Do note that there are countless other smaller sites that I did not include here simply to keep this article tidy and also to save you time in going to 50+ sites, creating accounts and getting very little to show for it all.

With that said, the most common (and therefore usually largest) of these is numbers the first 3.

1. Yahoo! Hot Jobs / Monster.com

Hot Jobs as recently merged with Monster.com to become the conglomerate of job searching online. Both were staples in their own right, and now that they have combined forces they have the largest amount of traffic amongst this entire list.

2. Career Builder

Another main player in the online job searching space, your time would be well spent to upload your resume and check out Career Builder’s resources.

3. Job.com

Job.com is yet another site to toss up your resume to and see if you get some bites, and can’t hurt your efforts – right?

4. The Ladders

The Ladders touts itself as the job site with the highest paying jobs, with yearly salaries of no less than $100,000.

5. Indeed.com

Not only a quality job portal, but it also has a great search function that allows you to look-up averages wages for your industry and even your job position.

6. Job Central

Most likely the smallest of list above, Job Central still may have some smaller employers searching its database and let’s face it – it only takes 1 offer to land a position.

These next two sites are targeted towards those just getting ready to graduate from college, and also those who had just graduated no more than 2-3 years previous.

7. College Recruiter

Specifically aimed and finding college students / grads jobs and internships, all who fall under that demographic should post up their resume and see if they don’t get some action.

8. College Grad

More of a general information resource than a job portal, College Grad has been consistently working on expanding their job database to further benefit the college-aged.

9. Your Local Newspaper

Although not truly a website in its own right, don’t forget around your local newspaper job listings in the classified section both in print and online. Sometimes you may still get the best results from going local.

Note that these are not in any particular ranked order of quality or other attributes. All trademarks / servicemarks are property of their respective owners.

1. Know your Facts

Many interviewers are surprised when applicants were not able to tell them their dates of employment or what they actually did on an everyday basis at their last job. Review your work history and be sure that what you say matches what is written on your resume. Learn all you can about the company and about the job you are applying for. Do your homework.

2. Be at Your Personal Best

Do not come to an interview chewing gum or drinking coffee. Avoid too much perfume or a lack of deodorant.  As much as possible, avoid talking or texting on your cell phone or listening to music while waiting to be interviewed. In short, look, smell and behave at your personal best.

Regardless of whether the work environment is casual or not, it is always important to dress professionally for an interview. Here are some tips to how be at your best for a job interview:

• Make sure you have the proper interview attire and that everything fits properly.
• Have your attire ready the night before the interview! This will prevent you from fussing over it on the busy morning of the interview.
• Be sure your shoes are cleaned and polished.
• Take a breath mint with you and use it before you enter the office.
• Ditch the gum before you even walk into the office.
• Leave some of your jewelry at home if you are someone with a lot of body piercings.
• Cover your tattoos.
• Arrive early. 5-10 minutes early is perfectly acceptable.

3. Watch your Words

Speak slowly and pronounce words clearly. Take your time if you need to think about the answer to a question. It is always better to take a moment’s pause before you talk than to stumble over your words. To make responding more comfortable, practice answering some questions prior to the interview. (I cover this in my premium guides extensively).

4. Listen to you Interviewer(s)

Being grilled on the hot seat is stressful during the interview. To make it easier to form proper responses to interview questions, do your best to listen to the entire question the interviewer is asking before starting your response. Also, think of any hidden motivations your interviewer may have when asking the question.

5. Hone your skills!

Spend time to prepare your interview techniques. These should include the following:

• Preparing your resume. Your resume should include all your contact information near the top so the potential employers can reach you easily. It is also important to prioritize the content of your resume, with your most important and relevant experiences listed first. Avoid padding your resume.

• Ability to present why you are qualified for the job. You must be able to express your strengths and cite past experiences relevant to the job you are applying for. Let them know how you will be an asset for the company.

• Why you are interested in the company. You must spend time on finding out as much as you can about the company. Know where the company is standing and the direction it is heading. Find out who the big players are in the industry.

• Practice staying calm and focused. Always maintain eye contact. Listen to the entire interview question before you answer. Take your time to think about your answers before you give them.

First Impressions Last
It is important to remember that the image you leave the interviewer on your first meeting is the one that is going to last. Take your time to prepare for your job interview, or your hunt for an acceptable, well paying job may indeed be a long road ahead.

Here are some tips for a successful interview that may help you get that dream job.

Practice Makes Perfect

Learn how to answer interview questions. Think of all the possible questions that an interviewer would be likely to ask you and think of how you will respond to them. In a typical job interview, an employer will ask an employee several questions; including asking you to describe challenging situations, about your strengths and weaknesses, your accommodations to the company and many more. Preparation is the key to every interview.

Preparation

Learn about the company you will be working for. Learn their vision and mission. Interviewers might ask questions on what you know about the company you are interviewing for. Be sure that you know the name of the company, what they are and the job description of the job you are applying to. It is important that you relate your answers to what the company is looking for.

Read up on helpful job interview articles and join email courses that that will provide you with a way to leave a good impression with the employer. While it may seem obvious, one of the most important interview tips is to arrive at the interview neat, ready and appropriate. Have your attire sensible to the company you are interviewing for. Also, bring a portfolio with copies of your resume and a pen and paper for note taking.

Behavioral Interview Preparation

While most candidates don’t prepare for them, behavioral interviews are getting more and more common.

Interviewers are relying on behavioral interview questions to probe into your past performance in order to make predictions about how you will do in the future.

As so, I have been urging all current and future job candidates to prepare for their behavioral interview.

Timeliness

Be sure that you are always on time for the interview. Timeliness would mean being around 5-10 minutes early for the interview. Being too early or too late would be showing that you do not respect the time of an interviewer. Be sure to arrive at the time you are allotted to.

Interview Questions Preparation

To impress your interviewer, know as much as you can about the company you are applying for. Depending on the stiffness of the competition, it might just be the extra step you need to lead the pack of job seekers applying for the same position.

Practice answering typical interview questions so that you will feel comfortable answering them in the actual interview. Typical interview questions can be categorized into three parts:

1. Questions about your work history

Review your work history and be prepared to tell the interviewer (or write on the application) the names of the companies you have worked for, your position and job description, the start and end dates of your employment, and your yearly salary.

Be specific and positive when answering interview questions about your current or previous positions. Explain in detail your responsibilities and try to connect them to the job you are applying for. The employer will see that you are qualified for the new position.

Another frequently asked interview question regarding your work history is your compensation. Refresh your memory by reviewing your compensation history before the interview. This way you can talk about it in detail and accuracy. Be honest and don’t exaggerate or inflate your previous salary, they will check the references to verify.

2. Questions about You

Your potential employer will want to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. The best way to respond is to highlight your skills and experiences that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Your interviewer will often ask about how you cope with work-related stress. The best way to respond to this typical interview question is to tell them examples of how you coped with stress in your previous job. They will have a better idea on how you cope with stress that way.

Another typical interview question is “What motivates you?” There is no right or wrong answer to this, so consider this question in advance and give specific experiences to share with your interviewer.

Also, prepare for common or general interview questions that you will be likely to see, regardless of the industry you are going into.

3. Questions about the New Job and Company

Applicants are often asked why they are interested in the position they are applying for. The best way to respond is to connect your skills and experience to the job description in the ad.  You must be able to express your enthusiasm along with your ability to do the job.

You will normally be asked what challenge you are looking for in your next position. The best way to answer this question is to explain how you would like to use your skills and experience effectively if you were hired for the new position. You can support this by giving goals you have achieved in the past and the challenges you have met along the way.

How about your willingness to travel? There is no point in not being honest when answering this. Ask how much travel is involved so you can make an educated decision. It is better to get a good understanding on what you’re getting into before you are hired than being surprised when you are already in your new job.

It Takes Two to Tango

Keep in mind that an interview is a conversation between two people trying to know more about each other. It is a two-way process in which success is in your hands as much as it is in your interviewers. Preparing honest answers to the questions that the interviewer asks is the best way to sell yourself and have a successful interview.

In some companies, before you get to meet face to face with the company representatives, you will be required to take a phone interview. Companies give phone interviews to save time and quickly screen candidates. In addition, they are also conducted by companies that have candidates that are out-of-town or are foreign.

Important Reminders

Always note to take the phone interviews seriously as you would in a face-to-face interview.  You’ll want to highlight your skills and accomplishments for previous jobs during the interview, and it’s also a good idea to have these on a cheat sheet.

Dress up much like you would in a real face-to-face interview, as it will boost your confidence and allow you to speak with poise. Also regarding speaking, research has shown that you do better in a phone interview standing up. Other essential tips include having your resume handy, cover letter with you and a portfolio of your accomplishments in hand.

Interview Preparation

Preparation is also important in a phone interview. Be sure to research the company, know the job description well and relate your answers to that. Always practice your responses to all common interview questions and industry-specific inquiries that an employer might ask. Keep in mind not to use a phone that would make it difficult for you and the interviewer(s) to hear each other (cell phones and other older cordless land lines).

Here is a list of tips on what to do:

• Treat the phone interview seriously, just as you would a face-to-face interview.
• Have your resume and cover letter in front of you.
• Make a cheat sheet.
• Get a high-quality, corded land-line phone.
• Shower, groom and dress up (at least a little – don’t look like you rolled out of bed).
• Stand up, or at least sit up straight at a table or desk if you are not able to stand.

Some people get trapped with the thought that phone interviews are much easier to do than an in-person interview. Don’t let them catch you with your guard down. Always pay attention.

Teacher Interview Questions

The following interview questions are the most frequently asked in a teaching interview. Read on so you’ll know how to approach these questions.

1. Why did you decide to become a teacher? Different people will have different answers to this teacher interview question. Answer the question as honestly possible. Most discover their passion to teach or their love for children at some point of their education. Consider using terms like “helping others” or “making a difference.” Providing anecdotes will be helpful when answering this interview question. One of your own teachers might have inspired you, for example. Just be prepared to discuss your personal story during the interview.
2. Describe your teaching philosophy. You most likely developed your teaching philosophy back in college or graduate school. Write it down on paper prior to the interview, reread and remember it. Take the initiative in telling your interviewer your philosophy even if they don’t ask for it. Take some time to developing a few key points if you haven’t developed your own philosophy yet. It should be a statement that reflects your personal beliefs on teaching and learning. Discuss how you put your philosophy in practice by providing personal examples.
3. Describe the type of discipline you would implement in the classroom. With this teacher interview question, keep in mind to have a well organized statement about your approach to discipline. This will depend on your teaching style, the grade level you are applying for, and your past experience. Know about the school’s approach to classroom management and discipline. Give a short and clear statement and share examples of how you implemented your discipline style.
4. What materials and technology do you use in the classroom to support teaching? Show your knowledge on the wide range of instructional materials available to teachers. Tell them how you choose which resources to use and discuss how they have been useful in teaching. Give examples of lessons you have conducted to support your answer. Schools are eager to incorporate technology into daily classroom activities, but many seasoned teachers are intimidated by it. As a new teacher, give assurance that you are comfortable and familiar with using technology. Give examples of how you use technology in your teaching.
5. How do you give recognition and positive reinforcement to your students? Making students feel special, recognized as an individual and not ignored in the classroom is an important responsibility of the teacher. Think of all the times you have worked with students. Tell you interviewers that you are focused on providing honest and effective valuation and encouragement to develop self-esteem. Include the words and body language you use to communicate with your students. Give specific examples of how you worked with students as support to your answer.
6. Are you interested in taking part in any extracurricular activities or coaching? It is important to always answer yes to this interview question. Be as positive and as engaged as possible. Coach, lead a student club, or offer after school help until you are tenured. If you cannot fit in school activities into your schedule, don’t say “No” immediately. Tell them you will see if you can work it into your schedule. And if the school activity doesn’t match you, be sure to decline them in a respectful manner.

Ask Questions

You will show you are really interested in the position and would like to learn as much as you can about it if you ask your interviewer some questions. Not only will it show you are interested, it will also help you decide whether the teaching position offered is right for you.

Not a teacher? Prepare for general interview questions here.

One stressful factor about telephone interviews is that you never know when the interviewer will call you. It is therefore important that you are always prepared at a moment’s notice for telephone interviews. Here are some tips on what to do for telephone interviews:

• Keep you resume in clear sight near the phone, so it is at your reach when you need to answer questions. However, do not use it as a crutch or “read” from it. This will be obvious to the interviewer – simply make sure that you are fully familiar with your resume before the interview.
• Keep a pen and paper ready for taking down notes. This can be helpful when generating questions you want to ask later or jotting down main points that the interviewer is focusing on.
• Don’t smoke, chew gum, eat or drink when having the phone interview – EVER! The only possible exception is a quick swig of water if your throat is scratchy.
• Pronounce words clearly and speak slowly. Don’t rush, take your time and never make intelligible noises such as “uhh, umm or ahh.” If you need to pause, simply let there be a brief moment of silence.
• Do not interrupt the interviewer when he is talking. In fact, wait 2-3 seconds to start responding or answering a question as this will ensure that the interviewer has finished speaking and you will not awkwardly interrupt.
• Keep in mind that your goal is to set a face-to-face interview. One of your questions to ask should always be if it would be possible to meet in person for a follow-up interview.
• Dress up & stand up! Dressing up will make you feel like a million bucks, and standing up will make you sound more energetic and have better annunciated speech.
• Use a landline. Cell phones often have static, drop calls and can run out of batteries – not to mention you can easily drop it.
• Send a thank you note regardless of how the interview went.
• Read more about how to ace a phone interview here.

As always, do your best and prepare as much as feels right going into the interview. Follow up vigorously and push to meet with the interviewer in-person!

1. Panel interview. This is where a job applicant is interviewed by many interviewers. The group is normally comprised of a Human Resources representative, the manager, and someone from the department where the applicant will be assigned when hired.
2. In another case, the hiring manager will simultaneously interview a group of applicants. This provides an opportunity for the interviewer to conduct an initial screening of applicants. They will observe the applicants’ communication skills and their behavior and interaction with each other.

Tips to Succeeding With Group Interviews

Panel Interview:

Panel interviews can be difficult in that instead of just 2 eyes watching your every move, you now can have 10-20+. The questions can be coming fast and furious from people on other ends of the table, while others may just sit in silence and take notes on your performance. In addition, panel interviews are usually one of the last before a hiring decision is made.

To succeed in these high-stress environments, you need to be sure to keep yourself distressed and prepared for both behavioral and competency interview questions. For further information on this, please see either another one of my posts or sign up for my exclusive interview series (see right –>).

Applicant Group Interview:

Applicant group interviews will typically be one of your first preliminary interviewers and will often start with the group of applicants working as a group to complete a task. These are often tailored to the specific position that is being applied for, in which for HR you may have to deal with an employee conflict.

After working on this task you will often be asked questioned based on it. These include: how did the task go, what could have made it better, what was your exact role, how did you do, and why did you chose the actions you did?

You should be thinking about these questions in advance and make sure you can provide good answers on the spot.

Either Type:

During either type of interview make sure that you take a look at my job interview preparation tips and also get ready with my example behavioral interview questions.

Individual Interviews

Behavior based interviewing is increasingly being used in individual interviews. Discovering how the applicant acted in specific work-related situations in the past is the basis for behavioral based interviewing.

How you will behave in the future can be determined by knowing how you behaved in the past. Likewise, future performance can be predicted by past performances in this type of interview. Behavioral interview questions are more specific and probing than traditional interview.

Whereas traditional interviews involve questions with straightforward answers, behavioral interviews focus more on how you performed in the past. Here is one list of sample behavioral-based interview questions:

• Tell me about a situation where you were able to successfully convinced someone to see things your way. How did you persuade them?
• Give an occasion where you were faced with a stressful situation. How did you cope with it?
• Describe a problem you solved using your logic and judgment. What was the outcome?
• Tell me about an important task that you were required to complete on short notice. How did you go about it?

Think of situations where you have successfully used the skills you have acquired to prepare for behavior based interviews. Prepare a list of response to both traditional and behavior based interview questions. Put emphasis on strengths and weaknesses besides your skills, interest and values.

Know if it’s Right for You too

Keep in mind that preparation is crucial to every successful interview. Not only will you be able to answer the interview questions confidently, you will also be able impress your interviewer as well. An important thing to remember is to have a list of questions you want to ask the interviewer. Know that you’re not the only one to be assessed; you have to find out whether the company is right for you too.

The goal of having job interviews is for the potential employer to gain information on the applicant. It is an important part of the selection process as it will give an idea whether or not the applicant is qualified.

But there are some questions that are too personal, and in most states these are illegal interview questions. Simply put, these questions are those that ask about your race, gender, religion, marital status, age, health and physical disabilities, ethnic background, country of origin, sexual preferences or age.

Rephrasing Questions

Get to the root of the concern behind the question without asking the illegal questions. Here’s how to turn some of these touchy questions into harmless, legal alternatives.

Nationality and Citizenship

It is important to be sure whether your applicant can legally work for you, but it is equally important to be careful how you ask. Do not ask if they are, for example, U.S. citizens. It may seem the most direct way to find out if the applicant can legally work for you, but it is illegal. Instead, ask whether they are authorized to work in your country.

Do not ask about an applicant’s residency in the country or region directly if familiarity with the local culture is important to the position. Ask about their current situation instead, like asking for his current address and phone number.

Religion

Religion is a really touchy subject that should be handled with care in the office, especially in interviews.  Do not directly ask what religion the participant is asking even if is to find out about weekend work schedules. Rather, just ask what days of the week he is available for work.

Don’t ask what religious holidays he observes either. Just make sure that your applicant can come to work when you need them to.

Age

It is crucial that you don’t assume anything about an applicant’s maturity based on age, even if maturity is important for most positions. You also have to practice extra care not to discriminate towards applicants nearing retirement age. Simply ask them if they’re over the legal working age of 18 or if hiring an older applicant, ask what his or her long term career goals are.

Marital and Family Status

Women with children are the primary concerns of questions on marital status, and again, you shouldn’t make assumptions. Do not ask whether a female applicant has children or plans to have children. Instead, ask your candidate directly about their availability.

Don’t ask your candidate if they can get a babysitter on short notice for overtime travel. This question assumes that the applicant has children or doesn’t have proper child care plans. Instead, directly ask about availability if overtime work or travel happens on short notice.

Gender

Your applicant’s gender will be pretty obvious once they’re in the interview stage. However, do not make assumptions about their capabilities based on this. Do not, for example, ask them how they feel supervising men/women. Ask about their experience in managing teams instead.

Although interoffice dating can be distracting, dissolves teams and can cause other work-related problems, do not bring this up in the interview. You don’t want your applicant interpreting it as a come-on. Ask instead whether or not your applicant has been disciplined for his behavior at work.

Health and Disabilities

Of course an applicant’s health is important to getting the job done, but it is crucial to avoid assumptions and discriminations. Ask whether the applicant has been previously disciplined for violating policies on the use of alcohol or tobacco products instead of asking directly whether they drink or smoke.

An applicant’s ability to finish a job will be affected by his physical or mental disabilities, but it is crucial that you avoid asking about them. Rather than directly asking them about their disabilities, ask whether or not they can perform the specific duties required by the position.

Exercise care

Get to know your applicants while avoiding discriminations, or even the perception of it. By knowing these illegal interview questions, you will be in a better position to avoiding interview blunders that may cost you litigation or other legal troubles.