Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.

Robert McAfee Brown

Do not think storytelling is of no use to a job seeker. In fact, it can be your hero during a job interview because:

It is an excellent way of impressing the employer.

It shows your strong communication skills.

It is compelling than a mere recitation of facts.

It will help the employer remember you long after the interview.

Storytelling is ideal for behavioral interview questions. Such questions usually begin with “What would you do if…” or “Tell me about the time when…” They are a part of every interview. The questions allow the employer to evaluate your past behavior in relation to your skills and qualifications.

So, before you step into the interview room, you should prepare your stories for the following most common type of behavioral interview questions:

What happened when you took the lead on a difficult

Describe a time when you had to be a part of a team.

What would you do if you had to handle conflict in work place?

Do you work well under pressure? Give me an example.

Tell me about a time when you failed.

Discuss a story about your biggest professional success.

How to create Effective Stories for the Interview?

An employer can ask several behavioral interview questions. But, that does not mean you have to slog for endless hours and prepare stories for all the possible questions. Following tips will help you ace the interview:

Prepare stories for the most common type of behavioral interview questions. >>Find out the specific qualities that the employer is looking for and then prepare stories that highlight the same qualities.

When the employer asks you to describe an event or wants to tell you a story that highlights your qualities and skills, you should be able to tell an effective and enticing story that captures his/her mind share. Use the S.T.A.R. method to organize your answers.

S Situation

It is ideal to start your answer by providing a concise and specific description of the situation. It should provide adequate background to the rest of your story.

T Task

Describe the task in detail and mention the challenges that you had to face to complete the task. Do not fail to provide clear understanding of what was required of you.

A Action

Once you have explained the task at hand, it is time to explain the action that you took for completing the task. Remember to highlight qualities and skills that will make you desirable.

R Results

End your answer with result of your action. Provide clear description of your accomplishment and the reaction of your past employer. It is ideal to quantify your accomplishment – e.g. “reduced cost by 20%…”

Remember that if you want to ace the interview, you need to impress the employer by effective storytelling. Do not forget to use the S.T.A.R. method to create logical and meaningful stories.

Want a job in the IT sector? Worried about your interview skills? Optimal Infosystems, the Iselin-based IT staffing company will provide you with valuable career tips and find you the best job.

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The Pennsylvania child support guidelines presume that a non-custodial parent will have custody of the children for 30 percent of the overnights in a calendar year. This 30 percent presumption is built into the child support formula and applies even if the non-custodial parent has the children for less than 30 percent of the overnights. In fact, even a non-custodial parent who has been denied visitation to the children is required to pay child support, as calculated pursuant to the PA child support guidelines. In this respect, child custody and the obligation to pay child support are not linked. A parent is obligated to pay child support whether or not he or she is allowed to see the child, and a parent who denies the non-custodial parent access to the children for failing to pay child support may be found in contempt.

What if the non-custodial parent has custody of the children in excess of 30 percent of the overnights in a calendar year?

Where the non-custodial parent has custody of the children in excess of 30 percent of the overnights in a calendar year, the non-custodial parent may be entitled to a reduction in the amount of child support she or he is obligated to pay. The Pennsylvania child support guidelines provide that “[w]hen the children spend 40% or more of their time during the year with the [parent who pays child support], a rebuttable presumption arises that [she or he] is entitled to a reduction in the basic support obligation to reflect this time.” Pa. R.C.P. No. 1910-16.4(c)(1). The reduction is equal to the percentage of actual overnights that are in excess of 30 percent.

For example, assume Parent A and Parent B have two children. Parent B has primary custody and has a monthly net income of $2,300. Parent A has custody the children 30 percent of the time and has a monthly net income of $5,000. Under the Pennsylvania child support guidelines, the total monthly basic support obligation for the couple’s two children is $1,663, with non-custodial Parent A obligated to pay 68 percent ($1,131) of that amount in child support.

However, if Parent A has the children for 40 percent of the overnights, the guidelines create a rebuttable presumption that she or he is entitled to a reduction in the basic support obligation to reflect this time. Because the basic support obligation is based on the non-custodial parent having 30 percent of the overnights, Parent A is entitled to a 10 percent (40 percent minus 30 percent) reduction in child support. Thus, instead of paying 68 percent ($1,131) of the basic support obligation in child support, Parent A will pay 58 percent (68 percent minus 10 percent) or $965 in child support to Parent B.

Is the obligation to pay child support eliminated when custody is split 50/50?

No. The obligation to pay child support is not eliminated when the parents share custody equally, or “50/50.” As in the example above, Parent A’s basic child support obligation reduction is equal to the percent of actual overnights in excess of 30 percent: 68 percent (basic support obligation) minus 20 percent (percent of overnights in excess of 30 percent) equals 48 percent or $798. Child support is not eliminated in this scenario because under Pennsylvania law, children are entitled to the same lifestyle in both parents’ households, and the higher-earning parent is still obligated to pay child support to that end.

If you have questions about the PA child support guidelines, schedule a consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania family law attorney for straightforward answers and guidance.

Article provided by Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C.
Visit us at www.pafamilylawyers.com

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