How to Thrive In a Job Phone Interview

"Job hunting starts at the phone interview. To get the job, you need to present yourself well over the phone - say the right things, mind your tone, and be confident overall. To see how you can do this, read this article so you can land a job."

Phone interviews are frequently used by companies to save time by pre-qualifying your interest and expertise. The following are some recommendations to ensure your next phone interview is successful for you.

Isolate Yourself
Phone interviews place you at a disadvantage because you only have one tool of communication, your voice. The interviewer's impression of you is shaped by all the sounds coming through the phone. Insulate yourself from distractions and background noises. Do not have your phone interview when you are surrounded by a lot of noise like an outdoor café at a busy intersection. If the call is on your cell phone make sure the caller can hear you clearly.

When the phone interviewer first contacts you, make sure it is comfortable for you to talk on the phone for at least 20 minutes. If it's not convenient, recommend scheduling another time for the call.

Schedule the Phone Interview
If you can not speak comfortably when the first call arrives, ask the interviewer if you could schedule a specific time for the phone interview. Be sure to define who will call who. It is recommended that you offer to call the company. This ensures you are fully prepared and in a situation where you can speak without interruptions. Schedule the phone interview just like you would any face-to-face interview.

Stand Up
During the call standup, walk around and smile. All these things make a big difference in the projection and quality of your voice.

What's Next
At the conclusion, ask the interviewer about next steps and timing of their hiring process.

Get Face-to-Face
If you are interested, ask for a face-to-face interview. Remember that your objective (during the phone interview) is to secure a face-to-face interview. You will be most effective discussing your background and assessing the company in a face-to-face meeting.

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How to Fire Your Employee

Firing employees is a difficult task - not just for the employee, but for the employer as well. Take a look at this clip to see how it can be easily:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqDQ7EyY_g
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Weekly Top 5 Stories

Weekly summary of the best "how to find a new career" stories of InternsOver40 http://bit.ly/5y1c1d
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How to Ace Interview Questions as an Older Professional

You’re well-educated, your résumé screams experience and you’re vigorously looking for a new job. So why are you so nervous?

Searching for a new job when you’re 50 or older presents a whole new set of challenges. As if interviews weren’t intimidating enough, now you’re trying to dispel all sorts of stereotypes about older job seekers to an interviewer who’s 15 years your junior.

Employment discrimination based on age against anyone over age 40 is illegal under the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. But according to Gail Geary, career management consultant and author of Over-40 Job Search Guide (Jist Works), older job seekers often find themselves uncomfortably struggling to answer tough age-related questions during interviews. Here are five of the most common age-related interview questions – and how to field them gracefully – according to Geary’s book:

1. “Will you be using this job as a bridge to retirement?”
Other variations of this question include “Where do you expect to be five years from now?” and “What are your long-term career goals?” Geary’s book states that if you’re over age 50 and look your age, openly addressing the retirement issue may benefit you. Reassure your interviewer that you are excited about the position and plan to continue working for a long time. If you’re relatively young and look even younger, you may not need to address the issue at all.

Want to know how to actually GET an interview in this recession? Click here

2. “What are your salary requirements?”
This question is tough for everyone, but it can be even harder for older candidates with decades of experience who do not want their previous high salaries working against them. When faced with this question, first respond with a cool, noncommittal answer. If pressed, give a salary range based on your research. For example, say: “I’ve researched the salary range for this position in our area and have found the typical salary range to be from $125,000 to $175,000, plus bonus. Is this what you have in mind?”

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How to Deal with a Difficult Employee

As an employer, your work environment should be positive and things should be running smoothly - but what happens when one employee is too difficult to handle? What do you do? Watch this video to find out:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ru94iNOe98
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Readers weekly choice of the Most Read Stories. (or how quickly find out the best of Internsover40)

Grab a cup of coffee. Put on your favorite Tunes- Hendrix, Mathews or Pavarotti. We are giving you a chance to catch up on your weekly reading and viewing with a list of the most popular Stories on Interns over 40. These are the the top 5 stories that your peers have read this past week. This weeks stories include tips for getting a job using Linkedin and how to make contact with employers. Hope you find them valuable. We look forward to reading your comments.

1. Get a Job Using 9 Linkedin Tips
   
2. Take the 7 minute Career Test for Free
   
3. How to Make Contact with Employers
4. How to Get a Job Interview During a Recession
   
5. Job Hunters Guide to Networking
   

Also be sure to check our our new key word search on the top of our home page:
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Pointers for Job Hunters 45+

Job hunting is tough during the recession - more so on laid off employees 45 years and older - however there is hope! Check out this video on tips to use in your job search.



http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/28812356#30306397
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8 Steps to More Effective Meetings

Some employees dread going to meetings. They may turn out to be a waste of time, not engaging enough, repetitive - they can even slow down morale and productivity. Luckily, there are ways to make your meetings more effective and to make your employees excited about participating in your meetings, watch this video to find out how:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtMDgnXyDC8

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Top 7 Steps for Career Change

Whether you want your dream job, achieve a better work-life balance or simply need the challenge, this 7 step career decision making advice will help you think through your midlife career change.

1. What skills and experience do you have?

List exactly your skills and experience, focussing on what you CAN do not on what you can’t. These are commonly called “transferable skills” as no matter what line of work you’re in, you can use them. You’ve probably got unique talents or knowledge – go ahead and list that too. These may end up differentiating you from the rest, and land your dream job.

Okay, so there may be some gaps between you and your dream job, but if you could do it all already, why bother changing career? It’s highly likely you can close those gaps without going back to school full-time. Sounds unlikely? Well, have you heard of secondments, job shadowing, or learning on the job? And what about taking a sabbatical to work in the voluntary sector to test things out? All of these allow a mid life career change without going back to school.

Need some help with this? Try the free 7-minute career test

2. What field would you like to work in?

So now we know what you can do. Maybe you want to stay doing what you do, but in a different field? My uncle moved from a high flying banking job to become a financial director of a large theatre, fulfilling his love of the arts whilst still getting his “fix” of numbers.

Science, medicine, government, working from home, military…. There are so many choices it can be overwhelming. Luckily the next step will help narrow it down.


3. What lifestyle do you want?

Your lifestyle aspirations change as your circumstances change. What suits as a foot loose fancy free twenty something may no longer hold water as a thirty something with 2.4 children, dog and pet rabbit. What is your ideal day? Who do you see? What kind of people are around you?


4. Where do you want to live?

Choosing to live in a remote community may be tough going if you have super niche skills. Maybe you can market those skills online – just check out if you can get broadband before you move :>)

Travelling is another consideration, be it the daily commute or international globe-trotting. Does this figure in your dream job? If so, you need to consider the dull reality of trains, planes and automobiles.


5. What salary fits your lifestyle?

Let’s talk money. How much money do you need to live your life, now and when you retire? It’s a sorry truth that most of us have to work to get bread on the table. Don’t let dollar signs cloud your dream job though. My sister-in-law took a massive pay cut to move from corporate life to the public sector (and give back her Mini Cooper, ouch) but one year later is earning more than her corporate salary.


6. What career progression is there?

Are you painting yourself into a corner career-wise? Does your dream job have a finite life span or are there opportunities to grow and develop? Lack of career progression may be why you are looking to change careers now! I certainly moved from one job as the glass ceiling was firmly fixed above my head.


7. How will you progress this?

Right, here’s the really difficult bit. I never said it was going to be easy :>) In fact, I’ll spill the beans now. Making a midlife career change is slow, hard work, and requires you to do some tough thinking. But consider the alternative – wasting your life in a dead end job, unfulfilled and embarrassed about how your obituary will read.

How will you progress this?

Yep, you heard me. How are you going to land that dream job? Who do you need to speak to? What research needs done? Who can help? Just like fishing, you can only catch a fish when you have a line in the water. Your dream job is out there waiting to be caught.

It’s never too late to make a midlife career change. Vincent Van Gogh was an art dealer, schoolmaster, student priest, and missionary before he taught himself how to paint. Indeed, he was well into his thirties before his artistic talents were recognised. Not bad for a midlife career change!

Midlife career change advice is easy - it’s up to you to make it happen. Pull together an action plan and do it, no excuses.

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Lyndsay Swinton is an experienced team leader, people manager and business coach. Her website is http://www.mftrou.com - 'Management for the rest of us'. Subscribe to her free no-nonsense Management Tips newsletter at mftrou.com today.

http://Top7Business.com/?expert=Lyndsay-Swinton

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How to Hire New Employees During the Recession

The rules for hiring someone has changed, in part due to the recession and in part due to the fact that the old way of hiring (read a resume and discuss experience) no longer works. Here are the new rules:

1. Skip Experience – Identify Attitude, Energy & Intelligence

You can give people experience… it is called training and learn as you go. The three things you can’t give people is their attitude, their energy or their smarts. Either they have those things or they don’t. Hire people who have the best attitude, energy & the highest degree of intelligence. Can’t tell all those attributes from a single interview? Do multiple interviews, and get to know their history (tip #3).

2. Hire The Hungry, Not The Starving

When prospective employees are hungry for your company’s opening, they will come in with all their effort and focus and excitement. But when someone is starving to work they will jump into the first thing they can get. Desperate people do desperate things, and they will jump ship the second a better suited, better paying job comes their way.

3. History Repeats Itself

Interviews should revolve around their experiences in life. Ask them how they liked high school. What were the good parts, and bad parts? Did they like their teachers? No? Why not. Ask them about their first job. The boss sucked? OK. Ask them about other jobs. The boss was always a pain to work for? Well guess what, you are the next boss that is going to suck. History repeats itself.

4. Try Before You Buy

Implement a probationary period of 90 days. It is very hard for someone to fake it for 3 months, let alone a week. Don’t pay as much attention to their final product as, their consistency for start and finish times. See how they handle mistakes. Do they show consistent improvement? How well do they communicate? If all things are stellar for 90 days, you most likely have an employee who will be stellar for life. But, if you have problems in the first 90 days, it is time for drastic correction or termination — because a person who can’t perform during the first 90 most likely will never make at your company.

5. Show Your Commitment

The most important day for a new employee, is their first day. It is up to YOU to perform your best that day, not them. For their first day, cut out 2 hours to spend with the person. Take them for a tour of the office, talk about their background and interests, tell them about the company history. Show them the true you and build rapport that only time can afford. Also, by spending time with them you are also showing them you have a company that is in control and not in constant fire drill mode.

Just know, when you show them your commitment, they will show it to you.

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http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog/how-to-hire-someone-in-the-recession

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How to Get a Job Interview During a Recession

So you know what you want to do when you grow up, finally. But getting started can be tough. It all depends on getting your foot in the door. Career consultant Maggie Mistal explains how to land a job interview.

http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-6618740.html

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How to Discipline an Employee

How do you discipline an employee? Discipline can be an effective tool to improve your team's efficiency, productivity and morale. This VideoJug film will show you how to discipline an employee to its greatest effect.



http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-discipline-an-employee
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How to Deal With Stress During Unemployment/Job Search

It’s normal to feel hurt, vulnerable, or angry after losing a job. The good news is that despite the stress of job loss and unemployment, there are many things you can do to take control of the situation and maintain your spirits.

You can get through this tough time by taking care of yourself, reaching out to others, and focusing on your goals. Losing your job can also be an opportunity to take stock of your life, rethink your career goals, and rediscover what truly makes you happy.


Losing a job is stressful

Our jobs are much more than just the way we make a living. They influence how we see ourselves, as well as the way others see us. Our jobs give us structure, purpose, and meaning. That’s why job loss and unemployment is one of the most stressful things you can experience.

Beyond the loss of income, losing a job also comes with other major losses, some of which may be even more difficult to face:

• Loss of your professional identity
• Loss of self-esteem and self-confidence
• Loss of your daily routine
• Loss of purposeful activity
• Loss of your work-based social network
• Loss of your sense of security

Grief is normal after losing a job

Grief is a natural response to loss, and that includes the loss of a job. Losing your job takes forces you to make rapid changes. You may feel angry, hurt, panicked, rejected, and scared. What you need to know is that these emotions are normal. You have every right to be upset, so accept your feelings and go easy on yourself.

Also remember that many, if not most, successful people have experienced major failures in their careers. But they’ve turned those failures around by picking themselves up, learning from the experience, and trying again. When bad things happen to you— or going through unemployment—you can grow stronger and more resilient in the process of overcoming them.

Coping with job loss and unemployment stress tip 1: Face your feelings

Fear, depression, and anxiety will make it harder to get back on the job market, so it’s important to actively deal with your feelings and find healthy ways to grieve. Acknowledging your feelings and challenging your negative thoughts will help you deal with the loss and move on.

Surviving the emotional roller coaster of unemployment and job loss

• Write about your feelings. Express everything you feel about being laid off or unemployed, including things you wish you had said (or hadn’t said) to your former boss. This is especially cathartic if your layoff or termination was handled in an insensitive way.
• Accept reality. While it’s important to acknowledge how difficult job loss and unemployment can be, it’s equally important to avoid wallowing. Rather than dwelling on your job loss—how unfair it is; how poorly it was handled; things you could have done to prevent it; how much better life would be if it hadn’t happened—try to accept the situation. The sooner you do, the sooner you can get on with the next phase in your life.
• Don’t beat yourself up. It’s easy to start criticizing or blaming yourself when you’ve lost your job and are unemployed. But it’s important to avoid putting yourself down. You’ll need your self-confidence intact as you’re looking for a new job. Challenge every negative thought that goes through your head. If you start to think, “I’m a loser,” write down evidence to the contrary (“I lost my job because of the recession, not because I was bad at my job.”).
• Look for the silver lining. Losing a job is easier to accept if you can find the lesson in your loss. What can you learn from the experience? Maybe your job loss and unemployment has given you a chance to reflect on what you want out of life and rethink your career priorities. Maybe it’s made you stronger. If you look, you’re sure to find something of value.

Beware of Pitfalls

• Taking refuge in your “cave” may provide temporary comfort, but is little help if your time spent there is not constructive. Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive family and friends may better help your self-esteem.
• Venting your anger and frustrations may only make you feel worse if you find yourself in the middle of a “pity party.” There are people who actually enjoy misery and the misfortune of others.
• Drinking is at best a temporary relief, and for some people, can lead to a crippling addiction.
Source: Surviving Tough Times (PDF), The University of Georgia

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Hiring Employees - The Best Way

There are many ways to hire prospective employees - but which is the most effective? Check out this video to find out!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZmI4ZsNogQ
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