| It is always difficult for a job seeker, to face the | | | | Good communication skills. |
| interviewer, especially for freshers who are just out of | | | | Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve |
| college, seeking a job. It is wise to prepare some hr | | | | excellence. |
| interview questions before attending the interview. | | | | Definiteness of purpose...clear goals. |
| Some of the difficult hr questions to face are as | | | | Enthusiasm...high level of motivation. |
| follows. | | | | Confident...healthy...a leader. |
| Tell me about yourself? | | | | What are your greatest weaknesses? |
| Start with the present and tell why you are well | | | | Disguise a strength as a weakness. |
| qualified for the position. Remember that the key to all | | | | Example: "I sometimes push my people too hard. I like |
| successful interviewing is to match your qualifications | | | | to work with a sense of urgency and everyone is not |
| to what the interviewer is looking for. In other words | | | | always on the same wavelength." |
| you must sell what the buyer is buying. This is the | | | | Drawback: This strategy is better than admitting a |
| single most important strategy in job hunting. | | | | flaw, but it's so widely used, it is transparent to any |
| So, before you answer this or any question it's | | | | experienced interviewer. |
| imperative that you try to uncover your interviewer's | | | | BEST ANSWER: (and another reason it's so important |
| greatest need, want, problem or goal. | | | | to get a thorough description of your interviewer's |
| To do so, make you take these two steps: | | | | needs before you answer questions): Assure the |
| Do all the homework you can before the hr interview | | | | interviewer that you can think of nothing that would |
| to uncover this person's wants and needs (not the | | | | stand in the way of your performing in this position with |
| generalized needs of the industry or company) | | | | excellence. Then, quickly review you strongest |
| As early as you can in the interview, ask for a more | | | | qualifications. |
| complete description of what the position entails. You | | | | Example: "Nobody's perfect, but based on what you've |
| might say: "I have a number of accomplishments I'd like | | | | told me about this position, I believe I' d make an |
| to tell you about, but I want to make the best use of | | | | outstanding match. I know that when I hire people, I look |
| our time together and talk directly to your needs. To | | | | for two things most of all. Do they have the |
| help me do, that, could you tell me more about the | | | | qualifications to do the job well, and the motivation to |
| most important priorities of this position? All I know is | | | | do it well? Everything in my background shows I have |
| what I (heard from the recruiter, read in the classified | | | | both the qualifications and a strong desire to achieve |
| ad, etc.)" | | | | excellence in whatever I take on. So I can say in all |
| Then, ALWAYS follow-up with a second and possibly, | | | | honesty that I see nothing that would cause you even |
| third question, to draw out his needs even more. | | | | a small concern about my ability or my strong desire to |
| Surprisingly, it's usually this second or third question that | | | | perform this job with excellence." |
| unearths what the interviewer is most looking for. | | | | Alternate strategy (if you don't yet know enough |
| You might ask simply, "And in addition to that?..." or, "Is | | | | about the position to talk about such a perfect fit): |
| there anything else you see as essential to success in | | | | Instead of confessing a weakness, describe what you |
| this position?: | | | | like most and like least, making sure that what you like |
| This process will not feel easy or natural at first, | | | | most matches up with the most important qualification |
| because it is easier simply to answer questions, but | | | | for success in the position, and what you like least is |
| only if you uncover the employer's wants and needs | | | | not essential. |
| will your answers make the most sense. Practice | | | | Example: Let's say you're applying for a teaching |
| asking these key questions before giving your | | | | position. "If given a choice, I like to spend as much time |
| answers, the process will feel more natural and you | | | | as possible in front of my prospects selling, as |
| will be light years ahead of the other job candidates | | | | opposed to shuffling paperwork back at the office. Of |
| you're competing with. | | | | course, I long ago learned the importance of filing |
| After uncovering what the employer is looking for, | | | | paperwork properly, and I do it conscientiously. But |
| describe why the needs of this job bear striking | | | | what I really love to do is sell (if your interviewer were |
| parallels to tasks you've succeeded at before. Be sure | | | | a sales manager, this should be music to his ears.) |
| to illustrate with specific examples of your | | | | Tell me about something you did - or failed to do - that |
| responsibilities and especially your achievements, all of | | | | you now feel a little ashamed of? |
| which are geared to present yourself as a perfect | | | | As with faults and weaknesses, never confess a |
| match for the needs he has just described. | | | | regret. But don't seem as if you're stonewalling either. |
| What are your greatest strengths? | | | | Best strategy: Say you harbor no regrets, then add a |
| You know that your key strategy is to first uncover | | | | principle or habit you practice regularly for healthy |
| your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before | | | | human relations. |
| you answer questions. And from Question 1, you know | | | | Example: Pause for reflection, as if the question never |
| how to do this. | | | | occurred to you. Then say to hr, "You know, I really |
| Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally | | | | can't think of anything." (Pause again, then add): "I would |
| prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also | | | | add that as a general management principle, I've found |
| have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each | | | | that the best way to avoid regrets is to avoid causing |
| strength, an example chosen from your most recent | | | | them in the first place. I practice one habit that helps |
| and most impressive achievements. | | | | me a great deal in this regard. At the end of each day, |
| You should, have this list of your greatest strengths | | | | I mentally review the day's events and conversations |
| and corresponding examples from your achievements | | | | to take a second look at the people and |
| so well committed to memory that you can recite | | | | developments I'm involved with and do a double check |
| them cold after being shaken awake at 2:30AM. Then, | | | | of what they're likely to be feeling. Sometimes I'll see |
| once you uncover your interviewer's greatest wants | | | | things that do need more follow-up, whether a pat on |
| and needs, you can choose those achievements from | | | | the back, or maybe a five minute chat in someone's |
| your list that best match up. | | | | office to make sure we're clear on things...whatever." |
| As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that | | | | "I also like to make each person feel like a member of |
| all employers love to see in their employees | | | | an elite team, like the Boston Celtics or LA Lakers in |
| are:proven track record as an achiever...especially if | | | | their prime. I've found that if you let each team |
| your achievements match up with the employer's | | | | member know you expect excellence in their |
| greatest wants and needs. | | | | performance...if you work hard to set an example |
| Intelligence...management "savvy". | | | | yourself...and if you let people know you appreciate |
| Honesty...integrity...a decent human being. | | | | and respect their feelings, you wind up with a highly |
| Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel | | | | motivated group, a team that's having fun at work |
| comfortable with...a team player who meshes well with | | | | because they're striving for excellence rather than |
| interviewer's team. | | | | brooding over slights or regrets. |
| Likability...positive attitude...sense of humor. | | | | |