The exit interview is not a time to burn bridges with your old company. It has become a very common ritual throughout corporate America, and the idea behind it is to find out from departing staff members, when they no longer have to worry about protecting jobs, exactly what things at the company can be improved upon. The interview is deigned to be a tool for making a company more efficient and a better place to work. However, many employees...more
What are good questions to ask during an interview is a good question in itself, and one that always comes up when a conscientious person is preparing for a big job interview. The fact that a person even wonders that sets them apart from the crowd of applicants and means that he or she is a proactive individual, intent on making a good impression and proper presentation of skills and experience.The best question to ask, according to many human...more
Preparing for an interview over the phone is primarily a mental exercise, and something that is easy to prepare for. It is the second impression that you will make on a hiring decision maker - the first impression was obviously made for you by your resume and cover letter, and must have been positive, or you would not have this interview appointment. That being the case, it is worth while to prepare for it and be ready to put your best foot forward.Step one in getting yourself mentally prepared is to rehearse. Practice in front of the mirror, or with a friend or your spouse listening to you, asking questions and playing the part of the interviewer. Make a list of questions you expect the interviewer to ask and have good answers prepared, but have them on the top of your head in general and not memorized. Memorized answers can sound canned and not real, and will not help you. You need to appear genuine and real.Step two is preparing and practicing two or three ideas that you want to get across to the interviewer as to why you are the right person for this job. If you are having trouble thinking of ideas, read your resume again. Look for the key points, qualifications or...more
A sample letter to use as a guide when preparing your follow up letters can assist your job search, save you time, and make you look very professional. Take a look at the following, and use it as a guide when preparing your own follow up letters.SAMPLE FOLLOW UP LETTERDateDecision Maker, PositionCompanyAddressCityState, Zip codeDear (use name),I...more
A sample thank you letter that you use after an interview, as a guideline or template, will save you a lot of time when preparing this type of correspondence. Since you'll prepare it before the job interview when you are not nervous and have a clear head, the letter will really increase your chances of making or reinforcing a good...more
A sample job acceptance letter should be kept on the computer of job seekers to be customized for a new situation and used when it is needed. A job seeker should also know how to use it, and when to use it. With that in mind, a sample letter follows.DateName of Hiring ManagerCompanyAddressCityZipDear Hiring Manager's name,It is with great enthusiasm that I accept your offer for employment with Xyz Company. I look forward to a long and mutually profitable relationship, and will do my best to live up to the faith that you have shown in me through your decision to invite me to become a part of the team here at Xyz.I'm excited about the prospect of contributing to the great success the company has had and look forward to this opportunity. You will recall that my experience includes sales, marketing and business management. I'm sure my skills will translate well to the excellent environment at Xyz.Again, I thank you for your time, for the confidence you've placed in me, and for this wonderful opportunity to join the team.Sincerely,John DoeYou'll notice that this sample letter is short and to the point. It thanks the person who did the hiring without being sloppy or overly...more
The thank you letter for a second interview is a must for serious job seekers. If you've made it as far as a second interview, then you are right on the edge and are one of the serious candidates ready to be offered the position. When you're in...more
Every word that comes from your company -- whether it is on a piece of paper, on a computer screen or written across the sky, for that matter -- carries with it your reputation and your customers' (or potential customers') perception of who you are...more
Whether you're looking for a job, have a job, are hiring or even none of the above, networking can be invaluable part of who you are and what you do. But networking isn't just about the free lunch (if there is one - and you know the old adage about...more
It's been said time and again that "the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." We may know this to be true, but how does it relate to the world of business and...more
I think we all agree that gone are the days when we would mass e- or snail-mail tens or even hundreds of resumes just for the sake of telling ourselves that we've done all we could to find the right job. Assuming that it's fair to say that the right...more
OK. You've made the decision. You're ready to buy a house. Great! You've got that dream home pictured in your head. Now all you have to do is find a Realtor, make your offer and move in. Right? Wrong.Your first step should be to find a...more