| Here are the 6 most commonly asked job interview | | | | This is a trick question. Most job seekers don't handle |
| questions I've gathered from my own experience and | | | | this one well. If you discuss what you don't do well, you |
| the ways to answer them: | | | | may not get the job. If you say you have no |
| - Question 1: Why Don't You Tell Me About Yourself? | | | | weaknesses, the interviewer won't believe you. |
| - | | | | Ask yourself what the interviewer really wants to |
| The interviewer does not want to know your life | | | | know. He or she wants to know that you are aware |
| history! Instead, he or she wants you to explain how | | | | of your weaknesses. The interviewer wants to know |
| your background relates to doing the job. Following is | | | | that you have learned to overcome them so that they |
| how one person might respond: | | | | don't affect your work. Using the second step of |
| "I grew up in the Southwest and my parents and one | | | | the three-step process would result in a response like |
| sister still live there. I always did well in school, and by | | | | this: |
| the time I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted | | | | "I do have some weaknesses. For example, in |
| to work in a business setting. I had taken computer | | | | previous jobs I would get annoyed with |
| and other business classes and had done well in them. | | | | coworkers who didn't work as hard as I did. I |
| The jobs I've had while going to school have taught | | | | sometimes said so to them, and several times I |
| me how many small businesses are run. In one of | | | | refused to do their work when they asked me to." |
| these jobs, I was given complete responsibility for the | | | | You have answered the question, but the response |
| night operations of a wholesale grocery business that | | | | should not end there! Using step three of the |
| grossed over $2 million a year. I learned there how to | | | | three-step process would result in a statement like this: |
| supervise others and solve problems under pressure." | | | | "But I have learned to deal with this better. I still work |
| This answer gives a brief personal history and then | | | | hard, but now I let the supervisor deal with another |
| gets right into the job seeker's skills and experiences. | | | | worker's problems. I've also gained some skills as a |
| A different job would require you to stress different | | | | supervisor myself I've learned to motivate others to do |
| skills. Your personal history is unique, but you can | | | | more because they want to, not because I want them |
| still use the three steps to answer the question for | | | | to." |
| yourself. | | | | Did you notice that this weakness isn't such a |
| - Question 2: Why Should I Hire You? - | | | | weakness at all? Many of our strengths began in |
| This is the most important question of all! If you don't | | | | failure. We learned from them and got better. Your |
| have a good reason why someone should hire you, | | | | answer to any interview question should always |
| why will anyone? This question is not often asked so | | | | present your positives. |
| clearly, but it is "the" question behind many other | | | | - Question 5: Why Are You Looking for This Sort of |
| interview questions. | | | | Position and Why Here? - |
| The best answer shows how you can solve a | | | | Employers know that you will do better in a job you |
| problem for the employer, help the business make | | | | really want. Employers want to make sure you know |
| more money, or provide something else of value that | | | | what you want. They also want you to tell them what |
| the company needs. Think about the most valuable | | | | you like about the job, and what you like about doing |
| thing you can do for an organization. You should | | | | the job in their organization. The closer you come to |
| probably include that information in your answer. Here | | | | wanting what they have, the better. |
| is a sample response from a person with recent | | | | The best answer for this is the truth. You should have |
| training but little work experience: | | | | a clear idea of the type of job you want before the |
| "I have over two years of training in this field and know | | | | interview. You should also know the sort of |
| about all the latest equipment and methods. That | | | | organization and the type of people you want to work |
| means I can get right to work and be productive | | | | with. You gathered all of this information earlier in this |
| almost right away. I am also willing to work hard to | | | | book. If you are interviewing for a job you want, in a |
| learn new things. During the entire time I went to | | | | place where you think you would enjoy working, |
| school, I held a full-time job to help earn the tuition and | | | | answering this question should be easy. |
| support myself I learned to work hard and | | | | - Question 6: How Does Your Previous Experience |
| concentrate on what was important. I expect to | | | | Relate to the Jobs We Have Here? - |
| do the same thing here. Since I won't be going to | | | | This one requires a direct response. The employer is |
| school now, I plan on putting in extra time after regular | | | | really asking, "Can you prove you have the experience |
| work hours to learn anything this job needs." | | | | and skills to do the job?" The question is directly |
| - Question 3: What Are Your Major Strengths? - | | | | related to the employer's expectation on skills and |
| This is a direct question with a little hidden meaning. | | | | training. In some cases, other people with better |
| These are the skills employers are most concerned | | | | credentials than yours will want the job you're after. |
| about. Here is one answer from a person who had | | | | You can even mention this, and then explain why you |
| little prior work experience: | | | | are a better choice. Here is an example of how one |
| "I think one of my strengths is that you can depend on | | | | person answered this question: |
| me. I work very hard to meet deadlines and don't | | | | "As you know, I have over five years of experience in |
| need a lot o f supervision in doing so. If I don't know | | | | a variety of jobs. While this job is in a different industry, |
| what to do, I don't mind asking. In high school, I got a | | | | it will also require my skills in managing people and |
| solid B-plus average even though I was very involved | | | | meeting the public. In fact, my daily contact with large |
| in sports. I always got my assignments in on time and | | | | numbers of people on previous jobs has taught me |
| somehow found the time to do extra credit work, too." | | | | how to work under pressure. I feel very able to deal |
| - Question 4: What Are Your Major Weaknesses? - | | | | with pressure and to get the job done. |