PajMon Information Blog

Posts Tagged ‘unemployment’

If I could put together a film with bloopers that people make in interviews it might seem funny ” but not when it happens in real life – to you! Im sure youve sat through those movie or TV bloopers at the end of shows and laughed at the mistakes the actors make during the filming of the show.

How do you avoid bloopers? First you become aware of what some of the pitfalls of interviewing are and then you prepare and practice so that it wont happen to you. Here are 10 of those very pitfalls to watch for.

1. Do you catch yourself slouching, fidgeting or looking away? These are poor non-verbal communication actions

That first impression when meeting the interviewer can be a great beginning, or a quick ending to your interview. Its about demonstrating confidence – standing straight, making eye contact, and connecting with a good, firm handshake.

2. Casual attire does not show much interest in the company, nor the job. Not dressing for the job or company could be a big mistake.

If possible, call and find out what the company dress code is before the interview. Todays casual dress codes in the office, do not give you permission to dress as they do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well groomed, above all. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking.

3. Not listening to the interviewer ” only worrying about what you are going to say

If you are not listening to the interviewer, turning up your intuitive, you are missing a major opportunity. From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what they said. Observe your interviewer and match that style and pace.

4. Talking too much ” telling it all ” even if its not relevant

When you have not prepared your personal stories for the interview ahead of time you may tend to ramble, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Telling the interviewer more than they need to know could be a fatal mistake. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting; matching your skills with the requirements of the position, and relating only that information.

5. Being over-familiar ” your new best friend is NOT the interviewer

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. The level of familiarity should mimic the demeanor of the interviewer. This is not about making a new friend. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview, and to ask questions, but not to over-step your place as a candidate looking for a job.

6. Have you ever said, “you ‘guys’ know what I mean?” Using inappropriate language in the interview will not help.

Its a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics, or sexual preferences ” these topics could get the door slammed very quickly.

7. Acting cocky ” being overconfident ” king of the hill

There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism, and modesty. Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. Even if youre putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, over-doing is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.

8. Not answering the question asked ” jumping in without thinking

If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only dont answer the question, but you miss an opportunity to prove your ability and tell about your skills. When an interviewer asks for an example of a time, you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior.

9. Not asking questions ” this is a missed opportunity you will live to regret

The best questions come from listening to what is asked during the interview, and asking for additional information. When asked if they have any questions, the majority of candidates answer, No. Wrong answer! It is extremely important to ask questions. It demonstrates an interest in what goes on in the company. It also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you.

10. Showing desperation ” Please, please hire me for this job!

Its a tough job market, and you need a job! When you interview with the Please, please, hire me, approach you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three Cs during the interview: Cool, Calm, and Confident! You know you can do the job, ” now, make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.

We all make mistakes ” thats what makes us human. We can laugh at ourselves a great deal of the time when we get tongue-tied or forget someones name ” even our spouses. But in the job interview you want to be as prepared and polished as possible. If you do make a mistake, consider it a human error and learn from the experience. In the meantime do your homework and get prepared.

You will need to bring your resume to the construction job interview just as you would with any other type of job. The days of walking into a construction site and telling the supervisor of your desire and ability to work and fulfil the tasks he need done are long gone. Now, todays employers wants to know your life history to make sure that you are up to speed with the skills he’s looking for, and that you possess control of yourself to resist from snapping under pressure.

Companies now don’t want to teach you yet alone even see you unless you are the material they are looking for. Today, job recruitment agencies have been set up to wade through applications and find only the most likely candidates for the employers to review. Due to this fact it iv very important that your resume and cover letter look great, because it will most likely be your only chance at many jobs. The question then would be as to what your behaviour should be during the interview itself.

When a person thinks of a construction worker, the image they have is of a rough, tough, and burly person, so on this we want to disappoint them. Now if construction work is what you want then you will have to change your behavior and leave them with a different opinion of you then they had before you came. Calm and mannerly is the impression you should be wanting to leave them with.

Proper behavior is required of you. Your attitude should never reflect any cue of your lack of breeding. Although it is not expected that you behave with class, you can at least try to arm yourself with a positive outlook and respect.

Construction jobs are filled with stress to get things done so you are going to need to show yourself to be a lighthearted person that won’t break under the pressure. Most construction firms have changed and you are going to need to adjust yourself to their wants and demands. Here are some tips I’ve put together to help you out:

1) You must watch your actions and language. Many companies want to have two interviews so make sure you are always putting your best out there for them to see.

2) Once you enter the companies property make sure that you are polite and friendly to all those that you come in contact with while there.

3) If you don’t understand something during the interview you still will not when you leave unless you ask.

4) Don’t play with your fingers. Also check out other mannerisms and avoid doing them while having an interview.

5) Avoid any distractions while on the interview. Your cell phone should be off or on silent, it could ruin your chances greatly.

6) Speak clearly. Be sure that your voice is loud enough.

7) Be sure to bite your tongue before you bad-mouth another employer. Bad-mouthing will not help you but instead create the impression that you are negative and that you would be one to complain if you were their employee.
Don’t give out false information, because the company with which you are applying will most likely verify any information you give them.

9) Show positive body gestures. Give the impression you’re interested in the job and what the interviewer is talking about, and be sure to keep eye contact.

Construction jobs may offer meager wages but still, you have to act accordingly. This is but a requirement that you can never do without.

KSA’s stand for Knowledge, Skills and abilities and are narrative essays that are requested, along government resumes, for Federal job applications. KSA’s are mandatory and essential being, in some cases, more determinant than a resume to land you a job.

A Knowledge is a factual or procedural data applied to the job. A Skill is a competence in managing data, things or people. An Ability is a competence in performing a mental or physical action.

KSA’s feature 3 to 5 questions, each question being answered with an essay written in a narrative style. The purpose of KSA answers is to demonstrate that you are a good candidate for the opening. You can use examples found in your past experience, education, trainings, awards and activities as long as they are relevant to the question and job.

KSA’s are graded from 1 to 10. Your total score must be above the job announcement’s minimum educational and experience requirements (selective factors) to be eligible for a Federal position. However, you can get a higher grade if you meet or exceed quality ranking factors, which will demonstrate that you are a great match for the job.

Regarding the format, each KSA essay should not be longer than one page and should list in order the job title, the announcement number, your name, the KSA number and then the essay that answers one KSA point.

Because KSA statements are so important, you should make sure to deliver the best answers possible. Before you start writing your KSA’s, it is a good idea to take some time to brainstorm to find elements from your experience and education that perfectly match what recruiters are looking for.

Also, when it comes to writing, be clear, concise, proactive and very detailed, to make it easy for the government recruiter to see you are a good fit for the position. Of course, avoid any typos and ensure the grammar is correct. Once you first draft is ready, wait 24 hours and review it. You can also ask a relative to have a look at it.

Writing KSA answers requires being a good writer. If you’re not sure you can prepare flawless KSA answers, don’t risk jeopardizing your career. It is recommended to get professional KSA writers to prepare your KSA’s, as not only they have years of experience writing top-scoring KSA answers but they are also aware of the latest Federal government hiring guidelines.