This week in the Q&A I answered two questions.  Click here to watch it: here

I invite you to:
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1. How to Get Past the Applicant Tracking System

Don't try and trick it!  Keep a close eye on your resume formatting and your key word choices.
Resources: How To Optimize your Resume and LinkedIn

2. How to Find Specific Jobs

There are three ways to this:

1. Research Titles - are there different titles being used?
2. Search the niche job boards (want a list, here's 20 Job Boards to add to your list)
3. Network!

How To Answer the Weakness Question

During this week's Q&A I talk about how you should answer the dreaded weakness question!

In it I cover:

• Why are they asking it
• Don’t be afraid of it
• 3 ways NOT to answer the question.
• Use an assessment to help (16personalities.com)
• Create a journey story
  
• Format: what is the weakness, how did it get in the way, how you recognized it, how you dealt with it and how going through that process got you to where you are today.
  

Missed it?  Watch it here.

​Throughout my 15 years in recruitment I have literally interviewed thousands of individuals.  I’m not exaggerating, a typical day saw me interviewing (either on the phone or in person) 3-5 candidates, I even had days where I interviewed 8-10 people.  So if I do the math, I probably interviewed 10k+ people. 

So I don’t think I’m bragging or anything when I say that I really know what interviewers want to see throughout the entire interview.

The whole interview is important, it is more than just answering questions!  So to properly prepare for an interview you must prepare for each and every part of it.  One area of prep that often goes ignored, is coming up with questions to ask at the end.    And there is nothing worse than having a great interviewee ask boring and lame questions.  And it happens ALL THE TIME.

Asking insightful questions shows your intelligence and your interest in the job.  Honestly, nothing says “I’m not interested” or “I don’t care” when you don’t have any questions, or only ask one single question (“what are the next steps?”, ok to ask with other questions but not as the only one!) or ask questions that have already been answered. 

Plus, the purpose of the interview is not just for the interviewers to see if you are a good fit.  It is also a chance for you to get a sense of whether or not this role, company and team are the right fit for you and for what you want.  So ask questions that help figure that out!

Need some help?  Well here are some great questioning strategies with sample questions to help you prepare for that overlooked but key part of the interview!  Questions that will show your interest plus your intelligence, creativity and savviness. 

Ask about the Company
Do some company research and ask specific questions about them:

1. “I saw that {company name} has gone through a merger and acquisition with {name}, how has that impacted the day to day operations?”

2. “With the move to a more digital work world, I’m curious what measures {company name} has implemented to match their competitors”

Ask about the Interviewer
This is one line of questioning that seems to really go ignored but it is a great way to build chemistry with the interviewer!

3. “I researched you on LinkedIn and saw that you have been here for 5 years, what brought you to {company name} in the first place and what has kept you here?”

4. “What are some of the biggest challenges you face/have faced?”

Ask about the Role
Chances are the interviewer will tell you more about the role, so pay careful attention to what they are saying because it may lead to a great question!  Some great ones that are normally asked are:

5. “Why is this role open? What were the challenges the incumbent faced?/What lead to the creation of this new role?”
6. “What would you say are the critical priorities that need to be addressed by this individual in the first 3 months?”

Be BOLD
If the interview has gone well then don’t be afraid to go for broke:

7. “Having reviewed my resume, my assessments and interviewing me, I’m curious if there is any concerns you have about my fit for the role?”

The great thing about this question is that if they do happen to have concerns it allows you to try to counter them! 
 
There are few things that set a person apart more than insightful questions.  I don’t know a single hiring manager that hasn’t gotten really excited about a candidate who wowed them with their questioning strategies and techniques.  That could be your ticket to getting the offer.

Coming up with questions that wow is a key part of my interview training.  If you have been interviewing and not getting any offers or it has been awhile since you last had an interview then I would recommend it.  It is a small investment in yourself, and your future.  ​​