I am desperate for a job and worried that I am giving the “vibe” off in interviews…do you have any advice on how to control that?
Best advice is to take more interviews and be better prepared. More interviews allow you to walk in a little more confidently.
When the Employer asks, “What questions do your have for me?” what should I say? What goes over well?
IF you have studied their website , you should have some good questions e.g. “What are 3 or 4 of your major initiatives?” “Who would you consider your biggest competitors?” “What is your biggest challenge?”
I got fired from my last position and have glazed over that on my resume. What should I say in my interview when they ask me what happened at my last position or why am I looking?
You should always be truthful but choose your words carefully. Your company may have “downsized” or there was a RIF (reduction in force).
When the employer asks “What are your weaknesses?” what are some good responses? What are they expecting you to say?
A favorite of the HR people, this is a test of your self awareness so a good start would be “We all have challenges and this is something that I am working on”… but be careful of this coming back later to bite you.
I get really nervous and tend to ramble when I’m under pressure…what advice do you have for keeping things concise or ending a statement?
Again, this tendency is cured by taking more interviews…practice.
Is it OK or appropriate to tell a joke or a funny story during an interview?
Unless the interviewer is Jerry Seinfeld, probably not a good idea.
Should you always say that you would like to think it over just a bit before immediately accepting a job offer?
The company offering the job is probably putting a time limit on the
offer (usually 2-3 days) and if this is the job that you really want, there is
nothing wrong with accepting right then and there.
What if my potential boss interviewing me is younger than I am? Or I feel that they are less experienced? Should this be a red flag that I may not want this job?
It may be, this is a “gut check” moment…all the studies are saying
Employees do not leave companies, but leave Managers. If you are
getting a bad vibe, pay attention.
I have researched the company and have showed up for the interview. Should I assume that they have researched me as well? How important is it to have a professional online presence?
It is extremely important to have a professional online presence and
make sure that your LinkedIn profile and resume match up. They will
check that.
Should I want to get the offer in writing before giving notice?
Absolutely!
