How To Answer The Most Awkward Job Interview Questions
This one is for all my job interview-tired girlies. I see you. You've been on one job interview after another, and every time, it gets more and more awkward—and more and more frustrating. And you're not alone. Unemployment among Black women decreased earlier this year as the number of those looking for work increased, according to reports. A recent survey of more than 1,500 candidates from the staffing firm Aerotek found that nearly 70% of job hunters say their current job search is more difficult than those in the past.
Well, we've got a bit of relief for you. Try this little cheat sheet to boost your confidence and prepare you for yet another round of handshakes, smiles, and repetitive tough questions:
1. "Can you tell us a bit more about the employment gap we see on your resume?"
Maybe you were simply unemployed and couldn't find work. You took off to "find yourself" in Tulum. You were dealing with the aftermath of a major life change like a divorce or a medical emergency. You wanted to be present for the first few years of your child's life and focused on motherhood. No matter what the reason is, it's valid, and, as our favorite auntie Tabitha would say, that's your business. While you don't have to be specific about the reason, experts recommend being honest and focusing on the positive outcomes during the employment gap.
Motherhood? "I focused on being the primary caretaker for my family and practicing my household management skills. After some time off, I'm more than ready to return to the workforce to apply my updated skills in balancing multiple duties."
Got laid off? "My previous employer went through a restructuring, however, I'm grateful for the skills I was able to develop there. My favorite closing project was.... "
Got fired? "While I learned a great deal at my previous company, it simply was not a good fit."
Took time off for self-care or travel? "I explored Europe for a year, making a dream I'd had for a while a reality. I was able to learn more about another culture, immerse myself in service, and push limits I never knew I had."
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2. "We can only pay____. What are your salary expectations?"
Yes, some recruiters and hiring managers simply don't have the proper nuance when talking about salary and money. You'll feel a bit bullied when the question comes out this way. You might even feel like you have to settle. Well, don't. There's always more money or other benefits to offer. And typically, when the question is worded this way, it's a red flag.
Before walking away, respond with the following: "Thank you for that. Based on location, my level of experience, and my commitment to thriving in this role, I'd like a yearly salary of [increase the offer by $5,000 to $15,000 considering the aforementioned]." If they counter that they simply can't pay, ask about a sign-on bonus, more time off, flex work hours, childcare coverage options, or other benefits that might suit your lifestyle.
And if they can't offer any of that, especially if you deserve it, the best answer (at least for me), if they offer you the job, is, "Thank you for your time and for your interest in interviewing me for this position. I've decided to go with another company."
3. "Can you tell me more about a recent project or experience you had at work that you're proud of?"
This can be especially awkward if you didn't quite enjoy the last job you had, didn't thrive, or weren't ever given a chance to be part of major projects. If that's the case for you, again, lean into the positive. Think of at least three proud moments from your current (or previous) job that you can easily brag about.
Were you head of the office transitioning to a new location? Talk about what it took to complete and what aspects of that brought you joy or taught you lessons.
In charge of intake? Talk about the responsibilities of that and the impact it has on the overall function of the company. Handled only paperwork and running errands. That's a major part of project management. Talk about the processes you came up with to stay organized, timely, and diligent. Think about how your role, even if you were made to feel small or were unappreciated, helped keep that company's engine going for the time you were there.
4. "Could you tell us more about how your disability or medical condition might impact your work?"
If this is asked during the interview, it's a major red flag, as most employers should focus on your abilities, training, and experience in the context of the role's duties. And in many cases, this question, as it's worded, opens a company up to questions of bias and potential lawsuits. A company's hiring practices must be in compliance with federal law.
You're not required to disclose a medical condition or an invisible disability to a potential employer during the hiring process, but if you have to take a test and you need assistance due to hearing or sight impairment, for example, the employer will have to comply. In some cases, disclosing a disability in an honest conversation at the onset might be part of the interview process.
And after you've been offered a job, your employer will need to have a discussion with you about accommodations in order for you to thrive in the position. Experts recommend being upfront and confident with your new employer about accommodations that might be needed and talking with your new manager about anything that might impact your participation in certain aspects of the job so that they can be aware and adjust accordingly.
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
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When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
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