A job interview can make anyone feel like a dummy

Ever been stumped by a question during a job interview?

We've all been there and know it can be nerve-wracking preparing for interviews. Sure, the questions are all about you, but what exactly are the questions? You never know until you get there.

A new "For Dummies" book by nationally syndicated columnist Joyce Lain Kennedy aims to ease the pain of those unknown questions by helping job candidates prepare for them.

Kennedy's "Job Interviews for Dummies, 4th ed.," (John Wiley and Sons Inc., January 2012, 318 pp.) offers help for those interviewing for jobs of all types. Scroll down for information on how to win this book.

Kennedy says recruiters often report that "high numbers of job seekers blab negative information without realizing they're making a farewell address to a job opportunity."

Not to worry. Here's a sneak peek at the advice Kennedy is offering in Chapter 24 of "Job Interviews for Dummies":

"Job interviews are still those crucial meetings that seal the deal on who gets hired and who gets left on the outside looking in," says Kennedy. “And with any good job interview come questions that always seem to trip us up.”

10 Tricky Job Interview Questions to Watch Out For:

Why have you been out of work so long? How many others were laid off? Why you? This could cause you to reveal that there’s something wrong with you that other employers have already discovered. The interviewer is fishing to determine whether there was a layoff of one and you were it. Or whether your former manager used the theme of recession and budget cuts to dump groups of second-string employees. “Any direct answer to why you were included in a reduction in force is risky because anger toward your former managers could pop up, raising doubt about your self-control,” says Kennedy. “A better idea: Punt. Shake your head and say you don’t know the reason, because you were an excellent employee who gave more than a day’s work for a day’s pay."  If employed, how do you manage time for interviews? The real question is whether you are lying to and short-changing your current employer while looking for other work. “Clearly state that you’re taking personal time, and that’s why you interview only for job openings for which you’re a terrific match,” advises Kennedy. “If further interviews are suggested, mention that your search is confidential and ask if it would be possible to meet again on a Saturday morning.” How did you prepare for this interview? Translation: Is this job important enough for you to research it, or are you going through the motions without preparation, making it up as you go? “The best answer?” says Kennedy. “You very much want this job, and of course you researched it starting with the company website.” Do you know anyone who works for us? The friend question is a two-way street. “Nothing beats having a friend deliver your résumé to a hiring manager, but that transaction presumes the friend is well thought of in the company,” notes Kennedy. “If not—ouch! Remember the birds-of-a-feather rule: Mention a friend inside the company only if you’re certain of your friend’s positive standing.”  Where would you really like to work? Doing what? The real agenda for this question is assurance that you aren’t applying to every job opening in sight. “Never, ever mention another company’s name or another job,” says Kennedy. “A short ‘Hire me!’ answer is a version of: ‘This is the place where I want to work, and this job is what I want to do. I have what you need, and you have what I want. I can’t wait to get to work here.’”    What bugs you about coworkers or bosses? Develop a poor memory for past irritations. Reflect for a few moments, shake your head, and say you can’t come up with anything that irritates you. Continue for a couple of sentences elaborating on how you seem to get along with virtually everyone.“Mention that you’ve been lucky to have good bosses who are knowledgeable and fair, with a sense of humor and high standards,” advises Kennedy. “Past coworkers were able, supportive, and friendly. Smile your most sincere smile. Don’t be lured into elaborating further.”  Can you describe how you solved a work/school problem? This forthright question is tricky only in the sense that most job seekers can’t come up with an example on the spot that favorably reflects on their ability to think critically and develop solutions. “The answer is obvious,” says Kennedy. “Anticipate a question about how your mind works and have a canned answer ready. A new graduate might speak of time management to budget more time for study; an experienced worker might speak of time management to clear an opportunity for special task force assignments.”  Can you describe a work/school instance in which you messed up? The question within a question is whether you learn from your mistakes or keep repeating the same errors. A kindred concern is whether you are too self-important to consider any action of yours to be a mistake. “Speaking of mistakes, here’s a chance to avoid making one during your job interview,” notes Kennedy. “Never deliver a litany of your personal bad points. Instead, briefly mention a single small, well-intentioned goof and follow up with an important lesson learned from the experience.”  How does this position compare with others you’re applying for? Are you under consideration by other employers now? The intent of these questions is to gather intel on the competitive job market or get a handle on what it will take to bring you on board. “You can choose a generic strategy and say you don’t interview and tell, that you respect the privacy of any organization where you interview, including this one,” says Kennedy. “Emphasize that this company is where you hope to find a future and ask, ‘Have I found my destination here?’”  If you won the lottery, would you still work? This question goes to your motivation, work ethic, and enthusiasm for work. “The ‘Hire me!’ answer is this,” says Kennedy. “While you’d be thrilled to win the lottery, you’d still seek out fulfilling work because working, meeting challenges, and scoring accomplishments are what make most people happy, including you. Say it with a straight face.” What to Say When You’re Uncertain. If a hardball question comes at you out of left field, try not to panic. Take a deep breath, look the interviewer in the eyes, and comment that it’s a good question you’d like to mull over and come back to. The interviewer may forget to ask again.     “As with most things, in the world of job interviews, practice makes perfect,” says Kennedy. “Familiarize yourself with these tough questions. Ask a friend to conduct a mock interview where you answer only tricky questions. Once you’ve had enough practice, the real deal will be a breeze.” Here's a link to the publisher's website for the book. There you can download a PDF of the first chapter. Need some more advice? Want to win the book? I think any information that will calm you down before a job interview is ultimately a good thing. If you would like to "win" my brand new paperback review copy of the book, simply comment on this post with your email address. If you're selected as winner (at random, of course), I'll contact you to find out where to mail the book. If no one comments or otherwise claims the book it will be donated to the Pottstown Regional Public Library. About the Author: JOYCE LAIN KENNEDY Joyce Lain Kennedy is a nationally syndicated careers columnist. CAREERS NOW appears twice weekly in newspapers and on websites across the United States. She is the author of seven career books including Resumes For Dummies®, 6th Edition and Cover Letters For Dummies®, 3rd Edition.

What's Zennovation? Win the book & find out

This Friday, April 27, Philadelphia University will host Tomio Taki of "Zennovation: An East-West Approach to Business Success" (John Wiley & Sons, April 2012, $24.95, 226 pp.), to celebrate the book's launch.

Here on Balancing the Books I will also celebrate the "Zennovation" launch by giving away the free copy sent to me by the publisher for review. (See below for giveaway information).

"Zennovation," which Taki co-authored with his son Adam Taki, tells the story of the elder Taki’s life, including his acquisition of The Anne Klein Company and the launching of Donna Karan as an iconic American designer.

"Going through 75 years of my life in just over 200 pages is not as simple as it may appear," Tomio Taki writes.

Friday's event will include a presentation by Tomio Taki from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Kanbar Campus Center Performance Space, 4201 Henry Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144; and a reception and book signing from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Kanbar Campus Center Living Room.

Guests will include Philadelphia University students, faculty, alumni, trustees and select VIPs including Mortimer R. Feinberg Ph.D., 72, author or co-author of six books, consultant to corporations and a former professor at New York's Bernard M. Baruch College. Feinberg served as a contributing editor to "Zennovation."

"I have been advising manager across the world for more than 50 years, and I have never met someone as capable as Tomio Taki at handling so many different problems simultaneously. what he calls 'asking the simple questions' understates Taki's tremendous ability to be an effective manager and successful leader," states Feinberg.

Philadelphia University, which is known for its programs in fashion design, fashion industry management, fashion merchandising and textile design, presented Taki with the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters in 2011 in recognition of his contributions to the fashion industry.

Want to win it? 

If you would like to "win" my brand new hardcover review copy of the book, simply comment on this post with your email address. If you're selected as winner (at random, of course), I'll contact you to find out where to mail the book. If no one comments or otherwise claims the book it will be donated to the Pottstown Regional Public Library.


Book summary (from the publisher):

"Zennovation" is part memoir, part management tome. Its lively narrative describes the major events of the international business leader’s personal and professional life and the lessons he learned along the way.  Divided into two parts, the book first examines Taki’s early life in WWII Japan and the beginning of his career, navigating Takihyo Company, his family’s then 200-year-old kimono fabric manufacturing company through tough economic times. The second half of the book details Taki’s influence on the U.S. fashion industry through his work building two iconic American brands: Anne Klein Company and Donna Karan International.

Each chapter of "Zennovation" concludes with an observation from distinguished psychologist and corporate consultant Dr. Mortimer Feinberg.  Drawing from his professional experience and longtime friendship with Taki, Feinberg provides additional analysis and concrete advice on such topics as detecting and understanding cultural nuances, overcoming leadership challenges and surviving the loss of a loved one. Tomio Taki’s son, Adam Taki, adds another perspective to the book, as the main writer collaborating with his father on the book.

In “Zennovation in Retrospect,” Adam Taki reveals how he got to know his very private father through interviews with Taki’s friends and associates, as well as the entrepreneurial lessons Adam has absorbed and applied in his own business endeavors.

About the authors (from the publisher):

TOMIO TAKI

Tomio Taki is credited with bringing Western fashion to Japanese consumers. He guided his family's 250-year-old company, Takihyo Co., through nearly 40 years of unprecedented growth, transforming it from a leading kimono manufacturer to a broad-based publicly held company. He was first to implement mass-manufactured sportswear in the US when he bought the Anne Klein Company, ultimately becoming the owner of the company and the man behind Donna Karan. He has consulted for, financed, or directly managed both private and public companies on nearly every continent. He has been involved in ventures ranging from the birth of high-definition television to owning and operating private golf clubs around the world.
 

ADAM TAKI

Adam Taki is the principal and co-founder of RH Gallery in TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City. In Fall 2007, Dr. Feinberg and Tomio Taki approached Adam to write the book. Although he has no formal training in non-fiction biographical writing, Adam was willing to learn about international entrepreneurship and more about his father. Adam travelled the globe to interview Tomio Taki's friends, enemies, and acquantances to analyze his father's approach to business across geopolitical lines. In 2006, Adam received a BA from NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a concentration in philosophy and an MA from NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science from the English and American Literature department. (information from http://thecuriositycoefficient.com)

Book giveaway: 'Credit 911'

Ever feel like your credit was a disaster?

Author Rodney Anderson has a book for that, "Credit 911: Secrets and Strategies to Saving Your Financial Life" (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., August 2010, $24.95, 207 pp.)

The book provides useful information about dealing with credit cards, divorce, bankruptcy and collections agents, in plain language.

About the book:

Truth is, there’s no secret to spending and saving wisely. Rather, living a financially secure lifestyle is as simple as taking time-proven steps today to solve past credit problems, whole also preparing for a financially successful future. Others have done it. Anyone can do it. So can you. You just need someone to show you how.  In Credit 911, Rodney Anderson does just that. Rodney tackles tough topics such as how to navigate through marriage, divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure, dealing with collection agencies, the dangers and pitfalls of online shopping, protecting consumers’ identities, and many others that get to the heart of America’s financial and credit meltdown.

In order to avoid a credit meltdown, Anderson’s effective guide to achieving financial security has the answers you’re looking for.  He offers people of all skill levels and ages effective strategies and tips for dealing with general credit problems and surviving the present credit crisis. Credit 911 successfully teaches its readers how to:

• Deal with collection agencies on your own terms
• Understand the credit system from an insider's perspective
• Defend against the deceptive practices of credit card companies
• Boost your credit score and effectively monitor your credit
• Find your financial Mr. or Mrs. Right
• Avoid financial disaster when getting divorced
• Pick the right mortgage lender and Realtor
• Recover from bankruptcy and foreclosure

About the author:

Rodney Anderson is a recognized expert, consumer advocate, author, and active member of YPO International. He is creator of the Medical Debt Relief Act of 2009, a bill that has taken on the Fair Credit Reporting Act and made its way to the U.S. House and Senate with a combined 114 co-sponsors. The bill was created to protect consumers from suffering long term effects of medical collection debt. The passing of this bill will mandate that, once a medical collection is paid or settled, it would be completely removed from the consumer’s credit report within 45 days versus the current law, which is 7 years. Anderson is the country’s #1 producer of FHA / VA loans, and the second highest originator of overall mortgage loans in the U.S. Anderson remains active at the grassroots level as an executive director with Supreme Lending, located in Plano, Texas, where he assists and counsels thousands of individuals each year.

Win the book:

Would you like to win this book? Comment on this blog and be sure to include your email address. I will contact the winner, who will be selected at random, via email.