Thanks to Mark for sending me this question which is one that is often asked at interviews for management positions.

The reason is that all managers need to take risks and interviewers are wanting to ensure that the candidate can demonstrate that they can assess risks as opposed to being a maverick.

If you have a question you want to have considered them email me and I’d be delighted to include it in the library.

Your attitude to risk

A few days a go a good friend of mine phoned me and wanted to discuss what questions he should ask at the interview. One of the areas he wanted to discuss was when to raise the topic of salary and benefits. He was worried that too early and it could look as if one’s focus is all on money rather than the job and too later could mean the loss of advantage.

I then mentioned to him that I was doing this film series on how to answer difficult interview questions on YouTube and he told me to “Pull my finger out” and get one uploaded on the questions to ask at an interview.

So for Mark…Here it is!

Questions you should ask the interviewer

I’m having a lot of positive feedback from my network on the video series of interview questions that I’m producing. Lots of people are saying how they like the fact that each clip deals with a specific question.

I’m hoping to produce up to thirty in the series and also include how to prepare to conduct an interview and to attend one.

Producing the clips is fun and designed to appeal to people wanting quick answers to simple questions.

Here’s the latest clip “What do you know about the company?”
 

The reaction from friends and my network to my first tip was awesome and this has motivated me to produce more. So I set myself a target to upload a new answer to a difficult question every day. Two if I can manage it.

Here’s question #2 which covers “tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.

Too often people seem to find answering this question difficult because they become embarrassed over praising themselves. However, it’s only for a couple of minutes. Similarly they feel that to talk about a weakness can harm the job prospects.

I hope the video helps and more tips to follow:

Interview question strenghts + weaknesses

Finding a job in this financial downturn and when so many people are being laid off  is difficult. In recent times so many people have asked my advice on answering “difficult interview questions” that I’ve decided to share some of the tips that I’ve given to the friends I’ve mentored over the past few years.

I know there is lots of advice on the internet on handling interviews but I hope that these short clips will be useful because I will explain why the question is being asked as well as ways to answer it.

I feel that by understanding why the question is being asked it then becomes easier to think through how to respond in a positive and dynamic way that makes you stand out from the crowd.
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The first two questions I talk about in this video are:
 “Tell me about your career to-date” and
“Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses”

Within a few days I’ll have some more interview tips for you

So many of my friends and VIP clients have asked me how they can use social media to find a job that I’ve written a 40 page e-book to give them the information they needed. As a reader of my blog I’d like to offer you the same package.

Included is how to use Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin as well as many other sites.

The film explains more and the whole package can be ordered HERE

Social media ebook

Last night I was the invited guest speaker at a Director’s network meeting in London and was speaking on internal networking. Feedback from the talk was excellent and I was delighted that the group seemed to gain so much.

It came as no surprise that those leading organisations find internal networking as difficult as everyone else. The group told me that:

1. There often isn’t enough time to network and complete the daily “to do” list
2. The difficulty is often to get other areas of the business to recognise one’s worth

In this respect the difficulties are shared with everyone else. However, a strategy of internal networking is essential if one is to have two or three vocal and continuous supporters in each area of the business. If one has then one gains support when things are difficult, forgiven more easily for mistakes and job security is increased.

If you’ve been listening to the news on the BBC today you will have heard that there are 27 Graduates after every job available. It’s daunting to think that almost whatever job we apply for there will be people just as qualified, sometimes better, going for the same job.

So how do we make ourselves stand out from the crowd at an interview and particularly if we don’t have much employment experience behind us?

• Consider the gap year (if you had one or are about to have one) and leverage learning points from that time. Employers are all to willing to listen to “gap year adventures”  as long as they bring to the job some enthusiasm, experience of overcoming problems and a wider focus on the world.
• If you find yourself with time to spare, how can you fill it doing something worthwhile that delivers leadership skills, care skills and so on. Running a youth football team or other charitable work could be something you would find interesting.
• Offering your services to a national or local politician as a researcher or office worker. Who knows, you might get a job out of it.

Make sure that these experiences are added onto your on-line resume (CV) as soon as you start so as to keep people in touch with what you are doing. 

The competition for jobs is going to get hotter as more people are laid-off. Maximising your time looking for jobs is essential.

Here’s a tip

Bookmark helpful articles on job search topics to read when needed. I would recommend creating lists for the following categories:

• Creating the resume (CV)
• Interview questions and technique
• Cover letters
• Creating your Personal brand
• Personal website creation
• Social networking
• Job search strategies.

Have an interview tomorrow?
Now you have an entire library of interview and tips.

On three occasions last week I found myself in a hotel lounge listening to a job interview being conducted at the next table. Given my interest in job transition I found it difficult to ignore what I was listening to.

What amazed me was the detail that some questions went into and forced the candidate to talk about “their weaknesses”, “failings” and so on in public. On one occasion I was even able to identify a past employer as well as the individual’s past boss.

I think that it’s time that head-hunters, recruitment companies and job search companies adopt a policy and practice that all job interviews or exploratory interviews are held behind closed doors.

It would be:

1. professional,
2. provide appropriate confidentiality,
3. deliver a better result in that the candidate would be more relaxed
4. Prevents head-hunters that do interview in public looking “Cheap”

I personally feel that if I were to recruit a search company to find suitable senior staff for my company I would question the professionalism of a search company and the fees that they were charging if interviews were conducted in public and believe that the industry should outlaw such practices.