Brain Teaser Questions for Job Seekers – Tips on How to Answer Odd Interview Questions

So I wanted to share some pretty random, totally legal, and wildly interesting interview questions I’ve come across. (Some I answered well; some I answered with “uuuummmmmmmmmmmmm ….” Yup. It happens. It happened to me three times in a row at one interview. What came after can only be described as feeling like I had carried my car back home on my right shoulder. ) To be very honest, I’m not so certain that these questions are a be-all end-all measure of one’s creativity or critical thinking skills, but some companies do rely heavily on these questions to select from a pool of equally qualified candidates.

There is no right or wrong answer; but you must be ready to dazzle and to inspire!  In order to do this, you must train and re-train your brain. 

Don’t Dig Up in Doubt What You Planted in Faith

So often throughout the day, we are paralyzed by our own doubts and self-defeating thoughts.  Time to remind ourselves that very often so, nothing great was ever accomplished by doubters, but only by dreamers and believers.

Don’t give up. Continue doing what you love and trust in your abilities to grow what you planted.

#MotivationMonday

Why You Should Look for a NEW Job TODAY

How do you know when it’s time quit or to look for different opportunities?  And is there such a thing as a GOOD reason for leaving your current job? When you’re not growing professionally or personally, and you don’t have a sense of purpose in the role you have at the company, it may actually be a good idea to keep that resume updated.  Here are 5 great reasons for seeking out other career opportunities.

HOW TO IMPRESS AT A JOB FAIR

Going to a Job Fair can be intimidating, especially when you don’t know what to expect.  With so many candidates competing for the attention of all those recruiters, how can you stand out from the crowd and make sure you hear back from the companies?  Here are 6 tips that can help you impress those recruiters at a Job Fair.  Happy Job Hunting!

Plan, Organize, Divide & Conquer: Why Leaders Must be Great Organizers

In my time as a young manager, I’ve quickly come to realize that one needs to become a grand master of organization to lead a team through change, to communicate your vision with clarity, and to put ideas into action.

In a time of Evernote, Google Calendar, Dropbox, and numerous other apps and platforms designed to help us better manage our time and to better organize our thoughts, why are people still struggling to keep tasks organized?

Because organization is a skill. And like many other skills that go hand in hand with organization, it takes time and practice.

Here are 3 basic ways you can start mastering your skill:

1. Understand that Not ALL Work Can Be Organized with Technology

No, I’m not insisting that you stick to a paper calendar. But creating your own organizer or planner does have its benefits, especially with work that requires you to be creative and flexible.

How: In a notepad of your choice, outline the week ahead. Use markers, post-its, stickers, and highlighters – anything that can help you keep track of your ideas for any upcoming projects.

Benefit: In the process of outlining your week, you will not only remind yourself of all the tasks that need to be worked on, but you will be able to better prioritize the ideas/tasks that need your immediate attention.

2. Find a Program or an App that Works Best for YOU

Because much of my correspondences take place online, and I spend a huge chunk of my time traveling from meetings to more meetings, I like to organize everything on my phone. I’ve learned that it is the best way for me to keep my tasks prioritized while also having a concise calendar of events at the tip of my fingers.

I am what one may call an “APP-LOVER”. Apps work for me, because I need a program that can help me organize my tasks without having constant access to a desktop.

How: Dedicate one whole screen to your calendar. Whatever platform you may use (outlook, google, yahoo, etc.), make sure you sync your calendar to the one you have on your phone. You can also opt to set up an alert, which will alert you to all tasks that need your attention prior to the due date.

Benefit: Minus the times you step away from your phone (I must admit it – this is very rare in my case) your calendar screen will help you remember the important deadlines and appointments.

3. De-Clutter, Make Space, and Learn to Let Go

Ever seen a coworker with files from a client who visited him 20 years ago, just in case the client revisits him? Or someone whose desktop screen looks like a Jackson Pollack painting?

At a certain point, we need to just let it go. Literally.

Much of our organization skills stem from our ability to make space to work that matters now and in the coming days. Change is inevitable on all levels of every organization.

How: Set up a recycling day. Dedicate at least a day to cleaning out clutter (including paperwork, decorations, broken equipment) to make room for the work that really matters and beckons your attention. If you MUST hold onto files from 20 years ago, create a DropBox or a Google Drive account, specifically dedicated to old files that you most likely will not need, except under extreme circumstances. And yes, ok – you never know. Extreme circumstances can occur. Maybe.

Benefit: You won’t be losing anything, just in case, and you will be happier knowing that these files are safely stored away while your desktop is clear and ready for fresh new tasks. By de-cluttering your office space, you will give yourself a daily visual of what organization should, essentially, look like. And for those that love to decorate, it will give you a chance to reinvent your workspace.

Hope this helps! And remember, as with all skills that can be mastered, practice and patience will be your greatest allies.

Happy Organizing !

Learning Whole Truths: Why Leaders Must be Great Listeners

Have you ever received one of those Chinese fortune cookie messages that left you wondering, “huh?”

I received a peculiar one some years ago (And I’ve kept it!) that said: “By hearing, one will only learn HALF truths”

So on my drive back to work, I was intensely focused on figuring out the meaning of this message. And yes, I did wonder why, of all the messages in all the cookies that could have possibly landed on my bill, it had to be this one. I realize it was just 2-inches of thin paper rolled into a Chinese fortune cookie, but it stirred something within me.

When I arrived back at the office, one of my lovely staff came into my office to ask a seemingly innocuous question.

Staff: “Hey boss, do we have plans on hiring more student workers?”

Me: “No. Not as of now.”

Staff: “Oh….ok.”

Me: “Anything else?”

Staff: “Nope. I was just wondering if you were going to hire more students. Ok then. ”

Me: “Ok.”

Just another ordinary Boss to Staff conversation, right? WRONG!!!

This was an occasion where I, unfortunately, just discovered “half truths”.

I was hearing what my staff was saying and responding to her questions, but I was not listening.

If I had truly listened to my staff, I would have discovered the full truth:

• The number of our service population for the past few weeks had more than doubled, from 15 to 35.
• 2 student workers were returning to school full-time in less than a month
• Headquarters was asking the staff to input more detailed data into the central information bank.

You see, I ask for things directly when I need it.

My boss recognizes that I need X, Y, and Z, because I will specifically request for these things when the need arises.

What I forgot to recognize at this time was that my staff doesn’t communicate the same way that I do. I had forgotten to ask my staff “why”.  Even if she hadn’t specified the need to hire new student workers, I should have inferred this easily from our conversation. But I didn’t. Somehow, in between answering emails and meeting deadlines, the question of “why” had eluded me.

I know that as Managers, we are always facing an insurmountable list of tasks and an ever-stringent timeline.

We receive anywhere from 20 to 50 questions from clients each day and we answer just as many emails on program policies, new hires, ongoing projects, trainings, etc. One manager once jested that half of our time is actually spent reading emails and responding.

But this is exactly why we are managers.

We hold knowledge and expertise that must be shared with others.

And this is exactly why we cannot forget to ask people, “why?”

We cannot risk hearing only half-truths.

I know that some managers may argue that it is the staff that needs to be more specific or clear in terms of making requests or speaking to management.

But that is exactly why we, in management, are expected to be leaders. We are expected to lead the team in clarifying ideas and goals. Our job is to listen to their needs and clarify items accordingly. Communication is always a two-way street.

The definition of listening is “paying attention to” or “give attention with the ear”.

And by “paying attention to” instead of simply hearing what our staff shares with us, we can become better leaders.

Have you asked “why” today?

By listening, one will learn the WHOLE truth. And leaders are always eager to learn.

Happy Listening !

WHY IT’S BETTER TO JUST TAKE THAT JOB

UNEMPLOYED, BRILLIANT & RESTLESS

Argument for : Why It’s Better to Just Take That Job

I know what you might think.

You’re too good for this.

You’ve studied too much and worked too hard for this. And somehow, you remember all your aunts and uncles telling you, since you were five, that YOU would grow up to be the most successful of them all.

Translation: You are going to have the MOST AMAZING CAREER then CHANGE THE WORLD !

Reality: You are the only one who is UNEMPLOYED

Well, what can I say…reality bites

But sometimes, at a certain point, you need to stop weighing your options and dive in.

Let me just give it to you plain and simple.

Just take that job. (Yes. The only offer you have. And it’s not because the other ones thought you were over-qualified. Sorry!)

And let me tell you why.

Here are 4 great reasons why you should just TAKE that job right now.

• You need to keep moving (moving your brain). Unless you are the next Steve Jobs, staying at home will likely lead to a bloated body and a deflated self esteem.
• Finances – Don’t you want extra income? (Or any income)
• Networking with new people – meeting new people helps you to open the door of new opportunities, possibly leading to that one job you truly want!
• Keep yourself “employable”. Employers are more likely to hire someone who has a good track record of work history. This means that you’re risking your potential as a candidate if you have long gaps in unemployment history.

As long as your employer isn’t a creepy unknown individual from a sketchy craigslist ad, chances are that you’ll position yourself for a much better offer down the road. You are building experience and strengthening your expertise.

Just remember to keep a positive attitude, an open mind, and continue updating your resume with relevant skills.  Make sure you keep looking for a better job while you learn and grow in your current one.

Happy Job Hunting!