The Manager Interview – the 5 Management Skills That Matter

December 21, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Management

Julia Penny asked:


 

The manager interview centers around 5 main areas of competence. These are the qualities or competencies that a successful manager displays, regardless of age, gender, industry or organization. Prepare for management interview questions that explore these competencies.

Provides Clear Direction

A good manager establishes and defines specific objectives and desired results. These are clearly communicated to staff and responsibility and resources appropriately delegated to achieve these outcomes. Ongoing controls are established and follow up implemented to ensure task and goal achievement.

Communicates Clearly and Openly

The manager should be open and direct in dealing with people. Staff want straightforward information from their managers or supervisors. Open communication develops an atmosphere of trust, essential to successful goal attainment.

Develops and Supports People

A skilful manager works with others to maximize performance. Coaching, mentoring, facilitating and delegating all play a role in staff development. Performance management and feedback are also key elements. Supporting staff is consistently rated as one of the most important aspects of effective management.

Makes Decisions When they are Needed

Good judgment and decision-making skills ensure that things get done. Although employees often want a say in things they don’t want endless debate and discussion. Effective managers are able to judge when it is time to get on with things and make a decision.

Motivates Staff

A manager that encourages staff to give of their best, recognizes good performance and rewards appropriately will be effective in getting things done and achieving meaningful results.

A manager interview uses behavioral questions to determine the candidate’s level of competency in these 5 areas. Prepare for your job interview by viewing the management interview questions that explore these 5 competencies including sample answers and guidelines.



9 skills for new managers

September 18, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Business

Jonathan Senior asked:

Being a new manager In the UK at least, people tend to be promoted on the basis of technical knowledge rather than management skill.

Quite often you hear from ex soccer players who have gone from playing to managing say that it is a big change going from “one of the lads” to telling someone they aren’t in the team for the cup final.

So how can a new manager get started with a management career without alienating previous colleagues and friends?

1. Remember the relationship has changed forever and there is no going back. People will look to YOU to bail them out of problems.

2. Don’t go mad celebrating. Some colleagues may have failed miserably at the interview or even worse, may not have been given an interview.

3. Think about how you talk to these people and how they reply. Depending on the nature of your workplace, shouting over the office may no longer be acceptable. You might have a desk or even move offices completely. Never under estimate the power a desk or office move!

4.Think about how and where you socialise with people who still do your old job. Getting drunk every Saturday night is probably not all that clever if you want respect on Monday morning (but that depends on the jo you do…)

5. Try to sport when they are testing you. Like it or not, people you used to sit alongside will try to test you out. Will you let everyone go home early the day before the holidays start? Who will cover the office if you do?

6. Work out a plan to deal with being “tested”. Your new staff will “test” you – work out (even subconsciously) how far they can push you. You must work out how to cope with this or they will take control from day 1. You could pick several issues which you will not move on. These could include, office cover after 5pm or maximum number of tea breaks. Don’t tell anyone what these are though and they won’t work you out as quick.

7. Make sure your subject matter knowledge is up to date. “If you don’t know something, know where to look” You will get tested on this also.

8. Praise in public, criticise in private. This is basic and you will need to be on your guard not to be drawn into a public debate or discussion on a controversial subject or one you are not confident discussing.

9. Don’t take everything on yourself This is easier said that done (especially if the ). Pause a while- (if the vacancy HAS been there some time, another couple of days won’t make much difference. If you work out what needs to be done BEFORE jumping in, YOU are likely to remain sane and healthy rather than buckling under the pressure with a few weeks.

Being a new manager is exciting, daunting but very rewarding. To summarise,the key thing is managing the changing relationship between yourself and your former colleagues.

Unleashing Your Ability – Perfect Jobs For Your Skills

August 27, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Careers

job

Abhishek Agarwal asked:

It is common to speak about our strengths and our weakness at interviews. The chances of you grabbing the job increases when you recognize your strengths. But over confidence on this subject can at times fade your opportunity. Attending interviews with a mindset that you know everything will only make you walk out of the interview.

Skill Identification:

Skill identification is very important. Skill identification is the key for a job. You have to do express your abilities. You have to expertise to your best. Many people boast about themselves. They boast about their abilities and skills. But never be shy in discussing about your skills. It is your responsibility to explain your talents to your employer. In fact, telling about your abilities is like trading yourself with the employer. This is the exact way of getting a job. Avoid underestimating yourself and being tough or rude during interviews. Be ready with answers to questions thrown to you like the one which asks you to differentiate yourself from the rest, questions etc… Prepare your resume in a way that it should highlight your talents and skills. This enables the employer to note it easily.

Types:

Hard skills and Soft skills are the two types of skills. Things you like to do come under hard skills. The things may be of your interest like some knowledge about the operations of various machines, typing skills, knowledge on computer programming, ability to use different sets of tools, certificates on special crafts, etc… The skills that are abstruse come under Soft skills. Personal qualities are an example of a soft skill. A personal quality includes qualities such as the role of a good player, self ability to work, decisive nature and the behavior in an organized manner.

Steps:

Listing out previous work experiences:

Preparing a list on your previous work experience is very important before attending an interview. The list should contain the name of companies you had worked for and the lessons or things learnt from them. The list may be difficult to prepare and at times be longer. But make sure that you do not miss out even a small activity where you had been a member of some organization.

List your hobbies:

Listing out hobbies is also advisable. It may appear unimportant to you, but it is not. In fact, your hobbies can reflect some of your abilities to the employer. In other words, your personality is much reflected. For instance, say you had represented for your school’s debate team. This tells the employer about your good analytical skills. If you are a champion in chess then it would indicate your employer about your ability in arriving at critical decisions. Note the things you do frequently along with your daily routine. You may be person who is perfect in doing things. You may also be an extrovert or a gregarious person. Though these seem to be ordinary, they add some value to you in your interview.

Career Decision:

Career decision is the next phase you got to work on after you had listed your skills and abilities. Match your skills with the job you are searching for by selecting the good and the best from the list. Analyze whether your skills match the job you seek. Sometimes you have to omit some skills from the list, but never be bothered. Keep in mind that your skills add value to you.

Stick to your resume:

Be true about your skills. You must be a proficient in it. For instance, if you are an organized and efficient person then you have to prove it by utilizing the interview time to its best by filling your thoughts in an effective manner.

Thus it is essential to know about your skill before applying a job. Do your levek best and good luck!

Know your Skills Before you Start Job Searching

August 19, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Business

Jeffrey Wyrick asked:

Before you start up your email or fax machine to send resumes, have you done a self analysis of your career skills. Gaining a prospective employers confidence early in the job interview could go a long way.

While applying for a job, it’s idealistic that you discover your strengths and weaknesses and be ready to address these. By knowing your advantage, the chances of finding & getting the job that you wish will certainly get smoother. But you shouldn’t become too confident because this is among the more common mistakes that plague job applicants. Appearing too surefooted or as somewhat of a know it all individual will merely get you tagged by your interviewer as unfit for the job.

IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS

1st thing’s 1st. You had better identify your accomplishments and skill sets. This is your ticket to get that job and you ought to be able to articulate your abilities and expertness as best as possible. A lot folk’s experience a difficult time narrating their accomplishments and abilities as this could appear to be boasting. But you shouldn’t be timid or afraid to talk about your skills. As a matter of fact, it’s crucial that you express to your possible employer what your gifts and talents are. You ought to be able to sell your abilities to your employer. That’s how you’ll acquire the job that you wish. It’s crucial that you don’t come out arrogant or condescending but you should as well avoid selling yourself short. Whenever the interviewer inquires you about your very strong points or what assorts you from the remaining applicants, you ought to be able to promptly apply an effective answer, but before you even go to the interview part, your resume had better spotlight your acquirements and talents for your likely employer to view.

TYPE OF SKILLS

There’s 2 primary classes of skills, hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are tangible in the good sense that these are matters

that you do like: knowing how to control diverse types of machinery, knowledge of a specialized computer program, ability to type quick, skills about applying many types of tools, credentials concerning particular crafts, etc. Soft skills are skills that are kind of abstract in nature as if personal qualities. This may include the following: being a good team player, holding the power to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organized and decisive.

THE STEPS TO FOLLOW

Constructing a list of your former jobs and experience acquired 1st matter to do is to make a list of all the businesses that you had been employed at for and the skill-sets that you acquired by these employers. There will be numerous things to name and you had better be heedful enough not to forget even the most minor things or activities that you were part of or organized. It is also a good idea to list the volunteer activities that you participated in.

INCLUDE A LIST OF YOUR HOBBIES

Though it could deem trivial at first, it’s likewise really helpful to list altogether your hobbies. There are a lot of abilities that your likely employer may acquire from your hobby list. These will as well as give an approximation of your personality. For instance,

whenever you were part of the school’s debating squad, then your employer may derive that you have good analytical skills. If you were a whiz chess player, then your employer will hold the impression that you are good at arriving at critical decisions. Think of your day by day routine and the matters that you do and frequently take for granted. Are you an organized individual who always maintains your things in decent order? Are you an extrovert that could easily form friendships in a matter of minutes? These may appear ordinary to normal matters to you, but your next boss may believe differently.

CHOOSE WHAT CAREER YOU DESIRE

After listing all your skills and all the things that you do good, you may now resolve what area or career you would like to take a

crack at. Choose the accomplishments contained from your list and partner it with the career type you are seeking. Always acquire time to think if your skills are applicable to the job that you are shooting for. Do not be annoyed if you have to cut down a few of the skills from your list. It’s also crucial to include in the list your skills that the prospective employer will probably value.

ADHERE WHAT YOU WRITE

You had better be realistic about your skills and the degree of expertness that you have with it. For instance, if you suggest that

you are a really organized person, then you should be able to demonstrate this to the interviewer by being able to organize your

thoughts and effectively use the time that was afforded for your job interview.

It’s significant to recognize your skills every time you are job hunting. Always put your best foot forward and good luck!