Berks & Beyond Blog

It’s like a bad dream.

You’re in an interview, dressed to impress and feeling totally in control of the situation, when the unthinkable happens – the interviewer asks a question that completely stumps you: 

“If you could have dinner with anyone from history, whom would it be and why?”

“Why is a manhole cover round?”

“Which fictional character would you say best describes you?”

If just reading these questions makes beads of sweat pop out on your forehead, you’re not alone.  In an interview situation, most of us would be stopped in our tracks by off-the-wall questions like these.  But that’s the point:  interviewers ask odd questions intentionally, to see how well job candidates thinks on their feet and respond to stress.

Because unusual interview questions can be about virutally any topic, they’re nearly impossible to prepare for.  Still, here are a few quick tips to help you handle them more effectively:

• Keep your composure.  The question was meant to throw you off your game – so don’t let it rattle you.  Keep your face neutral and recognize that this is the wacky question you’ve been anticipating.
• Take your time.  Smile, take a deep breath and avoid the temptation to blurt out an answer.  Don’t panic – if you have to take a moment to gather your thoughts, it merely demonstrates that you think carefully through a situation before responding.
• Relax.  When it comes to unusual interview questions, your answer is not as important as how you handle the situation.  In fact, most don’t have right or wrong answers.  So take the pressure off yourself.  You don’t have to be brilliant, you just need to answer honestly.

If you’d like some practice answering off-the-wall questions, consider the following popular ones:

• If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be?
• If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with the time?
• If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
• If you were a _________ (insert:  car, animal, salad dressing – you get the picture), what kind would you be and why?
• If you won $50 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
• How would you rate me as an interviewer?

Be Prepared for Your Next Interview

Register with Berks & Beyond today.  Our team of staffing professionals will listen to your needs, match you with a perfect direct placement opportunity, and then prepare you to ace the interview.

Q:  What do Donald Trump’s hair and your dusty old paper resume have in common?
A:  They could both use an update.
The way employers use resumes has dramatically changed over the last decade.  So should your resume writing and distribution strategy.  If you want to stay ahead of your competition, use these quick tips to leverage technology and create a 21st century resume:
Update your tone.
Take a confident, assertive stance when writing about your skills and experience.  Use powerful action vocabulary (focus on measurable results) to market yourself as a strong candidate.  Show how your achievements and skills will meet the company’s needs and solve their problems.
Customize your resume for each job opportunity.
Make the employer’s selection process easier by including key words or phrases that relate to the opening.  If your resume has more matches than someone else’s, yours moves to the top of the stack.
Create two versions of your resume.
Create a regular one to print and hand out or e-mail to anyone.  Then, create a stripped-down version that can be easily customized (with relevant keywords) and uploaded to job boards and/or recruiters.
Watch your formatting.
While a plain text format is universally acceptable, it doesn’t allow for much in the way of organizing your work.  You can use a rich text format, but avoid using fancy text enhancements (multiple fonts, bold, italics, etc.).  Use size changes to emphasize headings.
Only include relevant work experience.
Don’t dilute your application with details of previous work experience.  Instead, highlight work experience which proves your suitability for the available position.  Underneath, you can detail previous employers and dates worked.
Skip the cliches.
Employers expect you to be a “self-starter” and “team player.”  So skip these and focus on the aspects of your personality that would most appeal to the potential employer.  For example, a salesperson could be a well-connected and patient relationship builder.
Make your resume flexible.
As a 21st century job seeker, you need to organize the info in your resume based upon the available job and company needs. So don’t worry about starting out with Career Objective and following up with Education.  Instead, begin with the aspects of your experience and achievements that exemplify the attributes the company is looking for.
Do your homework.
Before uploading any resume, do a little online research to find out more about the company and its key employees (LinkedIn is a great place to start).  Find out if there are any connections you can leverage to get you to the next stage.
Link to your web presence.
If you have a LinkedIn profile, professional blog or professionally-oriented Twitter account, add these links to your resume.  This demonstrates that you’re up-to-date with new social media and professionally active even outside your current job.

Even if your current resume is stuck in the Dark Ages,  Berks & Beyond can help you get started on the road to employment today.

 
If you’re looking for work in these stormy economic seas, how can you keep your head above water?

 
Here are a few quick, easy, and really useful ideas to help you stay afloat:

1. Leverage your network. According to Monster.com, 80 percent of jobs are obtained through networking. Use this statistic to your advantage. Contact your college’s career center or alumni directory. Send an e-mail to your social media contacts. Make phone calls to old business contacts. Let everyone you know that you’re looking for a job and ask them to keep their eyes and ears open.
2. Put your best foot forward. When it comes to your job search, image is everything. So review your résumé, social media profiles and website to make sure all information is accurate, professional, and showcases your strengths. Before an interview, learn all you can about the potential employer. Critically evaluate your experience and skills, so you can learn how to talk about yourself in a meaningful and powerful way. Finally, practice the answers to potential interview questions. All this preparation will help you make a fantastic first impression.
3. Pay attention to detail. Sometimes, little things can make a big difference. Take the time to customize your cover letters to address the specific skills or qualities a potential employer wants. After the interview, handwrite and hand deliver (if feasible) a thank you note that recaps your strengths and addresses any weaknesses that may have come up during the interview.
4. Keep working. When you have bills to pay, a job that is less than ideal is better than no job at all. So consider freelancing or temporary work. Both offer a great way to get your name out there, form new contacts, sharpen your skills (and develop new ones), keep your morale high, and provide income while you’re looking for a full-time opportunity.
5. Never stop searching for opportunities. Sending your resume to everyone in your area and posting it on every major job board is just the beginning of your job search. Don’t stop and wait for an opportunity to come along – be aggressive. Set weekly goals for finding new leads and making new contacts. Whatever you do, don’t give up.
6. Look on the bright side. When you’re struggling to find work, it’s easy to become frustrated and even depressed. Do whatever you can to stay positive. Talk to friends or former colleagues who will pick you up when you’re down. And remember, there are literally millions of jobs that become available every month in the U.S. You only need to find one of them.

Looking for a great job?  Search our current jobs in Berks County and beyond.