| If an interviewer adopts a competitive or adversarial | | | | perfectionist who puts in too many hours. Then offer a |
| attitude toward you in an interview, you should not | | | | specific example of how you have successfully |
| take it personally. Many interviewers adopt a | | | | addressed this weakness, to demonstrate your desire |
| confrontational style to screen candidates for jobs | | | | to become a more complete professional. Keep |
| which may involve some form of regular conflict, such | | | | yourself in a positive light throughout your response, |
| as sales management or customer service supervisor. | | | | and never mention any weakness that is directly |
| In order for you to pass the interview with flying colors, | | | | related to the job under discussion.4. Tell me about |
| it is highly recommended that you prepare and | | | | yourself.Far from an invitation to idle chit-chat, this |
| rehearse the answers to these questions prior to the | | | | query is designed to let the interviewer determine how |
| interview, and that you remain calm and rational | | | | well you fit the job the company is offering. Confine |
| throughout your interrogation.The first consideration | | | | your answer to two minutes or less, and keep the |
| when preparing answers to these questions is | | | | focus on how well your skills and accomplishments |
| honesty. You will need to read and analyze the | | | | match both the position in particular and the company |
| description of the job you are pursuing, and match | | | | at large. Again, having researched the company and |
| your skills and experience as closely to that job | | | | studied the job description will pay off.5. Where do you |
| description as you can. It would also be of use for you | | | | see yourself in five years' time?Whenever a company |
| to research the company as a whole, and attempt to | | | | hires a new employee, it is a major expense, both |
| discover what their culture and prevalent attitudes are. | | | | financially and administratively. They want some |
| This information can help you frame your | | | | assurance that you intend to be around for awhile. By |
| responses.Finally, as you prepare your responses, | | | | presenting a well-considered five year plan, you can |
| consider carefully the purpose of each question. When | | | | assure them that you are worth the risk, especially if |
| an interviewer asks tests questions such as these, | | | | you have done your homework about the position and |
| they may be looking for something other than simple | | | | the company. If your defined goals are philosophically in |
| information. They may be looking more for how you | | | | line with those of the company, and you can |
| respond than what the content is of your response. | | | | communicate that you see this position as an |
| Remember the importance of retaining your | | | | important career step for you, you will be that much |
| composure and professionalism as you answer the | | | | closer to an offer. If you can truthfully add that you |
| following in any interview:1. Why are you leaving your | | | | plan to continue your professional development within |
| current job?If there is an issue or set of issues that | | | | the company, and will actively seek to advance within |
| you have as a candidate that may have affected | | | | the organization, so much the better.6. Why do you |
| your performance in the past, these same issues may | | | | want to work for our company?Quite simply, the |
| well affect your performance for the company with | | | | person conducting the interview wants to know if |
| whom you are interviewing. The interview is probing | | | | you've done your due diligence. When you do your |
| you for information about why you have chosen to | | | | research and analysis, catalog what things about the |
| leave your last employer, so he or she can assess | | | | company impress you or appeal to you. Demonstrate |
| whether or not you will leave this company for the | | | | that you have uncovered what you could about the |
| same reasons. Therefore, respond from the | | | | company on your own, and that you understand its |
| perspective of yourself as a professional pursuing a | | | | challenges and its place in the industry. Above all, be |
| career. Leave your former employer out of it. If you | | | | positive and enthusiastic.Obviously, your success in an |
| make critical or negative statements about your old | | | | interview is directly proportionate to the amount of |
| boss, your prospective boss may get the idea that he | | | | preparation you are willing to do. The act of analyzing |
| or she is next in line for your negativism. Simply state | | | | the job description from the perspective of your |
| that you are looking for a position that will challenge | | | | resume, and the process of researching the company |
| you to grow as a professional, and offer your thoughts | | | | through the Internet and your personal professional |
| as to why the position you seek is a good career | | | | network of people... these activities are key to your |
| move for you at this time.2. Why should we employ | | | | success, along with formal preparation and rehearsal |
| you rather than one of the other candidates?Testing | | | | of your responses to these questions. By using the |
| you on your own knowledge of your unique strengths | | | | preparation process we've just outlined, you will leave |
| is a basic interview technique. In order to respond | | | | an impression of competent professionalism when you |
| effectively to this question, you must have researched | | | | walk out of any interview.Good Luck With Your Job |
| the company and analyzed the job description in great | | | | SearchMark Baber has 20 years experience as an |
| detail. You will then be in a position to compare and | | | | Executive Search recruiter, with placement |
| contrast the requirements of the job against your | | | | background in many industries, including: Retail, |
| training, skills and accomplishments, point for point, while | | | | Manufacturing, Sales, Accounting/Finance, MIS/IT, and |
| simultaneously demonstrating your enthusiasm for the | | | | many others. Mark is Recruit Consultant to where |
| opportunity.3. What are your strengths and | | | | Jobseekers access 2 Million job transactions monthly, |
| weaknesses?As loaded questions go, this one is a | | | | and can submit their Resumes Free and have them |
| doosie. The person conducting the interview is looking | | | | distributed freely to Employers they choose by |
| for you to demonstrate how well you can assess | | | | industry, vocation, City or Region. Further |
| yourself, and that you are continually looking to | | | | JobNewsRADIO offers FREE Job Seeker resources |
| improve. When you respond, keep your answer in the | | | | like career and personality assessments, free Trade |
| context of the job interview. Present career strengths | | | | magazines, free Job Search tutorials that help increase |
| and contributions. Select a weakness that may seem | | | | your odds of finding a career job position, and many |
| like a strength in another context, such a being a | | | | other valuable resources. |