| There are lots of ways to deal with difficult interview | | | | but at least you know you have done your job, and |
| questions. In these situations it helps to understand | | | | met your objectives. With this advice rendered, I |
| some of the possible motives interviewers have in | | | | personally might answer the question with something |
| asking you these questions, and what your own | | | | like this: |
| motivation should be in answering them. Here are a | | | | My least favorite work is commission sales, phone |
| few insights to ponder for yourself. Whatever your | | | | sales, and heavy labor. I prefer working in an office |
| approach, you should record the answers that work | | | | environment. |
| for you, and find new approaches for those that do | | | | 5. Why should we hire you? |
| not. | | | | In most interviews this question is aimed toward seeing |
| 1. What are some of your significant | | | | how much you are willing to brag on yourself, or beg |
| accomplishments? | | | | for a chance to do the job. A good approach is not to |
| This question is an opportunity for you to express how | | | | launch a windy diatribe, undersell your capabilities, or |
| your contributions have put dollars and cents into the | | | | act disinterested in the job. A good response to this |
| company's growth. If possible, quote figures on how | | | | question is to smile, make eye contact and reply with |
| much money your ideas or actions have saved your | | | | something like this: |
| previous employers, or added to their bottom line. If | | | | That's what we are here to find out isn't it? I have a lot |
| you have never been a higher paid employee, or | | | | to contribute, and I'm willing to address any specifics |
| offered any significant contribution beyond your good | | | | you want to discuss. I know I am the best candidate |
| work, you can simply state that you have always | | | | for the position, what do you need to be convinced? |
| earned what they paid you to do the job. If you are | | | | 6. Do you believe the customer is always right? |
| looking for a higher paying position, think of something | | | | This is another question to draw out your perspective, |
| you have done to improve work flow, customer base, | | | | and see how well it fits into the company's view of |
| or income for the company. There are lots of | | | | dealing with customers. You can play along with the |
| possibilities. Do not get caught without any answer to | | | | cliché, or provide a realistic view. You might say |
| this question, but if you have nothing to say, simply say, | | | | something like this: |
| 'I have always found a way to increase my value with | | | | Enforcing the company's policy is not always that |
| every company I have worked with.' | | | | simple. I believe the customer always thinks they are |
| You might select contributions that you were not | | | | right, but there might be an occasion when they just |
| compensated for, or that do not have a dollar figure | | | | don't have enough information. I would work to |
| attached to them, but offer a creative expression of | | | | understand their point of view, and offer information to |
| your talent. I might say something like this: | | | | help them resolve any issues that need to be settled. |
| I have made contributions to every company I have | | | | 7. What would you do if you saw an employee doing |
| worked with in the past. For two separate companies, | | | | something dishonest or unethical? |
| I offered improvements to support operations that | | | | In some companies, there are problems with people |
| resulted in higher engineer productivity and improved | | | | behaving improperly. To answer a question like this, |
| customer satisfaction with services. | | | | first determine if this kind of scenario is to be expected |
| For another company, I contributed a marketing | | | | in working for the company, by asking the interviewer |
| approach still being used in some capacity over 20 | | | | how often you could expect a situation like this to be |
| years later. | | | | encountered. Generally, you do not have to solve the |
| Some of my program concepts have been | | | | problem, just respond to the question in simple terms. |
| acknowledged by the press for making the use of | | | | You could say something like this: |
| computers easier and more productive. | | | | Resolving that type of issue would depend on the |
| 2. What are your long term goals? | | | | circumstances. Generally, I would find out what the |
| The interviewer is asking this to find out more about | | | | company's policy or procedure is for that situation, and |
| what kind of person you are, and how well you plan | | | | follow it. There are usually guidelines for that sort of |
| ahead. By penetrating your personal traits and | | | | thing. |
| perspective, they can determine if you have the | | | | In some professional instances, part of the interview |
| personality they are looking for in filling the position. Do | | | | process is to require a candidate to "prove" |
| not open your mouth too wide on this question; give | | | | themselves by addressing a very detailed scenario or |
| the impression that their company could be part of | | | | issue. The company might require a level of input that |
| your long term plan. That's what they really want to | | | | makes you feel as if they are asking for the solution to |
| hear anyway, whether it turns out to be true or not! | | | | a problem they are presently struggling with |
| You can make a good impression with a statement | | | | themselves. When an interview moves to the level of |
| like this: | | | | requiring you to provide the company with some free |
| My long term goals are to continue making significant | | | | consulting as part of their assessment process, you |
| contributions to the organization I work with, and | | | | can decide if you want to work for free or insist on |
| maintain adequate income for my family. | | | | being paid to resolve an issue of this magnitude. In my |
| Use your own ideas for how to impress the | | | | own experience, I have encountered companies that |
| interviewer that you will be a team player, excellent | | | | ask for free consulting, then implement the suggestions |
| leader, or worthwhile employee. | | | | offered, and refuse to hire the candidate as an |
| 3. What kind of work do you most enjoy doing? | | | | employee. Business is not immune to unethical |
| If you are asked this question in an interview for a job, | | | | practices, and you should not feel obligated to |
| it would be wise for you to describe the position you | | | | participate in their plans. |
| are interviewing for. Do not eliminate yourself by | | | | Have you ever gone part way though an interview, |
| describing what does not pertain to the job you want. | | | | then found yourself thinking, "What the heck am I doing |
| You can turn it into a commercial for yourself by | | | | here?" If this impulse strikes you, there is no need to |
| saying something like: | | | | waste time cruising through the rest of the formalities. |
| I enjoy doing the kind of work associated with what | | | | If you have landed an interview you are absolutely not |
| your company has to offer. I would welcome an | | | | interested in finishing, there is no reason why you |
| opportunity to settle in and get busy. Of course I have | | | | cannot politely excuse yourself from further |
| other interests as well, but right now I am focused on | | | | participation. You might say something like, "Excuse |
| getting a good job in this field. | | | | me, I don't think I need to waste any more of your time |
| 4. What kind of work do you least enjoy doing? | | | | here. It does not look like this job is going to be a fit for |
| When you answer this question, you should not get | | | | me. Thank you for your time, but I think I'll be leaving |
| too deep, or talk about jobs that might be very similar | | | | now." This type of exit can boost your self confidence |
| to the one you are interviewing for. That may sound | | | | and make you feel more like you are in control of your |
| easy, but the hard part is to not trip yourself up with | | | | own destiny if you discover an appropriate moment to |
| jobs similar to what the interviewer may perceive as | | | | exercise this freedom. |
| similar. Even if your discussion of the position you are | | | | If you are experiencing problems with answering |
| interviewing for makes you conclude that you do not | | | | specific questions you are encountering, try checking |
| particularly want the job, you should not turn it down | | | | with someone else for insights on how to address |
| before you receive an offer. The right salary and | | | | these issues professionally. There are few questions |
| benefits can make any position look a whole lot better, | | | | that you cannot answer to satisfy your own |
| but to keep your interviewing talents sharp, you should | | | | perspective, while maintaining a completely acceptable |
| always try to get each company to make you an | | | | professional demeanor. |
| offer. When you do, you can always turn them down, | | | | |