Tough Interview Questions | Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

Do You Understand Our Corporate Culture? | JobSearchTV.com

June 12, 2019June 12, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLFGV9vauS4

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A classic question that can be asked of people at all levels.

Now, the question I'm going to answer for today is one that . . . I think it works well, if you were to be asked this for a senior position or a staff position. So, from the standpoint of answering the question, I think the answer is going to work in both contexts.
So, the question for today is, "Do you understand our corporate culture?"
Now, let's assume we were talking about a well-known organization, public firm, yada, yada. So, the correct answer would wind up being, "You know, I know what you want us to know. After all, you have a well-oiled publicity machine and PR for the organization is spectacular. People talk about the firm in this, that or the other way." Then, you describe how the organization is thought of from a positive perspective.
But from there, you continue on by saying, "We both know this is part of what you're putting out into the world. There are people who leave this organization who, if I called, would say something different. How do you perceive the corporate culture because you're living in? I'm not. I'm reading about it. I'm talking to people who work for the firm, AND who leave the firm. How do you see the corporate culture? What does it take to be successful here?"
Thus, you turn the question back to them, so they talk about it and, thus, you're giving them a non BS type of answer because what you're saying is true.
Apple, Facebook, we would talk about smart organizations with enthusiastic people who are committed. You know, it's all this publicity stuff that each organization puts out in order to be seen in a favorable light.
"We reward success. We've got a top management team. We are committed to excellence."
Tell me what form doesn't say that . . . but the reality is different. It's far more nuanced. Thus, you want to remind them of that, so that, in this way, you can get some real insights from them about the positives and the challenges that the organization is facing directly from them.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1400 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.

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“Sell Me This Unusable Pen” | JobSearchTV.com

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjGmIk-DLrk

I explain how best to answer this ridiculous question.

Summary

You know every once in a while you hear about ridiculous interview questions and I read this one and I couldn't help myself.I was going to go on the rest of my work day but I decide to respond to the question, "Sell me this unusable pen." Now you know I think it's a trap question but if it isn't you've just learned something about your potential boss here that you're an idiot. Do you really want to work for a company that wants to test you by selling something that's dogshit? I'm being that blunt about it. If you've watched videos before I don't use profanity but at the end of the day I think it's really useful to be able to look someone square in the eye and say, "no." I want to sell a usable pen. I'm never going to sell a product that's crap. If that's the way you think of your product and the way you want me to work., I'm not the right person for you and we can end the interview now.

But if you want me to sell something that works well, is a great product, something that we're proud of. I'm happy to sell it for you right now. Can we switch gears here because I don't want to go into this sort of mentality where you have the expectation that I could sell just any piece of crap known to mankind. I can't. I can't sell garbage. I can sell something that's good but I can't sell crap.

Doing that, you have to be prepared for the follow up but you've instructed them on something and you basically smacked this person in the face but, I think, in a smart way. You may not get the job and frankly you may not have gotten the job if he played along with them.

But I think by demonstrating spine, by demonstrating guts, this is male or female her . . . I did fairly strong presentation. But as a woman you can present yourself in the same sort of way as well. You know it's not rough. It's really easy to be docile in compliant, male or female here. It's tough to show the spine because there's a pleasure to be compliant. Don't be a little worm. Go out there and basically say, "I can't sell garbage and I won't sell garbage. If you think that of your product, I'm not the right person for you if you have some pride in what you do,, if you have some pride in the product the service that you sell, let me sell something like that right now and let's go forward. I think that's the ideal way to present.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.

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What Would Your Current Manager Say You Need to Work On?

What Interests You About This Job? | NoBSJobSearchAdvice.com

June 9, 2019June 9, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGzTp-3vymg

Listen to the full episode here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebiggamehunter/2017/04/25/what-interests-you-about-this-job

Ep 726 Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter tells you exactly how to answer this question, especially if you are not sure you are actually interested in the position.

Summary
Today, we are going to talk with you about 1 of those tough interview questions that trip up so many people and you need to be prepared with an answer to this question because to many interviewers use it as part of “the interviewer playbook,” particularly in HR. The question goes like this (it's always said with a degree of solemnity . . . Piousness . . . However you want to describe it. Very serious!).
“So, what interests you about this position you?”
If you asked this question the beginning, if you are asked this question by HR, you have to respond by saying, “frankly, superficially, it is an interesting role…” you can talk about what the job seems like it might be from the advertising and that assumes that you are prepared to talk about what you saw in the position description. But you have to continue by saying, “But the fact is, I really don't know enough about the job. I don't know enough about the manager I would be working for. As a matter of fact, I don’t anything about the manager I would be working for or the team I would be involved with, what the budget is for the role, what the expectations are. So, it's hard for me to commit to being interested in the role but superficially it seems like an interesting job.”
Now, if you are with the hiring manager and he or she as spent the last hour and a half talking with you about the job and about your background, your answer to this question has to be a little bit different matter (as a matter fact, it has to be a lot different). Assuming that you are interested, what you do is you go through what you learned about the position from this individual and you might say, (I'm just going to use a generality here), “Great question. I appreciate you asking this. What I see about this job is . . . “Then, you rattle all 3 or 4 different things about the role and then conclude by saying, “frankly, 1 of things that makes the job interesting is you. You seem to be a good person to work for you, very direct and straightforward. You made sure I understood everything about this role. A lot of managers don't take that kind of care. So, I get the idea that what people who work for you, what they think and what their needs are, matter to you. So, that kind of thoroughness and preparation attracts me.”
So, that becomes a good way of “tying the bow” on what could be a pretty straightforward answer. Again, it has to be delivered with the degree of theatricality. So, again, just to repeat it, you rattle off 3 or 4 different things about the job and then you flatter the hiring manager by saying, “frankly, 1 of the attractions of the role is you. You have taken a lot of time to make sure that I understood what my role and responsibilities would be and what your expectations are. The way I interpret that is your thoroughness allows me and others who work for you to be prepared for that matters to you so I'm not going to get thrown into the frying pan (very often).
So, that's 2 ways to answer that question, depending upon your audience. Now, if you're not interested or you are unsure if you're interested, here's the follow-up to use. You can rattle off 2 or 3 different things, talk about the hiring manager as being a very interesting component and it, then, continue by saying, “you know, at the same time, I still have a couple of questions I would like to cover,” and then you go into your questions and then say, “thank you. I really appreciate you taking time to make sure that I understood thoroughly what you're looking for.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for what more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1100 episodes, “Job Search Radio,” “and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice” and is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council.

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule an initial complimentary session.

If you have questions for me, call me through the Magnifi app for iOS (video) or PrestoExperts.com (phone)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

Join and attend my classes on Skillshare. Become a premium member and get 2 months free.

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

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For more about LinkedIn, order “Stacked: Double Your Job Interviews, Leverage Recruiters and Unlock LinkedIn.”

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

What Is It You Would Like to Develop As a Leader? | NoBSJobSearchAdvice.com

June 8, 2019June 8, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcNTgcQfgCE

Listen to the full episode here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebiggamehunter/2017/12/15/what-is-it-you-would-like-to-develop-as-a-leader-job-search-radio

EP 957 Although you think this question will be asked of senior professionals, it can be asked of anyone from a lead on up. It is also a great “trap question.”

Summary

The question for today is, "What is it you would like to develop as a leader?" Fun trap question.

Why is it a trap question? Easy. Because, basically in a positive way, being asked to talk about your weaknesses. After all, a lot of people would talk about professional deficiencies that they have, right? That is the temptation that people would have. "Oh! I think I could be better at this!" "Oh, I think I could be better that!" "This is what I believe I need to develop."

Buzzer sound. Wrong answer.

I think is a place for sincerity, but not with a question like this. I think the best way to approach answering the question like this is, instead of saying anything self-critical, or overtly self-critical, I think the way to answer this question is by talking about more and different. After all, for most people who are asked this question, I don't care if you are a lead in an organization, a manager, a director, a VP... Whomever, the biggest issue is more and different.
..
More experience. More diverse experiences. These become the ideal ways to answer this. Let me illustrate.

Let's say, you have come out of the sales organization or a particular type of sales organization where you know everyone and everything and that organization and, so much of what you're doing, and is based upon your knowledge of their firm in the people at it. What you want to do is get parachuted into organizations, or a different organization, where you don't know the people you don't have a sense of what they can do because you haven't work with them before. Thus, it becomes a learning experience for you as to how to size new people up, how to develop relationships, trust, rapport and such, sso that you can start inspiring your team to great things.

Again, you don't do things to criticize yourself. . You talk about situations where they are different than what you have been in. Different in terms of the nature of the work, the people, and getting parachuted in with limited information and having to sort things out on your own. Different than what you did before , that would stretch you and help you develop your leadership

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching, all as well as executive job search coaching and business life coaching. He is the host of “Job Search Radio,” “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.”

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Visit www.TheBigGameHunter.us and click the relevant tab on the top of the page.

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

You can order a copy of “Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems” for Kindle and receive free Kindle versions of “No BS Resume Advice” and “Interview Preparation.”

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

For more about LinkedIn, order “Stacked: Double Your Job Interviews, Leverage Recruiters and Unlock LinkedIn.”

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

Tell Me About Something You’ve Succeeded At But Hope to Never Do Again

June 6, 2019June 6, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcD-GX60Tpo

In this video, I discuss several ways to answer this trap question.

Summary

Here's 1 of those fun interview questions. It's a question is designed, not to the specific of the answer, but by the explanation that follows, because you reveal things about yourself that you probably shouldn't reveal.

Here's the question, "What if you done professionally that you succeeded at but isn't an experience you would ever want to repeat." I love that question!

Here are 3 possible ways to answer. The 1st way to answer it is by talking about by talking about a menial task you had to do BUT you have to make sure that you don't describe it as being unsatisfying and as though you are up above it all.. Think like a sports team.. There are people in baseball who have to sacrifice themselves to move a runner over. Well, you can talk about that time you swept the floor or stuffed envelopes,, and you understand the importance of the role. The places to stay clean. Envelopes have to go out. You did it well but it's not something that really causes your mind to stay active. You coped with it. You put best effort into it, but, at the end of the day, it's not something you enjoy doing. That's one way to answer.

Another way is by talking about something that was team related.. You worked on this project with other people and then you describe your role on the team. Maybe there were difficult personalities on it. Maybe there are people with whom you just couldn't see eye to eye that a lot of the team was bumping heads with. You tried to be a mediator at times and work on getting collaboration but there was some personalities there who just didn't want to collaborate. They just wanted to rule. Then, you talk about your efforts. "We got the thing going. We made it effective. Some people got ostracized on the project. It was a tough experience but you all pull together… Almost all of you pull together and bring it home.

The 3rd way to answer this… You did something that was really hard. Then talk about what made it hard. Maybe it's because it was poorly planned. Maybe it was badly executed. Whatever it was. Don't talk about the blame. Talk about the difficulty in delivering what it was that everyone had committed to do… Maybe it was the planning and you weren't involved with that. But, at the end of the day, you did your part,, others that theirs, other people didn't do anything. It eventually came through. .. You get the idea. Talk about something that was extremely hard, probably from a planning standpoint being the failure is probably the easiest case to work with. Then work from there in describing what made it so hard.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.

If you have questions for me, call me through the Magnifi app for iOS (video) or PrestoExperts.com (phone)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

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Join Career Angles on Facebook and receive support, ideas and advice in your current career and job.

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

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Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

How Did You Prepare for This Interview? | NoBSJobSearchAdvice.com

June 6, 2019June 6, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMVnYGQmziA

Listen to the full episode here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebiggamehunter/2017/02/09/how-did-you-prepare-for-this-interview-no-bs-job-search-advice-radio

Ep 650 WOW! This is one of the great questions that lets you open up to your future boss

NOTE: Production values are not ideal while Jeff waited for the return of his damaged laptop

Summary

Today's question is, "How did you prepare for this interview?"

This is an opportunity to sell yourself. Initially, pause to give yourself the ability to think about the question (or pretend that you are thinking about it."

"How did I prepare? There are so many things I did!" Start getting enthusiastic.

"I went on to a number of your social media profiles, I started to do research into the firm . . . " and talk about some of things you learned.

You can show them a list of questions you created.

As important as what you say is, it is the excitement and energy you convey in answering that is just as important.

You don't want to say, "Well, I went to the firm's website," or "I looked it up on Wikipedia." They know your research is small if you say that.

If they get the idea that you did minimal preparation, their interest in you is going to be small.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.

If you have questions for me, call me through the Magnifi app for iOS (video) or PrestoExperts.com (phone)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

Join and attend my classes on Skillshare. Become a premium member and get 2 months free.

Join Career Angles on Facebook and receive support, ideas and advice in your current career and job.

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

What Don’t You Like About Your Job? | JobSearchTV.com

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 by Jeff

Listen to this episode of No BS Job Search Advice Radio

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb6Yo5Q55i4

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter explains how to answer the job interview question, “what don’t you like about your current job.”

Summary
So, what didn't you like about your last job? So, what didn't you like about your job?
You know, basically, it's an opportunity where, frankly, you can disqualify yourself from being hired. It's not like anything that you're going to say is going to make them go, "Yeah, that's the guy we want to hire." But it can swiftly make them go, "Oh, this is a guy we've got to stay away from, like the plague. So, you want to be smart about your answer and not say anything immature.
An immature answer is, "I hate my boss," or words to that effect. Or "my work is boring," or words to that effect, not necessarily that specific answer. But giving an immature answer where you spend a few minutes trashing your current organization. trashing your job, trashing the people you work for isn't going to get your hired. It's going to get you rejected.
So, let's be smart. What do they want to hear from you?
If you think about the typical interview question, what they want to hear is, "I want to learn, I want to work hard. I want to get ahead," and if you remember that theme over and over again, when they ask dumb questions like this (And it really is a dumb question), you're always smart.
So here's the way I would suggest answering that question. "You know," (again, remember, I'm a big believer, you have to act and even though you may have answered this question 1000 times already, you have to pretend like it's the first time you've heard the question. It's not like, you can sit there we go, "Oh, I'm ready for that one.")
You can't act like you're prepped and rehearsed. You have to make it seem like you're thinking about this for the first time. "That's a great question. As I think about it, probably the thing that is frustrating me the most is I want to be challenged more.Like, initially, when I started my job, there were new things to learn. There were opportunities for advancement. It was a very clear picture of where I felt like I could learn and grow. And as time has progressed, I become sufficiently good that I'm seen as indispensable in this role. I want to keep learning and growing because I'm only (fill in the blank) 27. 35. 42. Whatever it is. Because I'm only such and such age, there's more stuff I want to learn. You know, I want to grow and want to develop. I don't want to be seen as the indispensable person around such and such. I want to join an organization that sees me as having an upside, wants to train me will provide me with mentoring and help me grow because frankly, I believe I have even more of an upside."
And what you do by saying that is . . . it's not like they're going to hear anything and go, "Well, that was a good canned answer." They are going to go, "Okay. You got through that one and let me give them another one." So, recognize, again, this is not an answer that's going to get you hired, but it can be an answer to get you to disqualified.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Coaches Council.

If you have questions for me, call me through the Magnifi app for iOS (video) or PrestoExperts.com (phone)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

Join and attend my classes on Skillshare. Become a premium member and get 2 months free.

Join Career Angles on Facebook and receive support, ideas and advice in your current career and job.

You can order a copy of “Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems” for Kindle on Amazon and receive free Kindle versions of “No BS Resume Advice” and “Interview

Preparation.” If you are starting your search, order, “Get Ready for the Job Jungle.”

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

What Were/Are Your Boss’ Strengths and Weaknesses? | NoBSJobSearchAdvice.com

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-h8SjnPshg

Listen to the full episode here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebiggamehunter/2019/05/29/what-wereare-your-boss-strengths-and-weaknesses-nobsjobsearchadvicecom

EP 1477 WOW! A chance to criticize your boss. Should you take it?

Summary

This is 1 of those great questions that is designed to see if they can flush out that you are an imbecile! I would suggest a very textured answer. The question is, "What are (or were) your boss' strengths and weaknesses?"

Some people make the mistake of going off on this enormous tirade about their boss. They say nothing positive about them; they just go off half cocked, criticizing and abusing them for some perceived mistake. Welcome folks. Your boss is a human being and doesn't do everything right.

Here's the way I would suggest answering this question. It isn't hard but follow this for 2nd. "My boss' strengths Were that he or she interfaced very well with senior management and shield us a lot of the political stuff that went on. Some of the palace intrigue they can sometimes occur in decisioning. Then, they would come back to us with what the solutions were or what the mandates were so that, in this way, we were able to perform her job particularly well." Got that? I think that is a nice little answer.

Here are the weaknesses. "Our boss did a great job of shielding us from…"And feed the same thing back to them. When they look at you puzzled and smiling, you can say, "There are 2 sides to this coin. What he or she could have done a little bit better is make us aware of some of the things that were going on so that we could learn and, in this way, be prepared to step into his or her shoes so that when was our time to step up, maybe he would change jobs, maybe she will the getting a promotion 1 of us wound up with wind up stepping into this role, we will be prepared for a little bit better had here she just opened up a little bit about what was going on and thus the reasons behind what the decisions were. what he or she attempted to communicate with their peers or managers, what their preferences were and how decisions were made from up high. That would have been helpful to us.Just shielding us was a good 1st thing. What they could've done a little bit better was teachers what went into the decisions so that we would be prepared."

I think that's a nice way to answer it. It's the same answer flipped the back and expanded upon to give texture. And to me, texture to an answer is the big part of answering tough interview questions like this.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.

If you have questions for me, call me through the Magnifi app for iOS (video) or PrestoExperts.com (phone)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

Join and attend my classes on Skillshare. Become a premium member and get 2 months free.

Join Career Angles on Facebook and receive support, ideas and advice in your current career and job.

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

Tough Interview Questions: Think Back to Your First Job. How Did You Learn The Ropes?

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 by Jeff

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An employer will learn a lot about you from asking this question. How do you think you would answer?

Summary

This is one of those tough interview questions that has an intention behind it that may not be obvious. And the question is, "Think back to your first job. How did you learn the ropes?"
I think it's a fun question and it just affords you an opportunity to reveal something about your character. So, one thing, one way to do it is, let's say you're an individual who wound up being in a first job where they were doing sales. You were given a lot of rope, because no one really had time for you. You really had to figure it out.
So, you tell a story. And questions like this suggests that they want you to tell a story to them. So, let me try doing that now, following the acronym called SOAR-- S-O-A-R-- where you're coming up with the situation that you are in, the objective that you had, the action that you took, and the result that you achieved.
"So, my first . . . I remember back then . . . my first job when I was 16 years old . . . Well, I worked at a pool company and I was doing sales at the pool firm. They kind of gave me some basics, like, answer the questions, be friendly, but, you knew what they really wanted was you to close sales and they didn't really do a lot of teaching around that.
"So, I really had to figure it out on my own." So that's the situation. The objective that I had. Got it? "So what I did was, number one, is I didn't hide from the customers, I went out there and tried. And what I noticed certain responses, I started to file those away in the back of my mind so that, in this way, I could see whether it was a onetime thing or this was a pretty standard response to what I said, or what I said to a particular type of customer.
"Eventually, what happened (Now, we're getting to the result), I became the top part time worker for sales in the firm by better than three to one." And what you're doing is demonstrating to them that you're willing to figure things out, that you're aggressive, you're ambitious, stuff along those lines.
Let me give you another example. "You know, my first job was at a fast food place and I noticed that a lot of the workers didn't seem to really care. I really didn't want to work that way. So, I went about my business. If they told me to do it, I did it. And I did it faster than anyone else. It just became a game for me. I wanted to see if I could help reform other people who've been there for a while, and would naturally start to notice that I was outperforming them.
"I noticed that they would started to give me more assignments faster than other people. Like I got promoted from prepping this to front of the house working with the customers. I started to notice that and every time I tried to work faster and harder, and with a smile on my face so that in this way, no one would think I was run down."
Notice what you're trying to do is instill what habits or demonstrate to them what habits were instilled in you at an early age and why. So, I think it's a fun way to answer the question.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

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Are You Interviewing? | JobSearchTV.com

May 17, 2019May 17, 2019 by Jeff

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlaIYxvVBY

This is a variation on the question of, “Where have you been on interviews?” Here. I explain what the intention is behind the question.

Summary

This is 1 of those questions is a variation on another one that I have addressed previously. This is the question of, "Are you interviewing?" It's a variation on the, "Where have you been interviewing," question. I want to speak to this 1 because really depends on who you're talking to as to what the intention of the question is.

Let me start off with third-party recruiters. With a contingency recruiting firm, you'll be asked this question for several reasons.
1. If you have been interviewing, they may turn around and say, "Where have you been on interviews so far?" They may be trying to find out have you been to the client, job leads of other organizations that are trying to hire so that you release that information to them and then they start reaching out to those firms to see if they can wind up being positions to work on and earn money from.
2. Another thing there trying to do is to see how far along you are in the process. So if you tell them that you have met with 14 firms, had 3 finals and you are close to 2 offers, they're probably going to hit the delete key on your resume when they are finished talking with you. That's because they will see any point in doing anything.

So one, shall we say, slimy approach to asking the question and the rest are pretty innocuous.

When an employer asks, they are obviously not good be contacting firms for job leads. What they are trying to do is (1) find out if you are aggressive job hunter. Companies have a bias against aggressive job. Their belief is that people who are actively looking for work are less attractive than those who, shall we say, are recruited. If they have contacted you and are asking this question, you might simply say, "I am not aggressively looking for work. But when you approach me, this is an interesting opportunity. Frankly, since the time you initially contacted me, 2 other firms have approached me as well" that you can talk about where you are with those firms.

Part of the reason that employer asks the question is to see how much time they might have before you have to make a choice, whether they can keep interviewing or, shall we say get off the pot and extended offer or move more quickly. You see, they like you (that's part of what the communication is), but they want to see if they can date others for a while before getting married.. You follow what I'm getting at here?

Recognize that their intent is to get a sense of how much time they have with you before they risk losing you. If you say that you have nothing else going on, they can sit back and relax a little bit, knowing that they can interview for a while. Let us know what's going on with you.,

"If anything changes, give us a call. We want to know. "

Most of the time when that happens, they have already seen a bunch of other people and never come back and make the offer.

However, if you say, "Since the time he reached out to me, a couple of other firms have reached out to me as well. I have had some really good interviews and there are some interesting opportunities out there," that will get them motivated to take more action.

Now, if you apply for job and submit a resume, this won't always work obviously, because you have indicated that you are an active job hunter. Thus, all, they are trying to do is see where you are in your process. If they are on a 1st interview and you are on a fifth interview somewhere, there are 1 of 2 ways that they might respond:
(1) accelerate the process
(2) hit the delete key because they know they cannot move fast enough.

I have found over the years that many firms where I mentioned to them that I had found this individual that really fits your role very well, but they are only 3rd or 4th interview and there are some folks who are interested, they never really move. So, caveat emptor. Recognize the impact of what you say and what the firm's motivation is.

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.

If you have questions for me, call me through the Magnifi app for iOS (video) or PrestoExperts.com (phone)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

Join and attend my classes on Skillshare. Become a premium member and get 2 months free.

Join Career Angles on Facebook and receive support, ideas and advice in your current career and job.

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.