Here’s my success story:
After a great month in April of applying for jobs and doing good interviews, Company A offered me a contract job at very nice hourly rate, but the week before starting, I had another interview with Company B. Started at Company A, loved it. Didn’t hear back from Company B until 3 weeks later. Got a call to do an early morning phone interview, but they gave me no indication if they would offer me a job. That was fine, since I was happy with working at Company A until Company B would call me and offer me the job. It was a full-time permanent position with benefits and a great company to grow with. At this point, most people will be content with what they have, but when a fair salary was mutually agreed upon between us, the decision was made without me having to think about it. It was tough to say goodbye to the great people I just started to get to know, but they understood and agreed that it was the right decision. Now I’m working at Company B and having a blast! Lots of amazing things happening here and hope to make a major impact.

Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/conormeagher
http://www.twitter.com/hireconor 

Question:
Give me an example of a time when you were successful in communicating with a difficult person(s) or circumstance?

Situation

A class of 30 Korean Graduate students with advanced to beginner level of English abilities.

Task

Teach a non-language subject to a wide range of English abilities in a Graduate level class.

Action

Taught with visual methods using PowerPoint, class presentations, and group work.

Result

All students improved their own language ability and were comfortable communicating to myself along with their peers at the end of the semester.

Question:
Describe a time when you came up with a creative solution/idea/project/report to a problem in your past work.

Situation

A University updated their daily annoucements and events manually to the website front page through their Web Manager.

Task

To skip this tedious process and allow multiple co-workers to add announcements and events to the website front page instantaneously.

Action

Created a Twitter account and embeded it’s feed in the main page using JavaScript and CSS which allowed all office members to add their content at anytime.

Result

The University saw an increase in applications and a 13% increase in student enrollment the semester after it was implemented. But most importantly, it gave more flexibility and time efficiency to the office workflow.

Question:
Some problems require developing a unique approach. Tell about a time when you were able to develop a different problem-solving approach.

Situation

A local business had no marketing strategy or social media presence for it’s new website launch with e-commerce.

Task

Provide a strategy that involves Push and Pull methods to draw traffic to it’s website and provide a channel for customer interaction to promote it’s new online catering section.

Action

Created a Facebook Page with a Facebook Ads Campaign targeting potential customers within the 30 mile radius requirement for catering service.

Result

The Facebook Page active members increased by 400% and online catering orders doubled during the one month ad campaign.

How can you prepare to answer these open-ended behavioral, emotional, and story telling questions that they may ask you?

Look to the STARs!

Situation-Task-Action-Result

If the STAR technique is new to you, then read more from The MIT Career Office – Successful Interviewing Techniques (PDF).

Let’s take it one step further for the digitally inclined.

Make a flow chart using Excel. Here, use mine to get you started. Click to download.

Look at the job posting you’re interviewing for. Do you see keywords to match your STAR responses? Some might overlap.

Skills

Strong technical knowledge
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Analytical and detail orientated
Pro-active and able to work independently
Proven ability to work effectively in a team

Now PRACTICE by answering any of these Behavioral Interview Questions from Monster. Matching your keywords with the questions will make your responses prepared for any behavioral question.

Look for my S.T.A.R. Answers based on job keywords in the near future!

• GIS Web Integration Designer
  ESRI Certification in ArcGIS Desktop with 10+ years of Web Development
• Web Project Manager
  Experience with leading groups in developing websites
• Social Media Strategist
  Creation of multiple Facebook Pages for businesses
• Product Support Specialist
  10+ years of hardware and software installation and support
• Healthcare IT Support Technician
  10+ years of IT troubleshooting support along with 2 years work experience in a hospital
• International Sales Manager
  Personable with international travel experience
• Real Estate Investment Manager
  Real Estate Economics in Korean Graduate School
• Construction Project Coordinator
  Transportation Planning and Urban Development with good leadership skills
• Urban Market Analyst
  Proposed Redevelopment of Clifton Corner and strong knowledge of GIS with Research Methodology
• International Realtor
  People skills with 3 years of living internationally in Korea

It makes me sad when Facebook, Flickr, and Google post blog pictures of their staff in their super playful offices. Come on people, I’m fun too! I can make funny faces, bake cupcakes with the company’s logo, or pose with hand written thank you messages (even in Korean). That’s why this website is here, to give companies a chance to see more than just a resume. I am someone who will be more than just an everyday co-worker. I’ll be a loyal employee, a leader, a friend, and a productive company sports team player (if needed).

Before I write a novel, let’s finish this off and say that I’ll be updating this website about the journey of my job search. I am in no way a life coach or career counselor, but I believe in the approach I am taking and will not give up!

Following this website is just a couple of easy clicks away. You may subscribe to the RSS Feed or connect to my Twitter/LinkedIn accounts. I will be forever grateful for anyone who can share this website with people in hiring positions. Thanks again and let the job search begin!