Wu Wei
I fell in love with the Chinese term “Wu Wei” (pronounced “ooh way”) the moment I heard its meaning: “effortless action.” It’s exactly what’s needed for success in networking and interviewing, indeed, for your whole career.
Tag: interviews
How to Handle Oddball Interview Questions
If these questions amuse you, go ahead and laugh. Your reviewers thought carefully to come up with silly questions that might encourage you to reveal your sense of humor.
Confident Career Strategies
Stewart says that the first step in preparing for an interview is to conduct a thorough inventory of your skills and accomplishments. A sort of personal SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses in a competitive market can help you prepare to answer tough questions in the interview. These are internal qualities, whereas Opportunities and Threats are environmental qualities. What outside factors might influence the market for your skills? Is your programming language of choice being phased out? Are you an early adopter of some technique or technology? Being aware of industry trends helps you position yourself within a larger context.
Your Greatest Strength is Also Your Weakness
Two of the most dreaded questions in interviewing are dreaded for good reason. “What is your greatest strength?” and “What is your greatest weakness?” are mirror image questions that drive jobseekers crazy. (For the record, they drive most recruiters crazy, too; they would love to hear the real answers, but never get more than tired clichés in return.) We are perpetually perplexed by these mirror image questions because they are not mirror images at all – they’re the same question.
Be Yourself
“Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” Oscar Wilde
Guest Post: Don’t Leave your Interview without Asking These Questions
There are two important reasons to turn the tables on your interviewer before you leave the room. First, asking pointed questions can help you determine if this is or isn’t the right job for you. Of course you’ll need to impress your interviewer if you hope to receive an offer, but you have every right … Continue reading Guest Post: Don’t Leave your Interview without Asking These Questions
Guest Post: Five Ways Employers Frustrate Job Seekers and Drive Them Away
If you’re a job seeker and you’ve been on the receiving end of any of the disrespectful moves listed below, you aren’t alone. But take heart; smart employers are starting to recognize that an imbalanced job market doesn’t give them free rein to treat applicants poorly. Meanwhile, the faster you shake off the effects of these rude behaviors and move on to the next potential job, the faster you’ll get where you need to be.
Confident is as Confident Does
Being rejected is not fun. If you’re in an extended job search, every call you don’t get feels like a fresh rejection, and that can wear down your confidence fast. That’s a problem, because your confidence and energy level are two of the first things your network – and recruiters – notice about you. Here are some tips on how to boost your confidence.
Checklist for a Great Interview
Your next job interview is not a matter of life or death, (although it may feel like it to you) but a checklist is a great idea to help you remember important steps no matter how nervous you are.
Overqualified
In a tight labor market, there’s only one thing worse than not getting the job of your dreams; not getting the job you could have done in your sleep. There are many reasons that jobseekers consider jobs for which they are overqualified. In a recession, high level jobs may be scarce and competition intense. When you transition from one industry or career to another, you may be forced into looking for entry level jobs in the new field, no matter how far you had advanced in your former career. Baby Boomers are opting for jobs that offer more time for family and quality of life. Others, seeking more meaning in their careers, are looking for opportunities in mission based companies or non-profits, even if the jobs pay less.
Your Work, Your Way 