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Posts Tagged ‘Steven’

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Steven Delarge: Achieving the Edge in Your Next Job Interview

In Finance, Information on May 15, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Steven Delarge

Steven Delarge

Steven Delarge is one of many executives in this country who have been on both sides of the desk when it comes to job interviewing. At the beginning of his career, he found himself in the position of interviewee, answering questions about his skills and career goals. As he progressed in management, Steven Delarge found himself in the position of interviewer, facing off with nervous applicants.

It was actually through this experience that Steven Delarge learned the most about the interview process. Steven Delarge saw many common mistakes and observed behaviors that made certain candidates stand out from the rest. Recently Steven Delarge spoke with Presentation Solutions about his thoughts on what gives certain employees an edge during the employment process.

Presentation Solutions: We all think we know the basics, but the more I learn about the job interview process, the more I realize I don’t know. What are some of the basics we need to know when starting a job search?

Steven Delarge: Tardiness is a no-no. Employers often see tardiness to the interview as a sign of poor punctuality in general. I recommend showing up early just in case.

Presentation Solutions: What about dress? I know that’s a big issue for many job seekers.

Steven Delarge: It can be tough, knowing what to wear to a job interview. It does depend on the position but in the business world, you can rarely go wrong with a suit. Even if you’re interviewing in an office that’s business casual, save the khakis for after you’ve landed the job.

Presentation Solutions: Can someone prepare for answering questions ahead of time?

Steven Delarge: Sure. Sadly, many of the questions asked in job interviews today are the same questions that have been asked for years. There are quite a few websites that list out typical interview questions. Prepare your responses to those, but make sure your answers in the actual interview don’t sound canned.

Presentation Solutions: Today’s interviewers tend to ask more behavioral questions, right?

Steven Delarge: Yes, but even those have become pretty predictable. “Describe a time you thought outside the box,” that sort of thing. The key to answering all of these questions is to make your answers unique. That can be a challenge.

Presentation Solutions: Any suggestions on how to do this?

Steven Delarge: Giving examples of things you’ve done can really help. As in, “I was the top salesperson in the company for three years straight.” Or, “I was promoted seven times in the six years I was with my last company.”

Presentation Solutions: What about those tricky questions, like “Name your biggest weakness?”

Steven Delarge: I’m often asked about that one and the truth is, there’s no easy answer. The best tip is to take a negative trait and explain how you’ve turned it around. For instance, “I tend to be very impatient, but I’ve learned that keeping a to-do list helps me stay focused.”

Presentation Solutions: Thank you for speaking to us today. Steven Delarge is an Albany, New York business executive with decades of experience in the business industry.

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Steven P. Delarge Discusses Effective Time Management for CEOs and CFOs

In Finance, Information, Professionals on April 26, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Steven P. Delarge

Steven P. Delarge

As a long-time business executive, Steven P. Delarge has seen countless other executives trying to juggle too many things. Many CEOs and CFOs have hundreds of unread e-mails and a to-do list far longer than any one human being could ever complete, Steven P. Delarge reports. However, unless someone can magically grant these busy executives more hours in the day, says Steven P. Delarge, may feel they have no real options.

The answer for many people, Steven P. Delarge says, is creating to-do lists. There have been many books on effective time management, points out Steven P. Delarge, and nearly all suggest some variation of these to-do lists. While this is effective in the short-term, many people find their best intentions are short-lived and soon they’ve fallen back into the same rut, according to Steven P. Delarge. The key, says Steven P. Delarge, is to create “not-do” lists. These are items you simply won’t do each day. It’s a creative way to turn the to-do list concept on its ear, suggests Steven P. Delarge.

The key, Steven P. Delarge advises, is to think of those things that are colossal time-wasters, like checking and responding to e-mail for a full hour each morning when you first get into the office. Steven P. Delarge recommends making an initial list of three items—perhaps things you’ve identified as bad habits, like staying at the office each day until late rather than leaving on time to spend time at home with the family.

Steven P. Delarge has found that focusing on his “not do” list frees him up to do the things that would traditionally go on his to-do list–without all the pressure. According to Steven P. Delarge, this might include calling a client he’s needed to touch base with for a while, or giving an employee helpful encouragement and feedback. By completing these tasks, Delarge says that he experiences a sense of personal accomplishment and that this helps his business succeed.

We all have our mental “to-do” lists. Steven P. Delarge recommends removing the non-value added tasks from that list, freeing up more time to conduct more important day-to-day business affairs. According to Steven P. Delarge, this will give you more personal time to spend with your family, doing things you personally enjoy.