I Need Some Answers – Tips for Tough Interview Questions

Whether you are proactively networking to explore new career options or are fully engaged job search activities, you will find yourself in the position to answer basic, but sometimes tough questions. 

The competition is steep so they key to making the cut is being prepared to confidently and authentically put your best foot (or answer) forward.  You want to provide concise information while showcasing your capabilities. 

Below are three inevitable questions.  So why if there are no surprises, do people struggle with their answers?  Because they are personal, complex, and revealing.   Taking the time in advance to develop and practice your responses will help you present a confident image and give you a competitive edge.  Proficiency (the difference between being in the game and winning) requires that you do two things.

1. Write and rewrite your answers on paper until you have your best answer.  Write it like you talk.  Cull and add to your answers as you refine what will be your ultimate calling cards.  You want others to be able to market you, right?  Absolutely! So you’ll want to make sure what you say is easy for them to repeat when they talk to someone else about you.   
2. Practice saying the answers over and over again. Preferably in front of a mirror so you can see if you look natural or contrived.  It is also important to observe yourself talking so you can eliminate any distracting mannerisms (looking up or down, saying um or ah too much, furrowing your brows, stiff posture, erratic gestures, etc.) that you may be unaware of.

Let’s break down the big three:

Tell me about yourself?  This should be a 2-5 minute summary.  To make a personal connection it is nice to state where you were born and raised.  If you are not originally from the area you now live in, tell when and why you moved.  Include a single sentence about your education, unless you’re applying for a specialized job where your education is your experience, and then expand carefully.  If your degree doesn’t enhance your story, a brief mention of where you went to school will due.  You’ll want to summarize your career by types of roles, industry focus, or company history.  As you get to your current or most recent job, state a relevant objective or accomplishment.   Don’t use all the SAT words you can come up with or the fanciest titles.  No one cares about that.  They want to know your history/experience (leadership, manufacturing, operations, risk, technology, training, service, etc.) not every bloody detail of the job.

Why did you (are you looking to) leave your job?  If you were laid off you will need to do some housecleaning and make sure your exit statement is non-emotional and concise.  State the facts.  Don’t over compensate, show bitterness, and for goodness sakes don’t be embarrassed by it.  I know you’re thinking, “Everyone wonders if I’m so good, why did they let me go.”  Well there was a time where that might have been true, but frankly in today’s economy it’s so common that people are more tuned in to how you are responding to it.  It is sufficient to say, “My position along with X number of others were eliminated.”  If there is an interesting (short) story about the process,  use it, if not don’t.  You will want to immediately follow that answer up with a positive statement.  For example, “The best part is I have had the chance to meet a variety of people I probably would not have crossed paths with had I not been exploring my next career move at this time.”

If you are gainfully employed and are networking (bravo!) then your statement should be positive, show your ingenuity and never give the impression that you’re unhappy or afraid of being let go. For example, you might say, “I have always taken a proactive approach to managing my career. I am not necessarily looking to leave but also recognize if I don’t learn more about what’s going on in the world around me, it might just pass me by.”

What type of work are you looking for?  This will help others help you.  I can’t emphasize enough that you should be specific.  If you say, “I’m open to anything.”  You’ll get nothing, because people will know you haven’t done enough self-reflection to determine what you’re good at and what makes you happy.   If you are looking for a job where you will manage other managers, you might say you are looking for a division leadership role in the healthcare industry.  If you want the role as the next HR Director at a fortune 500 company.  That’s what you should say.  If you are flexible about industry or company, be more specific about the job function you want.  Financial Analyst, Customer Service Representative, Internal Auditor, etc.   Other important things to include – do you want to travel in your job, is location important, what type of culture do you like, do you need benefits?

Knowing your answers in advance will allow you listen more effectively because you will not be thinking about what you’re going to say next.  Active listening is one of the most important parts of the overall process.  It lets others know they have your undivided attention , you’ll learn more, and you’ll come across as polished, relaxed and easy to talk to. 

Lead on!

I Need More Profits

In today’s economy operational leverage is critical for survival. What is operational leverage?  There are many definitions to choose from, but bottom line – your revenue needs to grow at a faster pace than your expense growth.  aka profitability.  Note: – that doesn’t always mean your expenses decrease!

Quiz –

My expenses increased by 4% this year, and my revenue increased by 8% this year.  Am I:

a.   Thrilled

b.  Ready to fire someone

(Answer – most business decisions are not black or white.  The right answer would be a.  if the revenue was a result of core business operations vs. a onetime event;  And,  b. if revenue was achieved by violating operational compliance policy, regulatory requirements or ethical protocols)

Here are 10 ways to increase your profits:

1. Invest in automation that will result in greater productivity that meets (not exceeds) customer demand
2. Eliminate waste in processes, increasing efficiency and sales capacity
3. Invest in coaching and mentoring to accelerate speed to peak performance
4. Focus on Problem Prevention instead of Problem Resolution
5. Align talent with job responsibility (the right people in the right seats on the bus… going the same direction)
6. Early and proactive risk identification and mitigation
7. Long and short term horizon view (don’t be penny wise and pound foolish)
8. Reduce Cycle-time (total time from the beginning to the end of the process) to equal Process-time (the actual amount of time to complete the process)
9. Make the tough calls – get rid of non-performers (people and products)
10. Invest in your leadership team – see what George Buckley, CEO for 3M has to say http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/advice/2009-05-17-buckley-3m-leadership_N.htm

Many think they can’t afford an investment in training, tools or talent now.   If your competition is investing, can you afford not to?

Lead on!

I Need To Know The Rules

There are many women who are embarking a new career, or as some of my clients say starting “their first big girl job”.  Some of the unspoken wardrobe rules can catch women (re)entering the work place off guard.  Here are some ideas that I’ll be sharing with a group of women tomorrow that might  be at best enlightening or at least entertaining.

Wear This… Not That

“Dos” of Career Fashion    Proper fit is extremely important, make sure your clothes are not too tight or too loose. Choose blouses and shirts that completely cover the chest and stomach. Skirts and dresses need to fall either to the knee or below to be of suitable length.  Pants should sit at the waist. Well pressed and stain free clothes and neat shoes are always in style. Colors are your friend! Mix blacks and browns with brighter shades.                       Moderate pumps and tailored flats make a great impression. Attitude is everything! Even if your wardrobe is not brand new, how you carry yourself can make or break an outfit.

“Don’ts” of Career Fashion  The muffin top is definitely not a look anyone wants to replicate, especially in the workplace. Belly shirts and cleavage are never appropriate and not to mention unattractive.             Save the miniskirts for the weekend. Your underwear should never be on display. Wrinkles, stains, rips, missing buttons and shoe scuffs project the wrong image. Avoid wearing too many dark colors together. Flip flops belong at the beach, and save the stilettos and platforms for when you go out on the town. Slouching and bad posture can make even the most flattering clothes unattractive.

I Need Some Encouragement

I am fortunate to be part of a wonderful program at the Duval County Domestic Violence Shelter where I can help women prepare to go out into the workforce.  Being financially independent from an abuser is a critical step towards recovery.  Being prepared means more than knowing how to find a job.  They must first do some upfront work preparing their minds, bodies and souls for taking that courageous step.

I thought everyone could use a dose of encouragement from part one of the series, the Elements of the Mind.

Thoughts for Inspiration

 

Gain a Fresh Perspective on Your Value:

1.  The minute you alter your perception of yourself and your future, both you and your future begin to change.
   — Marilee Zdenek
2. In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; try to imitate it, and your faults will drop off like dead leaves when their time comes.
   — John Ruskin
3. Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
   — George Bernard Shaw
4. Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration.
   — Evan Esar

 Embrace Apprehension (unknown) versus Fear (pain)

1. Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.
   — Mary Kay Ash
2. It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
   — Seneca
3. I think the key is for women not to set any limits.
   — Martina Navratilova
4. I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.
   –Louisa May Alcott
5. It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly.
   — Mabel Newcomber

 Acknowledge but Don’t Admire the Obstacles

1.  Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.
   — Ralph Blum
2. The abundant life does not come to those who have had a lot of obstacles removed from their path by others. It develops from within and is rooted in strong mental and moral fiber.
   — William Mather Lewis
3. The three great essentials to achieving anything worthwhile are; first, hard work, second, stick-to-it-iveness, and third, common sense.
   — Thomas Edison

Understand the Power of Choice

1.  Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.
   — Voltaire
2. Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
   — Margaret B. Runbeck
3. I’ve learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.
   — Martha Washington
4. If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.
   — Jonathan Winters 
5. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.
   — Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Provided by:  New Day Solutions, Inc.                                                                                            www.newdaysolutionsinc.com

I Need A Laugh

Having a sense of humor is a valuable trait in the workforce.  Having a positive and constructive sense of humor can quickly cut tension and bring about problem solving.  Being able to laugh at yourself is also important.  When your teammates see that you are forgiving of your own mistakes, you become more authentic and real as a leader. 

The most  important thing is knowing when it’s appropriate to insert your humor. Here are a few ideas for making that decision.

Don’t –

• disrupt a train of thought or idea by trying to be funny 
• use off color or inapproprate humor in the workplace
• be funny to avoid confrontation
• give back handed compliments or mask critism with a joke
• be silly or giddy – that’s not funny to anyone except you

Err on the side of being authentic.  Although no one wants to be around a stick-in-the-mud,  it’s better than being around someone who’s trying too hard to be funny.  Like Carson used to say “Bomb-O”

:O

 

I Need 10,000 Hours

Think of the most successful person you know. They’re probably talented, intelligent, and charming. But you may not notice how lucky they are.

Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers, uses examples like Bill Gates, creator of Microsoft, Tiger Woods and the Beatles to dispel myths of success. The misconception that being successful relies solely on your gift or talent is invalidated time and time again, and the answers that emerge instead are far more intriguing, complex, and elegant.

Gladwell unravels the idea that successes and failures are totally within us.  It makes sense that we ultimately own resposibility for those outcomes but Gladwell proves that external factors shape our thinking, provide the  opportunities and impact our actions so much that it’s impossible to say you did it all by yourself. Things like parents’ education level, birth place,  residence/living location, and where ancestors 400 years ago lived all have an effect on how the successful get where they are. It’s striking and shocking but the evidence is irrefutable. Random opportunities, blind luck, outside influences, and talent all combine and what materializes as success.

The good news – you can control your success. Hard work is a major component. One of the most powerful arguments Gladwell makes is that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve true greatness. 10,000 hours is a ridiculous amount of time and is almost impossible to reach by yourself. The only way to achieve that kind of practice is through a special program or unique opportunity that will allow you to work that hard for that long. “Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”(Gladwell, p. 42)

Another wonderful facet to Outliersis how extraordinarily well written it is. Not only are the points gracefully and humorously proven, but the people and places used to support his theories are wonderfully depicted. Even though the characters aren’t the central points of the book, they become three dimensional and I found myself engrossed in their life stories just as much, if not more, as in the unique concepts of success.

I would highly recommend Outliers to anybody trying to reach the top rung of the ladder. As a warning, this book is not a how to guide to becoming the next millionaire or star athlete or rock star. But your new outlook on success and life will make the journey to the top seem much less daunting.

I Need An Edge

Competition is fierce these days.  Who doesn’t want to make a good impression, win the sale, or get promoted?   How do you set yourself apart from your competitors? 

Here’s what I like to call the 10% edge.  5 small things that won’t cost you a fortune but will present you like a million bucks.    

• Make sure you have great shoes.  They should be professionally appropriate, clean, neat, scuff free, and without holes in the soles.  Yes, it’s visible when you cross your legs.  Try using a dryer sheet to give a polished shine to your shoes and eliminate the dust if you haven’t worn them for a while.
• Carry a nice pen.  It doesn’t have to be a Mont Blanc. Choose something classic, easy to hold, and doesn’t look disposable.
• When you are meeting with someone face to face, eye contact.  Looking up like you’re searching for the next word, or looking down and away gives the impression you don’t know your stuff.  Look ‘em in the eyes and show your confidence.
• Follow up in writing – pen and paper writing.  Send a note via snail mail instead of email.  One way to do it efficiently is to stamp and address the envelope before you go to your meeting.  As soon as your meeting is over, sit in your car, office, building lobby and write the note capturing relevant thoughts to show your insight.
• Groomed Nails – short and clean .  Men, your hands can take abuse throughout the day.  If you’re not into manicures, a moisturizing lotion will do wonders.  Keep a small bottle of  non-greasy unsented lotion in your briefcase or car.   A quick application before a meeting will remove the appearance of those rough spots.  Ladies, no long crazy nails.  Not professional.  If you don’t have time for frequent manicures, 5 minutes every 2 weeks will do the trick.  Use a single coat of Sally Hansen No Chip 10 Day Nail Color in Tough Buff.  It looks great, dries fast and lasts for at least 2 weeks.   

Bonus:  Smile!  We get so caught up in the seriousness of business that we forget to let our face know that we’re having fun.  Do you remember the last time you were in a meeting and the presenter didn’t smile?  Snoozer!  Your client, prospect, or future employer will see you as a positive person and want to do business with someone who can be professional and happy.

I’d like to know what you do to set yourself apart from other 90%!

I Need To Talk

Texting is one of the wonders of modern technology. It’s a simple way to send information right to someone’s cell phone.

However, I’m guessing that you already know what text messaging is. Known officially as SMS (Short Message Service) texting is available on 98% of cell phones. It is estimated that 2.5 billion text messages are sent every day. And, 57% of wireless users over the age of 13 are considered regular “texters”. Statistics even show that on average text messages are outnumbering mobile to mobile calls.

Anyone who has sent or received a text message knows that it’s easy, fast, and convenient. Phones are even becoming tailored to texters. With full keyboards and wider screens text messaging has been made even easier, faster, and more convenient.

But is texting really as great as everyone seems to think it is?

Nonverbal Communication (NVC) is the process of sending and receiving wordless messages. Examples of NVC are posture, facial expression, eye contact, tone of voice, gestures, and intonation. While some of these NVC cues can be heard over the telephone, the best way to fully communicate with someone is in a face to face conversation. Text messaging does not include any traditional nonverbal communication.

Also, by having a conversation via texting you lose the spontaneity of a real time discussion. Instead of responding immediately, you have time to craft and change your reply. Exchanges become volleys of information sent back and forth and intended meaning can be lost in translation.

So while texting can be a great way to send and receive simple information, you should practice caution when deciding how much of the communication in any relationship should be over text messaging. Certainly this is true for romantic relationships, but also for other types of associations. As long as the dialogue contains any emotional undertones, you run the risk of being misunderstood without the ability to convey information nonverbally.

There are ways to circumvent some of the confusion with intention of words when texting, however. The most effective way is to use “emoticons”.  Emoticons are the little smiley or sad faces you can insert into a message to make the meaning a bit clearer.

In the end, texting may not be the best way to convey complicated information about your feelings, but it is simple. And with the way text messaging is growing worldwide, it’s here to stay. It does have its limitations though, so your best bet is to save texting for the straightforward stuff.

I Need a Heart (Ode to Dorothy Part III)

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.  Care and lead are synonymous.  If you’re looking for ways to encourage and inspire your teams, try giving an extra dose of “Heart Leadership”.  Here are a few ways to do just that:

• During performance planning, include a personal growth goal.  For example, creative writing course, toast masters, job shadowing with someone from a different department, going to a luncheon on your behalf, reading a book that include creative problem solving, motivation, etc.   Although it may not necessarily be directly connected to their current job, it will pay dividends in it just the same.   
• Have someone in the department coordinate a pot luck luncheon to celebrate everyone’s diversity.  Have people bring a favorite food item to share or something from their culture.  During the lunch, have everyone talk about why they picked what they brought.  Everyone will learn something about their teammates.
• Write a quick email to someone telling them that they did a good job, that you were impressed, that they helped, that you appreciate them being on the team, etc.  Be brief, sincere and specific.  Tell them why you feel that way.  It will take 60 seconds, but could last a lifetime.
• Notice personal pictures and artwork.  Ask them about the people in the pictures or who created the art.  People love to talk about their families and will appreciate you asking about them.
• Focus on trying to catch people doing something right (instead of what could be better) everyday.  It will improve your outlook and interaction, AND if you share your findings it will improve the bond between you and your team.

Management is all about efficiency.  Leadership is all about effectiveness.  Good business is about both!  In order for people to feel connected, loyal and confident, they need to be inspired.  Heart Leadership is the first step to bringing forth the most out of people.

 

Lead on!

Lori

I Need a Brain (Ode to Dorothy Part II)

Thought leadership and decision making combine right brain and left brain processing traits.  The brain contains two hemispheres for thinking and decisioning each leading with a different agenda.  The left brain is the analytical side and the right side has more intuitive/creative dominance.  In a recent book, Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell the premise of thinking without thinking is explained.  In other words, leverage your gut more!

At times leaders delay making a decision until they feel they have “enough” information to act.  Unfortunately that delay can be costly if the market has moved during the decision making process.  Right-brain dominant leaders are comfortable making a decision with 80% information and 20% intuition and then adjusting as needed and things unfold.   For many left-brained thinkers, that must be a learned behavior.    Gladwell reminds us that we’ve long heard “haste makes waste” but his is also quick to share that there are critical moments when our knee jerk reaction or “gut” decision can offer a much better result and that pure and simple – “decisions made quickly can be every bit as good as decisions made cautiously or deliberately.”

In Blink, Gladwell shares that a key element to making good decisions is knowing when to trust that internal voice and when to question it.  Our subconscious can be thrown off when distracted, in a highly emotional situation or when there is a high desire for a particular outcome. 

Here are three litmus tests for knowing how to decide how much trust you can put into your instincts and act without all of the data:

• Is my motive based on a high emotional bias?  If yes, validate with a trusted more objective source.
• Am I comfortable with my level of focus to be sure my sensors are all active?  If no, go back and review.
• What’s my experience level with this topic?  The more experience you gain, the better and more honed your subconscious is.  If this is new to you, seek an expert to validate your intuition.

Different fields require different levels of the right brain and left brain to be successful.  Just think – doctors, designers, teachers, engineers, actors, pilots  – if they all approached their decision making the same way we might have more malpractice or really predictable décor.  Yikes!

For MANAGER/LEADERS –  A well balanced diverse team can challenge and encourage, act and trust, analyze and create through a collaborative process.  The leader who is tuned in to her/his team members’ brain dominance can accelerate its effectiveness and lessen tension by managing the differences openly.

Gladwell encourages us to not try to blend the two brain hemispheres too much.  Analyze when you need to but trust your first instinct more often.

To learn more about your brain’s natural style and dominance take this quiz.  It’s free and the results are quite extensive.

http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm

Lead on!

Lori