| There are tricks to answering interview questions so | | | | raises concerns about what you might say about the |
| that the interviewers hear what they need to hear to | | | | supervisor here when you leave the job- and also that |
| know that you are the best candidate for the job. | | | | you might have a chip on your shoulder that could end |
| When you hear an interview question, always think | | | | up in a harassment complaint against the company. |
| about what the interviewer really wants to know. | | | | This is also NOT the place to respond: "Well, I made |
| For example, a common interview question is "Why do | | | | some terrible mistakes that cost the company a lot of |
| you want this job?" What the interviewer really wants | | | | money, so they had to let me go." |
| to know is "Why would we want you in this job?" | | | | If an interviewer hears this response, you know what |
| Don't explain how you expect the job will benefit you: | | | | concerns it will raise! |
| "It will give me a desired challenge or promotion or | | | | Instead, be diplomatic and gracious: "After I started the |
| opportunity to use my skills." | | | | job, I discovered that it was not what I had expected." |
| Instead, tell the interviewer how you will benefit the job | | | | There is nothing in this response that would raise |
| and the organization: "I've worked in organizations with | | | | unnecessary red flags. Interviewers are human and |
| similar services and challenges and feel that my | | | | know that some jobs just aren't the right fit. |
| experience will help this company anticipate and | | | | There are other questions that are commonly asked |
| respond more quickly and effectively when faced with | | | | for which you need a clear strategy for answering. |
| similar challenges. For example,...." | | | | For example, "Tell me about yourself." What the |
| Another common interview question is: "What do you | | | | interviewer really wants to know is, "What are all the |
| consider to be your greatest weakness?" What the | | | | things I can't legally ask that you can now tell me |
| interviewer really wants to know is "What have you | | | | about?" |
| done to recognize and address this weakness?" | | | | Do NOT provide personal information: "Well, I was born |
| Don't hand the interviewer a very good reason to | | | | in South Carolina and have twelve brothers and |
| dismiss you as a viable candidate: "Well, my greatest | | | | sisters. I'm now a single parent with three children, so I |
| weakness is how long it takes me to get things done." | | | | really need this job." |
| Instead, show the interviewer what you have done to | | | | Instead, keep your answer professional and |
| constructively address this weakness: "My greatest | | | | work-related: "I've always been interested in teaching |
| weakness is my need to do work as deliberately and | | | | at the elementary school level and made sure that I |
| perfectly as possible. However, I have realized that my | | | | could practice teach in that environment. I got my |
| standard of quality has frequently limited my work | | | | degree at...." |
| performance. As a result, I find out the level of quality | | | | Another example, "Where do you expect to be in five |
| expected by my supervisor or my client and work to | | | | years?" What the interviewer really wants to know is: |
| that standard. This way, my work product meets | | | | "Do you plan to use the training and experience you |
| everyone's expectations and is always on schedule." | | | | get in this job as a springboard to a job in a different |
| There are some questions we worry about because | | | | company?" |
| we're not sure we have an acceptable answer. For | | | | Since no one really knows what they will be doing in |
| example, "Why did you leave your last job after just | | | | five years, it's not a very fair or useful question. But |
| one month?" If you were fired from that job, this can | | | | please don't tell the interviewer that!! Instead, provide an |
| be a frightening question. Before you plan your answer, | | | | honest and diplomatic answer: "I would plan to stay |
| keep in mind what the interviewer will not want to hear: | | | | with this company as long as there is a good fit with |
| answers that blame others, especially the prior | | | | my skills and abilities." |
| employer. | | | | Most interviewers are interested in screening out |
| This is NOT the place to respond: "Well, my supervisor | | | | unacceptable job applicants, so they choose questions |
| at that company was completely incompetent and | | | | that will accomplish that. However, if you follow these |
| always blamed me for his mistakes. I couldn't take that | | | | guidelines for answering interview questions, they will |
| kind of harassment, so I left." | | | | know that you are the best person for the job. |
| If an interviewer hears this response, it immediately | | | | |