Manager interview questions and answers

Manager interview questions and answers by Amber Rolfe Looking for a role in management? First, you have to manage the interview… Whether you’ve been a manager for a while, or you’re looking to move up the ranks, interviewing for a management position can be difficult â€" which is why formulating your answers in advance is absolutely vital if you want to stand out from the crowd.To help inspire you, here are five of our favourite manager interview questions, and our advice on how to answer them:  What’s your management style? If you’re faced with this question at an interview, always show instead of tell.In other words, don’t just talk about your management style â€" tell them how it actually works.And since the ability to pay yourself a compliment without coming across arrogant is often tough, aim to define what good management is first. Then talk about yourself positively by explaining what you’ve done, rather than simply repeating words like ‘responsible’ and ‘good leadership skills’.For ex ample, stating ‘I focus largely on meeting sales targets’ is unlikely to make your interview stand out. Instead, consider saying something along the lines of ‘my ability to motivate a team through incentivised goals has meant my store has become the highest performer in my area.’Remember: Quantifiable achievement will always beat self-serving rhetoric.Right answer: ‘In my opinion, a good manager gives good, clear direction, and is always available to provide help and advice â€" but doesn’t take over. I like to think this style best describes how I do things. I also think it’s important to ensure colleagues have the chance to reach their full potential. For example, I hold periodic meetings to discuss the career goals of each member of the team. Sometimes they’re not even sure what they’re aiming for, so it’s a great way to provide direction and improve employee morale.’Wrong answer: ‘I like to be there for my team, but not physically â€" just you know, in spi rit.’Management styles: What you need to knowTell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult employeeDifficult people are an inevitable part of life â€" and as a manager, your ability to deal with them in the right way is extra important.You’d be surprised at the amount of useful skills you can demonstrate in answering this question well â€" as long as you adequately describe the resolution (and its impact), as well as the problem. If in doubt, always follow the STAR technique.And don’t worry if things didn’t run smoothly. It wouldn’t be a difficult situation if they did. In fact, hiding away from any slip-ups will only make your example come across clichéd. Instead, use them to show how you’ve learnt to better cope in similar situations that may arise in the future.It’s also a good idea to prepare your example in advance â€" that way you should be able to leave any emotional bias out of it.Right answer: ‘I think it’s important to remember that determination can sometimes cause problems â€" even if the person means well. For example, I once managed someone who constantly met their targets â€" but their team work ethic was way off. Although they appeared successful, it turned out they were taking leads from colleagues. So I sat down with them to make them aware of the consequences, and stressed the importance of our team targets, rather than trying to work against each other. Not only did they turn things around, they also regained the respect of the team.’Wrong answer: ‘Well, they’re no longer on my Christmas list, that’s for sure…’Five types of difficult employee (and how to manage them)Behavioural interview questionsWhat strategies do you use to motivate a team? The most important thing to remember when answering this question is that you should always have more than one strategy.Everyone has different work styles, personalities, and performance levels, meaning how they respond to motivation differs too. In other words, i t’s never a one-approach-fits-all when it comes to team drive.To let the interviewer know you understand this, explain that you always take the time to get to know your team members in order to understand how they work. Then, talk about how you utilise a variation of techniques based on what suits them best.As always, it’s a good idea to use examples to show how you’ve succeeded at this in the past. Not only will this provide context for the strategies you use, it’ll also prove they actually work.Right answer: ‘My main strategies are based around recognising colleagues’ achievements, giving consistent feedback, and providing context for their work â€" but the ones I utilise most depends on the employee. For example, those who are most goal orientated tend to respond best to understanding the impact of their work, and colleagues that are under-performing are best motivated when given set areas to work on and improve.’Wrong answer: ‘Blackmail seems to work…’What ha s been your biggest success so far in your career? Good news â€" you’ve just gained temporary clearance to blow your own trumpet.Although talking about self-proclaimed greatness is something many people find difficult, in an interview, it’s sometimes the only way to make yourself memorable. It’s also the key difference between career progression and career stagnation.So set your inhibitions to one side for the sake of this question. The interviewer has asked it entirely so they can hear about the best version of you â€" so unless you go completely off topic, you can’t go wrong.Just always make sure you prepare in advance. Otherwise, you could end up referring to a recent achievement on impulse, which may not necessarily the best one. And don’t be afraid to include dramatic effects such as results, growth, and transformation.Right answer: ‘My biggest success so far has to belast year’s launch of or new range of snack bars â€" which was the first ever health snack to sel l a million units in the UK in under 12 months. After landing the UK distribution deal, I was given three months to gain traction or they’d pull the plug. This wasn’t easy, but through communicating with hundreds of providers, I managed to build enough bridges to make the product take off. We even managed to make a decent profit- helping turn an underdog product into a household name.’Wrong answer: ‘Yesterday I managed to throw 10 malteasers into my mouth without missing.’Describe a time when you led by example Being a good leader isn’t just about telling others what to do, it’s also about showing them how it’s done.So when you’re asked question, you’re essentially being tested on your own competencies as well as your ability to succeed â€" which in turn has a positive effect on your team members’ performance.To answer this question well, make sure you focus on the constructive outcome your behaviour resulted in, as well as what you did.For example, saying you set the bar high by signing 45 customers up to your store loyalty card is good â€" but further explaining that your attitude resulted in your colleagues gaining another 100 sign-ups helps to prove that not only are you succeeding, your team is too.Because there really is no ‘I’ in team…Right answer: ‘In my last job, we had a drive to sell charity raffle tickets. The team were really on board with the cause, and we had a friendly rivalry going with other stores in the area â€" so the pressure was on. The problem was, customers just didn’t seem interested. So I took things into my own hands and tried different types of wording as well as a few persuasion tactics. After a few hours, I’d managed to sell X amount raffle tickets â€" and after I explained the new approach, the team went on to sell a combined X amount that weekend â€" making us number one in the area.’Wrong answer: ‘I’d probably say I lead best with my comedy. I’m basically a chilled-out entertainer.’F ive key competency questions: revealedNeed more interview questions?Not sure any of these questions will come up? Don’t panic. We’ve got plenty more…Buy James Reed’s new book:  Why You? 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again and start loving Mondays now.Still searching for your perfect position?  View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Interview Techniques Job interview tips Preparing for an interview

Reverse SEO May Save Your Personal Brands Bacon - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Reverse SEO May Save Your Personal Brands Bacon - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Weve all done some stupid stuff in our lives. Some of it was even recorded. And if youre really (un)lucky, some of that has even been put online for everyone to see. Maybe it was a youthful indiscretion. Maybe it was someone catching you off-guard. Maybe it was that time you stupidly posted eight different photos of you on the My friends getting married, Im just getting drunk group on Facebook. Regardless of why you did it, the fact remains that that is whats showing up on Google whenever someone searches for your name, and youre just getting ready to launch your new job search. What can you do? Reverse SEO helps push down unwanted search results about you off Googles front page. It puts good information that shows you at your best, not the times you went on an anti-government rant on someone elses website, or a video of you doing Jello shots at Spring Break. Here are five ways you can reverse SEO that negative content off the front page and get the information you want back up there. 1. Delete the negative content. This wont automatically remove from the Internet, because heres always a chance that its been picked up elsewhere, but delete as much of the negative content as you can. This wont guarantee it wont be found, but it will make it that much harder. Also, set any Facebook settings so that only friends can see photos, and delete any photo tags of you that dont fit your personal brand. 2. Create a blog. If youre a regular practitioner of personal branding, you should already have one. If you dont, get one. If you do, and the negative stuff is still winning search, then start optimizing your blog better. Put up interesting content that people will want to read. Include videos and photos, and write as much stuff as you can. A blog is SEO candy to search engines, so feed them as much as you can. 3. Put up some videos. The number two search engine? YouTube. Put videos up on your YouTube channel and point to them from several different websites and social networks. Embed them in Facebook and on your blog. Videos get a lot of SEO juice, so using them in your personal branding will help immensely. Be sure to practice video SEO too â€" keywords in the title and description, as well as a backlink to your blog â€" in order to help the videos win search. (Remember, anything you can get to appear above your unwanted content helps, and videos show up high on Google search results.) 4. Create a Picasa or Flickr account. Photos are the next best things to videos when it comes to outside content that is linkable and indexed. Set up an account on either Flickr.com or Picasa. I prefer Picasa because its owned by Google, and I can just tie it in to everything else Im doing on Google. Embed those photos on your blog and in Facebook again, and share them with people. 5. Guest post on other blogs. Not only does this help with your own SEO backlinking efforts, the guests posts will often show up in Google searches as well. Write some interesting and valuable posts on more popular blogs, and you can get some great SEO juice that helps blow that unwanted stuff away. Finally, to make sure youre getting completely accurate results, sign out of Google before you search for your name. That will be as close to Googles objective results as you can get, and the same results someone else will find the first time they ever search for you. Reverse SEO is an ongoing process and is going to take a lot of effort. Its not something you can knock out on a Sunday afternoon in a couple of hours. And of course, your best bet is to not do the things now that youll be ashamed of later. But if you do, just know that there are ways to get that stuff hidden away. Author: Erik Deckers is the owner of Professional Blog Service, and the co-author of Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself. His new book, No Bullshit Social Media: The All-Business, No-Hype Guide to Social Media Marketing, which he wrote with Jason Falls, is in bookstores and on Amazon now.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Top Leadership Guru Marshall Goldsmith Offers His Secrets to Success

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Top Leadership Guru Marshall Goldsmith Offers His Secrets to Success I've been fortunate in my career to talk to a lot of really smart people. People who are not only really smart, but nice. Willing to share what they know, no matter how successful they become. They're the leadership gurus, the people who we need right now more than ever to help us navigate our careers. Recently I interviewed Marshall Goldsmith, and wanted to share some real nuggets of wisdom from a guy who is comfortable sitting down with a CEO of a Fortune 100 as he is a college student...AB: How has your leadership coaching changed if at all in the last 34 years?MG: My deepest learning in 34 years has been recognizing that it is not all about me. Its about the clients. In fact, the person who I spent the least amount of time with improved the most. And the person I spent the most time with improved the least. So I learned a great lesson that it wasnt about me being smart, it was about great people who work hard.AB: Are there different pressures on executives today than when you f irst began coaching?MG: Oh, yes. Much different. In the old days before the Internet and everyone had cell phones and all that, executives were much more likely to get a pass, especially from the business press, for inappropriate behavior. But today they live in a much bigger fishbowl. Everything they say is quoted. They have to be incredibly careful about everything they do and say because they are under much, much more of a microscope than they were before. They have to be incredibly sensitive in emails because that can all get subpoenaed and go to court and become public record. How many cases do we know where companies have lost billions because of stupid emails?AB: Is such a fishbowl existence good or bad?MG: Im not into the good or bad judgment business. Im in the helping people get better business and deal with whats there. You could argue its good and bad. The reality is: It is what it is. The reality is that today it is very, very challenging to be an executive. Your behavi or is under incredible scrutiny, and thats part of life. And if you dont want to pay the price, dont take the job.AB: Is that one of the things you tell your executives?MG: Definitely. Every meeting is show time. People look at what you say, how you look, your tone of voice. More so today than ever before.AB: Whats their reaction when you tell them that their every move will be watched and reviewed?MG: I use the example of the Broadway play. I ask them: Did they ever hear the kid (actor) complain because their foot hurts or their aunt died last week? No. Thats because its show time. I tell them the kid isnt making a hundredth of what theyre making, and if the kid can go out there night after night and be a professional and get everything right, so can you. Thats just part of your job. I think its a healthy attitude to have. Youre not being a phony, youre being professional.Look, an executive sitting in a meeting listening to a PowerPoint slide already knows what the person is going to say, but everyone in the room is looking at the executive face, and this executive has to look like he or she cares. Thats not being a phony, .....(read the rest on Intuit's Quickbase blog here)

Writing Tools, Part 2 Living With An iPad - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Writing Tools, Part 2 â€" Living With An iPad - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In less than a month, my Apple iPad has become an everyday writing tool, significantly increasing my efficiency and effectiveness. In Part 1, last week, I described some of the specific ways I use my iPad for writing and marketing. This week, Id like to describe my reactions to the iPad as a newcomer to mobile computing. My intention is not to review it, but simply share some of my impressions of getting to know it. If youve been on the fence about getting an iPad to use for writing a book and using content to build your brand, perhaps my experiences may help you decide whether or not an iPad makes sense to you. iPad versus laptop For about a decade, Ive been dragging a Dell laptop around the country, presenting at various web and book publishing events, and I have an IBM laptop dedicated to iTunes duty downloading and archiving music and TED.com videos for iPod and iPhone. Although millions of authors and bloggers use laptops as their primary writing tool, Ive never been really comfortable with laptop keyboards and pointing devices beyond using them as presentation tools. Granted, you can always plug a standard keyboard and mouse into a laptop, but that seems to defeat the whole purpose of portability. (And, youre stuck with the ergonomics of looking down at a screen that you cant easily reposition if you want to type.) There are also weight and cost issues involved when comparing iPads to laptops. The original iPad weighs about 1.5 pounds. Its size is about 9.5 high by 7.5 inches wide and a half-inch thick. This is slightly larger, but thinner, than the typical trade paperback book. The iPad 2 is slightly smaller, thinner, and lighter. Lightweight protective covers are readily available. According to a survey of laptop sizes and weights, the range of laptop weights extends from less than 2 pounds to more than 5 poundswith some weighing in even higher. (Note: these weights do not include a portable power supply and cord.)   Sizes vary, but most are between 11 and 15 inches wide and 9 to 15 inches deep. But, weight, alone, is not the whole story!   Certainly, there are a lot of lightweight laptops around, but at a premium price. In general, the lighter and more capable the laptop, the more youre going to pay. Laptop prices frequently pass the $1,000 mark, and can easily keep going. Obviously, laptops have their place. But, if you already have a primary computer for long writing sessions, and youre looking for a traveling companion or a second computer, iPads have a lot to offer in terms of weight, size, and value. Theyre easy to carry in one hand and easy to set up, or, even, use standing up. Software versus iPad apps If I were to replace either of my laptops, Id have to get all new software. And, this can become an expensive proposition, using as I do a variety of Microsoft Office Software and Adobe page layout and image manipulation programs. Basically, Id need to spend a minimum of $1,000 to $1,500 to get the latest versions of programs I already own! Granted, the versions Im using may not be the latestand, in some cases, theyre a generation behind but, they work! If I continue to use my primary desktop computers to do the heavy lifting, and view my iPad for planning articles and books, social media, and online research, I dont need to replace my software. This also eliminates the need go through the learning curve of a new operating system and simultaneous, multiple forced software updates. By comparison, as Ill discuss in more detail in Writing Tools, Part 3 next week, the cost of acquiring iPad applications is not a concern. Many eminently usable applications are free, and I havent had to purchase anything costing more than $. My total iTunes expenditures for iPad applications total less than $30! Learning and ease of use I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly I became comfortable with the iPad. My standard of comparison for new computers and software extends back to memories of writing books and tutorials about programs like Microsoft Office, and the lost productivity that often accompanies system upgrades. I certainly didnt expect to like pointing with my fingers and typing on the iPads virtual keyboard. But, I was wrong. I quickly began to appreciate iPad advantages like: Pointing. I was surprised how quickly I became used to tapping (to select), dragging (to reposition), and swiping (to go to the next, or a previous) page . Likewise, it became soon second nature to place 2 fingers and expand them to zoom in for a closer look, or squeeze them together to zoom out. When I went back to my computer, I realized how inefficient it really is to remove my right hand from the keyboard, reach for a mouse, open menus, and select commands over and over again. File management. iPad file management is very easy. There is no save command. When creating new files, youre prompted to name it. From them on, your work is automatically saved. To open previously-created files, you tap on a thumbnail of the first page file, or its name (depending on application). E-mail and cloud integration. You can send files as e-mail attachments, or upload them to cloud applications, like Evernote, without leaving the application youre using. When sending files, most applications allow you to send files in multiple formats, i.e., text files plus PDFs. E-book reader. The iPad syncs with the Amazon Kindle. This means you can continue reading a book on your iPad where you left off on your Kindle. Downloaded PDFs can be displayed as thumbnails on bookshelves for easy selection. You can organize PDFs into collections. Screen captures. Tasks like screen captures taking a picture of whats on your iPads screen for use in tutorials is a 1-step process from within any application. Second computer. Although I first used the iPad as a work anywhere tool, I now use it as a second computer when working at my primary computer. There are many tasks, often online research tasks, that are easier to do on a second computer than switching between programs. More efficient workflow. The ease of mind mapping on the iPad and e-mailing files to my primary computer has improved my writing efficiency. I now do more planning before writing. I use the iPad to create mind maps of blog posts, articles, landing pages, etc., the night before I start writing them, while watching television or before I fall asleep. In the morning, theyre waiting for me on my primary computer. Incidentally, Ive noticed that emails I send on my iPad are usually shorter than they used to be. the iPad has encouraged more concise writing habits, probably appreciated by recipients reading my emails on their smart phones. iPads for writers on a budget If youre buying your first iPad on a budget and dont need a camera because youre not heavily involved with video, you can save money by buying the original iPad instead of the iPad 2. While supplies last, you can purchase a new iPad with greatly enhanced memory plus 3G connectivity for less than the cost of a bottom-of-the-line iPad 2. You have to search online, but the savings are there. In Writing Tools, Part 3, Ill share some specific suggestions for choosing iPad applications for writing, online research, and social media marketing. In the meantime, if you are an iPad user, please share your experiences as comments, below. And, let me know your thoughts on about buying an iPad versus an iPad 2. Author: Roger C. Parker invites you to visit Published Profitable where you can download his new workbook,  99 Questions to Ask Before You Write and Self-publish a Brand-building Book.

Resume Writing For Dental Hygienist - All About How to Write a Good Resume For Dental Hygienist

Resume Writing For Dental Hygienist - All About How to Write a Good Resume For Dental HygienistWriting a resume for dental hygienist is the hardest thing you ever have to do, but it is well worth the effort. When it comes to applying for this kind of job, you should be as prepared as possible. If you don't know how to write a resume that will stand out from the other applicants, then you are really out of luck. There are specific things you need to learn about, and here are some examples of what you should be prepared to put in your resume.The first thing you need to know about is the basic information regarding your qualification as a dental hygienist. You should include your most recent year of experience that shows you are a well-trained person in the field. For example, if you graduated from school this year, then the time that you had in school will be a great idea for your resume. In addition, you can also mention your certification, so that you can list it alongside your work experience.Aside from that, the next most important section in your resume is the professional skill section. These skills will show that you are someone who is well versed in the field. This will show the employer that you are someone who can get along with everyone and will not only focus on yourself. This is why they are going to hire you.Your next point should be your work history. This is something that will be used as proof that you have been working as a hygienist since high school or even before. You may also add something about your community service time in the past, and the length of the time you worked as a full-time hygienist, which will show that you can do what is needed to get hired.The last part of your resume should be your related field of medical. This is an area where you can show that you have good communication skills, and you can also be a good communicator. As a dentist, you should also be able to communicate with others in this field. For example, you can l ist in your resume that you are fluent in Spanish, or in Spanish.Lastly, you will want to include your experiences, as well as any previous experiences that you may have. If you did graduate from college, include that in your resume. At the end of your document, you can list anything that would be considered a highlight of your career.The final thing that you should take into consideration when you are writing a resume for a dentist's assistant is to be very specific about the tasks that you are going to be listing. It is best to say something specific for each thing, so that your resume will be effective. After all, you may be working as a dental assistant, but you should be able to keep up with the duties of a nurse too.So, as you can see, it is best to get down to details. You do not want to spend more time on your resume, and more time trying to figure out what exactly is needed. In most cases, you do not want to leave anything off the resume, so that it is easy to get hired.

What to Do When Layoffs are Imminent

What to Do When Layoffs are Imminent Layoffs are Imminent What to Do Next and Why? Layoffs are imminent, even now that the economy is on the upswing.  This is part of the business process… refining operations and maximizing profitability isn’t meant to be personal. It is business right? Well, it is. But when it is your job on the line, it becomes VERY personal. The whispers and door closings become more frequent. Staff is on edge. They aren’t stupid.  The handwriting is on the wall. Layoffs are coming. If your “spider sense” is tingling and you have a feeling that layoffs are imminent, listen to your intuition. But don’t cave in to panic or fear. Take these signals as an opportunity to take care of yourself. Remember, your employment is a business contract, not a personal one, and you and you alone are responsible for your career destiny. So here’s what to do when layoffs are imminent: Brush up on your skills. Make sure your job-specific knowledge is as current as possible by targeting relevant classes, workshops, trainings, conferences, conventions, certifications, etc. to position yourself with job-specific skills and knowledge. Be a subject matter expert so when layoffs happen, you are tuned up! Network like a fiend. Oftentimes, while we are in our regular line of work, we tend to neglect networking because we have so many tasks demanding our attention in the office. But in reality, the magic secret to successful job searches and life after layoffs is building a robust, engaged network, so when an opportunity comes up or if layoffs are imminent, you can immediately ping your trusted connections for potential job leads or garner referrals to decision makers. Keep calm and carry on. Don’t spend your time panicking and stressing out about layoffs. Of course, some concern is appropriate, but when things are not within your control, you need to keep calm and carry on and focus on what you do best. Save your energies for productive activities that you can influence. Identify your own career goals. Uncertainty in the current workplace and impending layoffs is the opportune time to evaluate your own career goals. Maybe you have been in a job for a long time and it wasn’t exactly what you envisioned for your overall career. This might be a “jumping off” point to help get yourself aligned to what you really want to be doing. Get involved. By identifying key industry memberships and joining them, then getting active / involved, you are creating a whole web of connections that are in the same arena as you. Building your profile through involvement can make you become a known quantity within those circles, and make you top-of-mind when opportunities come open after layoffs happen. People buy from who they know, and they hire who they like. Find ways for people to get to know you while you can demonstrate your on-the-job skill sets and work ethics. Reinforce your value to employers. Most people are loathe to do this, but initiating a low-key campaign that provides updates to supervisors about project progress and metrics help factor into who gets laid off and who gets to stay. The more you can show how invaluable to the organization, the less likely you might not get the axe when layoffs are imminent. By taking these steps, you can be better prepared to navigate unplanned transitions. And by staying on top of these tactics on a regular basis no matter what your employment situation, you are in a much better position to navigate your career as a whole.

How DO You Land a Job in This Economy (Stimulating Career Talk on the Bill Handel Show)

How DO You Land a Job in This Economy (Stimulating Career Talk on the Bill Handel Show) Bill Handel is known throughout Southern California for stimulating talk radio. When I made a return appearance on his show recently, he didnt disappoint. Being a bit of a realist, Bill had tough questions for me including:Where are the jobs really?What do you do when an employer wants experience and all you have is education?How do you stand out when resumes all look the same?Doesnt it take years to change careers?These are difficult challenges but I was more than happy to share real answers. Employers are posting job opening and opportunities for exciting new careers exist now. But rather than focusing on landing another job, I was emphatic with Bill and his listeners that its not enough. To succeed today, youve got to follow your heart to the paycheck. To do that means targeting your job search with soul search first. Getting clear on what you WANT to do, what youre GOOD at, and how you WANT to put your skills to good use is not a nice to have, its a career survival strategy! What ever career you go into is going to be demanding and you will need genuine enthusiasm to keep pace. For those concerned that a career change will take too long.in almost ten years of helping people change careers I have found the path is made of latent talents and interests. Career possibilities and ideas that clients have been harboring for YEARS and even implementing for YEARS on the side or for friends, turn out to be their dreams jobs. They just needed to formalize them. Chances are you may already be doing what you love to do, youre just not getting paid for it (YET).LISTEN IN tomy stimulating career conversation with Bill and weigh in below with your thoughts and ideas. What do you think is the best way to land a job in this economy?