FAQs interview questions

People don't buy things…

We have all heard it before. It is written in every sales or marketing book ever written. People don't buy things they buy what those things can do for them. A man shopping for a 50mm bit for his drill, really doesn't want a drill bit, what he wants is a 50mm hole.

This should be at the top of our minds when looking for a new job. Your job, as the candidate, is to show the prospective employer, that you are the solution to his/her problems. Think about it as if you were sitting on the hiring side of the desk. What would you want to know about the person you were interviewing?

If you were recruiting for a receptionist you would want a well-groomed individual, who spoke well, and would enhance your companies image. The person would need exceptional people skills, a pleasant disposition, and the ability to work in an often-stressful environment when it gets busy. The person will need to be efficient and accurate, you wouldn't want them to take down the wrong number when taking a message.

When you think of it like this (from the hiring side of the desk), it is easy to identify what characteristics the interviewer is looking for in you, the candidate. They want to know that you are presentable. They want to know that you enjoy people, so include examples of opportunities you have had in dealing with people. They want to know that you are efficient and accurate, even under stressful environments, so make sure you demonstrate that you have handled this before.
Before you start looking for a new job, sit for a while and imagine that you were on the hiring side of the desk. What characteristics would you be looking for? Write these down on a piece of paper. Then decide how your personality and skills can solve these problems for the employer, and make sure that your CV shows this. When you are interviewed, emphasise these abilities to the prospective employer. You will be surprised how you suddenly understand why interviewers ask the questions they do.

It is all about making the interviewers decision to hire you, as easy as possible. It is your job as the candidate to show them that you are the solution that they have been looking for.

 
What To Expect During An Interview

Interviewing Strategies

A typical interview may take from only thirty minutes to an hour, yet it could determine your business career for years to come. Obviously therefore, it's well worth taking the time to prepare for the interview so that your confidence will be increased and you'll be able to make the most of your qualifications.

Your primary objective, of course, is to convince the interviewer that you are the most qualified candidate. You need to "sell" your experience, qualifications and ability.

If you make your living in a field other than sales, you may feel that you don't have a sales personality. But consider this: all of us are selling all the time. Every day of your life you are selling your views and ideas to your family, friends and business associates. Every time you persuade your colleagues to use your solution to a business problem you use your selling skills. All you need is a basic sales strategy that anyone can use.

Find out what the prospect (the interviewer) really needs; the package your product (your experience, qualifications, ability) meet those needs.

This sales approach involves more than simply listing the virtues of your product (which you really do when you prepare your resume). It means that you must evaluate all of your past responsibilities and accomplishments in terms of the position to be filled.

To use this strategy effectively for your interview, you need some advance preparation:

In partnership with your consultant, review your resume to be sure that it emphasises the experience and qualifications most pertinent to the needs of your potential employer.

• What makes you unique?
• To what do you owe your present success?
• What is your favourite hobby and why?
• What motivates you?
• What type of work environment appeals to you most?
• Are you willing to travel?
• Why have you chosen this particular profession?
• What do you like most about your current job?
• What has been your greatest challenge?
• What work experiences have been most valuable to you and why?
• Tell me about a situation in which you were under tremendous pressure and how you dealt with it.
• Give me an example of a time in your life in which you had to overcome great adversity to get the job done.
• Tell me about your most difficult decision and how you went about making it.
• Where do you think your interest in this career comes from?
• Give me a situation in which you failed, and how you handled it.

These questions will be used to determine how you interact with others, both your team members and users. Show yourself as a team player that can take initiative and drive prospects.

• Have you ever supervised people?
• What is your management style?
• How do you interface with users?
• How do you handle a customer or user who becomes irate?
• What would your management say about you?
• In this particular leadership role, what was your greatest challenge?
• Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your management/supervisory skills.
• Tell me about a team project of which you are particularly proud and your contribution.
• Have you taken/How do you take specifications from users?
• Describe a situation where you have with someone who was difficult, how you handled it?
• Tell me about a problem you have with one of your work associates.
• Which area of technical expertise do you feel is your strongest?
• Describe the type of manager you prefer.
• What are your team-player qualities? Give examples.
• When you take on a project do you like to attack the project in a group or individually?
• Tell me about your relationship with your previous boss.
• How do you take direction?

These questions will be used to determine not only your background experience and skills, but also your suitability for the discussed position. Don't be bashful. Thoroughly explain your background, experience and skills.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

What part of the project life cycle have you worked on?

Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your coding skills.

Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your analytical abilities.

Give me an example of a problem you solved and the process you used.

Give me an example of an idea that has come to you and what you did with it.

Tell me about a project you initiated.

How has your educational and work experiences prepared you for this position?

What is your most significant accomplishment?

Use these questions to explore why you are the perfect candidate for the vacant spot. Match your strengths to the job requirements, point for point.

Why are you interested in our organisation?

Give me an example of the most creative project that you have worked on.

What type of position are you seeking?

What makes you think you can handle this position?

Why should my company be interested in you?

What challenges are you looking for in a position?

What interests you about this job?

Be careful. The only reason to ask these questions is to determine why NOT to hire you. Make your answers as short and bland as possible. Remember not to disparage any past employers, companies or co-workers.

• What interests you least about your current job?
• What types of situations put you under pressure, and how do you deal with pressure?
• What industry besides this one are you looking into?
• With which other companies are you interviewing?

"Why should I hire you?"

Stress the areas on your background that relate to the challenges inherent in the new position. Meet the employer's description of the position point for point with your skills and experience. Emphasise your qualifications and your dedication to success. Discuss how you will bring this to bear for the employer's company.

"What are your weaknesses?" or "With regards to the job description, where do you feel your weaknesses are?"

Turn the question around and get the interviewer to disclose what he believes your weaknesses are. Use this opportunity to change the interviewer's mind. Give specific proof why the weakness does not exist or is not a factor in performing on the job. Describe strengths that compensate for any weaknesses that could affect your performance.

"Give me an example of how you could help my company."

Describe a project where you made a significant contribution and how it affected the bottom line. Emphasise results. Show how this ability transfers from your past positions to the one being discussed during the interview.

Tough Technical questions:

"How do you …………?" (You are not sure what the answer is.)

Never exaggerate or lie. Honesty will go a long way here.

1. Tell me something about yourself? (Start with the present and give a brief summary of achievements.)
2. Where would you like to be 5 years from now?
3. What is the most difficult situation you have had to face?
4. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
5. How could you add value by joining this company?
6. What do you know about this company?
7. What would you like to specialise in? (Technology, career path, etc.)
8. Why do you feel you are right for this position?
9. What are your strengths?
10. What is your weakness?
11. What were your reasons for leaving your previous company?
12. How would your friends describe you?
13. How do you handle confrontation?
14. If you were an animal what would you be and why?
15. What is your motto in life?
16. Describe yourself in one word?
17. What was your greatest disappointment?
18. Do you prefer to work in a team or individually?
19. Do you delegate work or do you prefer to handle everything yourself?
20. Who has had the most influence in your life and why?

1. What specific expertise or skill do you feel is most important for someone to succeed in this position/company?
2. What is the most difficult aspect of this position?
3. What is the first problem I will be solving (i.e. biggest or most difficult challenge)?
4. What exactly am I going to be doing?
5. Who will I be reporting to? What interaction will I have with him (i.e. do you see him once per week or 24 hours per day)?
6. How can I contribute to the team?
7. What would your expectations be of me in order to be successful?
8. Would a team player or an independent worker be more suitable for this particular environment?
9. Would the company offer additional training should this position require it in the future?
10. How can I improve on the person who held this position before?
11. What exciting projects does the company have planned for the future?
12. Company and company history (i.e. competitors, holding company, and structure of company)?
13. Ask to see the work place (it shows interest). (This would be more appropriate at a second interview.)
14. What is the company culture and working environment? (You should ask your consultant for a clearer indication of this, however there is always room for additional information.)
15. What is the company vision?
16. What are the future growth plans for this department?
17. Questions about the job duties, the company and its services show your interest.
18. Questions about people who held the position previously and where they are today illustrate your interest in the company's future and can keep you from making a wrong decision.
19. Questions about the importance of the job, your responsibilities and authority, and the career potential indicate that you are goal-oriented and motivated to succeed.
20. Questions that boost the interviewer's ego and give you an insight into general company morale are: "Why do you like working here?"

Your professional appearance and demeanour

Visual first impressions are important. Consider your personal grooming. Your own personal taste in clothes may not always be the most appropriate for a job interview. You are safer to err on the side of conservative attire. Try to appear as businesslike as possible.

The interview

Plan to arrive at least15 minutes early for your interview. Be sure you know how to pronounce and spell the name of the person who will interview your. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and maintain eye contact at all times.

Self projection

It almost goes without saying that the interviewer's first impression of you is very important. Whether you like it or not, many decisions are based on first impressions when you meet someone. Check your presentation now and be careful to avoid the following pitfalls:

The irresolute look - showing how unsure you are of what you are expecting, and avoiding eye contact.

Fiddling e.g. with hands. Turn the twitch or nervous movement into a positive gesture to demonstrate what you are saying positively but with style.

Posture - the general rule that sitting square in whatever chair is provided, upright and looking directly ahead is easiest to manage.

Waffling - take deep breaths before, during and after entering the interview room. Walk steadily to your place and take your time to sit down. Then look up, clearly waiting to be spoken to. Pace your words in reply, take your time to consider rather than rushing. Wait for the full question and do not interrupt.

Your attitude and tone are important. Answer all questions and enthusiastically. And remember your basic strategy: show how your qualifications, experience and ability relate directly to the company's needs.

Always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on an opportunity!

Close the interview with enthusiasm.

When you sense the interview is coming to an end, try to summarise a few of your key credentials, and stress your interest in working for the company. If you are really interested in the position, this is the time to say so and ask about the next step.

Don't be discouraged if the offer is not made at the first interview, or if an appointment for a second interview is not set at this time. At this point, liase with your consultant regarding the next step.

After the interview, there are three things you must do: review, report and write. Review what happened. Take a few minutes to summarise (on paper) what happened in the interview while it's still fresh in you mind. Write down the names of the people you met and a description of the job duties. Jot down the portions of the interview that you thought went well and those that caused you some problems, and communicate this in detail to your consultant.

Negotiating Salary

Salary is a sensitive procedure. Your consultant is trained and able to negotiate on your behalf. Trust that she/he will have your best interests at heart and allow them to manage this process.

When asked about salary expectations, remember to be as open and negotiable as possible - a commitment to a figure could overprice or under price you - allow you consultant to negotiate the best salary for you.

The Counter Offer

It is a natural instinct to resist change and avoid disruption and your present employer will be no exception. If you're doing a good job, he will want to keep you and will attempt to do so with a counter offer. Even though you have accepted a new job elsewhere, he will try to convince you that you have made a mistake. Counteroffers can be made in numerous of ways:

1. "We have plans for you that have been scheduled for implementation the first of next month. I guess it's my fault for not telling you."
2. "I want to let you in on some confidential information. There is reorganisation developing that will mean a significant promotion you within six months."
3. "We'll match your new offer. This raise was supposed to go into effect the first of next quarter anyway, but because of your performance record, we'll start it on the first of the month."
4. "The President and Vice President want to have dinner with you."
   

Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. So study this list, plan your answers ahead of time and you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.

What Are Your Weaknesses?
This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful."

Why Should We Hire You?
Summarize your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."

Why Do You Want to Work Here?
The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."

What Are Your Goals?
Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."

Why Did You Leave (Are You Leaving) Your Job?
If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me." If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?
What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?
It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."

If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?
Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?