Soft Skills Questions You Might Face in Your Next Interview

Soft Skills Questions You Might Face in Your Next InterviewSoft Skills Questions You Might Face in Your Next InterviewYouve polished your resume, updated your references and picked up your best outfit from the dry cleaners. Youre ready for that big interview. But while your experience and qualifications may match the position perfectly, have you given any thought to your soft skills?Soft skills include a persons attitude, workplace behavior, values and ethics. Increasingly, employers are looking at soft skills as the deciding factor when choosing between two applicants.Harry Weimann, director of education atWyoTech Blairsvilleand a business owner since 1986, says he wishes he would have learned to look for the appropriate skills long ago.As a business owner for many years, Ive hired several employees, Weimann says. Some were talented workers, but I never could pinpoint why I rarely got the person I was looking for. Working for WyoTech opened my eyes to what I was missing soft skills .He also states that employers view an employee who shows up on time, performs the job correctly and respects others as being more valuable in many cases than an employee who is technically competent but shows up late, is sloppily dressed and has a poor attitude. Because of this, employers are looking harder at soft skills when hiring in the current market.For some reason, organizations seem to expect people to know how to behave on the job or have the right soft skills, says Weimann. The assumption is that everyone knows the importance of being on time, being accountable, having integrity and being a team player, but is that fair to expect without communicating that during the interview process?When you head to that big interview, you should expect to face some soft skills questions. These may includeWhat is your definition of integrity?What does it mean to be accountable?What is your definition of common sense?What is your definition of customer service?What are your feelings rega rding deadlines?How do you handle high-pressure situations?Tell me an example of how youve resolved a conflict in the past.Make sure you are able to answer each of these questions with the same accuracy and confidence you would apply to any question about your resume. As employers continue to search for candidates with the right professional and soft skills, it is up to you to prove that you are qualified in both.

How to tailor your executive-level resume for a job board

How to tailor your executive-level resume for a job boardHow to tailor your executive-level resume for a job boardIts so important when job hunting to know what youre looking for. If you dont, you could easily get swamped and find yourself tumbling down several rabbit holes in your quest for your next executive-level job. But what to do once you have narrowed down your search? Tailor your executive-level resume accordingly.Read on for our four top tips for how to tailor your executive-level resume for a job board.1. Executive-level resume keywordsThis tip applies to any resume writing you may do. You cant make the mistake of believing that only humans will search the job board databases looking for the ideal candidate and naively think that when they stumble across your resume, they will realize they have hit the jackpot. Life just isnt that kind.The majority of recruiters utilize the services of applicant tracking systems (ATS) to do early-stage resume sifting for them. ATSs filter out appropriate resumes that contain keywords and phrases that are pertinent to the job opening that employers are looking to fill.Therefore, your executive-levelresume has to be liberally, but naturally, filled with the right keywords and phrases to enkoranvers that the robots pick it up and put it in the correct pile.To do this, hunt out executive level jobs that appeal to you. Read the job description and the ideal candidate description, then, highlight the keywords and phrases that the recruiter has used.Repeat these words and phrases throughout your resume, but be sure not to overdo it. You want your resume to read naturally, not look as if its just an amalgamation of appropriate words.2. Clarify your work historyThe type of jobs that youre applying for will want to see on your resume that you have risen through the ranks, and gained the appropriate and necessary experience, to qualify you for that executive level job.To demonstrate that you have this experience effectively, yo u will have to do the following for each positionInclude a brief overview of the role.Say why you were hired for this particular role, e.g., did you have specific experience or a certain skill set that made you stand out from the other applicants?If you were hired to turnaround a team or resolve certain challenges, include the starting position and what your end result was.Remember to keep it brief and succinct. You only have two pages of A4 for your whole resume, so include the key details and refrain from being overly verbose. Use short, pithy sentences, with the main points bulleted for ease of reading and understanding.3. Go big earlyThe purpose of your resume is to match the criteria set to the resume-filtering robots, and secondly to pique the interest of the recruiter to get them to want to read the entire thing, and then invite you for interview to find out more.The best way to hook their interest is to go big early. Dont leave your huge achievements and key skills until mid way through the third paragraph. Open your resume with them.In your resumes objective clearly stateWho you are.What you bring to the table, your experience, any big anthroponym companies you have worked for and any great successes you have had. Dont shy away from your achievements, shout about them.What you type of executive-level job you are looking for.4. Focus on your leadership abilitiesBecause youre applying for executive-level jobs, you have to clearly demonstrate that you have leadership abilities. No one wants to hire an executive and then hold their hand while they figure out what they are doing.Make it clear from the outset that you are a great leader. In your key skills section give examples of times when you were an effective leader and the outcomes you were able to produce.Include any qualifications, hobbies, volunteering or personal experience that you may have that shows youre not just a leader in work, but are a natural leader in life too.Finally, remember that your resume is the best version of you that you can be, so spell check, spell check and spell check it one more time.Resume-Library is the fastest-growing job board in the U.S. For more expert advice on job searches, careers, and the workplace, visit their Career Advice pages.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

What Hiring Managers Want Beyond Skills

What Hiring Managers Want Beyond SkillsWhat Hiring Managers Want Beyond SkillsYou worked diligently at your job to develop expert-level skills and qualifications. Your experience and knowledge match the job description exactly. You thought for sure you were perfectly suited for a role and then you get the crushing news that someone else was hired. You had an impeccable background so why the rejection? In short, skills alone are not enough to get you hired. Here are three traits hiring managers seek that applicants often overlook.See The Best Business Jobs.Are you compatible?Assessing compatibility is trickier than it sounds. On the surface, you might think this is about likability, but it has many more layers. When hiring, busy managers need to factor in assimilation and effectiveness in the current environment. For example, Candidate A is a top ausverkaufperson who hits every benchmark, has an impressive sales funnel and documents impeccably. Candidate B is a successful salesperso n who knows how to close a tricky deal and handle demanding clients, and who is tough but fair. If the role requires hiring and training new graduates on prospecting, selling and closing, Candidate A may be the best fit. But if the role requires reining in senior sales folks who would rather play golf than find new business, Candidate B is the ideal choice. In the latter scenario, building rapport, trust and respect and managing those who wont comply are more important abilities than contributing to sales revenue.Managers seek to add adaptable new hires who will be comfortable and productive as quickly as possible. If you come across as an odd man out, skills alone are not likely to get you an offer. To demonstrate compatibility, discuss how your experience matches the companys nuanced needs regarding office environment, colleagues and workflow.See 8 Skills That Set Millennials Apart at Work.Are you resourceful? Work is hectic. In our expanding economy with information overload, 24/ 7 access and rapidly advancing technology, employees at all levels have never felt more stressed. No matter how technically proficient you may be, you will be a burden on your manager and kollektiv if you cannot figure out things on your own. There is always some acclimation and orientation required. For example, you will need to figure out what hours employees work, who you call when your computer is running slow and whether your manager actually has an open-door policy.An employee must be resourceful to get answers to these questions and to drive productivity when there isnt a set procedure or process or someone to ask. She must also have a keen sense of when to ask a question and when to try something out. Developing the insight, observation skills and the confidence to make these decisions is not natural for many employees, but it is necessary. Lacking resourcefulness not only sinks your productivity, but it also burdens the people whose help you sought as well.Here are some way s to demonstrate resourcefulness during the hiring process. Dont be late, or at least call in advance if something uncontrollable has thrown you off schedule. Follow up if a planned activity doesnt happen, like if your phone doesnt ring at the hour appointed for your interview. Come to in-person interviews looking composed and prepared with a resume, notebook, working pens and thoughtful questions to ask. Find out about parking, bathrooms and dress code before your meetings. In short, look for ways to show you can improvise.See The Most Important Allies to Make at Work.Are you engaged in the process?I have seen more-qualified candidates lose out because they didnt convey genuine interest or passion in the role, company, industry or team for which they were applying. An employer does not want to feel that you are doing a favor by accepting a salary to work for the company. Managers look for someone who is qualified and interested in joining the team. Given todays low unemployment rat e, high turnover and wide sortiment of available jobs, this interest is even more important now. A qualified candidate who is not interested is a risky hire. Most managers will not take the chance in hiring this person because of the high cost of turnover and retraining. Compelling job candidates show genuine engagement and interest in the opportunity.In summary, skills are indeed a key part of hiring, but other personal traits ultimately make the difference in who gets the offer. While certain skills may take years to attain or master, compatibility, resourcefulness and engagement are attributes you can develop much more quickly. And they transfer with you regardless of your title, industry or role. Before you start your next interview process, assess what attributes are required for success and identify ways to demonstrate them.

3 Types of Co-workers You See Over the Holidays - The Muse

3 Types of Co-workers You See Over the Holidays - The Muse3 Types of Co-workers You See Over the HolidaysThe days are shorter, the Starbucks lines are longer, and even in the South, you need a jacket to go outside. Thats right the holidays are zu siche. And for better (more sweets in the break room) or worse (stressing to hit year-end goals), they affect the workplace too.For example, you mayve noticed that some of your colleagues are acting differently. Yes, you navigate various types of co-workers all year long, but something about the holidays seems to highlight the easily distracted, the overly-festive, and yes, the Grinches on your gruppe.With that in mind, heres your guide to three common holiday workplace personalities and how to deal with each one.1. The Co-Worker Who Cant Be Bothered With WorkEveryones had a day when the season throws a wrench in their productivity. Maybe a quick lunchtime holiday shopping trip runs over. Or chatting with colleagues about upcoming plans turn s into a morning-long social event. Or you want to devote some time to freshening up on the day of the office holiday feier. That all makes sense- because its not every day. But what about the person who makes excuses all month long- all while youre at your computer working (and feeling resentful)?What to DoMost likely, one of two things is going on with your teammate. Either hes adding in productive hours when youre not looking or he really is falling behind. And unless youd like to start the new year behind on every project, youd rather not actually be in his shoes.Its hard to stay at your desk when others are having all the fun, but it doesnt have to be all or nothing. Taking occasional breaks to socialize with your colleagues- especially if the rest of your team is doing it- helps build relationships. The trick is listening to that little voice that says its time to finish that report. To refocus, remind yourself why its worth it In two weeks, my OOO will be up and Ill able to s pend all day with family/watching bowl games/laying on a beach. I need to finish project first, so Ill be able to relax with no work hanging over my head.2. The Co-Worker Who Has All the Holiday SpiritThis colleagues schedule includes more festivities because she genuinely loves this time of year. Shes wearing a holiday sweater, humming a holiday tune, and somehow always holding a peppermint hot chocolate. If you asked how her weekend was, youd learn it was some combination of making wreaths, building gingerbread houses, and crafting her own wrapping paper. Youre no scrooge, but you find her all-holiday all-the-time mentality a little draining.What to DoYou want to ask her to reign it in, because its getting kind of annoying. But first, ask yourself if her habits are preventing you from doing your work. No? Then, consider keeping your feelings to yourself. There will be enough tough talks to be had with people who steal your ideas, speak over you in meetings, and play favorites. If you can, save your colleague- and yourself- the stress.Now, if shes doing something thats preventing you from doing your work- say, blasting holiday music all day long- than you can absolutely ask if she could switch to headphones. The key is to avoid the temptation to bring up her holiday obsession. When she replies to your Would you mind using your headphones to listen to your music? with Just trying to spread some holiday joy skip I know, its the 137th time weve heard All I Want for Christmas and choose, Quiet really helps me focus. Thanks for understanding3. The Co-Worker Who Refuses to Be MerryThe idea that the holidays are a time to be with loved ones can make them devastating for people who are grieving or lonely. In turn, that can make holiday parties and even dcor hard to be around (take it from the woman whos cried in the ornament aisle at Target). So, that person who blows off your friendly conversation about holiday plans or barely attends the office party may just be tr ying to hold it together.And while, if your life was a movie, youd find out why and commit some sweeping act of kindness its your colleague who gets to decide whether theyd like to share that part of themselves at work (or not).What to DoIf your co-workers someone who has pretty strict boundaries between their personal and professional life (hint you have no idea why theyre upset), take that as a cue that they prefer to be private. While you may have the best intentions, saying something to lighten the mood like, You could use some holiday cheer could make them feel even more uncomfortable. The kindest thing you can do is give this person some space and engage them as you would the rest of the year (by talking about upcoming projects and secular hobbies).Alternatively, if your co-worker was open about, for example, a loss over the past year, its thoughtful to acknowledge their sadness. The best way to do this is with a lead-in sentence. Ive noticed you seem sad this week gives them the chance to say, This is a really hard time for me without my grandmother here to spend the holidays with, (which is an invitation to say something sympathetic and chat a bit) or Yes, but Im focusing on work.If its the latter, it may be too hard for them to discuss at work. Theyll appreciate that you cared enough to bring it up- and appreciate segueing to a new topic even more.Yes, this time of year can make your colleagues act like different people. But no, that doesnt mean you should respond unprofessionally. Instead, just keeping being your usual considerate self.

New Ideas Into Teacher Resume Example Never Before Revealed

New Ideas Into Teacher Resume Example Never Before Revealed Teacher Resume Example Explained You might have substantial knowledge in teaching but might be searching for a change from your existing capacity of a teacher. Your teaching experience is notre the absolute most elementary part of teacher resume. You didnt make a decision to be a teacher since you wished to turn into rich, you did it since you have passion for education. The teacher is provided significant freedom to take her or his decisions while teaching as a way to successfully teach the students. Concentrate on your prior education, experience, highlights and an overview of what you can provide. All post high school education ought to be listed with the writing format very similar to the preceding section. Since English language is a significant topic around the planet, its advantageous to get any probable specifics about your very own worldwide experience and knowledge. No matter your degree of work knowledge, y our resume format is vital to making your program stick out. As an example, someone may write A part-time ort working for a massive corporation doing data entry and data processing. Your own agenda, however noble it might be, ought to be de-emphasized in the application approach. Just keep in mind that the procedure takes time. It is essential for special education teachers to continue being up-to-date on current trends and teaching procedures. A substitute teacher works in several settings, including in public or private schools, to be able to fill in for licensed teachers who are not able to oversee their classes for a wide range of factors. Listed below are 3 substitute teacher resume format options which youll have the ability to customize based upon your experience in addition to your very own inherent abilities and competencies. A unique education teacher offers academic intervention and support for kids with unique needs. Your skills are a few of the most crucial thin gs recruiters are considering knowing. List down all you skills that are related to the job. So in anticipation for the interview, the resume can offer you a chance to thoroughly think through the situations you need your employer to understand about you. If so, your resume can nevertheless be quantified, and provide the hiring manager a concrete idea of the reach of your abilities and abilities. The objective section is the best place to immediately stick out from the rest. Each bullet point ought to be relevant to the job which youre applying for. No matter the sort of industry youre aiming to land work in, you want to personalize your list of skills for the position. The resume will demonstrate if youve taken the opportunity to learn about the business and familiarize the position youre applying for. If you wish to understand how to convince someone to do something, then keep reading for more. You should keep a couple of things in mind. In order to acquire the best chance s of landing your teacher job, you should make sure youre making the best resume that youre able to. If youre thinking about applying to be a teacher, then the very first step you will need is a resume to assist you. Schools want to understand if its possible to teach. Its possible to place Certification ahead of Education should you want. Special Education students want to communicate with you. Teachers have to get certified. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Teacher Resume Example You must be ready to deal with headcases in class. Applicants have a tendency to concentrate just on the tough skills. A resume is composed to supply the hiring manager with a comprehensive overview of an applicants qualifications for a specific job position, and it isnt usually meant to supply a whole picture of the applicant. When you submit an application for a job well send your application to the named recruiter, who might contact you. Utilize their name and produce your cover letter per sonal. In the event the writer chooses to incorporate an objective on his resume, he should incorporate a section title before the description. Each work listing needs to have a similarly written description. If youre unfamiliar in writing resumes, you can check ourA Sample Resumes article to find more thorough understanding on writing one.

Randstad Survey Reveals Top 5 Ways Companies Can Help Advance Women

Randstad Survey Reveals Top 5 Ways Companies Can Help Advance Women Randstad recently released its US Employee Engagement Index study where it asked mora than 2,000 adults about the top ways their companies can best help women advance to leadership levels. The top five ways a company can help working women are 1. Offer equal pay women (49%) men (37%)2. Have more women in leadership positions women (34%) men (31%)3. More family-friendly work policies women (31%) (men 26%)4. Increase of leadership development programs for women women (25%) men (24%)5. Greater flexibility in terms of scheduling/telecommuting women (28 %) men (20%)With nearly one billion women poised to enter the global economy in the coming decade, and representing the majority of college and advanced degree holders, employers will be increasingly reliant upon women in the workplace to drive innovation and corporate success, said Lis a Crawford, senior vice president, Randstad US. In order to compete in the growing war for female talent in the years ahead, companies that encourage the development and attainment of leadership positions equitably will be well-positioned in their recruitment efforts. The pursuit of leadership rank is a universal aspiration, and therefore organizations that help their workforce achieve those goals, regardless of gender, will emerge successful.Respondents also weighed in on other workplace topics related to women and engagement. Key findings included67 percent of total respondents strongly/somewhat agree with the statement, By 2020, I expect there to be many more women in leadership positions in my company or organization.76 percent of women reported that whether or not a company has women in positions of leadership is important when deciding to work for an organization42 percent of men compared to 34 percent of women are likely to search for a job in a different company in the next 6 months,Just 46 percent of women expect to have to switch employers to grow their careers, compared to 56 percent of men