It’s also a great chance for you to confirm this company is the right fit for you. You want to make sure your goals are aligned and you’d both be happy with this match.

Show you’re thinking ahead.

Ask about your typical day and how you’ll be trained. Show them you’re ready to prepare by asking about your biggest challenges in the role and what expectations they’d have for your performance in the first six months. Find out what your most immediate projects would be and who you’d report to.

Eliminate their doubts.

Find a way to discuss strengths and accomplishments you haven’t had a chance to mention yet. Ask what their ideal candidate looks like and what attributes a successful person in this role might possess. And show you’re confident and interested in self-improvement by asking whether they have any concerns or hesitations about you.

Uncover red flags.

Ask about company culture and the team you’d be working with. You might even get to meet them. This is a great chance to determine whether you’d fit in and gauge whether the company prioritizes employee happiness. Ask about the person you’d replace. Was she promoted or did she leave, and if so, why? What does success look like here?

See the future.

Ask what the company will look like in five years. This shows thoughtfulness and lays out the company’s goals and potential opportunities for growth for you. Ask about professional development, promotions and rewards to show you’re ambitious and motivated.

Build a relationship.

Without getting too personal, ask your interviewer about his history with the company. What does he like most about working there? What did he do before, and what are his professional goals for the future?

Wrap it up.

Finally, ask about the hiring timeline and the next steps in the process. Ask if there’s anything else you can provide that would be useful for them.

As you rattle off questions, be mindful of the time and the responsiveness of the interviewer. Don’t ask questions just for the sake of asking questions. If he starts to glance at his watch, cut yourself off so he doesn’t feel like you’re wasting his time.

And remember there are certain things you should never ask. Don’t ask about things you should already or which you can easily find with a bit of research. And don’t ask about salary or benefits until the topic has been brought up to you.

For more tips on the interview process,contact us today!

The post Why Questions Are Key appeared first on CulverCareers.

Misuse of social media, on the other hand, can prevent you from landing your dream job or cause you to be fired from your current position. Not having a social media presence is unacceptable, so let’s discuss how to manage it appropriately.

Here are four avoidable mistakes that can put a dent in your career.

Provocative photos and posts.

This includes evidence of drinking or drug use, sexually suggestive references, hate speech, offensive language or profanity.

Confidential business information about your prior company.

Even if you don’t use names, online anonymity is increasingly difficult to come by. Many companies have an online policy detailing the limits of your online usage or include a clause in your hiring contract stipulating that you not tarnish the image of your company.

Badmouthing or making fun of your boss/team/colleagues/clients.

Again, even if you didn’t use names, heckling someone online doesn’t reflect highly of your character. Instead, it paints you as negative, undermining, or simply mean.

Posting lies.

These can be lies about your qualifications or lies you’ve told in the past to get out of work. It shows a lack of integrity and hints at a potential behavioral pattern.

Here are some tips to make sure your online social media presence is clean and effective.

Think before you post.

Ask yourself if this is something you’d say out loud, in public, without consequences. Would it make someone angry? Would it offend your employer?

Be active.

Having no social media presence is not an option. It shows potential employers that either you have something to hide or nothing good to show. Show you’re tech-savvy and use social media to build professional relationships, express your creativity and positive personality, and connect with influencers.

Search yourself on Google.

Know what comes up about you and eliminate those inappropriate posts and photos when you can.

Watch for friends tagging you.

Friends can be great inadvertent references about your character or they can be windows into your less-than-admirable behaviors, so be aware when you’re tagged in others’ photos or posts and un-tag yourself if necessary.

Most hiring managers investigate candidates on social media, not necessarily to dig up dirt, but to learn more about you as a person. They don’t want to hire someone who will bring unwanted controversy to the company. They want to see a well-rounded candidate with a variety of interests, so don’t hesitate to show off details about your background, awards you’ve earned, and any recent volunteering you’ve done. You are your online brand—remember that you have the power to control it.

For more information on how to clean up your online media presence, contact us today!

The post Don’t Let Social Media Cost You appeared first on CulverCareers.

For the candidate, however, these interviews can be awkward and nerve-wracking, especially since the interview could be ruined by tech issues or computer malfunctions. Here are five ways to make sure you nail your skype interview and stand out to your potential employer.

Choose an appropriate handle or username.

Use some variation of your name, not something that will reflect some immature past behavior. Accompany it with a professional-looking headshot, not a beach picture from your college spring break trip.

Create a studio.

Set up a space against a neutral backdrop that won’t clash with your outfit. Use lighting that flatters your face and doesn’t create a glare.

Limit all distractions. Turn off your TV, radio and phone. Close the door and remove children, pets and noisy roommates who might interrupt. You should be the only living creature in the room!

Avoid technical difficulties.

If possible, plug into your internet source to avoid losing a wireless connection. Since video streaming takes up a lot of bandwidth, you may need to ask your family or roommates to disconnect their devices to avoid interference. Invest in high-quality sound equipment or headset to make sure there’s no audio feedback.

Eliminate distractions on your computer. Close your email and all other browsers. You don’t want to be tempted to glance at another window while an interviewer is speaking because that will be noticeable! You also don’t want to be interrupted by a loud alert from your email or an obnoxious pop-up ad.

Dress the part.

Dress professionally. Darker, solid colors or shades of blue tend to show up well on camera. Patterns can be distracting and sometimes create an odd glare, depending on the lighting in the room.

Dress head to toe. It’s tempting to wear sweatpants with a suit jacket and tie, but you never know if you’ll need to stand up or what might actually show on camera. Pajama pants don’t exactly shout “businesslike.”

Avoid large jewelry that can create distracting glares. Practice recording yourself in your outfit to see how you look on camera.

Master your digital body language.

Since you can’t shake hands, you’ll have to rely on visual cues and body language to seem composed and confident. Use a firm nod and maintain eye contact with the camera—don’t look at yourself or elsewhere on the screen. Sit up straight and lean forward slightly.

Exaggerate your enthusiasm and talk with your hands since the interviewers can’t see the rest of your body. Excessive movements can be blurry on screen, so don’t fidget.

Speak strongly, clearly and slowly. Pause before speaking so you don’t inadvertently interrupt the interviewer.

For more advice on how to nail an interview, contact us today!

The post Dominate Your Skype Interview appeared first on CulverCareers.