5 Interview Questions That Will Show If Your Candidate is a Good Manager

5 Interview Questions That Will Show If Your Candidate is a Good Manager One of the most important parts of the recruitment process is to ask the right questions at an interview. Rather than sticking to the standard interview questions which you will get standard answers to, take some time to think about what you want from your manager. What kind of person do you want them to be and do you need the to be a big thinker? Think about what the priorities are in your company. Then tailor your questions to the specific role. 5 ideas are listed below to get you started.  1)  How would you deal with an employee who was  under-performing?     You do not want a candidate to tell you how they will discipline the employee and how tough they will be. You need a constructive and positive response from this question. You want to get a sense that the candidate can see that the situation may not be that black and white. That everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Maybe this employee has been poorly matched to a role. The candidate should express that they have observed and interacted enough with the employee to know if they are a hard worker and if their skills lie elsewhere. Maybe the answer is to review the role and change the responsibilities of the individual. This will not only make the employee happier it will also improve work rate and quality. You will also want a response to this question which will show the candidate will think through a situation thoroughly and display high quality communication skills to work through a problem with an employee. They must pin point problems and solutions, exploring an employees positives and negatives and finding out exactly how they feel and if there are issues.  2)  Simple pre interview tests: Exchange a fair amount of correspondence with them before their interview. You can in this way test their professionalism, response time, telephone manner and command of the English language. You can get a good insight in this way into how they work. You may also wish to set them some sort of writing task that is based around the company’s activities to test their enthusiasm, writing skills and attention to detail. You could ask them to email something over within an agreed timescale. No matter what type of company you work for, checking these basics will help a manager command authority.  3)  How do you ensure all work is carried out correctly and to the highest standard? This question should help you to see if your manager is a control freak and if they know when to delegate. A good answer would be to build up relationships and trust with co-workers so a manager has full knowledge of their abilities and strengths. When they first start the job one approach would be to check some of their work and take an interest in what they are doing. They should then be able to teach employees how jobs should be done and how to improve. They will then know at an early stage if further checks are required. This question may also give you an idea as to if the candidate will be good at delegation. If a candidate says they would check every single piece of work on an ongoing basis, you know they are not going to be utilising all of their skills and not building good relationships.  4)  What do you think makes a good manager? With this question, you want to hear that the candidate understands the need to be firm when required and the need to command respect, but also to be approachable. You want to know that the candidate has the confidence to call people up when they are in the wrong, and to be taken seriously but also be someone that will want to guide others to be the best that they can be and inspire them to want to make the company better. A good manager is someone who takes an interest in all their workers and takes the time and effort to communicate with them all effectively to help them discover their strengths and weaknesses and utilise these effectively. 5)  What are your interests? A simple and unoriginal question, but you can use this to see how your candidate makes conversation and how they interact with you. You can try and envisage if this is someone others will relate to and if they will fit in easily in any team. This question gives your candidate the option to let their guard down a bit and relax. You can use this to make a better overall assessment.  Article written by www.marblehillpartners.com.

Spheres of Influence - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Spheres of Influence - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Your organization is constructed so that you start on the bottom and must work your way up to the top. This is easier said than done and while you are the only person that may work to get there, you cant possibly accomplish it all yourself. Life is about credibility, which is the way you portray yourself to others, in order for them to build confidence and trust with your work. You must form relationships with others who are well established, in order to establish yourself with your own unique credentials. Convince your manager and others that you have what it takes and display both your intelligence and communication skills to all of them. The more people that are in your sphere of influence, the greater chance you have at obtaining a promotion or earning the respect of your colleagues. The goal of a sphere of influence is to capture the minds of as many of your fellow employees as possible and to convince them that you understand your core work disciplines and are detail-oriented. This could involving merely a presentation, which includes many employees at once or individual meetings. The more people that fall under this sphere, the greater the chance you will succeed (among other variables). Furthermore, the object is to get managers under your sphere because they have large spheres of influence accounted for, so if you can convince them, it will also convince a larger body of your company. Find ways to interact with your fellow employees and network into other groups cross-functionally. Note: Connect the sphere of influence to a mere networking tactic and you will realize the potential you have to succeed.

5 Things You Should Consider Before a Video Interview

5 Things You Should Consider Before a Video Interview Being interviewed for a position can be an intimidating experience, but the increasing trend for video recruitment means there’s a whole new set of factors to take into account. If you’re not used to being on camera, giving a video interview may be nerve-wracking, but it has a number of benefits for both you and your potential employer. Easier to arrange and more convenient for all parties to attend, particularly if they live some distance apart, video interviews are growing in popularity. Although many of the golden rules remain unchanged, there’s a new set of challenges and potential problems which need to be considered. Here are just 5 of the things that you should always consider when you’re being interviewed by video. 1) Using headsets Regardless of whether the role you are being interviewed for involves public speaking, your voice is a powerful tool in persuading the individual to hire you. Clear, concise diction, with an agreeable tone will be a pleasure to listen to and can help the interviewer to pay close attention to what you are saying. Unfortunately the microphone on your computer may make you sound tinny, quiet and add a strange timbre to your tone. This is less than ideal and could influence your interviewer’s desire to listen to your answers. The other problem with computer microphones is that they pick up every other noise in the room, adding a soundtrack that you would rather not include. Whether it’s other people moving around, pets, noise pollution or other sounds, it can be a real distraction during the interview. The best way to get round this is to eschew the computer microphone and instead use a headset. This will eliminate all other noises and ensure that your answers are conveyed clearly and that your voice has the opportunity to influence the interviewer as you hoped. The other benefit to using headsets is that you will instantly appear more composed, professional and organised, rather than giving the impression that everything was put together in a rush. 2) Your user name When you’re applying for jobs, you might think nothing about handing about your email address and user name, happy to rely on more modern means to secure a position. But if your accounts were set up originally for non-professional purposes, don’t forget to consider the type of reaction that your name could provoke. Ideally you’ll want a user name or address which is your regular name, but this might not always be possible. However, having something which is rude, offensive or just unprofessional will create an instant opinion which isn’t favourable. If your existing account isn’t suitable for use with a prospective employer, consider either changing the name or setting up a brand new one for the purposes of recruitment. 3) Screen sharing A lot depends on the job that you’re applying for but there may be the opportunity for you and the interviewer to screen share, so that you can demonstrate some practical skills. This can be the perfect opportunity to showcase what you really know but make sure you’re aware of everything that they can see. This means that if you’ve been googling to check facts that you claimed to already know, you could blow your chances of getting a job. Having other chat windows open is also an extremely bad idea, even if you haven’t been using them during the interview. There’s always the chance that a friend or acquaintance could pop up and make a derogatory comment or remark during the interview. 4) Transmission delay There’s nothing worse than mistiming your comments and either sat listening to a stony silence or constantly talking over the person who is trying to interview you. It’s especially important to demonstrate an ease with technology if the role could potentially involve the use of computers or modern methods of communication, such as video conferencing or Skype. There’s a real art to conversing over video, and it’s not as easy as having a physical face to face discussion. You’ll need to take account of the lags or delays that the transmission might cause and ensure that you match the rhythm of your conversation to this. 5) Picture quality and position Unlike a physical interview, you’ll have to put much more work into creating the right position when you’re being videoed. Rather than simply pulling up a chair at an interview table, over video it’s up to you to create the right position which is neither too close nor too far. Don’t forget to check the results before you go live, so you can see the view that the other party will see. You shouldn’t be higher than them, looking down can make you appear arrogant and superior. By direct contrast, position your chair too low and you’ll give the impression of being meek, mild and subservient. Once you’re sure that you’ve got the position right, do a final check for any blurs, smudges or marks on the lens. This can be very distracting for the interviewer and may mean that you come across as less than professional as a result. Author: Nick Williams works for Acuity Training  in the UK and helps on their communication and assertiveness training courses. [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Point method - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Point method - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Point A consists of your current knowledge base, combined with all experiences youve had leading up to today. Point B is your goal and cannot be attained without significant effort on your part. Each red bracket is an obstacle you must face in order to advance to point B. In life, you cannot progress from point A to point C, without first touching upon point B. So you must be wondering what tactics and strategy must be preserved in order to conquer in order to advance to point B. The first step, is to identify the obstacle as a whole and the different variables that affect the outcome of your choice of solution. Next, brainstorm numerous steps in order to solve the underlying problem. Once you have done this, choose the best solution and execute your strategy. Take your goals step by step and dont skip steps, unless you are given the opportunity. Success will come to those that can identify what point A and point B is and map out strategies to accelerate.

Writing an Objective For Resume of Teller Position

Writing an Objective For Resume of Teller PositionWriting an objective for resume of teller position can be an important part of this career. This type of resume is crucial because it tells the interviewers who you are, what you have done and what you could do for their organization. Your resume does not need to be fancy or over the top, but it should be appropriate.One reason why a resume is so important is because it gives you the opportunity to make a first impression. If you are a good candidate, the interviewers will likely offer you the job and this will impact the kind of salary you get as well as the amount of responsibility. When you write a resume, take the time to think about the kind of person who will be reading it.Just like a traditional resume, you should include your work history as well as any volunteer work. Include your education and educational experience as well. This information will give potential employers a chance to see that you are serious about doing well in the interview.Write an objective that is concise and to the point. You should also make sure that it is free from any personal information. Remember that your objective should only be about the position and nothing more.Employers want to know why you are a good fit for the job. Be sure to emphasize your communication skills, but avoid making a point about any hobbies or interests that might put you off. Don't include an agenda for your activities either, as employers want to know what kind of person you will be when you are working for them.Being professional is another important component. Let your personality shine through by making a note of the areas in which you excel. Don't spend a lot of time talking about your experiences, even if they were great, but instead focus on things that show you can put your best foot forward when the opportunity comes up.You also want to consider including a professional touch. You can include your title with your employer's name or place of em ployment if this is already part of your resume. On the other hand, you can avoid having this information by simply including your name and telephone number in the cover letter as well as any information that your employer asks for.Of course, it is important to include a career growth plan as well. You should highlight the accomplishments you have made in the past and let potential employers know what you would like to accomplish now and in the future. Taking the time to write a resume for teller position should be about your strengths and the achievements you can give to the company.

Designing 2015 with Three Words

Designing 2015 with Three Words Yes, its a new year and with it comes the un-ending posts on resolutions- making them and keeping them. So what will you and I do differently this year to help it be as productive as you want it to be? There is  all sorts of research and theories on how to do this right, but Im a simple gal and dont like to over-think stuff. I find it difficult, almost impossible, to set goals for the year. Maybe Im afraid they wont happen or maybe Im afraid they will. When I discovered the post by Chris Brogan, CEO of  Owner Media Group, listing his three words for the new year,  I was instantly drawn to the idea. Here is his post with his 3 words for 2015  so you can fully understand his logic. A Historical Look At My 3 Words Over the past few years, Ive carefully and thoughtfully selected three words that I want to take action on. Some I do better with than others. But to give you an idea of what Ive committed to, here they are: Sensation. Promotion. Veracious.  2014 Connection. Reflection. Direction. 2013   Persistence. Performance. Deliver. 2012 My 3 Words for 2015 Ive been feeling overwhelmed and scattered for the past few years and I need that to end. In fact, I visited with an intuitive healer to reconnect with my spirit and find grounding. She saw clutter, piles of stuff around my house. No, Im not a hoarder, but these piles may be the symbolic of the many unfinished ideas and projects in my head or the many pots I had my hands in during this past year. During a conversation with a colleague a couple of months ago, she encouraged me to pursue developing my expertise around infographic and visual resumes. I loved that idea and want to incorporate that into my goals for 2015! Being able to share ideas, best practices, trends, etc. with an audience is something I love to do and want to do more of! So hear are my three words: Fresh. Discoverable. Discourse. Fresh as in uncluttered. Discoverable meaning viewable as in graphics. Discourse as in, speak. What words will you use to define your new year? Here are some from my friends: My 3 Words for 2015: Clear, Reach Embrace! by Dorlee M. I love the way Dorlee has included a watercolor which she hangs in a visible spot  to help inspire and keep her on track! Jacqui Barrett-Poindexters 3 words for 2015  are  Devour. Poetry. Luxuriate. Go ahead, add yours! Share for accountability. And pin somewhere so you dont forget!

What about Civil Service employment opportunities

What about Civil Service employment opportunities Have you ever thought about becoming a civil servant? Firefighter, police officer, working for the Dept. of Motor Vehicles? These dont sound like you? How about customer service, data entry, analyst, accounting clerk, nurse, manager? Yes, all these types of jobs are available withincity, county and state agencies. Practically any job available in the private sector is also available in the public sector. The thing is, we dont know how to find these jobs because they dont usually get announced like other jobs. To find a listing of upcoming exams for open civil service jobs, you need to visit your county or citys civil service website. Heres the link to NY State civil service exam postings. Right now, NY State is trying to recruitfor Accounting and Auditing positions. Heres the process of applying for civil service jobs (in general terms, because there are always exceptions) Scour State, County and City civil service exam websites for upcoming exams for jobs you are interested in Read the job description to see which agency the job is for (if applicable, not always included if many agencies have a need) Complete the application and submit along with your resume(This is an application and request to take the exam) In most cases, you will be asked to pay a fee to take the exam. The exam score will be good for 6 months. Take the exam (you may want to obtain a study guide from your local library) The top scoring candidates will be canvassed by mail to see if they would like to interview for the job. (Hopefully that is you) Remember, just like in the private sector, networking can play a huge role in your getting an interview. Talk to people you know at the agency hiring and find out what they can do to assist you in the process. A year or so ago, there were reports that thousands of state, county and federal jobs were going to be available, then that hype disappeared. Funding cuts, etc. Slowly, we are seeing these jobs become available, so start tuning in! There are nice perks and the pay isnt all that bad.