Job interview stressing you out? Job interviews can be daunting for even the most confident applicant but interviews can be manageable and even enjoyable if you are well prepared.  Today we’ll look at ten job interview tips that can help you get your next job.

Your online resume and job skills helped you get the interview, now it’s time to make your case in person. If you have a big interview coming up, it’s time to stop fretting and start prepping; these interview tips might help:

Do your research.
You need to be prepared to demonstrate that you have solid knowledge of the company, its business and its challenges. Check out their website, and study all of their press releases and what they seek to accomplish as a business. Chances are you will be asked the important question, “Why do you want to work for our company?” or “What do you know about our business?” Failing to show that you have done your research will tell your interviewer you didn’t care enough to take the time to prepare.

Shut up and listen!
While you will be anxious to tell the interviewer all about your professional career, don’t be so chatty that you miss important signals and messages from the other person. You’ll need to present your story in the context of what the interviewer is looking for. Listen for clues and adjust.

Remember what’s in your resume and cover letter.
Re-read your resume before you go to your interview and be able to talk intelligently about anything and everything included. You want to sound sharp if the interviewer brings up something in your resume.

Know how your qualifications relate to the company’s needs.
It is not enough to just be prepared to talk about your skills and qualifications. You need to relate your skills to the company’s needs. Examine the job description before the interview. Then identify the skills needed for the job and think of how your qualifications relate to those skills.

Don’t forget to prepare for telephone prescreen interviews.
When I was searching for jobs, I had about three phone interviews that caught me off guard. It’s a double-edged sword, because I didn’t feel prepared, but I also didn’t want to lose the opportunity when an employer called me. Prepare in advance for phone interviews just as much as you would any other interview opportunity. Many companies are now conducting phone interviews before they grant an in-person interview as a method of whittling down their pool of candidates to save time.

Practice.
The best way to be prepared for an interview once you have done your research is practice. Think about potential interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself,” “Why are you leaving your current employer?” and “Why should we hire you?” You should also be prepared for behavioral questions, such as “Tell me about a time when you had a problem at work and came up with a way to solve it.” Practicing with your significant other is always a good way to prepare for interviews.

Save the salary talk for later.
Discussing money is always tricky, and it is best to save the talk about salary for later, once you have received an offer.

Have a list of questions for the interviewer.
Almost every interview will end with this question: “So, do you have any questions for us?” Be sure to develop a list of questions to ask before you go to the interview. Do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer’s Web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. Instead, ask specific questions like “What is the organization’s plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?” or “Could you explain your organizational structure?”

Be confident.
If you are in for an interview, the company has seen something in you that is attractive. Now you just need to believe in yourself and let your talents shine. Balance confidence with being too cocky. Don’t come across as a know-it-all.

Follow up.
Your best-laid interview plans will go to waste if you neglect to follow up with your interviews. Send a thank-you letter immediately after your interview that reiterates positive characteristics about yourself and, if possible, refers to some part of your conversation. E-mail is a little less personal, but it’s the most common way to shoot a thank you to the hiring manager, because it is the quickest and easiest way to do it. Check out my article about the importance of following up with people.

Job interviews can be stressful but if you prepare for them you can really make yourself stand out from the other candidates. Don’t forget, your resume got you in the door, but your interview skills will likely land you the job.

If you’ve been laid off, your hours have been cut back, or you are simply making a job change due to relocating to a different city you’re probably looking for a way to make some extra money right away. Picking up freelance jobs in the industry where you have the most expertise can lead to some quick cash and thanks to the power of technology it’s easier than ever to find a freelance job. Here’s a list of a few websites where you can find freelance jobs:

Elance

Elance: You might be familiar with this site, but have you tried using it yet? Scroll or search through the thousands of jobs they have to offer and see how many you could bid on and successfully complete.

The way it works is you pick a posted job and bid on it. The person or company who posted the job will pick someone to fulfill the job based on the most competitive bid and your credentials to get the job done. If you open a basic account, there is no charge to create a profile and start bidding on work so you have nothing to lose if you want to just try it.

Elance has a private message board system where the person looking to hire someone will likely contact you for additional information once you place a bid.  If you have the winning bid, Elance also helps you work with the person hiring you to set project milestones, track progress, and resolve any issues that arise.  Depending on the amount and duration of the work, you may get paid at milestones throughout the project or at the end once you’ve completed the task. 

Using Elance’s escrow service helps make sure that you get paid for the work that you’ve done.  Elance doesn’t make money until you get paid so it’s in their best interest to facilitate the project and help things go smoothly.  Their fee for helping you find and manage freelance work is 4–6% of your earnings, depending on the type of provider account you have with them.  To get started as a freelancer with Elance – Click here

Craigslist

Craigslist: For as many permanent job postings as there are on Craigslist, there are probably more freelance job offers on Craigslist. If you are an accountant, software programmer, web designer, writer, or consultant, you can easily find a few jobs to apply for on your local Craigslist. If you’ve got an iPhone, you need to have the Craigslist application, it’s a great way to search for jobs and other things on Craigslist quickly and efficiently.

Guru

Guru.com: This is another great site similar to ELance, and it has a sophisticated rating system for freelancers and employers. It shows how much a freelancer has earned on the site, a rating system, and quality points awarded after each completed project. Like eLance, there are thousands of postings in industries from web design to business consulting.

Freelancing

I have done freelance writing work for various websites for the past three years, and it has been great extra money for me and my wife. I have paid off thousands of dollars in debt from my freelance work. Even if you have a steady job, picking up freelance work here and there is a nice way to make extra income, and there’s no gimmicks about it. Freelance work is usually very straightforward, and that’s why I like it. Complete the task, and you get paid, it’s as simple as that.

Ben’s Notes

Technology has certainly made it easier to find freelance work but the people doing the hiring may be in a different part of the country or even a different part of the world so you have to work hard to build their trust to the point where they’ll hire you without ever having met you.

This is another reason why building your personal brand is so important, if you can refer potential employers to a place where they can learn about your skills, get to know you better, and see if you’re qualified they’ll be much more likely to hire you.

For a little insight into how employers view and approach hiring on Elance, check out this Elance interview from John Jantsch. I met John a few weeks ago, he’s a great guy and has TONS of resources on his site for small businesses.  Listening to how employers use Elance might give you some insight into ways you could gain some competitive advantage when bidding on jobs as a provider.

Finding a job in your industry is easier when you have a personal brand that can serve as an online resume and a place to document your expertise.  But what happens when the industry you’re in goes into decline, suffers massive layoffs, and there simply aren’t many jobs to go around?  Could it be time to find a job in an entirely new industry?

Starting a New Career

An obvious example of this is the struggling auto industry. As Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler layoff thousands of people some of those workers will be forced to learn new skills and start new careers.  It’s not an easy thing to start your career over again but there are certainly several different approaches you can take.

I’m actually in the middle of such a transition myself.  I used to work for insurance companies but for the past six months, I have been trying to figure out the best way to make a career transition into financial planning without having to sign up with some of the companies that offer commission-only gigs that are more of a salesperson than a financial planner.

There are salaried positions out there in the financial planning industry, but they are hard to find. There are also entry-level positions out there as para planners, analysts, and financial planning assistants, but they are very competitive as well. I have come to the conclusion that the only way I am going to land one of these positions in the future is to bolster my resume with more professional education.

You may run into this same situation when looking for a new job or making a career transition. Sometimes, going back to school, studying to test for a professional designation, or receiving a professional license might be what you need to land a job with a lot of competition.

Getting A New Degree

Thinking about going back to school is a horrible thought for many of us. It’s more money and more time that you don’t have right now but getting an online master’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree might be what you need to land the new job.

Monster Degree Program and Monster Career Resource Center are a great resource to search for online degree programs, financial aid, and career paths for a particular degree or designation. Getting a whole new degree is the most extreme option when looking for a new job, and it’s a decision you should make with a lot of thought and research. Make sure that the time and money spent goes toward a degree that has a high rate of getting degree recipients hired quickly for SPECIFIC entry-level jobs.

Industry Certifications

In the case of the financial planning industry, there are many different certificates a job seeker can study for and receive. There are the Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Financial Analyst and many other certifications to earn that could give you an edge against other applicants.

In the Information Technology industry, there are dozens upon dozens of certifications for areas such as programming, network administration, and computer security. It’s not just IT managers that like to see these certifications on a resume when looking at candidates, the same applies for most every industry.

Significant certifications in a given industry usually require quite a bit of course work and test taking, but they can have a smaller price tag than a new degree. Some certifications require work experience before you can put their initials after your name, but many employers still appreciate the fact that you satisfied the education requirement for the certification. Another good thing about certifications is that you can work on earning them on your own time on the weekends or in the evenings, rather than having to go back to school.

Professional Licenses

Getting a license for a new job is often required for many positions. If you want to make a career transition to real estate, passing the licensing requirements is required first. The same rule applies to many other careers such as a mortgage broker, stock broker, insurance agents, and claims adjusters.

While some companies will hire you first and sponsor you to study and take the exam for a certain license, many other applicants already have these licenses. Understand that a company would rather hire someone who doesn’t need to go through licensing, than someone they would be footing the bill to get licensed.

Paying For Additional Education

I am not sure about Ben’s position on this subject, but I do not think anyone should go into debt for additional education once they have been out in the working world for a few years. You know how to make money, and the last thing I would want for you is to take on more debt payments to make a career transition.

Devise a two to three year plan to make your career transition. Take classes as you are able to pay for them, and you will thank yourself at the end. Don’t be in such a rush to make a career transition or get the job you really want. It may require you to take a job that pays bills and save money until you have completed the necessary education.

Ben’s Note. While I agree with Erik that you should plan out any career transition, sometimes, especially in bad economies, people don’t have that option.  I have friends that have been laid off and gone back to school full time to get a new degree and are very happy they made that choice. I also know people who were let go that have gotten a job just to pay the bills and taken weekend and evening courses to get a different degree.

Either approach will work I think it just depends on your personal situation.  The main point is that you have a variety of degree, certification, and licensing options to help you learn new skills and get a new job.

Working from home. For many people it’s just a pipe dream, a fantasy that they don’t know how to make happen. It doesn’t have to be that way though. There really are a ton of ways to legitimately work from home.

Let’s talk about a few of those options, and some ways that you can change your job to fit your life.

Finding A Job Or Business That You Can Do At Home:

When you first begin your job search, it can be confusing, and a little intimidating. Don’t worry about that! You will quickly find ways of telling which work from home jobs are legitimate, and which ones are not.

Fair Warning: If you have to pay anyone a “set up fee” a “start up fee” or any other type of fee, it’s a scam. If it’s a legitimate job, they pay you to work, not the other way around.



Here are a few places that you can start your search for your ideal at home job:

1) Craigslist – When you check Craigslist, be sure to check areas that are local to you, as well as ones that are not. After all, there are employers all over the United States that advertise there, and if it’s an at-home job, you can live in one place and work for someone else no matter where they are.

2) Your Local Paper – Most businesses outsource things regularly. Everything from web design to lawn care. Keep an eye on your local ads each week – you’ll be surprised at what turns up.

3) Network – Your family and friends will probably be your very best resource when you first start looking for jobs that you can work from home. Put the word out that you are looking, and ask everyone you know to keep an eye out for you.

4) FreelanceWritingGigs.com – This is the web’s #1 resource for writing, and editing jobs. New jobs are listed every day, and the owners of the site are very thorough when they investigate job postings. The vast majority of jobs on this site are legitimate. There is an active community there too, so if a scam does slip through you can be sure that you will get plenty of warning from the other readers of the site.

5) Don’t forget to ask your current employer about working from home- There may be parts of your job that you would be able to do at home, and some companies do allow this. You will never know unless you ask. Working for your current employer might still require some office time, but depending on your job, it’s very possible that you can talk them into giving you at least part of the week to work from home.

6) Create Your Own Job – If you have a specialized skill like writing, editing, drawing or web design, you can put together a brief portfolio and approach clients on your own. This is an excellent way to grow your home based business on the side. Once you get enough steady income, you can give notice at your regular 9 to 5.

So, you might be saying, I can’t write, I can’t draw, I don’t know html….I don’t know medical billing codes…Is there any way I can still work from home?

Well, yes. It all comes down to knowing yourself. What are you good at? Do you love children? You can start an in-home daycare. Have you always wanted to home school your children? Why not offer to teach your friends kid’s too? There is a high demand for data entry, and customer service / call center representatives who work from home too.

The truth is, if you really want to work from home, then all you have to do is work hard to find a way to do it. Set aside a time each day to sit down, and go over your options until you find one you like.

Will Working From Home Fit Your Life?

After you have some idea of what you would like to do, your next focus needs to be, how can you make it happen? There is a huge misconception that working from home will give you more free time. After all, you don’t have that morning and evening commute anymore, and you can take off anytime you need to right?

Well, here’s the hard truth about working from home (and running a small business, if you take that step.) It will not free up time. In fact, time management becomes an immediate issue. You also should probably know going into it that none of your friends or family members will actually understand that you really do “work” while you are home. So while you may be able to take off and go to lunch once in a while, or re-arrange your schedule to fit your needs, it can be difficult.

Before you begin working from home, take an honest look at your life. How many hours will you be able to work? Will you have to stop and start to pick your kids up from school? Are there any days that you will not be able to work because you have other priorities? If you can nail down your schedule before you start your job, then you will be far ahead of most people who work at home. If you cannot, then you may find yourself back in the office in less than six months.

Setting up your home office:

Whatever you choose to work at while you are home, you need to have a specific space set up in your house. You will need a computer, a fax machine, a cell phone, a P.O. Box, and possibly a few other business necessities. The more you are able to treat an at-home job like a 9 to 5 job, the easier the transition will be, and the more likely you are to succeed.

The Financial Aspects of Transitioning To A Job Or Business Working From Home:

There are some very real financial challenges that you will have to face when you start working from home. Here are just a few:

1) Your at home job may not pay as much as your regular job did – You have two choices here. You can take the pay cut in order to have the freedom of working from home, or you can work both jobs at the same time until you go crazy (or until your at-home job replaces the amount of income you will need.)

I chose the second option, and I did escape with my sanity. I worked as a freelance writer nearly full time for a year, while working my regular full time job, with a newborn. It can be done. I’m not going to tell you that it was always pretty, but I did it, and my family and I are better off for it today.

2) Your clients will pay you late, and sometimes not at all – If you can get setup on payroll with an employer, then you will not have to worry about this. If you are freelancing though, it comes with the territory. The financial challenge here is that you cannot count on the money until it is in your hand, so budgeting can be very difficult.

3) Have a healthy savings account before you take the plunge – There is no guarantee that the money people owe you will come in regularly. Having that savings account to fall back on will make all the difference between success and failure. If you have some good personal budgeting software, and you keep a close eye on your expenses then the transition will be much easier on you and your family.

If you are in debt, and you want to work at home, then the best thing you can do is start your business on the side, work the extra hours, and make the transition as gracefully as possible.

Make sure you set a savings goal. Once you meet that goal, then consider working full time from home. If you choose to jump into a full or part-time job at home with no savings, then you are probably defeating yourself before you even begin.

The funny thing about freelancing at home is that it will highlight every area of your life that you might normally ignore. Money management becomes paramount because your income is unpredictable. Time management is essential because sometimes your days will be unpredictable.

The rewards of working at home are amazing. I have time with my daughter, we save money because I have time to cook, and we no longer eat out. I can rearrange my schedule to fit my life to an extent, and overall, I feel very blessed to lead this life. However, it does take a lot of organization, determination, and plain old hard work – three things that don’t usually factor into the “fantasy” of working from home.

If you really are interested in working from home, then I would definitely encourage you to check out the resources above. Try picking up some work on the side first, and ease yourself into a full time at home job. Based off of my own experience, I believe that doing things that way will give you the best chance for success. Good Luck!

This review of work from home options and how they fit into your life and your finances is part of the Career Finances Guide.

So, you’re ready to take the plunge, and change jobs. Some of you will not only change jobs this year, you’ll change careers. But with every change comes an added expense. Changing jobs can change your life, but it can also hurt your wallet at the same time.

Switching Jobs

On a personal level, I am about to make a job change myself. I am going to venture into the world of self-employment for a few months to see how it goes. If I don’t make enough money on my own, I’ll find another job in the financial services industry. This is a very relevant topic for Ben (Money Smart Life founder) and I. We’re both going through job/career transitions, and we’re dedicated to helping you sort through this complicated time. Here are some things to consider when changing jobs.

Training and Development

Changing jobs or careers sometimes requires additional education and training to perform that new job or career. You may need to add a new license, certification, or degree to be qualified for your new job or career. This can be very expensive, but there is a way to get around it. Ask your new employer if they will pay for it, don’t be bashful to ask your employer to pay for a training and development allowance as long as it’s related to your job function. If you’re going into business for yourself, then there’s not much you can do about this expense, just look at it as an investment in yourself.

Wardrobe

Let’s say you were in the construction business before, and now you’re going to sell insurance. Your wardrobe will drastically change. You’ll need to go out and buy a couple of business suits and business casual attire for the office. This could be a big expense. However, you don’t need to go out and buy the finest clothes to look good. I buy a lot of business clothes at Marshall’s, Kohl’s, and JC Penney for a fraction of the cost.

Commuting Costs

You’ll need to evaluate the cost of commuting to your new job. Is your job farther away from your old one or is it closer to your home? If it’s farther away, partner up with someone to car pool back and forth to work. You won’t know anyone at first, but as you get to know your co-workers, find someone who lives near you. Make sure you like that person, because you don’t want to spend the rest of your time at that job gritting your teeth during every trip back and forth from work.

Difference In Benefits

One of the most important things to consider in terms of expenses are the benefits a company offers. Make sure you measure up the benefits of your old job to the benefits of your new job. For example, what is the comparision between the health insurance premiums or dental insurance costs? Do they have good choics for your 401k and offer a similar match?

The benefits package is very important. You typically gain about $10k to $15k extra from a benefits package. If your new job is weaker on benefits, try to negotiate with them certain aspects of their benfits package. If they really want you to be part of their company, they should have no problem conceding on some of their benefits.

Have you recently made a job or career change? Can you think of any extra expenses to share with everyone else? Comment below with your questions and thoughts.