|
Stressful Interview Situations
and How to Handle Them ...continued
Why Are You Leaving Your Current Employer?
If you were sacked from your former job, be honest, and don’t try to hide it by panel beating your CV to close the gap. Employers always have a way of finding out things, which is one of the reasons you are first of all placed on probation while you are being checked out (including your credentials. If your degree is from Toronto, know that the world is now a global village, and you will be found out).
|
|
|
Don't lie about why you were sacked. If you were sacked for stealing or falsifying your credentials, just pray that you don't get asked.
You can explain that you and the company was not a good fit and your morale hence performance suffered, or that you had issues with your supervisor etc, and that you learned from the experience and hence you have done your homework well before taking another job etc., so that it will not happen again in future. |
|
If you are leaving because you need to move on, and up, tell them you are looking for more challenges, personal development and broadening you skill sets to achieve your career aspirations etc.
NEVER badmouth your current employer. Always speak positively about past and present employers even if your experience has not been positive with them.
Remember that your prospective employer will one day be your current employer, and you may need to move on. If they note that you are not loyal to your current employer, they know that you will not be loyal to them.
What Are Your Future Plans?
You may be asked what your future plans are, or where you see yourself in 5 to ten years. This is an indirect way of finding out if you want to stay and grow with the company, or you will move on after a year or two.
You need to strike a balance when responding to this kind of question, with just the right mix of honesty, ambition, and your desire to be working at this company long-term.
Avoid responses such as starting your own business, going into politics, which suggest that you don't plan to stay with the company. Employers want stability and minimal staff turnover to that the business will grow smoothly.
Your intention may not be to stay, you have dreams of going back to school, starting your business or going into politics, but again these are dreams, your two years from now may turn into ten. You don’t have any control over that. So in all honesty, you don't know tomorrow. Whatever your plans or dreams, tell your employer that you plan to stay and grow with the company. If they insist on your ten-year development plan, let them know that your plan is to stay, and that you hope that the company will create an enabling environment for you to contribute your best. Of course, no one knows tomorrow. If the company experiences a downturn, they can drop you without blinking, so your longevity at the company is not determined during the interview.
Look at each interview question as an opportunity to sell yourself and highlight your strength. Use every question to build the momentum towards convincing your employer that you are the best man/woman for the job. Remain in control, don’t judge yourself too quickly based on a question you felt you did not do well, and begin to become tense and stutter. Remain calm. Know that the employer is as eager to have you, as you are eager to get the job. Don't fall for the myth that jobs are scarce. There are jobs everywhere. Getting the man for the job is a nightmare for employers. It is your duty to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you are the man/woman they have been looking for.
Ultimately, remember that your life and times are in God's hands. If this job is for you, if they offer it to someone else, one way or the other, the offer will fall through, and your offer letter will come. You are not in the PDP, and it is not a do-or-die affair. If you are meant to work for somebody, it is a matter of time, the right offer will show up. Keep on keeping on.
Pages | 1
| 2
| 3
| 4 |
Other Articles
Demonstrate You are the Man/Woman for the Job
Dressing Job Interview for Success
General Job Hunting Tips
Guide to Oral Job Interview Preparation
Oral Interview Do's and Don'ts
Job Oral Interview Tips
Job Written Test Tips
So You Are Looking For a Job?
|
