When you get to the interview, be prepared to discuss your resume. In addition to explaining why you left previous companies and chit chat about the position, if you have any gaps in employment be prepared to explain them. Many people are scared that an interviewer is going to discover that they were without a job for a period of time. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but you do have to be able to tell the interviewer why in the best possible light.

You should always be honest when explaining any absence from working, but you do have license to spin what you did do in the best possible light. For instance, if you were laid of your job and had a hard time finding a replacement but spent a lot of time with your children you could say, “I took an opportunity to spend a few months with my children in between jobs.” If you took any courses or classes that adds value to your skills as an employee be sure to mention that as well.  You may find it beneficial to add a brief explanation on the resume itself or in a cover letter. Most times it is hard to get to an interview if there is a lengthy and unexplained employment gap.

If you are unsure what possible questions could be generated from your resume, have another person look at it. It is best to be prepared for certain questions and scenarios that will likely come up in an interview. You do not want to be caught unaware or floundering for an answer. Give yourself time to figure out the best explanation for times
of unemployment so an interviewer sees it as reasonable or even beneficial to them in the case of additional education and classes.

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It may be the reason you are looking for another job in the first place – you and your current boss do not work well together. And good for you for taking charge of the situation to find something that is a better fit for you. But how do you approach this situation so it will not hinder your chances at a new company? There are a few steps you should take first and you need to mind what you say during the interview.

A lot of interviews will contain at least one question about your working relationship with your current boss. They can take many forms and you should prepare for a lot of different types of questions that may be asked. No matter what the question, even if it is one asking you to describe conflict with your boss, be positive and do not bash anyone in
your answers. 

Remove any emotions from the equation and explain the situation using the facts and highlight all of the professional steps you have taken to rectify the situation. Don’t try and make your boss sound like the bad guy, and try to de-emphasize the entire event. It may seem like an opportunity to vent about the situation but if you do, your are cutting off an avenue to escape the working relationship you want to get away from. Present the facts, be neutral and highlight your problem-solving skills.

If you are concerned that your current boss will sabotage your efforts to find another job during the reference check stage you can solve this in a couple of ways. If your boss is reasonable and the two of you just don’t work well together, chances are you don’t have to worry too much. Be sure to give him or her a heads up though. If you aren’t comfortable with this, try and find another manager that you have worked for in the company previously that you can pass on as a reference.

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This is a good piece of advice to follow in life, but it also has a special place in an interview setting. You want to be viewed as someone who understands what is necessary and can deliver the expected results – more than just in the interview room – and making assumptions will not guarantee you will be viewed like this.

The easiest and best way to avoid assumptions is to ask for clarification. If a question is asked that is ambiguous or you really aren’t sure what they mean, ask them to explain it to you. Sometimes, without meaning to, an interviewer will use company jargon or acronyms in a question or in conversation. You can respond by saying, “I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that term, could you explain it to me please?” Not only will this show that you are paying attention but it will also demonstrate that you have an interest in the company and what they are about.

When you are answering a question and you need to include company specific terminology, be sure to explain what you mean. In addition, you cannot assume that your interviewer will know what you are talking about either. Take a moment to either set up your answer with the required information to understand what you are talking about or pause and explain certain phrases or words. Better yet, if you can use common terms in the place of company specific ones, it is the preferable way to go.

Lastly, don’t assume that the job is in the bag. No matter how confident you are that you are the most qualified person for the position – it isn’t yours until you have received a job offer. Make the best impression you have and keep the mindset that you are still competing for the job and sell yourself accordingly.

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You may think that it is best to follow-up with an interviewer to thank them for their time and keep your name in the forefront of their mind. While this may have that affect on them, it may not be in the positive way you are looking for. An interviewer takes time out of their regular job to fill vacancies in a department. It is an extremely busy and stressful time for them and they do not want (nor have time to) take calls from everyone that they have completed interviews with.

But this is not to say that sending along a thank you is a bad idea, it’s not. The method that you thank your interviewer is going to make a difference.  If you received a business card, send a quick e-mail to thank them for their time and that you are looking forward to hearing from them. Quick and to the point and leave it at that. Do not expect a reply because you probably won’t get one and do not follow-up on your e-mail to make sure they received it – you will become an annoyance.

Second to sending a quick e-mail, you can send a short and professional thank you note (this means no scented stationary or something too cutesy). The message should be similar, thanking the interviewer for taking the time to sit down with you, express how much you enjoyed speaking with them and learning more about the company. It is a nicety that while not necessary, can be an added touch to a strong interview.

It may not guarantee you the job, but thank you notes, if done the right way, may open doors for you in the future. If there are openings in the company at a later time, the interviewer may remember you and think of you before others.

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If you love to talk and when you are nervous can go on and on, or if you are the opposite and clam up when you are in a stressful situation – you need to be conscious of this and not do either in an interview. When asked a question, an interview wants enough information that will help them understand what you are talking about, but not extraneous irrelevant information.

If you are answering a question using an example from your previous or current job and there is a lot of jargon or acronyms – try to use more common place term that more people are familiar with or explain what you mean in the beginning. If you are asked to describe a time when you lead a project – explain what the project was about, how many people you managed and any key points that demonstrate what a great job you did. What you don’t want to do is get side-tracked and give details that aren’t relevant to the question. The interviewer is not going to be interested in a play by play of the entire project – they want to know your role in it. 

Keep on topic; take a moment before answering a question to organize the details in your mind. You don’t want to start answering, get sidetracked and forget the point you were trying to make. If you stay on topic and know what you are going to say, you are going to be able to keep the interviewer’s attention.

If you are a person of few words, practice with a friend or family member before your interview. Learn how to expand your answers so you give thorough information without living the interviewer wanting more. But if you are in doubt, less is better – an interviewer will ask follow-up questions if necessary.

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Getting through college is one of the most financially straining experiences that you will ever have during the course of your life. The expense is phenomenal and still rising, despite the fact that more and more families are falling below the poverty line. Without money though, there is no way that you could even consider going to college or staying on if you have already started, stay on there. This is unfortunately not very fair and the system does not tend to help students in need out, but there are individuals that you can go to for financial advice if you ever think you may be in need of a boost to keep you in college.

Getting a job is obviously the first step to help you get through college somewhat intact. Campuses often have job websites or notice boards that you can tap into if you need money and need it quickly. There are usually various resources of this nature available because it keeps any of the jobs going in student hands rather than giving the jobs to individuals outside of the college when the need is greater elsewhere. Depending on the size of the campus, the variety of jobs may actually be extensive. Failing that, there are probably experiments going on in the psychology department that will usually pay for the pleasure of exploring your mind. For a quick fix, this will do, but what about the more long term problems of staying at college when dubitation fees and housing fees come around again?

Every good college or university will have a financial office as well as a student guidance centre. They may not be called that because they go under a variety of different guises. However, I guarantee that they will be there somewhere. If in doubt, just head to the administrative centre of your university and you will most likely find it there. If not, you will no doubt be redirected to the right place.

Guidance counselors at your college and university can be found in the student help departments and are employed for the sole reason of finding a viable solution for student problems, and money and funding often dominate their time. So many students find themselves in need of a cash injection because they live on the poverty line that the individuals employed there will most definitely know their stuff and be able to advise you far better than any individual elsewhere in the school or outside of it ever could.

The guidance counselors at your school will be able to point you in the right direct for grants, scholarships, hardship loans and quick fixes that will enable you to get your head back above water again. They will also be able to provide you with information to help avoid another similar circumstance occurring as well as providing you with ongoing advice and support. You will probably find shelves stacked with manual and books that could also be used to help you because they will be able to enlighten you on the wonderful world of scholarships and grants that are there to keep you on course for completing your education as well as enhance your future prospects.

The majority of individuals working in such an office will be highly trained and you will probably be referred to a particular guidance counselor so you can return to him or her whenever you need help in the future. This will give you peace of mind straight away and will remove most of the strain and stress that you would most definitely be under!

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Sometimes – or more like every time – you go for an interview, your nerves make it hard to concentrate and answer questions to the best of your ability. The important thing to remember is to really listen to the questions being asked. If the interviewer tells you they want a specific example, don’t answer with a general how you would do something – it is a surefire way to ruin your chances for the job. 

These types of questions are known as situational questions. If an interviewer were to say to you, “Tell us about your favorite vacation.” You wouldn’t respond by telling them about all the places you would like to go or make a generalization:

“My favorite vacation is to go someplace hot with my family and sit on the beach.”

Instead, you should answer as specifically as possible including all the pertinent details:

“My favorite vacation was two years ago when I went to California with my family. We spent a lot of time on the beach.  It was very relaxing.”

The second answer adds credibility. It is obvious that you are providing information from something that actually happened as opposed to making something up just to answer the question.

Potential employers are trying to gauge how you react or perform in specific situations. Common questions that are asked include:

“Tell me about a time you led a team project.” Include what the project was, how many people, and any challenges including how you overcame them.

“Tell me about a conflict you had with a co-worker.” Only pick situations that had a positive outcome.

Employers today want to know how you are going to perform on the job before they even hire you. By answering situational questions specifically you can assure the interviewer you have the skills and thought processes that they are looking for.

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