How to Negotiate Your Salary

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Ways to Negotiate Your Salary

When you’re ready to interview for a job, you’ll probably have a lot of questions to ask your interviewer. The questions can regard company culture, job expectations, and much more. One of the most common and, arguably, most important questions you’ll want to ask pertains to what your salary and benefits are. Starting a job at a new company allows you to leverage your skills and experience for a better salary and better benefits. On the other hand, you can also negotiate your salary at your current company if you’ve taken on more responsibility. In this article, we’ll detail how to negotiate a job offer in ways that will help you when you’re interviewing for a new job or want to be recognized at your current company. Learning how to negotiate your salary is an invaluable skill.

Negotiating Salary

Negotiating salary can seem daunting because you may feel like you have to accept the first offer. However, getting hired by a new company is an agreement for both the new employee and the company, meaning that the parties involved in the hiring process have to agree to the terms of employment. This includes liking and agreeing to your new salary and benefits. To negotiate your salary, you’ll want to be prepared. Of course, you’ll want to be paid more than your previous job since you’re bringing new skills and experience to your next employer. 

To negotiate your salary, you can do some research online to see what other people in your prospective position make, including in the area you live. You can also find out how many years of experience correlate with what range of salary. This way, during the interview, when salary negotiations occur, you are aptly prepared to discuss the facts of why you’re presenting the salary you are. When you speak with recruiters or hiring managers in a calm but confident way, you’re helping them listen to you and your valid salary negotiation points! 

There are many suggestions when it comes to salary negotiations. Next, we’ll describe other helpful salary negotiating tips for when you negotiate your salary.

Salary Negotiation Tips

These salary negotiation tips will help you communicate what you’d like out of a job offer. As you negotiate your salary with the hiring manager, how they respond can also give you a clue as to how the company’s personnel approaches such discussions. Their attitude can help you determine if the company is the right fit for you, which is another part of the interview process. Nevertheless, let’s continue with more salary negotiation tips.

Be Approachable

When you negotiate your salary, you want to be approachable and not aggressive in any way. By showing the facts behind your desired (but reasonable) salary calmly, your hiring manager  more likely to hear you out. By illustrating the experience you have and showing that people with similar jobs and experience make a certain salary, you are presenting your case objectively. You should also affirm that you’re highly interested in the position regardless. Otherwise, you risk the hiring manager not wanting to hire you if you seem like you won’t take the job because of their offer.

You Can Compromise

It’s possible that the hiring manager can’t offer you the salary you had in mind. It’s important to work within their budget. However, a job offer also includes benefits, such as paid time off, healthcare, a sign-on bonus, sick days, and stock options, all of which you can negotiate for. If a hiring manager can’t match the salary you’re looking for, perhaps you can ask for more paid time off, a higher sign-on bonus, or better stock options. Out of all of these benefits, think about what’s most important to you, and ask if there’s room to increase your benefits instead of your salary. The hiring manager may respond positively to this suggestion since they can’t match your ideal salary. When you show that you’re open to these negotiations, your hiring manager might be as well.

Respect Their Budget

Unfortunately, businesses sometimes have tight budgets that hiring managers can’t adjust for potential candidates. If a hiring manager expresses this when negotiating salary, it’s critical that you remain respectful and listen to why the company can’t offer a higher salary or better benefits. You can ask if the company offers cost-of-living adjustments or promotions, both of which include an increase in salary once you’ve worked in the new position for a period of time. Remaining respectful is key for the hiring manager to still consider you for the job even though they can’t match your ideal salary and benefits.

As you consider these salary negotiation tips, remember that it is a delicate topic, as people often avoid talking about their salary and money. However, it’s important to be rightly compensated for a job. Next, we’ll describe how to negotiate a job offer, even after you’ve accepted it.

How to Negotiate a Job Offer

One of the best times to successfully negotiate a salary is when you receive a job offer, especially if a salary discussion didn’t occur during your interview. If you didn’t discuss your salary and benefits during the interview, knowing that the company wants to hire you is one way to boost your confidence to negotiate your salary and benefits. Transparency goes a long way, as long as you illustrate why you need to renegotiate your job offer. As you talk with your hiring manager or recruiter, remain calm and keep confident to figure out how to compromise with them. However, there is a slight risk when it comes to negotiating your salary.

Risk of Salary Negotiation 

How do you negotiate a job offer when there might be a risk of losing the job offer? You’ll want to remain polite and assure the hiring manager that you’re looking forward to starting your work while remaining firm in negotiation details. Being patient and offering a reasonable salary range and benefits is important for the hiring manager to consider your negotiation while still offering you the job. Now, how do you negotiate a job offer after you accept it?

Negotiating an Accepted Job Offer

Negotiating your salary after you’ve accepted a job offer can be difficult, which is why it’s best to negotiate a job offer either during the interview or once you have an offer, but before you accept it. You can ask for a raise after you’ve accepted a job offer and worked at your company for a while, though especially if you’ve taken on more responsibility than what is in your job description. To ask for a raise, you’ll have to ask your manager, who might involve additional management and human resource employees to make a decision. When you ask for a raise, you can explain that you’ve gained more experience and that you’ve taken on more responsibility. By remaining calm and patient, your superiors might hear your side and give you a raise. 

Negotiating your salary may seem daunting, whether you’re interviewing for a position, discussing the details of a job offer, or asking your manager for a raise. However, there are ways to go about increasing your salary to accurately reflect your skills and experience. By using these tips to negotiate your salary, you can effectively obtain the salary and benefits that align with your credentials. At Brightwing, we help our candidates find a position that acknowledges what they bring to a company.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

How to Negotiate Your Salary

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Ways to Negotiate Your Salary

When you’re ready to interview for a job, you’ll probably have a lot of questions to ask your interviewer. The questions can regard company culture, job expectations, and much more. One of the most common and, arguably, most important questions you’ll want to ask pertains to what your salary and benefits are. Starting a job at a new company allows you to leverage your skills and experience for a better salary and better benefits. On the other hand, you can also negotiate your salary at your current company if you’ve taken on more responsibility. In this article, we’ll detail how to negotiate a job offer in ways that will help you when you’re interviewing for a new job or want to be recognized at your current company. Learning how to negotiate your salary is an invaluable skill.

Negotiating Salary

Negotiating salary can seem daunting because you may feel like you have to accept the first offer. However, getting hired by a new company is an agreement for both the new employee and the company, meaning that the parties involved in the hiring process have to agree to the terms of employment. This includes liking and agreeing to your new salary and benefits. To negotiate your salary, you’ll want to be prepared. Of course, you’ll want to be paid more than your previous job since you’re bringing new skills and experience to your next employer. 

To negotiate your salary, you can do some research online to see what other people in your prospective position make, including in the area you live. You can also find out how many years of experience correlate with what range of salary. This way, during the interview, when salary negotiations occur, you are aptly prepared to discuss the facts of why you’re presenting the salary you are. When you speak with recruiters or hiring managers in a calm but confident way, you’re helping them listen to you and your valid salary negotiation points! 

There are many suggestions when it comes to salary negotiations. Next, we’ll describe other helpful salary negotiating tips for when you negotiate your salary.

Salary Negotiation Tips

These salary negotiation tips will help you communicate what you’d like out of a job offer. As you negotiate your salary with the hiring manager, how they respond can also give you a clue as to how the company’s personnel approaches such discussions. Their attitude can help you determine if the company is the right fit for you, which is another part of the interview process. Nevertheless, let’s continue with more salary negotiation tips.

Be Approachable

When you negotiate your salary, you want to be approachable and not aggressive in any way. By showing the facts behind your desired (but reasonable) salary calmly, your hiring manager  more likely to hear you out. By illustrating the experience you have and showing that people with similar jobs and experience make a certain salary, you are presenting your case objectively. You should also affirm that you’re highly interested in the position regardless. Otherwise, you risk the hiring manager not wanting to hire you if you seem like you won’t take the job because of their offer.

You Can Compromise

It’s possible that the hiring manager can’t offer you the salary you had in mind. It’s important to work within their budget. However, a job offer also includes benefits, such as paid time off, healthcare, a sign-on bonus, sick days, and stock options, all of which you can negotiate for. If a hiring manager can’t match the salary you’re looking for, perhaps you can ask for more paid time off, a higher sign-on bonus, or better stock options. Out of all of these benefits, think about what’s most important to you, and ask if there’s room to increase your benefits instead of your salary. The hiring manager may respond positively to this suggestion since they can’t match your ideal salary. When you show that you’re open to these negotiations, your hiring manager might be as well.

Respect Their Budget

Unfortunately, businesses sometimes have tight budgets that hiring managers can’t adjust for potential candidates. If a hiring manager expresses this when negotiating salary, it’s critical that you remain respectful and listen to why the company can’t offer a higher salary or better benefits. You can ask if the company offers cost-of-living adjustments or promotions, both of which include an increase in salary once you’ve worked in the new position for a period of time. Remaining respectful is key for the hiring manager to still consider you for the job even though they can’t match your ideal salary and benefits.

As you consider these salary negotiation tips, remember that it is a delicate topic, as people often avoid talking about their salary and money. However, it’s important to be rightly compensated for a job. Next, we’ll describe how to negotiate a job offer, even after you’ve accepted it.

How to Negotiate a Job Offer

One of the best times to successfully negotiate a salary is when you receive a job offer, especially if a salary discussion didn’t occur during your interview. If you didn’t discuss your salary and benefits during the interview, knowing that the company wants to hire you is one way to boost your confidence to negotiate your salary and benefits. Transparency goes a long way, as long as you illustrate why you need to renegotiate your job offer. As you talk with your hiring manager or recruiter, remain calm and keep confident to figure out how to compromise with them. However, there is a slight risk when it comes to negotiating your salary.

Risk of Salary Negotiation 

How do you negotiate a job offer when there might be a risk of losing the job offer? You’ll want to remain polite and assure the hiring manager that you’re looking forward to starting your work while remaining firm in negotiation details. Being patient and offering a reasonable salary range and benefits is important for the hiring manager to consider your negotiation while still offering you the job. Now, how do you negotiate a job offer after you accept it?

Negotiating an Accepted Job Offer

Negotiating your salary after you’ve accepted a job offer can be difficult, which is why it’s best to negotiate a job offer either during the interview or once you have an offer, but before you accept it. You can ask for a raise after you’ve accepted a job offer and worked at your company for a while, though especially if you’ve taken on more responsibility than what is in your job description. To ask for a raise, you’ll have to ask your manager, who might involve additional management and human resource employees to make a decision. When you ask for a raise, you can explain that you’ve gained more experience and that you’ve taken on more responsibility. By remaining calm and patient, your superiors might hear your side and give you a raise. 

Negotiating your salary may seem daunting, whether you’re interviewing for a position, discussing the details of a job offer, or asking your manager for a raise. However, there are ways to go about increasing your salary to accurately reflect your skills and experience. By using these tips to negotiate your salary, you can effectively obtain the salary and benefits that align with your credentials. At Brightwing, we help our candidates find a position that acknowledges what they bring to a company.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Resume Tips From a Professional Recruiter

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Resume Tips From a Professional Recruiter

If you are thinking about a job change, consider some resume tips from a professional recruiter. Putting yourself out there on the job market can be challenging. It requires patience, determination, and some humility. Submitting job applications can often put you in a vulnerable place, and no one likes rejection. So there is little point in going about something as hard as a job search ill-prepared. How, one may ask, should someone prepare for a job search? The answer should be at the forefront of your mind, not only during job searches but in your professional career too. A quality resume is powerful. When organized well and executed correctly, a resume can make a job search easy. If a resume is constructed poorly, however, it can be to your detriment. With recruiting and hiring almost exclusively online nowadays, maximizing your digital resume is more important than ever. This article will go over some resume tips that will help you stand out to recruiters.

 

Basic Resume Advice

A good resume is not easy to come by. Too many people just slap their work experience into a word document and call it good. Not surprisingly, that is a waste of time. So much more is needed to show off your achievements and skills. There are reasons that simply listing skills and work experience however you please isn’t efficient. When you submit a job application, your resume is going to be one of the first things a recruiter will see. Recruiters are usually trained to look for specific things in a resume. If what they are looking for isn’t found quickly, there is a chance your application could be discarded. Of course, there are some basic rules to follow when putting together a resume that will help you get noticed. Listed below are some helpful resume tips from a professional recruiter:

 

Watch the Format

Keep your resume looking nice. It shows professionalism, attention to detail, and that you are interested in working. A polished format will help with the overall look of the resume.. Remember to keep formatting clean-looking, fonts and font sizes legible, and spacing consistent. You can inject personality with splashes of color or unusual headings. Don’t get too carried away though, and don’t include a head shot, or else it might start to look too unprofessional. Consider looking into templates if you need help. Always keep it to one page. Unless you are applying to a big-time executive position, don’t let any information run onto a second page.

 

Brag and Boast

If you only have one take-away from this article on resume advice, remember this: your resume is your highlight-reel. It is a ticket to brag about your accomplishments and your skills. Don’t be shy! Mention job titles, awards, honors, and any other kind of things you feel deserve mentioning. Of course, try to keep it relevant and keep it honest. Don’t exaggerate to make yourself look good. Honesty goes a long way, but recruiters really want to see what you can do.

 

Limit Content if Necessary

While you should brag about your accomplishments, it is not necessary to list everything you have ever done. Putting down all the jobs you have had since high school will only take up precious space. Instead, consider what is most relevant and what will really help get you the job you want. It is important to limit some content to make way for really important information. The important information will vary depending on the job, so it will require some judgment calls on your part.

 

Edit Vigorously

Among all the resume tips from a professional recruiter, this may be one of the most important. Pretend that your resume is an editing assignment for grammar class. A great deal of effort should go into checking grammar, spelling, tense, and pronouns. Some recruiters may immediately discard a resume if they find spelling or grammar errors. A resume free of spelling and grammar errors shows attention to detail and will give you a good advantage. So break out the dictionary and give yourself a refresher on the Oxford comma.

 

What is a Recruiter, and How Can You Stand Out to Them?

What is a recruiter, what do they do, and how can you impress them? Picture a college sports team. They send recruiters around the country to scout out talent and recruit athletes that will fit well in the organization. When a good candidate is found, they will try to get their attention and convince them to join their organization.

It’s an interesting reversal. Athletic recruiters try to get candidates’ attention while corporate and agency recruiters’ attention is often sought by candidates. So it is your duty, as a job-seeker, to capture the attention of a recruiter. Of course, some may reach out to you through job search apps. You may need to decide if they are worth speaking with. How do you catch the attention of the good recruiters? It helps to know what their job is. They go through many resumes and applications, sometimes dozens at a time. They need to make sure an applicant is qualified and is a good fit for the position and company. They need to be careful about who they select and who they spend time getting to know, as they have to vouch for you when they bring your file to a hiring manager. Thus, it is not their job to do you any favors. So to stand out to a recruiter, you need to make their job easier. Make yourself worth recommending. Project a confident and professional tone. Make sure your writing is free of errors and that your resume is relevant to the position. If you help the recruiter, you are sure to stand out. And of course, unless directed otherwise, a cover letter never hurts.

 

How to Send a Resume to a Recruiter

Personalization is the name of the game when it comes to sending a resume to a recruiter. Remember that you want to stand out while also making the recruiter’s job easier. By emailing your resume and cover letter directly to the recruiter, you are sure to stand out. Following the tips previously mentioned will also help with standing out. Keep the body of the email short and professional and avoid cliches. Include a strong subject line. You can usually find a good email on the company website. If an email to a recruiter or hiring manager can’t be found, you can usually find a generic email. Just include in the body or the subject something regarding the concerned department.

 

A Quality Resume is Key

Taking the time to polish your resume might very well land you that job. Leaving it in a poor state, however qualified you may be, may cost you the job. A lot of business is done online now, and recruiting is no exception. Because of that fact, resume construction is everything. It tells a recruiter who you are and what you are capable of. It is their only reference of what kind of person and worker you are. Use these resume tips from a professional recruiter and build your resume to make it represent you properly. If you feel your resume is ready, submit it here to be considered for any openings you may be qualified for in your general location. It may be nerve-racking, but adequate preparation will lend great confidence.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1585078267198{background-image: url(https://brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yellow-rectangle-scaled.jpg?id=27545) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1639428840598{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]

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How To Fill Jobs In Your Automotive Supplier Business

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Do you need to fill positions in your automotive supplier business? Do you want to work for an automotive supplier, but don’t know where to begin? We’ve got everything you need to know to uplevel your hiring or make some money in this article!

There is fierce competition for qualified employees across all industries. Automotive manufacturers are burdened by this fact. Unfortunately, for business owners, now hiring signs and paper ads – or even job postings on job boards – aren’t as effective as they used to be. On the flip side, for jobseekers, this industry is booming with great jobs of all ranges.

 

Finding and Retaining Help Is Easier if You Follow These Four Strategies:

 

1. Set the vision and prepare for change

To understand how the workforce is changing and what the consequences may be, automakers should start by gathering and analyzing data from their own employees. Survey them to understand where their expectations, ambitions, and satisfaction levels stand. Map out the way teams (both formal and informal) work together by analyzing digital communication trails. Work with leaders at all levels to understand their perspectives on the future and catalog anticipated needs. Next, consider analyzing the impact of different outside trends on the workforce – not just those related to the digital economy, but those related to demographic, organizational, and environmental aspects as well.

With all these analyses in tow, automotive companies can anticipate and prepare for some of the major changes ahead. This leaves room to project how many and which kinds of workers you’ll need to add to your headcount or re-train as your company grows. Staffing services are often a smart strategic option to consider when approaching the question of specialized talent, Brightwing is here for you!

2. Determine and design workforce strategies

Great ambitions propel people to action, but automotive companies must understand the challenges ahead. To respond to these trends, organizations must design workforce strategies to identify the best talent pools, analyze how to engage them, and then build a compelling employee brand and value proposition.

Finally, they must leverage partners and technology to gain seamless access to relevant talent pools, expanding the availability of critical skill sets and enabling a more agile organization. Bosch, for instance, established a database to keep track of employees’ skills and knowledge, which can be used for future projects.

3. Deliver the transformation

In order to drive transformation, the employees of a company must be behind it. However, that will only be accomplished if the company leaders are willing to adopt the change and set the example. Automakers will need to implement the roadmap by creating a transformation management office; they will need to train their employees on the new technology platforms and establish effective communication strategies.

 

Signs Of The Best Automotive Companies To Work For

If you are an automotive company owner looking to increase employee retention or if you are an automotive job seeker looking for a job, it is important to consider what makes a company worth working for. 

Competitive Compensation

All workers are looking for fair pay. It is necessary to support yourself and your loved ones. But how do you know that your pay is competitive? It is important to study salary surveys online to make sure you’re not getting cheated out of your well-deserved pay. You can also avoid being taken advantage of by going through a recruiter. Recruiters have insider knowledge of how the jobs they’re filling should be compensated. Thus, they will get you a competitive rate. 

Company Culture

Great companies support and encourage their employees, and their employees show their appreciation by working hard. You need to be aware of what to look for during interviews. Ask about company culture and take note of how the hiring manager talks about employees. Do they use positive or negative language? Are they able to talk about the importance of their team? Do they have an understanding of the needs of their team members and are they openly looking for solutions?

Communication

Communication is key in any work environment. Make sure that the hiring manager is not only a good communicator themselves, but that you ask them about the communication standards within the company. They should be able to clearly and efficiently discuss the methods used to keep employees clued into the information they need. If they are unprepared to communicate this in an interview, they are likely unprepared to properly communicate with their workforce. 

Innovation & Development

Innovation and development are important on two fronts. First of all, you want to work for a company that is using the best practices for their line of work. This includes innovation strategies, safety, and the development of their products. 

Meanwhile, it is equally crucial that the company has your development in mind. You don’t want to join a company just to feel stuck in your position. Many employees have a growth mindset and need a company willing to help them achieve that growth. Ask about promotion opportunities within the company and whether they look internally when hiring for other positions.

 

 

Automotive Jobs Near Me

No technician, engineer, operations professional, manager, or leader should be waiting for jobs to come to them. You must hustle if you want to succeed. 

You’re more likely to get a job if you show employers that you’re a hard worker with a solid education and job training. The most important thing is to remember that job hunting is a journey, so don’t get discouraged. Staffing is a good option to find consistent jobs in the automotive field!

We hope this article has given you great insight into everything from hiring to being hired in the automotive supplier industry. In order to find the perfect business-employee relationship, there are many things to consider. Our team, Brightwing Staffing, is dedicated to helping you! Our customer satisfaction is our top priority. The Brightwing team is confident that if you implement all the tactics outlined in this article, you will succeed in your endeavor regardless of where you are!

What Types of Interviews Are There and How Can You Prepare for Them?

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Whether you’re looking for your first job or are searching for a new one, learning the different types of interviews and how to prepare for them can help you land a desired position. There is often competition for a position, and often only 20% of candidates are offered an interview. With these odds, it never hurts to brush up on the types of interviews and how to ace them. 

Types of Interviews

Interviews are used throughout the different stages of the hiring process, from initial screening to making a final decision. Each type of interview is designed to glean specific information, see how candidates react in scenarios, or test candidates in certain ways. Even though interviews can often be separated into types, they can also overlap. For example, you may be presented with a problem-solving question during your traditional one-on-one interview. 

Types of Job Interviews 

Traditional Interview

The traditional one-on-one interview is still the most common type of interview. Usually, these interviews are conducted by a hiring manager or an HR representative. They last for 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Traditional interviews often have a balance of questions. They are aimed to get to know you personally, to learn about your behavior, and to test some problem-solving. These can be done in person, though many companies are opting for Zoom interviews nowadays. This is both to protect those post-pandemic, as well as to provide more convenient scheduling for all parties. 

Phone Interview

Phone interviews are for candidates who have something appealing on their resume, but are still being screened for a future interview. These interviews are often 15 to 20 minutes. They allow recruiters to confirm a candidate’s interest and availability in a position. Additionally, they can identify salary requirements. Plus, it is a good way to see if the candidate demonstrates an overall good first impression. 

Project or Case Interview

A project or case interview is concerned with testing a candidate’s technical skills. Usually, the candidate is assigned a task or project with a deadline. This is used to demonstrate their skill and how they perform on a task under pressure. Sometimes, the assignments are purposefully difficult, making it important to demonstrate a well-thought-out thinking process. 

Group Interview

Group interviews are when multiple candidates are brought in for an interview at the same time. These interviews help hirers find an ideal candidate quickly and are structured like a group conversation. These interviews demonstrate how candidates act in a group environment and how they treat their colleagues in a high-stakes situation. 

Panel Interview

Panel interviews are when multiple staff members, usually around 3-5, interview an individual candidate at the same time. These interviews are more common in highly-structured hiring processes or when a search committee is being used to find an ideal candidate. Each member of the panel has their own agenda and will ask different questions. While it can feel overwhelming, do your best to directly answer one question at a time and then try to connect it to the interests or perspectives of the other panelists. 

Mealtime Interview

Mealtime interviews are more common in positions that require meetings with clients (such as sales) or frequent outings and connecting with colleagues. The interviewer will meet the candidate over lunch, usually to get to know them as a person and to examine their social skills. Watching your table manners is critical in a mealtime interview. 

How to Prepare for a Job Interview

Research the Company

During the interview, you may be presented with questions related to a company, such as a favorite product or service, or how you are a good fit for company values. To prepare for these questions, it is important to understand the company you are interviewing with. Learn about their competitors and their ideals. If possible, it’s also a good idea to research your interviewer(s) to find something in their background you can connect with.

Prepare Your Answers

While each company will have its own specific questions, there are common interview questions that will pop up frequently during your job search. While you don’t have to answer any single one of these questions, look through common questions lists and think of your answers. They will help you sound prepared and confident in your interview. 

You can also prepare defense answers for your weaknesses or answers that ease the interviewer’s doubts about you. For example, if you know you’re a dedicated employee that sometimes works hard or extra hours, your interviewer might be concerned if burnout will affect your performance. You can ease the interviewer’s concerns if you counter with how you counter burnout. 

Practice, Practice, Practice 

Even if you have your interview answers thought out, nothing beats practicing saying them out loud. This can help you get the phrasing right to sound articulate. Not to mention, it can prevent you from being paralyzed when your thoughts are racing under the pressure of an interview. 

Make Sure Your Space and Technology Are Ready 

For phone and video interviews, make sure that you will not be disturbed, a glass of water is ready, and that your technology works. Especially for video interviews, make sure you have a strong internet connection and that your speakers and microphone are functioning. 

Speak Up About Your Selling Points

Often, interviewers won’t ask the exact questions you might want them to. If there’s something you especially want the interviewer to know, such as a specific experience or skill, it is your responsibility to bring it up during the conversation. When you’re elaborating on an experience, make sure you share the situation, the task, your actions, and the results. In group interviews, it is especially important to speak up without dominating the conversation. 

Have Some Questions for the Interviewer

Having questions for your interviewer demonstrates your interest in the company and is also a great chance for you to learn more about the company, its workplace culture, and its values. Not having prepared your own questions can paint you as disinterested and less proactive. 

Getting the Interview

If you’re worried about getting interviews to begin with, recruiting companies are the way to go. Here at Brightwing, we pride ourselves on matching employees with the right companies. We can aid your process of getting interviews so that you can move forward and nail them with these tips and advice tailored to your situation. 

Best Tech Interview Questions and Answers

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[vc_row gap=”20″][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1585081315933{margin-right: 20px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]If you are looking for a new job in tech, you might be anticipating what questions you will be asked in your interview. A technical interview is typically different from a traditional job interview. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the most common technical interview questions to help you prepare. Whether you are a new college graduate who is entering the field, or a seasoned professional who perhaps hasn’t interviewed for a new job in a while, it can help you to know what to expect and how to prepare in order to best prepare your answers, demonstrate your skills and knowledge, and hopefully land that coveted new position! (Or, if you’re a tech employer, these are also some great suggestions for questions to ask during your next round of interviews for an open position!) 

 

What Is a Technical Interview?

A technical (or tech) interview is a job interview for any position that relates to the tech industry, like perhaps an IT (information technology) career. 

 

Technical Interview Questions 

There are a few different types of common technical interview questions that fall into the following categories:  

Knowledge, Education, and Experience Questions 

Even though the answers to these questions are typically on your resume, many interviewers will still ask questions about your training, knowledge, education, and previous experience. 

Behavioral Interview Questions

Technical interviews typically start the same way as an interview for any other type of job interview: with several general questions to learn more about who you are and how you will fit in with the culture of the company. 

Situational Interview Questions

Situational interview questions are questions where the interviewer presents you with a hypothetical situation and asks how you respond to the situation or resolve the problem. 

 

Common Tech Interview Questions 

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions during tech interviews: 

 

Example Knowledge, Education, and Experience Questions

 

Question: What do you know about our company? 

How to Answer: To answer this question, you will need to research the company before you interview. Perhaps there is a particular employee you are excited to work with or a particular project you are hoping to take on. Prepare yourself by scouring the company’s website and social media platforms so you can formulate your answer. 

 

Question: What certifications do you have that will help you perform your duties? 

How to Answer: This question is the perfect opportunity for you to discuss any certifications or education you have that makes you an ideal candidate for this position. Make sure to apply your experience and knowledge directly to how it will benefit you in the specific position you are applying for. 

 

Example Behavioral Interview Question

The best way to answer these types of questions is by showing, not telling. 

 

Question: What was your role and what were your responsibilities at your last position? 

How to Answer: This is a great opportunity to utilize the STAR interview technique. Using this technique, you identify a Situation, Task, Action, and Result of an experience you had that is relevant to the question. 

 

Example Situational Interview Question

 

Question: How would you handle the challenge of working with difficult coworkers on a project? 

How to Answer: Never say that you have never had an issue with a coworker or a team member. Your interviewer will likely know this is not the truth. Instead, describe a project or assignment (ideally one that demonstrates your skills) and discuss how you were able to get along with and work with your coworker and the solution you were able to reach together. Your interviewer is trying to find out how you work with others or on a team. 

 

Example Technical Interview Question

 

 

Question: What coding language are you most comfortable with? 

How to Answer: It is typical to be asked about coding languages when you are applying for technical positions. This is a commonly asked question in tech interviews to determine whether you have a comprehensive understanding of how to use the coding language they use, and whether or not you are able to use more than one language. The best way to answer this question is to touch on all the coding languages you have knowledge of, and then answer which one you know best, and why. 

 

Tips for Answering Interview Questions for Technical Positions

If you want to stand out as the best candidate for the job, here are a few more tips for acing your upcoming tech interview: 

 

Explain Your Reasoning 

Many tech interview questions have multiple answers that could be correct. When you answer a question that has several different solutions, make sure you explain your reasoning and your process for arriving at the conclusion. You might even discuss the various different answers and explain why you chose your specific answer. 

 

Ask for Clarification 

If the interviewer asks you a question and you need more details to answer, ask them for clarification. This is a great way to demonstrate that you aren’t afraid to ask for help when you need it. 

 

Be Honest If You Don’t Know the Answer 

Don’t be afraid to be honest if you don’t know the answer to a question. Most likely, your interviewer will appreciate your honesty. Many workplaces are willing to train a candidate if they are the right fit for the job but only lacking knowledge in one area. 

 

Be Ready to Prove Your Skills

Oftentimes, a technical job interview will include a portion where you will need to prove that you have the necessary skills for the position. For example, this might include a remote coding assignment, a whiteboard coding challenge, or a series of brainteasers. Be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge! 

 

Find Your Next Tech Job with Brightwing

If you have made the decision to look for a new job, make the process much easier with Brightwing. Our Brightwing recruiters can give you access to top, unlisted job opportunities, prep for the interview ahead of time, and give you more assistance when it comes to finding the perfect new position. [/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1585078267198{background-image: url(https://brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yellow-rectangle-scaled.jpg?id=27545) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1639423677748{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]

let’s talk

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SEND US A MESSAGE

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Best Tech Interview Questions and Answers

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If you are looking for a new job in tech, you might be anticipating what questions you will be asked in your interview.

Read more

5 Steps to Acing Your Interview

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1573242552154{margin-right: 20px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Do you approach interviews like a student sitting down to take an exam? You “study” ahead of time, trying to anticipate the “right” answers so you can ace your job interview?

If you do, it’s time to stop.

The student-teacher analogy is the wrong one. Interviews are not tests where one side goes in blind and the other has the answer key.

Interviews are the beginning of a negotiation. You’ve got value to offer in the form of your talent, just like hiring managers have value to offer in the form of a paying job.

Here are five steps to ace your job interview and land the next step in your career.

 

1. Understand the stakes

Landing the wrong role can be just as devastating to your career as not landing any role at all. Your goal is not to contort yourself to fit into the mold of some ideal, hirable candidate.

Your goal is to communicate the value you could bring to the organization, as well as qualify the opportunity for yourself.

Ask yourself: what’s the worst thing that could happen? The answer: you don’t get the job. Those are the stakes – not more, not less. If the worst happens and you don’t get the job, that’s not a statement about your potential as a professional. It’s about that specific role on that specific team.

 

2. Qualify the opportunity

You need to make a judgment about the company you’re interviewing with, and that requires you to ask qualifying questions. The hiring manager needs to sell you not only on the role, but also on their own vision for their team.

Here’s an example of one way to do that: it’s common practice in interviews for managers to ask candidates where they see themselves in 5 years. But as the candidate, it’s time to start asking hiring managers what their 5-year strategy is.

What kind of team will they need to accomplish those goals? What kind of skills will they rely on?

Given the broader context, you can understand and show how you’re the right person not only for now, but also for the future.

 

3. Put your interviewer at ease

If you want to ace your job interview, don’t just focus on what you say, but how you say it.

Use the mirroring technique while interviewing to help your interviewer feel more comfortable and familiar, faster.

When you’re on the phone, listen to the tone, rate of speech or cadence of how the hiring manager is asking questions and try to match those qualities in your replies.

For example, if the manager has high energy and speaks quickly, you should try to respond with plenty of energy and pace yourself. If in person, it’s always good to match the body posture/body language, too.

 

4. Get comfortable with silence

As with any negotiation, rushing to fill silences puts you at a disadvantage.

When you act (and feel) like you’re on more equal footing with your interviewer, it becomes easier to allow pauses to pass naturally.

Don’t give your nerves the reigns: stay focused and concise when you answer an interviewer’s questions. Sometimes, silence is all you need to ace your job interview.

 

5. Ace your next job interview with the right recruiter

Pick the right recruiter.

There are a LOT of recruiters out there. So, do your research. Choose the right recruiter based on their reputation, area of focus (skillset), and location. Search for recruiters at firms that are Great Recruiters Certified, for example, as a way to narrow in on high quality.

Having the right recruiter at your side is a much more efficient way to go through a job search process, and really develop the best possible offer.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”check out our open jobs!” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffc600″ custom_text=”#0a0a0a” shape=”round” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com%2Fjobs%2F|title:News%3A%20Job%20Seekers”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1585078567282{background-image: url(https://brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yellow-rectangle-scaled.jpg?id=27545) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1639428661379{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]

let’s get to know each other

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SEND US A MESSAGE

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5 Recruiters Weigh In On Best Interview Techniques

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contact us:

[/vc_column_text][wpforms id=”27251″ title=”false” description=”false”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1573242552154{margin-right: 20px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Here are tips from 5 Brightwing recruiters on how to ace the interview…

 

1. How to beat the nerves

 

 

Jason Hochstein
Director of Talent Acquisiton, Brightwing

 “I was working with a candidate who used to get so nervous about interviewing, she’d lose sleep. The night before, she’d think about how it was going to go. The night after she’d pick apart her performance.

 

Interviews are definitely nerve-wracking – there’s no way around that – but I don’t think they should be a miserable experience!

 

After a mock interview, I gave a few tips on how to combat the nerves:

 

→  Remember you’ve got power, too. And you have priorities other than making yourself hirable. You need to make a judgment about the company you’re interviewing with!

 

→  Put it in perspective. Ask yourself, what’s the worst thing that could happen? The answer: you don’t get the job. Those are the stakes – not more, not less.

 

→  If the worst happens and you don’t get the job, that’s not a statement about your potential as a professional. It’s about that specific role on that specific team.”

2. Get comfortable with silence

 

 

dan start

Dan Start
Brightwing Finance & Accounting Recruiter

 “Stay focused and concise when you answer an interviewer’s questions. If you can’t be succinct, they’ll imagine you rambling on in future conversations and meetings. So get comfortable with pauses – don’t talk just to fill them.”

3. Use the mirroring technique

 

Will Foss
Brightwing IT Recruiter

 “One thing I like to tell candidates is to use the mirroring technique while interviewing. It can help make the interviewer feel at ease with you, faster.

 

When you’re on the phone, listen to the tone, rate of speech or cadence of how the hiring manager is asking questions and try to match those qualities in your replies.

 

For example, if the manager has high energy and speaks quickly, you should try to respond with plenty of energy and pace yourself.

 

If in person, its always good to match the body posture/body language, too.

 

You definitely don’t want to look like a copycat – it should just feel natural.”

4. Be yourself (while selling yourself)

 

justin hochstein

Justin Hochstein
Brightwing Finance & Accounting Recruiter

 “I know it sounds simple, but BE YOURSELF. Let a company hire the real YOU. Of course you want to come prepared (with your proudest achievements, the reasons you want the job, etc.), but don’t confuse presenting your best self with hiding who you really are.”

5. Choose your representative wisely

 

 

mike gourley

Mike Gourley
Brightwing Engineering & Design Recruiter

 “Pick the right recruiter. There’s a lot of us out there. So, do your research. Choose the right recruiter based on their reputation, area of focus (skillset), and location. I’ve seen the value we can provide to candidates. It’s just a much more efficient way to go through a job search process, and really develop the best possible offer.”

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”check out our open jobs!” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffc600″ custom_text=”#0a0a0a” shape=”round” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com%2Fjobs%2F|title:News%3A%20Job%20Seekers”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1585078567282{background-image: url(https://brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/yellow-rectangle-scaled.jpg?id=27545) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1639175787044{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]

let’s get to know each other

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SEND US A MESSAGE

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Why You’re Not Closing Job Offers …and 5 Ways to Fix It

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There are plenty of obvious things that make a job offer attractive. Competitive or above-market pay, bonus opportunities, and benefits all play a part. And it’s all the better when the compelling compensation package comes from an organization with a strong employer brand.

 

But there are also subtle dynamics that attract and repel candidates on the way to the offer. To maximize offer acceptance, you’ve got to help candidates imagine a future where they love working for you and with you.

 

68% of candidates believe that the way you treat them during the hiring process is a direct window into the way you’d treat them as an employee. That means: the experience you gift (or inflict on) your candidate is part of the offer you put on the table.

 

To maximize offer acceptance, you’ve got to help candidates imagine a future where they love working for you and with you. Here are 5 keys to making it nearly impossible to turn down your offer…

 

  1.       Assume there aren’t many good fish in the sea.

 

Of course, you’re interviewing many candidates for just one opening. But never slip into the false impression that the hiring party holds all the power, the job seeker, none.

You’ve got choices, and so does the job seeker.

There isn’t an infinite supply of excellent candidates (even though it may sometimes feel like it). You’ve got to look for what makes each candidate different, and then move fast when you find someone great.

 

  1.       Aim for honesty, not transparency.

 

100% transparency is not the goal. There are plenty of facts or details that don’t need to be passed on to the candidate.

But you should over-communicate progress or lack of progress.

If the process isn’t unfolding the way you said it would, say so and revisit the plan. Be up front and direct about pertinent facts – snags in the timeline, feedback, obstacles – and candidates can imagine a healthy future working relationship predicated on trust and honesty.

 

  1.       Give the gift of your full attention.

 

You’ve got to make the most of the time you’re given with each candidate. That means: you brush up on candidates’ backgrounds before speaking with them. You let interviews run only as long as you both agreed to. And you give candidates your full attention during your discussions. As tempting as it is to sneakily check your phone under the table, that signals to candidates that either you don’t adequately value their time or that you are overwhelmed or distracted as a manager. Neither interpretation is flattering.

Team members thrive when they’re given their managers’ attention. If you take the time to be present with a candidate and get to know who they are as a person and a professional, then you’ll have set the stage for an engaged employee.

 

  1.       Articulate a clear (and shared!) vision of the opportunity.

 

All stakeholders in the process should generally agree about the role and its purpose, and the formal job description should reflect the same line of thought. Of course, there will be variations in the way different people discuss or understand the opportunity. But if a program manager describes goals for the role that have absolutely nothing to do with how a VP describes the same thing, you’re in trouble.

When there are jarring discrepancies between each interviewer’s account of a position, candidates have trouble picturing themselves in the role. That’s the opposite of the desired effect.

You want candidates to be able to envision the contributions they’d make to your organization, so make sure not to let organizational misalignment sully their view.

 

  1.       Give candidates a taste of company life outside the interview room.

 

There’s no doubt you’ve made promises about what your company culture is like – on your website, social media, in conversations, etc. Since you talk the talk, candidates will want to know if you walk the walk.

So, have candidates meet other people both on and off the team. Give them a tour of the office. With a glimpse of the coffee or game room, candidates can envision colleagues that turn into friends. The buzz of a busy office can conjure up thoughts of happy productivity. Give candidates enough data for them to extrapolate the rest of the pretty picture. It’ll help nudge them in the right direction once they’ve got your offer in-hand.

 

 

 

At Brightwing, our talent acquisition approach is one-part relationships, one-part insight, and one-part results. We know it’s a recipe that can work for you.

LET’S PARTNER UP. WE CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

How the Most Successful Engineering Job Seekers Dominate Technical Interviews

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How the Most Successful Engineering Job Seekers Dominate Technical Interviews

 

There’s nothing more effective in securing a dream engineering job than nailing your technical interview. Interviewers want to see what you know and how you break down problems to reach conclusions. Do you look at every aspect of a problem? Do you recognize variables and possible outcomes? It may even be as simple as your process for solving brain teasers or math problems. If you’re prepared for all situations, you won’t break a sweat!

 

 

Here’s our technical interview cheat sheet to help you navigate the sea of engineering job interviews.

 

Brush up on Your Skills
The technical interview is an “applied knowledge” exercise, so brush up on the fundamentals. This process is designed to see how you apply your basic knowledge, so be sure that your foundation is strong for the engineering job opportunity. If there are more recent skills expected in your profession (a new computer language, tooling software, etc.) make sure you have some knowledge of these to show that you are an evolving professional.

 

ace the technical interview to land engineering jobs

Think out loud
While our experience with many math or logic tests have required silence, this is a scenario where you want to speak up. Thinking out loud will let interviewers see how you approach a problem, break it down, and plan an attack.

 

Ask questions
Communication and cooperation are key to any engineering team, so asking questions in a technical interview is one of the best ways to show how well you work with others. Do you ask follow-up questions to get more information? You won’t know every answer when you’re out in the field, so asking questions can help you paint a better picture of the issue at hand. It is not a sign of weakness. Remain calm and positive to work through the scenario.

 

Use tools provided
Whatever tools you are given, it’s in your best interest to use them. Printed scenarios or problems allow you to build a base of questions before you start creating your own. Hidden tools may be in the answers you are given, so be sure to listen carefully. Don’t forget about the job description either – this is one of the biggest tools you’re given. Use the position responsibilities as a guide to reference your own experience doing similar tasks and projects, and make sure you can speak to the skills required for the position.

 

Possible questions

While there is no telling exactly what problems or scenarios you will be asked, here are some of the most common ones:

– Name 5 ways to retrieve a needle from a haystack.

– Explain the concept of polymorphism in object-oriented development.

– If a system fails and has to be rebooted, what tool can we use to look at monitoring and CPU usage for the past week?

– You have 100 doors in a row that are all initially closed. You make 100 passes by the doors starting with the first door every time. The first time through you visit every door and toggle the door (if the door is closed, you     open it, if it’s open, you close it). The second time you only visit every 2nd door (door #2, #4, #6, etc.). The third time, every 3rd door (door #3, #6, #9, etc.), until you only visit the 100th door. Question: what state are the doors in after the last pass? Which are open which are closed?

 

To close, be enthusiastic and thank your interviewers for their time. Technical interviews are no easy task, but if you prepare mentally for the challenge, interviewing for engineering jobs will be a piece of cake.

3 Ways to Say Thank You After Second Interview

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1574868853781{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #f7f7f7 !important;}”][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1581093901436{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”]JTNDaDIlM0VzaWduJTIwdXAlMjBmb3IlMjBvdXIlMjBtb250aGx5JTIwbmV3c2xldHRlciUzQyUyRmgyJTNFJTBBJTI2bmJzcCUzQiUwQSU1QndwZm9ybXMlMjBpZCUzRCUyMjI3MjUxJTIyJTIwdGl0bGUlM0QlMjJmYWxzZSUyMiUyMGRlc2NyaXB0aW9uJTNEJTIyZmFsc2UlMjIlNUQlMEE=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1573242552154{margin-right: 20px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Sending thank you notes after any interview is important, but thanking interviewers after the second interview is a MUST! The stakes are higher, and so are the expectations. Every situation is different. Sometimes mailing your thank you is the best option, and other times an email is the way to go. In this blog, we’ll provide 3 examples to say thank you after the second interview.

No matter which thank you method you use, the objective at this point is to emphasize your enthusiasm for the position, the company, and why you are the best fit for the position based on your experience.

 

Thank You Email After Second Interview

 

Emailing a thank you note after the second interview is by far the most common follow-up method. Although there are always exceptions, we’ve come up with a few ways for you to tell when you should utilize email over snail mail:

— The interview was very informal and laid back

— The interviewer is following up within 3 days

— The job itself requires a lot of email usage[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#d29f13″ css=”.vc_custom_1581094687269{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text]#1. Email Example (in-person interview)

Justin — 

It was great meeting with you for a second interview today! My enthusiasm for X position has grown even stronger since our first discussion. Once again, I felt a strong connection with the culture of X company, and believe I would make a great all-around fit. My X skills and advanced experience in X solidify my belief that I am a great fit for this exciting position.

Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me. I look forward to hearing back from you!

Joe[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#d29f13″ css=”.vc_custom_1581094687269{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text]#2. Email Example (over-the-phone interview)

If you had two phone interviews, you probably spoke to two different people.

Justin — 

I enjoyed speaking with you for my second interview today! Ever since my first interview with Jason, I’ve had a strong vested interest X Company. Our discussion today solidified my enthusiasm for X position, and I am confident that my experience in X would make for a great fit.

Thanks again, and I look forward to meeting the X Company team and yourself in person!

Joe[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#d29f13″ css=”.vc_custom_1581094687269{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text]

Thank You Letter After Second Interview

 

Mailing a thank you letter may seem a little old-school, but it’s still appropriate for some situations. For example, if the hiring manager or company has a more traditional attitude or culture, a thank you letter may be the way to go. Here are a few other reasons why you may want to choose snail mail over email:

— Interview was very formal

— Lengthy hiring process

— Interviewed with other candidates[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#d29f13″ css=”.vc_custom_1581094687269{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text]#3. Letter Example

Dear Mrs. Green,

 

Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the second time. I appreciate your interest in my candidacy for X position.

As we discussed, I believe that my array of X skills will be of great value for X Company. I am especially interested in this position because X, Y, and Z. I am looking forward to meeting with you again to discuss any further details about my past experience, skill sets, or any other relevant matters.

 

Kind Regards,

Joe[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#d29f13″ css=”.vc_custom_1581094687269{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text]

Final Interviewing Tips

 

No Dumb Mistakes – You cannot afford to spell the interviewer’s name wrong. Be sure to proofread!

Personalize – Be authentic, and make sure to reiterate what was previously discussed in the interview.

Be Prompt – Sending a thank you note within 24 hours shows that you mean business.

 

We wish you the best of luck in all of your interviews. If you ever need any assistance, feel free to contact Brightwing anytime.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1571082843545{background-image: url(dev2020.brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/yellow-cta-background-1.jpeg?id=1558) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1639422626877{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;}”]

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IT Jobs: 10 Interview Tips to Showcase Your Skills

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IT Jobs: 10 Interview Tips to Showcase Your Skills

 

So you say you’re an incredible .NET developer? That’s awesome, but if you have trouble communicating your expertise to a non-technical interviewer, we’re here to help! Our IT recruiting team has truly seen it all. With years of experience, finding great IT jobs for tech professionals is our bread and butter. I sat down with our recruiters to get the real-world advice they give interviewees to help them land their next IT job. Here’s what they said:

 

1. It’s okay to be nervous. It’s natural, and interviewers usually expect it. Don’t psych yourself out by trying to cover it up. It usually comes off as awkward.

 

2. Take a notebook with you to take notes throughout the interview. Even if you don’t think you need it, not taking notes can send the wrong message. You can even use the notebook to your advantage by writing down questions you may have for the interviewee beforehand.

 

3. Evaluate yourself afterwards by writing down any questions that may have stumped you immediately after an interview. Re-evaluate your answer so you can decide if and how you might answer it differently in the future. The more interviews you go on, the more confident you’ll become when taking this extra step.

 

4. Give specific examples when answering a question while still being concise. If you aren’t sure that you gave them enough information ask, “Does that answer your question?” or “Would you like more information?” to prevent from rambling on.

 

5. Be prepared to talk about your technical abilities with someone with no technical knowledge. Many times, at least one of your interviewers will have little knowledge of the systems you work with. Be able to describe your experience in detail in terms that non-practitioners would understand.

 

6. Pay attention to body language. If you notice your interviewer getting impatient, wrap up your point quickly so you can move on to the next topic. Remember that many interviews only last an hour, so be conscious of the time to allow enough time for all their questions and yours.

 

7. Eye contact and a firm handshake. So many people forget this, but it’s critical to making a good impression.

 

8. Study the job description before you go into the interview. Even if you don’t have all of the skills “required,” there is a reason they have agreed to meet with you. If you know or have experience with 80% of the description, focus on researching the 20% that you don’t. It will show that you have drive. You can also use the 20% you don’t know as a weakness (if they ask), and spin it into something positive where it shows you’re capable of learning and improving in these areas.

 

9. Silence is okay. If you have fully answered the interviewer’s question, STOP. Don’t ramble on. The interviewer may just be taking notes or collecting their thoughts.

 

10. Get the interviewers’ contact information. Send all interviewers a hand-written thank you note, or email them a thank you at the very least. Pro tip: master the fine art of writing the perfect thank you note.

 

 

 

Turn Your Job Hunting Weaknesses Into Positives

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Turn Your Job Hunting Weaknesses Into Positives

 

“What are your weaknesses?”… after investing some time in demonstrating why you’d be the best person for a job, this question can be quite difficult to answer or discuss. The reality is that everyone has some sort of weaknesses even if they’re the best in their field. Don’t let yours ruin your chances in getting the job you’ve been working hard to get! Just like anything else, it’s the way you say it and how you approach it.

 

 

4 common weaknesses you can spin into positives:

 

I am assertive
To some people, assertiveness might come off as being arrogant, dominating and bossy. However, being assertive can also be a great attribute and it’s your job to show them how! Perhaps being assertive has been a great communication skill in the past or it has allowed you to solve problems and take responsibility. Shine a positive light to this attribute, and make it work for your advantage.

 

Inexperience
This is one of the most common weaknesses in job seekers. After all, we all start as a beginner at one point in our career. List any accomplishments, projects or related coursework on your resume, to show you do have some sort of experience and knowledge in the field. If you are changing careers, takeaway skills from previous jobs that you find relevant. Lastly, in some instances, lack of experience can be an advantage! Demonstrate that you are a fast learner and they’ll find value in being able to teach you from scratch.

 

Disparity in your work experience
We get it, things happen! No matter the reason, be prepared to explain it and be sure to stay active in the meantime. You can do so by volunteering, taking industry related classes, or even working on side projects that you can add to your resume. The important thing is to show that you are committed to your career and passionate about the industry.

 

Job hopping
Companies spend a lot of time and money on new-hires, and they want to be sure that they stay for a long time. Although no one expects you to have the same job for 10 years, if you tend to be a job hopper, be sure to approach it in a positive way. If the constant move wasn’t necessarily your choice, you can explain the reasoning in a cover letter. If you’ve simply moved from job to job to get to where you want to be, spin this by focusing on the prevalent themes of your work. You will then come off as an experienced go-getter instead of the hit-and-run type. To become an even more desirable candidate, be sure to point out your accomplishments and successes along the way.

 

Finding the silver lining in any weaknesses, will help you address them more confidently in any job interview. In the end, confidence will go a long way when it comes to landing a job and being successful at it!

5 Questions to Ask in an Interview

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5 Questions to Ask in an Interview

 

“Do you have any questions for me” has become a staple interview question. This is your opportunity to end the interview with a bang! While it is tempting to say “no” and be done, asking questions shows that you were listening to the interviewer as he or she spoke, and that you are genuinely interested in the company.

 

Here are the top 5 essential questions to ask in an interview:

 

What is the best part about working here?

This question illustrates positive thinking. It shows you are one to boost morale, while enjoying what you do. Further, this question may lead the interviewer to share information about extra perks and deeper insight about their culture.

 

May I meet some of the people I would be working with, or have a short tour?

While this question may catch them off-guard or may feel uncomfortable asking, it signals to the interviewer that you are truly interested in the position and are not wasting time. If they agree, you will have the opportunity to see the office firsthand, and observe what a day at work looks like in the office.

 

I recently read that…

This is the perfect opportunity to ask about current events relevant to the company. Prior to your interview, research the company and ask questions that are not obvious on their site. Dig a little deeper and show off your research skills! Again, this shows the company that you are interested in the company, and that you’ve invested extra time to learn more about them.

 

questions to ask in an interview

How would you define success for the person in this position?
This is a great question to ask in an interview for your own benefit. It will give you a more detailed guide on what the job will entail and overall expectations of the company. Depending on how the interviewer answers, you may gain insight into the daily routine, hours expected to work, and most importantly, how leadership views success.

 

 

Do you see any reason why I might not be a good fit for the job?

This question may be the hardest to ask, but perfect to clarify any misconceptions. Regardless of what answer they give, make sure to elaborate and explain why x reasons will not affect your job performance. It is always about how you say it, rather than what you are saying. So take this opportunity to shine a positive light on all of your skills. Leave the interviewer with a positive impression of you, and with a clear reason as to why you would be a right fit for the job.

 

Extra Tip:

Prepare your list of questions to ask in an interview in advance. Don’t show up empty-handed because not only does it look bad, but you are most likely going to forget some questions. Lastly, remember that less is more. Only pick a handful of questions that you think will be most beneficial depending on the interview and the company.

 

 

Engineering Job Seekers: 3 Quick Ways to Stand Out

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Engineering Job Seekers: 3 Ways to Stand Out

 

For engineers, the challenge isn’t finding job opportunities—it’s being able to differentiate themselves from others with similar skillsets. Now, more than ever, engineers need to go beyond expertise and professional background to secure their ideal job. Here are 3 ways stand out as an engineering job seeker:

 

Speak to your Soft Skills

There are stereotypes out there that label engineers as individuals with no soft skills. In this market – there is an abundance of engineering opportunities, but in order to propel yourself to the next level, it is important to separate yourself from the pack. Employers know you have the right technical skills, but more and more are now looking for the right culture fit – engineers with solid communication skills. If you have soft skills to back up your professional experience, don’t be afraid to put it on your resume!

 

Demonstrate Social Awareness through Social Media

It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but engineers who develop their social media presence can quickly differentiate themselves from other candidates. According to CareerBuilder’s 2016 social media recruitment survey, 60 percent of employers revealed they use social networking sites to research job candidates. That being said, showcasing your interests, communication skills, and expertise on social media is one sure way to get noticed. LinkedIn is a must for job seekers looking to advance their careers, but there are other engineering platforms that fly under the radar. Here are seven social media outlets that engineering professionals are utilizing to advance their careers.

 

Talk to Specialist Recruiters

If you’re looking for a good resource to discover career advice or new job opportunities, be sure to reach out to recruiting organizations that specialize in taking your career to the next level. Tell them that you’re interested in an opportunity listed on their job board, or that you’re looking to take the next step in your career. The extra effort of reaching out can go a long way.

 

How Can Brightwing Help?

Brightwing has over 40 years of experience helping engineering professionals advance their careers – We build lasting relationships with a diverse group of companies and leverage our client relationships to connect you to the right engineering opportunity.

Career Fair Preparation and Tips

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Career Fair Preparation and Tips

 

As the school year begins, career fair season is upon us. Regardless of what academic year you’re in, the first and most important tip is to take advantage of these fairs. In today’s market, employers are eager to find their next candidates and attending a career fair is a great way to get your foot in the door. Follow these guidelines to prepare and get the most out of any career fair you attend to this year!

 

 

Career Fair Preparation

Do your homework- Before attending a career fair, look through the list of companies in attendance and highlight those that you’re interested in the most. Be sure to do some background research on these companies to prepare relevant questions ahead of time. Do NOT ask questions that could easily be answered with a quick google search. The great thing about career fairs, is that you get to have a one-on-one conversation with that company, so make the best out of it!

 

Update your resume– Always, always, always have an updated resume ready. If possible, have others review it and make necessary changes as well. Print enough copies to give to your list of employers and a couple of extras just in case.

 

Elevator Pitch– Although a career fair is more conversational, be sure to know what key points you’d like to talk about. Have a strong introduction and share what skills or expertise makes you different.

 

LinkedIn- If all goes well, an employer may be interested to know a little bit more about you. In this case, they’re likely to look you up on LinkedIn or other social media for that matter. Make sure your profile is updated with the most relevant information similar to your resume.

 

Dress well– If you don’t already have a professional wardrobe, it’s time to go shopping. Although first impressions aren’t everything, they are very powerful and it’s important for you to show the best version of yourself.

 

 

Career Fair Tips

Arrive early- It shows that you are serious and professional– simple as that! Not to mention you’ll get to skip the long lines on the most popular employers.

 

Be open minded- While it’s recommended that you plan ahead to what companies you’re interested in, this is also a perfect time to get to know other companies too. Be flexible and willing to talk to anyone!

 

Listen/Take notes- Although it’s tempting to tell them everything about yourself and why they should hire you, listening is sometimes the best thing to do. You’ll gain much more valuable information, and it’ll surely set you apart from others. Also, don’t be afraid to take notes as they speak. It shows you’re interested in what they have to say, and it’ll help you remember any important details after the career fair.

 

Be concise and clear- Again, sometimes less is more. According to what company it is, build on skills that are relevant to them. Quality is much better than quantity and they’re likely to remember more of your conversation.

 

Be courteous- Simple morals go a long way! Show respect not only to employers but everyone around you.

 

Be confident-Even if you’re nervous, act confident and enthusiastic. Shake off any bad conversation, and remain positive.

 

Keep in touch– One of the most important aspects of attending a career fair, is following up. Ask for their business cards or a way of contact to keep the conversation going. After the career fair, take some time to submit your resume on their websites, send out thank you emails, or follow them on social media. The key to having a successful career fair, is to stay in touch.

 

How to Negotiate a Job Offer

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How to Negotiate a Job Offer

 

Negotiating a job offer begins the moment you start your job search. The key is to be prepared by researching similar positions in the industry. Doing your homework will help you make smarter, more reasonable decisions and establish a negotiation strategy. The most important factor in negotiating a job offer is confidence – confidence in your skills, talents, experience, and education. The way you hold yourself and present your capabilities will help convince the hiring manager that you will be a valuable asset to the organization. Learn the dos and don’ts on how to successfully negotiate a job offer with these three articles:

 

How to Negotiate A Job Offer

Learn great tips and strategies from Forbes on “How To Negotiate A Job Offer“. This article will guide you on every step of the process from the beginning stages of your job search, to the final negotiating stages. Not sure what to actually say during the negotiation? This article also provides a word-for-word example on what to say and what responses to expect from the hiring manager.

 

 

Don’t Make These 8 Mistakes When Negotiating Salary

Preparation is key to negotiate a job offer. Avoid these “8 Mistakes When Negotiating Salary“, as discussed in U.S. News. From lying about your last salary, to playing games, find out what may be causing you to loose the job offer completely. Don’t let these mistakes become experiences you are forced to learn from! They may cost you a great job offer and a great position.

 

 

How To Negotiate Salary: 37 Tips You Need To Know

According to The Muse, most people avoid negotiating their salary out of fear. Overcome this fear, and become a better negotiator with their article “How To Negotiate Salary: 37 Tips You Need To Know“. The article gives tips on every stage of the process including:

 

  • Getting Prepared
  • Starting The Conversation
  • Making the Ask
  • Getting An Answer (and Dealing With the Aftermath)

How to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

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Mastering your elevator pitch can land you the job you’ve been looking for! Whether you’re at a networking event, hanging-out with friends or actually run into someone in an elevator, your elevator pitch must grab people’s attention.

 

What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch is a 30-second speech used to summarize who you are, your job history, and your career goals. Although 30-seconds may not seem like enough, the point is to leave a great impression, or to spark a conversation. With a short-amount of time, make your speech as rich and clear as possible.

 

Follow these steps to craft your elevator pitch:

1. Define a goal

elevator pitchThe most important step is to identify what you want to accomplish with your elevator pitch. Some examples include to:

Get a job

Make a sale

Promote your business

 

2. Define a target audience

When developing your elevator pitch, consider the various audience types you may encounter. Though the speech is about you, it’s for them. For example, if you are looking for an engineering position, use keywords that would attract other engineers. Use relevant language, attributes, and examples to keep them engaged.

 

4. Call to action

You just had a drop-the-mike moment and presented yourself impeccably. Now what? End your pitch with a question, or a request that will keep the conversation going.

 

5. Practice it

Review your elevator pitch and practice out loud to catch anything that may sound off or irrelevant. Practice with friends or family to get a second opinion on what you could improve. Make sure that over time, your elevator pitch comes naturally and you don’t sound like a robot while delivering it. Once you feel comfortable with it, don’t be afraid to start using it. Even if you mess it up the first time, practice does make perfect.

 

Checkout some examples below on how it all comes together

 

“I’m currently studying education at [college]. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to make the conceptual practical and I’m interested in securing an entry-level role at a nonprofit that allows me to teach and develop curriculum. Because nonprofit programs and fellowships were a key part of my development, it’s important for me to pay it forward and help students develop to their highest potential. ” -Retrieved from Idealist Careers

 

“My name is Josh Paul. I am a graduating senior from [x] University. I am looking for an internship in a law firm this summer. I have had a strong interest in the law since I first enrolled in college and have participated in several seminars of constitutional and corporate law. Although those seminars were ungraded, I have maintained a 3.4 GPA while also participating in several extra curricular activities including the Pre-law society. If your firm offers internships, I would appreciate an introduction to the people in charge of that program. Alternatively, I would appreciate the opportunity to give you a call and/or meet with you in person to discuss your career path and how I might find opportunities within the legal profession.” – Retrieved from Salisbury University

 

“If you are looking for the best accounting firm in the city, look no further. My accounting firm has a solid track record of balancing books in about half the time of our competitors. If you examine our records, you will notice that we are virtually error-free. Furthermore, I have hired the best and the brightest to represent my firm and we have introduced ideas to our clients that have saved them thousands of dollars. We have outstanding references, all of whom would testify that our firm has worked incredible wonders for their company. In six years, we have not lost a single client. I am sure that we can raise the bar for your company.” -Retrieved from YourPersonalBrand

 

“I like to shine from behind the scenes. I am an office support professional with experience managing Marketing Programs and Initiatives for the manufactured consumer products industry. Being the people person that I am, I enjoy being hands-on in getting to know what the customer wants/needs and then working within company guidelines to make it happen. If you have the time, I’d be thrilled to share more about my background.” – Retrieved from YourPersonalBrand

 

 

Personal Branding: Dress for Success

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Dress for success

 

Dress For SuccessPart of your personal brand is the way you portray yourself in person and online. A strong personal brand can help take you as far as you want to go in your career, open new doors, and give you access to a larger professional network. If you fail to develop your personal brand, others may define it for you.

 

Dress for the job you want.

 

You can portray confidence and competence in an interview by dressing clean, appropriate and professional. Conversely, if you don’t make the effort to dress appropriately for the position or you look messy, you may accidentally portray a lack of respect for authority figures or lack of basic business etiquette.

 

“You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure”- Zig Ziglar

 

Do you want to be a manager or c-level executive in the future? Dress like it! Dress for success!
Remember, even if a company has a casual startup culture, the company’s clientele may have a more reserved environment. You need to show management that you not only have the skills for the job (resume & portfolio), but also the professionalism needed to work with employees and clients- best portrayed by the way you dress.

 

Don’t distract the interviewer by wearing something loud. You want them to focus on you and what you bring to the table, not your neon green statement necklace.

 

Women:
– Have suits laundered and pressed
– Do not show any cleavage
– Skirts or dresses (if wearing one) should not be too short, they should be knee length or at least below fingertips.
– Make sure shoes are clean and polished (no scuffs or mud)
– Wear a simple hairstyle that is neat and away from face
– Skip the perfume, body splash and scented lotion on interview day
– Nails should be nicely manicured, and if wearing nail polish, it should be a neutral color (nothing too bright or trendy) and should not be chipped

 

Men:
– Have suits laundered and pressed
– Wear an undershirt under dress shirt
– Make sure shoes are clean and polished (no scuffs or mud)
– Make sure hair is brushed and away from face
– Facial hair should be clean shaven or neatly trimmed
– Skip the cologne and body spray on interview day

 

Whether you are going on interviews or are happy in your current position, your personal brand still matters! Always dress the part with some advice from our Brightwingers.

Job Interview Tips and Preparation

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Being prepared for a job interview is essential. Along with expertise, the way you present yourself is key to determine where your career can take you. Although there is no exact formula on how to guarantee a job offer, every engineer (and other professionals for that matter) should follow these job interview tips to nail that next interview.

 

4  Essential Job Interview Tips

 

Job Interview Tips for Success

1. Educate yourself

~Research the Company- A quick search can go a long way. Along with understanding what a company does, you should look into interesting news or awards that you could inquire about that will help you stand out.

 

~Practice Questions- Search common questions within the industry and practice your answers to these. This will get your thought process in the right place, preparing you for any other interview questions that may come along.

 

~Understand the position- Relate your answers to the job you have applied for. Explain why you would be the right person for the job, and how you will excel at it. Make sure your answers are original and give examples of previous experiences as much as possible.

 

2. Plan! Plan! Plan!

~Your Outfit- First impressions matter. As small a detail as it may seem, this is your opportunity to present the best version of yourself. Dress professionally and keep it neat.

 

~What to bring– Bring a notepad, something to write with, copies of your resume, your portfolio if it makes sense, and questions for the interviewer. This shows that you are prepared, and you have an interest in the company and the job.

 

~Arrival– Be on time! Plan your route in advance, and allow yourself more than enough time to get there.

 

3. Be Yourself

~Originality is key- The interviewer wants to get to know you! The best job interview tip is to simply be yourself. After all, you want your personality to match their company culture. Not only will you enjoy going to work every day, but it will nurture your career positively.

 

4. Follow up

~Write a thank you letter– Not only is it cordial, but it will remind them of your interview and keep your name in mind. Furthermore, it shows initiative and determination to get the job. No harm can come from good manners.

2015 Career Resources

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With 2015 quickly approaching, we’ve been looking back on the past year and reminiscing. We are also looking ahead towards the new year and thefuture looks bright. Hiring trends are on the rise in 2015. About 60% of employers expect to increase hiring next year, according to a survey published by Dice Holdings. The top five states with the greatest employment growth projection include Michigan, Texas, Delaware, North Dakota and Hawaii.

So what does that mean for you? It’s time to prepare. So in between ugly-sweater parties and eggnog, spend a little time evaluating your career and your ambitions for 2015. If your New Year’s resolution is to find a new job start preparing now.

career resourcesTo get you started off on the right foot we’ve created a countdown of our most popular career advice articles:

Don’t Blow it! Thank your Interviewers, all of them

A sure fire way to blow an interview is to fail to send a thank you note. Our most popular article of the year gives sample thank you letters for different interview scenarios

5 Interpersonal Skills Every Engineer Should Have

In the thriving STEM fields, interpersonal skills are becoming increasingly important for career advancement. We list the 5 key interpersonal skills that will take you to the head of the pack.

Invest in Yourself: The 20 Best Ways to Improve Your IT Skills

There are many ways to gain new IT or technical skills, but you have to be proactive. Here are the best coding resources that we’ve found, many of which are at little to no cost.

How to Make the Best Video Resume in 4 Steps

Video resumes are becoming a topic of “Should you or Should you not.” When done well, and for the right industry, video resumes can really make you stand out from the crowd by showcasing not only your skills, but your personality.

3 Non-Traditional Networking Tips

Many of us like the idea of networking more than networking itself. Here are three non-traditional networking tips to help you get a new job, advance your career, obtain referrals, or just to meet new people.

We wish you Happy Holidays and much success in 2015. If you’re career could use a kickstart, check out our current jobs.

IT Career Event: Interviewing and Job Search Skills for IT Professionals

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Michigan it jobs search Brightwing and New Horizons are teaming up to help you market your IT skills. Join us for a day of FREE workshops that are sure to make you stand out from the crowd!

Are you looking for a job in IT? Have you taken courses to further your experience? Brightwing and New Horizons are working together to make sure you are not only prepared for your tech job search, but that you are confident in yourself as well as your resume.

In addition to our breakout sessions, New Horizons will be raffling off an iPad Mini, and Brightwing will be raffling off a $300 gift card to Micro Center!

The event will be held on May 21, 2014 at the New Horizon’s Livonia Campus 14115 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI, 48154. Event starts at 8:30 and goes until 12:30.

look for an IT job in michigan

 

9am – Sign-in & Networking

  • Coffee and light snacks will be served
  • Meet with Brightwing recruiters and representatives from New Horizons

 

9:30 am – 10:15 am – Personal Branding Workshop

  • What to wear to an interview – Get all your questions answered
  • How to effectively use social media to enhance your personal brand and tricks to help you get found. We will cover LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+

 

10:30 am – 11:15 am – Get the Most out of your Recruiter Relationship

  • How to identify a good recruiter
  • Tips to help you steer clear of bad recruiters
  • Propel your career forward by creating a life-long relationship with your recruiter

 

11:30-12:15 – Resume Writing/Interviewing Skills

  • Resume Writing: Beyond the Basics
  • Real world tips for preparing for today’s toughest interviews
  • After the interview: What to say and do to ensure you make it to step 2 and beyond

 

Looking for a job right now? Get a head start by checking out our IT jobs and applying on our website! You can also set up job alerts to make sure you never miss out on a job opportunity.

 

30 Interview Questions You Should Be Asking Employers

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Ask the best interview questions

Hands down the most difficult interview questions: “Do you have any questions for me?”. If this interview question gives you the “deer in headlights” look, you have definitely landed on the right blog post. Asking questions at the end of an interview is not only for your employer to check your research, but asking your interviewer questions gives you the opportunity to uncover if your goals and values  align with the company. If you mix company research and information from the job description with the following interview questions, you will be one step closer to grabbing your dream job!

 

STANDARD INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How many persons are in the group as a total?
2. Is this office a satellite office/main office?
3. How does this office interact with others?
4. Does the company have a long range forecast?
5. How was the company changed since they’ve been there?
6. How does this job relate to the overall structure and goals of the corporation/group/department?

ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JOB
7. What special projects are being worked on that I would be involved with?
8. How would I spend a typical day?
9. Who would I be reporting to?
10. What is his/her background?
11. What type of management style does he/she practice?
12. How does this department interact with other departments?
13. How can I improve upon the performance of the last person?
14. If you have to pick one or two special characteristics that the next employee in this position should
possess, what would they be?
15. May I see the location of the work area?
16. What challenges have you faced in the past that you’d like to avoid in the future?
17. Where do I have the opportunity to make the most significant contribution?

ASK QUESTIONS THAT BUILD RAPPORT
18. How did you elevate your career to your current position?
19. How did you select (Company) as your employer?
20. How can I make an immediate impact on the bottom line of the department/company, etc.
21. If you could change or take back any previous decisions, what would it be and how would you do it?
22.  How long have you been with the company?
23.  Has your role changed since you’ve been here?
24.  What did you do before this?
25.  What’s your favorite part about working here?

IF YOU WANT THE JOB, YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR IT
26. How do I compare to other candidates you have seen so far?
27.  Where do I rank, in your mind, for this opportunity?
28.  What, if anything, about my background or experience would prevent us from moving forward in the process?
29.  Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?
30. Can I answer any final questions for you?

 

Don’t leave your interviewer hanging! Make sure you show an interest, as well as get information that is important to you. If you need any more help with interviewing, or interview questions, check out our blog. Are you looking for a new position? Check out our jobs.

Author: Elyse L. Turner