Important Interview Questions and Your Answers
- At the Beginning of the interview, after the
hand shake and pleasantries say "...you know, I haven't interviewed in a long
time.. if everything goes well today, what is the next step?"
- At the End of the interview when asked "do you
have an questions of me or about the company?" Ask: "What is the number One
thing I can do when I start here, to relieve your immediate workload?"
* Note: a favorite method I use to remember all
these is take a Steno pad in the interview with you with the answers to the
questions already written out. A "cheat sheet" if you will, except in an
interview there is no such thing as cheating. The Steno pad method works well,
especially under pressure, you won't forget anything. It is also good for
taking your own notes - in many ways you are discreetly interviewing the
company as well.
"KnockOut" Questions
Skilled managers know exactly what kind of
information they are after, and they are skilled at getting it. Among their most
deadly weapons are "knockout" questions designed to quickly separate the
prospects from the washouts. Here is a sample of some of the most grisly
questions and how to handle them.
"What did you like or dislike about your last job?"
Job hunters must convey the idea that they liked their job; no one wants to hire
a malcontent. You are looking for a new position because you want a bigger
challenge.
"Have you done the best work you are capable of doing?"
Say "yes" and you've labeled yourself a has-been. It's better to
express pride in your accomplishments but let the interviewer know your best
efforts are yet to come.
"How much money do you want?" Give
the wrong answer - either too low or too high - and you are immediately
eliminated. Instead, tell the interviewer that you expect to get a salary
commensurate with your experience. Turn the table: "What figure did you have in
Mind?" If working with a recruiter, you may already know the salary range, in
which case is would be acceptable to use such a range. "I understand the range
is 65-75,000 plus incentives, which is in my range".
"Why should I hire you?" Relate your
skills to the needs of the company. Finish with something like this: ".... I
have the qualifications, I'm a team player, I take direction and I have the
desire to make a thorough success" In today's society and job market, character
traits weigh heavily into a hiring decision as well. Always incorporate into an
answer such traits as "I have an excellent work ethic" or "My job stability is
reflected in the fact that this will be my third job in the past 15 years" or "I
excel at multitasking" Whatever positive character traits you possess, make sure
the interviewer knows you have them - he can't read your mind. (be honest too)
"What is your greatest weakness?"
Decline the invitation to put your head in a noose. Give an answer that actually
is positive, such as: "I find it frustrating when others don't pull their own
weight. I try to overcome this weakness by a positive attitude that I hope will
catch on".
"Why aren't you earning more at your age?"
Take this as a compliment to your skills and accomplishments.
Your reply: "I have always felt that solid experience would stand me in good
stead in the long run. How much should I be earning now?"
"Why did you leave your last job?"
There are ONLY six acceptable answers to this question - Challenge, Location,
Advancement, Money, Prestige or Security. Your answer must be tied to one or
more of them.
"What interests you least about this job?"
Defuse this potential explosive question by picking
some mindless duty, such as filing, that everyone groans about.
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