Are you looking for a new job this year? Take stock and jump-start a job search strategically.

Too Busy to Search for a Job?

No doubt, you’ve heard looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. What does that mean if you are overwhelmed with other full-time responsibilities? Especially if you are working at home without the normal supports you typically rely on, it is difficult to make time for job search. The best approach is to be strategic.

Select activities that are most useful in propelling your search forward. Don’t spin your wheels and make forward progress.

Follow these steps, and you’ll save time and effort.

Step One: Decide What You Want To Do

You are never going to get anywhere if you don’t know where you are going. Write down exactly what type of job you want. Include target companies, hours you’d like to work and what you want to do. Do not be afraid to be very specific. Once you specify your goals, it is much easier to reach them.

Step Two: Assess Your Qualifications

Once you know what you want to do next, be sure you have the skills and qualifications to do it! Carefully review job descriptions that are similar to what you want to do. Copy and paste several job descriptions into a Word file. Highlight the parts of the description that apply to you. If you highlight everything in the description, you’re golden! If there are features of the requirements that do not apply to you, make a list. Determine if you are really qualified for the position, or if you would benefit from additional training or experience.

If you don’t quite qualify for the roles you want, start making plans to boost your credentials. Consider taking courses. Research certifications to earn. If you work at a company that pays for professional development, start to take advantage of that. Alternatively, budget time and money to learn what you need to know to take the next step in your professional career.

If you’re missing skills you could gain in other ways, look for opportunities to build your credentials. Consider volunteering for committee work in a professional organization or association. Speak to your supervisor to identify new opportunities for you to gain skills at work. Your professional development is your responsibility.

Step Three: Create Marketing Materials

Ensure your resume, LinkedIn profile and other social networking streams represent your professional qualifications. Your resume should closely match the content you find in job descriptions. Never assume an employer will know you have a skill you do not list on your resume. Clearly outline your credentials via your skills and accomplishments.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile matches the information on your resume, and take advantage of the opportunity to use LinkedIn to expand on details you want potential employers to know about you. Not every employer will take the time to visit your LinkedIn page, but for those already interested in you, it is a good opportunity to provide extra information that was not applicable to your resume.

Step Four: Network!

Don’t only apply to jobs online. Unless you are a perfect match for those opportunities, you may find yourself frustrated when you do not hear back from employers. So many people apply for positions listed, it’s tough to get your foot in the door. However, if you use your time to network, you may win introductions for opportunities you would not otherwise know about.

Even if you have a busy schedule, you can turn to Google or LinkedIn at any time of the day or night to research people who work in places where you want a job. If you are already using LinkedIn, see if the companies that interest you have a presence there and determine if you have any contacts who work there or people who may be able to connect you to people who work there. Don’t forget to check out Groups. This is a great place to meet new people, and your busy schedule does not prevent you from connecting with new people who may be able to refer you to job opportunities.

Of course, in-person networking is a great way to meet people. Even if networking is via Zoom, make a point to attend professional organization meetings and go to online or in-person meetups related to topics that interest you personally. Say yes to invitations to interact with friends and family – even if it is online. All of these can be great opportunities to network with new people.

Move Forward Now!

Don’t waste any time moving forward with your career plans! If you don’t take steps now to jump-start your job search, you’ll never make a change. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help with your LinkedIn profile or resume.

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If you can demonstrate that you have the skills to solve their problems, you will position yourself to be competitive to land a new opportunity.

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Today’s post is a contribution for the annual Job Action Day. The theme is inspired by Mike Roweâ€s online commencement speech for Prager University. “He suggests, instead of following their passion, jobseekers should consider following the opportunities that are available to them—and then bring their passions with them to the job.”

Have you consciously identified a need to have passion for your work vs. considering your job a practical necessity? Do you let your bias regarding this impact your job search? Have you hesitated to pursue job opportunities because you aren’t committed to or excited about the work? Of course, the best career or job is the one in which youâ€re using the skills you enjoy. But, not every job needs to address all of your passions. It makes sense to use every job as an opportunity to learn something new and keep an open mind; you may find that you really enjoy something you never imagined would appeal to you.

Sometimes, however, a job can be just a job. Many, many people take care of problems at work not because they are passionate about what they are doing, but because they take pride in a job well done. It’s powerful to recognize work can be a way to make a living and doesn’t need to be steeped in passion.

If you are concerned that you should be more passionate about your work, here are some steps to take to make the most out of your current job, no matter what you do.

Evaluate your job.  Maybe there are parts of your job that play to your passions without you even recognizing it! For example, if you are in customer service, you may dislike handling problems all day, but solving concerns is something you really enjoy. Give credit to all the parts of your job that appeal to you.

Leverage your interests. Perhaps you can influence a change in your current work environment. If you’re in a job that doesn’t offer much in the way of upward mobility, consider offering to volunteer to head up an initiative that does play to your passions. For example, maybe you’d like to see your company recycle more, and you can offer to help work on that. Or, maybe you want to organize a collection to donate to the local food pantry. Perhaps you’d like to have a series of speakers come to talk to you and your colleagues. If you volunteer to set it up, your employer may support this effort. Just because your job may be static doesn’t mean you can’t extend yourself and try new things.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Job Seekers Make and How to Avoid Them.

Learn new things. Would you like to extend your career in a different direction, but you don’t have the resume to support the change? Identify what skills you are missing and take a class. Or, use volunteer opportunities to help get some experience. For example, if you don’t have any formal experience using management skills, managing that food drive or planning a speaker series can give you some of these skills.

Leverage your passions outside of work. If you donâ€t have a passion for your work, make more of an effort to enjoy your time outside of work. You may even find that newfound passion can become a side business that leads to work happiness down the road. Are you a creative person, but you work in an uncreative profession? Look for a hobby or take a class. When you’re not working, you have more control over how you spend your time, so be sure to tap into your passions. When you spend more time doing what you love, it helps your overall happiness, which will positively affect how you feel at work.

You may be surprised to learn you have an opportunity to include many more passionate interests in your job and in your free time than you may have realized!

The post Can You Uncover Your Passion in a Job You Don’t Love? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

This is a big mistake. Before you apply for any position, keep the following items in mind so youâ€ll be sure to provide employers with the information they need to decide if youâ€re a good fit.

Are You Qualified for the Job?

The easiest way to answer this question is to study the job description and to directly address the employerâ€s needs. Do not create a resume and other marketing documents without first identifying the most important connections between you and the job. Donâ€t assume hiring managers will give you credit for skills you donâ€t list. Include details and specifics about accomplishments and results. Donâ€t just say you have leadership skills. Include something that resulted from your leadership. For example: “Used leadership and management skills to reorganize team, resulting in 15% increase in productivity.”

Do You Demonstrate Good Judgment?

No matter what job you land, you will represent the organization where you work. Employers want to select candidates who are least likely to do anything embarrassing. When one ill-conceived tweet or Facebook post can make the national news, itâ€s not surprising that employers want to know that you have good common sense. One way to illustrate youâ€re a good fit is to maintain professional streams of information in your social media profiles. If an employer can review your Twitter feed without any concerns, youâ€re a step ahead of competition.

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How Well Do You Get Along with Others?

Whether youâ€ll be working with a team, or connecting with clients and customers, most jobs require working with people. Hiring managers want to know you have strong communication skills and arenâ€t prone to too much drama. Donâ€t cause an employer to think otherwise during the application stage by sharing unnecessary personal information or by volunteering details about past bosses or colleagues you didnâ€t like.

Are You Interested in the Job?

If youâ€re applying for your dream job, make sure the employer understands why you are well qualified and grasps your passion for the position. While itâ€s great to hire someone who is a good fit, itâ€s even better (from the employerâ€s perspective) to find someone with the skills and a strong interest in the organization and its work. This is especially true for non-profit organizations, where you may have a personal interest in the mission. However, you can also demonstrate a passion about a for-profit company. For example, if youâ€ve always loved shopping in a particular store because of the customer service you receive there, and thereâ€s a job opportunity that is a good fit for your skills, donâ€t hesitate to include a few details about your connection to the company when you apply.

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Luckily for you, all is not lost, even if you’ve never considered yourself an expert in the past. Embrace technology as your friend, and you too can be fielding questions from others in your industry as a recognized expert. It will take time and effort, but if you can accomplish your goal, it will be worth it. Follow these steps and you’ll become a go-to expert in your field.

1. Learn something new.
Even if you consider yourself an expert, there’s always something new to learn. Especially if you are transitioning to a new career, take advantage of online tools, where you’ll be able to learn information for free. For example, Udacity and Coursera offer various types of courses. You can learn everything from how to program code to developing a website or making a robotic car, often for free. Also, don’t underestimate YouTube as a source of information and knowledge. You can Google just about any topic and find someone who posted a video about it.

Social media is swimming with information and insights; don’t miss opportunities to use tools such as Twitter and LinkedIn; these are resources to enhance your expertise. Find out about industry conferences and determine if there is a hashtag for events that interest you. Even if you can’t attend, if you follow updates from participants, you may learn a lot. Follow industry leaders who are active online or who participate in online forums or groups.

2. Keep on top of salient topics in your profession.
If you want to be recognized as an expert, you must know about the hot topics in your industry. What are people discussing in your field? What problems are thought leaders trying to solve? What are the best solutions? If you want people to see you as an expert, it’s important to insert yourself in these conversations–and to join the conversations, you should first do your research and be clear about your opinions on these issues.

3. Expand your network.
You can’t demonstrate expertise in a room all by yourself! If you want to be considered a go-to expert, you need to have more contacts and connections. Look around: who in your network would be willing to go to bat for you or refer you for an opportunity? The more people you know who are able to speak about what you know and connect you with jobs or gigs, the better. If you have a close circle of contacts, plan to expand it by attending in-person meetings relating to your industry, volunteering for leadership roles and speaking up. In addition, use social media tools to expand the number of people who know, like and trust you. Join groups on LinkedIn and communities on Facebook and make a point to answer questions and provide resources regarding your expertise.

4. Find a mentor.
Even experts have mentors. A mentor–especially someone who is already well-respected in your field–will be well positioned to help you grow your reputation. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to impress someone who is well established in his or her niche who is willing to help shine the light on new talent (you!).

5. Showcase what you know.
Once you’ve built your knowledge base, grown your network and found a mentor, all you need to do is broadcast your expertise to as many people as possible. Luckily for you, there are many easy ways to do just that:

a. Use social media tools, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to share useful news and information relevant to your industry. Comment on articles and post links to useful information your colleagues will want to know. Be a resource and people are more likely to turn to you for your expertise and insights.

b. Publish your own content. Did you know you can publish blogs on LinkedIn? If you have an opinion about a topic, write about it and post it online. If you’re really enthusiastic about becoming known as an expert, you’ll create and manage your own website and blog where you regularly author useful, insightful articles. You can impress others in your field and attract attention.

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c. Organize online forums. Choose your favorite social media tool. It should be where you enjoy spending your time online and the tool most people in your industry prefer. Invest time and effort in creating a group or forum using that platform. For example, you may wish to start a LinkedIn group. If you prefer Twitter, it may make sense to start a regular Twitter chat. Launch a Facebook Live series. Invite others to join you and keep the conversations interesting and useful. Make sure your forum is a must-see for people in your field.

d. Identify thought leaders and make an effort to help them. Who is delivering keynote speeches at industry conferences? Who heads up industry groups or professional associations in your area? Every leader relies on people to assist and volunteer. Offer to co-moderate a LinkedIn group or volunteer to chair a committee. The more you engage with leaders in your field, the more likely they are to recognize your expertise and share your name with others in the field.

When you are able to leverage your knowledge online and in person, it won’t matter as much how many years of experience you have: your ability to hone in on important topics and to be a resource for professionals in your industry will trump everything else, and you’ll be recognized as an expert. Is it easy? No, but if you truly want to be a go-to leader in your field, it is worth it.

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Job satisfaction isn’t a typical state of mind for most U.S. workers, according to the The Conference Board’s 2015 Job Satisfaction survey. They found 48.3 percent of U.S. workers are satisfied with their jobs. While that is an increase of 0.6 percentage points from 2014, it still leaves the majority (51.7) of U.S. workers dissatisfied with their work.

If you’re over 50 and seeking a more satisfying work experience, you’re in good company, but you may face challenges many younger, job hopping workers may not see as obstacles. You could be worried your age will make it difficult to find a new position, or your salary requirements and family situation prevent you from taking risks that may or may not pay off in the long run.

How can you find that seemingly allusive job satisfaction? Take control and don’t let anyone tell you it’s too late to do something you enjoy in an organization that appreciates you. Despite perceived (or real) challenges, you can take steps to drive your own career bus, no matter what your age.

Determine What’s Making You Unhappy

What, specifically, do you not enjoy about your current job? Is it the work itself, the people or the company? What would need to change to help you feel more satisfied at work. Once you understand the problem, it’s a lot easier to search for a solution. Discuss your findings with a trusted advisor or friend. Is it possible for you to make a change to improve the current situation? Is there anything in your control that you can change? For example, if you’d like more flexibility, is it reasonable to assume you can get it? If your boss is the problem, can you negotiate a transfer to a different department? If there’s nothing redeeming about your job, start thinking about an exit strategy, but if there’s something specific that can make your current situation better, you’ll want to look there, first.

Would You Be Happier Working on A New Challenge?

If you’ve been doing the same job for a long time, you may be bored with your work. Do you really need a new job to get excited about work again? Perhaps, but if that isn’t your first choice, think about how you can make the most of your existing situation. Can you volunteer for a new project? Maybe you can suggest a new initiative and offer to head it up. Or, maybe there’s an interesting committee you might want to join? Find something that engages you and taps into your interests and you could be able to find job satisfaction right where you are.

Take a Class

Learning something new has the potential to help in two ways. New skills may get you excited about what you’re doing. Maybe you can learn how to do something you’ve always done in a new way. Simultaneously, your training may help qualify you for a new position. It could be your ticket to job satisfaction that has eluded you thus far.

Plan Your Exit Strategy

Maybe there’s nothing redeeming about your job, and leaving is the only way to achieve job satisfaction. Don’t convince yourself that your age prevents you from landing a new job. Age discrimination isn’t a myth, but it’s not something you can’t overcome. Update your resume so it’s modern and targeted. If youâ€re worried about age discrimination, donâ€t start your resume with, “Over 25 years of experience in ______.” Do not try to hide your age via a “functional” resume that mashes up your skills without detailing when and where you gained them. Focus on your most recent and relevant 10 years of work history and make a strong case for your candidacy.

Embrace Technology

Use social media to demonstrate your expertise and to connect with people who might be able to share useful information or introductions. Prepare to participate in a video interview, and make sure you’re tuned into what skills your targeted employers are seeking. They likely want to know you’re flexible and able to learn new things. However, they’re probably  even more interested in what you already know. Your years of experience are an asset, not a liability. Make sure you market your accomplishments correctly, and it will be easier to overcome potential objections due to your age.

Be Positive

It it easy to make a change, or to follow your dreams to a new position? No. Is it possible? Of course! It’s just a matter of how much work, time and effort you’re willing to put in. Don’t let negativity prevent you from moving on. Use your energy to identify and emphasize your unique value proposition. Be able to answer the question, “What makes you more qualified than anyone else for the targeted job?”

You are the only one who can make the change you deserve in your career. Don’t delay. Take steps toward career and job success and you won’t be sorry.

Todayâ€s post is in honor of Job Action Day,  a day for all job-seekers and workers to take stock of their situations and make plans and/or take action steps to improve their careers. Many of my colleagues are sharing ideas about how to find job satisfaction over 50. Iâ€m delighted to be invited to contribute and to suggest you visit other posts about the topic. 

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Running a business on the side can be a great way to supplement your income, but you want to be careful not to jeopardize your day job while you start your own business if you’re not ready to quit and be on your own full time.

Here’s a list of what not to do when you start your business if you want to be sure to keep your job:

Do not work on your side job while you are on the clock at your full-time job. This is a big “no no.” While it is challenging to accomplish everything you may want to do for your own business after hours, if you use company time, equipment or resources, you are asking for trouble. Use your lunch hour wisely and consider taking advantage of your vacation or leave time to manage important tasks for your side business that cannot be done after hours.

Even if you use a company phone or computer for personal use, do not use it for your side business, or you may be in legal hot water in the future.

Do not ignore non-compete agreements. Assuming your new business is related to what you do at work, be aware of any legal agreements you have with your current company. In the future, if your consulting business takes off, it’s best to make a clean break and maintain your relationship with your employer; you don’t want to gain a reputation of building your business on stolen clients. If you are lucky, the company where you worked will become a client, especially if you’re an essential employee they can’t do without.

Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with company policies regarding side businesses. Read your company’s manual. If there is a rule against having a side business, even if your business is not related to your current work, be prepared for the consequences. If you choose to move ahead and your new business is successful, it may be difficult to keep it a secret. On the other hand, if your side business does not compete or seem to interfere with your day job, you may face no resistance at all. Even if there is no rule against it, if you are building an empire similar to your current employer’s, and you can’t make a case for how your personal success helps the company, be prepared to be shown the door if your employer accidentally runs across your new website or reads an article about you online.

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Never share proprietary information from your current company to grow your own business. Can you say, “lawsuit?” You don’t want to launch your new business with the prospect of legal action against you. Be mindful of ethical rules as well as specific guidelines your current company expects you to adhere to so you won’t be in trouble later.

Don’t forget you can still look for opportunities to learn new things at work to help your future business. Plan ahead. It may be a long time before you are ready to leave your day job, or you may choose to continue to work for someone else while you maintain your business on the side. Think about how you can learn new skills while on-the-job. Volunteer for projects and position yourself to meet people who will be good contacts for you in the future.

Appeared on AOLJobs.com.

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Kerry Schofield, chief psychometrics officer at Good.Co., a self-discovery platform and network serving professionals who are looking for more meaning in their careers, suggests the following reasons why knowing yourself better will improve your job prospects:

1. Youâ€ll narrow down your options. Donâ€t focus on the most general factors about the job, such as whether it has the right pay grade, prospects and location. These are all important variables to consider, but many positions fit these basic, practical criteria.

Schofield notes: “Self-assessment can help us move beyond these questions to make more informed selections from the possibilities available, based on our individual personality and how it fits with the culture of the organizations we’re considering.” For example, do you prefer a more structured environment with hands-on guidance, or a flexible one where initiative is rewarded? Is it more important to have a supportive, friendly team of co-workers, or the opportunity to work as independently as possible?

Your personality will dictate your answers to these questions. “When you narrow down the options, it allows you to focus on quality over quantity – a smaller number of more tailored applications with a higher probability of success,” Schofield explains.

2. Youâ€ll know yourself better. You may prepare to discuss your strengths and weaknesses at an interview, but how well do you really understand them? “Youâ€ll want to assess any gaps in your skills, but when you look at these from the perspective of your personality and values, you can gain a realistic, genuinely insightful understanding of your true pattern of strengths and weaknesses,” Schofield says. The result? You will appear more sincere, mature and self-aware in applications and interviews. “Everybody has weaknesses; if we can demonstrate that we already recognize ours, and know how to ameliorate or channel them in a positive way, this will come across much better than a half-hearted stock-phrase.”

You will be better prepared for interviews, and when you’re honest about whether you’re a good fit for the job, youâ€ll have a better chance of landing the interview.

3. Youâ€ll avoid applying for unsuitable jobs. You can be more confident when job searching if you understand what has gone wrong in the past. If you keep missing out on positions that appear to be perfect matches, youâ€ll want to put your finger on what went wrong.

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“Self-assessment and an understanding of organizational culture and cultural fit can help us recognize the reasons why previous applications or positions may not have worked out,” Schofield says. “This knowledge gives us the tools we need to make changes next time around – we can learn more about the organization’s culture and our fit with it before applying for a job, for example, identify any potential mismatches in personality, goals or values, and plan for how to deal with this at the outset.”

4. Youâ€ll avoid surprises. Companies know the cost of making a poor hiring choice, and they are increasingly trying to identify and parse individual differences and match for cultural fit. While not all companies include a personality assessment as part of the application, it is not unusual for potential and existing employers to expect applicants and current to complete some kind of psychometric test, Schofield says.

If you understand the information and processes involved in psychometric assessments, youâ€ll have a head start on answering difficult questions and assuage concerns employers might have about your fit. The best way to do this is to take self-assessment tests yourself so youâ€ll be well-informed and prepared.

5. Youâ€ll improve your communication skills, and be a better candidate. Communication skills are key to qualifying for most jobs, and theyâ€re important when job seeking, too. “From reading between the lines of a job advertisement to presenting oneself effectively in an interview, self-assessment brings awareness of the way in which we naturally prefer to communicate,” Schofield says. “Are you bubbly, energetic and accommodating, or serious, thoughtful and straightforward?”

Understanding others’ communication styles and how they interact with you is just as important as knowing about your own. When you have a firm handle on your own skills, personality and interests as they relate to your job search, youâ€ll be a better candidate and more likely to land the job when interviewed.

Originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report

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There are a lot of reasons why people seem to be “out of sight, out of mind” at work. While a poor cubicle or office location can be an obvious way to marginalize someone, other situations also contribute to many talented people being left out in the cold. For example, if you telecommute, or if you absent yourself from staff social and networking events, it is easy for others to forget you when the time comes to pass out the plum projects.

How can you keep the spotlight on your accomplishments and potential if you drew a poor seat or aren’t in the office regularly?

Keep these tips in mind for various situations if you want to take charge of your career:

You telecommute

If you never see your colleagues in person, don’t be surprised when they forget about you! Use technology to keep in touch. Between email, IM, texting, phone calls and even video or Skype meetings, you can make it seem like you’re right next door, instead of two or three states away. When you don’t have true “face time” with the boss or your team, the onus is even more on you to stay engaged via FaceTime or another technology tool. No matter how busy you are, schedule regular opportunities to touch base to update your boss on your projects and to discuss plans for the future. If you fly under the radar, it’s your own fault.

You’re an introvert

Not everyone likes to attend in-person networking events or happy hours. Regardless of your preference, in some office environments, it’s clear that being engaged personally with colleagues and supervisors is key to success. Do your best to participate in staff get-togethers as often as possible, and consider offering to arrange opportunities to socialize that are more conducive to your preferences. For example, if every staff networking event is at the corner tavern and you don’t drink, think of more palatable alternatives.

Set up a co-ed staff soccer or softball league, a viewing party for a television program everyone enjoys or a book club. While these may still take you out of your comfort zone, at least you’ll have some say about the event if you are planning it, so it should be a little easier to manage. If the result is a great, casual conversation with your boss (or the boss’s boss) that lands you a great gig, it will have been worth it.

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No one knows you outside the office

Maybe you got stuck in a cubicle in the back corner because no one likes you at work. It’s time to expand your network and start impressing people outside of your office with your accomplishments and savvy. Turn to social media to meet people who don’t work with you. Find like-minded colleagues around the city, state, country and globe and exchange messages, insights and ideas. Post links to demonstrate you have your finger on the pulse of your industry. If you play your cards well, you could have some new job offers or invitations to apply for new opportunities without even officially seeking a new job.

Another way to get some respect if you don’t have it at work is to join your professional organization and begin to volunteer. Every organization needs and values its volunteers and leaders, so this is a great way to grow the number of people who know and like you and may be willing to refer you to a better opportunity than the one you have.

It’s up to you

Don’t take a poor situation at work sitting down. Be the squeaky wheel and let superiors know how you’re contributing, even if it is from around the globe or from the back cubicle.

Originally appeared on AOlJobs.com.

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A common (and perhaps not unfounded) fear among job seekers is the seemingly bizarre interview question that comes out of nowhere like an apparition.

For example, what if the interviewer asked: “What would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?” Instead of stiffening like a zombie and bemoaning all the “normal” interview questions you prepared to answer, think about the reason for the question. Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriottiâ€s Sandwich Shop explains why interviewers may ask this question and what theyâ€re looking for when they ask it:

Norwegian Cruise Line is known to ask those applying for marketing coordinator positions: “Do you believe in Bigfoot?” And what if the interviewer asked you: “Would you rather fight one giant monster or 100 small monsters?” Consider CEO of Konnect Public Relations, Sabina Gaultâ€s, reasoning behind this scary question:

“We use this question to gauge how candidates tackle obstacles and tasks. If they say they would rather fight one giant monster, we figure they are better suited to take on bigger projects. If they choose 100 small monsters, this usually means the candidate is good at multitasking and taking on many tasks at the same time. More than anything, we really are looking to see if the candidate has the ability to think outside of the box and on their toes. There really isnâ€t a right or wrong answer; we are really looking more at the candidateâ€s reaction to the question.”

Keep these key facts in mind when formulating answers to interview questions that seem off the wall. Interviewers want to know:

Are you comfortable asking questions, and can you think critically? Donâ€t hesitate to ask for clarification regarding the question. For example, Joe DeProspero, vice president of finance at Dave & Busterâ€s, explains that the company values a candidate who understands how to probe critically and get at the root of the specifics of such a question.

He notes how these questions help the company, “see if someone can think critically, whether they are comfortable enough to ask probing questions and if they can think on their feet. During the hiring process, I am looking for candidates who ask important follow-up questions to my question, such as ‘Why would you want to know this?’”

DeProspero also explains: “Often times, in finance, what someone asks for is not necessarily what they need. by asking questions, we can help them to better understand if we recognize the underlying issue. Above all, I look for a candidateâ€s eagerness to answer the question, as this is the way they will approach every task given to them on the job.”

If you need to reply to a brain teaser: It’s OK to stop and think before you answer. It’s also fine to ask for clarification if there are any details you don’t understand. The interviewer is trying to learn how you would act as an employee. Try to answer the question in a way that showcases the skills you have for the job. If the position is mathematical, use math skills. If demonstrating your creative side is more important, go that route.

When youâ€re prepared and know what to expect, your interview doesnâ€t have to be as scary as a scene from “The Shining.”

Originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report.

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