How to Use Keywords in Your Cover Letters

How to Use Keyaber jas in Your Cover LettersHow to Use Keywords in Your Cover LettersWhen you are writing acover letterto accompany your resume as part of a job application, its important to make sure that every word counts. Your cover letter should enhance the employersviewof your qualifications,so you can move frombeinganapplicant toaninterviewee. Types of Keywords Keywords are a vital elementofa persuasive cover letter,astheyrecapable of portraying a candidate as a highly qualified applicant forajob. These words fall into three general categories skill words, results-oriented words, and words which show recognition for achievements. Keywords work in a couple of different ways. First, the keywords you include in your resume and cover letter will be used to match your application with the skills required by the employer in the job advertisement. This matching process is often performed by automatedapplicant tracking systems(ATSs), programmed to identify specific keywords and to rank all resumes accordingly before they even reach a hiring manager. If your cover letter and/or resume lack these keywords, they may be automatically cut from consideration at this stage oftheevaluation. Secondly, keywords that are incorporated into a cover letterwill show the hiring managerhow andwhy you are highly qualifiedfor the job, allowing them to rank you among your competition and, ideally, to offer one of their interview slots to you. Skill Keywords Job seekers should carefully analyze the skills required to excel in their target job and incorporate them into their cover letter. Those keywords should also beincluded in your resume. It will be mora genuine if you paraphrase the skills mentioned in job ads,as opposed to listing them verbatim. Skill words are most effective when connected to a specific role or project where the skills were crucial to success. Examples ofskillkeywordsincludewrote, analyzed, quantified, planned, programmed, designed, created, built, taugh t, and trained. For example, instead of saying Quantitative stock analysis is an asset which I would bring to your firm, you could say I utilized quantitative stock valuation techniques to create a portfolio for high net worth clients, which beat the market for three consecutive years. ExpandTheskills keywordsincluded in your cover letters (and your resume) will help your application get selected by the software employers use to select candidates for further consideration. They will also show the hiring manager, at first glance, what skills you have that are related to the jobforwhichhe or she is hiring. Results-Oriented Keywords All employers are looking for employees who will add value and generate positive results for their organizations. Thats why its critical to integrate results-oriented language into your cover letters. Think about the bottom line for each job on your resume and how you might have made things better in your role. Your cover letter should showcase your acc omplishments, not just your skills or personal qualities. Providing these details will help to set your letter unbekannt from those of other candidates who dont highlight their professional achievements. Examples of results-oriented keywords includeincreased, reduced, redesigned, upgraded, initiated, implemented, reformulated, generated, and produced. Results-oriented words are most effective when coupled with some numbers which quantify your impact, as in I reduced turnover among first-year hires by 20% by implementing a mentoring system. ExpandBy using these types of keywords, you are clearly showing what you accomplished in your previous roles. Recognition Keywords Hiring managerswill be more likely to believe that you will be an outstanding performer if it is clear that previous employers have viewed you in this way. One way to do this is to incorporate language which demonstrates that employers have recognized your contributions. Examples of recognition related keywordsincl udehonored, awarded, promoted, selected, lauded for, received a bonus for, recognized, chosen, and credited. Ideally, recognition phrases will include the type of individual who noted your achievement and the basis for your recognition. For example, you might say I was designated as the team leader for the budget reduction task force by my Division Vice President, based on my previous record of accruing cost savings. ExpandRecognition keywords attest to how you have excelled in your previous jobs and how you have accomplished more than was required. Take the Time to Make a Match When youre choosing keywords to include in your cover letter, an easy way to find the best words to use is to match your qualifications to those listed in the job listing. Highlight your strongest assets, so you can show the employer why youre well-qualified for the job and deserving of an interview.

My 2018 annual review (and looking forward to 2019)

My 2018 annual review (and looking forward to 2019)My 2018 annual review (and looking forward to 2019)For the first time ever, Im writing an Annual Review to share whats gone well, what hasnt and lessons learned, during the previous year.The purpose of the Annual Review isnt about looking back at the past, its about integrity, accountability and most importantly, transparency on how well I live up to the values that I write about.There are 4 key questions that Im going to answer in my Annual Review.1. What went well this year?2. What didnt go so well this year?3. What did I learn?4. What changes will I make moving forward?Feel free to use any of these questions for your own Annual Review.1. What went well this year?Heres what went well for me this year Writing.In 2018, I stuck to the habit of writing at least one article each week (aside from two short sabbatical).Whilst this may seem straightforward, writing and publishing articles on a weekly basis has been hands down the most diff icult habit Ive ever built.To put this into context, heres a quick overview of the average time it takes to produce each articleResearch 8 hrsWriting (drafts) 4 hrsEditing 2 hrsPublishing 1 hrsThats an average of 15 hours per article, and that doesnt include hours spent promoting and absatzwirtschaft each article.But theres something else which has made this writing process much mora difficult in 2018.During the year, I experienced major setbacks and transitions in my living and work situation, relationships and business, that destabilized my mental state of mind.Despite these challenges, here are the highlights of 201839 articles published (you can browsethe best articles of 2018 here)6,172 new email subscribers239,571 unique visitors to the websiteWriting featured on Quartz, New York Times, Life Hack and The Good Men Project.Reading.In 2018, I read a total of 25 books.Here are the top five books Ive read in 2018Fight Club (PrintAudiobook)Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck (PrintAudio book)Influence The Psychology of Persuasion (PrintAudiobook)Sapiens A Brief History of Mankind (PrintAudiobook)Zen in the Art of Archery (PrintAudiobook)A powerful strategy Ive discovered for reading mora books, is to simply hold a book during my commute and travels.This simple change in myenvironmenthas made it much easier for me to build the habit of reading more books, and break the bad the habit of wasting time on my mobile phone during my commute.Exercise.In 2018, I completed a total of 105 workouts.My workout routine was primarily split into weight training and sprinting sessions that brdeed about 45 minutes.The focus of my training wasnt necessarily to improve strength or lose weight, more so it was to improve my anaerobic and muscle endurance.Heres a breakdown of my weekly workout routine (including rest days)Monday Squats, Bench Press, Shoulder Press and Dips (3 sets of 8-12 reps per exercise)Tuesday Sprint workout (3 sets of 20-50% intensity, 6 sets of 70-100% intensity)We dnesday RestThursday Sprint and boxing workout combinedFriday RestSaturday Squats, Barbell Row and Pull ups (5 sets of 5-8 reps per exercise)Sunday RestNoteIn November 2018, I pulled a hamstring muscle whilst sprinting outdoors.This injury knocked me out of my workout routine for almost 6 weeks.2. What didnt go so well this year?Charity.One of my core values is giving back to people who live in poverty. Specifically, in 2018, Id set out on a mission to sponsor the primary school education of at least 10 impoverished children, and I failed miserably.Zero children were sponsored (although I had sponsored school supplies like backpacks, clothing and so on, for 20 children).Theres no good excuse for this truth is, Id gotten so engrossed in my writing, business and personal life, that I had lost touch with my mission.Reading for spiritual purposes.At the center of my lifes mission and core values, is my faith as a Christian.Although I read many books in 2018, I didnt spend much time read ing the most important book that matters to me the bible.Once again theres no good excuse for this, and there is a lot of room for improvement in this area.Last minute work.Although I wrote and published 39 articles in 2018, more than half of these were completed on the same day as the due date for publication.Even though I still managed to get things done, this bad habit of waiting till the last-minute to finish important work, created a lot of stress and overwhelm in my life, and inadvertently reduced the quality of my work.Going to bed early.Although I managed to sleep at least 8 hours on average each night, my average bedtime in 2018 was 1 a.m, which is some distance away from my target of an 11 a.m bedtime.To piggyback off the previous point on last minute work, my evenings were spent meeting writing deadlines, instead of sleeping.Music and Drawing.A huge part of how I choose to inspire people is through creative expression, specifically writing, music and drawing.This year I h ad set out to learn 10 jazz standards on the guitar and draw 20 motivational cartoons, but Id only learnt 1 jazz standard and drawn 3motivational cartoons.Lack of gratitude.Despite the good amount of progress Id made in 2018, I hardly celebrated my achievements along the way and often beat myself up for making little mistakes.For the most part, I struggled with perfectionism and voices in my head that led me to doubt the quality of my work.Team Building.In 2018, I seriously suffered from the curse of Superman syndrome a.k.a doing everything by myself.I wrote the articles, managed my website and technical issues, managed the social media accounts, handled customer services, marketing and sales.In short, I tried to be superman. And I failed.In order for me to raise the quality of my work, I need to build a team thatll handle the daily operations, so that I can spend more time on strategy and writing.3. What did I learn?Here are the top five lessons Ive learned in 20181. Solitude is no longer an option.In todays digital world, were constantly bombarded by advertising, social media distractions and information on the web. Theres never been any other time in history than today, when alone time is required to regain clarity, focus and peace of mind.My biggest breakthroughs and best ideas for my work just so happened to emerge during periods of solitude. And thats why I believe its themost important productivity strategy.2. Decision-making driven purely by emotions is extremely dangerous.Emotions are an essential part of the menschenfreundlich experience, but over reliance on emotions can lead to costly mistakes and irrational decisions in life and work.A better approach to decision-making is to find a balance of emotions and logic before making crucial decisions.For example, searching for evidence that contradicts and challenges your emotions and beliefs will help you to make a better-informed decision.3. Beware of the law of reciprocity.In his book,Influence, renow n psychologist, Dr. Cialdini, explains that the law of reciprocity is the universal tendency of human beings to feel compelled to repay or reciprocate when given a gift whether it has come in the form of a material object, a kind deed, or an act of generosity.Whilst this may seem harmless- and it is, when in the hands of good people- the law of reciprocity is being used by ill-intentioned advertisers, salespeopleand marketers who manipulate us to spend our hard earned money on bad products and services.In 2018, I fell victim to the law of reciprocity and wasted a ton of money on impulse purchases, immediately after I was offered a free sample by a marketer.Long story short, Ive learned to be extremely cautious when offered a gift or gesture for free, because theres no such thing as a free lunch.4. Listen, make your point and apologize (even if youre not completely wrong).Our natural tendency during a misunderstanding with another person is to argue for why our point of view is right , and why the other persons ideas are wrong.The problem with this approach is that it often leads to a heated exchange of words as both parties talk past one another, and after the argument, the relationship between both people is left worse off than before.A better approach to a disagreement is to communicate in three parts first, listen to the other persons point of view, second, make your point and third, apologize for any misunderstandings and heated words exchanged.This strategy alone has helped me to avoid wasting valuable time and energy on pointless arguments, whilst protecting my most valuable relationships.5. Forget goals, identity and systems matter more.I have a lot more to say about this in my upcoming articles in 2019, but long story short, goals by themselves arent enough.A goal is simply a hopeful guess of what the futuremightlook like. But since the future doesnt exist right now, the only thing that we can control is the actions we take in the present moment.More sp ecifically, our future reality is created by our identity (beliefs and worldview) and our systems (the exact present actions that will naturally produce our desired results in the future).Its the combination of our identity and systems that create our future, not our goals.4. What changes will I make moving forward?Here are the top five changes I plan to make in 20191. Double my writing frequency.Last year, I wrote and published one article each week, but I believe I can add more value to themembers of the newsletterby publishing two articles each week this year.2. At least one hour spent in solitude each day.This year I plan to spend much more time re-energizing and reflecting.3. Performance driven charity.Rather than make vague promises to give back, I plan to keep myself accountable to milestones thatll track my progress in this area.4. Keeping a gratitude journal.Unlike the previous year, in 2019 I plan to celebrate mini-wins and achievements during the year, and remind myself o f 10 things Im grateful for, as soon as I wake up and just before I go to bed.5. Boxing.Even though I maintained a consistent workout routine last year, it lacked a clear, tangible direction for what exactly I was training for i.e. strength, aesthetics, anaerobic.In 2019, I plan to refocus my training efforts towards improving my boxing skills and building that up to amateur level.Thats my Annual Review done for 2018.Wishing you the best of luck with your plans in 2019.Id like to say a quick thank you toChris Guillebeau and James Clear for inspiring parts of the structure of an Annual Review.Mayo Oshin writes atMayoOshin.Com, where he shares the best practical ideas based on proven science and the habits of highly successful people for stress-free productivity and improved mental performance. To get these strategies to stop procrastinating, get more things by doing less and improve your focus,join his free weekly newsletter.

A 10-Minute Exercise to Make Your Dreams a Reality

A 10-Minute Exercise to Make Your Dreams a RealityA 10-Minute Exercise to Make Your Dreams a RealityIts pretty common for great ideas to get stuck as just that ideas.And this is pretty bad news if youve got something big on your mind. Sure, it may change the world (or at least your life), but as long as its nothing more that a thought, its not doing squat.Today- with the help of Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb- were going to take you through a little activity to help make your idea something more. All you need is a piece of paper, a pen or pencil, 10 minutes, and an open mind.Ready to get started? Hit play below, then skip to the 730 minute mark (unless youre interested in hearing about the founding of Airbnb). Then, get imagining Whether your idea is for a major new business or a slight adjustment to your day-to-day job, this short exercise can really make magic happen.Video courtesy of 99U. Photo courtesy ofPatrick Ryan / Digital Vision / Thinkstock.

Feminism in the Workplace - The Muse

Feminism in the Workplace - The MuseFeminism in the WorkplaceLets say youre a feminist. And you dont exactly work in a feminist workplace. Maybe you see some shit happening that shouldnt be happening. What do you do?(Note because non-intersectional feminism is no feminism at all, this article will talk about what individuals can do to combat sexism, racism, and all forms of discrimination.)This post- the minutes from a Feminists at Work salon- contains some suggestions about calling out sexism, as well as about the self-care you may need to persevere in a hostile workplace.But this post by C.V. Harquail on Authentic Organizations highlights some of the problems with explicitly talking about issues of concern to feministsAny time I bring this up as a womans issue, it gets marginalized and put in a corner because women are a special case. Any time I bring this up as a womens concern, people disregard it and tell me that this isnt a business issue.We dont want that.You cant be effective as a feminist if people around you consider feminism to be some kind of quirky special interest you have, one basically irrelevant to business- as in, youre into feminism and your co-worker is into bluegrass, and those two things are of equal importance.What you have is not a fun individual hobby it is a commitment to human rights, dignity, respect, and fairness. You shouldnt even need a name for that. You shouldnt have to come out as a feminist. A commitment to human rights, dignity, respect, and fairness should just be called being decent.And, mora apropos, being professional.That being said, telling everyone youre a feminist may not be the most effective way to further feminism in the office.The vast majority of workplaces say that they have a commitment to diversity. Those workplaces are just not seeing those commitments through. Its not a special interest to see that company policies are enacted consistently. Thats really just being a stickler for rules and professionalism.So be that a stickler for rules and professionalism. Its a lot harder for people to write off your concerns that way.To be clear, theres obviously nothing wrong with being a feminist and calling yourself one. But in a conservative or hostile workplace, this will cause some people to dismiss your views before you even speak. Do you want to be 100% authentic, or do you want to be effective? No one in a workplace is 100% authentic anyway our authentic selves mostly dont even want to go to work in the first place.So, if someone says something sexist, instead of, Hey, thats really sexist, try, Hey, lets keep it professional.If Bro Douchebucket keeps it up and you need to speak to a manager or HR about it, phrase it the same way. Lead with, Im concerned about some unprofessional behavior from my colleague Bro.When pressed, repeat exactly what he said. Let the manager or HR come to the obvious conclusion that the behavior is sexist. If that conclusion is not immediately obvious, try again It was obvious that those comments alienate a lot of people on the team. Also try, Bro has been insulting his co-workers. Thats true, right? Thats what sexism does.This font of language can sometimes be effective in getting people to agree with you and take action without making them quite as defensive. Call people sexist or racist, and they go on high alert and start defending themselves- and youll likely be asked to debate whether some obviously sexist or racist thing really is so. Talking about professionalism is a little less loaded- a person doesnt recover from racism with one stern talking-to, but a person can certainly become more professional from just a single kick in the pants.For exampleIts unprofessional for us to interview only white candidates for the job.Its unprofessional for a manager to rely on stereotypes when assigning people tasks.Of course, dont get me wrong- sometimes the answer to a problem is to call it out explicitly, go to HR, get a lawyer, and sue. (See also What to Do About Your Awful, Sexist, LGBT-Phobic Friend.)But you might want to try a few other things first. Here are some ideas.Speak Up for Other WomenWhen someone speaks over you, constantly interrupts you, ignores you, or, worse, takes credit for your ideas, it can be difficult to speak up for yourself. You should speak up for yourself anyway, of course. But its much easier to speak up for other women. And some of them will return the favor.Someone took credit for Allisons work? Derek, thanks for putting the finishing touches on that. Allison, how did you get the idea for this in the first place?Someone interrupted Tamika in a meeting? Mark, I see your point, but lets not get off track- I want to get back to what Tamika was saying.Theres no need to mention gender when sticking up for other peoples right to speak, and theres no need to sound offended. Just be consistent and dont hesitate. Do it automatically- robotically, even- and without making a big deal. Thats nice, Dave. Ju lie? Feel free to speak in a dead monotone to ward off any accusations of being overly emotional.Like a court reporter, you simply record, quite factually, who was speaking when someone interrupted, and who brought up an idea first.Of course, this isnt limited to standing up for women. You can stand up for all the people commonly spoken over. Expand the Office Circle (and Your Network)Much workplace racism, sexism, and cronyism (but mostly racism) is a result of people in positions of power hiring and helping out their friends. Most white managers would be quite offended if accused of racism they believe they have never discriminated against anyone. It just so happens that they mostly hire from their network, and their network is made up mostly of other white people. (See this post from the Harvard Business Review- as always, dont read the comments.)Is hiring at your company heavily biased toward the friends of people who already work there? Does the 99%-male tech team keep recruiti ng all their male friends? Think not only about hiring for full-time jobs- what about vendors? What about people brought in for focus groups? What about speakers and workshop facilitators?If these people tend to all be pulled from the friends of employees, make new friends. Get involved in diverse organizations both inside and outside of your field. You might even be known as a helpful resource whenever the boss needs a photographer to come shoot company headshots or an improv group to come do a team-building exercise- and hopefully when the company needs new higher-ups, as well.Maybe you get involved in Girl Develop It or another program for women to learn to code (also great All Star Code is a program to get young black men into tech). Maybe you volunteer for an organization that gets girls into STEM- and you network with the other volunteers.Even if youre not formally involved in hiring, you can recommend people you meet through your networking for jobs and opportunities, and you can offer yourself to speak to groups or individuals about what its like to work at the company.When a job posting goes out to the staff via email- but isnt posted publicly- you could forward it to organizations for women and people of color in the field, along with a note along the lines of, I thought this might be relevant to some of your members. Please also pass along my email address- I dont make the hiring decisions, but Im happy to speak to anyone who has questions about working here.If you do speak to someone, that person is now a friend whose name you can mention to whoever is making decisions.Get Involved in HiringIf possible, get explicitly involved in hiring. (See HireMoreWomeninTech for some resources, and the Colorlines post, How Tech Stays White.)Again, language is important. If you refer to attempts to get more women into leadership or tech positions as a diversity initiative or a womens issue, you may get marginalized. Try referring to such efforts as best practice s, which they are.As in, Sending out job postings only to just our inner circle isnt in line with best practices, and Writing a tech ad that asks for code ninjas- sure, that does sound cute, but its not in line with best practices. (Here and here are articles about how certain language in job ads alienates women- or attracts grossly overconfident people, who tend to be overrepresented in certain groups.)If possible, get involved in interviewing. At smaller companies especially, roles like this are sometimes up for the asking. If the people to be hired are people youll be working with personally, or people whose expertise youre particularly able to evaluate, you have an even better case for getting involved.One way to make the interview process more fair is to ask the hiring manager ahead of time for a list of questions. Then, if someone comes in and doesnt seem to be getting a fair shake- for instance, someones gender presentation throws off the lead interviewer so much that they ar ent moving the interview forward- you could continue down the list of questions. That gives the person a chance to at least make enough of a case that you can, if theyre the right candidate, advocate for them later.And even if youre fairly low in the hierarchy, plenty of hiring managers use assistants to do the first round of resume sorting. Heres one great idea Suggest or implement blind resume reading.Workplace discrimination often begins with the first word on a resume- a persons name. This study showed that applicants with traditionally white names were far more likely to be called for an interview than those with traditionally black names. This article is about Jos Zamora, whose job search was drastically improved by dropping the s from his name. And here is a man named Kim who did drastically better when he added Mr. to his resume.Perpetuating this crap is hardly best practices. So make a spreadsheet with each candidates name in one column and a code (Candidate 101, Candidate 102, and so on) in the next. And then swap out the names on the resumes with the codes before you or anyone else reads them. Do it in Word, slap some labels on paper copies- do what you have to do.Try to make this a company-wide policy, or just part of the company culture. Wouldnt it be amazing if you could make a change like this that made a more diverse and just workplace well after you had moved on? Photo of office people courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to Read a Companys Income Statement

How to Read a Companys Income StatementHow to Read a Companys Income StatementAn Income Statement is a standard financial document that summarizes a companys revenue and expenses for a specific period of time, usually one-quarter of a fiscal year as well as the entire fiscal year. It is important that both investors and company managers be able to read and understand this document in order to understand the companys financial condition. Financial professionals tend to rate the degree of difficulty for reading this document as average and, of course, the time required varies depending on the size of the company and complexity of the document. The nuts and bolts of income statements include Sales Revenue Often called the top Line this represents the amount the company has sold during a given period. When there is more than one line of revenue shown above the Total Sales Revenue, the statement provides detail as to which products or tafelgeschirrs are major revenue producers. Sales Costs This figure is what it costs the company to generate the schlussverkauf figure shown in the Total Sales Revenue above. You should compare the total costs to the total revenue, but also look at the cost of each line of product or service versus its revenue. The Sales Cost is also known as Cost of Goods Sold (CGS). Gross Profit or (Loss) This is the difference between the Sales Revenue and the Sales Costs. If the difference is positive, then the company is making a profit. Conversely, a negative difference is a loss and this is shown in brackets as (Loss). General and Administrative Expenses, or GA ansicht are the costs associated with running the company as opposed to the costs of making or buying the products (i.e., Cost of Goods Sold). These costs should be monitored closely and kept as low as possible. Sales and Marketing Expenses These are the costs not directly related to producing the product or service to be sold. While it is important to promote your product or service, these costs are not imperative to the operation of the company and should be monitored and compared (frequently) to what other companies (with similar or the same products) are spending. Research and Development (RD) Expenses This is the part of a companys income that is being reinvested in the business to find and develop new products. This figure is an indication of how much management values a particular innovation. If you look at whether this figure increases or decreases from year to year you can gauge product innovation. Operating Income This is what is left when you subtract all the operating expenses from the companys Gross Profit. Income Before Taxes After subtracting any interest paid on outstanding debt from Total Operating Income you are left with Income Before Taxes. This is the amount the company expects to have to pay taxes on. Taxes This is the amount the company has paid (or expects to pay) in taxes for a given period. It includes all ta xes to all jurisdictions. Net Income From Continuing Operations After subtracting taxes from income, the Net Income is this is what the company is left with. This figure is the equivalent to a workers take-home pay. Profit Margin This varies from industry to industry but is a good way to compare similar companies, from either an investment or a benchmarking perspective. You can view this figure as being similar to the interest rate you get on your investment. The 5-6% shown by this company is considered low for a manufacturer and would warrant looking into. Non-recurring Events This is the cost of any one-time expense such as restructuring the business, a major layoff, or an un-reimbursed casualty loss. These are shown on a separate line to prevent being confused with the Continuing Operations figure above. Net Income This is what the company has left after subtracting all its expenses from its total revenue. If the difference is positive it is profit. A negative differe nce is a loss and is shown in brackets. For a company to remain healthy and stay in business, this number needs to be positive the majority of the time. For-profit companies strive to make their Net Income number as positive as possible. Dividends to Shareholders Companies pay dividends to the shareholders who own a part of the company. If any dividends have been paid during the period being reported, they are reported on this line. These can be dividends paid to common stockholders, preferred stockholders, or other investors. Dividends usually are paid only once a year. Net Income Available to Shareholders This is the bottom line. This is the money the company has left at the end of a given period. It is held onto for future needs, invested as the Board directs, or returned to investors in the future.

Getting the Best Transferable Skills Resume

Getting the Best Transferable Skills Resume If you are thinking about a job beyond academia, however, you might have discovered that lots of jobs do not expect a PhD or research experience in your specific field. Therefore, youre prepared to move forward in your career. It is likewise very effective if you wish to create a resume to assist you change careers. Ultimately, changing careers should not be a trying process. The amalgamation of your hard and soft skills ought to be referenced to deliver a comprehensive picture of the value it is possible to add. The aim is to demonstrate the employer you have the skills required to do the job. Rely on a skills-based resume When it has to do with making the switch from education to a different profession, you might want to rethink how you lay out your resume. Dont forget, regardless of what your experience, theres always things you can share with a possible hiring manager to demonstrate your value. There are surely a lot more t ransferable skills that you may include in your private checklist, but the ones mentioned previously are a few of the fruchtwein frequent ones that employers want to find. The absolute fruchtwein important issue to keep in mind is to choose examples which you can practically demonstrate on your CV. You wish to check at the bigger picture of what you did, aside from the particular circumstance. All About Transferable Skills Resume If you take some time to spot your transferable abilities, you can convince employers that youve got the core skills required to excel in your new career choice. Using our tips, you can start to work your skill set into a really transferable selection. A skill is just transferable if theres a market for it. Although transferable skills could possibly be role-related, a number of them can be utilized in an assortment of unique industries. Skills can be obtained in a number of settings. Technical skills arent restricted to computers. Transferable s kills are universal skills that could transfer from 1 job to another, in virtually any career field, regardless of the kind of work. Verbal communication skills are very important in teaching. Transferable Skills Resume Ideas After you have decided the line of work you want to know more about, take a while to be aware all the skills you will require at work. There are several other transferable skills that could draw a link between your present career and your preferred position as an educator. Additionally, youre no longer searching for a teaching job Then there was the expert coach. Transferable Skills Resume and Transferable Skills Resume - The Perfect Combination Prioritization Being in a position to prioritize work is really important in the present labor market, Klimkiewicz states. Identifying your transferable abilities and understanding their value to employers increase your effectiveness in the work search. If you determine skills arent transferable, briefly descr ibe the amount of your search. Poor listening skills create a breakdown in communication, and irritation or frustration. What You Dont Know About Transferable Skills Resume Teaching, by definition, is a type of communication, therefore it follows that a teacher should have excellent communication abilities. If it is possible to perform the work well then the families will continue asking for you. When many skills necessary for a teaching job are contingent on the school and the grade youre teaching, there are numerous skills required for just about any teaching position. Employed as a teacher demands exceptional classroom management and time management abilities. The Basics of Transferable Skills Resume A wide selection of unique skills are connected to the teaching profession, which range from organization and planning to communication, coaching and mentoring. All employers will be considering communication and leadership abilities. For instance, an extensive comprehens ion of geometry and trigonometry will serve you well in a wide range of fields that range from architectural planning to engineering pathways. Teamwork skills involve the capability to work with others towards a mutual goal. There are several hard skills which can be transferable also. Once you get a great comprehension of desirable abilities, you are going to know which ones to emphasize. Makes it simple for them to realize your aptitude and skills since they relate directly to what theyll be asking you to do. In some cases, you may have the abilities but theyre less apparent. Transferable Skills Resume No Longer a Mystery Employers often search for folks who can demonstrate a great set of transferable skills. They want to know what you can do for them. Thankfully, its not really hard to understand which skills an employer is searching for as theyre normally clearly specified in the job postings. What follows are a few of the most often occurring soft skills that employe rs search for. A growing number of companies have operations in different nations. If its possible to demonstrate that youve got excellent time management skills, your bosses are going to have more confidence that you wont incur any delays and are going to be able to meet deadlines since they fall due. Teachers have to juggle a number of tasks and responsibilities simultaneously. What is Really Going on with Transferable Skills Resume In the description of your work history, you may want to use a number of the keywords. To find out more about the way in which the importance of superior communication, take a peek at our post How to Improve Your Communication Skills for Work. Use the claimants own job description to find out what skills are acquired. Then chart out your very own transferable abilities, using the headings youve chosen. If you tell a unified career story in your interview (the exact one you told in your resume and cover letter), they get to observe the entire part and itll go a ways toward helping them feel certain that you are in fact the one they would like to hire. If youre applying for work or wish to shift to a different career path, it would be recommended to consider the job description and attempt to see if they have a checklist of skills which they are specifically searching for. Youve got nothing to become discouraged about, because theres 1 job available for you. If your previous job was skilled or semi-skilled, you need to contact an experienced disability attorney to discuss the way your job skills can impact your odds of winning your claim. Great writing skills are as essential as having the ability to speak to someone clearly. Bear in mind that youre attempting to offer your experience, and for many, a skills-based resume is an excellent means to do precisely that. 1 thing that concerns many people as soon as it comes to writing their resume is absence of experience. Well, the very first issue is experience.

5 Documentaries You Need to Watch Now

5 Documentaries You Need to Watch Now Wow, how is it November? With just two months left to crush your resolutions for the year, join us for our eleventh monthly (and totally realistic) challenge, perfect for chilly fall nights and weekends Netflix November.November is practically begging you to spend some nights cuddled up inside, so for those lazy evenings when youre not feeling a book, were challenging you to spend some time watching thought-provoking documentaries instead of re-watching The Office for the nth time. The challenge itself is easy just pick (and watch) 5 documentaries/docuseries that you havent yet seen, one for every weekend in November. The goal of this challenge is to use screen-time mora productively and to broaden your horizons by leaving your normal TV/Movie comfort zone.In spite of the title of this challenge (selected for alliterative effect only), please dont feel restricted to documentaries on Netflix we recommend doing some research and selecting docum entaries that address topics you know relatively little about. That said, for your convenience, weve got a list of 5 great documentaries (and docuseries) streaming on Netflix right now.Let us know what you decide to watch and your other recommendations in the comments Knock Down the House Whatever your political beliefs or thoughts on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, youll be inspired by this tale of grit and the strengths it takes to build a grassroots political movement with the power to challenge the Washington establishment. 13th Filmmaker Ava DuVernay unpacks racial inequality and mass incarceration in the United States, addressing the sinister motivates that explain why the U.S.s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans. Blue Planet II This ser ies will have you diving deep into the worlds vast oceans like youve never seen them before. (Dont worry, just watching one episode counts for the purposes of this challenge )) The Keepers While a single episode of this docuseries is all you need to watch for this challenge, we guarantee that if you try one episode, youll finish the rest. This series explores the unsolved murder of Cathy Cesnik, a beloved nun and Catholic high school teacher in Baltimore. She disappeared in 1969 and her body was found two months later, but her killer remains unnamed. A story of violence and sexual abuse, it is also one of the power of survivorship and community. Homecoming A Film By Beyonc Is there anything Beyonc cant do? She wrote, directed, and produced this film about her 2018 Coachella performance by herself. If youre ready to be inspired by one of the hardest working people in show business, give Homecoming a try theres a reason its got 98% on rotten tomatoes.Related Articles Around the Web Netflix Originals Coming to Netflix in November 2019 - Whats on ... Aki Merced

How Money Talks in Career Management

How Money Talks in Career ManagementHow Money Talks in Career ManagementIn the realm of career development, having significant savings and- just as importantly- having this known to your superiors, gives you an advantage, as you are not highly dependent on your present position and salary to survive. Therefore, you are in a position of power where you can comfortably leave a position willingly or at the request of your employer to find something more suitable. Benefits for When Money Talks An interesting aspect of corporate culture is that money talks. Significant savings offer these important career benefits Increased flexibility in deciding which job offers or work assignments to acceptAdded respect from your superiorsInsurance against pay cuts or unemployment Being wealthy can open the door to job opportunities and buy you the freedom to find a job thats right for you. Your employer will appreciate your focused effort to help the business succeed and may look for ways to keep you challenged and interested. Increased Flexibility When Money Talks Regarding job offers and work assignments, money talks by giving you the ability to say no. With a large schwimmbecken of savings, you can afford to decline opportunities that do not appeal to you regardless of the pay. In the words of financial writer Randall Lane, as interviewed in The Pennsylvania Gazette, the alumni magazine of the University of Pennsylvania, November/December 2010, Money, to me, is just the freedom to do what you want. On the other hand, if you do not have an ample cushion of savings, out of necessity, your options are more limited. It will be much harder to turn down a high-paying position, no matter what the downsides. It also will be exceptionally risky to resist demands from your superiors that you seem unappealing or unreasonable. Added Respect When Money Talks Money talks also in the sense that, almost invariably, an employee who reputedly has significant wealth earns considerab ly more respect from their superiors, all else equal, than someone who does not. This is an interesting lesson in management psychology. The employee who appears to need a job, especially if they may be thrust into a financial crisis by losing it, is an easy mark for unreasonable or excessive demands if management is so disposed. An employee in this position cannot afford to push back, and thus risk a poor performance review or even dismissal. This person, too often, appears vulnerable and is taken for granted by management. On the other hand, money talks in the case of an employee who is reputed to have ample financial assets. This person does indeed have the capability to say no and to push back against unreasonable bestellungs. Management, meanwhile, normally anticipates that such an employee is not a captive to the job, or to the firm. The financial cushion provided by a large pool of savings allows such a person to walk away from an undesirable situation, with few qualms. Accor dingly, management is less likely to push hard against the reputedly wealthy employee than against the one who is not. Career Insurance When Money Talks Given the danger of falling victim to a layoff, a bonus cut or a stealth pay cut, such as when producers are suddenly hit with new chargebacks for their use of company infrastructure, having an adequate cushion of savings provides insurance against the personal financial stress that otherwise might result. Many long-time corporate employees become self-employed entrepreneurs as a result of layoffs or hitting a career impasse among their current employers, and finding that because of age they have limited opportunities for suitable re-employment elsewhere. Having ample savings can smooth such transitions and provide seed capital for new ventures, where needed. Be Careful Accumulating significant financial wealth, and advertising this fact- subtly, but clearly- to management, does not give you carte blanche to become a slacker. Yo ur money talks only if you continue to perform at a high level and thus make your employers particularly concerned about losing your services if they do not treat you appropriately.Meanwhile, take note of the career rationale for changing jobs periodically. A similar effect can be achieved, in some circumstances, by regularly being on the lookout for new and better opportunities elsewhere. This can affect your reputation and may hurt your career prospects. Career Strategy One of the principal reasons for embarking on a career in the financial services industry is because of the above-average pay rates relative to most other employers. Money talks when you make a saving, rather than spending, that additional pay your top priority. Also, tap the investment expertise within your firm to deploy those savings in the most advantageous fashion, and, just as importantly, to become well-versed in the details of investing and financial planning if you are not in these career tracks yourse lf. Unfortunately, too many high earners within the financial services industry fail to internalize these lessons. A number let their spending expand to meet their income, resulting in paltry savings and expensive tastes that are hard to shake, even in extreme circumstances. Ironically, they have mismanaged their careers into letting their high-paying jobs imprison them rather than giving them financial freedom. Do not fall into this trap. Remember that income is not wealth and is constantly at risk of termination with the job itself. Learn how to manage your financial assets to protect yourself. Defense Against Credit Checks A large and growing concern for job seekers is that some employers utilize credit checks in making hiring decisions. Because of this, getting your financial house in order by reducing debt and increasing savings can mean the difference between getting or not getting a position. The basic theory is that job candidates with high credit scores generally are m ore reliable and trustworthy than those with low scores. The validity of this theory is widely disputed, yet many employers still insist on using credit checks, where allowed by law. Note, however, that having large savings and low indebtedness does not necessarily translate into a high credit score. Among the manyflaws in the FICO credit scoring methodologyis that it tends to underrate people with little or no history of indebtedness. Bottom Line When money is not a necessity, you can focus on your career to find something that suits your qualifications, skills, and interests. You will then have the freedom to perform a job that gives you a sense of purpose and meaning.

Useful Office Lessons from Chinese Street-Vendor Sales Persistence

Useful Office Lessons from Chinese Street-Vendor Sales Persistence Useful Office Lessons from Chinese Street-Vendor Sales Persistence Selling and sales resistance are like a river and its bank- more or less inseparable, even though the former is always exerting an eroding force on the latter. Also, like a rushing river, high-pressure selling is persistent, indeed relentless and often suffocating.For a given level of (un)interest in what is being pitched, why will persistence inconsistently pay off- sometimes closing the deal, otzu sich times closing it off? In answering these questions, it may be very important to note the difference between the duration of persistence and its rules. Often, the rules and factors of persistence determine the outcome more than the time invested. For schooling in such rules and factors of persistence, a very good place to stspecies is where I traveled in 2012 the streets of China.Souvenirs of SouvenirsOf curse, visiting any tourist area anywhere in th e world means running gauntlets of vendors and touts. That comes with the holiday territory. Here in Yangshuo, a magnificent karst-mountain ringed, Li River-side sleeping beauty that has been awakened by the kiss of tourism, this once sleepy town has been transformed into a national treasure and souvenir of itself.By this, I mean that, at some point, anyone with open eyes and a logical mind should notice the very peculiar paradox of salesmanship here The locals sell souvenirs as souvenirs of the tourists experience of souvenirs. What, before the selling starts, look like charming lanes, peaceful promenades and quaint narrow streets, have been transformed into crowded souvenir shooting galleries, in which the trinket vendors take their best shot at the shuffling tourists foolish enough to slow to a near sitting-duck halt. There are so many stalls, vendors and souvenirs leaching into the streets that the only experience to survive as a memory of surviving that gauntlet is that of pass ing, eyeing, dodging, handling, haggling over and buying or refusing souvenirs.Grandmotherly Lessons in PersistenceGiven that this can be a tough sell, the sales techniques have to be very good- or very desperate. Here in Yangshuo, persistence, and lots of it, is a bit of both. What is interesting from the recruitment standpoint- since, after all, selling is a form of recruiting, namely, of customers and clients- is how often it works and how often it fails. Even more interesting is why.You dont have to be selling souvenirs to appreciate how persistence is often necessary and how it can badly backfire or wonderfully succeed. It has worked and failed with me as the target in about equal proportions. Reflecting on why the deal has been sealed in some cases but not others, when my interest level in the souvenir was equal- often equally negligible, I have speculated that the outcome of sale vs. no sale has been determined by factors and rules of persistence unrelated to whatever interes t I had at the start or end of the pitch.The supply hintergrund vs. the demand background Think of supply and demand (in this instance of dealing with a souvenir vendor or, for that matter, with anyone who is persistent) in terms of the supply and demand psychological, social and economic backgrounds. These are like the two appearances of a Necker cube- the cube that appears to be receding to the left or to the right, depending on which orientation seems more obvious at the moment. When I resist the persistence, it often is because I am focusing on my demand-side considerations, e.g., I dont need it, dont want it, could find it more cheaply elsewhere and have no friend who would want it as a gift. Perceived only through this supply-side filter, the persistence quickly becomes annoying.On the other hand, if I shift to supply-side considerations, e.g.,why anyone would persist not only in this particular sales pitch, but also in this jobhow much the little money it costs will viscerall y mean to the vendorhow the supply of feasible alternatives may be very limited for the sellerhow many mouths will be fed by the sale of a trinkethow much of a rest the stooped 80-year-old flower vendor could earn for herself with one saleI am more likely to buy- especially since, set against the backdrop of such supply-side constraints and pathos, the greater the persistence, the greater the likelihood of a sale, since the persistence is perceived as a measure of need and desperation, rather than as cause or measure of increasing resistance and annoyance.Back home, the same principle can be applied in the office, as well as the street to make the sale, to snag the client or the candidate, consider whether or not there are some supply-side background factors unrelated to the need for or quality of what you are selling that will seal the deal. Work those into your presentation, or otherwise make them apparent.For example, in pitching a job, it might be useful to insinuate into the pr esentation the effort it takes to have adequately presented such a huge and diversified company. In attempting to stimulate candidate demand, the presentation actually also smuggles in an indication of the considerable supply-side effort that went into it, to create respect and empathy for the recruiter.2. Persistent effort vs. persistent pitch Persistence in the effort to sell something is one thing persistence in using an unvarying pitch or angle is quite another. Irrespective of whether a supply or demand backdrop perspective is operative, persistence of effort with/without persistence of pitch can be a determining factor in whether or not the vendor can clinch a deal.Apart from the freshness of varying the spiel while persisting, the charm, intelligence and entertainment factors in a varying sales presentation that is no less persistent in duration than a merely repetitive sales chant may be enough to tilt the scales into the buy zone.Moreover, varying the argument for the pitch may succeed where grinding repetition will fail, much as drilling for oil in more than one place usually does. The difference is that between a shift to looking for a soft spot and wearing down a rock of resistance by trying to drill through it.As a bonus, the wit, charm, intelligence, grit or creativity manifested in a medley of sales pitches delivered with the persistence of a mongoose tackling a cobra can come across as proof that financially contributing to the preservation of such an engaging vendors genes is a good investment in the human gene pool.3. Self-satisfaction vs. guilt Reassuring ourselves we are nobodys fool can be an enormously satisfying experience (and, as an emotional objective, one of the driving forces behind haggling and bargain hunting everywhere in the world).For persistence to cause a prospective buyer to give that up and instead buy requires emotionally remotivating him or her, through a motivational reversal not unlike that described in Michael Apters m etamotivational reversal theory (which I have elsewhere cited as a dynamic behavioral model governing the interactions of a stick-fetching dog and its master).In terms of reversal theory, persistence can succeed if it causes a switch from mastery to sympathy- which is equivalent to a shift from being nobodys fool to being sympathetic or compassionate.According to the theory, all of us act, feel and shift along various spectra defined by four polar opposites, viz., serious-playful, masterful-sympathetic, conforming-rebellious and autic-alloic (self-interested vs. altruistic) . To make persistence pay off, talent for inducing such a shift or a spontaneous shift in perception really helps.For example, with consistent indifference to buying passion fruit from a cone hat-festooned womans 120-pound load of various fruit, I was nudged into the guilt zone when I focused on the fact that the weight she was carrying in her basket pole surpassed hers. I bought five. That was a case of a revers al in perception.Another very old woman, obviously well into her late 70s or even maybe her 80s, got me to change my mind and jump from the self-satisfaction pole of the spectrum to the guilt and compassion pole by doing one simple, primal thing softly misting over.Her far-too-tired eyes went bleary, as though on the verge of weeping. It seemed spontaneous to me, but when, in other instances, it isnt, its precisely the kind of deal-making talent that can induce a metamotivational reversal from mastery to sympathy.4. (Un)Skillful use of sub-text In any sales narrative, there is much more going on than pure sales presentation and persuasion. As important as the need or desire for the product or service, the costs and benefits of these, the clarity of the information presented, the convenience of the timing, the reputation of what is being sold and the vendor, there is the X-factor how we feel about the seller (in addition to or instead of pity for their supply-side circumstances). fru chtwein importantly, as everyone knows, but many forget, making the prospective customer or client like you (in the sense of enjoying you, rather than becoming like you) helps- a lot.One especially persistent vendor got me to buy a souvenir photo album of Guilin by, in effect, pretending she was deaf or that I was mute, charmingly ignoring all of my reasons for not buying.She never, unlike almost all stall vendors, attempted to counter my points instead, she merely sidestepped them, gently papering them over with more soft spiel.She got the sale because she sold me on her. Her clever indifference to what I was saying was the sub-text of our narrative, and in the end the glaubenszeugnis that successfully got across to me.(A few days later, I gave that book to another much older grandmother struggling to sell oranges downriver, encouraging her to resell it- a case of what comes around, goes around.)In this respect, itinerant Chinese vendors are among the best at making me receptive to them. The stall vendors are pretty good too, but are far more scrappy and vociferous, like noisy carnival touts. Bad combination abrasiveness and persistence.Although far from any corporate office, the low-key wandering vendors, on the other hand, mostly follow many rules of executive-level business practice, while following some framed for the streetalways be politespeak softly or confidentlysustain eye contactremain physically non-threatening (e.g., by approaching slowly, avoiding overly expansive gestures and maintaining a friendly smile and posture- limiting the gestures to persistent product thrusting and dangling)look long-suffering, but not overly self-pityingdo not employ entrapment- giving the product and then demanding paymentpersist, but accept no when given either a real reason for it or a cold adamant brush-off.Most of these can be adapted or refined for productive application in urban offices.5. Bait and Switch In its customary usage, bait and switch means hooking a s ales prospect with one thing before switching the pitch to another (usually costlier product or service). However, there is a second sense of bait and switch very germane to the art and rules of successful persistence. It is the idea that, while baiting- in the sense of arguing with or relentlessly hounding- a prospect, at some point it will be smart to switch from baiting (in this confrontational sense) to something completely different. Specifically, it is a switch to an approach that is less likely to trigger a defensive response, e.g., to a mention of some previously unstated benefits of the product or service not covered in the defensive rationalizations and objections of the prospective buyer.The great danger in trying to overcome the stated objections of prospects is that they are likely to become even more adamant, because of the theirpride (in always being or trying to be right)cognitive dissonance reduction (manifested as a tendency to minimize, ignore or counter the count er-objections to the sale)resentment (of perceived aggressiveness)irritation (in being repeatedly contradicted and/or with the unvarying argumentative sales approach).Although the street vendors of Yangshuo need no encouragement to be persistent or much coaching in how to do it well, many of the rest of us need both, and not only on the supply side of things. In particular, sometimes we have to learn how to (intelligently) persist on the demand side of our lives- for example, to learn how to persist in considering whether or not to make a buy (e.g., of a stock, to ensure weve carefully and thoroughly considered it).The same goes for this analysis of persistence. If youre not sold on it, dont give up just yet. Try a little harder and longer.Your persistence just might pay off.at least for me.___________________Note This is one in a series of articles by Michael Moffa on the scene and on the job in China.Photo The Art of Persistence (Michael Moffa)

9 Common Interview Questions (And How To Answer Them Like a Pro)

9 Common Interview Questions (And How To Answer Them Like a Pro)9 Common Interview Questions (And How To Answer Them Like a Pro) Glassdoors Third Annual Compensation Audit Finds No Gender Pay Gap Lets admit it, weve all laid awake the night before an interview frantically trying to read the employers mind. With the number of job applicants who are actively seeking on the rise, being prepared to answer these questions has never been more important. Youve taken the first step and landed the initial meeting, but now what?You can put your mind-reading skills to the test all you want, but theres no way to know exactly what will be asked(Well, unless you do research on Glassdoor )However, there are a few common questions to think about that can help you better prepareIts difficult to think about where you want to be in five years when youre currently trying to figure out where you want to be right now, but its important for interviewers to understand where you want to take your career. Explain what your plans to contribute to the company would be if you were to land the role.Focusing on your efforts to improve yourself over the next five years is a good way to show employers that youre ready to grow with them. Are you willing to put in the time and effort to further your education? How would you implement a plan to be successful?Odd, yes, but this is not a trick question. Whether youre applying to an entry-level role or an executive position, this question is more about the interviewer gaging your thought process. Its not about a right or wrong. Its about thinking a response out loud, coming to a conclusion and showing how you think critically and solve problems, says HR expert Susan Underwood. A good response would be something like Well, for every CEO, it will be different, but depending on whats most important to business, the bottom line or whats going on that day, thats like ly what the CEO should be checking first, so it will likely vary by day. For me, I would check what is of highest priority first at that given time and respond accordingly.As much as we want to seem perfect when we walk into that conference room, employers know that its just not possible. Its difficult to be put in such a vulnerable position with this question when the process of interviewing already has your nerves in knots. Heres the most important key to answering this question always be honest.Honestly recognizing a fault and showing what steps youve taken to improve upon this weakness demonstrates that you have the ability to look at yourself in a critical manner, fix your mistakes and move forward. Employers will see beyond the weakness youve mentioned and see the important steps youre taking to better yourself.Its easy to get bogged down by this question, wondering what the scenario is and whether you would be required to put on your Olivia Pope white hat to save the day. B ut this question is often presented by interviewers who want to get a sense of your personality and how you resolve challenges, especially if the company or field youre seeking to work in is high-pressure.The key, according to Underwood, is to know how to juggle multiple tasks and find what needs the most attention first and address it. Walk through a few problem-solving steps that you have taken in your current role and expound upon those. Remember, the worst thing you can do is give a one-word response or say I dont know.This is a common question that can be asked in many different ways. Being prepared with a list of strengths that you want to discuss can have you prepared to answer many forms of What are your strengths? Making this list is most productive when youre aware of what strengths will best fit with this position. Im sure youre a speed demon when it comes to texting, but if youre applying for a heavy machinery position, then it isnt worth bringing your texting game int o the interview.Once you have an idea of what skills will be beneficial to this position, find strong action verbs to best describe yourself. Give specific examples to show how these strengths have contributed to the growth and well-being of previous companies or how you would implement them in this position.Proceed with caution Dont blurt out the first negative comment about your current manager who you think has it out for you. Its always a good rule to stay positive in an interview, even if you want to tell your current boss to take this job and shove it. What are some reasons for leaving your current job that show youre motivated, goal oriented and interested in bettering yourself?Again, tread lightly with this one. Often times, we are so eager to get a job that well commit to anything, but be sure you can deliver on your promises. Conversely, this question should not deter you from the role. Just because a recruiter or hiring manager asks you whether you would work holidays and weekends, does not mean youll spend every Saturday night in your cubicle. Use this question as an opportunity to show that youre a team player , willing to fill in when needed, but also dig into what would require employees to work on holidays and weekends. Dont be afraid to be honest if you prefer to not work on certain days for religious reasons, or if you would work holidays but from home. This is the perfect time to dig into the roles requirements and managers expectations.Instead of trying to impress with this kind of unexpected question by saying Rambutan or Dragonfruit, just keep it simple. Choose something that you can provide an explanation for without dying of laughter. Something like A pineapple because I am unique, always stand out and Im sweet on the inside. If youre stumped as to why the hiring manager even posed the question, Underwood offers insight.Glassdoor hears from a variety of employers that challenging interview questions can help them learn more about a job candidate, and in some cases, help them sort through a great candidate versus a good candidate. For instance, if you have three final candidates for a job and all of them are great on paper, how they answer and respond to a tough or challenging question can give the interviewer some added perspective into how they solve unexpected problems, which arise in almost any job at any employer.This is a question where you can show off just how much prep work you put into this interview. Researching a company , job descriptionand employer will help you be able to authentically answer this question. Wanting to join a company because of attributes that werent specifically stated by the employer will show motivation.Just because youve done your research doesnt mean you need to be overly crafty with this response. Just be honest Does this feel like the right step in advancing your career? Do the companys goals and values match yours? Is there a specific connection you have to the positio n or company?Think of positive reasons that will demonstrate why you feel this is a right fit for you and, in turn, why they should feel youre right for the job.