| Q. How do you handle stress? | | | | of our customers needs. It also took up a lot of time |
| Notice how this question is subtly different to "can you | | | | but I got around this by establishing a clever database |
| handle stress?" Reply with: "I break my work down | | | | for merging that sped up the process significantly. |
| into smaller steps and work through those steps rather | | | | This shows you are goal oriented, that you believe in |
| than get worked up over the bigger picture." | | | | getting the job done and not just in being busy. Some |
| Or: "I tend to see problems arising before they | | | | task-oriented people believe in simply being busy. |
| become too large to handle and I make contingencies | | | | Employers desperately want goal-oriented people. |
| to cover them." | | | | Q. Can we check your references? |
| Q. How long have you been looking for work/another | | | | This question is often asked to put you off-guard. This |
| position? | | | | is especially true if you come across as being too |
| If you've been unemployed for a while obviously the | | | | perfect, or too smooth. |
| employer is going to think why didn't anyone want | | | | If you already have a job and are considering changing |
| them in all that time? If they were any good surely | | | | tell the interviewer they can check your references if |
| they?d have found a job by now? Also - always | | | | you receive a firm job offer as you want to keep |
| remember that businesses are fuelled by innovation | | | | matters confidential for the moment. |
| and solving customer's needs and problems. They're | | | | If they want to check your present employer for a |
| not fuelled by the amount of hours their employees | | | | reference, make sure they give you a written job |
| work. | | | | offer first. The last thing you need is to miss out on the |
| You're not there to work 40 hours a week. You are | | | | job and arrive back at work to find your present |
| there to reach and attain certain goals. So, your best | | | | employer finding ways to dismiss you for lack of |
| answer to the question is along the lines of: | | | | loyalty. |
| I don't want just any old job. I?ve been using my days | | | | Q. Tell me about yourself? |
| researching companies I'd most like to work for and | | | | Make sure you answer this question in a way that |
| where I feel I could grow and develop my skills and be | | | | benefits the employer. They are looking for honesty, |
| a key member in the company's success. I?ve also | | | | integrity, being a team player, punctuality and goal |
| been studying and reading to give myself more skills to | | | | orientated people. If you are going to talk about |
| add more value to my chosen career. | | | | something, don?t ramble on and on. Instead, talk about |
| You might also go on to explain that you knew this | | | | one of the subjects I've just mentioned. |
| would go against you because of the length of time | | | | A great strategy is to ask: "What area of my |
| you were out of work, but you realized that your | | | | background are you most interested in?" Their |
| whole future relied on what you did now and you | | | | response allows you to tell them what they want to |
| were willing to take that risk. | | | | hear. |
| Q. Have you ever been fired? | | | | Q. Why do you feel you are a better .................. than the |
| Try to answer "NO." | | | | other applicants? |
| If you have been and are asked about it, explain why, | | | | This is not the time to put down other people nor is it |
| and what you learned from the experience. If other | | | | the time to brag about how great you are. |
| people were fired with you or resigned because of a | | | | You have a few options. The first is to say something |
| change in management, or were laid off due to | | | | along the lines like "to many people, being a ..................... is |
| offshoring then explain that as well. | | | | just a job. To me it's something I?ve always wanted to |
| Q. In your last position what duties did you perform? | | | | be. Being a ................ is more than a job to me ? it's a |
| This question is to see whether you are goal or task | | | | passion and that passion comes through in my work." |
| oriented. | | | | The other option is to say you never worried about |
| Tell them what you did and what it meant to the | | | | being better than the rest. You've only considered |
| company: | | | | being the best you can be. Go on to tell them you think |
| Part of my job involved typing letters to customers to | | | | your skills are the most valuable for the position and |
| nurture and develop the value of our relationships with | | | | then show them how you can use them to be |
| them. This involved establishing an intimate knowledge | | | | incredibly productive and a great team member. |