STAR technique What you need to know

STAR technique What you need to know by Michael Cheary There are no sure-fire secrets to answering an interview question. But there is an acronym…Knowing how to answer competency questions can often be your key to success at an interview. And whilst we can’t provide you with the exact response you’ll be able to use, we can make sure you approach each one the right way. And it’s all about technique.Never heard of STAR before? Here’s how you can use it to nail your next interview:What is STAR?A simple, structured technique to help you answer interview questions.It stands for Situation, Task, Approach and Results. When do you need STAR?Ever been asked a question that starts with ‘Tell me about a time you did X’ by an interviewer? Chances are that you were being asked a competency question.Competency questions are generally used to find out how candidates would react to certain situations, by asking for real-world examples to back-up their claims.Candidates can easily be thrown by these types of questi ons, but don’t let their open-ended nature fool you. There is a formula you can apply to keep your answers on track, and that’s where STAR comes in.How do I use STAR?To use STAR effectively, all elements of your answer need to work. Here’s a breakdown of how to approach each letter:S â€" SituationThink of this section as ‘setting the scene’.Provide the interviewer with a bit of background about the question, and give them some context. Try and be specific, and include names and dates wherever appropriate to help add credibility.Example:At Company Name Ltd, I was responsible for representing the firm at tradeshows. My second year there, it just so happened that three events we usually attended were scheduled within a month of each other â€" generally they were spread out over a much longer period of time. T â€" TaskBuild on the background you’ve given, and outline the task at hand.Specifically, how did the situation relate to you? And what were the major tasks you needed to undertake to resolve it? Include how important or difficult the situation was to overcome, as well as any constraints you came up against.Example:It meant a tremendous amount of work was compressed into a really tight window of time. These shows were a huge source of lead generation for the company, so it was essential we attended and presented our products in the best light.A â€" Approach Translation: what did you actually do to resolve the situation?Outline the steps you took to ensure a successful outcome, without being tempted to take all the credit. The key to effectively incorporating the ‘approach’ part of your answer is to identify what skills the interviewer really wants to see, and reinforce them throughout.Example:I hate to say I can’t take something on at work, but I took a long, hard look at the situation and realized preparing all three up to the standards I’d want was going be impossible, so I sat down and prioritized the events. One, I realized, was much l ess relevant to us, so I scheduled a meeting with my manager and we agreed to focus on only two events. Once that was settled, I could draw up a detailed to-do list with interim deadlines for each item so that I’d have all the materials I needed to really represent the company well.R â€" ResultFinally, it’s time for the pay-off.What was the outcome of the situation? Remember, everyone loves a happy ending, and recruiters are no different. Make your happy ending quantifiable, and you’ll really have nailed your answer.Example:The two events went off without a hitch and I was able to bring several really solid leads back to our sales department. One of them actually resulted in a £100,000 contract, so in the end I was pleased I’d made the call to eliminate one event.   Final thoughtsImpressing at a competency-based interview is all about the way you tell your story, so it’s particularly important to prepare for this sort of interview. Put some concrete, quantifiable details down on paper, which could fit a range of situations.Don’t shy away from including a bit of adversity or failure. It humanises you and helps convince the listener of your sincerity. All jobs involve difficulties. The interview is trying to figure out how you’ll handle them.A final word of wisdom about STAR: as a structured system, it can help guide your answers and calm your nerves, but don’t follow it too rigidly â€" you’re not a robot. Make sure your responses flow naturally, from one point to the next.So keep it natural, conversational and concise, and this acronym will be your new best friend at your next interview.Need more interview advice?Not sure which questions will come up? Don’t panic. We can help with that…Buy James Reeds new book: Why You? 101 Interview Questions Youll Never Fear Again and start loving Mondays now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereB y clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features Interview Techniques

Home Exercise Program For Busy Professionals Giveaway!

Home Exercise Program For Busy Professionals Giveaway! In honor of the 4th of July, we are hosting a summer giveaway just in time for swimsuit season from Tailored Fitness!  Tailored Fitness is a program created by my friend Autumn Bonner. After becoming a personal trainer, she wanted a way to reach a broader group of women to be able to help them along their fitness journey, so she started Tailored Fitness. As busy professional women, we are busy and dont have a lot of time!  So these workouts are made specifically for women and are designed to get you the best workout in the shortest amount of time. Woohoo! I am also a big fan of working out in the comfort of my own home! What is Tailored Fitness? Tailored Fitness tackles the three main issues with most home exercise programs: Boredom- With typical programs, the repetition over time causes you to lose interest and you see fewer results as your body adjusts to the exercises.   Tailored Fitness provides new content that continues to challenge you as you fitness level increases. Cookie Cutter Programs- If you take a class at a gym or watch a workout video, the workout is designed to benefit everyone, but is not tailored specifically for your goals, injuries, or even your schedule.   With Tailored Fitness, your create your workouts to maximize your results for the time spent because every video that’s chosen to be a part of your plan is pushing you directly towards the results you want.   Plus, you don’t have to worry about making it to the gym in time for that class; you can workout at home, whenever you can make it fit. No Trainer Support- Unless you hire a personal trainer each time you workout, you are missing out on the support of someone cheering you on towards your goals and answering your questions as you progress along the way.   At Tailored Fitness, you have the support of a trainer to encourage you and hold you accountable for your fitness and nutrition goals. And now for the GIVEAWAY! (Note: Everyone is eligible for a free 30 day membership if you register at their site). Tailored Fitness will be giving away a  3-month free membership to Tailored Fitness to ONE Lucky Reader. The membership allows you to build your own custom workouts or pick from dozens of Trainer designed workouts.   You will receive monthly check in emails from your trainer to help hold you accountable and strategize with you to create a program that works for you. You’ll also get access to our Nutrition plan, which helps you transform your eating to compliment your workouts and maximize your results. To enter this giveaway, here is what you need to do using Rafflecopter below. Each task you accomplish is equivalent to 1 point. The more points the better!  Good luck!  This giveaway is open to anyone in the world with an internet connection.  I will email the winner and you will have 24 hours to get back to me. Contest is open until July 11, 2013.  Good luck! Like the Tailored Fitness Facebook page Like Classy Career Girl Facebook page Follow Classy Career Girl on Twitter @classycareer Follow Tailored Fitness on Twitter@MyTailoredFit a Rafflecopter giveaway

5+ Best Bank Teller Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co

5+ Best Bank Teller Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co Related Hiring Resources Bank Teller Job Description Sample Bank Teller Cover Letter Sample Bank Teller Resume Example

5 Tips for Buying a Home When Youve Got Big Student Loan Debt

5 Tips for Buying a Home When Youve Got Big Student Loan Debt After months of dilly-dallying, youve finally decided to buy your own house. Youre already making a decent living, and its high time to move out of the proverbial nest. Theres one problem: Like 71 percent of college graduates in 2015, youre saddled with student loans. Just thinking about it makes you break out into a sweat. If the real estate agent and mortgage lender knew how much I owed, you think, theyll blacklist me for life! Why would they do business with someone whos barely holding up a mountain of  student  debt? The good news is, theyll still help you â€" as long as you meet specific criteria. Also, if you keep these not-so-common-sensical tips in mind, you can move out and achieve financial freedom. Approach the Lender First Whenever you deal with real estate agents and mortgage lenders, youre in a chicken-and-egg scenario. The agent will ask you if youve talked with a lender, and the lender will ask you if youve talked with an agent. In this case, youll want to listen to the agent first. Why? Because the mortgage industry is so regulated, everyone in it has the same basic requirements for potential borrowers. In other words, the next time your lender asks whether you have an agent, tell them: No, I dont. But Id still like to look into the programs you offer. Ask for a Loan Deferment/Forbearance If theres no way in this lifetime you can pay off your student debt, you can still ask for a forbearance or deferment. Both of these allow you to delay or reduce your payments â€" with important differences. In forbearance, you can delay or reduce monthly payments up to 12 months. But youll still be charged interest on your loans (including the subsidized ones). Your lender can grant you this on a discretionary or mandatory basis, depending on whether you meet the eligibility criteria. Meanwhile, a deferment allows you to postpone payments on the principal and interest for up to three years. During the deferment period, the government will help you pay off the interest on subsidized loans, like the Federal Perkins Loan. However, youll still be responsible for the interest on unsubsidized debt. Either way, make sure you read the Federal Student Aid website before you sign up. Check out the deferment option first, and if you dont tick off any of the boxes, it’s time to consider forbearance. Reduce Your Debt-to-Income Ratio It might sound like typical finance gobbledygook, but its really simple: Just divide your monthly debt payments with your monthly income. For example, if you earn $10,000 and cough up $3,600 a month for debt, your debt-to-income ratio would be 36 percent. Thats the ideal for lenders â€" though some of them also accept 43 percent and higher. Based on that ratio, there are two ways to cut it down: You can increase your debt payments, or increase your income. But dont be too hasty when paying down debt either. Your lenders wont want to lose extra income on that juicy interest rate. Consider More Affordable Options Cities like New York and San Francisco may be cool, but lets face it: Theyre ridiculously expensive to live in. If you dont mind where you live as long as you free up cash, consider those places with relatively low housing prices, monthly rents and cost of living. Alternatively, you can purchase a modular home. This type is built offsite (usually in a warehouse), and transported to wherever you want it to be. Because their manufacturers can spread the cost of materials over multiple homes, modular homes are less expensive than their traditionally-built counterparts. Take Your Pick Now that youve weighed your options regarding your debt, its time to choose your house. Look for a real estate agent first, and make sure theyre willing to guide you throughout the process. Come up with a ballpark range for what youre willing to pay, and stick to it during negotiations. Dont forget to check in with your lender, and to give the soon-to-be-yours house a quick check before you sign. Huge Student Debt Isnt The End Dont let your Everest-sized debt get you down. Even if itll take a long time before you pay it all off, you can still live independently and with peace of mind. Besides, student loans are considered good credit, so theyre not all bad. Images: Student debt: DonkeyHotey  New Homeowner Nat Tung

7 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out in 2017

7 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out in 2017 It goes without saying that the trends in resumes seem to change with each new year. If you are a seasoned job hunter, the chances are good that you have switched up some of the elements more than a few times or you have even gone through for a complete overhaul.?With all of the popular extras that you can add to your resume, it might be difficult to tell exactly how it should look in 2017 when you want to get results. From QR codes and company logos to headshots and other features, it can be overwhelming when you simply want to have your application noticed without getting you thrown out of the running.There are some things that are never going to go out of style, which is the packaging of your experience mixed with crisp, to the point writing. When you can keep a modern, clean design with creative and descriptive storytelling, you will be well on your way to getting into the keep pile and hopefully closer to being considered for an interview.evalThese are some of the best tips that you can use to ensure your resume in 2017 looks great and will help you to get you noticed:1. FormattingevalDesign always matters, and you need to have a smooth, clear look that is going to be just enough to help you stand out. A bit of color can also be a great way to add some spice without becoming too overwhelming to the reader.Photo Credit â€" resume.naukri.com?Be sure that you stay away from dated fonts and choose one that is sleek and clean to create a tight look to the presentation.?2. First ImpressionYou need to know that the top one-third of any resume is all that a hiring manager or recruiter is going to scan to tell them if it is worth it for them to read all the way through.Photo Credit â€" becomeapastrychef.com?You need to grab their attention in this first few seconds, so point at a personal website, samples of your work product and where they can visit your professional social media page.3. Your BrandYou need to be able to show your value and what you can do for a po tential employer instead of focusing on what they may be able to do for you.?If you have an older resume that has an objective near the top, you can dump it and highlight the qualifications that make you a no-brainer for any employer.?4. Show Your SkillsevalIt is important to emphasize your skill set right near the top of your resume, so be sure that you add in the right keywords in your skills section that employers may scan to see if you have what it takes.Photo Credit -.workingcarers.org.auElements like social media knowledge and tech skills are always highly sought after in today’s hiring climate.5. Achievements And PerformanceevalYou should never make any hiring manager have to go on a scavenger hunt to find your achievements.?A standalone summary of the things that you have accomplished will be a nice way to show off benchmarks, awards, promotions, and anything else that shows your drive and what you can bring to any job that you are applying for.6. Work HistoryevalThis can sometimes be a boring section in outdated resumes that make it so important information gets glossed over by potential employers.?All you need is a few lines of text to weave a good story to show where you worked, why you switched industries, what lead you to the promotion and where you want to go next.7. Reign In The TimelineYou never want to go on and on when putting together a timeline of your work history, as no potential employer wants to go all the way back to your internships out of college if they were five or six jobs ago.Photo Credit â€" fransfineediting.com?Get rid of any work experience that dates back further than ten years unless it is a key element of your narrative.?While it may be tempting to add a whole lot of high-tech elements to your resume, it will not necessarily be necessary.?What you do need is a clean, sleek story of who you are as an employee, showcasing your brand, and everything that you bring to the table.?Doing this will get you moved to the keep pile and intrigue employers enough to have you come in for an interview.

This is one of the most inspiring things Ive ever read about work - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

This is one of the most inspiring things Ive ever read about work - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Kahlil Gibrans book The Prophet came out in 1923 and has not been out of print since.?The book is made up of 26 sermons by a wise man called Al Mustapha. He is about to set sail for his homeland after 12 years in exile on a fictional island when the people of the island ask him to share his wisdom on the big questions of life: love, family, work and death. Here is the chapter?on work, which I think goes to the very heart of?finding happiness and meaning in work. Then a ploughman said, Speak to us of Work. And he answered, saying:?You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.?For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of lifes procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite. When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.?Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison? Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.?But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earths furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,?And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,?And to love life through labour is to be intimate with lifes inmost secret. But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.?You have been told also life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary. And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,?And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,?And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,?And all work is empty save when there is love;?And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God. And what is it to work with love??It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.?It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.?It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,?And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching. Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, he who works in marble, and finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is a nobler than he who ploughs the soil.?And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than he who makes the sandals for our feet. But I say, not in sleep but in the over-wakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass;?And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving. Work is love made visible.?And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half mans hunger.?And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.?And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle mans ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Writing Job Resume For Writing Jobs

Writing Job Resume For Writing JobsWith the economy as it is, the chances of finding a good writing job are becoming more likely. This is where a sample writing job resume comes in handy. It will give you an idea about what sort of work experience you might need to have to land the job that you want.When looking for writing jobs, you should keep in mind that there are a few things that you should be aware of. The first is that you do not have to have a degree in English to be hired for a writing job. So you can get a writing job without any degree at all. The second thing is that writing jobs tend to be seasonal.Therefore, when you are applying for writing jobs, you should always keep your eyes open for opportunities. Seasonal writing jobs, for example, are great because they are going to be in demand throughout the year. However, they are going to be in demand during certain times of the year.A writing job will also be seasonal, and so you should also look for opportunities on a reg ular basis. Therefore, if you have a full-time job, you might not have the time to go for writing jobs that are seasonal. On the other hand, if you are trying to make some extra money, then you might want to look into getting some writing jobs on a consistent basis. This will help you save money while working on your resume.Some writing jobs will require that you write copy for brochures, emails, and other publications. In these situations, you will have to use skill to develop your writing skills. You will also need to work to maintain a high level of quality in your writing. Some samples of writing jobs include content writing for magazines, website copy, and advertising copywriting.You can also look for writing jobs that pay a higher rate. These are opportunities that are more likely to pay overtime, since more people will be needing the content. You should use your resume to highlight the many different writing jobs that you have had throughout your career. Some examples of this would be article writing, book writing, and even data entry jobs.A good sales letter is one that can speak well to a person who needs the information. A good sales letter for a writing job is going to be very detailed and explain a lot of important information. This will allow the person reading the resume to feel that you know your stuff. Remember, the resume is the first thing that someone will see when they get to your current job.When writing a resume for a writing job, you should take the time to put a lot of thought into it. This will not only benefit you in the long run, but it will also save you a lot of time as well. By putting a lot of thought into your resume, you will be doing your best to get the writing job that you are after.