have been told for ages now that the opposite is true: more steep = less caffeine, as the tannic acid breaks down caffeine the longer they are in contact with each other.
Depending on the person and the situation -- and how he (or she) views the job, #2 can be perfect. Deception isn't good but taking pride in your work and seeing how your day-to-day, mundane tasks benefit the organization are truly what separates the so-so employee from the outstanding one. It reminds me of the parable of the men who are laying brick upon brick and asked what they are doing: one says he is laying brick, another is making a wall, and the third is building a cathedral: which one would you hire?
To be sure, a Kindle is not a frugal purchase. Then again, personally, I feel more comfortable paying for something upfront and using it without continuing fees than buying a smart phone and then paying for the data plan every single month.
Still, I think people who already own expensive gadgets or are thinking about buying one might still want to save money once they have it. It's like, just because you drive a Lexus doesn't mean you're not interested in what kind of mileage it gets, right?
At 35 you are eligible to be President of the United States.