| 1. What are your greatest strengths?This is an | | | | attempt to determine whether or not you are over or |
| opportunity to examine your self image. Do not get | | | | under qualified for the position. Whether you are asked |
| caught without an answer to this question that is short | | | | this question on an application form or during an |
| and effective. Do not oversell or undersell yourself. | | | | interview, use a deferral tactic in answering the |
| You can start with something like this:"I have many | | | | question. The right time to answer is after you have |
| strengths which include problem solving, creativity, | | | | received a job offer, and not before. The idea here is |
| working well with others, and other skills that contribute | | | | to make the question moot as it relates to the position |
| to success in the job. Is there a specific strength you | | | | you are interested in. Stick to your stand on providing |
| are looking for that I can demonstrate?"2. What are | | | | this information in a positive approach. If you are trying |
| your weaknesses?Here is another loaded question | | | | to move up or down the corporate ladder, you can be |
| that is often asked. What benefit is there to you in | | | | eliminated too soon by giving the wrong answer. One |
| discussing your specific problems and issues in an | | | | approach would be to say something like this:"My |
| interview? None. Do not be caught off guard with a | | | | salary has varied significantly depending on job |
| question like this. You can provide a simple answer | | | | responsibilities. My wage has been appropriate to the |
| like:"I'm a work in progress like everybody else. | | | | level of responsibility accepted, and I will be happy to |
| Professionally, we can discuss any concerns you | | | | discuss salary with you at the appropriate time."You |
| might have about me."If the interviewer pursues this | | | | might also say something like this:"I pretty much focus |
| question beyond this kind of answer, do not be | | | | on what the pay is for the job I am interested in doing |
| intimidated by probing, and do not let down your guard | | | | rather than what I have made in the past."If they |
| by confessing all your self perceived weaknesses, | | | | pressure for an answer, ask them directly, "Are you |
| past incidents with former employers, or any other | | | | offering me the job?"You have nothing to lose by |
| unpleasant information. An escape clause would be a | | | | employing these answers unless your salary history is |
| good thing to develop. To move on, you might say:"Let | | | | right in line with the job you are interviewing for. If you |
| me think about that for a while and come back to that | | | | are making a lateral move, you can afford to provide |
| later if you'd like. Is there something in particular that | | | | your salary history. You can only know this if you |
| you are concerned about?"After giving your answer, | | | | already know what pay level the job offers. Few |
| you might also try smiling and asking the interviewer | | | | people ever look for jobs that are equal to what they |
| what their greatest weakness is. By turning the | | | | are presently making. How hard is it for you to locate |
| question back to them, you may find something you | | | | a new job? If you cannot handle the pressure, you |
| can work with to satisfy why they ask such questions | | | | should give them the broadest possible range of past |
| of you. As a general rule, never be afraid to ask | | | | salary, and add that the range is based on what you |
| questions that will clarify the level of answer expected | | | | have been asked to do in the past, and the benefits |
| from you. You may find that your thinking is on a | | | | that come along with the salary. If you cave in on |
| completely different level than the person who is | | | | revealing past or future salary expectations, you may |
| interviewing you. Asking your own questions in | | | | find yourself disqualified from a position you would |
| response can help to give you control over your | | | | otherwise find perfectly acceptable. This is true |
| answers. You should not respond with questions to | | | | especially if you have decided to move down on the |
| every question being asked, but when you do not | | | | scale rather than up.5. What makes you think you are |
| understand why the dialog is moving in a specific | | | | qualified for this position?A provocative question like |
| direction, questioning the intent is justified.3. What are | | | | this is designed to see if it will make you squirm. Your |
| your salary expectations?If you are in a hurry to get | | | | best approach is to have an answer prepared that |
| through an interview, and this question is one of the | | | | might be something like this:"That is what we are here |
| first ones asked, you can eliminate yourself from | | | | to explore. So far, I see no reason to believe I am not |
| consideration by being unrealistic in what you expect | | | | qualified. Do you have some specific concerns we can |
| to be paid for the position. Think about this one before | | | | discuss?"If an interviewer is stupid enough to bring |
| you answer, or better still, wait until the company has | | | | unqualified candidates in for interviews, they should be |
| actually said they want to hire you for the job. The | | | | the one to explain why they selected you as a |
| interview is where you find out about the job, so you | | | | candidate. The very fact that you were chosen to |
| can determine what it would be worth for you to | | | | discuss a position shows there was something in your |
| accept it. If you are wise, you will not focus totally on | | | | qualifications that interested them. Find out what they |
| salary, but also consider the other benefits the | | | | saw in your background that interested them, and |
| company has to offer. Do not state a salary | | | | exploit it.At the end of your interview, you will often be |
| expectancy on an application, or in an interview until | | | | invited to ask any questions you might have. This |
| you have information on the "big picture."What you | | | | segment can be crucial for your success. You should |
| really want to consider is salary, how far from home | | | | always ask when the company expects to make their |
| you would have to go, what kind of health insurance, | | | | decision on the position. This will give you an idea how |
| dental, retirement, perks, bonuses, and services the | | | | much longer you will be waiting to be accepted or |
| company offers to their employees. These details are | | | | rejected. You can also learn something by asking them |
| rarely provided during the interview, and will take time | | | | if they have any concerns about you. Using this |
| for you to analyze before giving your response. How | | | | method, I once learned that I was about to be |
| much is the company thinking they want to pay for the | | | | eliminated because the interviewer felt there were |
| job? Whatever figure they quote is likely to be their | | | | some weaknesses in my skill sets. When I filled in |
| lowest bid. How much flexibility is there in their starting | | | | more information about those concerns, the |
| salary figure? How often do they give salary reviews? | | | | interviewer was visibly moved. The person said, |
| All these questions should be answered, and all of | | | | "Really? Well, that's the sort of thing you should have |
| them should be asked at the end of the hiring process, | | | | told me!" I responded by asking if they had any |
| when it is time for you to decide on whether or not to | | | | objections to notating this new information at this point |
| accept the position being offered.Until you are offered | | | | of the interview, and it was like someone hit them with |
| the position, you should firmly defer the discussion of | | | | an electric shock. They hurriedly scribbled some more |
| salary. Offer a response something like this:"We can | | | | notes on my resume, and ultimately chose me for the |
| discuss that after I have had a chance to review the | | | | position. Always remember that an interview is not |
| entire benefit offering available from your company, | | | | over until it is over. Apply any insights you receive |
| and find out whether or not I am a fit for your | | | | when they become available to you.Director of |
| organization. I'm sure you are willing to offer a fair | | | | Software Concepts |
| wage for the position, but right now, you are more | | | | BHO Technologists - LittleTek Center |
| qualified to state what the job is worth to the | | | | Please provide a rating for the article to help us |
| company than I am."4. What is your salary | | | | determine future content choices. |
| history?Great or small, short or tall, this is another | | | | |