xScion Solutions, LLC

“I Thought Once They Met Me, They Would Pay Me More Money.”

Lots of people think this is the case.

It is not uncommon for people to come into interviews expecting us to pay them more than what we stated in the job description.  Many people think they are such a fit for the job that they deserve a higher salary.  Or, they feel that they were at a certain salary level before and deserve that now.  Whether or not they deserve it, they are probably not going to get it because we budget and peer salaries to consider.  When a salary is stated in a job description, it is there for a reason.  Companies are looking for the best candidate who is willing to work for that salary. (more…)

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“Where do you see yourself in five years?”  You’ve probably heard this question before, and unless you plan on keeping your current occupation title for the rest of your life, chances are you will hear it again.  It is one of several challenging questions often asked in job interviews. (more…)

Picture this…  You have an upcoming interview and since you have been reading our recent blog posts, you are well prepared.  You know what to say, what not to say, how to act, when to get there, and all of your goals.  You get to the interview, give a confident handshake, sit down, and immediately start rocking it.  You are on top of your interviewing game.  You’ve done your research and it is paying off.  Then, the interviewer asks an unexpected question.  One that forces you to come to a dead halt, and requires you to give a glimpse into your personal life: “What do you do for fun?” (more…)

I have a laid back interview style that I employ to put people at ease with the hopes that by doing so, they will get comfortable and show their true personalities and drop their interview game faces.  When I meet with a potential employee, I enthusiastically thank them for coming in, offer them something to drink and am generally very friendly.  I sit in a relaxed manner and try to come across as casually as possible.  My overall attitude and the fact that I am relatively small in stature usually gets the candidate to relax.  Sometimes too much. (more…)

Most of us experience some level of anxiety when we know we have a job interview coming up.  This does not mean we have to let our nerves get to us.  Ultimately, the goal is to stand apart from the rest of the candidates.  Your interview is your chance to demonstrate why you will be a valuable asset to the company.  Pongo Resume gives a list of 20 things to avoid while at an interview.  If you go through this list and plan accordingly, you will be well on your way to a successful interview! (more…)

Some people think that experience is all you need to have and is key to getting a job in the business world. Although experience is very important, it tends to be slightly overrated by employers when it comes to the hiring of new employees.

It’s true. There are 4 essential qualities every exceptional employees possesses- and believe it or not experience is not one of them! These qualities are intangible, cannot be taught, and are an absolute must from the smart managers perspective. Here are 4 easy to remember traits that will give you the edge over more experienced candidates: (more…)

Searching for a job can be and usually is a dreadful and unpleasant experience.  From the stress of the initial interview to the patience (or lack thereof) of waiting to hear back from an organization, finding a job can be quite a pain.  Many times a person may feel that they have done everything possible and still have no success.  If you are one of those people, fret no more.  We have spoken with experts and insiders to determine the Best Job Search Tips for 2011. (more…)

Most of the time, we tend to get anxious about interviews that don’t end up being a big deal. The majority of employers seem to ask level-headed, practical questions that can be answered in a straightforward manner. But that’s not always the case, and Google wants to prove that point. We’ve come across this list of “15 Google Interview Questions That Will Make You Feel Stupid.” Here are some highlights.  (more…)