Job Interview Question What Motivates You

Job Interview Question What Motivates YouJob Interview Question What Motivates YouContrary to what you might think, the recruiter or hiring manager who asks, What motivates you? does not want to hear your life story. She doesnt want to know what to know that your really need money for rent, and she doesnt want to know what clippings you have on your dream job dream board. By asking this question, the recruiter is trying to figure out what gives you energy and what saps your energyand whether or not your answer will align with the environment at that particular company.How you answer this question will give your interviewer a lot of insight into how you tick. It will also help you figure out whether or not you should take the job. After all, its much better to answer honestly and find out if this is a job youll enjoy and want to stick with rather than faking an answer to score a job youll be unmotivated to complete within a few months. Therefore, its important to spend time with this question and get to the heart of what motivates you in life, in your career and in your day-to-day.(And if youre not feeling particularly motivated, read this post first)Start With the Day-to-DayBegin your answer with a specific example of what motivates you in your day-to-day. Obviously, were not referring to cashing a paycheck. Instead, were focusing on concepts and tasks that get you fired up and that you can expect to perform if you get the job.As you answer this question, frame a few of your day-to-day tasks in the light of how they satisfy your inner motivation to be your quirky, talented self. Your answer will depend on both your job experience and your personal motivations for what inspires you day-to-day.For example, someone in project management might be motivated by the freedom to be OCD about organizing project deadlines and have those skills recognized and appreciated in the workplace. Someone in graphic design might respect the creative process and enjoy being involved in the generation of a new design from conception to finish. One person in the customer service industry might be motivated by teamwork and collaboration, while another might prefer individual work with the telephone. Understanding exactly what motivates you (whether its autonomy, ambiguity, or figuring out puzzles) will help you and your interviewer understand if this job is right for you.Include Career DetailsNext, expand your picture from the day-to-day to explain how this position will tie into your long-term career motivations. Does this job offer on-the-job training that meets your desire to learn and develop as a professional? Does the company culture meet your need for camaraderie within your industry and motivate you with its openness to collaboration? Point out one or two details about this position that align with what will sustain your motivation to work hard over a long period of time.Get Big Picture With Your Lifes PurposeFinally, share a small glimpse of how this pos ition aligns with your ultimate motivation your lifes purpose. In this case, those Millennials and richtung Xers who crave meaning over money are right. There are two good reasons that your day job should align with your lifes purpose. First, it will make you happier over time and more successful at what you do. Second, it will make you more attractive as a job candidate. From customer service positions to executive leadership roles, recruiters and HR managers know that candidates find it easier to keep the big picture in mind and work toward a common goal when they are committed to a job based on their internal motivations.Check out how to answer other common job interview questionsWhat Major Challenges and Problems Have You Faced?How Have You Dealt With a Difficult Customer?Do You Have Any Questions For Me?Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?What Are Your Salary Requirements?Whats Your Greatest Career Accomplishment?Are You Interviewing With Other Companies?

Job Tips for People Over 40

Job Tips for People Over 40Job Tips for People Over 40Older workers, those aged 40, face unique considerations in the job market. This group of workers are members of a protected class under federal employment laws, which protects older workers from discrimination in the workplace. Despite these laws, age bias exists in many industries including the technology and legal fields. Some employers are reluctant to hire older workers for a variety of reasons. In addition to a tough job market, older workers- members of Generation X, Baby Boomers, and The Silent Generation (aka the Traditionalists)- face additional challenges in finding employment. However, there are ways to turn age into an asset, and the articles below offer tips, strategies, and solutions to individuals seeking work in their mid-life years and beyond. Going to Law School at a Later Age Thinking of a second career in law? If you are over 40, you may assume you are too oldfor law school. However, its never too late to go back to school. Its possible now to take advantage of flexible and online course offerings, and your work experience might give you an edge over others when you are applying to law programs. Be sure to also review thesedrawbacks of attending law school at a later age. Job Tips for Older Workers The economy has pushed mora people over age 40 back into the workforce. If you have reached your midlife years or beyond, you may feel that it is hard to compete against a sea of younger workers? How can you highlight your years of experience while downplaying your age? How can you combat age discrimination? Here are some answers. Resume Tips for Older Workers As a 40 job-seeker, you must take special care in crafting your resume. While you never want to lie or exaggerate on your resume, you can take steps to de-emphasize your age. For example, remove dates of graduation from high school or college and any work history from more than 15 years in the past. You can also use industry buzz words to show that your knowledge is up to date. These resume tips for older workers provide some additional tips and tricks to help you downplay your age and highlight your years of experience. Networking Tips for Older Workers Networking is a key way to expand your circle of contacts and learn about job opportunities. The key to effective networking is to focus on what work you can do to assist others rather than focusing on yourself. Career experts across the country were interviewed for their best networking tips for older workers. One recommendation is to set a goal of attending one or two professional ornetworking eventsper week. Another is to perform a reverse LinkedIn search to connect with employees of firms that you would like to work for. Employees typically get a referral bonus, and a quick connection to them can get you the in you need. Interview Tips for Older Workers You may be happy to land an interview in todays competitive job market, but the job search does not e nd there You must wow employers and explain why you are a perfect fit for the position. If you are over 40, ageism can sometimes hinder an interviewers perception and your chances during an interview. These interview tips for older workers show you how you can stand out from the large schwimmbecken of younger workers. They include emphasizing your interest in the job and assuring the interviewer that you are committed for a reasonable period of time and not just for the short term. The 40+ Job Search Tips from the Experts Career experts, recruiters, executives, HR professionals, career coaches, and workplace experts were polled for their best tips for the 40 job search. They include writing a blog or enhancing your web presence by contributing to discussions so that you are more visible considering telecommute jobs because they typically require more experience, and staying current in your industry. The tips, both unconventional and tried-and-true, have been narrowed down to the best of the bunch. If youre over 40 and searching for a job, you wont want to miss these strategies for the 40 job search. Returning to School at a Later Age Personal Success Stories Many older workers return to school to update their skills or train for a new career. If you are over 35 and thinking of returning to school, you may feel uncertain of the prospect of sharing a classroom with students who are decades younger. If youre unsure about returning to school in your mid-life years or beyond, these personal stories might inspire you. In this collection of return-to-school stories, students and grads across the country who returned to school after age 35 are interviewed. Older students candidly shared their challenges and triumphs and offered tips for going back to school later in life.

How to Conduct a Video Job Interview with Style

How to Conduct a Video Job Interview with StyleHow to Conduct a Video Job Interview with Style574Lets face it after weeks (and possibly months) of job searching, youve let your style get a little, well, sloppy. But now theres the promise of an exciting job interview, but theres one catch- its a video interview. The business mentor site Mixergy teamed up with Lemonly to create a cute infographic on how to pull off a video job interview. So put your best foot forward- and get the job- with these tips on conducting a video job interview with styleHow to Conduct a Job Interview with StyleLight it right.When youre doing a video interview, you need to light it strategically. Dont place your back to a window or a lamp. While backlighting can be flattering if done correctly, when its done improperly, it can make you look like one big dark blob. Since you want to illuminate yourself- and your skills- place yourself facing the light, if possible. Just make sure its not too bright or else youll find yourself squinting.Clear the clutter. Admit it during your job search, youve accumulated a little bit of everything in your home office. Before the interview, though, take some time to ditch all the excess stuff (like coffee mugs, your kids toys that have somehow snuck into your office, etc.). You want your background to look as professional as possible.Keep it quiet.Webcam mics are surprisingly sensitive. So if your kids are bickering in the background, theres a good chance that your potential boss can hear it. Keep it quiet by shutting the door or getting your family to leave the house for a while until youre done with your job interview.Optimize your computer. While its a good idea to have your resume on the screen should you need to reference it, you should shut down all your other programs. Why? You dont want your computer to lag, causing a delay between you and your interviewer. Or worse, you dont want your computer to crash. After all, your boss-to-be will judge you not only on the answers to your questions (and your appearance), but on your tech skills, too. If your computer keeps lagging or crashing, he might assume that you dont have good equipment, a poor Internet connection, or both, which could ultimately cost you the interview.Stay centered.Sure, during your discussion with a potential boss, your entire focus should be on the video interview. Just as your mind is centered on the interview, you should also physically be centered in the middle of the screen. If youre off to one side, it can be disorienting to your interviewer. Try to stay solidly in the middle if you keep switching positions, it can appear that youre unsure of yourself.Doing a video interview can be tricky if youre not used to doing one. Keeping the above tips in mind should help you be prepared, presentable, and positioned to be the right candidate for the job.Readers, have you done a video job interview before? What did you find to be the fruchtwein difficult part? Let us k now in the comments below