Interviews

What Weaknesses…?

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Hopefully, this doesn’t come as a shock to you but – we all have a weakness or two. 

 

Most behavioral interviews include this dreaded question. If you don’t prepare for it – you’ll probably sound like this….

A weakness? Ummm I don’t….ahhh I mean, I am a perfectionist…and yea, that sometimes makes things…umm, take longer.

Well, that was a disaster. <face> <palm>

 

This should and can be an easy question to answer. First, think of an actual weakness or area you’d like to improve in. Second, how can you spin it to sound more positive? Thirdly, describe the weakness and explain how you are aware of the weakness and the actions you take to prevent it or ways you’re working to improve.

 

Here’s an example of a WEAKNESS that I discussed with a job seeker the other day…”I would say that my weakness is that I often have trouble saying “no” to people when they need my help. This often leaves me working late hours, getting burnt out faster or frustrated…and it’s my own fault! So, I’m working on being more aware of my to-do list and priorities for the week so that when someone asks me to help with something I’m able to say “yes” or “no” as well as give them a realistic timeline for when I could get it done.”

 

Having a weakness isn’t a bad thing. This question is to help the interviewer understand how aware you are of yourself and your abilities. If we can’t identify what we’re good at and what we could work on…how do we get better?!

 

Best of luck on your interviews!
-Cafe Career Coach
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Interviews, Job Search

Interviews : Tell me about yourself…

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The first question in a phone interview is often…

 

“Tell me about yourself.”

 

Such a short but loaded question.

 

How do you answer this question in the confines of an often 30-minute phone interview?

 

Just think…with this one question, you can set the tone and can drive the narrative of the entire call.
The person on the other side of the phone only wants to hear a general outline of your experience. Your job is to make sure that the general outline focuses on your experience that is most relevant to their job opening and company.
My first rule of thumb is PRACTICE! Even if it is a phone interview start practicing as early as possible on how you want to describe yourself and your experience in 2 minutes or less.

 

Wait, did you say 2-minutes or less?!

Yes, I did. The call is 30-minutes. If you spend 5 of those minutes talking about yourself and possibly things that don’t matter to the interviewer…You just wasted valuable time you could be discussing skills that you have that they DO care about!
The interviewer can always follow-up with questions after you’ve finished.
Additionally, when you practice these responses your answers become habitual and don’t sound rehearsed. They come across as FOCUSED and CONFIDENT.
I’m reminded of how I had to memorize the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution in 7th grade. I spent hours rehearsing to make sure I got it just right.
Now, I’m not recommending you write down a response and memorize it. That would sound robotic and uninteresting over the phone. It is on the other hand ok to write out bullet points, much like speaking points, on a piece of paper to have with you during the call.

 

Remember: the tone of your voice is the main way they’ll sense your emotion (excitement, interest) during your phone interview.
 

As you prepare, think about these 3 things:

 1. Why do I want this job? Why am I a good fit?
 2. As I review my resume, what experiences and skills are most relevant to this position?
3. When I hear myself describe my experience is it interesting and easy to follow? *Practice saying it aloud to yourself or a friend.

 

Best of luck!
-Cafe Career Coach
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Career Advice, Job Search

7 Steps: Navigating A Career Transition In 2017

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Have you recently decided that you want to take on a role in a different department at work? Are you sick of your current job or industry and want to make a major career change?
I’ve provided 7 Steps below that will help to get you on the right track. Career transitions aren’t always easy but if you are determined to make a change for the better…then no setback or hurdle will stop you!

 

  1. What is that you want to do? Is what you want to do lucrative? If not, could it be? It’s great to shoot for the stars but it’s also important to make sure you’re making a somewhat calculated risk.
  2. Once you’ve narrowed in on what you want to do, ask yourself “Self, who do I know that works in this industry?…or that department?” If you don’t know someone directly, do you have a friend that might know people? What I’m getting at is…utilize your network! Don’t be afraid to ask people for insights, guidance and “inside scoop.” You can also utilize your social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or Google+. Get creative!
  3. Now that you know a few people and have gotten some stellar advice…what are you going to do with this new found calling and information? CREATE A PLAN. How are you going to attack this new goal? I recommend making a first week, first month, 3-month, 6-month and year goals list. What do you want to accomplish at each of these milestones? This is a great way for you to see your progress incrementally. Also, I’d recommend doing a daily journal. It’s therapeutic and a great way to track your progress from a personal side. We all go through ups and downs!
  4. Have a mentor, “hype person” or close friend to be your go-to during this period. They can hold you accountable as well as pick you up when you’re feeling down.
  5. Gain experience and the skills needed to succeed in your new role or field of work. If you’re looking to change departments or roles at work, make sure to learn as much about the position as possible from someone in the role and be sure to do some research on your own. If your looking to make a major career change and need to acquire a brand new skill or credentials it can be helpful to see if there are “bootcamps”, workshops, courses or training sessions to help you gain the right qualifications. Many of these courses are online! It’s helpful to do some research on which schools or companies offering the courses/training are the most credible in that industry and will be worth your time and money.
  6. Once you’ve completed your research and training it’s time to either speak to HR at your current company about a new role OR start a job search with your new skills! If you’re looking for a new position make sure that your resume is updated and all of your past work history gives a clear picture (to the employer) of your career trajectory, interests, and your story. This will help employers have a better understanding of why you’re making a change. Also, make sure that you’ve practiced your response for why you are making this big change and help inspire the recruiter or hiring manager with your story!
  7. At this point you know what you want to do, you have built a small but mighty network, you have a master plan and you have a mentor or friend to keep you on track, AND you’ve acquired some amazing new skills to give you an edge…What’s next you may ask?…It’s time to execute your plan!
I’ve listed a SAMPLE PLAN below (1st Week – 1st Month). It’s a real life example that I provided to a candidate I worked with last year. He was a math teacher and wanted to transition into becoming a Software Developer.
SAMPLE PLAN:
Week 1:
  • Review current skills and credentials.
  • Research roles/positions that you would like and document the requirements for the position. Make a list of all of the qualifications, certifications or experience needed.
  • Narrow down the skills that you’re most interested in acquiring within your first year from that list.
  • Identify if training or a “coding bootcamp” would be necessary. If necessary, sign-up for classes (in classroom or online) that align with current work schedule.
  • Create StackOverflow and GitHub accounts to show sample work as you’re learning new (software) languages and skills.
First Month:
  • Begin attending networking events (i.e. Meetups) that align with the skills you are building. At this point you are a few weeks into your training/courses and should feel comfortable talking with others about your current studies and work.
  • Network with companies that are building technical solutions for education. This is a great way to marry your two skills and bring the depth of experience from your years of teaching.
  • Set-up two coffee meetings in the first month to sit down and learn from someone that is a software developer or works within a software development team.

 

Congratulations on leaving your comfort zone behind and challenging yourself!

 

It takes a lot of courage to take on a new position or start a new career. My hope is that these steps will help get you get started on your journey to making a change for the better!

 

Please feel free to send your career questions to cafecareercoach@gmail.com
Best of luck!
– C.C. Coach
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