GreatAnswerstoToughInterviewQuestions

Thenumberonewaytoacetoaninterviewistoknowyourself!Always completeyour researchbeforeaninterview:knowthe kindsofthingsyouaregoodat,thekindofthingsthatyoumayneedtoworkon,thekindsofexperiencesyouvehadinthe past,whatkindofbossyoudliketowork for, whatkindofcompanyyoudliketoworkfor,etc. Questionsthatrevolvearoundpotentialnegativesarealwaysthetoughesttoanswer.Prepareforthembythinkingabout answersaheadoftime.Typeupanswersorwritethemout,andreviewthembeforegoingintotheinterview. Itislikestudying concise,andthenstoppingandseeingiftheinterviewerwantstopursueitfurther. Thefollowingquestionshavebeenidentified assomeofthetoughestintheinterviewingbusiness.Thesearetheonesyou needto prepare for aheadoftime! 1. Tellmeaboutyourself. Probablytheeasiestdifficultquestionyouwillface!Itiseasytotalkaboutyou,butwhatdoestheemployer really wanttoknow? Trytalkingaboutpersonalcharacteristicsandskillsthattranslateintocareerstrengths. Developaoneminutecommercialfor yourself. Inoneminute,tellsomeonefromyourhighschooldaysupwardwhyyouchosethecollegeyoudidwhat youdidin collegeandwhyyoumadethedecisiontogointoyourparticularfield. Typicallytheinterviewerislookingforanoverviewofyourrelatedexperience.Provideananswerthatshowsalogical progressionthroughoutyoureducational/professionalcareer.Ifyoureducationalbackgroundledyouinacertaindirection, includethatintheoverview.Whilethismaybeseenasaneasyquestionforsome,quiteafewsolidcandidatesblunderedon thissimplequestion.Wearenotusedtosellingourabilitiesandcompetencieslikeaproduct.Forthosewhohavegivenit somethought,thisistherightopportunitytotalkaboutyourstrengthssuchasyourenthusiasm,leadership,selfconfidenceand reliability,withafewreallifeanecdotesthrowninto supportyourpoints. EXAMPLE: Ilovetojumpintoprojectswithbothfeet. Icanconcentrateonsolvingatechproblemforhours,althoughIknow toeffectivelyusemytimeIneedtoconsultmycolleaguesfortheirexpertise,andoftenconvenebriefprojectteam meetingsbouncearoundasolution,plotting itout, and preparing a presentation formyboss.Objectoriented technology[orany otherskill]ismynewestchallenge. EXAMPLE: Mybackgroundtodatehasbeencenteredonplanningmyselftobecomethe verybest________Icanbecome. LetmetellyouspecificallyhowIvepreparedmyself 2. Whatareyourgreateststrengths? Youcertainlyhavemanypositivequalities,butsinceyoucanonlychooseafew,becarefulasyouranswerwillalsoreflectyour values.Somemightsayhonesty,otherreliabilityorastrongsenseofleadership,butwhateveritmightbe,bereadytomake referencetoasituationwhereyouhavedemonstratedsuchstrength.Exampleshelpsolidifyandsupportyourstrengths. 3. Whatisyourgreatestweakness? Admitthatyouhaveaweakness,andthatyouaresuccessfullyusingastrategytoimprovethisweakareyouhaverealizedin yourprofessionalarrayofskillsandexperience.Thistechniqueturnstheweaknessintoastrength bydemonstratingyour commitmenttoselfimprovement. EXAMPLE: Iwouldsaythatmygreatestweaknesshasbeenalackofproperplanninginthepast.Iwouldovercommit myselfwithtoomanyvarianttasks,thennotbabletofullyaccomplisheachas I wouldlike.However,sinceIve cometorecognizethatweakness,Ivetakenstepstocorrectit.Forexample,Inowcarry mypalmpilotatalltimes sothatIcan effectively plan myappointmentsandtodo listitems. 4. Whatwereyourfavoritesubjectsinschoolandwhy? Ofcourse,ifyourmajorisComputerScience,youwanttomentionsomeofyourcomputerscienceclasses.Youcanmention otherrelatedsubjectsaswell.Forexample,ifyoureinterviewingatafinancialservicesfirm,youmightdiscusswhyyouliked youraccountingorfinanceclasses.Ifyoudidanyusualorspecialprojectsinthatareabringitupnow.Mentionanythingthat shoeskeeninterestsinthisemployersparticularkindofwork.
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5. Whychangejobsnow? Interviewerswanttonowyourreasonsforleavingaparticularposition/employer.Itisimportanttostaypositiveaboutyourpast experiences.Nobodywantstohireapersonthatcomplainsaboutpastemployerstheyfigureyoumaycomplainaboutthemin thefuture.Talkabout whyitwastimetomoveon,thatyoulearnedalot,youareseekingnewandmorechallenging opportunities, etc. 6. Whatmakesyoustandoutwhencomparedwithyourpeers? Employerswanttoknowthattheyareconsideringsomeonewhowillgoaboveandbeyond thecallofduty.Itiseasytohirea personthatwilldothattheyareaskedtodobetweennineandfive.However,itisbettertohireapersonthatmeetsallthe basicexpectations andmore.Provideexamplesofprojectswhichyouexcelledwith,ideasthathelpedstreamlineoperations,or newsales/marketingtechniquesthatincreasedrevenues.Ifyouputsomethoughtintoit,thereareprobablyseveralthingsyou haveaccomplishesinthepastthatmakesyoustandout. 7. Whattypeofmanagement/supervisiondoyouprefer? Thisquestioncancomeinmanyforms,butthemeaningisalwaysthesame:areyouabletobemanagedbypeoplewith differentstyles?Youprobablyhavereportedtomanagerswithvastlydifferentapproachestomanagementandsupervision, andhavelearnedwhichstylesyouprefer.Sinceyouprobablydonotknowthemanagersstyleattheprospectiveemployer, talkaboutthepositiveaspectsofeachstyleyouveencountered. 8. Whatdoyoulikeaboutyourcurrentposition?Whatwouldyouaddtomakeitmore challenging? Interviewersarelookingforpeoplethathavesomerelevantexperienceforthepositionoffered.Thisquestionallowsyoutopick theresponsibilitiesthatyouenjoyedthatarealsoincludedintheavailableposition.(I likethepeopleisNOTanacceptable answer,unlessyouaretakingthemwithyou!)Thesecondpartofthisquestionfocusesonwhatyouwanttolearninyournext job.Ifitwereavailableinyourpresent/lastposition,youwouldstillbethere.Think aboutwhatthispositionoffersandwhatyou cancontribute.Thisshouldmatchwellwiththatyouwanttolearn/do. 9. Wheredoyouseeyourselfin(X)years? Thismaybethetoughestquestionofthemall!Ifyouonlyhadacrystalball!Basically,however,Interviewersaredoingareality checkhere.Theywanttoseeifyouarearealisticaboutyourcareergoalsandthestepsyouwillneedtotaketoattainthem. Thebestanswersstartinthepresentandworkforward.Talkaboutyournextmoveandwhatyouhopetoaccomplishoverthe nextyearortwo.Thentakethatoneortwomoresteps.Mostimportantly,keepyourdreamswithintherealmofreality. 10. Whyshouldwehireyouforthisposition? Thisquestionisasstraightforwardastheycome.Ifyouvepreparedfortheinterviewaheadoftime,thisoneshouldbeeasy. Youranswershouldfocusonyourexperience,accomplishments,whyyouaredifferentthanyourpeers,andyourworkethic,as theypertaintothespecificjobdescription.Ifyouhandledtheinterviewwelluptothispoint,youarejusttyingitalltogether. 11. Whatbooks/magazinesdoyouread? Obviously,atechnicalortradejournalisoneanswertheyarelookingfor.Thebooksyouvereadtellthemanagersomething aboutyoupersonality.Whateveryoudo,dontsay,Idontliketoread. 12. Whatinterestsyoumostaboutthisposition? Youreducation,trainingandexperienceaswellasyouraccomplishmentsshouldprovidegoodreferencesforansweringthat question.Donothesitatetostressthefactthatthiswouldrepresentadynamicmove,whilegivingyoutheopportunitytogrow, toincreaseyourresponsibilitiesandknowledge ofthefield,andmaypossiblyhelpyoudefineandreachnewgoals. 13. Doyouworkwellunderpressure? Ofcourseeveryonewillsayyes,butitismoreconvincingifyoucouldprovideexamplesofsituationswhenyouhaveremained coolunderfire.Becarefulnottochooseasituationofcrisisforwhichyouweretheoneresponsible! 14. Ifyoucouldchangeonethingaboutyourpersonality,whatwoulditbe,andwhy?

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Maketheanswertothisquestionpositivebyreferencingyourattitudeanddetermination.CommentssuchasIamsometimes impatientwithslowperformersorBeingverydemandingofmyselforSometimes Iexpecttoomuchfromothersaregood. Keepinmindthatmostinterviewerswillusetheinformationyougivethemtoraiseevenmoreincisivequestions. 15. Howhasyoureducationpreparedyouforyourcareer? EXAMPLE: Asyouwillnoteonmyresume,Ive takennotonlytherequiredcoreclassesinthe_____field,Ivealsogone aboveandbeyond.Ivetakeneveryclassthecollegehastoofferinthefieldandalsocompletedanindependent studyprojectspecifically inthisarea.ButitsnotjusttakingtheclassestoginacademicknowledgeIvetaken eachclassbothinsideandoutsideofmymajor,withthisprofessioninmind.Sowhenwerestudying____ in_____,Ivevieweditfromtheperspectiveof____.Inaddition,Ivealwaystriedtokeeppracticalviewofhowthe informationwouldapplytomyjob.Notjusttheory,buthowitwouldactuallyapply.Mycapstonecourseprojectin myfinalsemesterinvolveddevelopingarealworldmodelof_____,whichisverysimilartowhatmightbeused withinyourcompany.Letmetellyouaboutit 16. Areyouateamplayer? EXAMPLE: Verymuchso.Infact,Ivehadopportunitiesinbothathleticsandacademicstodevelopmyskillsasateam player.Iwasinvolvedin_____attheintramurallevel,includingleadingmyteaminassistsduringthepastyearI alwaystrytohelpothersachievetheirbest.Inacademics,Iveworkedonseveralteamprojects,servingasbotha memberandateamleader.Iveseenthevalueofworkingtogetherasateamtoachieveahighergoalthanany oneofuscouldhaveachievedindividually.Asanexample 17. Haveyoueverhadaconflictwithabossorprofessor?Howwasitresolved? EXAMPLE: Yes,Ihavehadconflictsinthepast.Nevermajorones,butcertainlytherehavebeensituationswheretherewas adisagreementthatneededtoberesolved.Ivefoundthatwhenconflictoccurs,itsbecauseofafailuretosee bothsidesofasituation.Therefore,Iasktheotherpersontogivemetheirperspectiveandatthesametimeask thattheyallowmetofullyexplainmyperspective.Atthatpoint,Iwouldworkwiththepersontofindoutifa compromisecouldbereached.Ifnot,Iwouldsubmittheirdecisionbecausetheyaremysuperior.Intheend,you havetobewillingtosubmityourselftothedirectivesofyoursuperior,whetheryoureinfullagreementornot.An exampleofthiswaswhen 18. IfIaskedyourprofessorstodescribeyou,whatwouldtheysay? EXAMPLE: IbelievetheywouldsayIamveryenergeticperson,thatI putmymindtothetask athandandseetoitthatits accomplished.Theywouldsaythatiftheyeverhadsomethingthattobedone,Iwasthepersonwhotheycould alwaysdependontoseethatitwasaccomplished.TheywouldsaythatIalwaystookakeeninterestinthe subjectsthatIwasstudyingandalwayssoughtwaystoapplytheknowledgeinrealworldsettings.AmIjust guessingthattheywouldsaythesethings?No,infact,IamquitecertaintheywouldsaythosethingsbecauseI havethemwithmeinseverallettersofrecommendationfrommyprofessors,andthosearetheirverywords. 19. Whatqualitiesdoyoufeelasuccessfulmanagershouldhave? EXAMPLE: Thekeyqualityshouldbeleadership theabilitytobethevisionaryforthepeoplewhoareworkingunderthem thepersonwhocansetthecourseanddirectionforsubordinates.Amanagershouldalsobeapositiverolemodel forotherstofollow.Thehighestcallingofatrueleaderisinspiringotherstoreachthehighestoftheirabilities.Id liketotellyouaboutapersonwhoIconsidertobeatrueleader 20. Ifyouhadtoliveyourlifeoveragain,whatwouldyouchange? EXAMPLE: Thatsagoodquestion.Irealizethatitcanbeveryeasytolookbackandwishthatthingshadbeen differentin thepast.ButIalsorealizethatthingsinthepastcannotbechanged,thatonlythingsinthefuturecanbe changed.ThatswhyIcontinuallystrivetoimprovemyselfeverydayandthatiswhyIamworkinghardtobecome theverybest__yourcompanyhaseverhadtomakeapositivechange.Soinanswertoyourquestion,thereisnt anythinginmypastthatIwouldchange.Ilooktothefuturetomakechangesinmylife. 21. Whywereyoufiredfromyourlastjob? Ifyouwerefiredwrongfully,sayit matteroffactly.Donotshowagrudgeagainstyouroldemployer.Ifyouwerefiredbecause somethingthatwasyourfault,sayitinalessdamagingway.

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EXAMPLE: Icutpricesonourproducttomakeacustomerhappywithoutaskingmysuperior.ThecompanylostmoneyandI wasfiredbecauseofthat.IagreeitwasmyfaultIshouldhaveaskedmysuperior.Ihavelearnedmylessonand itwillneverhappenagain. 22. Itsbeen6yearssinceyoustartedyourbachelorsdegree,whyarentyoufinished? Beaspositiveaspossibleandexplainyourreasonscalmlyandlogically.Neveranswerthefollowing:youarehavingtoomuch funanddidnothavetime,youdonotthinka degree isimportant,etc. 23. Ifyoujoinourcompany,andanothercompany offersyoumoremoney,willyouleave?Or, howlongwillyoustaywithus? Ifyousayyes,youwillprobablynotgetthejob.Ifyouwant,youcantellthemthatthesalarywillmakeyouhappyandkeepyou withthiscompany.Forexample,youmightsaysomething like,IfIacceptthejob,thenthatmeansthatIalso accept thesalary andIdonotthinkIwillleave. Concerningyourlengthofemploymentlongerisbetter.Youmaywanttodiscussthatyouwantto stayatyournextjobaslongastherelationshipis mutuallybeneficial. 24. Whatarethethingsinajobthatmakeyoumoreproductive?Lessproductive? Remember,noworkenvironmentis100%perfect.Youcantpleaseallofthepeopleallofthetime.However,weadaptand makethebestofwhatwehave.Somakeyouranswerpractical. 25. Whyhaveyoubeenunemployedforthelasttwoyears? Youmusthaveasoundreasonfornotworkingsolongorhavingabiggapinyourworkhistory.Someexamplesofgoodreason wouldbe: Caringforasickfamilymember Raising children Lookingfortherightjobwhereyoucanreallycontribute(thiswill notworkiftheperiodofunemploymentwas anextremelylongtime) Trying out selfemploymentorowningyourownbusiness Returningtoschoolforfurthertraining Learningnewskills Exploringortraveling(forashortgaponly). 26. Atyourlastjob,youworkedatthesamepositionforfiveyearswithoutapromotion.Why? Avoidsaying anythingnegative.Tellthetruthinapositiveway. EXAMPLE: Therewasnotmuchgrowthin ourdepartment.Noneofthepeopleworkinginmydepartmenthadbeen promoted.ThisisoneofthereasonsI amlookingforanewemploymentopportunity. 27. Whatsalaryareyoulookingfor?Or,whatkindofsalarydoyouthinkyouareworth? Dontbetoospecific arangeisoftenmostcomfortableforeveryonetoworkwith.Evenbetter,askifthecompanyhasasalary scaleandbaseyouransweronthat.Remember,salaryisrelatedtomarketvalue.Researchyourworthbeforeyougetintothe interview.Also, interviewsarenotignorant. Research yourmarketvalueandgivearange EXAMPLE: Icheckedafewsitesontheinternetandfoundthatthe average salaryforawebdesignerrangesfrom45Kto 60K peryearinthisgeographicarea,dependingontheresponsibilitiesanddutiesinvolved.Iamnot setona specific numberandamwillingtonegotiate. 28. Howmanyplayersarethereinasoccergame? This typeofquestionhas nothingtodowithyourcareer. Right orwronganswersdonotmatter.Interviewerswant toseeifyou canmanagewithnonrelatedsubjects,andthinkonyourfeet. Theymightbetestingyourabilitytoreason,problemsolve,and utilizeresources. EXAMPLE: Iamnotsurebutmyguesswouldbeatleasttwoplayersoneachside,oneinthegoalandonetoplaydefense.I willputthenumberbetweensevenandtwelveoneachteam. Iwoulddefinitelywanttoconsultacolleagueofmine whoplayssoccerifthiswasagameshowrightnow usingphoneafriendisimportantsometimesinutilizing availableresources. 29. Doyouhaveanyquestions? Ifyouhavedoneyourhomework,youllhaveseveralquestionstoaskabouttheposition,company,orindustry.Having questionsalreadypreparedmakesyouappearmotivatedtoexcelintheinterview,andgenerallyorganizedandputtogether.If allelsefails,asktheintervieweriftheyneedanyfurtherclarificationaboutyourqualifications.

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