Tag Archive for: Interview

Interviewing for Jobs in Minnesota – Here is How

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A great interview is just like any other accomplishment; it won’t happen without some real planning and hard work. At Award Staffing we have highlighted some of the interview prep skills that can make the next interview the best.

Review the Job Posting-

This cannot be overstated: the company knows exactly what they are looking for, and they state it clearly on the job posting. Review the job post. List point by point every experience and skill they are seeking. Go over your own experiences and how they make you a great fit, so all of this is fresh in your mind when you walk in the door.

As Dana Leavey puts it, “try to remember what’s most relevant regarding specific clients you’ve worked with, types of projects you’ve worked on, similar companies you’ve worked for, and anything else that’s pertinent to the role.”

Research the Company-

Google is your friend, and so are social media sites like LinkedIn. Do your research before your interview. See what this company has done to get in the news. Find out what you can about the people who work there, what kind of background and skills they bring to the table. Look for points of similarity and points of difference and be ready to discuss them in the interview.

Take The Next Step Beyond Your Resume-

When they ask about information that is on your resume the last thing you want to do is just quote the resume.  Share specific examples that illustrate the information on your resume.  Be prepared to talk and give the interviewer the extra layer of knowledge they are seeking.

Listen to The Interviewer-

Don’t be so focused on what you have to say that you don’t hear what you’re asked. An interview is the first date. You need to pay attention, listen carefully and ask detailed follow-up questions. This makes the interviewer see you as someone who is interested and gives you a chance to find out more about the position.

Don’t Ask for A Job; Offer to Help-

The company didn’t put up a job post because they were hoping to give someone a salary or a cool place to hang out from 9 to 5. They put up a job post because they need to hire a new person. Find out what they need and discuss the ways you can produce the work they require. This attitude can get you out of the interview on just the right note.

As Lam Nguyen says, “it’s then up to you to make your final selling pitch by summarizing what the position is and what you bring to the table. Don’t forget to find out the next steps for the interviewing process. The follow-up item you want to leave in your interviewer’s mind is, “This is the right candidate. I’m ready to make an offer.”

If you’re looking to make your next interview your best one ever, contact Award Staffing. We have offices located in Bloomington, Chaska, Crystal, Delano, Maplewood, and Ramsey Minnesota to help you with your job search today! We will be able to help you find a new job opportunity that lets you take advantage of your abilities and prepare you to turn the interview into your dream offer.

The 5 Hardest Interview Questions that You’ll Ever Answer

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Many interviews have similarities in that the hiring manager or boss fundamentally wants to know the answer to some of the same questions. Therefore, regardless of where you’re interviewing, prepare answers to the following questions.

What’s Your Greatest Weakness?

This is a common question for a reason: employers genuinely want to know what your biggest weakness is, especially when it comes to you working for them. Prepare a genuine answer that isn’t a cop-out, but also show the steps you are taking overcome and turn it into a strength.

Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?

Bosses are always curious why you left your last job. Obviously, leaving a job that you were at for five years with glowing recommendations is a very different situation than leaving a job you were at for less than six months with not-so-great recommendations. The key, especially in the negative case, is to take responsibility and never bad mouth the previous employer or business.

What Do You Need from a Boss?

If your future boss or hiring manager asks you this question, it’s a good sign. The reason being is that they likely are concerned with you as a person and not just as a potential employee. Make sure to be honest here, because this may determine whether or not you are a good fit for the company.

Are You a People Person?

It’s okay if you aren’t a people person, but you do need to be honest in answering this question. The reason being is that your hiring manager may or may not recommend you for a different position depending on how you answer this question.

Why Do You Want to Work for This Company?

This is your chance to stand out from the other candidates. Too many job-seekers float through the process without really considering what company would be the best fit for them, which is a mistake. If you can give a good reason why you would be a good fit for that specific company, you will impress your hiring manager and give yourself a decent chance of getting the job.

If you’re looking for a new job, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to match you up with interviews in your area so you can get the job opportunity you want. We have offices located in Bloomington, Chaska, Crystal, Delano, Maplewood, and Ramsey Minnesota to help you with your job search today! Want to learn more career tips and tricks – check our When Work Works blog.

5 Easiest Job Interview Tips + Tricks

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A great job interview is just like any other accomplishment; it won’t happen without some real planning and hard work. At Award Staffing we have highlighted 5 of the easiest job interview prep skills that can make the next interview the best.

1. Review the Job Posting:

This cannot be overstated: the company knows exactly what they are looking for, and they state it clearly on the job posting. Review the job post. List point-by-point every experience and skill they are seeking. Go over your own experiences and how they make you a great fit, so all of this is fresh in your mind when you walk in the door.

As Dana Leavey puts it, “Try to remember what’s most relevant regarding specific clients you’ve worked with, types of projects you’ve worked on, similar companies you’ve worked for, and anything else that’s pertinent to the role.”

2. Research the Company:

Google is your friend, and so are social media sites like LinkedIn. Do your research before your interview. See what this company has done to get in the news. Find out what you can about the people who work there, what kind of background and skills they bring to the table and what they care about. Look for points of similarity and points of difference and be ready to discuss them in the interview.

3. Take The Next Step Beyond Your Resume:

When they ask about information on your resume the last thing you want to do is just quote the resume. Share specific examples that illustrate the information on your resume. Be prepared to talk and give the interviewer the extra layer of knowledge they are seeking.

4. Listen to The Interviewer:

Don’t be so focused on what you have to say that you don’t hear what you’re asked. A job interview is like a first date. You need to pay attention, listen closely and ask follow up questions. This makes the interviewer see you as someone who is interested and gives you a chance to find out more about the position.

5. Don’t Ask for A Job – Offer to Help:

The company didn’t put up a job post because they were hoping to give someone a salary or a cool place to hang out from 9 to 5. They put up a job post because they need to hire the right person for the job opening. Find out what they need and discuss the ways you can produce the work they require. This attitude can get you out of the interview on just the right note. As Lam Nguyen says, “It’s then up to you to make your final selling pitch by summarizing what the position is and what you bring to the table. Don’t forget to find out the next steps for the interviewing process. The follow-up item you want to leave in your interviewer’s mind is, “This is the right candidate. I’m ready to make an offer.”

If you’re looking to make your next job interview your best one ever, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to help you find a new position that lets you take advantage of your abilities and prepare you to turn the job interview into your dream job offer.