2.

a)
Don't Panic
Your mindset going into an interview is a critical ingredient for
success. Many candidates assume that they must have a near-
perfect interview to land the job. In reality, it helps to recognize that
other interviewees will also have difficulty answering all of the
questions to the complete satisfaction of the recruiter.

This realization can help keep you from panicking if you can't
answer a question well. Take the time to review the most common
interview questions employers ask so you will have an idea of
what to expect.

Stay Calm
Your reaction, if you can't immediately come up with an answer,
can be more important than the ability to deliver a response. Try
not to stress out. Maintaining a calm, confident posture when
confronted with a tough question will help convince the recruiter
that your inability to answer a question is an unusual occurrence
for you.

There are strategies you can use to avoid job interview stress,

which can happen to anyone regardless of how practiced you are
at interviewing, and stay calm.

If you fall apart and get upset, the interviewer could lose
confidence in you. However, most hiring managers know that
nerves can get the better us and will be understanding. Consider
saying something like, "That's a very interesting question; can I
take some time to consider it and get back to you later?" or "Great
question! I can answer it in part but would like to consider it further
and get back to you."

Buy Some Time

You can often buy some time to formulate an answer by
rephrasing the question or asking for clarification. For example,
you might say, "Are you looking for an example of how I motivated
an underperforming colleague in a team situation?" By the time the
interviewer answers, something may have come to mind.

You could also say, "That question is a bit of a stumper! Can I

think about it, and come back to it at the end of our conversation?"
It's possible the interviewer will forget to ask it again, and that will
allow you to follow up in your thank-you note. 

Try to Clarify 
Maybe you did not understand the question, or you aren't sure
what the interviewer wants to know. In this situation, try to identify
what you found confusing. Was it just one term or word, or are you
confused by the entire question?

Don't Fake It 

It can feel embarrassing not to be able to answer a question, but
that's better than making something up, especially when what you
say isn't an appropriate response.

If you are genuinely perplexed by the question and do not think

buying time, defining terms, or asking the interviewer to rephrase
the question will help, say you are not sure. 

You can try to spin this into a more positive answer by saying that
you'll be thinking about this question after the interview, that you'll
do some research, or even that you hope to learn more about the
 topic if hired. If you give that last response, it can be helpful to
relate another time you were unfamiliar with a concept and were
then able to master it. Such an answer will make you look
resourceful. 

Answer When You Follow Up

Perhaps the most significant thing you could do if a key question
has stumped you is to research a strong answer after the
interview. You can then include that answer as part of your follow-
up communication.

Very few jobs require workers to have all of the answers on the
spot. Demonstrating that you will be persistent, hardworking, and
resourceful when you initially lack information can be impressive to
employers.

b)

1. Get clear about your career goals. Take some time to

brainstorm what your career goals are for the next five years. Do
you want to gain new skills? Are you interested in eventually
moving into a managerial position? Do you want to work on
particular projects? Are you interested in working in a particular
industry? You could also answer this question by thinking about
what you’d like to see on your resume in five years. Do you want
to obtain particular certificates or hold a certain job title? Make a
list of these aspirations.
2. Find connections between your goals and the job
description. To help tie in your goals with the job you’re
applying for, look at the job description and see if you can find
 any traits and skills you already possess as well as those you
want to get more experience in. This will allow you to relate your
goals to the position you’re applying for in the interview.
3. Ask yourself if the company can prepare you for your
career goals. It’s important to be honest about whether the
company you’re applying with can prepare you for your career
goals over the next five years. If it can’t, you may want to
reconsider the position or let the employer know up-front that
you may not be with that company for at least five years.

C)

Provide concrete examples from your past. For example, if your

resume indicates that you managed a team for ongoing projects, you
can describe the nature of one project, explain how many other
employees were on your team and describe any specific successes,
such as meeting product launch deadlines, internal company awards or
sales figures. You might describe your management approach and
hiring practices or how you assembled your team.

2. Discuss your skills. Your resume may list your skills, but it does not
always expound on how you were able to use those skills to bring value
to the company you worked for. Saying something like "I have excellent
communication skills" does not explain well how you applied that skill.
You could try something like, "One of my roles in human resources was
to help facilitate problem-solving between conflicting co-workers. I
developed and trained all employees on a program with conflict
resolution techniques. We had a lot of success in resolving some long-
standing interpersonal problems".

3. Demonstrate how your skills fit with this specific company. A

hiring manager will want to know that you have researched the company
where you are interviewing and that you have some knowledge of the
company's culture and values, as well as understanding the specific job.
You could structure your answer to show your vision for this job. If you
believe you have excellent customer service skills and you have learned
that the company takes great pride in its product warranties and 24-hour
customer service access, you could explain how your previous
experience has trained you to work for a company with this mission.

4. Support your answers with data. If your job experience includes statistics you
can cite to demonstrate your past performance, it can be a useful way to show a
hiring manager measurable ways you have contributed in the past. Stats like your
sales figures, how you implemented improvements to a process or met deadlines
show what you are capable of contributing.

Q4.

A personal brand exists whether or not you create it for yourself.

When you publish a blog post, for example, you reveal aspects
of your personality to the people who read it.

Your personal brand develops around the content you post,

from social and search advertising to blog posts and webinars.

Taking control of your personal brand, on the other hand, puts

you in the driver's seat. You get to control the narrative and
show your audience what you want them to see.

It's not about being fake. You're not creating a character for a
movie. Instead, you are curating aspects of your own personality
and presenting yourself in the best possible light to achieve your
Knowledge Commerce business goals.
Become an Asset

Having an asset that’s unique and commands respect

is a good investment, especially if you’re a freelance
designer. By branding yourself, you become the asset
and the product you market is your set of skills or
services. You’re your own unique product and no one
can take that away from you.

Structuring yourself to become the asset will add

value to not only your business, but also your skills
and experience. When you’re the asset, your business
revolves around you and therefore you’re
irreplaceable.

You will be recognized for who you are and most

importantly, what you do.
Be a Memorable Force

When companies annoyingly repeat TV and radio

commercials, they aren’t trying to sell you the product
at that instant, they do it so that the first thing you
remember when you go to a department store is their
brand. It doesn’t matter what line of product you
choose, as long as you go with their brand.

Same concept when it comes to branding yourself. If

your brand can successfully reach out and influence
potential clients when they start up their browser or
need a specific project to be worked on, your brand is
the first thing that pops into their minds. Having
a catchy name for your freelance business that’s
easy to remember is a plus. For example, when you
think about quality browsers with customizable
elements, who do you think of? For me, it’s Firefox.
The name and image behind the brand is simply
compelling.
Stand Above the Rest

What defines a brand is the services or products

behind it. For example, who would WordPress be
without its content management services? Just a
catchy name and nothing more.

Creating a brand that stands out requires you to

develop an image that is consistent with what your
brand has to offer. The image you choose to
represent your brand should be simple,
straightforward, and convey what you or your
business does. The colors you choose should provoke
interest, and you should use color theory to make your
logo creative and unique.

Build Trust and Recognition

Branding yourself allows you to easily engage with

your clients and build trust. Once your clients begin to
trust you, they’ll never forget what you have to offer.
Out of building trust comes recognition. Odds are if a
client trusts you, then they won’t hesitate to refer their
contacts to you. Over time, this evolves into a strong
relationship, which in return turns your clients into
loyal customers.

Easier to Find You

A brand that’s easy to remember is easier to find. If

your brand has unique properties and succeeds in
attracting attention, then you’ll have a much better
chance of having potential clients hear about you and
easily find you as well.

For example, Apple is a strong brand that has

attracted new customers by breaking standards and
reaching higher levels of innovation. If you type the
word “Apple” in Google, the first thing that comes up is
Apple.com, not the definition or content on the actual
fruit. That’s a remarkable accomplishment. The Apple
brand has become a staple in its own niche, and it will
always be easy to find. You should apply these same
principles, offer good services, break a few standards,
create a unique representation, and your brand will
flourish.