Q: Do different types of conference tables change the dynamic of a group when in meetings?

Josh, MI

A: Yes, and they should be used in such a manner as well. Typically, if you’re looking for group input and feedback a circular table would be best. That way everyone will feel like their involved in the meeting. In a board room you will typically see a rectangular conference table. The president or CEO will probably sit at the head of the table with this second in command either directly by his side or sitting across from him on the other side of the table. This type of set up is used by CEO’s to control meetings and remind everyone who is in charge.

Q: What are some essential products or tools you should keep in your office’s first aid kit?

Kelly, OR

A: You want to make sure you have enough in supplies to sustain at least 3 people and last for 15-20 minutes until professional help can reach your office. Of course you have the bandages, clean towels, and disinfection liquids. If someone in your offices suffers from allergies you should have them include their medication to your supplies. Also, if someone has any specific conditions that you are aware of, you should have whatever equipment they would need in an emergence. Another tool that many offices are including are a portable oxygen concentrator because they are lightweight and cost efficient.

Q: Now that the real estate market is falling due to the sub-prime mortgage crises I have some vacation properties that I was looking to sell stay in my inventory. Is there anything I can do to still make money from these properties?

Dale, FL

A: It’s important to have an exit strategy when you buy your properties. Now with the real estate crisis hurting real estate sales, you may have to look into renting your properties until the market rebounds. Condo Hotels is a good location to start and begin marketing your properties for rental income.

Q: I’m looking into upgrading my IBM computer instead of buying a new one. Are there any certain components that I should upgrade?

Andrew, NY

A: The best thing you could do is upgrade your IBM memory. For example, if you have 512k in your memory now by upgrading to 1G or even 2G of memory you will see a huge difference in the speed of your computer. Most computers are able to handle all the technology available when they are first released. However, if you’ve had your computer for a couple of years you will start to notice new applications using more and more memory and thus slowing down your computer.

Q: Do you have any recommendations when traveling by plane for business to make things easier on yourself?

Mark, FL

A: If I’m going to be in a city for a couple of days I normally send my clothing to the airport via Fed Ex or UPS a day or two in advance. When I arrive at my hotel, my package is already there waiting for me. I’ve found this to free up a lot of time checking my baggage when I arrive at the airport and waiting for my baggage once I land. Normally, I’ll pack all my necessities in my Samsonite carry-on and ship whatever else I can. I’ve found this to be the easiest and fastest ways for me to travel.

Scroll down if you want to read the Real 10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers, but first let me explain the article from earlier this week.

I posted an article titled 10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers in my Article directory. I get maybe 10-15 different articles a day and choose maybe 1 or 2 to post over there. My business readers appreciate it as it adds value to what they are looking for on the site. I didn’t Digg the post so don’t accuse me of splogging when you haven’t even checked out the rest of the site and what it has to offer.

Some people thought those questions were canned, along with the answers. And yes, they are. If you’re a large corporation you know that if you don’t have a method and documentation of your interview process you could get sued. Don’t worry, if you’re a large corporation that hasn’t been sued yet from a disgruntled interviewee, you will. Who wants to waste there time on a disgruntled interviewee? Disgruntled Interviewee!?

Whether you’re using the traditional interview style (directive style) or any other type of interview such as STAR, meandering style, stress interview, behavioral interview the thought process is the same. People can learn how to deal with each of these different interview types. As an interviewee you just have to play the game and get it right. As a large corporation, you have to document everything to avoid being liable in a lawsuit.

Small businesses have the flexibility to conduct interviews in different ways. The rules and laws against small businesses are much more open in regards to interviews and they can conduct them informally. I’ve received jobs over a couple of beers and BS’ing about last week’s football games. I’m sure many of you have similar experiences.

Now for the Real: 10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers

Q#1 - Are there really 10 killer job interview questions and answers to get me the job?

A#1 - No!…there isn’t. Since different companies use different interviewing styles there are no certain questions they will ask. If you know what type of style they are going to use, you can find information or read books that will teach you how to play that certain type of interview.

How about this, try networking more and skip the interview process entirely!

Yes, research says that over 80% of jobs are found through networking. If you’re looking to find a job through the traditional means of visiting Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, and Yahoo HotJobs and applying to open positions there you are missing out on over 80% of the available jobs. If you have skills that are valuable to a company and people know about it, you won’t need to go through and interview process but instead the companies will be trying to one up each other to get you to work for them. You won’t have to sell yourself because people have already seen your skills and the accomplishments that you’ve achieved in your career.

If you need help networking, check out Randell Hanen’s article “Networking Your Way to a New Job“.

I found my current job from networking and I love it. I’ll probably end my career with the company I’m at. Do you love your job? If not, start networking and find that job.

I had a client come to me the other day and he told me that he’s had his business blog up for the last 6 months, but he wasn’t getting much traffic and there were even fewer repeat visitors. I checked out John’s business blog and I noticed quite a few things that he was doing wrong in marketing and writing for the blog. There were many things that he had to update on the backend of the blog and I’ll get to that in another post, but what really caught my eye was what he was “writing” on the blog.

Business blogs are a form of communication with your readers. Your writing style needs to be welcoming and friendly with the readers and motivate them to come back. What I noticed on his company’s blog was that it was filled with press releases and product updates. Don’t get me wrong, there is a strategy to incorporate these into your corporate blog, but if that’s all you are posting on the blog, it will certainly fail.

Readers don’t just want to hear about what your company is doing, but they do want to know what the people in the company are doing. Share their stories in your blog. Did you just hire a new associate? Did someone get a promotion within your company? Did someone just have a baby? If so, tell your readers about it! Share the story of Joe in accounting buying his first house or the party that the company had for Susan’s 10 year anniversary at the company. These are the types of stories that your readers will appreciate. Remember, there’s always a line where too much is too much, but you get the idea.

The more personal you get on your blog, the more comments readers will leave. If you touch the hearts of your readers with personal stories, they will feel more involved and want to be more involved by leaving feedback and comments.

This is just one way that John was able to turn his company’s blog into a better communication tool with his clients. Not only will the readers be more involved in the blog, but so will the employees. Start adding personal content into your business blog and start to see your community grow.

Q: How do I market my business so it can sustain economic downturns and allow me to pass it off to my children?

-Daniel, TX

A: Branding your business can cause a dramatic effect in the longevity of your company. Companies that stand the test of time and continue for generations have branded themselves within their community and with their clients so they will continue to do business with them.

It’s often overlooked, and usually left on the shelf by failed companies. Branding involves logo design, marketing message, and community involvement. It is the last item that most businesses often don’t fulfill.

An example of strong branding is Air Jordan. Do you know what it stands for? Do you know who it stands for? The answer is probably yes. Michael Jordan has branded his name and company in the mind of the American public. You probably know him as the greatest basketball player the world has ever seen. Did you know that he has built a successful company since retiring from basketball? Yes, the Air Jordan brand is all about Michael. He has built a successful company marketing his clothing and attire through the Air Jordan name. What keeps his business growing is the amount of involvement he has in the Chicago area. If you go there, you can look around and still see his mark on the city. That is successful business, and that’s what will keep his business going strong.

Make sure your business is involved in your community and your business will become an icon and sustain longevity in your community.

Q: I’m having a hard time figuring out solutions to my business marketing. I’ve tried hiring two marketing firms, but they just can’t deliver and it’s causing me a lot of stress. What can I do to solve my marketing problems?

-John, AZ

Yes, it is true. Business is one of the most stressful activities that you can participate in. Sometimes, solving business issues seems like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle. You know there is a right way to conduct business, but figuring out all the right pieces take time, energy, and determination.

In your situation, it seems like these two other marketing companies were not able to solve your marketing issues. How well did you interview them when deciding on a firm to use? Did they over promise and under deliver? You will want to make sure your idea of marketing is on the same page as the firm you use. They should be able to discover the methods that will work for your business. I would recommend trying out one more firm. Make sure you completely understand what they offer and the process they will use to deliver their solution to you. If you still run into the same problems, there’s a much deeper issue…and it’s probably with your business. That will take a completely different type of business consultant to review your business. If you need a business consultant to work with, please email me and I’ll give you a couple of names.

Q: I’m working on the lighting inside my business. I’ve heard that research as found that a certian type of light can help increase business productivity. Is this true?

-Steve, IL

A: There was some famous research done on the effect that lighting had on employee productivity and it’s effects. The conclusion to the research was it wasn’t the lighting at all, but the business culture determined how productive employees were. There’s still research that says lighting is important to business productivity and you will need to consult with an advisor like kichler lighting to find out what will work best for your business and your employees.