How To Explain Your Resume During A Job Interview

What Would Your First 30 60 Or 90 Days Look Like In This Role

If youre applying for a senior or leadership role, youre probably going to get asked this question.

Chances are, at this stage of the interview, you already know a lot about your future position and the company.

Now, its time to show off your knowledge in your field, and explain how youre going to start making things happen at the company.

So, heres how to answer the question:

For the first 30 days:

Youre probably going to need to get to know the company first. Youre going to be learning as much as possible, including information on:

• What does the company do?
• What are the key processes?
• What does your department do?
• What are the current problems and challenges?
• Where can you help?

Then, during the 60 days:

Youll start start making things happen. From all the info you gathered, suggest a handful initiatives you could take on:

• Youd audit the company email marketing strategy and suggest improvements
• Youll help come up with better ad copies for Facebook marketing
• Youll help the team with their ongoing marketing initiatives

Within the first 90 days:

Youre already have started making an impact. Describe several things you think are going to be functioning better:

• Online ads are going to be performing better by 10-20%
• Email marketing operations are going to be more streamlined, taking significantly less manpower

Avoid Rambling And Remain Focused

For some, answering this question is like pulling teeth. For others, it’s fun getting to share and share and share some more! It’s best to find a happy medium. Consider ahead of time the highlights you’d like to cover when sharing about yourself and stay focused on those highlights during the interview. It’s good to provide your Tell me about yourself answer in under a minute or two only go longer if the interviewer has asked follow-up questions based on what you’ve shared.

Why Did You Not Complete Your College Degree

What They Want to Know: This is an opportunity for you to explain why you haven’t completed your degree. Since this can look like you don’t have follow-through or commitment, try to point to an explanation for why you didn’t finish the degree that shows you are responsible.

Midway through college, I had a summer internship with a start-up company. During that summer, I got very immersed in the creation of a product that became the focal point for the company’s marketing strategy. I was asked to stay on, so deferred going back. I’d imagined it would just be a year, but it wound up turning into a big opportunity, and so I suck with that company, working there for 5 years. It’s always on my list to complete the degree, but I’ve found, so far, that the degree isn’t necessary for me to perform in the workplace.

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Example : Elementary School Teacher

“Ever since I graduated from Carroll University, I have worked for the Chicago school district. I started my career as a second-grade teacher. While working in this role, I got more comfortable getting in front of a classroom and creating lesson plans. After about five years, I decided to transition to teaching fourth graders. I enjoyed focusing on mathematics. I even participated in an after-school tutoring program for students who needed a little extra help in STEM subjects.

“During my sixth year of teaching, I won the district’s Educator of the Year award. This honor reminded me why I got into education in the first place to make a meaningful impact on my students’ lives. Looking at the skills section of my resume, I can confidently say I am motivated, positive and caring. I also am quite comfortable with public speaking and learning how to use different technology for education.”

How Did You Hear About This Position

Although at first glance this might seem like a straightforward question, you should grab any opportunity you can to show your interest in the company.

Even if you havent been continuously refreshing the companys website for job listings, make it seem like you have . Show excitement and curiosity.

If someone inside the company told you about the position or recommended that you apply, definitely make sure to mention that.

Youll have a much better chance at getting hired if someone credible can vouch for your skills.

So, mention his/her name and his/her position inside the company and give their reasoning for inviting or recommending you to apply for the position. Tell the hiring managers what excites you about the job opportunity or what exactly caught your eye.

Possible answers for “How did you hear about this position?”:

• Sample answer 1:

Ive known about for a long time – Im a big fan of your products. I even own one of your latest phone models!

I love the companys passion for creating super intuitive, beautiful hardware, and I would love to be a part of it.

So, when I saw your job ad at , even though I wasnt actively looking for a job at the time, I couldnt help but apply!

• Sample answer 2:

I heard from Jim Doe, my old colleague and college friend, that was looking for a new sales director. He encouraged me to apply, saying that my experience managing a sales team at would be helpful for .

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How Can You Avoid Burnout

Career GuideStarting a New JobTips for Resigning Because of BurnoutBy Indeed Editorial TeamApril 19, 2021Having a job you enjoy and that fulfills you can help enrich your life. However, sometimes jobs can create significant stress and overwhelm. Burnout can affect employees in any industry and position and robs individuals of the enjoyment they once felt at work. In this article, we discuss what burnout is, ways to avoid it and tips for resigning because of burnout. What is burnout?Burnout is the feeling of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. At work, it occurs when you become overwhelmed by the expectations, schedule or environment in the workplace and feel depleted of energy. Unlike a temporary moment of stress because of a big presentation, burnout is a chronic condition that persists for weeks or months. Common signs of burnout include:Lack of motivationLow self-confidenceReduced productivityDecreased engagement with your work and your coworkersHeightened feelings of stress and anxietyExhaustionLow energy levelsInsomniaIncreased sickness or physical symptomsNegative moodSeveral factors may contribute to burnout in employees, such as:High workloadLong hoursUnfulfilling tasksStrained relationships with managers or colleaguesToxic work environmentPoor leadershipFew professional resourcesLack of controlVague expectationsHigh energy expenditureRead more: 16 Signs You May Be Burned OutHow can you avoid burnout?

Prove That You Will Be A Good Fit

Overall, try to make it apparent that your past experiences helped you prepare for this role. By doing a little research about the company and role you’re applying to, you can figure out what parts of your resume you should emphasize. Showing that you have similar past experiences is a great way to make yourself stand out as a candidate.

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Good Reasons For Leaving A Job

There are many reasons you can and should explain why youre looking for a new opportunity. As professionals grow in the workplace, there is a natural flow from one job to the next as people seek out new learning opportunities, career development, new environments and other factors. Lets look at a few examples of good reasons youre looking for a new job:

What Do You Plan To Do If

Every business faces a major challenge: technological changes, competitors entering the market, shifting economic trends. There’s rarely one of Warren Buffett’s moats protecting a small business.

So while some candidates may see your company as a stepping-stone, they still hope for growth and advancement. If they do eventually leave, they want it to be on their terms, not because you were forced out of business.

Say I’m interviewing for a position at your ski shop. Another store is opening less than a mile away: How do you plan to deal with the competition? Or you run a poultry farm : What will you do to deal with rising feed costs?

Great candidates don’t just want to know what you think they want to know what you plan to do — and how they will fit into those plans.

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I Could Use More Experience In

Each candidate has areas to improve upon in their expertise. Maybe its something specific like building pivot tables in Excel. Perhaps its a skill like math, writing or public speaking. Whatever the case, sharing something you want to improve upon shows the interviewer that youre self-aware and like to challenge yourself. Be sure, however, that you dont answer with a weakness that is essential to the role.

A few common areas people need experience in include:

• Verbal communication

• Specific programs

Tips To Justify A Gap In Your Cv At A Job Interview

Heres how to justify a gap in your CV, whatever the reason might be.

1. Make peace with your past Moving house, parental leave, health problems, a career change There are plenty of good reasons to explain a gap between two positions during your career. However, these subjects are not always easy to discuss with a recruiter. Perhaps the period were living through right now might allow us to better address the issue. How can you talk about the slowest periods of your professional life in a positive way at a job interview? Have you ever experienced a moment like this yourself that you are afraid to bring up during a recruitment process? To settle your nerves, weve picked up a few tips that will help you to prepare for questions from recruiters. Lets do this!1. Make peace with your pastDid you choose to stop working for a personal or familial reason? Thats nothing to be ashamed of. Were you a victim of harassment, or did you experience burnout or a surprise dismissal? Was it the case that you no longer liked your job and felt the need to take stock before changing? Or did you simply leave a job and need time to refocus?

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Why Interviewers Ask About Your Current Job

Some candidates think this is a silly question to ask. After all, didnt you work hard to craft those resume bullet points? Shouldnt your interviewer be able to get this information from a quick read-through of your resume?

Well, someone obviously read your resume and determined that you were qualified enough to call in for an interview. However, the person who ends up interviewing you may not have had time for a full review or she may have reviewed it and forgotten the details .

You may get this question even if your interviewer is intimately familiar with your resume. Its a good question for a couple of reasons:

1) It can put the candidate at ease. This question is much easier to answer than the most common interview opener, Tell me about yourself. It is a specific question about current or very recent events so the details should be easy to recall and articulate.

As an interviewer, I want to make candidates feel comfortable because I know they will be more likely to open up and show me what theyre really like. Many other interviewers follow a similar approach.

2) It can help the hiring manager clarify and expand upon the resume. Theres only so much a resume can communicate . Your resume obviously got someones attention.

However, your future boss will want more details and context to determine if youre the best person for the job.

3) It can help the hiring manager validate that the resume isnt B.S. People have been known to lie on their resumes.

How to Answer

Walk Me Through Your Resume: How To Nail Your Response To One Of The Most Important Interview Questions

by Sarah Thompson 06 November 2019

They say lifes not about the destination, its about the journey. So when a potential employer asks you to walk them through your resume, its your chance to really show them who you are and what you have achieved.

But while it may sound like a nice easy opener, in many ways this is one of the most challenging questions any candidate can face. Broad and open-ended, with all the pressure to make that great first impression this is a tough one to bring home. But with some thought and preparation its also your chance to really wow them. Here are a few tips to help you take the right approach:

1. Clarify what the interviewer is looking for

They might want a general overview or they could be particularly interested in that weekend job you once had at Krispy Kreme. Its OK to clarify exactly what the interviewer wants to hear. So you could say: Sure, how far back do you want me to go and is there anything thats particularly interesting to you?

2. You dont need to mention every job youve ever had

Depending on your age and background, it can be tricky to answer the question succinctly. No-one wants to sit through a rambling lecture about why you moved on from your paper round in 1996. Bear in mind that less-is-more, and be reassured by the knowledge that your interviewer can always probe you afterwards, if there is a detail you missed.

3. Emphasize career highlights that illustrate what youll add to the firm

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+ Interview Questions And Answers

The time has come!

After creating a killer resume and cover letter and passing the first round, it is time to face the final challenge:

Your job interview.

And that scares even to the best of us.

Being judged and evaluated by people who have your future in their hands is more anxiety-inducing than meeting the in-laws.

Youve heard the interviewers and hiring managers say there are no right or wrong answers to calm you down before an interview.

But heres the thing:

They are almost always looking for a specific way of answering.

Which brings us to this guide. Were going to cover the most common interview questions and answers, turning you into a bona fide interview expert by the time youre done reading.

So, lets get started!

To make this guide as practical as possible, we covered just about every interview question out there.

Dont let that put you off, though. You dont have to read the whole thing end-to-end. To get the most out of the guide, wed recommend:

Most Common Interview Questions:

Behavioral Questions in an Interview:

Words To Describe Yourself In An Interview And On Your Resume

In daily life, people arent usually asking you how you describe yourself, but during the job search process, its an extremely common question. Even if the interviewer doesnt come right out and say tell me about yourself, they generally want to know about you as a person when they ask behavioral interview questions, STAR interview questions, or questions like what is your greatest strength?

The same notion goes for your resume and cover letter. In a career change cover letter, its even more important to select the right words. When you are describing your responsibilities and passions, you are essentially just describing who you are.

Believe it or not, just like resume action words, the words you use to describe yourself are extremely influential in how people view and remember you. So here is a list of 53 words to describe yourself during your job search, whether it is in your interview, on your resume, or in your cover letter.

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Honesty Is The Best Policy

There is no easy way to explain to a prospective employer that you were fired from your previous job. The best approach is simple: Be honest. Tell the truth and be transparent with all of your answers. The worst way to handle the question is to lie about it.

Lying is like a forest fire it spreads, with one lie leading to another and another. There is a chance that your potential employer will find out about the lie and no one wants to hire a dishonest candidate. Truth has a funny way of always coming out, so don’t let it cause you to get fired again.

While you should absolutely be honest when you explain why you were fired, you do not have to give every nitty-gritty detail about the situation. Keep your answer high level, explaining the circumstance briefly and moving on. The last thing you want is to draw extra attention to the situation.

Here’s an example of how to answer honestly:

“After some personnel shuffling, the job was no longer working out. So, my boss and I agreed that it was time for me to move on to a position better suited to my skills. I’m excited to get back to it.”

The Great Resignation Is Finally Getting Companies To Take Burnout Seriously

Is it enough?

Toward the end of last year, Anthony Klotz, a professor of business administration at Texas A& M University who studies workplace resignations, realized that a lot of people were about to quit their jobs. A record 42. 1 million Americans quit a job in 2019, according to U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, but that rate dropped off during the pandemic-addled year of 2020. As 2021 approached, bringing with it the promise of effective vaccines and a return to semi-normal life, Klotz guessed that two things would happen. First, many of the people who wanted to quit in 2020 but held off due to fear or uncertainty would finally feel secure enough to do so. And second, pandemic-era epiphanies, exhaustion and burnout would drive a whole new cohort of people to quit their jobs. In a moment of inspiration, Klotz predicted that a Great Resignation was coming.

Video advice: Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski: The cure for burnout | TED

Youve probably heard of the horror stories of job burnout. Recently, news has come to light where one company in the US had junior bankers completing 95-hour work weeks filled with unrealistic deadlines and short sleep. Many of the workers warned their superiors if things did not change for the better then they would leave en masse.

• I left my job due to burnout.
• You are not the problem.
• Defeating the stigma.

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