Questions Great Job Candidates Ask

Evaluating your potential employer during job interviews!

What do you say when the hiring manager wraps up the job interview and says: Do you have any questions for us? Average employees respond to this question by saying: "No, I think you've covered everything very well". Well, you have just passed on your chance to ask some critical questions that may determine whether you really want to work for this company or not. Great candidates understand that being on an interview is a critical time for them to find out insider information about the company or the position. They formulate questions based on the information they hear during the interview to make up their minds on whether the company is the best place for them to thrive or not. Akhtaboot provides you with some questions great candidates usually ask during job interviews.

How would a typical day in this position be like?

This question reflects your interest in landing the position. It shows that you want to hit the ground running. Great candidates think ahead about what holding the position will actually be like as opposed to just getting through the interview. They want to make a difference, right away! They are dedicated, hardworking people with a dream to accomplish so much, yet they feel they don’t have enough time on their hands.

What does it take for me to be a top performer at your company?

Great candidates want to be great long-term employees. Every organization has a unique set of qualities that are needed to excel on the job. Some of the key qualities companies look for in employees are the ability to handle pressure and long working hours, creativity or being helpful to colleagues. That’s why great candidates need to know such information ahead of time because they want to know if they fit in, and if they do, they want to be top performers.

What are the main activities that I should focus on to drive results for the company?

Employees are investments, and every employee should generate a positive return on his or her salary. In every job some activities make a bigger impact on the companies’ overall objectives than others. Great candidates like to work at maximum efficiency to get exceptional results in less time. In short, great candidates want to know what truly makes a difference. They know helping the company succeed means they succeed as well.

Do you have any reservations regarding my compatibility to this position?

Great candidates are not afraid to face brutal facts about themselves. They understand that asking such questions can be awkward but can also help them nail the job. Clearing the air about any doubts the interviewer might have about you is the way to go.

What is your timeline for getting back to me about the next steps? 

Great candidates need to know what to expect next ad they usually have other options and opportunities elsewhere. If they don’t hear anything from the company, they will send a follow up email.  Many employers see the follow up as a keen show of interest in working at their company.

A great candidate doesn't just want to know what you think; they want to know what you plan to do and how they will fit into those plans. So if you want to earn a place in the great candidate category, you should be prepared. Keep in mind that timing is important; you will have to use your judgment about the number of questions you can ask and when to ask them.

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Getting Mad at Work the Right Way!

Because the choice is yours!

From disagreements with coworkers, stress over a tight deadline, to your boss getting on your last nerve; it’s an inevitable fact that every once in a while you will get angry at work. When it comes to your personal life, your response to similar situations might be to start shouting, or to complain out loud about it, but at work, acting this way can harm your professional image, as well as your relationship with others. While anger is a completely natural emotion, we can't just lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us at work. Akhtaboot is here with a number of tips to help you better understand and cope with anger in the workplace.

Get to Know What Triggers your Anger

Keep track of what pushes your buttons at work and make a conscious choice on how you’re going to react in the future when presented with similar circumstances. If notice a pattern in the type of situations you walk yourself into, acknowledge that you might need to work on sharpening your social intelligence. Never act upon your feelings in an irrational way.

Don't Play the Blame Game

Own up to your anger. Be responsible for your reactions and for openly expressing them. Once you do, you can look for ways to control it in a constructive way. If you feel that you crossed the line when expressing your anger, apologize. Your apology shows that your relationship with the other person is more important to you than being right.

Criticize “Actions” Rather than “People”

While it might be hard to isolate your personal feelings in the spur of the moment, you need to learn how to avoid making judgments or fixing blame on individuals rather than actions. Hostile statements such as "you are wrong" can definitely elevate the situation to another level of conflict. When expressing your feelings towards the situation, define the actions that led to it and try to suggest some solutions. Keep in mind that today's problem is tomorrows learning experience.

Ask Questions

Get to the bottom of what triggered your anger. Ask if the other person meant to treat you disrespectfully, and if so, make it clear that you won’t tolerate such behaviors. Don’t make up your own assumptions about motives. Ask for an explanation and listen more than you talk. Consider the possibility that you might be wrong, or that you and your opponent may both be right.

Seek a Mediator

There are certain times when all involved parties get so overwhelmed with anger that outside help may be needed to resolve the issue. Having a third opinion from a trusted mediator provides neutrality when you need it most. Set up a private meeting to give all involved parties an opportunity to share sensitive information with the attendance of a third party who can add value to coming up with a solution.

Your ability to resolve conflict and manage difficult situations is critical to your job satisfaction, career success and to the organization's productivity. Always remember; venting your anger is one thing, but taking it out on a coworker in a rude manner is another. Learning how to tame your anger and redirect it in a constructive way will help you earn the respect, treatment, and attention that you want and deserve from everyone.

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Why Optimists Make Better Leaders

Optimism is an essential ingredient of innovation and success in today’s hectic workplace. Optimistic employees welcome change over security, adventure over staying in safe places and they are more likely to be the ones to climb the corporate ladder ahead of everyone else. Akhtaboot reveals the reasons why optimistic employees make it to the top.

1. People like to be around them.

2. They see an opportunity in every difficulty.

3. They don’t dwell on their mistakes; they try to solve it.

4. They know how to instill confidence and energy within their team.

5. They have a clear vision and a long term mentality.

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Nailing your Performance Review

It’s that time of the year; whether it’s the mid-year performance review or end of year evaluation, and the results will determine your next course of action. Appraisals can be overwhelming to employees as they are used to measure past performance levels and determine appropriate employee compensation. Akhtaboot provides you with some tips to positively influence your performance review outcome.

1.  Go prepared: write a list of your accomplishments throughout the year and present them to your boss. Most supervisors are pleased when employees assist in their own performance evaluation.

2. Don’t talk about other employees: never blame or compare yourself to others, and most importantly never bad mouth any colleague. Focus on yourself; it’s your evaluation!

3.  Don’t just state facts: give examples numbers, statistics and evidence to verify that you’re on the right track.

4.  It's your chance to ask for a raise: your performance appraisal is the best time to ask for it.

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