Most of us experience stress during our work week. However, some people experience an extreme amount of workplace stress daily. It’s no wonder, more job hunters are looking for roles and positions that offer low stress day-to day.
If you’ve already tried to balance your stress at your current job, it may be time to start interviewing for a new one. Unfortunately, sometimes asking questions about workload can give the impression you want to slack off. Here are three questions that will help you determine the stress level for prospective roles/positions.
#1: Why is this position open?
Asking this question will help you understand the role in terms of the overall company and team. Often jobs are created because there is a new need in the company. However, sometimes the role is a replacement, Understanding why someone left this role can help you determine what’s expected and the anticipated stress level.
#2: Tell me about the typical day-to-day of this position.
Not only is this interview question a great way to see if the job will line up with your skills, but it also will give you an idea of who you’ll be interacting with and what you’ll be doing on a daily basis. Look out for phrases like “it depends”. This shows that the role is evolving and changing every day and this can be a sign of potential stress.
#3: What defines success for this position?
This is an all-around exceptional question to ask a prospective employer because it allows you to clearly identify the job expectations. However, it also works to scan for a stressful job because it allows you to assess how stressful the clearly defined goals will be to achieve.
Stress in the workplace often occurs when you’re responsible for things you cannot control. Understanding what defines success for the position will allow you to assess whether or not that role is empowered to actually achieve those results.
l the job will be. In your next interview, be sure to ask these interview questions to gauge just how stressful a new job might be in the future
We all know that your appearance is the first thing people notice, especially during an interview. With the tech startups on the rise, more job seekers moved to a more casual attire for interviews. However, more and more interviewers expect that job seekers dress professionally during the interview process. What’s appropriate attire depends on the industry…interviewing at a bank is different from interviewing at a gaming company. So, do your research to understand the company’s culture and attire standards. If you are unsure, you can always ask the company’s HR department or your recruiter. However, the best rule is always to dress more conservatively.
Tips for all candidates:
A resume is the most important step in getting a job. The smallest error can cost you the interview and your dream job. Your resume paints a picture of your experience, successes and career. Most hiring managers weigh an applicant’s resume heavily when filling a position. Every piece of information in the resume should be clear, accurate and well-thought-out.
Below are 4 common resume mistakes job seekers should avoid:
Typos and grammatical errors are costly errors because such mistakes can easily destroy your credibility. This can be easily avoided by proofreading your resume. Give it to a friend or family member for a fresh set of eyes. It’s not worth missing out on a job opportunity because of an avoidable spelling mistake.
A common mistake in many resumes where many job applicants spend most of the space highlighting the job responsibilities instead of focusing on their accomplishments. Prospective employers want to see specific, quantifiable accomplishments on your resume. These accomplishment speak to your ability and what you can bring to their team and company.
Exhibiting your specific skillsets are important, especially when you are seeking a technical or IT job, but too much jargon or too much “tech talk” in your resume can often prevent the company from identifying your accomplishment and viewing your experience.
It is important to highlight your experience and accomplishments, but if your resume is too long the hiring manager may not finish reading it….a miss important details that relate to their opportunity. A good rule of thumb is to give enough details about your previous positions, while emphasizing your accomplishment, but leave some more detail you can expand on in an interview. This will help you peak the hiring managers interest in you and help you empress them during the interview.
You have been searching for the right job and now you have the all-important in person interview scheduled. In any interview there are things that can get you the job and things that will guarantee you don’t get the job.
Here you 5 things that will cost you that job every time:
These days more and more companies are casual or business casual, so dressing for an interview can be tricky. You should ask your recruiter or HR contract to ensure you are dressed properly. However, if you don’t know, make sure you dress more conservatively. A dark suit and tie are always a good choice.
We all do it…we are eager to impressed and don’t listen to the interviewer. The best interviews are conversations. To have a great conversation, you need to listen to the other person.
It is important to back up your experience with examples from your career. Examples that include quantifiable or measurable results are the best. These examples allow the interviewer to imagine your impact in their company.
We have all had bad experiences at work, but sharing that experience can show make your prospective company think you are a complainer. Instead, limit your explanations and remain positive. People want to hire positive employees.
The most common mistake most people make during an interview is they don’t ask for the job. At the end of the interview, be sure to tell the person interviewing you, how interested you are in the opportunity and that you would be eager to join the company. This shows your interest level and tells the company you want this position.
Are you asking “How do I get a job”? If so, remember those referrals are so valued by companies that these companies pay referrals. These incentives encourage staff to bring in talented candidates to interview for open roles.
When you first start your job search, take some time to evaluate your experience. Start by looking at your resume to determine what skills and experience you have that make you unique. Does your resume show your special skills, experience, and talents?
There are probably some changes you can make to better reflect your experiences. Make sure your resume includes quantifiable achievements. When possible relate your successes to cost savings and business improvements. Make a new list of your achievements, citing specific examples and stories that showcase how great you are at what you do. These will be an important tool throughout your job search.
2. Network
Use the research you did on social media to strategically make new connections with professionals in your industry. Attending networking events related to your dream job or industry is a great way to make connections regarding open positions. Use social media to help find targeted events in your area.
Leverage your friends and family to get the word out about your job search. Everyone knows someone and getting the word out you are looking for a new job is important. Remember that companies pay referral fees, so there is a personal benefit for your friends and network.
Once you establish that you’ve paid attention to their interests, you shouldn’t ask for a job right away. Instead, ask to learn more about what they do in their role, or what they like about working for their company. Put some effort into cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship. If you take the extra time, many people will be happy to help you apply for the role.
3. Ace your interview.
Landing an interview is the first hurdle in your job search, but then recruiters often use challenging interviews to find – and hire – the best talent.
Even if you’re faced with challenging or odd interview questions, use the accomplishment stories you developed earlier to engage the hiring manager. Your answers should reveal how you can solve problems, and why you’re the best person for the job.
4. Remember to Follow Up
It may seem old school in this age of technology, but a thank you note can go a long way. The note can be hand written or via email.
Thank your interviewers individually for the time they spent meeting you, and reference something specific you enjoyed learning from them during your conversation. This is the last key piece of the puzzle is to show your interest for the position and to ask for the job.
Sometimes interviews can feel like you are being grilled on a witness stand in a great courtroom movie. However, the key to your success in an interview is asking the right questions. The type of questions you choose to ask the interviewer can show your knowledge and help you evaluate the positon. This means the questions you chose to prioritize should be well thought out.
Here are 5 questions to that will help you impress the interviewer and help you evaluate the opportunity further:
QUESTION #1: What do the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
The answer to this question should help you formulate your responses. By tailoring your experience to the responsibilities of the role, you can impress the interviewer.
QUESTION #2: What is your favorite part about working at the company?
It’s important to get a sense of your interviewer’s opinions about working there. If enthusiasm flows easily, that’s a great sign. If it doesn’t, that is worth noting too.
QUESTION #3: If we were having lunch a year from now to celebrate my success in this role, what would we be celebrating?
It’s crucial to have a deep understanding of how a company measures success. This will help you understand the role, the success matrix for the company, and your interviewer’s management style.
QUESTION #4: What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this job?
Knowing the good things about the position is just as important as knowing the not-so-good. You want to understand the scale of the problems you’ll be dealing with when you accept the role.
QUESTION #5: Is there anything about my background or resume that makes you question whether I am a good fit for this role?
This question displays that you’re highly invested in the job and committed to understanding your prospects as a candidate. Plus, it will also allow you an opportunity to respond to any potential concerns the interviewer has regarding your skill or experience.
You worked hard to find a great job that fits your skills and experience. You tailed you resume to best represent you and your background. Now you are schedule for an in person interview. Don’t make the biggest mistake most candidate make during an interview…..they lack confidence!
An interview is a time to sell yourself. You need to spend the time creating a conversation about your experience, your successes, and your goals. You want to give the interviewer the impression you can handle the job and you have the confidence to fit into the corporate culture and succeed.
Take some time, as you prepare for the interview, to prepare several points about each job in your career history. Highlight tough challenges and how you overcame them. Use specific example and be sure to quantify your success.
Most importantly…remember to always make eye contact, smile and speak up!
Employers like confident people. When you are confident in yourself, they will be confident in you.
Delta Computer Consulting, Inc. is certified through the WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) as a woman-owned and woman-operated business.
