Job Interview Blog of Mike Petras

Job Interview Blog is a soft place to land for job seekers in need of a breakthrough.

Experience daily wisdom, hope, and encouragement from Mike Petras - author, career advisor, and veteran executive recruiter.

Follow @MikePetras

Top Interview Questions

What are your weaknesses? One of the most feared top interview questions. Several example answers to confidently respond to this question without anxiety.

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50 Hottest Twitter Hashtags for Job Seekers

Here is a list of the 50 hottest Twitter hashtags for job seekers. They are grouped by:

• To find an employer
• To attract an employer
• To educate yourself
• To find a certain type of job
• Hottest tags by field
• To search when you have a couple of hours

Very well done and worth checking out!

Second Job Interview

Never assume your second job interview will be a piece of cake. Now is not the time to let your guard down. Careful preparation is still a must.

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How to Explain 2 Years of Unemployment

Mike- I've been unemployed for over two years. I lost my job due to department wide lay-offs. I work in the construction industry (mid level architect),

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Are You Spamming Your Resume?

If you send your resume too many times to the same company, you could be put on their Do Not Hire list or be black listed even if you are a perfect fit for one of their jobs.

Paul Anderson explains this phenomena in this short video: Top Reason Why Companies Blacklist Applicants.

Out-of-Box Ways to Find a Job

This Friday at noon eastern, join me and several other employment experts for a lively discussion on Twitter (#HFChat) on how to find a job using out-of-the-box search methods.

There is no charge to attend and participate. You can also be a passive observer if you're shy or not sure how Twitter works.

In attendance will be several HR managers from major corporations, executive recruiters, career advisors, and other job seekers.

For more information about the guest hosts and this topic, go here.

Pearl of Wisdom: One good idea has the power to immediately change the effectiveness of your job search.

For Twitter novices: Twitter is nothing more than texting. It's very easy, lots of fun, and even addicting once you get the hang of it. The best way to participate is to go to: TweetDeck.com and download the TweetDeck application. Set up a column called #HFChat. This will allow you to view all the posts from anyone who participates in this forum.

Hope to see you there!

Mock Job Interview

This assessment quiz is like a mock job interview to challenge your job interview skills. Are you up to the challenge?

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Group Interview

Sometimes called a panel interview, a group interview is more stressful and challenging than a one-on-one job interview.

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Phone Interview Tips

Eight phone interview tips and strategies to help you land a job. Preparation, questions, answers and mistakes to avoid.

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Good Answer for Interview Question

What did you like least about your prior job? Discover what companies fear about you, and learn a good answer for interview question negatives.

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Interview Thank You Notes

The best interview thank you notes are short, concise and only take a few minutes to write. Three good examples and answers to 10 FAQs.

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Popular Types of Interview Styles

Knowing the 6 most popular types of interview styles is crucial to your interviewing experience. Job interview settings are designed to either challenge you, or convenience the interviewing team.

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14 Key Job Interview Tips

These 14 free job interview tips are critical in preparing for a job interview.

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Recruiters Jobs

Search hundreds of recruiters jobs from contingency and retained executive recruiters. Jobs include salary ranges, locations, and detailed job descriptions.

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Post Interview Follow Up

Your interview follow up efforts will play a major role in whether or not you get an offer. Learn how to minimize the waiting game after your job interview.

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Cover Letters for Resume Impact

Under special circumstances, cover letters for resume impact can make a big difference. A cover letter is not mandatory, but it can defuse resume problems.

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Great Interview Questions

Why did you choose your major in college? Don't let great interview questions like this leave you speechless if you have an unusual degree unrelated to your job target.

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Bad Resume Advice

Mike- In your article: How to Smooth Over 6 Resume Problems, you specify employment gaps, including lengthy stretches of employment. You specify eliminating

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Interview Question List

What qualities do you look for in a boss? Rejoice if this question shows up on a company's interview question list.

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Employment Interview Questions

Answering thorny employment interview questions that focus on under-performing co-workers can be dicey. Here is the best way I know to respond without sounding negative.

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Job Interview Skills Quiz

Are your job interview skills in sync with today's job market? Take this job interview readiness quiz to find out.

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Outline of a Resume

Most resumes share too much information and are poorly formatted. The best outline of a resume should not only have a professional look and feel, but generate high interest from hiring authorities.

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Dinner Interview Dos and Don'ts

Should you drink wine during your dinner interview? Is it ok to smoke? What about saying a blessing on the food?

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Sample Job Interview Questions

Discuss a situation during the past year in which you had to deal with an upset customer or coworker. One of the sample job interview questions centered around a specific situation.

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Jobless Because of Too Many Jobs

Mike- My husband is a Board Certified Physician. Last year at the age of 51 he became a citizen of this country. He started his medical career when he

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Preparing for an Interview

In preparing for an interview, your travel habits are part of the interview process. Your travel etiquette, or lack of it, will be noticed.

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Job Interview Techniques

These 7 job interview techniques will boost your confidence and help you stand out in your job interview.

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Behavioral Interview Questions

Face behavioral interview questions without fear. Avoid common pitfalls and blunders. Once you know the pattern of these questions, you'll be able to respond appropriately with poise and confidence.

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Job Interview Weakness

We all have shortcomings. Your job interview weakness could be the way you lost your last job, your age, a long period of unemployment, health issues, no college degree, anxiety, or other issues.

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Top 10 Phone Interview Questions

You risk being quickly screened out if you don't know these 10 common phone interview questions.

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Situational Interview Questions

The real secret to answering situational interview questions is knowing how to respond in 60 seconds using a 3 step process.

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Resume Writing Examples

Here are two resume writing examples to help you make a free printable resume that has successfully prompted call backs from employers.

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Job Interview Attire

Your job interview attire says a lot about you. Make a powerful first impression by looking your best.

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Funny Interview Questions

Tell me about a time when you had to stick by a decision you made even though it made you very unpopular. This is one of those funny interview questions that challenges your resolve to stand firm .

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Stay-At-Home-Mom Returning to the Workforce

Mike- I've been a stay-at-home mom since 1996. I graduated from a dental assisting school in 2006 (as a hopeful lead-in to hygiene but did not get accepted).

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Typical Interview Questions

What do you know about our company? Find out why this test question is at the top of the list of typical interview questions, and what a company really wants to hear.

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Midlife Career Change

Are you being forced to make a midlife career change because you are out of a job, but too young to retire? Maybe you are already retired, but now need a full time job.

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I Don't Have Any Accomplishments

Mike- I'm reading your book, Why Don't They Call Me?, and have a question regarding accomplishments on my resume. I was laid off after working 5 years

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Common Interview Question

What is the title of the last book you read? Seems like this common interview question is from left field. What do my reading habits have to do with the price of eggs?

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Character Reference Letter

A well written character reference letter can make a difference in you getting a job interview or a job offer.

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Top Ten Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself, is always on the list of the top ten interview questions. Would you believe a 30 second answer will have the greatest impact?

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Good Answers to Interview Questions

Where do you see yourself 3-5 years from now? Setting your sights too high could actually eliminate you as a serious candidate. Three good answers to interview questions like this.

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Perfect Attendance Wins Job Offer

Mike- A good friend of mine couldn't even get an hourly job offer after 6 months of interviewing. He was fired from his last job for violating company

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General Interview Questions

Why would questions about your personal hobbies be among a company's general interview questions? What business is it of theirs anyway?

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Top 10 interview questions

The real secret to acing any job interview is making sure you know the top 10 interview questions of all time. It's a rarity if only 3-4 of these questions are asked.

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Answers to Interview Questions

Give me an example of an important goal you set and describe your progress in reaching that goal. Answers to interview questions like this provide keen insights into your character and motivations.

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7 Job Interviews - No Offers

Mike- I was feeling so good last week because I had 3 opportunities on the table although they have yet to transpire into an offer. Of course, I want things

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Relocating for Love

Mike- I've relocated for love, but how do I answer the question, So what brought you to Boulder from Minneapolis? I'm certain being honest and laying

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Interview Questions Answers

Tell me about a time when your work was criticized. Here are 2 approaches to tough interview questions answers of this nature--both positive.

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