Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Interviewers use a variety of approaches and questions to learn more about you. Some are very prepared and skillful and some are less so. Some are friendly and animated; others show little or no reaction to what you say. Some will ask pointed, rapid-fire questions while a few will tend to ramble and tell irrelevant stories. Whatever the style, never let your guard down. Look the interviewer directly in the eye and respond as positively and as confidently as you can.
A sample of points to consider and some questions you may encounter follow.They are by no means all inclusive but they should help you:
Be able to explain any “red flags” on your resume. To counter – and defuse – potential objections to your background, be able to address questions that might arise over them.
For example, if you held several jobs over a span of a few years, you should have a good explanation for making those moves. Furthermore, if you were laid off, forced to resign or fired, you should have a factual, concise “reason for leaving” statement. Never lie. Your statement must be truthful and acceptable to you, and to your previous and prospective employers.
Do assure the interviewers that you are eager to make a long-term commitment to your next employer based on a desire for further growth and development.
Why are you looking to make a change now? Emphasize your desire to acquire more responsibility, take on more challenges or grow professionally, etc. Never, never complain about or criticize previous or current employment situations. Interviewers always pick up on even the slightest “negative attitude” and more often than not will sour on you as a candidate.
When discussing your work history, avoid “complete responsibility” because the word “complete” implies no one else deserves credit or blame. Instead, describe your accomplishments in terms of team efforts.
Salaries and benefits. Compensation and benefits should never be mentioned in an interview as a reason for considering a job change. Prospective employers are only interested in gauging your interest in the job itself and the inherent challenges and opportunities it presents.
Whether you know or don’t know what the job pays, never ask. If, however, the interviewer asks you what you are earning currently, answer truthfully. If he/she asks what you are looking for, don’t paint yourself into a corner by quoting a particular figure or a specific range. Instead, simply state that “this is an attractive job and, based on my years of experience and credentials, I would hope to receive the best possible offer.” Time for negotiating occurs when an offer actually is made.
What has been your most noteworthy achievement in your present job?
Give a specific example in which you identify a situation and the tasks you faced, the actions you took and the results that occurred. Try to quantify your results and, if possible, relate them to your interviewer’s needs.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Discussing your strengths (where you can highlight the qualities and skills the organization values and that will help you succeed in this particular job) is far easier than explaining a weakness. However, when identifying a weakness, be pro-active and balance that shortcoming by citing any self-improvement efforts (such as enrolling in a bachelors or masters program, becoming a member of a professional association or signing up for an educational seminar).
A common variation on this question is an inquiry about the problems you have encountered in previous situations. Select one that you’ve solved that you feel really tested your creative problem solving skills and describe how you overcame it. Show yourself as a good team player by crediting co-workers for their contribution to the successful result.
To distance yourself from failure, select one that occurred early in your career. Don’t blame it on others – instead explain how you analyzed your mistake and learned from it.
How have you set up a course of action to accomplish a long range goal or vision? What was it and how did you do it?
Focus again on tangible points and paint before-and-after pictures for the hiring manager. In addition, explain the challenges involved at the facility in question, the action taken over a certain period of time and the results achieved.
How do feel you have grown professionally in the past five years? Where have you made the greatest strides?
Here is the perfect opportunity to discuss how you effectively have taken on increased challenges and enhanced your strengths.
What is important to you in a job, what do you expect from it and what motivates you the most professionally?
How will you judge yourself successful? How will you achieve success?
Remember your ultimate goal is to get a job offer. You want to leave on a positive note and, if, at the end of your interview, the job appeals to you, let the interviewer know it. It is also the time to ask the interviewer if he/she has any concerns regarding your background or experience that you can address right now. Finally, ask him/her what the next step in the process is, what the time line for the final choice is and when you reasonably may expect hearing back. As you leave, thank the interviewer by name for the interview.
Copyright 2006 – Navin Group, Inc.