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Remember, all of
these interview questions have more than one appropriate answer. If you are
feeling nervous about an upcoming interview, keep in mind that the hiring
manager gets just as excited about a potentially strong candidate as the
candidate does about him or her. Strong, qualified, motivated technical
people are very hard to find. Be direct, but think before you speak, and you
will surely get an offer.
Tell me about
yourself
Make sure you answer this question in a way that benefits the employer. They
are looking for honesty, integrity, being a team player, punctuality and
goal-orientated people. If you are going to talk about something, don’t
ramble on and on. Instead, talk about one of the subjects I've just
mentioned.
A great strategy is to ask: "What area of my background are you most
interested in?" Their response allows you to tell them what they want to
hear.
How would you
describe yourself?
This kind of question often stems from concerns about how workers your age
may fit into the workplace.
For example, the employer may wonder about your fitting in with younger
workers. Can you take direction from a younger supervisor? How will you cope
with a hectic schedule? How flexible are you? How quickly do you learn?
Take this chance to address the employer's unspoken concerns. You can:
Show a solid energy level during the interview.
Give examples of your flexibility.
Describe your technology skills.
Express your willingness to learn and to take on new projects.
Discuss positive, work-related attitudes, such as your enjoyment of working
with people of all ages.
It's also a good idea to present an up-to-date appearance. Eyeglasses,
clothes, or a haircut may need refreshing.
What do you know about our company?
Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time researching the
company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income,
reputation, image, people, skills, history and philosophy. Be able to
demonstrate an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the
company.
Why do you
want to work for us?
Don't talk about what you want; first, talk about their needs: You would
like to be part of a specific company project; you would like to solve a
company problem; you can make a definite contribution to specific company
goals.
Why do you
want to work here?
To answer this question, you must have researched the company. You need to
reply with the company's attributes as you see them. Cap your answer with
reference to your belief that this can provide you with a stable and happy
work environment - the interviewer's company has that reputation - and that
such an atmosphere would encourage your best work.
Have you had
any previous experience in this line of work?
Obviously, this will only result in a negative response if you have not had
any experience in the line of work for which you are applying, but it can
easily be turned into a positive. Make it clear that the reason for applying
for the position is so that you can gain experience in a line of work that
has been of interest to you for some time. Also, highlight any skills or
experiences you do have that are perhaps transferable to the position that
you are applying for.
How would you handle the following situation..?
An interviewer may often pose a scenario-based question asking you to
imagine yourself in a difficult or negative situation and ask how you would
deal with it. Below is an example of such a scenario and a model answer that
should impress an interviewer by showing your ability to priorities and to
"fire-fight" and not to become easily flustered.
You are a receptionist working on the front desk when all of a sudden a fax
arrives, several phone lines start ringing, clients arrive at your desk and
a courier delivers a package that requires your signature. How do you cope
with this situation?
"My first priority would be to answer the calls whilst simultaneously
presenting the waiting clients and the courier with a professional and
friendly smile. The calls can be answered and put straight through or be put
on hold, allowing me to deal with the client and the courier thereafter. The
people waiting in front of me are able to see just how busy I am, whereas
those on the phone will simply feel ignored if their calls are not answered
and may consider it unprofessional if their enquiries are not dealt with
promptly. Having successfully prioritized the visitors and the calls, I will
then be able to respond to the fax when there is more time."
What would you
do for us? What can you do for us that someone else can't?
Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving previous
employer problem(s) that may be similar to those of the prospective
employer.
Why do you
feel you are a better .................. than the other applicants?
This is not the time to put down other people nor is it the time to brag
about how great you are.
You have a few options. The first is to say something along the lines like
"to many people, being a ..................... is just a job. To me it's
something I’ve always wanted to be. Being a ................ is more than a
job to me? It’s a passion and that passion comes through in my work."
The other option is to say you never worried about being better than the
rest. You've only considered being the best you can be. Go on to tell them
you think your skills are the most valuable for the position and then show
them how you can use them to be incredibly productive and a great team
member.
You seem
overqualified for this position; why do you want this job?
The employer may be wondering if you are really looking for a higher-level
job. Will you be satisfied here? Will you stick around long enough to make
hiring and training you worthwhile?
Try to turn this kind of question around by responding to the real concern.
Explain why you want this job. Show why you want to work for this company.
You can de-emphasize the length of your experience, or the higher level of
your previous job. Stress the specific skills you have for this job.
You can also prepare a brief sentence to explain why you want this level of
responsibility now.
Why are you
leaving your present position?
If your current company is not meeting your expectations, you can often
explain this in a positive way. "I need to be challenged to develop my
potential further. I'm interested in additional responsibility and new
opportunity, which unfortunately are limited at (name of current employer)
because of (company size/limited product line/company restructuring or
downsizing). The reputation and market focus of (name of prospective
employer) offers many opportunities for someone with my training and
experience. It's the ideal environment I've been seeking."
How long have
you been looking for work/another position?
If you've been unemployed for a while obviously the employer is going to
think why didn't anyone want them in all that time? If they were any good
surely they’d have found a job by now? Also - always remember that
businesses are fuelled by innovation and solving customer's needs and
problems. They're not fuelled by the amount of hours their employees work.
You're not there to work 40 hours a week. You are there to reach and attain
certain goals. So, your best answer to the question is along the lines of:
I don't want just any old job. I’ve been using my days researching companies
I'd most like to work for and where I feel I could grow and develop my
skills and be a key member in the company's success. I’ve also been studying
and reading to give myself more skills to add more value to my chosen
career.
You might also go on to explain that you knew this would go against you
because of the length of time you were out of work, but you realized that
your whole future relied on what you did now and you were willing to take
that risk.
How would you
explain gaps in your career?
A number of people have gaps in their career for reasons that include world
travel, long-term sickness or simply inability to find a suitable position.
Each of these can be explained in a positive or a negative way. Positive
examples include:
World Travel - Explain how the travel was self-funded enabling you to
experience total independence and how you sought part-time and temporary
employment in the countries that you visited if necessary. The experience
provided you with an invaluable insight into different cultures and has
enhanced your ability to integrate into a multi-cultural environment.
Long-Term Sickness - As mentioned above, this is never something that should
be discussed with any feeling of shame or embarrassment. Feel free to talk
about your illness as openly as you like and explain that you used the time
at home as productively as possible, for example by reading literature
relevant to your profession.
General Unemployment - Sometimes, the right job is not available at the
right time and there is nothing that you can do about this. Make sure that
the interviewer understands that you were proactive in your job seeking
during this time making use of the internet, local recruitment agencies and
jobs papers to help find the most suitable job for you. Also, perhaps
indicate that the reason it has taken you so long to find a job is that you
are waiting for an appropriate position to come along rather than leaping
into an unsuitable role simply to remain in employment.
You haven't
worked for a long time. Are you sure you can handle this job?
You may have gaps in your employment due to family responsibilities. Perhaps
you've been a homemaker or a caregiver. You may have retired and then
decided to work again.
Memorize one phrase or short sentence to explain your situation. Then
emphasize the experience you've gained.
Have you done this work before? I don't see this job on your resume.
This can be a good place in the interview to ask which skills are most
important for the job.
Then, link your experiences to those skills, even if you've never done
exactly this job before. Give specific examples of what you have done. Show
how your past successes relate to this job. Don't apologize for having been
unemployed, retired, a homemaker, or a volunteer. Speak positively about
your experience.
In your last
position what duties did you perform?
This question is to see whether you are goal or task oriented.
Tell them what you did and what it meant to the company:
Part of my job involved typing letters to customers to nurture and develop
the value of our relationships with them. This involved establishing an
intimate knowledge of our customers needs. It also took up a lot of time but
I got around this by establishing a clever database for merging that sped up
the process significantly.
This shows you are goal oriented, that you believe in getting the job done
and not just in being busy. Some task-oriented people believe in simply
being busy. Employers desperately want goal-oriented people.
What motivates
you?
Whatever you do, do not say lots of money. We all know that money, power and
recognition are all basic motivators. But you do not want to appear selfish.
You want to appear intelligent and hard working and interested in doing a
good job, interested in giving rather than receiving. If you've held jobs
while in college or during the summers, be sure to reach from those specific
examples to illustrate the above.
"A job well done." "A challenge." "Interesting work/technology." Any or all
of these answers work.
If you think
you are such a good salesperson, sell me a new shirt!
In the past, hiring managers enjoyed springing this question on prospective
employees asking them to sell them a suit, a tie or perhaps even a computer.
If you are in sales, do prepare for this kind of question.
One of best responses we ever heard went as follows:
Candidate: What features of a shirt are most important to you?
Interviewer: I need buttons that won't break the first time the shirt
is laundered.
Candidate: What other features are important to you?
Interviewer: I want a collar and cuffs that don't fray after just a
few launderings.
Candidate: Is there anything else about your shirt that's a concern?
Interviewer: Yes, I am hard to fit, needing a 17-inch collar and
30-inch sleeve.
Candidate: If you have a hammer, I'd like to demonstrate how sturdy the
buttons on this shirt are. Then, if you have something rough like a nail
file or sandpaper, I'll illustrate the sturdiness of the collar and cuffs.
Then, as I understand it, if I can find you a dozen shirts with 17 inch
collars and 30 inch sleeves with these sturdy buttons and strong collars and
cuffs, you'd be willing to buy them all, is that correct?
What the employer wants to know: How well do you think on your feet (or in
your seat)? Are you creative? Can you take basic sales skills and apply them
to everyday objects? Are you easily stumped when customers ask unusual
questions? How composed are you in a sales situation?
What do you
consider your weaknesses to be?
When asked this question, it is perhaps tempting to say "I have no
weaknesses....." but this should really be avoided. An interviewer wants to
know that you are able to look at yourself objectively and to criticize
yourself where appropriate. However, it is important not to simply come up
with a list of what you consider your weaknesses to be, but instead to try
and reflect positively on these by outlining the active steps you are taking
to overcome them. Another tip is to avoid saying that one of your weaknesses
is to work too hard or to push yourself too hard. This answer is often
considered to be a cliché and sounds almost like it came straight out of a
poor book on interview techniques!
What do you
consider your most significant accomplishment?
Our personal characteristics are evident in most everything we do. This
question strikes at the very core of who you are. Your response will speak
volumes about your own set of personal values. Companies understand this and
screen for candidates having favorable interests and attitudes.
Answer this question using an achievement story directly related to the
company's greatest need. Paint a vivid picture of the nature of the problem
and how you got involved, the obstacles you overcame and the final outcome.
What the employer wants to know: This is not meant to be a breakthrough
technology or earth shattering event and it may very well be insignificant
in the eyes of others, but it presents the interviewer with a glimpse of
what the candidate is most proud of. Did accomplishing this deed require
taking a risk? What did this person have to give up or sacrifice in order to
succeed? What occurred in this one event that filled the candidate with
inspiration, drive, and the will to achieve?
What are your
biggest accomplishments?
Keep your answers job-related, a number of achievements should spring to
mind. Do not exaggerate contributions to major projects. You might begin
your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest accomplishments are ahead of
me, I am proud of my involvement with...I made my contribution as part of
that team and learned a lot in the process. We did it with hard work,
concentration, and an eye for the bottom line." Always remember to quantify
your achievements.
What changes
have you made in your life that you are most proud of?
This tells the manager more about your ability to take control of your life.
It illustrates your leadership potential, and suggests just how promotable
you might be. After all, if he produces a star, he looks good.
Have you done
the best work you are capable of doing?
A: Say "yes" and the interviewer will think you're a has-been. As with all
these questions, personalize your work history and include the essence of
this reply: "I'm proud of my professional achievements to date, but my best
is yet to come. I am always motivated to give my best efforts, and there are
always opportunities to contribute when one is alert."
Tell me about
a time you saved money for an employer or an organization?
Show the employer how you can contribute to their bottom line.
As sales manager with XYZ Company, I was concerned with the high costs
associated with the development of interactive multimedia through our
advertising agencies and graphic design studios.
I spent some time researching our needs, and found that with today's
technology becoming ever more affordable, multimedia tools are now more
accessible to smaller companies. In fact, much of the multimedia tools we
needed to produce very professional looking multimedia presentations for our
Web sites were already available on our desktop PC's.
Within a period of ninety days, I had our own in-house multimedia department
up and running. After our initial start up costs for staffing, equipment and
training, my efforts resulted in a 32% savings of $80,000 in the first full
year of operation. The best news however, was that project completion dates
were cut in half, and the faster turnaround times generated more income to
our marketing efforts.
What the employer wants to know: Companies are always interested in saving
money. The interviewer is looking for a logical step-by-step approach in
which the candidate exercised their initiative by isolating a problem and
effecting a cost saving solution.
How long would
it take you to make a contribution to our company?
You are best advised to answer this question with a question, be sure to
qualify the question i.e. In what area does the company need a rapid
contribution? Or, do you have a special project in mind you will want me to
get involved with?" This response could lead directly to a job offer, but if
not, you already have the interviewer thinking of you as an employee.
How do you
define success and how will you make our company more successful?
This is one of those make-or-break questions that determines hireability.
Based on your response you'll be ratcheted up the interview ladder, or
eliminated from further consideration.
This is a two-part question. Begin with your definition of success, such as:
I learned early in my career, it's the passion that drives you toward your
goals but it's the hard work that produces your success. I constantly strive
to improve my performance by questioning today, how I could have
accomplished more yesterday. This way, I'll always feel my next achievement
will be greater than my last.
Now to the second part of the question, how will I make your company more
successful? I am confident I can make an immediate contribution in the
following ways... (State brief examples of your achievement stories that
relate directly to the needs of the open position. This enables the
interviewer to gauge more accurately how your talents, skills and
accomplishments match up to the qualifications they're looking for).
Remember: You never want to talk longer than two minutes at a time. State
key points briefly, yet thoroughly. If the interviewer needs more
information, they'll ask.
What the employer wants to know: The interviewer wants to see if the
candidate has placed the company's interests before their own. For example:
Has the candidate adequately researched the company to determine how they
can help solve a problem, increase profits, or reduce costs? What
value-added benefit will this candidate contribute to the organization? Are
the candidate's prior achievements indicative of how successful he or she
will be in this position?
The interviewer will also try to assess your enthusiasm, confidence and
ambition in determining whether you'll fit within their organization's
culture and work environment.
Tell me about
a conflict you encountered and how you handled it?
This is one of the toughest interview questions of all. It's sort of a trick
question, as a matter of fact. Never speak negatively about anyone. The
ability to successfully resolve conflicts is important for all members of an
IS team.. It may be the most important factor if you're working in a service
environment, such as a large consulting firm that deals with outside
clients. The answer you give here could go a long way toward getting you a
job offer. Managers want to see that you are mature and unselfish. The
answer should involve proof of your maturity level. They are looking for
your ability to handle conflict. Compromise and working it out without
external intervention are the keys. A disgruntled person is not going to be
productive, and tends to bring down coworkers' morale as well.
"I sat down with the other person and asked what his issues were. Then I
outlined my issues. We talked about which were the most important ones and
which we could compromise on. We looked for the common aspects of our goals
and placed those first. Then we decided together what to give up and what to
keep, so that both parties felt they were winning something. Both parties
were satisfied."
Describe a
situation that required a number of things to be done at the same time. How
did you handle it? What was the result?
In answering this question, you want to choose an example from your
experiences that highlights your initiative, your drive and determination to
accomplish a task. Explain how you prioritized the items and calculated what
you would need to complete the jobs on time. Did you recruit other team
members or temporary help? Did you "farm-out" some of the work to a quick
print shop or a secretarial service? Did you organize a team of people in
such a way that all of the elements could be completed and you could combine
them for the finished products? Even if you were a team member on such a
combination of projects, you could describe how your role, ideas or
suggestions were instrumental in helping complete the work on time.
What the employer wants to know: He/she is looking for your initiative and
ability to work under pressure. Every company has deadlines to meet and
often the deadlines put everyone under extreme stress. How you handle this
stress, organize or prioritize, shows a potential employer how valuable you
can be to his/her organization.
How do you
handle stress?
Notice how this question is subtly different to "can you handle stress?"
Reply with: "I break my work down into smaller steps and work through those
steps rather than get worked up over the bigger picture."
Or: "I tend to see problems arising before they become too large to handle
and I make contingencies to cover them."
Can you work
under pressure?
You might be tempted to give a simple yes or no answer, but don't. It
reveals nothing and you lose the opportunity to sell your skills. Actually,
this common question comes from an unskilled interviewer, because it is
closed and does not give you the chance to elaborate. Whenever you are asked
one of these, provide a brief yet comprehensive answer and seize the
opportunity to sell yourself. For example, you could say: "Yes, I usually
find it stimulating. However, I believe in planning and time management in
order to reduce panic.
Discuss a time
when your integrity was challenged. How did you handle it?
This is a difficult question and needs to be answered carefully. You don't
want to appear as a whiner or someone who runs to the boss whenever another
person questions you. Reflect on your career to date. Can you think of any
incident that occurred where someone questioned your motives or behavior?
Were you ever accused of stealing something from work - even something minor
like pencils or paper? Using the copy machine to print personal documents?
Using the phone at work for personal calls or using work time for personal
matters? If you have had your integrity questioned, you need to explain what
happened and how you successfully responded to the situation. Be positive!
Who accused you and how serious the accusation was will determine how you
answer. How you handled these types of accusations is often more important
than the actual accusation. For example, you could say that a co-worker
thought you were using the copy machine for personal use when in actuality
you were printing the information for the company golf tournament. When you
explained this to your accuser and to the boss, everyone had a good laugh
about it. Don't point fingers at your co-worker or a boss; just explain the
situation had a good outcome.
What the employer wants to know: For some strange reason, people sometimes
feel the need to confess some deep secret in their life when they are being
interviewed. They will let their anger at a situation get the better of them
and start ranting and raving about how they were unjustly accused of
something. That's exactly why the interviewer asks this type of question.
She's/he's trying to learn something about your personality as well as your
honesty and integrity. That's why it's so important to be prepared for these
types of questions so that you can answer honestly and unemotionally.
What would you
like to be doing five years from now?
The safest answer contains a desire to be regarded and a true professional
and team player.
What are you
looking for in your next job?
Avoid saying what you want the company to give you. You must say what you
want in terms of what you can give to your employer. The key word in the
following example is "contribution": "My experience at XYZ PLC has shown
that I have a talent for motivating people. This is demonstrated by ... I am
looking for an opportunity to continue that kind of contribution, and a
company where I can develop in a professional manner."
What
disadvantages can you see in working for us?
Be honest in this situation - if you genuinely believe that there will be
any disadvantages then talk about them but make sure that you have done your
homework and know enough about the company to pass judgment. Also, do not
simply be negative about the company - if there are disadvantages, explain
how you would overcome these and, if possible, how you have overcome similar
situations in the past.
How do you
manage your workweek and make realistic deadlines?
Using examples from your current or past jobs, describe how you allocate
time. If you are in sales, do you reserve Monday for cold calling, Tuesday
through Thursday for sales calls and Friday for administration? Do you
reserve an hour a day for planning? Do you set aside a certain period each
day for interruptions or unanticipated meetings or setbacks? Be as specific
as possible if you are interviewing for the same type of job that you
currently have or have had. Otherwise, you will need to have elicited a lot
of information from the interviewer (or your informational interviews) about
the particular position and what it might entail so that you can accurately
answer this question.
If you've been successful in your past jobs in organizing your time (even if
you were a student or housewife) mention specific examples of how you plan
your day and week and how that led to efficient use of your time and success
on the job. A student, for example, needs to balance class time with study,
plus sports or a part-time job or both. A housewife often manages her
husband's, and children's schedules in addition to her own. You want to make
the connection between whatever you have done in the past and the current
job opening so that the interviewer can be convinced that you can handle the
time requirements of the job.
What the employer wants to know: Are you well organized? Do you manage your
time well? Do you follow a time management system? How well do you plan
ahead? He/she wants to know if you set reasonable expectations and goals for
yourself and know how to achieve those goals within a reasonable amount of
time.
What did you
like/dislike about your last job?
Interviews may start with a preamble by the interviewer about his company.
If this happens pay attention; this information will help you answer the
question. Any statement the interviewer makes about the job or corporation
can be used to your advantage. Use this to highlight all your positives
points
Note: criticizing a previous employer is a warning sign that you could be a
problem employee. Keep your answers short and positive.
How are you on
punctuality? What's your sickness record like?
It may well be tempting to give the interviewer a glowing record of your
perfect timekeeping and your complete lack of illness over a given period of
time. However, it is important to remember that the interviewer will most
likely be seeking references from your former employers and these are just
the kind of facts that they may well check up on. If you have been absent
from work for significant illnesses, do not be embarrassed by this - the
interviewer will understand that people do fall ill from time to time and as
long as they are given no reason to suspect that the illness was contrived,
you should have nothing at all to be worried about.
Punctuality is very important in any job as it demonstrates your commitment,
dedication and loyalty to the company. If you have had a poor record of
punctuality in the past, you must be sure not to try to hide this but to
explain that, despite your track record, you are more than aware of the
importance of punctuality in ensuring that all daily deadlines and workloads
are achieved and that you are able to offer 100% commitment.
Are you
interviewing at any other companies?
You want the manager to know that you're extremely interested in his
opportunity, but are keeping your options open.
"Yes, Mr. X, but at this point XYZ is my first choice."
What are your
salary requirements?
The use of the word "offer" is critical. It's a subliminal message that an
actual job offer is what you are discussing, not just your salary needs in
general.
"Salary is not my primary consideration. Of course, I have to pay the bills.
I'd be open to any reasonable offer." Pause and maintain direct eye contact,
even if it seems like forever. Do not be the first one to flinch. Do not
over-talk. Be prepared for a long silence. Let the manager be the first to
present a figure. It will give you power and control.
If forced to give a specific number, never give a broad range -- you will
usually be offered the low end. Instead, be as precise as possible: "I'd be
open to something in the low-fifties (or mid-forties, high-seventies,
whatever)." Giving such a specific number presumes you've researched the
local job market and know what entry-level people with your skills are
making.
How long would
you stay with the company?
The interviewer might be thinking of offering you a job. But, employers are
aware that the marketplace is such that new hires often do not stay with the
company more than two years. Your reply might be: "I would really like to
settle down with this company. As long as I am growing professionally, there
is no reason for me to make a move."
Have you ever
been fired?
Try to answer "NO."
If you have been and are asked about it, explain why, and what you learned
from the experience. If other people were fired with you or resigned because
of a change in management, or were laid off due to off shoring then explain
that as well.
Can we check
your references?
This question is often asked to put you off-guard. This is especially true
if you come across as being too perfect, or too smooth.
If you already have a job and are considering changing tell the interviewer
they can check your references if you receive a firm job offer, as you want
to keep matters confidential for the moment.
If they want to check your present employer for a reference, make sure they
give you a written job offer first. The last thing you need is to miss out
on the job and arrive back at work to find your present employer finding
ways to dismiss you for lack of loyalty.
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