| Nearly everyone has had to go on a job interview at | | | | possibilities.- The interviewer is probing into what |
| least once in their lives. But not | | | | motivates you when he asks: When did you feel the |
| everyone knows what to answer to questions fired | | | | most satisfaction from your work?You could say: I |
| at them during the interview. This | | | | derived a great deal of satisfaction from my work as |
| article lists sample answers to the top ten questions | | | | a freelance writer because I was able to practice |
| interviewers are known to ask | | | | what I learned through all my years as an amateur |
| during a job interview.But first, you have to realize that | | | | writer in my college newspaper.- Try to summarize |
| your job interview unofficially starts the moment | | | | your skills, traits and experiences to show your |
| you answer that call from the organization you are | | | | uniqueness when you answer this question: What |
| applying to. Thus, you have to make | | | | makes you stand out from the other candidates for |
| a good impression on whoever is calling even if they | | | | this |
| turn out to be just a secretary or | | | | position?Answer: I have a strong background in writing |
| assistant. Treat the caller as though he or she is a VIP | | | | about politics due to my years as |
| at the organization because you | | | | a reporter for my college newspaper and I am good |
| never know if that person will help determine if you | | | | at conducting in-depth interviews. This |
| get the job or not.- The top interview question | | | | combination permits me to create strong writing that |
| interviewers are likely to ask is: what are your | | | | truly digs deep into the heart of the |
| weaknesses?You must remember to put less | | | | topic.- Name three positive things your previous |
| emphasis on your weaknesses and stress your | | | | employer would comment about you.This is your |
| strengths when | | | | opportunity to promote yourself using quotes from |
| answering this question. Also, try to emphasize your | | | | your old boss: The editor I had at the Daily Inquirer, a |
| professional rather than personal | | | | leading daily, said that my writing is excellent, that she |
| traits. You could say: I recently took short courses in | | | | can depend on me to meet deadlines, and that I get |
| word processing for computers | | | | along well with my colleagues at the paper.- You need |
| since I felt I was lacking in that respect.- Another | | | | to prepare in advance for this question (What salary |
| leading question is: why should we hire you?You must | | | | would you like to be paid?)by asking around for the |
| consolidate all your years of experience into your | | | | going rate in your locale, and by being aware of your |
| answer, which might go something like this: I have been | | | | walk-away |
| working as a freelance writer for many years and | | | | point or bottom line. If the employer gives you a range |
| have a track record for meeting my deadlines. I am | | | | first, well and good. But if not, |
| confident I can be a valuable contribution to your | | | | you might reply: I am sure you will pay me a |
| organization.- You could be asked: why do you want | | | | reasonable amount when the time comes to |
| to work here?This means the interviewer wants to | | | | determine that. Into what price range would you put |
| know that you have thought carefully about your | | | | me, considering my background?- The last possible |
| reason for joining his organization rather than having | | | | question you could be asked is: If you could choose, |
| randomly selected it. You might say: I have chosen key | | | | what animal would you like to be?This is the type of |
| organizations with mission statements that coincide | | | | psychological question that determines whether you |
| with my own values, whose activities are appealing to | | | | can |
| me, and this company ranks highly on that list of | | | | think quickly. The answer to this depends on the |
| organizations.- What are your goals?This question | | | | impression you would like to leave with |
| requires you to divide your answer into short-term | | | | your interviewer because you have to determine |
| goals and intermediate goals instead of just pointing | | | | what kind of personality would get the work |
| towards the distant future. You could answer: My | | | | done at this position.By no means are these all the |
| short-term goal is to get hired by a growth-oriented | | | | possible questions you could be asked by your |
| organization. My long-term goal will hinge on whether | | | | interviewer. |
| the organization will let me grow into a position of | | | | However, it is always best to be prepared so study |
| responsibility someday.- Why did you leave your job? | | | | these questions carefully and try to be |
| Or: why are you leaving your present position?You | | | | ready with your answers before the big day |
| must place your departure in a positive light by stating: I | | | | comes.Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who |
| felt that I had reached my peak at my past job and | | | | specializes in the latest in Careers. |
| wanted to move into another position that had growth | | | | |