70% of graduate interviews now include a telephone interview and 42% of companies now use video conferencing interviews when seeking to hire senior executives.

These statistics came as no surprise to me but when a friend asked me for advice on both techniques I thought I would share the info with my blog followers. Here’s the first with ten tips on handling a telephone interview and within the next few days I’ll upload more tips on managing the video interview.

http:youtu.be/hihecyzGLzk

I’ve been reminded by a sales team that I work with that their annual performance review time is fast approaching. I’ve been asked to give my top three tips for conducting a good Performance review for their management briefing.

The emphasis in appraisal is Praise
There was a time when the team hated the event. The emphasis always seemed to be focussed on the negative aspects of performance. Negative statements have far greater impact on an individual than a hundred good things that may be said.

I know that it’s important that a correct picture of performance is recorded. But the emphasis, as Dawn French mentioned in the video Arts film on the performance Review, should be on PRAISE

Tips
The first tip I’ve often given to those conducting the PR is to ask the team member to “Self-appraise”. Asking “How would you assess your performance?” often allows the resulting self criticism to be toned down and saves negative comments being made that cause offence and upset.

Tip two
Prepare. This is the most important meeting of the year with the team member (for the person being appraised). It’s their chance to talk about their career, aspirations and development. As such it’s polite, efficient and good management to prepare and treat the meeting seriously.

Top three
Listen…And listen to what’s not said and allow time for explanation. Some people are shy and need coaxing to speak. Don’t hurry a PR it’s a chance to learn how the employee feels

Finally, what happens after the meeting…”The notes get filed”.
But isn’t there follow-up?
Remember, more CVs (Resumes) get updated after a poor PR than at any other time!

A number of people in my network manage sales teams or are salespeople and I’ve been asked to include some questions asked at sales job interviews.

So here’s the clip first with questions:

“What’s your attitude to a challenge?”
How do you handle rejection?”
and
Describe a difficult sale you’ve made”

and there will be more to follow

Sales and Marketing interview questions

 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?”
 

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

Some more tips on using Linkedin, Twitter and other Social media sites to find that job

UsingSocial media to find that job

Some more tips on using Social media to find a job and I apologise for the noisy seagull

Video 4

A number of my friends in my network are asking me for tips on using social media to find jobs. Here’s the first