| My husband connects easily with strangers. Even in | | | | "weakness" sends. You also want to practice for |
| high pressure situations, he is a master at setting the | | | | specific weaknesses that your resume reveals. Be |
| person he is talking to at ease. I'm sure it comes from | | | | prepared to answer for a lack of experience, gaps in |
| a strong sense of confidence, a genuine affection for | | | | your work history, or even for being overqualified. |
| people, and an ability to immediately forgive himself for | | | | Make sure the answer you sculpt sends the right |
| any blunders he might make. Alas, no matter how | | | | message. Having a two year gap to go to school or |
| often I have watched him in action, I've never been | | | | care for family is admissible; a two year gap because |
| able to adopt his ready ease. I have great difficulty | | | | you couldn't find a job is not. Similarly, if you are |
| thinking on my feet, and if I'm not prepared, stressful | | | | overqualified, your response must convince the |
| situations for me are a disaster. | | | | employer you won't bolt for greener pastures as soon |
| In fifteen years of interviewing potential applicants, I've | | | | as the opportunity arises. |
| learned that I'm the rule, not the exception. It most | | | | The third type of question will account for the bulk of |
| often happens when I ask a behavior-based question, | | | | most interviews. I recommend having at least ten |
| such as, "Tell me about a time when you had to deal | | | | well-crafted examples of things you have done well |
| with a client whose expectations were not met." I can | | | | for other employers. If you are fresh out of school, use |
| see the person's mind freeze and then panic set in. | | | | examples from your education. Use the acronym PAR |
| They'll eventually give me a weak smile and admit that | | | | to develop your answers: problem, action, result. |
| they can't think of anything. While I'm sure that on the | | | | Explain succinctly the challenge, the steps you took, |
| drive home examples come flooding to them, it is too | | | | and the outcome. Your result should be quantifiable. |
| late. They didn't get the job. | | | | For example, "When I took the job at XYZ the payroll |
| How can you make sure that this doesn't happen to | | | | costs in our office were more than 7% of income, the |
| you on your next interview? While it is not likely that | | | | third highest in the firm. By convincing a few of the |
| you'll get a list of interview questions in advance, you | | | | weaker performers to take an early retirement |
| can prepare an arsenal of answers to fire off for a | | | | package and redistributing their responsibilities among |
| variety of questions. Think of a politician in a political | | | | other personnel instead of replacing them, I brought our |
| debate. They don't know which questions, specifically, | | | | payroll costs well below 5%, the lowest in the |
| that the moderator will ask, but their responses are | | | | company, within the first year." |
| anything but "off the cuff." First they survey the political | | | | Use your PAR answers even when the question |
| climate for any "hot topics," such as the economy or | | | | doesn't explicitly ask for a behavior-based response. If |
| foreign policy. Next they take stock of their perceived | | | | asked, "What is your greatest strength?" most people |
| weaknesses, like experience, knowing that will be | | | | will respond with a quality like, "I'm hard-working." Don't |
| asked to respond to criticism. Finally, they establish their | | | | leave it at that, add one of your PAR responses. "I'm |
| own agenda, the message they want to get out, like | | | | innovate. For example, at XYZ there was a situation |
| reducing taxes or increasing gun control. And then they | | | | that..." is a much stronger way to answer the question. |
| draft a variety of responses and practice them in front | | | | An adjective without an example is empty. |
| of the mirror, a camera, and an audience that will | | | | The last category of questions, minefield questions, are |
| provide constructive feedback. You can do the same. | | | | the questions you hope the interviewer won't ask. |
| What questions should you be prepared to respond to | | | | Examples might be, "What are your salary |
| in an interview? There are four different types. The | | | | requirements?" or "Why did you leave your last job?" |
| first are questions specific to the job you are applying | | | | The salary question should never be answered with a |
| for. The second are questions about your | | | | number. Know the range for the position is a good |
| shortcomings. The third group is questions where you | | | | place to look, or ask people who work in the industry), |
| get to show your expertise. The forth type are | | | | but do your best not to discuss it until an offer is made. |
| questions I like to call "minefields." Your answers to all | | | | "If it turns out we're a good fit, I'm sure that we can |
| four types should be thoughtful but never ramble. | | | | negotiate something fair," is one way to put off the |
| To prepare for questions specific to the job, study the | | | | question. Or simply, "I'm negotiable." If pressed, state, |
| ad where it was posted. If multitasking is listed as a | | | | "from what I understand, the range for this position is x |
| requirement, be ready to show you can multitask. Next, | | | | to y, and I'd be fine if we negotiated something within |
| research the industry. Are there any hot button issues | | | | that range." As to why you left a specific job, your |
| you should be educated about? Read trade | | | | answer must convince the interviewer that you were |
| publications and talk to people currently working in the | | | | a star employee. If you left because you thought your |
| industry if it is new to you. Learn about the company | | | | boss was a jerk, don't mention it. Instead respond, "I |
| by reviewing their website, any current news, and | | | | was offered another opportunity working for XYZ." If |
| even the most recent annual report if it is publically | | | | you were downsized, communicate it wasn't personal. |
| traded. Know their most important products and their | | | | "My department was eliminated," is stronger than "I |
| biggest competitors. | | | | was laid off." If you were fired, you might have to fess |
| Next you should prepare for questions about your | | | | up, take responsibility, and show what you learned |
| own shortcomings. First and foremost there is the | | | | from the experience. Whatever answer you give, |
| ubiquitous, "What is your biggest weakness?" Most | | | | keep it positive. Never badmouth a previous employer, |
| people know that their weaknesses should actually be | | | | regardless of the reality. |
| strengths in disguise. Make it real, but don't get too | | | | Once you have scripted your interview responses, |
| creative. "I sometimes take on too much," is | | | | practice them often. Practice in front of a mirror. Do |
| acceptable; "I sometimes take on too much and miss | | | | you communicate enthusiasm? Record yourself on |
| deadlines" is not. Recently I've heard a few older | | | | tape or video and listen to your voice. Do you need to |
| professionals answer, quite truthfully, that their biggest | | | | speak more slowly? Do you use a lot of annoying |
| weakness is they are not terribly computer literate. | | | | "ums"? Have a friend pretend to interview you and |
| That might be endearing in a social environment, but in | | | | give constructive feedback. When you interview in |
| business it translates to: "You can't teach an old dog | | | | earnest, your preparation will show in your confidence |
| new tricks." Think hard about the message your | | | | and ease. |