By James A. Gage

While many Americans realize that Social Security won’t provide them with enough income to get by, most people might not realize just how inadequate Social Security checks are. According to Social Security Administration average Social Security check today is for under $720.00 a month, which equals approximately 50% of averages retiree’s budget. The other percentages amount to this, 23% is attributed to ongoing employment, and final 27% represents Personal Savings /Investments.

In a study, Standard & Poors’ illustrated how Social Security benefits differ among individuals who were at various earnings levels before they quit working. Let’s look at some examples. Let’s say that John , Mary and Skip all retire at age of 65 in 2001. In their last full working year, John earned 20,000, Mary earned 40,000, and Skip earned 57,600. During their first retirement year, John received 8,988 from Social Security, which represents almost 45% 0f what he earned during his last year of work.

Mary, on other hand, received 12,768 from Social Security, or 32 percent of amount she earned in her last year before retirement. Skip collected 13,336 from Social Security, or just 23.5 percent of amount she earned in his last year of work.

As you can see, percentage of final year income that Social Security replaces declines for those who had higher income levels.

There are plenty of websites that offer lists of popular job interview questions, and knowing types of questions to expect can be very useful. But knowing how to answer those questions can mean difference between getting job and getting "reject letter."

HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

First, know these important facts:

1. There is no way to predict every question you will be asked during a job interview. In other words, expect unexpected questions--they'll come up no matter how much preparation you do.

2. Treat any sample answers you find, such as in discussion forums, books or on Internet job sites, as GUIDES only. Do not use any sample answers word for word! Interviewers can spot "canned" answers a mile away, and if they suspect you are regurgitating answers that are not your own, you can kiss that job goodbye. You must apply your own experiences, personality and style to answer questions in your own way. This is crucial, and it will give you a big advantage over candidates who simply recite sample answers.

3. Job interview questions are not things to fear, they are OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL. They allow you to show why you are best person for job, so instead of dreading them, look forward to them! The key is to give better answers than anyone else, and that's where your preparation comes in.

Now, take these actions:

1. Make a list of your best "selling points" for position. What qualifications, skills, experience, knowledge, background, personality traits do you possess that would apply to this particular job? Write them down and look for opportunities to work them into your answers.

2. In addition to any sample job interview questions you find through various resources, you absolutely must develop your OWN list of probable questions based specifically on job for which you are applying. Put yourself in hiring manager's shoes… what kinds of questions would you ask to find best person for this job?

3. Write down your answers to likely questions. Study job announcement carefully. (If you don't have one, get one!) Note phrases they use when describing desired qualifications. You'll want to target these as much as possible when developing your answers. For example, if announcement says they want someone with "strong customer service skills," make sure you include "strong customer service skills" in at least one of your answers. That will make a better impression than saying "I helped customers."

4. Review and edit your answers until you feel they are "just right." Read them over and over until you are comfortable that you know them fairly well. Don't try to memorize them; don't worry about remembering every word. Practice saying them out loud. If possible, have a friend help you rehearse for interview.

Be A (Short) Story Teller

Make use of this old marketing tip: "Facts tell but stories sell." During a job interview, you are selling yourself. Whenever possible, answer questions with a short story that gives specific examples of your experiences. Notice I said "short." You don't want to ramble or take up too much time; you want to be brief but still make your point.

For example, imagine two people interviewing for a job as a dog groomer are asked, "Have you ever dealt with aggressive dogs?" Candidate Joe answers, "Yes, about 10% of dogs I've groomed had aggressive tendencies." Candidate Mary answers, "Oh yes, quite often. I remember one situation where a client brought in his Pit Bull, Chomper. He started growling at me moment his owner left, and I could tell from his stance he wasn't about to let me get near his nails with my clippers. I think he would've torn my arm off if I hadn't used Schweitzer Maneuver on him. That calmed him down right away and I didn't have any problems after that." (NOTE: I know nothing about dog grooming; I made Schweitzer Maneuver up for illustrative purposes.)

Don't you agree that Mary's answer is better? Sure, Joe answered question, but Mary did more than that--she gave a specific example and told a quick story that will be remembered by interviewers.

In today's job market where there are dozens of highly qualified candidates for each opening, anything you do that will make you stand out and be remembered will greatly increase your odds of getting hired.