| So you have reached that pivotal point of the job | | | | weaknesses," I am workaholic," and "I am a |
| search process - the interview. Your prep work, your | | | | perfectionist." Instead select a business weakness you |
| effort - a great resume, job boarding and virtual and | | | | have been working to overcome. Show you are taking |
| face-to-face networking succeeded. It was a lot of | | | | the initiative and improving yourself. Don't call it a |
| work - but it paid off. You got the interview. Breathe a | | | | weakness, but present it as a window of opportunity. |
| sigh of relief. But just a short sigh because now the | | | | For example, "I have had trouble with planning and |
| work really begins. You want to make the most of the | | | | prioritization in the past. However, I am taking steps to |
| interview process. You know you are able to do the | | | | correct this. I just started using a planner." Then show |
| job, but you now must communicate that and sell you | | | | the planner and how you are using it. |
| to the interviewer and your next position. | | | | 3. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss? How |
| So are you ready? There's no worse feeling than | | | | was it resolved? |
| when you're in an interview and the interviewer ask | | | | No is not an acceptable answer and will only cause |
| you a question to which you don't know the answer. | | | | the interviewer to dig deeper. You want your answer |
| The way to handle and avoid this is to go the | | | | to demonstrate how you behaviorally reacted to the |
| interviewed prepared. All interview questions will seem | | | | conflict and what you did to resolve it. Try to show |
| difficult without readiness. Thorough preparation will | | | | your familiarity with broad, effective conflict |
| make all questions, even the tough ones, surmountable | | | | management practices. However, never talk badly |
| and manageable. You want to eliminate the unknown. | | | | about the boss or company in responding; a potential |
| Familiarize yourself with a few difficult questions and | | | | boss may anticipate you would talk that way about |
| prepare your answers before the interview. Not only is | | | | him in the future. Emphasis how much you have |
| this the best way to reduce and avoid nervousness; it | | | | learned by the conflict. |
| will place you in a position to do your best in the | | | | 4. Are you a team player? |
| interview. | | | | Yes is the correct answer. But you will need to |
| You don't want improper or ineffective answers to | | | | provide behavioral examples. Emphasis teamwork and |
| interview questions to become a deal killer. To | | | | focus on openness to diversity of backgrounds. Talk |
| strengthen the delivery of your answers, it is critical | | | | about the strength of the team above the individual. |
| that you have honed interview and communication | | | | This question is difficult since the interview is to sell "I". |
| skills. Learn to speak clearly and effectively. Nonverbal | | | | In answering this question you must sell yourself and |
| communication is important too. You will want to have | | | | still show you are a team player. |
| good body language. You also will want eye contact | | | | 5. If I were to ask former superiors to describe you, |
| that shows confidence and says "hire me." Anything | | | | what would they say? |
| else sends you the message you aren't prepared and | | | | This is the threat of a reference check question. Ask |
| can't answer the tough questions. | | | | prior bosses in advance to know the answer. Give an |
| So plan to be ready. Prepare, prepare, prepare. This is | | | | answer that provides an example of how you work |
| the key to a successful interview. | | | | with the authority - supportive and responsible. Better |
| First some general tips to get you ready to handle the | | | | yet come armed with letters of recommendation and |
| interview and the resulting questions.o Know your | | | | show them to the interviewer. . |
| audience: Research the company; know what they do | | | | 6. Why should I hire you or what can you offer me |
| and how the job you are interviewing fits with the | | | | that another can can't? |
| company. If you know the name of the interviewer, | | | | The right answer is that you are the best person for |
| Google them. With the availability of information today, | | | | the job. Say so and back it up with what specifically |
| made possible by the internet, there's no excuse for | | | | differentiates you. Show passion in your examples. |
| not going into an interview armed with lots of insider | | | | Talk about your record of getting things done; how you |
| knowledge and intelligent questions.o Put your materials | | | | will be an asset. |
| together. Bring a copy of your cover letter, your | | | | 7. Would you be willing to accept a salary cut? |
| resume, your LinkedIn profile, letters of | | | | Salary is a difficult topic with today's tough economy. |
| recommendation, references, etc. Place them in | | | | How much a company can offer might be a deal |
| organized fashion easily accessible to share and | | | | breaker. If you have to, indicate what you are making |
| provide with the interviewer.o Make a list of the key | | | | or made in your last job. Try though to direct the |
| points about yourself including your strengths, any | | | | conversation away from salary. Stress that you are |
| unique skills you have or exceptional accomplishments | | | | more interested in the position and the job |
| you have had. Include skills and successes that | | | | responsibilities. |
| differentiate you from the competition.o Prepare a list | | | | 8. Why do you want to change jobs or why did you |
| of questions: The interview should be give and take. It | | | | leave your last job? |
| isn't an interrogation; it is an exchange of information. | | | | Be brief, upbeat and to the point without hurting |
| Prepare a list of questions that you want to ask about | | | | yourself. Focus of the things learned in your last job. |
| that you need to know to determine if the job is a | | | | Don't make excuses; don't bad mouth your former |
| good fit (e.g., job responsibilities, required skills, chain of | | | | employer. You do not want to come across as |
| command, etc.). Asking appropriate questions shows | | | | whining. Answer honestly as possible; don't fabricate a |
| you are interested in the job and the company. It gives | | | | story. You want to come across as seeking a new |
| the interviewer a chance to talk and creates an | | | | job for positive reasons. Speak to the great |
| opportunity to connect.o Prepare of list of question you | | | | opportunities this new job offers and how you will be |
| might be asked. And prepare answers (though you | | | | able to leverage your existing skills and build new ones. |
| have to be careful not to come across as too | | | | 9. The "Why" question or the question about some |
| scripted). Be prepared to hone your interview skills by | | | | fatal flaw on your resume. |
| practicing. The old saying "Practice Makes Perfect" | | | | Hopefully you have none. Examples are: "Why didn't |
| applies. Plan to conduct mock job interviews; perhaps | | | | you finish your degree?" "You have an accounting |
| videotape yourself. Take turns being the interviewee | | | | degree but not the CPA?" or "Why have you been in |
| and the interviewer. Rehearse but don't memorize | | | | the job market for so long?" Be open and |
| answers. | | | | straightforward; don't apologize and don't try to explain |
| The number of potential questions is infinite. You can | | | | it away. Acknowledge the issue and explain why it will |
| search the web for the plenary of questions and the | | | | not be an obstacle to your ability to performance |
| many opinions (sometimes different) on how to | | | | exceptionally in this job. Try to indicate you have had |
| answer them. To get you started, here are my top ten | | | | to work harder to overcome and achieved better |
| difficult questions and suggestions on how to construct | | | | performance as a result. |
| an answer. | | | | 10. What do you do best? |
| 1. Tell me about yourself. | | | | This question demands you praise yourself, something |
| This is often the first question in an interview and | | | | a lot of people find difficult to do. Plan to answer by |
| provides you a chance to shine. It is an open ended | | | | talking about your successes such as how you |
| question that many fail at by telling everything. The | | | | improved the business, generated new business or |
| best answer is a two to three minute snapshot of | | | | saved the company money. Discuss the strengths you |
| who you are, what you have to offer and why you | | | | have that go beyond meeting this job's qualifications. |
| are the best person for the job. Talk about what you | | | | Indicate what you can offer that other candidates can |
| have done to prepare yourself to be the best and use | | | | not. |
| examples to back it up. | | | | You want to walk into interview as a posed |
| 2. What is your greatest weakness? | | | | professional who is prepared, calm under pressure and |
| This is the classic difficult question. Fielding the question | | | | ready to do the job. Preparation builds confidence and |
| well will demonstrate that you can take initiative and | | | | assurance that you know your stuff. So prepare |
| improve. To do so, do not follow the old generic | | | | extensively and sufficiently, so can you succeed and |
| approach selecting by a strength and presenting it as a | | | | get that next job. Good luck! |
| weakness. Examples of these answers are "I have no | | | | |