All applicants are likely to be asked some personal questions
on their finances, hobbies, personal and family plans, and special problems/needs
you or you family may have. Always
strive to project eagerness and interest, be a conversationalist by being
yourself.
SELLING SUGGESTIONS: Answer factual questions
as specifically as possible - emphasize accomplishments. For example:
- Tell me about your experience in the
Credit Department?
Poor response - "I
checked credit references and wrote up credit reports."
Better response - "I investigated the credit standing of customers by
studying credit agency reports, and checking banks and
other vendors. During the first year that I had this job the
bad debt ratio on new customers dropped by 40%."
Role-playing
with spouse, friends or family members can be very helpful.
21 QUESTIONS . . . and
good answers to help you master even the most grueling employment interview
Most jobhunters
make two devastating mistakes
when they are being questioned in an interview:
1. They fail
to LISTEN TO THE QUESTION.
They then proceed to annoy the Interviewer either by answering a
question that wasn't asked, or by giving out a lot of superfluous information. Leave that to the politicians - be direct and
precise . . and listen, carefully!
2.
More importantly, they attempt to answer questions with virtually NO PREPARATION. Even the glibbest person on earth, even the
most skilled debater can not answer questions off the cuff without damaging
his/her chances of success.
The Question Answering Rule says
-
"Answer
every question in terms of your background or qualifications or in terms of the job to be filled."
Be specific and emphatic. Prepare for tough questions. Anticipate what they will be. They will focus on reasons for leaving, quality
of performance and overall job function and personality. Be brief but factual. Write out your answers . . . refine them and
commit them to memory.
What follows are a number of questions that various surveys
have indicated are most often asked, no matter the job classification. Study them carefully, develop strong responses,
feel comfortable with them. Maintain
modesty while, at the same time, being sure to bring your strong points
out. Remember - if you're honest
you will only have to live up to the truth! If you present yourself in a self-confident but honest light your
candidacy will receive prime consideration.
1. "WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK HERE?"
Because you have done your homework on the company, you KNOW exactly
why you want to work here. All you must do is organize your own personal reasons into several short, hard hitting sentences:
- "You make the best product on the market today."
- "Your management
is farsighted enough to reinvest the company's profits so that soon you will
be the leader in our industry."
- "You are on the leading edge of
technology and that's where I want to be."
2. "TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF?" or "WHY SHOULD I HIRE YOU?"
The Interviewer does not want a lengthy
regurgitation of your resume. He or she is not yet asking for a barrage of facts and figures. The Interviewer
is interested in testing your poise and confidence. Give
them a SHORT, GENERALIZED SUMMARY. Pre-plan a five
to ten minute answer describing your education and then each job
in terms of accomplishments or performance indicators. Be on target
by mentioning the responsibilities that have direct emphasis on
the position opening for which you are interviewing. Close with something
like :
- "I have the qualifications to do
the job that has to be done, and my track record proves it"
- "I know that this is the job for me and that I will
be successful"
-
"I am sure you want to hire the best person for the position, and I believe that I am that person".
3. "WHAT INTERESTS YOU MOST ABOUT THIS POSITION?"
Give a truthful one or two word answer like :
- "The future"
- "The challenge"
- "The competitiveness"
This
type of response will force the Interviewer to ask you to explain,
giving you yet another opportunity to demonstrate your profound
knowledge of the company, its products, technology, etc.
4. "WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOSS'S JOB?"
By all means "YES!".
Ambitious, hungry people are always preferred over those willing to settle for a safe routine. If you sense such a direct
answer threatens your interviewer's security you might add "when I'm judged qualified" or "should
an opening develop in several
years".
5. "ARE YOU WILLING TO GO WHERE THE
COMPANY SENDS YOU?"
Obviously this is being asked because they may have
every intention of shipping you off - either now or later. If
you answer "no", you will, most probably, not be hired. If you answer "yes", understand that, once you are a trusted and valued employee,
you may be able to exert the necessary leverage to avoid a possible less desirable out-of-town
assignment.
6. "WHAT KIND OF DECISIONS ARE MOST DIFFICULT FOR YOU?"
Be human and admit that not everything
comes easily. But be careful what you do admit. "I find it difficult to decide which of two good workers must be let go." "It is difficult for me to tell a client that he/she is running his/her business badly."
7. "HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOU PROGRESS TO DATE?"
Never apologize for yourself. "I
think I've done well, but I need new challenges
and opportunities." This is
a good time to drop hero stories. "No one else in my company has advanced as fast as I have" or "I think you'd agree that I've accomplished
quite a bit in the last five years".
8. "HOW LONG WILL YOU STAY WITH US."
A reasonable response might be "as long as I continue to learn and grow in my field".
9. "HAVE YOU DONE THE BEST WORK YOU
ARE CAPABLE OF DOING?"
This is best answered with a degree of self-effacement:
- "I would be lying to you if I told
you I was perfect, but I have tackled
every assignment with all my energy and talents"
- "I'm sure there
were times when I could have worked harder or longer, but, over the years, I've tried to do my best, and
I believe I have succeeded".
10. "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?"
They are not looking for your
personal short term goals! You must know exactly what can and can not
be achieved by the ideal candidate in your shoes. Too many Jobhunters butcher this question because they have not done their homework
and have no idea where their career potential with this company can lead them.
If you see yourself at another company or in another department of the company
with whom you are interviewing, tread lightly. You can't afford to tell your Interviewer that you believe
you'll be more successful than he/she will be.?"
11. "WHAT TRAINING/QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS JOB?"
Deliver a short, fact filled summary of the most important (2 or 3) qualifications you
have that directly apply to the position for which you are applying. "I
have a background in accounting, I've demonstrated proven sales skills and I'm capable of handling
several projects simultaneously".
You may also draw on your "pre-planned" presentation (See Question #2). 12. "WHY DO
YOU WANT TO CHANGE JOBS?"
12. "WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE JOBS?"
This could be one of the Interviewers first questions.
Be sure you are ready to answer it satisfactorily. If you are currently in a dead-end job, locked out of advancement potential, explain this.
The interviewer will understand. If your job has become routine, void of learning experience, they will also accept that.
If you feel your present employer is losing ground to competition, through
no fault of your own, he or she will accept that too.
However, if you say that your salary is to low it becomes suspicious.
If you say you hate your boss, the interviewer will wonder if you'd soon
be hating him or her. If
you say you are bored, he or she will suspect that you are just another job-hopper. Use the "benefits" they are offering as the "reasons" you want to leave -
after all you are looking for something you don't have now . . . and they are
offering it to you! Explain to them why you want to join their firm
. . NOT why you want to leave your current employer.
13. "WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE
YOUR FIELD OF WORK?"
This is a tough one.
Kind of like `changing horses in the middle of the stream'.
Before you interview spend one hour and organize these reasons into a written statement. Memorize this explanation and be prepared to deliver it because
you will definitely be asked.
Your explanation should include:
a)
How your previous work experience will contribute to your new career path.
b) What excites you most about this new
field.
c)
How you came to make this career change decision.
14. "WHY WERE YOU OUT OF WORK FOR SO LONG?"
If there is a gap in your resume you must
be prepared to explain what you were doing in that period. Until you have satisfied the interviewers curiosity you will not even be considered for their
employment opportunity. If you were fired and have spent the last year looking for a job without success,
you will understand an employer's reluctance to hire you. If, on the other hand, you explain what you have learned or accomplished
during this hiatus,he or she will warm to your candidacy. For example :
- "I have taken several courses to
strengthen my skills in."
- "I used this
period to reexamine my goals and have reached this conclusion . . .".
The
Interviewer must have a positive explanation.
15. "WHY HAVE YOU CHANGED JOBS SO FREQUENTLY?"
This question is crucial.
In fact, an unsatisfactory answer to this one is among the top reasons for Candidates failing to
get jobs they want. You
must convince your Interviewer that your "job-hopping
days" are over. If you feel
you made a mistake leaving previous jobs tell him or her
so. At the same time remind the
Interviewer that your job performance was never in question. They will appreciate your candor. If something
in your personal or business life has recently changed and would affect
your stability in the future, come right out with the facts. They'll be anxious to hear.
16. "HAVE YOU EVER HIRED OR FIRED
ANYONE?"
You are being asked this question for
two important reasons. First, to determine whether you are capable
of performing these duties and, second, to determine if the previous
experience you have described was at a high enough level to
include hiring/firing responsibilities. If you have had no experience in hiring/firing, you must make a considerable effort to convince
the Interviewer that you are capable of performing in this area.
You may also ask"Does
this opportunity hold the responsibility for hiring and firing?"
before you answer.
17. "HOW HAVE YOU HELPED SALE/PROFITS/COST REDUCTIONS?"
Have your hero stories ready,
and be willing to prove that you have made significant contributions
in one or more of these basic areas.
Again, keep you explanation short, and try to include specific
dollar amounts. Factual answers for factual questions!
18. "WHY AREN'T YOU EARNING MORE AT YOUR AGE?"
This question, if asked unexpectedly,
can frighten the wits out of you. Remember that all things are relative and,
if you feel the question is not really applicable, you may simply respond by saying, "In my area of the country
and with my experience, my salary is considered quite favorable". Or, if the question has merit, you may respond with: "I have been willing to sacrifice
short-term earnings because I felt that I was gaining valuable experience" or "I have received (been promised) company
stock (or other benefits) in lieu of an increase in salary" or "I
have been reluctant to gain a reputation as a job-hopper, preferring, instead, to build my career on solid, long-term achievement".
19. "HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU SUPERVISED?"
Similar to the "hired and fired" question, the interviewer is
trying to determine the depth of your experience.
Be careful not to exaggerate.
20."WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR YOUR SUCCESS?"
It is best to keep this answer very general and short, thus
permitting the Interviewer
to probe more deeply if he/she wishes. Offer a short list of positive character traits that describe
you.
"I like to work hard" or "I get along with all
kinds of people and I know how to listen"
or "I pay close attention to details, I know how to watch costs
and I can keep difficult customers smiling". OF EXPERIENCE DO
YOU HAVE FOR THIS JOB?
21. "WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS JOB?"
See questions 2 and 11. Summarize
four or five key areas of experience which you
can bring to your new job. Specifically demonstrate to the
Interviewer how each one helps solve his/her problems.
For example, "My experience in new-product introductions will be very helpful
to your entire marketing effort" or "My industrial design background
will strengthen your sales-force capability in dealing
with large clients". Again - be specific and emphatic.
You must make each response your own. Using "our words", if you do not
normally communicate in this manner, will seem strange to the
hiring official, and it will be uncomfortable for you. It will cause a concern as to "what is
real" and "what is canned"?
The most important preparation is your own self-confidence. You must feel comfortable with everything you
say and do . . . that you are being yourself and representing your capabilities,
personality and individuality in an honest light.
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