Acing the phone interview Preparing for HR phone interview questions

Acing the phone vorstellungsgesprch Preparing for HR phone interview questionsAcing the phone interview Preparing for HR phone interview questionsBefore you face the hiring manager, youll probably spend some time on the phone with the companys HR department. Heres what it takes to win them over.If your resume passes muster for a job to which youve applied, a phone screen will probably be your next stop. Human-resources and hiring managers just dont have time to grant every promising resume a face-to-face interview. Instead, top performers in a phone interview with HR will advance to in-person interviews with a hiring manager.In my many years as a recruiting manager, human-resources business partner and director of human resources for Fortune 100 companies, Ive conducted my fair share of phone interviews and screens with candidates. I know what HR representatives are looking for and what it takes for a candidate to win them over. With these experiences in mind, the following recipe ca n help take qualified candidates from the phone to an in-person interview1. Save your applicationsMust be able to create advanced Excel spreadsheetsMust be able to analyze dataMust be able to create macros in Microsoft Office documentsWhen you pick up the phone and an HR representative asks to speak to you for five minutes, you dont want to be scrambling for a description of the job or trying to remember which ones youve applied to.Keep a copy of all the jobs that you have applied to in a separate folder in your e-mail In box. When the recruiter calls, be sure to get her name, company and the job she is referencing. You can cross-check this with the job description that you have in your Job Posting or Applied for Jobs folder in your In box. If you have applied for more than one job with a company you want to ask what job they are referencing so you can be prepared for the phone interview.Having the job description in front of you during the phone interview is critical. Typically, jo b descriptions are written with the primary job responsibilities listed in descending order of importance. For instance, a simple job description may read like thisThe most important part of this job will be a candidates ability to create advanced Excel spreadsheets, followed by data analysis, then macro creation.Having the description handy will let you speak to each of those requirements in order of importance, even if the recruiter doesnt bring it up. If you absolutely cant find the original job description, ask the recruiter to send you a copy before your phone interview. Its best to ask rather than try to wing it and not get that in-person interview.2. S.T.A.R.sSituation Analyze the activity you faced, in this case determining why schlussverkauf have steadily decreased by 5 percent from the previous fiscal year.Task Describe the tasks available to respond to the situation. In this case, identify why sales were decreasing and provide a solution.Action Describe the steps you took to resolve the issue.Result What was the result of your action? What did you take away from the resolution? What if anything would you have done differently?Create an S.T.A.R. document. This is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Results, and it is the key to answering behavioral-based interview questions.The HR representative will probably ask questions about how you handled specific types of situations in previous jobs. After all, its a common HR tool to test your professional experience and gauge your aptitude.The HR representative is looking for you to respond to each in a clear and succinct manner. Here is an example of a behaviorally based questionTell me about a time when you most effectively used financial or quantitative data to identify and solve a critical problem.You want to answer the question in way that demonstrates your ability to handle the situation and I recommend you break it down into Situation, Task, Action and Result.SituationSales within my department ha d decreased 5 percent from the previous fiscal yearTaskTo find the catalyst and provide a solution to stop sales from continuing to decrease in my departmentActionSent out a survey to all customers to canvas if customer satisfaction and the decrease in sales were linkedPut together a brainstorming task force of internal employees to provide additional insight into the customer experience and productsLooked at previous years products to see if the decrease in sales were due to a difference in the quality of our productsResultAfter a three-month study was able to find a direct link between customer satisfaction which had decreased by 15 percent from the previous year, and our decrease in sales. Customers were taking their business elsewhere due to the lack of service. Explained to management that perhaps decreasing resources in our customer service department was premature. We should look at other parts of the organization to build efficiency and hire qualified customer service repres entatives to assist our employees. This was done within two months, and six months later our sales increased by 3.5 percent over the previous fiscal year yielding a total 8.5 percent increase and totaling 500k in additional sales.Create at least two S.T.A.R. documents for each position on your resume. Then attempt to map each STAR to job responsibilities listed in the job description. You will thank me later when your answers come out polished and prepared as you clearly communicate your challenges, successes and results. Without it, youre bound to stall and appear as if you cant substantiate what is written in your resume.3. Print it outResumeBioCover letterS.T.A.R. documentKeep the following documents printed out and with you at all timesThis way you arent constantly looking for these documents. You never know when that interviewer might call, and you want to be prepared. You should also review these documents every day so that you are keenly familiar with each. Ive known executiv e candidates who were forced to admit they forget some of the content written in their own resumes or bios.

The secret to a successful life is apparently tied to your mouth

The secret to a successful life is apparently tied to your mouthThe secret to a successful life is apparently tied to your mouthIf you want to become successful, break out your dental floss. According to a new Porchsurvey of over 1,000 people, the most successful people were disciplined about their dental care regimen, among other self-care habits.In the survey, respondents were asked to self-report their levels of success and fulfillment and discuss their regular habits.Cleanliness and healthy choices were what separated people who were winning at life and those who felt they were just doing okay.Successful people floss, exercise and take vitamins moreWe all want to know the habits of the most successful people so that we can copy their routine and make it our own. Turns out, taking care of your bodys needs can increase the likelihood that you will meet your success goals. In the survey, highly successful people made a point to floss and brush their teeth regularly.Successful people , in general, were more likely to pay particular attention to their physical health. They took vitamins, flossed, and exercised more than unsuccessful people.They kept their homes tidy and organized. They cleaned their car, made the bed, scrubbed their kitchen, and did their laundry more than unsuccessfulpeople.Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.They also paid attention to their mental health and meditated, a habit proven to keep us afloat during work crises. Meditation was the habit around which successful and unsuccessful people differed most in several key life categories friendships, jobs, mental health, professional growth, and stress, the survey states.Interestingly, despite all the proven benefits of journaling, it did not correlate with success in the survey. The benefits of these self-care habits show us that if you want to achieve your career goals, it starts in the bod y. Taking care of your home and your health can give you the best mindset to take care of business at work.

10 causes of doubt stopping you from your best

10 causes of doubt stopping you from your best10 causes of doubt stopping you from your bestIf you hear a voice within you say you canleid paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced. ? Vincent Willem van GoghIm going to let you in on a big secret that is going to stop you right in your tracks and boost your confidence You have the ideas, beliefs and courage to live the life you truly want. You may not have every piece of the puzzle just yet. You may not have the blueprint or plan. And perhaps you havent yet activated your dreams.But this whole thing called life - and living it on YOUR terms - isnt nearly as complicated as WE make it out to be. Its not others who are culpable of making things more complicated for us. Its ourselves. Its called doubt and it can cripple the best of us - even those of us who are motivated, self-aware and full of dreams and positive energy.As Ive written about previously, we rarely talk much about doubt. It can be embarrassing. We be come self-conscious and unwilling to want to admit to others - much less ourselves - how much it may be robbing us of the life we want. Its worth opening up the conversation on this pernicious enemy, largely because its the secret battle all of us fight - and many of us are (ironically) to fearful to open up about.According to Merriam-Webster, doubt is, to call into question the truth of to be uncertain.It is also to demonstrate a lack of confidence. The key to a happy, purpose-driven life is a foundation of faith and confidence. You must believe in yourself. You must trust your thoughts and how you will respond to all the events and stimuli in your life.When you are confident, you believe that anything is possible. You think more clearly, with an open-mind and heart. Youre willing to reject fear, take risks and better identify with your positive and negative emotions. Confidence permeates your thoughts and drives your actions. Doubt crushes them.Through deep reflection, we can r ealize that doubt, when analyzed in isolation, can actually help us frame up what matters most to us. Every time I know Im on the right track, I intuitively feel it. Hopefully you do, too. You know its right, you lean into it and let the positive energy propel you forward. Here, youre able to dissect doubt and understand that its just a part of the human experience.Ive learned there are 10 major causes of doubt. Its not just important to identify unterstellung causes, its imperative for us to combat them, and have a plan to triumph over what can sink us, if we let it. Read these through. Come back to these during moments of weakness. You already have what it takes. You just need these tools and techniques to help you embrace the challenges of each day.1. Doubt of what others may think of your new, bold future plansYou want to launch your own consulting business. You want to become an artist or software developer full-time. Maybe you just want to change careers, try out something you ve always loved but have been too afraid to do, or maybe you want to go all in with committing to that special person in your life. And yet, once you find your mind moving forward, it seems like your legs buckle and suddenly youre stuck.How could I possibly let someone elses spoken opinion, or my own perception, prevent me from moving in a direction my head and heart are leading me toward?My coaching work, as well as academic research, has led me to believe that this is the number one cause of doubt that leads to inaction. We doubt ourselves because we worry about what others may think of the ideas or plans that mean so much to us, that they couldnt possibly have enough knowledge and depth of understanding for.Solution Commit to a two-step plan Speak and write your future plans and desires over your life. Step one is to have the awareness and willingness to communicate these plans. Step two is having the courage and willingness to act on what you believe. Find time alone in solitude to do this exercise. Then, start implementing a erfahrung to ensure you commit to action.2. Doubt of whether you have what it takes to do what you truly wantThis most closely resembles Impostor Syndrome. Either that youre not sure that you can succeed, or you doubt your previous accomplishments. No matter how accomplished or skilled you are, if you doubt who you are, youve already lost.Solution Develop a mantra. Mine is, Im really good at being me. I also use, Today is a big step closer to living the life I want. These are positive affirmations that we speak over our lives. Their inspirational and encouraging and they help feed our conscious and subconscious minds. They help us creating the story that we want to write over our lives.Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself. Believe in yourself, your abilities and your own potential. Never let self-doubt hold you captive. You are worthy of all that you dream of and hope for. ? Roy T. Bennett3. Doubt about whether you can overcome your pastThe coaching work Ive done has taught me that people get caught living in the past, and forget to be present for today and their future. This is where mindfulness comes in. Take this from the Harvard GSEBy approaching what you do with mindfulness, you decrease the amount of energy you spend worrying about the past or the future, and you increase the amount of attention you give to present and positive experiences. But because stress and worrying can be so ingrained, you have to practice (and keep practicing) the skills and habits you need to keep your attention on the present.Solution The truth is, most people arent really watching, or theyre so wrapped up and absorbed in their own affairs, theyre not even aware of any of your past struggles or stumbles. The doubt that plays on our minds is the perceived care that others are remembering us or thinking of us for our failures. Theyre probably not. But even if they are, isnt that great motivation to re-write the ending to your Hollywood script?4. Doubt that the closest people in your life will understand and support youFor so long in my life, I was afraid to speak my biggest dreams to some of the people closest to me. Perhaps you have shared that same experience Its primarily fear-based, but also based on doubt that we will either be understood or accepted by those who love us the most.Have the courage to tell the people that love you the most to stand by your side with love and respect. Its your job to summon the conviction inside of you to believe in what youre doing so much, that youre willing to give it everything you have each day.Solution Overcome yourself and show vulnerability around what matters most to you. When you open up and show courage, peeling back the doubt that clouds your mind, youll find greater acceptance and love.5. Doubting yourself for the times that youve failed or made mistakesI love this from Denzel Washington, Fail BIGAnd from Jef f Bezos I believe we (Amazon)are the best place in the world to fail (we have plenty of practice), and failure and invention are inseparable twins, he said in his 2015 shareholder letter. Source ForbesThink about that One of the worlds most successful companies, as well as the richest people, thinks that failure and invention are inseparable twins.Solution Never be afraid to fail. Especially when youve given things deep thought, planned for what you want and given your all to your efforts.6. Doubt and loss of trust over how you communicate and interact with the people in your lifeIts a great thing to put ourselves in our minds eye and to look at ourselves objectively, but not to the point where it drives us crazy. The people who do this are overly analytical - to a fault. Let the game come to you, is one of my favorite quotes. It basically means, dont force things. Let things play out naturally. Be yourself and dont get too nervous.Solution You cant analyze your every move. You jus t have to proceed with confidence.7. Doubt about your appearance (both in your mind and how others may observe you)So youre not the famous image of yourself that you dreamed about. No one is The way to overcome this doubt is through acceptance. Accept who you are, faults and all. Exercise positivity to think of yourself in a more encouraging light. Practice self-care.Solution Draw up the exact image that you want of yourself. Not what others want. Who you really are. Start building toward that. Take a picture of yourself dressed, ready to go and living your best life. Put it on your desk and over your bed at night. Thats who you are.8. Doubt about finding a job opportunity or entrepreneurial path that will sustain youThis one resonates with me because Ive lived it. If youve struck out before, or if you find yourself staring with a blank face at your computer screen each day, knowing that youre not doing what you want to do, and you dont have the direction you need to change it, take heart and dont doubt. You just havent found the answer yet. And youre still on the journey.Solution Start with this very basic question What do you want? Not what you think others expect of you and not what may seem to be the next logical step for where youve already been. What do you want based on your passion, skills, experience and natural talents? Once you know that answer, youll know the right way to go for making money and supporting yourself.9. Doubt about your biggest strengths and weaknessesSometimes we dont get started because we fear our weaknesses will hold us back, or that our strengths arent strong enough.Solution I highly recommend the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment to better understand your strengths. Solicit feedback from people that you trust around areas where you need to improve. Write down what you believe your strengths to be and have that validated by other people. Get honest with yourself. Tell yourself the truth about what youre good at, and what you nee d to improve.Once you have this clarity, youll have the direction you need to move forward.10. Doubt that you can overcome the everyday temptations and negative desires that offer only temporary pleasure, but long-term painThis last one requires a steady heaping of faith, discipline and perseverance. A winning combination for anyone looking to overcome that which holds them back. We want to get better and improve our strengths and continue living our values and building toward what we want. But so much of life is about mitigating and reducing our weaknesses.Solution Be honest with yourself and do some self-examination. What are the things that youre doing in your life each day that hold you back? I like to think of this in the form of vices. It could be laziness, lustful thoughts, anger, even envious behavior. You are always empowered to take control of your own life and begin writing your masterpiece.Eliminate that which holds you back. Make it a habit to stop doing the things that are adding only temporary pleasure. Because these very same things are causing long-term pain. Life is so much about eliminating the negative - the mistakes and turnovers - and empowering yourself to build off the positive things that you do each day. Thats the mark of a championBelieve this is your best yearJoin my newsletter and check out my bestselling book, The Value of You. This will give you inspiration to start planning for success on your journey. If youre interested in working with me, try me here.This article first appeared onMedium.