Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Nitori Co.,ltd
http://www.nitori.co.jp/
Sunday, May 25, 2008
LABOUR LAW OF VIETNAM
LABOUR CONTRACT
The labour contract is the agreement between the labourer and the labour user on a paid job, on the conditions of work, on the rights and obligations of each party in the labour relations.
The labour contract must be made in one of the following forms
1. Contract without definite term;
2. Contract valid for from one to three years.
3. Contract for a seasonal job or a specific job to be carried out in less than one year.
It is forbidden to sign labour contract for a season job or a specific job with a duration of less than one year to do jobs of a permanent character lasting more than one year.
The labour contract must be made in writing and done -in two copies, each party keeping one copy. The commitment can be made orally if the job has a temporary character and its term does not exceed three years or it is the job of a house worker.
The contents of the labour contract must include the following main points :
• the job to be done,
• the working time,
• the rest time,
• the salary,
• the place of work,
• the term of the contract,
• the conditions on labour safety and
• labour sanitation and social insurance for the labouring people.
The labour contract shall be. temporarily suspended in the following circumstances:
1. The labourer is called up by his military service duty or other citizen's duties prescribed by law.
2. The labourer is taken into temporary custody or detention.
3. Other circumstances mutuality agreed upon.
TERMINATION OF LABOUR CONTRACT
The labouring contract shall terminate in the following circumstances
1. End of the contract term
2. The job under contract has been finished
3. The two parties agree to terminate the contract
4. The labourer is sentenced to Imprisonment or is banned from doing the former job by decision of the Court
5. The Labourer dies or is declared missing by court decision.
WORKING TIME
As per the code the working time shall not exceed 8 hours in a day and 48 hours in a week. The labour user is entitled to schedule the working time daily or weekly but must notify the labourers in advance.
The daily working time shall be shortened by one or two hours for those labourers working in especially heavy, noxious or dangerous jobs as prescribed in the list of such jobs published by the Ministry or labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Public Health.
The labour user and the labourer may agree on extrahours work but the time of such work shall not exceed four hours in a day and 200 hours in a year.
The working time at night is counted from 22 hours to 6 hours of the following day or from 21 hrs to 5 hrs or the following day depending day on the climatic zones stipulated by the Government.
REST TIME
The code describes that the labourer is entitled to the following rest times
• at least half an hour of rest inclusive of the working time if he works continuously for eight hours.
• on a night shift is entitled to at least 45 minutes of rest inclusive of the working time.
• on night- shift is entitled at least 12 hours of rest before beginning another shift.
• each week the labourer is entitled at least one day or rest (24 straight hours).
• weekly rest day on Sunday or any other fixed day in the week.
• where the rest day cannot be arranged weekly due to the work cycle, the labour user must ensure that the labourer can have an average of four days of rest at least in a month.
The labourer is entitled to obtain from work and receive full pay on the following holidays:
• New Year 's Day (solar calendar): one day
• Lunar New Year Festival: four days (the last day of the year and the first three days of the new year)
• Victory Day : one day (April 30)
• International labour Day: one day (May 1st)
• National Day : one day (September 2nd).
In case the above holidays coincide with weekly non-working days the labourer is entitled to take one day's leave on the following day.
The labourer with 12 months service at 8 business or with a labour user is entitled to an annual leave with full pay with the following specifications:
1. 12 days for a person working in normal conditions,
2. 14 days for a person working in heavy , noxious or dangerous Jobs or in places with harsh living conditions or for persons under 18 years of age;
3. 16 days for persons working in especially heavy, noxious and dangerous jobs or in places with especially harsh living conditions.
The number of days in an annual leave shall increase proportionally with the seniority of work at a business or with a labour user at the rate of one day for every five years.
FULLY PAID LEAVE
The labourer is entitled to fully paid leaves for personal affairs in the following circumstances:
1. Marriage: three days.
2. Marriage of his son or daughter: one day.
3. Death of parents (including parents of husband or wife) death of wife or husband, death of son or daughter: 3 days.
UNDER - AGE LABOUR
An under - age labourer is one under 18 years of age. Where under - age labour is employed there must be a separate record of these youngsters with their full names, dates of birth, their current jobs, the results of each periodical health check which must be produced to the labour inspector on his request. It is strictly forbidden to misuse the labour of under - age persons.
It is forbidden to sign on children of less than 15 years of age except for some professions and jobs to be defied by the Ministry of labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare. With regard to some profession services allowed to sign on children under 15 years of age for work, job learning or apprenticeship this admission and utilization must have the consent and the constant care of their parents or tutors.
The labour user or the employer has the responsibility to care for the under - age labourer in the domains or labour, wages, health and studies during the process of labour. It is forbidden to use under - age labourers in heavy and dangerous job or jobs necessitating contract with noxious substances prescribed in the list published by the Ministry of labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Public Health.
Working time
The working time of an under - age labourer must not exceed seven hours in a day and 42 hours in a week.
The labour user can use under - age labour for off hours work or night work in a number of occupations and Jobs defined by the Ministry of labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare.
LABOUR SAFETY & LABOUR SANITATION
The labour user has the responsibility of fully providing the labourers with equipment for labour protection, labour safety and labour sanitation and for improving their labouring conditions. The labourer must observe the regulation on labour safety, labour sanitation and the labour rules of the business. All organisations and individuals related to labour and production must observe legislation on labour safety, labour sanitation and environmental protection.
The building of new establishments or the expansion of and transformation of existing ones for the production, utilization, maintenance, storage and stockpiling of machine, equipment, materials and substances requiring a high level of labour safety and labour sanitation must be provided with.
The production or importation of machines, equipment, materials and substances requiring a high level of labour safety and sanitation must be declared and registered and have the licenses of the State inspection offices on labour safety or labour sanitation.
The labour user must ensure that the working place meet the norms on space, airiness, lighting and the prescribed maximum limits on dust, steam, noxious gases, radiations magnetism, heat, noise, vibration and other harmful factors. These factors must be periodically controlled and measured.
The labour user must periodically control and repair the machines, equipment, building structures and storage according to the norms of labour safety and labour sanitation.
The labour user must have the necessary equipment to shelter those parts of machines and equipment in the business likely to provoke accidents. The working places, the emplacements of machines and equipment, the places likely to cause dangers or noxious effects in the business must be so arranged to provide against accidents and equipped with signs and signals on labour safety and labour sanitation put up at open places where they can be easily seen and read.
In case the working place or a machine or equipment threatens to cause a labour accident or occupational disease, the labour user must immediately take remedial measures or must order immediate cessation of operation at the said place until the danger has been removed.
The labourer has the right to refuse to work or leave the working place when i he detects an imminent labour accident is seriously threatening his life or health and he must immediately warns the directly responsible person of the danger. The labour user must not force the labourer to continue his work or return to the working place so long as the danger has not been removed.
At the working place where dangerous and noxious factors exist susceptible of provoking labour accidents must be equipped by the labour user with technical and medical devices and appropriate labour protection gear to ensure timely rescue when an accident or labour accident occurs.
The labourer doing dangerous or noxious jobs must be adequately equipped with personal protection means. The labour user must ensure the supply of means for personal protection achieving the norms in quality and designs as prescribed by law.
In recruiting and arranging labour the labour user shall base himself on the health criteria for each type of work. He must organise training, guidance and inform the labourer of the regulations and measures of safety an sanitation and the possibilities of accident to be prevented in the work of each labourer.
The labourer must be given a health check during the recruitment and periodical health checks according to the prescribed regime. The cost of health checks for the labourer is borne by the labour user.
The business has the responsibility to organize healthcare for the labourers and must give first aid and emergency aid to the labourers when necessary.
The labourer working in the conditions of dangerous or noxious elements shall receive retainer in kind, enjoys preferential treatment in the matters of working time and rest time as described by law.
The labourer working in a place infested by noxious elements or bacteria must be ensured by the labour user of measures for detoxication and disinfection and personal hygiene after working time.
Labour accident is an accident causing injuries to any part or function on the body of the labourer or death of the labourer in the process of working associated with the execution of a job or a task.
The victim of labour accident must be rescued in time and carefully treated. The labour user must take responsibility for letting a labour accident occur, as prescribed by law.
Occupational disease is a disease caused by the harmful effects of the labour conditions of the occupation on the labourer. The list of the occupational diseases shall be published by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare after consultation with the Vietnam General Federation of Labour and the representative of the labour users.
The sufferer of an occupational disease must be given careful treatment, given periodical medical checks and have a specific medical record of his own.
The labourer rendered invalid by a labour accident or an occupational disease shall receive a general check-up by the medical examination board for classification of his injury and the rate of reduction of his working capacity and shall go through a rehabilitation process to recuperate his labour capabilities. If later he can continue to work he shall be assigned a job suited to his health according to the conclusion of the Labour Medical examination Board.
The labour user must bear all the medical cost from the first aid and emergency aid till completion of the treatment of the victim of labour accident or occupational disease. The labourer is entitled to the system regime of social insurance in case of labour accident or occupational disease. If the business has not joined any form of statutory social insurance, the labour user must pay to the labourer a sum equal to that provided for in the Social Insurance Statute.
The labour user has the responsibility to pay a compensation representing at least 30 months salaries of the labourer who suffers a reduction by 81 % and more of his labour capacity or an equivalent amount to the close relatives of a labourer who dies of a labour accident or an occupational disease not of his own fault.
In esse the injury or the death of the labourer is due to his own fault , the labourer still receive an allowance equalling at least 12 months of his salary .
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Get a Better Job
The Career Exploration tool provides step-by-step details to help you evaluate your own career path. Start by identifying your likes and dislikes, skills, and values. Also, think about your ideal job by asking yourself these questions:
* What are you doing when time seems to fly by?
* What do you look forward to doing?
* Who do you know, real or fictional, who has your dream job?
Do you think you're ready for a career change, or at least a career shift?
* Visit the Skills Profiler to help identify other occupations that require skills similar to your current job.
* Research other occupations and industries.
* Consider updating your skills.
* Visit the Employability Checkup for a snapshot of your ability to find employment within a specific occupation at a particular wage and location.
* In the military or recently separated from service? Visit the Military to Civilian Occupation Translator to match military skills and experience to civilian careers.
Get a Job
Job searching is a short-term pursuit of a position that matches your financial and career goals.
Career exploration is a long, progressive process of choosing education, training, and jobs that fit your interests, values and skills.
Begin exploring by asking yourself a few questions:
What are your career goals? Where would you like to be in a year? In five or ten years?
What jobs and other opportunities will help you achieve those career goals?
How do your interests and skills fit with your career goals?
Visit the Career Exploration tool to find out more about exploring careers.
Or, follow the steps below to get started:
Learn about assessments.
Research occupations and industries.
Update skills.
Search for jobs.
Advance or change your career.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Cover Letters
If the resume is the piece of paper that gets you to the interview then the cover letter is the one that will get the employer to read the resume. So the resume and cover letter share the same goal- to get your employer to pick you! The best cover letters spark the employer’s interest and create an impression of competence.
Just like what you did with your resume, you should study the employer's requirements and needs first before you start writing. Once you have those points, put the most important items first and support this with facts and examples. The key is to demonstrate to the employer how your background, education, work experiences and abilities can meet the needs of the employer.
You should never send a resume without a cover letter unless specifically instructed to do so by the employer. Sending a resume without a covering letter is like starting an interview without shaking hands. The main purpose of the cover letter is to introduce your resume and highlight the main points that are most relevant to the job being advertised.
The key to a good cover letter is to personalise the letter. It is more effective if you do some research on the company before hand and write a cover letter that is tailored to the company and the job position.
Your cover letter should provide the following details.
- Why are you writing?
- Why are you interested in the job?
- Why would the company be interested in you?
- What is your next step?
These questions should be answered in 3 main sections of your cover letter.
1) Introduction
Introduce yourself and explain why you are writing to the employer. In the introduction you should name the position or field of the job being listed. If someone has suggested you get in touch with the employer then do mention the recommendation. If you are responding to an advertisement, refer to it and the source that published it. In a sentence or two explain why you are the best candidate for the job (talk about your skills).
2) Body
In the body section, match your background to the experience and skill requirements of the job position. It's is good if you can talk about your experiences that relate to the job at hand. You should identify your strengths, accomplishments and results. Do not repeat what is stated in your resume. Instead, summarise your most relevant qualifications or provide additional details about a noteworthy accomplishment.
3) Closing
Your closing should be brief. You can end the letter with an active statement, such as an offer to contact the employer within a specific period of time, usually one or two weeks. You have to be proactive and continue to keep your name in the interviewer’s mind.” It is crucial that you provide details for them to reach you; this is usually by phone and/or email. Close the letter by thanking the reader for their time and consideration.
Cover letter tips
- Like the resume, the cover letter should be written specifically targeted towards the job at hand. Do not write one cover letter and send it to everyone.
- Cover letters are suppose to highlight your talents and experience.
- This can’t be stressed enough - your cover letter, like your resume, should be perfect! Make sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell check. Get a friend or teacher to read it over for you.
- Every cover letter should fit on one page.
Sample Cover Letters
Below is a sample cover letter. Use this sample cover letter as a guide for your own. Remember, the best cover letters spark the employer’s interest and create an impression of competence. Keep it brief and to the point.
Click here for more sample cover letters
| Joe Bloggs June 2, 2004 Ms. Christine Techie Dear Ms. Techie, (If possible address your letter to a specific individual) (State position applied for) (Sell yourself ) While in school, I developed strong organisational and customer service skills. As a dormitory assistant, I organized events, led meetings, and assisted students. As treasurer of the Business Society, I maintained the budget and presented budget reports. My summer jobs also required extensive interaction with the public. I believe these experiences have prepared me for your management trainee position. (Request an interview) Sincerely, John Ryan (Sign your cover letter) |
more Sample Resumes
Resumes for Executives
| Profession | Sample |
| Banker | |
| Chief Financial Officer | |
| Chief Financial Officer | |
| Fashion Executive | |
| Human Resources Executive | |
| Manufacturing Manager | |
| Marketing Executive | |
| Software Executive |
Resumes for Professionals
| Profession | Sample |
| Accountant | |
| Administrative Assistant | |
| Artist - Specialty Resume | |
| Attorney - Patents | |
| Attorney - Corporate | |
| Career Transition - Law | |
| Career Transition - Sales | |
| Career Transition - Public Relations | |
| Career Transition - Teacher | |
| Copy Editor | |
| Technical Editor | |
| Mechanical Engineer | |
| Process Engineer | |
| Exporter | |
| Financial Sales | |
| Interior Designer | |
| Investment Analyst | |
| IT Specialist | |
| Multimedia Developer | |
| Sales Resume |
Entry Level Resumes
| Profession | Sample |
| Business | |
| Business | |
| Finance | |
| Music |
Sample Resumes
We have some sample resumes below. Click for sample functional resume and sample plain text resume.
Sample Chronological Resume
Use this sample resume if you want to highlight your pass work experiences and duties you had in previous jobs.
| Joe Bloggs | ||
| Current Address | (Horizontal lines help define different sections) | |
| Objective | ||
| To obtain a position in public relations using my communication and promotional skills | ||
| Education | ||
| RMIT University (City Campus) Related Courses | (Students often list education before experience) | |
| Experience | ||
| Program Coordinator
Campus Tour Guide
Administrative Assistant
| (Give approximate dates of employment)
98- present
97- 98
96 and 97 | |
| Skills | ||
References available on request | ||
Resume
The resume is probably the most important tool you have to sell yourself to a future employer. While you may meet all the required skills necessary to succeed in a particular job position, it is of no use to you if an employer decides to rejects your resume. You have about 30 seconds to impress your employer before he/she decides whether to throw your resume in the bin
So how do you create a resume that gives you every chance of success? First of all, an effective resume needs to be job specific. It needs to meet the employer’s stated requirements for the position posted. It is important that you recognise what skills and experiences are necessary for a particular job and highlight those in your resume.
Before you begin writing that perfect resume, it might be a good time to look at some of the misconceptions associated with resume writing.
Resume misconceptions
1) You can put together the perfect resume and use it for every job application. Wrong!
One resume that you dust off and send for every job, no matter how "good," works even less than a pair of pants labeled "one size fits all." Resumes need to be tailored for the specific position and company. Don’t use the same resume for every job application.
2) The way to land a job is to blanket the earth with your resume. Eventually, the resume will spark a job offer. Wrong!
This is one of the least productive methods to find a job. Sure, if you send enough resumes and wait long enough, then yes, eventually you may get a job offer this way. But few people want to take those kinds of chances and wait that long.
3) Resumes need to stand out to be noticed. Use fancy fonts, boxes, unique spacing and layout. Wrong!
Scanability is key. You have about 30 seconds, so don’t make your employer spend 20 of them figuring our what goes where. Companies today more commonly opt for scanning resumes and placing them in a computer database. Complicated formatting would cause your resume to be illegible, you may as well have thrown your resume in the bin.
Source: http://www.acpeople.com.au
Resume Writing
Writing a resume for a particular job isn’t always easy. The hardest part is probably starting the resume writing itself. So, before you actually start your resume writing you should think about what you want to do, what image you want to project to the employer and how your past experiences relate to your current aspirations.
It is always a good idea to scribble some of your experiences onto a piece of paper. Remember, the employer is thinking “Why should I speak with the person, how is she/he different from all the other applicants?” Don’t think you have any experience? Then think again. Do a brainstorm and think about,
- Education
- Activities
- Interests
- Work experience
- Honours and awards
- Skills and Abilities
In each heading, think, “What did I do?” and write it down. Once you have all that on paper you should start focusing on bits that are important to the job at hand. Remember a resume's purpose is to show how well you fit a particular job and NOT your life story.
When writing your resume remember that you have about 30 seconds to impress, so write in clear and concise sentences. Now, in the list you wrote above, write a short and concise sentence for each. Each sentence should be structured so that it is interdsting and compelling. You should use actions verbs at the beginning of each of you sentences.
Signs of a great Resume
Below are some features of a great resume and something to look out for when writing your own resume. Never let poor resume writing affect your chance of getting a job.
Targeted: The more targeted a resume is the more chances you have of getting that interview. Employers want to know exactly what you can do for the company. It is important that you tailor each resume to each job (It will only take a few sentence to do this). Get rid of any information that is not required for a particular job. This will alleviate the tendency to over crowd your resume will too much non-related information.
Well written: It is important that your resume makes an impression with the employer. Use action words, such as, established, implemented, created and streamlined. This will add that extra boost to your resume.
Consistent: Be sure that your resume is logical and easy to read. Be consistent with everything, such as the spacing, margins and borders. You should emphasise your important points with text styles such as a different font, italic or underlining.
Summarised Qualifications: This is perhaps the most important section in your resume. The job objective or summary of qualifications will point out your top selling points. Many users will neglect this point and will miss the opportunity to get noticed, fast.
Self-promoting: Don’t be shy; show your employer your accomplishments, skills and abilities. Employers want to too see that you can indeed perform the job at hand. Show them by letting them know about your experiences and how others have benefited from your productivity.
Abbreviations: Abbreviations should be avoided. It is unprofessional and many are not universally accepted.
No personal stuff: Personal data such as height and weight is unnecessary and seen as unprofessional.
Grammatically correct: Poor grammar is the quickest way for your resume to end up in the ‘rejection pile’. Do not trust your computer’s spell check. Read every word yourself and get someone to read it as well. Spelling mistakes and typos suggest tthat your standard of work will be of the same poor quality.
Source: http://www.acpeople.com.au
Job Interview Questions, Tips, Answers and Advice
Below are more questions to help you prepare for you interview. Each section gives a situation, a sample question, appropriate answer and advice for those questions.
1. Question regarding “Personal Weakness”
More often than not, you will be asked about your weaknesses in an interview. If this seems daunting, follow the interview tips below;
Sample Question: "Looking at your own resume, what do you think your weaknesses are regarding this job?"
Answer: “I believe that my skills and abilities are a good fit for this position. Do you have any specific concerns?"
Advice: Take the opportunity to turn the question around and find out what they think your weaknesses are.
2. Question regarding “Hard Work Ethics”
When interviewing with companies, you will often be asked questions that seem straightforward to answer. However more often than not - a ‘yes’ ‘no’ answer is not good enough. Always try to back up what you are saying with examples, as this will validate what you are trying to say.
Sample Question: "Would your current boss describe you as the type of person who goes that extra mile?"
Answer: "Absolutely. In fact, on my annual evaluations, he writes that I am the most dependable and flexible person on his staff. I think this is mostly because of my ability to prioritise."
Advice: Share an example or experience that demonstrates your dependability or willingness to tackle a tough project. If you describe "long hours of work," make sure that you prove the hours were productive, and not the result of poor time management.
3. Question regarding “Standing Out”
Often in an interview, you will be asked to separate yourself from other candidates who may be more qualified or may be less of a risk-factor.
Sample Question: "What new skills or ideas do you bring to the job that our internal candidates don't offer?"
Answer: "Because I've worked with the oldest player in this industry, I can help you avoid some of the mistakes we made in our established markets."
Advice: This question addresses your motivation in adding "true value" to the job. Evaluate the job carefully, considering current limitations or weaknesses in the department and your unique abilities. Your ability here to prove "I offer what you need and then some" could land you the job.
4. Being Specific
Sometimes in interviews, you will be asked questions that lend themselves to be answered vaguely or with lengthy explanations. Take this opportunity to direct your answer in a way that connects you with the position and company, and be succinct and support your answer with appropriate specific examples.
Sample Question: "Why did you choose this particular career path?"
Answer: "I chose advertising because I have always been a strong communicator with a good eye for design. I have a particular interest in creating dynamic eye-catching pieces that support a new product being introduced to the market. I also like the fast-paced high-energy environment that seems to be commonplace in the advertising industry."
Advice: You answer needs to convince the interview that your skills are exactly what they want. They want to know if you have a realistic view of what it is like to work in their industry. Be specific; show them that their industry and your career goals are in sync
5. Tough questions regarding your past
There may be times an interviewer may ask a question regarding your past that can he hard to dodge. You should answer these carefully and try to come up with answers that can turn a potentially negative experience into a positive response.
Sample Question: I see that you didn't finish school.
Answer: "I decided to leave school because I was working 30 hours a week waiting tables to support myself. I felt that I did not have enough time to devote to my schoolwork. When I do anything, I always give 150%."
Advice: The interviewer is trying to gauge what kind of a risk you are. So you tend to complete things or just let them fall by the waist side? Give a good reason why you did not finish or explain why any issues related to it are in the past.
6. Questions about how you can “Contribute to the company”
Before an employer makes his/her decision to hire you, they will need to know how you have performed in the past and any other special contributions that you can bring to the company
Sample Questions: "Tell me about a special contribution you have made to your employer."
"In my last job, I ran the Fund raiser campaign for three consecutive years. I believe it is an important cause, and I know it is difficult for the company to find volunteers."
Advice: Don’t give long boring answers, instead focus you answers on the actions you took and the positive results that you obtained.
7. Questions regarding “Helping the Company”
When you are looking for a job, an employer will want to know what you can do to help or improve their company. Now is the time to tell them of your proven skills and knowledge that you gained at some of your other previous jobs.
Sample Question: "Give me an example of how you can help my company."
Answer: "In my previous career my biggest contribution was my ability to accurately measure customer satisfaction and to continually feed this information back to our design and production departments. I developed special questionnaires, used focus groups and personally spent 10% of my time talking to customers. This attention to customer satisfaction is relevant in your industry as well. I look forward to adopting my quality program to a new type of product."
Advice: Use an example of a significant contribution you made in your past job that impacted the bottom line. Show how this ability transfers across industries from one functional area to another.
8. Questions regarding “Salary Expectations”
Everyone wants to make a lot of money working the job they love. You should be honest here, saying that you will be ok working for $30,000 when you think you are worth $40,000 is not a very smart idea. Experience will show that you will lose interest in the job pretty quickly.
Sample Question: "Tell me about your salary expectations."
Answer: "Current salary information published by our State Association indicates a range of $30,000 to $40,000 a year. While I'm not certain how your salaries compare to this industry, my feeling is that my value would certainly be in the upper half of this national range."
Advice: You should answer this question in general terms. Mention the market value for yourself.
9."In Five Years…"
Employers will want to know your drive and a sense of what your future holds for you. They would prefer to hire someone with a sense of purpose. Employers may ask you to describe what you see yourself doing in the years to come, whether you will be at one company or another. Telling them you see yourself doing their job may not be the best way to get hired.
Sample Question: "Where do you want to be in five years?"
Answer: "In five years, I would like to have progressed to the point where I have bottom-line responsibility and the chance to lead an operations unit."
Advice: Avoid the urge to describe job titles; this makes you seem unbending and unrealistic, since you do not know or control the system of promotion. Describe new experiences or responsibilities you'd like to add in the future that build on the current job you are applying for.
10. Question regarding “Previous Bosses”
There will be times in an interview where questions about past co-workers and old bosses will pop up. Telling them how pathetic and bad they are is generally a bad career move.
Sample Question: "Tell me about your relationship with your previous bosses."
Answer: "My bosses would tell you that I've often been a sounding board for them. With all of my bosses, I developed a close rapport."
Advice: The interviewer is looking for a fit between the two of you. As you describe each previous boss, the interviewer will be making mental comparisons between your old bosses and themselves. Be honest but never sound too negative as your employer may consider that as you being a hard person to work with.
Source: http://www.acpeople.com.auAfter the interview
Job interviews usually last about 20-40 minutes. Be conscious of this, however do not look at your watch. Always let the interviewer initiate the close of the job interview. Try to detect signs that the interview may be coming to an end so you can finish your interview strong.
When you come out of the interview room, you should review how you went. A good idea is to jot these ideas down. Ask yourself the following questions. How could you have done better? What do you think you handled well? What didn’t you do well? Were there any surprises during the job interview process? By noting these down you are actually using it as a building block towards further improving your interview skills. Learn from any mistakes you make and make a conscious effort to fix them in future.
If you want to know how you well you performed during the interview, you may want to call the interviewer after the job interview. You can ask them about your strengths and weaknesses. They will be able to explain to you why they did not think you were suitable. Use their comments in a constructive manner.
Once the interview is over, it is a good idea to write a thank you note. Thank you notes can influence the interviewer as well as maintaining a strong network of connections.
Source: http://www.acpeople.com.au
Interview Questions
To assist you with your job searching process we have listed for your information 10 popular interview questions.
10 Popular Interview Questions
1) "Tell me about yourself?"
This is not an invitation to ramble on. If the context isn't clear, you need to know more about the question before giving an answer. In such a situation, you could ask, "Is there a particular aspect of my background that you would like more information on?" This will enable the interviewer to help you find the appropriate focus and avoid discussing irrelevancies.
Whichever direction your answer ultimately takes, be sure that it has some relevance to the world of your professional endeavours. The tale you tell should demonstrate, or refer to, one or more of your key behavioral profiles in action--perhaps honesty, integrity, being a team player, or determination. If you choose "team player" (maybe you're the star player on your team tennis group), you can tell a story about yourself outside of work that also speaks volumes about you at work. In part, your answer should make the connection between the two, such as, "I put my heart into everything I do, whether it be sports or work. I find that getting along with teammates--or professional peers--makes life more enjoyable and productive."
Or you might describe yourself as someone who is able to communicate with a variety of people, so give an example from your personal life that indicates an ability to communicate that would also apply at work.
This isn't a question that you can answer effectively off the cuff. Take some time in advance to think about yourself, and those aspects of your personality and/or background that you'd like to promote or feature for your interviewer.
2) "Why do you want to work here?"
To answer this question, you will need to have researched the company and built a dossier. Reply with the company's attributes as you see them. Cap your answer with reference to your belief that the company can provide you with a stable and happy work environment--the company has that reputation--and that such an atmosphere would encourage your best work.
"I'm not looking for just another paycheck. I enjoy my work and am proud of my profession. Your company produces a superior product/provides a superior service. I share the values that make this possible, which should enable me to fit in and complement the team."
3) Why should I hire you?
Your answer should be short and to the point. It should highlight the areas from your background that relate to current needs and problems. Recap the interviewer's description of the job, meeting it point by point with your skills.
Finish your answer with: "I have the qualifications you need [itemize them], I'm a team player, I take direction, and I have the desire to make a thorough success."
4) "What did you like/dislike about your last job?"
The interviewer is looking for incompatibilities. If a trial lawyer says he or she dislikes arguing a point with colleagues, such a statement will only weaken--if not immediately destroy--his or her candidacy.
Most interviews start with a preamble by the interviewer about the company. Pay attention: That information will help you answer the question. In fact, any statement the interviewer makes about the job or corporation can be used to your advantage.
So, in answer, you liked everything about your last job. You might even say your company taught you the importance of certain keys from the business, achievement, or professional profile. Criticising a prior employer is a warning flag that you could be a problem employee. No one intentionally hires trouble, and that's what's behind the question. Keep your answer short and positive. You are allowed only one negative about past employers, and only then if your interviewer has a "hot button" about his or her department or company; if so, you will have written it down on your notepad. For example, the only thing your past employer could not offer might be something like "the ability to contribute more in different areas"
You might continue with, "I really liked everything about the job. The reason I want to leave it is to find a position where I can make a greater contribution. You see, I work for a large company that encourages specialisation of skills. The smaller environment you have here will, allow me to contribute far more in different areas." Tell them what they want to hear--replay the hot button.
Of course, if you interview with a large company, turn it around. "I work for a small company and don't get the time to specialise in one or two major areas."
5) "What would you like to be doing five years from now?"
The safest answer contains a desire to be regarded as a true professional and team player. As far as promotion, that depends on finding a manager with whom you can grow. Of course, you will ask what opportunities exist within the company before being any more specific: "From my research and what you have told me about the growth here, it seems operations is where the heavy emphasis is going to be. It seems that's where you need the effort and where I could contribute toward the company's goals." Or, "I have always felt that first-hand knowledge and experience open up opportunities that one might never have considered, so while at this point in time I plan to be a part of [e.g.] operations, it is reasonable to expect that other exciting opportunities will crop up in the meantime."
6) "What are your biggest accomplishments?"
Keep your answers job related. You might begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with . . . I made my contribution as part of that team and learned a lot in the process. We did it with hard work, concentration, and an eye for the bottom line."
7) "Can you work under pressure?"
You might be tempted to give a simple "yes" or "no" answer, but don't. It reveals nothing, and you lose the opportunity to sell your skills and value profiles. Actually, this common question often comes from an unskilled interviewer, because it is closed-ended. As such, the question does not give you the chance to elaborate. Whenever you are asked a closed-ended question, mentally add: "Please give me a brief yet comprehensive answer." Do that, and you will give the information requested and seize an opportunity to sell yourself. For example, you could say: "Yes, I usually find it stimulating. However, I believe in planning and proper management of my time to reduce panic deadlines within my area of responsibility."
8) "Why should I hire you?"
Your answer should be short and to the point. It should highlight areas from your background that relate to current needs and problems. Recap the interviewer's description of the job, meeting it point by point with your skills. Finish your answer with: "I have the qualifications you need [itemize them], I'm a team player, I take direction, and I have the desire to make a thorough success."
9) "How do you take direction?"
The interviewer wants to know whether you are open - minded and can be a team player. Can you follow directions or are you a difficult, high-maintenance employee? Hopefully, you are a low-maintenance professional who is motivated to ask clarifying questions about a project before beginning, and who then gets on with the job at hand, coming back to initiate requests for direction as circumstances dictate.
This particular question can also be defined as "How do you take direction?" and "How do you accept criticism?" Your answer should cover both points: "I take direction well and recognise that it can come in two varieties, depending on the circumstances. There is carefully explained direction, when my boss has time to lay things out for me in detail; then there are those times when, as a result of deadlines and other pressures, the direction might be brief and to the point. While I have seen some people get upset with that, personally I've always understood that there are probably other considerations I am not aware of. As such, I take the direction and get on with the job without taking offense, so my boss can get on with her job. It's the only way."
9) "What is the most difficult situation you have faced?"
The question looks for information on two fronts: How do you define difficult? and, what was your handling of the situation? You must have a story,one in which the situation was tough and one which will allow you to show yourself in a good light. Avoid talking about problems that have to do with co-workers. You can talk about the difficult decision to fire someone, but emphasise that once you had examined the problem and reached a conclusion you acted quickly and professionally, with the best interests of the company at heart.
"What are some of the things that bother you?" "What are your pet hates?" "Tell me about the last time you felt anger on the job."
These questions are so similar that they can be treated as one. It is tremendously important that you show you can remain calm. Most of us have seen a co-worker lose his or her cool on occasion--not a pretty sight and one that every sensible employer wants to avoid. This question comes up more and more often the higher up the corporate ladder you climb, and the more frequent your contact with clients and the general public. To answer it, find something that angers conscientious workers. "I enjoy my work and believe in giving value to my employer.
10) "Do you prefer working with others or alone?"
This question is usually used to determine whether you are a team player. Before answering, however, be sure you know whether the job requires you to work alone - then answer appropriately. Perhaps: "I'm quite happy working alone when necessary. I don't need much constant reassurance. But I prefer to work in a group--so much more gets achieved when people pull together."
More Interview Questions
Questions about your qualifications
- How do you think a friend or someone who knows you well would describe you?
- What do you think is your greatest weakness?
- Can you summarize the contribution you would make to our organisation?
- What accomplishment has given you the most satisfaction?
- Tell me about your experiences at school.
- What has been the most rewarding university experience?
- Please tell me about the greatest professional assignment you've ever handled.
- Tell me about your most significant work experience.
- How would those who have worked with you describe you?
- Why are you the best candidate for this position?
- Have you ever supervised anyone?
Questions about your ability to work for the Company
- Why are you interested in this job?
- What do you know about us?
- What qualities should a successful manager possess?
- In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
- What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?
- Are you a team player?
- How do you handle conflict?
- How do you work under pressure?
- What major problem have you encountered and how have you dealt with it?
- How competitive are you?
- What do you expect from your supervisor?
- Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her
Questions about your career choices
- What are your long-term career goals? When and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
- What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?
- What do you do in your spare time?
- What kind of salary are you looking for?
- Are you willing to relocate?
Difficult to answer questions
- Did you ever have a group leader or boss you disliked? Why did you dislike him/her?
- How would someone who dislikes you describe you?
- Talk about a group situation in which there were problems. How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome? What role did you play in the group? How could the group improve its performance?
- Tell me about a time when you experienced a failure and how you reacted to it.
- Tell me about a time when you were under considerable pressure to meet one or more goals.
- Describe a situation where you had to resolve a problem at work and explain how you resolved it.
- Give me an example of how you are a risk taker.
- If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
- What motivates you?
- Why do you want to work for us and not for our competitor?
- Why should we hire you over everyone else we spoke to today?
- What do you think is the most important/difficult ethical dilemma facing corporations today?
- Give a one sentence positioning statement of yourself.
- How do you go about deciding what to do first when given a project?
- Tell me about an experience you have had in a working environment (school, work, or community).
- Describe a situation where you did not agree with something your boss asked you to do and how you resolved the problem.
- Can you work under pressure?
- What did you like/dislike about your last job?
- What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Job Interview
The job interview is one of the most important part of the job search process; it can also be the most daunting. The fact that you were requested for a job interview is very encouraging and suggests that the employer has seen something in the resume that he/she likes. However, it's not all one sided. This process will help you determine whether you like the job as well, and to see whether the job is a good “fit” for both parties.
The interview is giving you a chance to convince the employer that you are the best person for the job.The goal of the job interview is to show the employer that you have the skills, background, and ability to do the job and that you can successfully fit into the organisation and its work cultures. Employers do not usually hire on merits alone, they will look for an individual who is confident, enthusiastic, positive and is an effective communicator. Showing these qualities are all vital to the job interview process, so be prepared.
The job interview is a communication process, if you can impress your employer with your communication skills, experiences, and interests then there is a good chance that the employer will remember you. It is important that you can show the employer how you can be an asset to the company.
Interview Tips
Job interviews can be a stressful process but they don’t need to be, especially if you have prepared well in advance. Below are some job interview tips you can follow. As with all things, preparation is the key. Take these interview tips with you and practice them with a friend or family member and remember, you can never prepare enough.
Don't be late. There is no worse way to begin an interview
First impression counts. You should dress suitably. Wear your best work outfit. The things to remember are cleanliness, simplicity and no strong or 'loud' colours. Do not chew gum or smoke.
Be yourself. Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills. Be professional, but don't be afraid to let your personality shine through.
Listen carefully. There is nothing worse than to ask a question that the employer has already talked to you about. You will want to remember what you learn about the job, and you will want to answer the questions that were asked.
Address the job criteria. Nervous energy is good but not if you come to the job interview unprepared. It’s to your advantage to carefully research the job and the company. This can be done in many ways. You can request information personally, or go to the company’s website for material about job descriptions and company annual reports.
Be positive. Don’t talk about your bad feelings or give any excuses about a negative experience. If you are asked why your grades are low, then don't give excuses, instead, focus on stating the positive facts and what you have learnt from your experiences.
Be poised. Pay attention to non-verbal behavior. Look the interviewer in the eye, sit up straight with both feet on the floor. You should also control nervous habits such as fingernail biting and giggling.
Practice makes perfect. This maxim can’t be more true with job interview. Make sure your answers are clear and succinct. You should practice answering with a friend or with your family members. When practicing avoid terms such as “like” and “you know” and don’t sound too rehearsed, as though you have memorised each answer.