StartingOverNow.com
Articles
Tell a Story on the Interview and Capture the
Happy Ending
Potential employers ask standard questions such as: “Tell me
about your work experience.” or “What salary are you making now?”
or “Tell me about your experience using (a specific software
program).”
Open-ended questions are designed to draw out your personality
and character traits. “Tell me a little about yourself.” or “Tell me what
isn’t in the resume.” are common examples of this type of
questioning. The best way to answer these questions is by
showing examples in a story telling nature of both your personal and
professional accomplishments while including how your values led
you to achieve these things.
Individual examples of how you have already dealt with great
challenge will erase the potential risk they might have in hiring you.
Remember, in good stories, “showing” is much more effective then
“telling.” Don’t tell them you are a hard worker, tenacious and
dedicated. Convey that in your story. Allow them to draw that
conclusion and feel the truth in it. It will mean much more.
For example, if interviewers ask me to fill in the blanks of what is not
on my resume, the first thing I generally say is, “I am a single parent
of four children, who when my children were all under the age of
seven found that I had to recreate my life.” At this point they usually
sit up straight as if they’d swallowed a poker. The silence in the
room is deafening. I realize that with the way I set this up, the story
better be good.
A prospective employer may ask you what your greatest work related
accomplishment was. Think of one that gave you great personal
reward as well as gave the company great financial reward.
Employers value accomplishments that reduce expenses, raise
revenues, and solve problems.
Make sure you have several personal success stories that you can
share. Stories should average between 30 to 90 seconds. Practice
telling these stories while you are driving. Make sure you have
listened to yourself say them before you deliver them to another
individual.
Stories should revolve around the following themes:
1. Made or saved money for a previous company.
2. Tragedy to triumph or turn-around story.
3. Functioned as part of a team, describing your contribution.
4. Leadership that drove a new direction for the company.
5. A professional failure that you overcame.
6. Career changing events.
Stories leave a deeper impression because they are coupling visual
images with problem solving. Be sure to lace quantifiable results
into your stories.
Get Mary Lee’s new FREE e-book “Make Your Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by clicking here.
Follow Mary Lee's career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE Worksheets: “Does Your Resume Look Weathered?”
and “Six Ways to Know if This is the Right Company for Me” go to:
http://www.startingovernow.com/Articles-and-Tip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a career advice expert who went from being a
stay-at-home mother with four children to divorce, poverty and then
on to become a newspaper reporter, trade association executive
director, public relations consultant, and foundation president and
CEO. View Mary Lee’s free career tips, worksheets and Blog on her
website at www.startingovernow.com. Contact Mary Lee at
info@startingovernow.com.
Happy Ending
Potential employers ask standard questions such as: “Tell me
about your work experience.” or “What salary are you making now?”
or “Tell me about your experience using (a specific software
program).”
Open-ended questions are designed to draw out your personality
and character traits. “Tell me a little about yourself.” or “Tell me what
isn’t in the resume.” are common examples of this type of
questioning. The best way to answer these questions is by
showing examples in a story telling nature of both your personal and
professional accomplishments while including how your values led
you to achieve these things.
Individual examples of how you have already dealt with great
challenge will erase the potential risk they might have in hiring you.
Remember, in good stories, “showing” is much more effective then
“telling.” Don’t tell them you are a hard worker, tenacious and
dedicated. Convey that in your story. Allow them to draw that
conclusion and feel the truth in it. It will mean much more.
For example, if interviewers ask me to fill in the blanks of what is not
on my resume, the first thing I generally say is, “I am a single parent
of four children, who when my children were all under the age of
seven found that I had to recreate my life.” At this point they usually
sit up straight as if they’d swallowed a poker. The silence in the
room is deafening. I realize that with the way I set this up, the story
better be good.
A prospective employer may ask you what your greatest work related
accomplishment was. Think of one that gave you great personal
reward as well as gave the company great financial reward.
Employers value accomplishments that reduce expenses, raise
revenues, and solve problems.
Make sure you have several personal success stories that you can
share. Stories should average between 30 to 90 seconds. Practice
telling these stories while you are driving. Make sure you have
listened to yourself say them before you deliver them to another
individual.
Stories should revolve around the following themes:
1. Made or saved money for a previous company.
2. Tragedy to triumph or turn-around story.
3. Functioned as part of a team, describing your contribution.
4. Leadership that drove a new direction for the company.
5. A professional failure that you overcame.
6. Career changing events.
Stories leave a deeper impression because they are coupling visual
images with problem solving. Be sure to lace quantifiable results
into your stories.
Get Mary Lee’s new FREE e-book “Make Your Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by clicking here.
Follow Mary Lee's career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE Worksheets: “Does Your Resume Look Weathered?”
and “Six Ways to Know if This is the Right Company for Me” go to:
http://www.startingovernow.com/Articles-and-Tip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a career advice expert who went from being a
stay-at-home mother with four children to divorce, poverty and then
on to become a newspaper reporter, trade association executive
director, public relations consultant, and foundation president and
CEO. View Mary Lee’s free career tips, worksheets and Blog on her
website at www.startingovernow.com. Contact Mary Lee at
info@startingovernow.com.
StartingOverNow.com
Articles
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To chart your road
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"Worksheets and
Articles."
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
Turnaround Solutions for People & Organizations
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
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FREE Resources
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
| Mary Lee Gannon is interviewed on Mind Your BIZness |
Listen to Mary
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Gannon Group/StartingOverNow.com
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Get the FREE e-Book "Lead Your
Team with Values and Watch
Productivity Grow - A
Manager's Toolbox"
and the Executive Coaching Newsletter
.
Team with Values and Watch
Productivity Grow - A
Manager's Toolbox"
and the Executive Coaching Newsletter
.
Mary Lee Gannon's
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
Follow Mary Lee's tips
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