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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS


Why do you want this job?
Think about this question carefully and stress upon the positive aspects that attracted you to apply for this post. Be careful in not mentioning the negative points of your present job as a reason for why u want this job.


What according to you are the pre-requisites for this job?
The advertisement placed by them for the job can help you to some extent of answer this question. These may include leadership ability, supervisory skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc.



What do you think you can contribute to the success of the company?
This is a chance for you to form an impression. Explain about your past achievements in your previous job(s) relevant to the new position you are applying for.


Why do you want to work with this company?
Your answer should be emphasizing all the positive aspects about why you want to join the company but Carefully avoiding answers like for more money or for shorter working hours. They will leave bad Impression to your prospective employer.


What do you know about this company?
This is a great chance for you to impress the interviewer with the knowledge you have gained about the company. Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures, news, company figures, customers, etc.

What is the feature that interests you about our product/service?
The research you have done about the company should help you a lot here.


What do you think we can offer you that your previous company has offered you?
Stride with utmost care here. Don’t mention money aspects. You could Stress on opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, etc.


Why do you think we should employ you?
You can answer this question based on your previous experience and achievements relating to the position and company. As a conclusion you could mention that you can fit into the position comfortably with the supporting reason. You can also ask the employers opinion about this.


How long would it take for you to make a significant contribution to the success of the company/project?
You can mention that you can make the contribution from day one. You can also ask the employer how much time are you expecting for me to make a significant contribution.How competitive are you for this job/ Depending on the position you are applying for you may want to sound fairly ambitious, but do not look as if you are after the interviewer's position.


What do you like and dislike the most about your job?
Likes: here you can stress things like new challenges, opportunity to bring a new experience to the company
Dislikes: mention that you do not dislike anything in particular which is the reason why you liked the job.

Why did you choose a career in this field?
Your answer should be very positive with appropriate reasoning and advantages of this field. If you have been changing careers give logical reasoning why you have done so.


What according to you are the similarities and differences between your previous job and your present job?
The interviewer is trying to visualize how well you could fit into the position so try to focus more on the similarities rather than the differences. Coming to the point of differences it will help you if you can demonstrate that you have done similar task before or you could pick up the new skill quickly.


What is your opinion about the previous company you have worked for?
Stress upon the positive points about your company with a few words of praise for the company. You can
mention about the training you have received or the work experience you have gained.


Did your previous company live up to your expectations? Why do you want to leave that
company?
Your answer should be always about joining or leaving a company. Do not mention anything negative about your present employer. Instead you could say that you are looking for new challenges and mention that the company who is interviewing you fits into that very well.


What is the organisation structure in your previous company and how well did you fit in it?
These kinds of questions are usually used to know wether your old job is at comparable level to your new job. If the new job is at a level more than your previous one, you should be able to demonstrate that you will be able take up a more demanding position. You should try to tell that you have already been handling most of the responsibilities and posses the needed skills for this job.


What is the size of the company you would prefer to work with? Small, medium or large?
Before answering this question bear in mind the company size where you are attending the interview. If it is a medium or small sized company you could say that you like to work in a close atmosphere with a good team spirit. If it is a large company you can say that you enjoy the stability of working in a large company and established company.


What are your expectations in the new job?
The most appropriate reply would be that you are looking for a job where you can apply your present skills and learn new ones.


What would be your ideal job?
For this question you can describe your ideal job in a similar way as their job description given in the advertisement. An ideal job can include challenging work environment, good team spirit, opportunity to learn new skills, apply your existing skills, etc.


Are you thinking of considering any other jobs at the moment?
If you are considering, but be careful not to give too many details as it may weaken you negotiating
position later. If you are not considering any just say that you have a few irons in the fire.


How would you describe yourself?
Take this chance to describe about your personal and professional attributes and achievements.


Do you think that you are successful?
Your answer should be positive. You can explain about some of your past work related achievements that will suit the position you desire for.


What has been your greatest success? How did you achieve it?
Describe about an achievement, which best suits, their needs.


What has been your greatest failure?
Tell about a failure, which you have rectified in later stages, or something, which is not very important.


What do you think about improving yourself?
Be careful in not mentioning any of your negative points as the interviewer is waiting to find a flaw in you. Instead stress on things like learning new things.


Did you have any chance for growth in your previous jobs?
If you had successful chances for growth then mention that, if you did not have any satisfactory
opportunities for growth be careful about the words you use.


Are you a leader?
Explain about your previous experiences where you have successfully demonstrated your leadership
qualities.





Are you a loner or do you get along well with others?
Some jobs mean that you have to work in a team and for some jobs you need to be on your own. You can
say that you are comfortable in both the situations.


Are you self motivated or you need someone to motivate you?
You should answer that you are self-motivated.


Will you be able to work on your own initiative?
You should answer positively asking how much responsibility will I be required to handle.


What are the motivational factors for you?
You can say good career growth, opportunities to learn new skills, a congenial work environment etc.


Are you competitive?
Your answer should depend on the type of job offered. If you are working in a team then you should say that you would work in the best interest of team and not just for your own benefit.


Will you be able to work under pressure?
Your answer should be affirmative but ensure that you ask under how much pressure?


What are your career goals?
Mention the goals, which are in common interest of the company requirements.


Are you prepared to relocate?
If you are, say so. If you do not want to move then you do not have to accept the job - try and come
across as someone who is positive.


Are you willing to travel?
Again if you are, say so. You want to sound positive, so find out how much travelling is involved before you turn down the job.


How often are you off sick?
This can be a difficult question to answer if you are frequently off sick or you have just recovered from a prolonged period of illness. If you have generally enjoyed good health And this period of illness is not typical then you should say so.


What did you earn in your last job?
You have to be very careful when answering this question because once an interviewer knows your current salary they will try and fix your next remuneration based on this figure. This may be satisfactory if you only wanted a modest rise in salary and your current salary is in line with their salary range, but, what if your current salary is substantially lower than the rate for the job, or if you want a substantial salary rise? In
these cases you would be best advised to say that you do not really want to prejudice yourself by being too high or too low. Ask if you can discuss this later after the responsibilities for the job have been discussed; you may also want to ask them what the range for the job is (if you do not already know).


What level of salary are you looking for now?
Be very careful when you answer this question - you do not want to appear to be greedy. If you are applying for a specific vacancy you could ask them what the salary range is. Once they have answered you could say "I think my experience would place me at the top end of your range, don't you?" If they ask you this question fairly early on in the interview you could delay answering by saying "It is hard to discuss salary without first knowing a little bit more about the job and the responsibilities."


What will your referees say about you?
Say that you expect excellent references.

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Difficult questions


If you cannot answer a question you might reply with "That's an interesting question - how would you tackle it?"



Fantasy questions


These sorts of questions can be very difficult to answer. Such questions might include: "What would you do if you won the National Lottery?" You should give the answer, which in your opinion will give you the best chance of getting the job.









Questions you may want to ask an interviewer

The interview is a two-way process. The company interviewing you will want to find out whether you are suitable for the position and you will want to find out if the company and position are right for you. You should therefore ensure that you have enough information to make up your mind whether you want the job.
For example:
What will be my responsibilities?
Where will I fit into the overall organizational structure?
Who will I report to?
Where does he/she fit in the structure?
Who will report to me? How experienced are they?
What do you expect me to do in the first 6 months?
What level of performance do you expect from me?
Who are your customers?
Where is the company going? Upwards? Expansion plans?
What are the chances of advancement/promotion in this position? When?
What will be my salary, benefits and bonuses? [Do not bring this up too early in the interview - wait until they are sold on you.]
Will traveling be required in this position?
Will relocation be required now or in the future?
What training do you provide?
When will you decide on the appointment?



Source: http://www.bradleycvs.co.uk/
Interview Questions You May Be Asked
Before attending an interview you should think about your responses to the following questions. Your answers may depend on the job or company in question, so you should go through your responses just before each interview.
Why do you want this job?
Think carefully about this question. Stress the positive aspects, which have attracted you to applying for this position. Do not mention the negative aspects of your current job or the job in question.
What qualities do you think will be required for this job?
Their advertisement for the job may help you a little bit, but you should also think of the other qualities that may be required. These may include leadership ability, supervisory skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc.
What can you contribute?
This is your chance to shine. Tell them about your achievements in your previous position(s) which are relevant to the new position you are applying for.
Why do you want to work for this company?
Emphasis the positive reasons why you want to join their company, but avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours. These would not endear you to a prospective employer.
What do you know about this company?
This is your chance to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company. Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures, news, company figures, customers, etc.
What interests you about our product (or service)?
Again, your research into the company should aid you in answering this question.
What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer?
Tread carefully here! Again do not mention money. Stress opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, etc.
You have not done this sort of job before. How will you cope/succeed?
Say that you are the sort of person who aims to succeed at everything you do and that you are very determined and will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Why should we employ you?
The answer to this question will be based on your previous experience and achievements which relate to the company. At the end you could add that you think there is a good fit between you and the job, and do ask the interviewer for their opinion.
How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the team/company?
If you think that you could contribute from day one then say so. Then turn the question round on them and say how soon would they expect it.
How ambitious are you? Would you compete for my job?
Depending on the position you are applying for you may want to sound fairly ambitious, but do not look as if you are after the interviewer's position.
What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
Likes: stress things such as a new challenge or the opportunity to bring fresh experience to the company. Dislikes: Imply there is nothing to dislike about the job, which is why you are so interested.
Why did you choose a career in …?
Be positive about your reasons. If you have changed careers make a logical argument as to why you did so.
Why are you changing careers?
This question will only be asked if you are making a radical change in your career. Always stress the positive aspects of the change rather than the negative aspects of your previous career - you do not want to come across as someone who is moving just because you hate your old career. Say why you think you will be good in the new career - this should come from your experience and achievements, stress the transferable skills you have, such as leadership ability, etc.
How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for? What are the differences?
The interviewer is trying to see how well you would fit in to the position you are applying for. So you should stress the similarities rather than the differences. When it comes to discussing the differences it will help your case if you can show that either you have done something similar in the past or that you can quickly pick up the new skills.
What do you think of the last company you worked for?
You should stress the positive aspects of your last company saying that they were a good company to work for. Tell them about the training you received or the work related experience you gained.
Why did you join your previous company? Did they live up to your expectations? Why are you leaving now?
Always be positive about your reasons for joining and leaving a company. Be very careful that you do not say anything negative about your present employer. If you do, the new company will wonder what you will say about them when you leave. You might want to stress that you are looking for a new challenge and that you feel that the company who is interviewing you fits the bill!
Explain the organisational structure in your last company and how you fitted into it?
This sort of question may be used to find out whether your old job is at a comparable level to your new job. If the new job being discussed would be a step up the ladder you will need to show that you are ready for a more demanding position. You may be able to show that you have already had many of the responsibilities and the necessary skills which would be required for the next step.
How long have you been looking for a new job?
If you have been unemployed for a long time this may be a rather tricky question to answer. But be honest. If you have been away on holiday or done some voluntary work you could mention this.
Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?
Remember where you are! If the company interviewing you is a small to medium sized company say that you enjoy a close atmosphere with a good team spirit. At a large company say that you enjoy the stability of working for a large and established company.
What are you looking for in a new job?
Make sure your answer fits in with the company who is interviewing you. A suitable reply would be that you are looking for a new job where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones.
What would your ideal job be?
Again, remember where you are! Describe the job in terms of the criteria they have used to describe their job. An ideal job might include things like challenging work, a fair rate of pay for the job, nice colleagues, good career prospects, good team atmosphere, opportunity to learn new skills, apply old skills, etc.
Are you considering any other positions at the moment?
If you are say so, but do not give too many details away - it will weaken your negotiating position later. If you do not have any other job offers at the moment just say that you have a few irons in the fire.
What did you think of your manager/supervisor?
Say that he/she was the sort of person you could learn from and you communicated well, which meant that the task in hand was completed on time.
What did you do on a day to day basis?
Stress the positive things you did including your achievements. Even if some or much of it was paperwork, you can still show your interest in the way it was tackled.
Did you increase sales or profits in your last job?
This question is only relevant for senior managers or sales people. If you have increased sales and/or profit then do not be afraid to shout about it. If you have not increased sales say why not, e.g. general downturn in the market, etc. It might then be a good idea to mention an achievement in a previous job if your performance was better there.
Have you reduced costs at your last company?
If you have reduced costs say so - companies are always looking for ways to reduce costs.
How would you describe yourself? / How would others describe you?
Pick your best attributes and achievements from your career.
Do you consider yourself successful?
You should say you do. Pick some work related achievements that are in line with the position that you are discussing.
What was your greatest success? How did you achieve it?
You should pick an achievement which is related to their needs.
What has been your biggest failure?
Try to pick a failure which you were later able to correct or something that is not really important.
How could you improve yourself?
Do not mention anything negative about yourself - the interviewer is looking for a chink in your armour.
Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job?
If you progressed faster than normal you should say so. If growth was not as good as expected then be careful how you phrase this.
Are you a leader?
State how you have successfully acted as a leader, giving examples of your successes.
How do you handle criticism?
Your answer should be along the following lines: "I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve any areas which my manager/supervisor highlights. Do you have regular staff appraisals and a staff development plan?"
What sort of manager are you? / What makes a good manager?
You should say that it is someone who listens to other people and can delegate whilst maintaining overall control of the task at hand, bringing in the project on time and to budget. Good planning skills are essential.
Do you work well with others? Or are you a loner?
Some jobs mean that you have to work very closely with other people whilst other jobs mean that you are largely working on your own, so you need to say that you are happy in both situations.
Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated?
You need to say that you are self-motivated.
Are you accepted into a team quickly?
Hopefully you can answer a resounding "Yes" to this question.
Can you act on your own initiative?
You should say that you can. You could ask how much responsibility you would have.
How do you run a meeting?
You could say that you must start with an agenda and stick to it. You could add that you would try to get the views and ideas from everyone present, working in an air of co-operation. If people moved off at a tangent you would bring them back to the item being discussed.
What motivates you?
Our suggestions are career growth, opportunity to learn new skills, good co-workers, etc.
What management style gets the best results out of you?
Try and think about how you have reacted to different managers and which factors have motivated you. Do not say too much in reply to this question, because if your answer is contrary to the management style of the company they will not be keen to employ you!
Do you know how to motivate other people?
Hopefully you can say "Yes", and say that you have to find out what motivates a person and give them recognition for a job well done. You should always give them encouragement and help them when required.
Are you competitive?
Your answer depends on the sort of job you are doing. If you will be working as part of a team you will need to show that you can work in the best interests of the team and not just for your own benefit.
Are you aggressive?
If you mean by this someone who gets things done, then the answer is "Yes". You need to defuse the implications of this question.
What do you dislike doing?
Say that you are prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done well and on time and try to do disagreeable things first to get them out of the way rather than putting them off.
What problems did you encounter in your last job? What annoyed you about your last job?
Stick to the problems that you were able to solve, i.e. "I had problem X, which I later managed to resolve by doing Y". Show that you are a person who can solve problems rather than someone who lets things get on top of them.
What would you like to avoid in your next job?
You need to be positive here and say that there is nothing in particular that you would like to avoid.
Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?
Show how you have progressed throughout your life and how you have accepted and taken on responsibility for the actions of yourself and others. If you have not really had many work related responsibilities you can mention other responsibilities you have had outside work.
Can you work under pressure?
You need to say that you can. You could ask how much pressure the job involves.
How many hours are you prepared to work?
You would be prepared to work the necessary hours to get the job done on time.
Do you mind working for someone older than yourself? Younger than you? Of the opposite sex?
Here you can say that you are prepared to work with anyone.
What are your career goals?
Link in your goals with the company who is interviewing you.
How did you get on with your previous manager/supervisor, co-workers and subordinates?
Hopefully you can say that you got on well with everyone.
Have you been responsible for implementing ISO9000/BS5750 or Total Quality Management (TQM)?
If you have, state how you implemented it successfully. If you have not, you will need to show that you are used to working to company quality standards or that you have a methodical approach to carrying out work.
What interests do you have outside work?
Your hobbies and interests can tell an employer a lot about you, including whether you are sociable or solitary, and whether you can take on 'leadership' roles. So you should think about which interests will paint the right picture of you given the position you are discussing.
If you have changed jobs a lot you may be asked how long you would stay in the new job.
You should state that you are looking for a long-term opportunity where you can learn and develop. You could then ask them if this applies to the job being discussed.
Have you ever been fired?
If you have, you will need to handle this question with great care. Try and put yourself in as favourable light as possible without being too dismissive. If you have later been able to correct any deficiency which resulted in you being fired you should tell the interviewer.
Are you too old for this job?
Tell them that you feel that your extra experience would enable you to make a bigger contribution to their company sooner than someone younger and less experienced.
Are you too young for this job?
"No, I do not think so!" is the answer you should give and then state the reason why you are not too young. If you have a lot of experience gained in a short time, say so.
You may be over qualified for this position?
Tell them that you feel that your extra experience would enable you to make a bigger contribution sooner than someone with less experience.
Are you prepared to relocate?
If you are, say so. If you do not want to move then you do not have to accept the job - try and come across as someone who is positive.
Are you willing to travel?
Again if you are, say so. You want to sound positive, so find out how much travelling is involved before you turn down the job.
How often are you off sick?
This can be a difficult question to answer if you are frequently off sick or you have just recovered from a prolonged period of illness. If you have generally enjoyed good health and this period of illness is not typical then you should say so.
What did you earn in your last job?
You have to be very careful when answering this question because once an interviewer knows your current salary they will try and fix your next remuneration based on this figure. This may be satisfactory if you only wanted a modest rise in salary and your current salary is in line with their salary range, but, what if your current salary is substantially lower than the rate for the job, or if you want a substantial salary rise? In these cases you would be best advised to say that you do not really want to prejudice yourself by being too high or too low. Ask if you can discuss this later after the responsibilities for the job have been discussed; you may also want to ask them what the range for the job is (if you do not already know).
What level of salary are you looking for now?
Be very careful when you answer this question - you do not want to appear to be greedy. If you are applying for a specific vacancy you could ask them what the salary range is. Once they have answered you could say "I think my experience would place me at the top end of your range, don't you?" If they ask you this question fairly early on in the interview you could delay answering by saying "It is hard to discuss salary without first knowing a little bit more about the job and the responsibilities."
What will your referees say about you?
Say that you expect excellent references.
Difficult questions
If you cannot answer a question you might reply with "That's an interesting question - how would you tackle it?"
Fantasy questions
These sort of questions can be very difficult to answer. Such questions might include: "What would you do if you won the National Lottery?" You should give the answer, which in your opinion will give you the best chance of getting the job.
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
The interview is a two-way process. The company interviewing you will want to find out whether you are suitable to the position and you will want to find out if the company and position are right for you. You should therefore ensure that you have enough information to make up your mind whether you want the job. For example:
What will be my responsibilities?
Where will I fit into the overall organisational structure?
Who will I report to?
Where does he/she fit in the structure?
Who will report to me?
How experienced are they?
What do you expect me to do in the first 6 months?
What level of performance do you expect from me?
Who are your customers?
Where is the company going? Upwards? Expansion plans?
What are the chances of advancement/promotion in this position? When?
What will be my salary, benefits and bonuses? [Do not bring this up too early in the interview - wait until they are sold on you.]
Will travelling be required in this position?
Will relocation be required now or in the future?
What training do you provide?
When will you decide on the appointment?
What is the next step?
Answering Interview Questions – Difficult Questions – Personal QuestionsThese questions give you the opportunity to answer in a way that enables you to provide focused information about your skills and abilities. Here are some common examples of this type of question:Do you consider yourself a natural leader?The ideal answer to this is 'yes', but in reality not all of us possess the confidence required to lead. You can substitute 'natural' with either 'competent' or 'conscientious', focusing more on leading by example with good organizational and interpersonal skills. Most professional jobs require an element of leadership that you should be taking the trouble to cultivate, whether it comes naturally or not. Tell me about yourself?This can be a frustratingly open question, but it does give you an excellent opportunity to communicate your skills and experience. Aim to keep your answer professionally orientated, specific to the characteristics that the interviewer may want to hear. Although your objective is to show you've got the perfect profile to fulfil the role, try to do so in a friendly manner so that you can show the interviewer that you have an agreeable personality. What are your biggest accomplishments?Answers to this should always be job-related, impressive but also hinting that your best work is yet to come. Don't be hesitant or vague when answering this question. Show that you have a clear idea of your achievements to date.
Answering Interview Questions – Difficult Questions – Dangerous QuestionsThese questions give you the opportunity to overcome direct objections that the interviewer may have with your application. If these are not addressed, you will effectively rule yourself out as a serious candidate.Here are some common examples of this type of question:What did you dislike about your last job?Ideally you would answer 'there was nothing I disliked', although this may not be realistic. Hiring someone who easily fits into the existing complement of staff is very important, therefore steer clear of criticizing former colleagues or managers. Once again, if you pay attention to the company culture when they described the role to you, you can mention factors that would be likely to impress them.How long have you been looking for another position?If you are currently unemployed and have been looking for some time, try to minimize the 'time gap' by mentioning any other activities in which you have been involved, such as study or charity work. If your work is of a specialist nature and you've been determined to continue in that field, point this out provided that it isn't at odds with the demands of the new role. A resourceful answer here can certainly score you points, instead of putting you at a disadvantage. Why aren't you earning more at your this stage of your career?This is another implied negative, which can be turned into a positive by emphasizing your desire to gain solid experience instead of continually changing jobs for the sake of money. This question gives you scope to ask; "How much do you think I should be earning?" This could possibly lead to an offer. Why have you changed jobs so frequently?This is another question that can prove difficult. The best response can be to blame it on your need to gain experience and grow. Emphasize that the variety of jobs has been good experience and that you're now more mature and settled. Questions like this can be turned around, but be careful not to dwell too much on the subject, or over-justify yourself.Why were you made redundant?If you were made redundant as a result of a re-organization; then this is a legitimate excuse that most recruiters will understand - they have probably been involved with laying off people themselves at some time. Try to give acceptable reasons, such as downsizing or restructuring. Try to be brief and to matter-of-fact , encouraging the interviewer to move on. Why were you fired?If, however, you were fired and cannot realistically pass it off as a redundancy, then it's advisable to be open and honest whilst minimizing the reason for your dismissal. Try to portray the incident as 'one of those unlucky things that happens to the best of us' and modestly explain how you've learnt from the experience and the steps you've since taken. The objective is to put the interviewer at ease in the hope that they won't place too much importance on a reference check. It is however a good idea to reconcile with your former employers and ask them to at least give you a fair reference.


How to Answer Interview QuestionsBy Bill Radin
Here are eight of the most commonly asked (and basic) interviewing questions. Do yourself and the prospective employer a favor, and give them some thought before the interview occurs.
Why do you want this job? Why do you want to leave your current job? What are your personal and professional goals?What do you like most about your current job? Where do you see yourself in five years?What are your strengths?What are your weaknesses?What do you like least about your current job?
The last question is probably the hardest to answer: What do you like least about your current job?
I’ve found that rather than pointing out the faults of others (as in, “I can’t stand the office politics,” or, “My boss is a jerk”), it’s best to place the burden on yourself (“I feel I’m ready to exercise a new set of professional muscles,” or, “The type of technology I’m interested in isn’t available to me now.”). By answering in this manner, you’ll avoid pointing the finger at someone else, or coming across as a whiner or complainer. It does no good to speak negatively about others.
I suggest you think through the answers to the eight questions above for two reasons.
First, it won’t help your chances any to hem and haw over fundamental issues such as these. (The answers you give to these types of questions should be no-brainers.)
And second, the questions will help you evaluate your career choices before spending time and energy on an interview. If you don’t feel comfortable with the answers you come up with, maybe the new job isn’t right for you.

1. Prepare And Over-Prepare Why over-prepare? It goes like this: Plan your strategy by preparing your answers for the possible interview questions you may be asked--and then practice, practice, practice. Role-play and repeat your best responses until they are completely natural, until they simply roll off your tongue with the spontaneity that comes with successive repetition. 2. Be Particularly Clear On What You Know And What You Want To Achieve Most interviews are resume-based so have the facts of your stated objective, relevant experience, education, etc. thoroughly memorized and mentally supported. As to your job objective, be clear on what you want, as well as what you don't want. There is little room in the job market for the applicant who is willing to take anything, as he or she will usually get nothing. 3. Make Sure Your Responses Match Your Claims If, for example, you have taken extra course work to qualify for a particular position, have a license, have accomplished specific performance achievements or have earned a special certification, tie it into your narrative or use your presentation binder, e.g., 'When I took my course work for my CPA, I learned that....'4. Be Clear On Your Strengths You are almost certain to be asked questions pertaining to your strengths and weaknesses. Know your strengths and emphasize those that relate specifically to the position for which you are being considered. For example, if you are applying for a sales position, you might describe one of your strengths (if it's true) as follows: 'I've made a study of personality types and I've learned to quickly classify prospects in terms of the kinds of approaches that might best sell them.' Be prepared, in this case, to back up your claim if the interviewer suddenly asks: 'How would you classify me?'5. Describe Your Weaknesses As Strengths This is tricky, so let's think about why the question is asked. The interviewer probably wants to learn several things about you with this question, such as: whether or not you are arrogant ('I really don't think I have any weaknesses'), whether you know yourself ('Well, I've never really thought about that') and finally, what you are doing to improve your weaknesses. Here are two ways to answer this question so you leave a positive impression in the mind of the interviewer:
(a) Explain that, in overcoming a weakness, you have learned something. If, for example, there's a period in your career path that just doesn't fit (say that you took a job selling cars between jobs as an accountant ... it happens!), you might tell the interviewer: 'One weakness, which took me some time to overcome, was that I really wasn't sure I wanted to be an accountant. For example, in 1988-90, I worked as a car salesman. I did this because I couldn't decide if I wanted to make accounting my career. That experience taught me that I really didn't want to sell products, and that I was much more challenged by the opportunity to solve client problems'. (b) Pick a weakness that is really a strength. If, for example, you're interviewing for a job in an organization you know is hard-charging and unforgiving of average performance, you might say, 'One of my weaknesses is that I tend to be impatient with people who aren't willing to pull their full weight and give 110%.'. In this case, your 'weakness' may help you get the job.6. Be Clear On Where You Want To Go A standard question, which has many variations, is: 'Where do you want to be five years from today?' Only today, the answers are different. Unless you plan to inherit Dad's/Mom's company, your answer is apt to be a lot more general than it might have been a decade ago. Why? Because the economy and nearly every industry is changing so fast that specificity with respect to the distant future is extremely difficult. So, instead of responding to the question with, 'I plan to be in a position of senior leadership in this company', you might want to say, 'I plan to become qualified in every phase of this industry'. Your exact response will depend upon the specifics of your job search, but the principle is: be specific while allowing yourself the flexibility, which suggests that you understand the complexities of the business you are applying for.7. If You've Been Fired, Be Forthright About It Many people have been laid or fired off through no fault of their own and this no longer a stigma to have been fired--unless it was for justifiable cause. Answer directly, but without a 'charge' in your voice. Expressing your bitterness over being let go, tells the interviewer (rightly or wrongly) that you cannot accept the realities of modern free enterprise -- that downsizing is acceptable and often necessary.8. Have Clear Personal Standards This is a sleeper because this question doesn't seem to have much to do with the immediate interview. However, many organizations are looking for people who DO have standards regarding their personal/professional lives, who can articulate them clearly and concisely, and who live by them. In this case, the briefer, the better. 'I delegate my weaknesses'. 'I don't take on projects unless I can give them 100 percent commitment'. 'I am committed to life-long learning and growth'. 9. Interview The Interviewer A competent interviewer will respect your efforts to assess the organization and the position in terms of whether or not it meets your requirements. And you owe it to yourself to have defined beforehand, what you ideally want and what you are willing to settle for, under certain conditions. For example, you might really want a salary of $75,000 to begin with, but you would be willing to take less if the opportunities for growth are clearly in the picture. 10. Don't Allow Yourself To Be Badgered By The Salary Issue Even today, it is still not uncommon to hear the old refrain: 'Our policy is not to pay a new employee more than X% higher than he/she is currently making'. Sorry, that doesn't fly. The real issue, and the only one at stake, is whether or not your prospective employer is willing to pay what you are worth. And, your worth is a function of the job itself, your capability and your willingness to perform it. In most organizations, there are clear parameters for a given job, a range of salary that is adjustable depending upon the market and the applicant's experience. In most cases, unless you are very good, you will have to work within those limits. But, within the limits, what you are worth is a matter of mutual agreement based on the knowledge of your worth and your ability to convince the person interviewing you. So, to sum it up: Know the range of compensation for the job you are seeking, make your own realistic determination of what you are worth, and then be prepared to stand your ground.




A JOB interview can be a nerve-wracking experience if you are not prepared and lack self-confidence. We present a few tips that will help you to brush up on your interview skills and come out as a winner from your next interview! 1. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early. This will give you ample time to catch your breath, gather your thoughts and make a quick trip to the washroom to give your appearance one final check. To avoid unnecessary stress, choose your interview attire the night before.
2. Greet the interviewer by his or her last name. If you are unsure of the pronunciation, do ask the employer to repeat it. Or better still, check it with the front desk personnel or receptionist before walking into the interview room.
3. Let the interviewer lead the conversation but try to get him/her to describe the position and duties to you early in the interview. This will allow you to apply your background, skills and achievements to the position.
4. When asked: "Tell me about yourself?", focus your answers on your background and a few professional and personal accomplishments.
5. Stress on your achievements. For example: your sales records, the processes you have developed or systems installed, projects that you initiated, etc.
6. Show enthusiasm. This can be demonstrated through verbal and non-verbal cues (for example, appropriate body language like nodding can be used to support your interest). Enthusiastic feedback can enhance your chances of being further considered.
7. Answer questions by speaking in terms of the position. Emphasise what you can do for the company. Mention specific accomplishments that show your abilities and determination to succeed in this job. Your answers describe the position and duties to you early in the interview. This will allow you to apply your background, skills and achievements to the position. should tell the employer why you would be an asset to the company and not why you need a job.
8. Bring an extra copy of your resume.
9. Explain whenever possible; don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Be prepared to answer questions such as: * Tell me about yourself. * Tell me about your background and accomplishments. * What are your strengths? Weaknesses? * How would you describe your most recent job performance? * What interests you about our company? Also, be prepared to ask questions such as: * What would I be expected to accomplish in this position? * What are the greatest challenges in this position? * How do you think I fit the position? Remember, your lack of questions may be mistaken as lack of interest in the job. Summary If you are interested in the position, stress this to the interviewer. If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, do not let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in you may seem to discourage you as a way of testing your reaction. Remember to thank the interviewer for his/her time and end the session with a confident and firm handshake.






Some interview pitfalls to avoid:

1. Don't arrive at the interview late.

2. Don't over or under dress or dress inappropriately for the position. First impressions do count and you want to be dressed to show that you fit into the desired role.

3. Don't wear strong perfume.

4. Don't forget to take with you extra clean copies of your CV as well as a notebook and pen with which to take notes.

5. Don't forget to shake the hand of the Interviewer firmly - a limp or sweaty handshake will not be looked on favorably.

6. Don't chew gum, smoke, eat or drink at the Interview.

7. Don't act distracted. Look the Interviewer straight in the eye and give him your full and undivided attention.

8. Don't let your body language send the wrong messages. Be aware of the nonverbal cues you are sending out! Sit upright and straight in the chair facing the employer and smile. Lean forward occasionally to express interest. Avoid crossing your arms or legs in front of you (suggests defensiveness), slouching in the chair (suggests sloppiness and lack of energy), leaning too far back (may be interpreted as being overly familiar and disrespectful), talking to the floor (lack of confidence) or flirting.

9. Don't refer to the Interviewer by his first name unless he specifically asks you to do so.

10. Don't talk about your weaknesses or failings or apologize for lack of education, experience, training etc. Everyone has weaknesses; the Interview is the time to showcase your enthusiasm and strengths.

11. Don't make derogatory comments about previous bosses or peers. This is never acceptable and particularly works against you in the Interview.

12. Don't act tired or jaded. Employers are invariably looking for someone to energize, inspire and uplift the team. Try to act enthusiastic and full of energy and motivation.

13. Don't act unfocused and uncertain about what you want. Whatever interview you're in - you want THAT job.

14. Don't lie. Answer briefly, truthfully and concisely.

15. Don't interrupt.

16. Avoid giving 'yes' or 'no' answers. Support your answers with examples and be as factual and concise as you can.

17. Don't talk too much. Focus your answers on the particular question and on your related strengths. Watch for signals that the Interviewer is losing interest and stop talking immediately.

18. Don't talk about your personal life. You have not been hired yet so keep it professional. This is no the time to talk about failed love lives, a husband who asked you to quit your job etc.!

19. Don't treat questions as jokes or try to be too funny.

20. Don't ask about holidays, perks, hours or compensation until you've actually been made a serious offer.

21. Don't act overly confident or superior. Ultimately, unless you are applying to the very senior level positions, the Interviewer is looking for someone who is manageable and will fit into the team.

22. Don't drop names of influential friends and acquaintances unless you are passing a message or someone has referred you. Be very careful and professional when you mention names of clients and make sure you are never giving out confidential information.

23. Don't leave abruptly. Shake the Interviewer's hand firmly, thank him for his time and ask what the next step will be.




COMMON Interview Questions:



1. Tell me about yourself.

Keep your answer short and focused on your professional life. This is not the time to bring up relationships, childhood experiences, family etc. A brief history of education, career and special interests is what is called for here. End it with why you are interested in this particular job.



2. Why are you applying for this particular job?

Show interest and demonstrate that you have researched the job and know what you are getting into. Bring up evidence from past work/ studies that supports your interest in this role and any skills you have acquired in preparation for the role. You can say something like 'I would like to work for a leader in innovative network and telecommunications solutions and my college degree in computational mathematics has given me a solid background for this role. Mention the value-added you can bring to the job.



3. What do you know about our company?

Indicate what you have learnt from your research activities - from their annual reports,

newspapers, word of mouth, other employees etc. Use this to flatter them and show that you have done your homework.



4. What makes you qualified for this particular job?

Again, explain that you are very interested in the job and demonstrate what it is about your past experiences, education and qualifications that makes you ideal for the job. Show enthusiasm and support your answers with evidence wherever you can (eg. my summer internship at Citibank gave me broad exposure to the area of equity analysis and I think I can apply many of the tools I learnt there in this job). Elaborate on all the past experiences and skill sets that make you suitable for the job.In cases where your past experience is not directly relevant, you can still find elements of it that can be useful. Play up teamskills, computer skills, leadership roles, specific courses and independent research activities that can be useful to the job at hand to show your initiative even where you don't have directly relevant job experience.



5. What can you do for us that someone else can't?

Demonstrate key strengths, skills and personal characteristics.



6. Why should we hire you?

See 3. Because you have all the experience/ traits/ credentials demonstrated in 3 and in addition to being qualified, you are enthusiastic, intelligent, hardworking, flexible and willing to learn. Also mention any key relationships you may have that may assist you in the job.



7. What do you look for in a job?

Be honest. Also mention keywords such as challenging, steep learning curve, good work culture, demanding, rewarding, opportunities for advancement and growth, team environment, opportunity to build and maintain client relationships etc.



8. Why are you looking to make a career change?

Mention your interests and make sure you bring up all skills/ experience however insignificant that can support your move in this new direction. It is quite common in this day and age to make a career switch. You need however to show that you have very carefully thought about the change, have a strong interest in the new career and can use some of your previous skills/ education/ relationships to make that move.



9. Why did you leave your last job?

Do NOT use this as an opportunity to badmouth past employers or peers or talk about a failure of any sort. Any of these answers are acceptable: you were looking for a new challenge, your learning curve had flattened out in the previous job and you were looking for a new learning opportunity, the company or department were restructuring, you were ready to start something new after achieving your career goals at the previous company etc.



10. Why do you want to work for us (as opposed to the competitor companies)?

Demonstrate that you know something about the company, that you believe they are leaders/ innovators in what they do, or you think their work culture is exactly what you are looking for, or you like their product(s) or you have friends who work there and have always been attracted to the company etc. Flatter the company and show you know something about it.



11. How long will it take you to start making a meaningful contribution?

Show that you are enthusiastic and willing to learn and will put in all the hours and effort necessary to learn the ropes and start making an immediate contribution. Indicate that your past experiences/ skills/ credentials will enable you to make an immediate contribution at some level while you quickly learn all new aspects of the job. An Interviewer wants someone who is willing and able to learn and will make a return on his investment sooner rather than later.



12. What are your strengths?

See 14 below. In addition, keywords such as good teamplayer, work very well under pressure, very creative, very strong quantitative or computer skills, and very strong client relationship skills may be appropriate depending on your chosen field.



13. What are your weaknesses?

Do NOT mention key weaknesses here. This is not the place to say you are bad at meeting deadlines or you never mastered highschool mathematics etc. Turn this question around to your benefit. For example, you are 'overambitious' or 'extremely attentive to detail' or 'like to take on too many projects'. Make it sound positive.



14. What are your career goals?

Show you have thought forward and are committed to your career.



15. How would you describe yourself?

Any of these are good examples of attributes employers are looking for: intelligent, hardworking, quick to learn, enthusiastic, honest, efficient, productive, ambitious, successful, compassionate (in the medical fields).



16. How would your colleagues describe you?

Do not bring up anything negative here.



17. How would your boss describe you?

They will check references anyways so bring up the most positive attribute you can think of about yourself eg hardworking, honest etc. and leave it to your Boss to say anything to the contrary.



18. What did you most like/ dislike about your past job?

Do not use this to badmouth past jobs/ employers. Keep it light and in your favour eg I outgrew the job, there wasn't a clear career progression, I wasn't learning anything new etc. Ideally, you will have loved your last job and would like to achieve the same kind of success and job satisfaction in a more challenging area as you have now 'outgrown' that job and are ready for 'new challenges'.



19. Describe a situation in your past where you showed initiative?

You could describe any new methods you came up with to do your job or to save money for the company or to turn around a bad situation. It can be something as simple as changing a filing system, or establishing a relationship with a vendor that saved your department a lot of money. If you are in sales, you may want to talk about how you brought in that big account. Creatives may talk about how they came up with that cutthroat image or design that brought in the business.



20. What were your main responsibilities in your last job?

Have these ready and list them all. Dwell on the ones that are most relevant to the new job. This answer should be smooth and practiced.



21. What do you consider your greatest accomplishments?

Many of us have one or two milestones in our career that we are very proud of eg. that early promotion, that 'huge' deal we brought in, the design we came up with, the costs we saved, the revenues we increased, the people we trained, a new invention or process we came up with etc.

Examples of accomplishments may be: 'Reduced costs by X%; or renamed and repositioned a product at the end of its lifecycle, or organized and led a team to do do XYZ, or achieved sales increase of

X% etc. If you are a fresh college graduate, talk about extracurricular activities, leadership roles and grades.



22. Describe your management style (if relevant)

No answer



23. Do you work better in teams or independently?

Show that you are a proactive teamplayer and like to bounce ideas off others and get input; however you are very capable of working independently (give examples).



24. How do you work under pressure?

Well. Give evidence.



25. What other jobs have you applied for?

Don't mention jobs in different career directions (eg advertising and investment banking). Do however bring up any other offers or Interviews from competing firms.



26. How did you do in college?

Keep it positive. It's okay to say you were very busy making the most of college and were very involved in sports, activities, social life etc. Employers want human beings not robots. Mention the areas you did very well in even if it was just one or two courses you excelled in. They will check for themselves.



27. What kind of hours would you like to work?

Employers want to see flexibility. Indicate you are willing to put in whatever hours are necessary to finish the job. Do however mention any constraints you have eg. you would like to be home to pick your kids up from school at 3:30. Most employers are willing to work around your constraints if you show flexibility on your side as well.



28. Do you have any questions for me?

YES you do. Questions engage the Interviewer and show your interest. Ask questions that show you know something about the company or the job, that you are planning ahead, that you are anxious and willing to learn the ropes and that you are committed to the position.