Interview Questions and Answers

Do your homework

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Before going for an interview, find out as much information on the company (go to JobsAhead Company Q and A) as possible. The best sources are the public library, the Internet (you can check out the company's site), and can even call the company and get the required information. The information gives you a one-up in the interview besides proving your content company or position.
Clearing the interview isn't necessarily a solitary attempt. Seek assistance from individuals who are in the profession and whose counsel you value most. Be confident in your approach and attitude; let the panel feel it through your demeanour, body language and dressing.
Getting prepared for your interview is the best way to dig deep and know yourself. You will be surprised that it would breed a new familiarity become more familiar with your own qualifications that will be make you present yourself better. All the best and get ready to give a treat.

Questions to Ask HR

2007-12-26T07:48:00.000-08:00

At the end of the interview, most interviewers generally ask if you have any questions. Therefore, you should be prepared beforehand with 2-3 technical and 2-3 non-technical questions and commit them to your memory before the interview.
Do not ask queries related to your salary, vacation, bonuses, or other benefits. This information should be discussed at the time of getting your joining letter. Here we are giving few sample questions that you can ask at the time of your interview.

Sample Questions
Could you tell me the growth plans and goals for the company?

What skills are important to be successful in this position?

Why did you join this company?

(optional) What's the criteria your company uses for performance appraisal?

With whom will I be interacting most frequently and what are their responsibilities and the nature of our interaction?

What is the time frame for making a decision at this position?

What made the previous persons in this position successful/unsuccessful?

Answers to some difficult questions :

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Tell me about yourself ?
Start from your education and give a brief coverage of previous experiences. Emphasise more on your recent experience explaining your job profile.
What do you think of your boss?
Put across a positive image, but don't exaggerate.
Why should we hire you?
Or why are you interested in this job?
Sum up your work experiences with your abilities and emphasise your strongest qualities and achievements. Let your interviewer know that you will prove to be an asset to the company.
How much money do you want?
Indicate your present salary and emphasise that the opportunity is the most important consideration.
Do you prefer to work in a group?
Be honest and give examples how you've worked by yourself and also with others. Prove your flexibility.

Questions you should be prepared for

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Tell us about yourself.

What do you know about our company?

Why do you want to join our company?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

How have you improved the nature of your job in the past years of your working?

Why should we hire you?

What contributions to profits have you made in your present or former company?

Why are you looking for a change?

Strengths and Weaknesses

2007-12-26T07:46:00.003-08:00

You should keep a regular check on your strengths and weaknesses. Write down three (3) technical and three (3) non-technical personal strengths. Most importantly, show examples of your skills. This proves more effective than simply talking about them. So if you're asked about a general skill, provide a specific example to help you fulfil the interviewer's expectations. It isn't enough to say you've got "excellent leadership skills". Instead, try saying:
"I think I have excellent leaderships skills which I have acquired through a combination of effective communication, delegation and personal interaction. This has helped my team achieve its goals."
As compared to strengths, the area of weaknesses is difficult to handle. Put across your weakness in such a way that it at leaset seems to be a positive virtue to the interviewer. Describe a weakness or area for development that you have worked on and have now overcome.

Chronological Outline of Career and Education Divide your life into "segments" defining your university, first job, second job. For each stage, jot do

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The reason for opting certain course or profession; Your job responsibilities in your previous/current job; Reason of leaving your earlier/current job. You should be clear in your mind where you want to be in the short and long term and ask yourself the reason why you would be appropriate for the job you are being interviewed for and how it will give shape to your future course.

Be natural

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Many interviewees adopt a stance which is not their natural self. It is amusing for interviewers when a candidate launches into an accent which he or she cannot sustain consistently through the interview or adopt mannerisms that are inconsistent with his/her personality. Interviewers appreciate a natural person rather than an actor. It is best for you to talk in natural manner because then you appear genuine.

Eye contact

2007-12-26T07:45:00.003-08:00

You must maintain eye contact with the panel, right through the interview. This shows your self-confidence and honesty. Many interviewees while answering, tend to look away. This conveys you are concealing your own anxiety, fear and lack of confidence. Maintaining an eye contact is a difficult process. As the circumstances in an interview are different, the value of eye contact is tremendous in making a personal impact.

Humor

2007-12-26T07:45:00.001-08:00

A little humor or wit thrown in the discussion occasionally enables the interviewers to look at the pleasant side of your personality,. If it does not come naturally do not contrive it. By injecting humor in the situation doesn't mean that you should keep telling jokes. It means to make a passing comment that, perhaps, makes the interviewer smile.

Enthusiasm

2007-12-26T07:44:00.002-08:00

The interviewer normally pays more attention if you display an enthusiasm in whatever you say. This enthusiasm come across in the energetic way you put forward your ideas. You should maintain a cheerful disposition throughout the interview, i.e. a pleasant countenance hold s the interviewers interest.

Entering the room

2007-12-26T07:44:00.001-08:00

Prior to the entering the door, adjust your attire so that it falls well. Before entering enquire by saying, “May I come in sir/madam”. If the door was closed before you entered, make sure you shut the door behind you softly. Face the panel and confidently say ‘Good day sir/madam'. If the members of the interview board want to shake hands, then offer a firm grip first maintaining eye contact and a smile. Seek permission to sit down. If the interviewers are standing, wait for them to sit down first before sitting. An alert interviewee would diffuse the tense situation with light-hearted humor and immediately set rapport with the interviewers.

Team Interview

2007-12-26T07:43:00.000-08:00

Whether you are searching for jobs, looking for career avenues or climbing the corporate ladder, you can't escape team interviews these days. The problem is that such interviews don't have a pattern to them. They come in different forms. You could be facing your prospective team members. Or you could be up against the top brass—HR vice-president, the section head, the operations chief. Or you could also be sent to a recruitment assessment centre for multi-parametric evaluation (psychological tests for pressure-handling abilities, team-player skills and so on).
Try these ten tips for surviving, and scoring, in a team interview.

GIVE VARIETY TO YOUR ANSWERS
Remember you might be interviewed by different panels. Don't give a stock answer to all of them. They'll be comparing notes.
Repackage your skills so that they sound different. If you're showcasing project X as your major achievement in your present job before one team, talk about project B before another interview panel. A technical team will tune in to techie talk; an HR team would rather hear about your interpersonal skills.
FINE-TUNE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills.
Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring each interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting personal. Usually the best way to make contact is to project values that you feel you can share with your interviewers.
DON'T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS
Interviewers are not ogres. They are looking for excuses to hire you, not spill your guts.
Don't be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem.
If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won't like what they see. They are NOT sadists.

PREPARE FOR STRESS
You'll be up against a time crunch in a team interview.
In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you little breathers. No such luck with four people firing questions at you. Use stress control techniques to soothe your nerves. You might even use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your responses.

SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS
List seven important things that fit the job description of the advertised post. Prepare to present skills that fit such traits.
It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can even ask them to prepare tests that you can take from them.

REHEARSE WELL
Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality traits.
Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to fire nonstop questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice session.
Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers. Questions about qualifications and work experience are usually generic, so what your mock team asks you is bound to be pretty close to the real stuff.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF
Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer who's a cut above. See yourself answering with elan the questions you expect. Then replay your answers and ask yourself these questions:
How interesting were your observations?
Did most of your responses begin the same way?
Did you use 'we' often, suggesting team-player attributes?
Are there traces of humour in your responses?

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS
Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as much about you can about the company concerned. Browse the Net, check company reports, put together news clips.
Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the company.
If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this: "Did the company consider this option ..."

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS
Your interview team has some core queries about you. It's these they want you to address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to decipher their exact intent. Then respond to fill in what the team is really looking for.
Flesh out your answers to focus on the team's concerns. If they ask you about your perception of the company's ESOP policy, they want you to present your expectation from a stock option plan.
Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work involves individual research besides team work, don't go overboard about team-player abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how sometimes individual work is more productive though team work is needed to put into action ideas generated by individual research.

On Campus Interview

2007-12-26T07:41:00.000-08:00

Here's what we look for when we visit the various campuses. This by no means is an exhaustive list but is a good indication of the expectations and the mean s to meet these.

1. Know Thyself!
Not everyone is good in each and every field. Each one of us has our fortes and weaknesses too. But that's not a stumbling block! What we look for are people who know their area of specialization and are an expert in it. Therefore, it pays to be a master in some fields if not the jack of all. The most common mistakes many make is to profess knowing a field of which they know little about. Remember that huge and bulky resumes are as tough to read as they are to make. So, identify your skill set, and keep your resumes simple and straight. Know your limits and polish on your strengths.

2. Testing What You Know and NOT What You Don't.
Many interviewers may ask the student the subjects that she/he wishes to be interviewed upon. Eureka !! Here's a golden opportunity. Answer this wisely! Never end up choosing a difficult subject that you know only little about, rather choose the one you are most confident of.

3. Rack Your Brain - Analyze
The interview is not just limited to testing your knowledge base, but we are also interested in knowing your ability to apply it. Often questions that need to be solved then and there are asked. Now keep in mind - the right answer is not the only thing being looked at. The focus area is also the way in which you attack the problem i.e. approach to problem solving is equally important. So, remember to put your thinking caps on!

4. Ask for Help!
Murphy chooses to strike at the appropriate time! Inspite of the fact that you may know something very well, it might just slip your mind. After all, heavy preparation does takes its toll. Who better to ask for help than the poser of the question (of course, don't try this too often!)! Remember the interviewer is not there to grill the confidence out of you, but to bring forth the best in. Just in case you are stuck, ask for a hint. Things might just click. Also, stay alert for clues.

5. What are your biggest accomplishments
You may like to begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with……I made my contribution as part of that team and learnt a lot in the process". It will be a good idea to close your answer with also specifying what attributes and circumstances made you succeed.

6. Be Calm, have Clear Verbal and Sound Non-Verbal Communication
Calmness shows emotional maturity. True, being calm in a job interview is a difficult proposition, but then that is where it is required! Calmness does not imply being unenthusiastic or apathetic during the interview, but knowing that you are nervous and not letting it come in the way. A clear verbal communication implies clarity of the thought process. One should also watch out for the impressions made in non-verbal communication. Body language and facial expressions can assist you in establishing a good rapport with the interviewer. Pauses, silences and gestures may all indicate what you mean, understand, or would like to emphasize.

7. Two-Way Exchange Process
The interview process is a two-way exchange of information. Make sure you also understand about the company, its activities, job requirements. The company is in need for good candidates and you need a good company to launch your career. Interview is an opportunity to present yourself and your skills to your best advantage. Make sure you make the most out of it. And YOU are the best one to do it!!

Group Interviews

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Employers bringing several candidates together in a group situation to solve a problem are testing your ability to work in a team environment. They want to know how you will present information to other people, offer suggestions, relate to other ideas, and work to solve a problem. In short, they are testing your interpersonal skills. It is difficult to prepare for this type of interview except to remember what is being testing and to use the skills you have to be the best team player and/or leader you can be. Some employers will take you to meet the staff who would be your co-workers if hired. This is a very casual type of interview, but leaving a positive and friendly impression is no less critical.

more info: http://www.interviewghost.com

Telephone Interviews

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Have a copy of your resume and any points you want to remember to say nearby. If you are on your home telephone, make sure that all roommates or family members are aware of the interview (avoids loud stereos, etc.). Speak a bit slower than usual. It is crucial that you convey your enthusiasm verbally, since the interviewer cannot see your face. If there are pauses, don't worry, the interviewer is likely just making some notes.

Dinner Interviews

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The interviews may be structured, informal, or socially situated, such as in a restaurant. Don't be the only one at the table to order an alcoholic drink, and if you have an alcoholic drink, stop at one. Decide what to eat quickly, some interviewers will ask you to order first (don't appear indecisive). Avoid potentially messy foods, such as spaghetti. Be prepared for the conversation to abruptly change from 'friendly chat' to direct interview questions, however, don't underestimate the value of casual discussion, some employers place a great value on it.

Second Interviews or Follow-Up Interviews

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Employers invite those applicants they are seriously considering as an employee following a screening or initial interview. These interviews are generally conducted by middle or senior management, together or separately. Applicants can expect more in-depth questions, and the employer will be expecting a greater level of preparation on the part of the candidate. Applicants should continue to research the employer following the first interview, and be prepared to use any information gained through the previous interview to their advantage.

Impromptu Interviews

2007-12-26T07:39:00.001-08:00

This interview commonly occurs when employers are approached directly and tends to be very informal and unstructured. Applicants should be prepared at all times for on-the-spot interviews, especially in situations such as a job fair or a cold call. It is an ideal time for employers to ask the candidate some basic questions to determine whether he/she may be interested in formally interviewing the candidate.

One-On-One Interviews

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Candidates are interviewed by one person. These interviews tend to be more informal, however, it always depends on the employer's style. The interviewer will often have a series of prepared questions, but may have some flexibility in their choices. It is important to maintain eye contact with the person interviewing you.

Panel Interview/Board Interview

2007-12-26T07:38:00.003-08:00

Candidates are interviewed by two or more individuals. This process is commonly used by governments and large organizations. It is important to maintain eye contact with the person asking the question and give an answer with an example to support it. Always acknowledge the other interviewers' presence by making eye contact while answering rotating questions. Direct your attention at the beginning and end of your response to the person who asked you that question. The questions asked in the interview are often set out in advance. The board may already have decided which answers they will accept/prefer for the questions. Ignore note-taking by board members. Obtain employers' names prior to the interview and use them during the conversation.

In-Person Interview

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Phone Interview

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So why do companies conduct phone interviews? Phone interviews give the company a chance to get a feel for your skill-set, interests, desired compensation etc., and see if there is a match between their needs and your strengths. If there is enough common ground, then the phone interviews are almost always followed-up by an in-person interview. Phone interviews are generally conducted in two steps. The first step is with a recruiter in Human Resources. The second step is a technical interview, usually with one of the people you would be working with. Technical phone interviews are usually only conducted for people living outside the geographical region. This is done because the company wants to have some level of confidence in your technical abilities before they decided to spend the money to fly you in for an in-person interview.

What is a stress interview? How does one behave in the same ?

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A stress interview is said to be the one in which the panel deliberately acts hostile and tries to make the candidate uncomfortable. The panel wants to see your maturity, see how well you can handle stressful situations. The way you should tackle a stress interview is to keep your cool, answer questions as coolly as possible, without raising your voice, getting aggressive and confrontationist, and acting as reasonably as possible

more info: http://www.interviewghost.com

How do I answer the questions "Should we select you? And why ?"

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Never say 'No'. Don't sound over-confident and if pointed out, then accept the mistakes you committed during the interview, but in return point out all your strong points and how you would add to the learning process of the entire class through your experiences and background (if an uncommon one).

more info: http://www.interviewghost.com

How do I answer the question "Tell me something about yourself" ?

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This all-important question is to indirectly ascertain which areas to ask you questions on. This is a great chance to set a favourable tone for the entire interview. You should tell them things about yourself that reflect positively on you. Remember that there is no such thing as a universally right answer. What is right answer for you may not be a right answer for your neighbour. The answer that is right for you is the one that shows you in positive light.

more info: http://www.interviewghost.com

If I don't know an answer, can I try and bluff my way through ?

2007-12-26T07:31:00.000-08:00

Bluffing is to be strictly avoided because of the possible expertise of the panellist in that area. You can admit that you don't know the answer.

More info: http://www.interviewghost.com/interview-process/personal-interview.htm

How should my posture and body language be ?

2007-12-26T07:30:00.004-08:00

Follow the general body language rules - Maintaining eye contact with the entire panel. Body language should be relaxed and yet formal.

More info:http://www.interviewghost.com

How should I dress ?

2007-12-26T07:30:00.003-08:00

Maintain at least a neat and clean appearance, and wear comfortable clothes. People generally do dress up formally for interviews.
http://www.interviewghost.com/interview-process/personal-interview.htm

What about the questions I have not prepared for ?

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Not all questions can be anticipated, and some questions are asked to harangue the candidate a bit. You will have to think on your feet. Therefore, in these cases as well as throughout the interview, keeping an alert mind is necessary

How does one lead the interviewer ?

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One leads the interviewer by ending a topic with a reference to the next topic you wish to take the panel to.

How do I deal with my nervousness ?
By preparing for the interview. The importance of preparation is paramount for success. 70-80% of questions can be prepared for.

Will they grill me ?

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Students always get intimidated at the prospect of going through an interview. But that's not the way to look at the interview process. You should look on the interview positively, as an opportunity to present yourself to a complete stranger, rather than an ordeal.

In-Person Interview

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If you survived the initial phone interview, the next step is probably an in-person interview. Every company has their own way of conducting these interviews. Some prefer to have "panel-like" interviews, while others prefer one-to-one interviews. Expect to interview with three to four technical people (most likely the people you will end up working with) and maybe a group manager. The entire interviewing process can take anywhere between 2 to 6 hours. If the interview overlaps with lunch hours, the company will usually arrange for lunch. Expect a wide variety of questions that range from common personal questions to very challenging technical questions relevant to the job you are applying for. Remember that the whole point of this exercise is for the interviewers to determine if you have the skills to do the job you are interviewing for, and if you are someone they would like to work with.

Tip 1 # Self-awareness is of paramount importance. To be self-aware, you need to introspect on your qualities, good and bad, and what motivates your actions etc.

Tip 2 # your friends and family know you well, so utilize their inputs to learn about yourself.

Tip 3 # an important preparation tactic is to guess what kind of questions may be asked of you, given your particular profile, thinking of how you would respond to the same, and then guessing what further questions may be asked from your responses. Developing multiple lines of questioning from each answer will help you prepare for most of the eventualities. But this is best done with someone else helping you sound out your ideas, not in isolation.

Tip 4 # writing down your responses to probable questions allows you to check how your ideas appear in black and white.

Tip 5 # A serious simulated interview will go a long way in preparing you mentally for the actual one.

Tip 6 # A very important point is to remember to photocopy the interview form and preserve the copy to recollect what exactly one had written in the form at the time of the interview.

Panel Interview

2007-12-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

Most people hate these sort of interviews and find them a bit of an endurance test. To do well you will need to identify the important figures on the panel and which role each is fulfilling. The chairperson is easy to identify as they will generally make the introductions. You will also need to identify the person whom you will be working for directly - make sure you give them plenty of eye contact.
When you are talking to the panel, remember that you are talking to all of them and not just the person who posed a particular question - your answer has to be the correct one for each panel member! If there is one particular panel member who everyone else seems to agree with, you should make sure you impress him or her.
When you are facing a panel of interviewers, make your best moves.
Whether you are searching for jobs, looking for career avenues or climbing the corporate ladder, you can't escape team interviews these days. The problem is that such interviews don't have a pattern to them. They come in different forms. You could be facing your prospective team members. Or you could be up against the top brass—HR vice-president, the section head, the operations chief. Or you could also be sent to a recruitment assessment centre for multi-parametric evaluation (psychological tests for pressure-handling abilities, team-player skills and so on).
Try these ten tips for surviving, and scoring, in a team interview.

GIVE VARIETY TO YOUR ANSWERS
Remember you might be interviewed by different panels. Don't give a stock answer to all of them. They'll be comparing notes.
Repackage your skills so that they sound different. If you're showcasing project X as your major achievement in your present job before one team, talk about project B before another interview panel. A technical team will tune in to techie talk; an HR team would rather hear about your interpersonal skills.
FINE-TUNE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Pull out the stops on your group management and group presentation skills.
Interviewers are people after all. Look for the personality type underscoring each interviewer.Then try and connect with each one of them without getting personal. Usually the best way to make contact is to project values that you feel you can share with your interviewers.
DON'T QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS
Interviewers are not ogres. They are looking for excuses to hire you, not spill your guts.
Don't be obsequious. That conveys low self-esteem.
If you face your interviewers with fear in your eyes, they won't like what they see. They are NOT sadists.

PREPARE FOR STRESS
You'll be up against a time crunch in a team interview.
In one-on-ones, the interviewer might be taking notes, allowing you little breathers. No such luck with four people firing questions at you. Use stress control techniques to soothe your nerves. You might even use the extra adrenaline to sharpen your responses.

SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT THINGS
List seven important things that fit the job description of the advertised post. Prepare to present skills that fit such traits.
It helps to talk to friends familiar with the job description. You can even ask them to prepare tests that you can take from them.

REHEARSE WELL
Put together three family members or friends with diverse personality traits.
Recreate the formality of a team interview situation and ask them to fire nonstop questions at you. That will serve as a useful practice session.
Ask for serious feedback, especially about weak areas in your answers. Questions about qualifications and work experience are usually generic, so what your mock team asks you is bound to be pretty close to the real stuff.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF
Boost your self-confidence by seeing yourself as star performer who's a cut above. See yourself answering with elan the questions you expect. Then replay your answers and ask yourself these questions:
How interesting were your observations?
Did most of your responses begin the same way?
Did you use 'we' often, suggesting team-player attributes?
Are there traces of humour in your responses?

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS
Research is integral to a good interview performance. Find out as much about you can about the company concerned. Browse the Net, check company reports, put together news clips.
Armed with your background brief, ask relevant questions about the company.
If you think you have a bright idea about any ongoing activity, try this: "Did the company consider this option ..."

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS
Your interview team has some core queries about you. It's these they want you to address. Try and look beyond the upfront questions to decipher their exact intent. Then respond to fill in what the team is really looking for.
Flesh out your answers to focus on the team's concerns. If they ask you about your perception of the company's ESOP policy, they want you to present your expectation from a stock option plan.
Answer in sync with the general tenor of the interview. If your work involves individual research besides team work, don't go overboard about team-player abilities. Balance your answer. Mention how sometimes individual work is more productive though team work is needed to put into action ideas generated by individual research.

What concerns you about this company?

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I have no concerns about this company. My research has shown that ABC Corp is dedicated to the development and advancement of its staff. I've also learnt that the benefits package is one of the best within the industry.

Advice from the recruitment consultant
The interviewer is trying to assess how well you think this company matches your needs and goals. The more concerns and doubts you have, the more you're telling the interviewer how you're the wrong person for the company (and the job).

What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like this ?

2007-12-26T07:24:00.001-08:00

think that determination, a willingness to work hard and a desire to excel in everything you do are key attributes for a successful employee in a company like XYZ Corp. A successful employee would also need to handle pressure well, be a great communicator and an excellent team member. These are attributes that have helped me succeed in my past positions and ones that I would like to apply in XYZ Corp..

Advice from the recruitment consultant
The interviewer wants to know if you're prepared to give what it takes to contribute to the firm. The question also alludes to your understanding of the firm's ethos, and how well you will fit in. Use this question to highlight the qualities that you bring to the firm.

You've been out of work for a long time, haven't you?

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I chose to spend time evaluating my options before deciding on my next career move. I have been offered jobs since my last employment but I wanted to wait until I found a job that fulfilled my career goals.

Advice from the recruitment consultant
This can be a very difficult question to answer. Evaluate your situation carefully and consider all the reasons you have been out of work. In this day and age many people take brief career breaks. Do not be afraid to state this in an interview. Highlight any achievements (e.g. travel, personal projects) you made between jobs as these can speak to new abilities you gained between jobs.

What are your weaknesses? How do you overcome them?

2007-12-26T07:23:00.001-08:00

I'm always ready to learn new skills and adapt my methods to become better at what I do. If I become aware of a weakness in my knowledge base or in the way I perform my duties, I do my best to fill that gap whether through formal training, informal training, or directly from my colleagues.

Advice from the recruitment consultant
Avoid directly answering this question, if possible. Naming a weakness will only invite a response like If you're aware of this weakness, why haven't you taken corrective measures to fix it? A popular approach is to name a positive weakness such as I'm too persistent or I'm too ambitious . Make sure that your answer is sincere and not too glib, or you will be revealing a weakness without even knowing it.

Why would you like to work for me?

2007-12-26T07:21:00.002-08:00

I've been aware of your reputation for some time. You're regarded as an innovator within the industry and beyond. I appreciate that your team's success is due to a number of factors, not least of which is hard work. I'm an excellent team player, I'm a very good problem solver, and I work hard to get the job done. For these reasons, I'm confident I'd be an asset to your group. I hope that my experience shows I'm suitably qualified to fulfill the position. I know that your position within this firm speaks for itself. My ideal manager is someone that fosters excellence, innovation, and success, as well as personal and professional growth. It's widely recognized that XYZ Corp's strongest asset is its staff thanks to its strong belief in training and development. For these reasons, this is a highly desirable role.

Advice from the recruitment consultant
There are two approaches to answering this question. If you know the interviewer personally or by reputation you can allude to qualities in him that you respect and the complimentary qualities you could bring to him and his team. If you do not know the interviewer, answer this question by referring to how your qualities would match those of a suitable, hypothetical manager.

Do you expect to work regular hours? Would working irregular hours cause a problem?

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I don't have a problem working overtime. I understand that in today's competitive marketplace there is a need for flexibility in regard to working hours.
Advice from the recruitment consultant
In today's modern working environment most jobs require flexibility with respect to your working hours. By expressing your willingness to work irregular hours or do overtime you will impress upon the interviewer your eagerness to succeed and contribute to the firm.

What kind of salary are you seeking?

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Answer1: I would expect a salary which reflects the experience and qualifications that I bring to the role. What range do you have in mind?
Answer 2: I've got a strong background in this industry and my skills are a perfect match for this role. I would expect my compensation to be at the upper end of the position's salary band. Can you tell me what that salary band is?
Answer 3: Based on the information I have about the position, a salary in the range 28,000-32,000 would reflect the experience and expertise that I would bring to the role.
Advice from the recruitment consultant
When preparing for the interview you should try to discover the salary range for the job from the recruitment consultant or human resources department. This information can put you in a strong position when the time comes to negotiate a salary.
Unless pressed, you should not give a specific number here. Instead you should specify your value relative to a 'salary band'. Most firms have salary bands for each position. You should aim to negotiate a salary towards the peak of the range for the position in which you are interviewing.
If you are pushed for a specific salary, respond with a target range. This will help lay the groundwork for future negotiations. You should qualify yourself by specifying that your answer is based on the information that you have to hand about the job. Do not give the actual range that would satisfy you, as your prospective employer may try to bargain you down at a later point. For example, if your target salary range is 26,000 - 30,000, you should specify a higher range such as 28,000-32,000.

What do you know about this industry?

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The telecommunications industry is currently going through a period of rapid expansion. The major industry players are positioning themselves for the delivery of the next generation of telecommunication services. New developments in mobile, broadband and satellite communications mean that it's an incredibly exciting time to be in the industry. I've no doubt that the telecommunications industry will be a driving force of the worldwide economy in the 21st century. I know that XYZ Corp intends to be a frontrunner in that expansion. For that reason, this job is highly attractive.

Advice from the recruitment consultant
This question assesses the depth of your knowledge about the industry in question. If you are new to the area, you may have to research this question before you attend the interview. You should not spend a long time answering the question. After all, the interviewer already knows the answer. Give a brief synopsis of the industry and where you believe the firm sits within the industry. Use this question to inform the interviewer of your desire to work in this industry.

When would you expect your next promotion?

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It's difficult to give an exact time without knowing the personnel structure within XYZ Corp and specifically the line of responsibility associated with this position. However, I'm an ambitious person and through hard work, dedication, and with the guidance of a good manager, I aim to gain my next promotion as soon as possible, ideally ahead of 'normal' timeframes.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

2007-12-26T07:19:00.004-08:00

This is the great-granddaddy of goofy questions, and I give you permission, if you have any misgivings about a job opportunity, to walk out the door when you hear it. It's such a time-waster that only the most hidebound interviewers will utter it, but it lives on. Here's why it's dumb. No company will guarantee you a job for five years, much less a career path. To construct such a plan for yourself, you'd have to make predictions about industries, companies, and your likes and dislikes that could only serve to constrain your choices. And in any case, why is it so all-fired important to have a dang career plan in mind? Every successful entrepreneur and many top corporate people will tell you their key to success: I did what I felt driven to do at the moment.So when you get asked this question, you can say: "I intend to be happy and productive five years from now, working at a job I love in a company that values my talents" and leave it at that. Or you can give the expected answer and say: "I hope to be three levels up the ladder, here at Happy Corp." Or you can say: "I hope to own this company," just to shake things up.But for an interviewer to ask the question at all is a bad sign. Come on, people! There are millions of thoughts in the human brain. Can we change the ones we use in job interviews every decade or so?

What do you do best?

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This question demands that you praise yourself—something a lot of us are uncomfortable doing. As you prepare for the job interview, think through some of your recent successes you can use to give a good answer to this question. It's best if they relate to ways you improved the current business, generated new business, or saved the company money.

What kind of work are you looking for?

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Be as specific as you can with this particular employer. The best answer to this question will be found in the job description you obtained prior to the job interview. (You can repeat the duties listed for the position for which you're interviewing.) Other answers that suggest you want to grow and learn or want to demonstrate your good work ethic would be "I want a job in which I'll be able to produce for the company and grow along with it", or, "I want a job where showing up on time and working hard is compensated by a fair wage."

Why don't you tell me something about yourself?

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Be prepared to talk about your unique qualities. Wind up with something that relates to the job. An example: "I'm a native of Jones County, raised here and educated at Jones Community College. I have a large number of friends who are loyal to me because I get along with almost any type of person. I've met many of my friends while working as a volunteer in the Habitat for Humanity effort in my community, and my experiences there are among the reasons I'd be an excellent construction worker for your company, Mr. (or Ms.) Builder."

What can I do for you?

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Employers really don't want a straight answer to this question. They know you want a job. Suggested responses, therefore, should tell employers they gain something by employing you. Answers such as, "Actually, I'm here to offer you something—loyal and efficient work", or ,"I think the question is what I can do for you. I'm here to talk about your need for an expert driver", are good.

How has your education prepared you for your career?

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This is a broad question and you need to focus on the behavioral examples in your educational background which specifically align to the required competencies for the career.

An example:

“My education has focused on not only the learning the fundamentals, but also on the practical application of the information learned within those classes. For example, I played a lead role in a class project where we gathered and analyzed best practice data from this industry. Let me tell you more about the results . . .”
Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key competencies for the career. Then ask if they would like to hear more examples.

What is your long-range objective?

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The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.

For example:
“Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I'll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what I'm presently doing to prepare myself . . .”
Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives.

Why should I hire you?

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The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And don't be afraid to say so. But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you.
For example:
“You should hire me because I'm the best person for the job. I realize that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job--my passion for excellence. I am passionately committed to producing truly world class results. For example . . .” Are you the best person for the job? Show it by your passionate examples.

Tell me about yourself.

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It seems like an easy interview question. It's open ended. I can talk about whatever I want from the birth canal forward. Right?
Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you are and why you're the best candidate for this position.
So as you answer this question, talk about what you've done to prepare yourself to be the very best candidate for the position. Use an example or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like more details. If they do, keep giving them example after example of your background and experience. Always point back to an example when you have the opportunity.
“Tell me about yourself” does not mean tell me everything. Just tell me what makes you the best.
Sample Answer
I'm an ambitious, self-motivated account executive and I'm very happy in my life right now. I'm looking to change jobs because I feel I've achieved all of the goals I set out for myself when I embarked in my previous role, six years ago. I've still got a strong appetite for success and I'm looking for a job that will provide fresh challenges and rewards.

Basic Standards of INTERVIEW

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Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information. The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employees and philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer.

The Basic Things
In addition to doing research and practicing your answers to common interview questions, you should be aware of general interview etiquette. Remember the following points when preparing for an interview:
Review your resume , and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at the interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and relax. Be aware that many employers will have their receptionists record the time you came in. If you rush in at the last minute, an employer may have serious concerns about your ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work.
Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the interview if you are rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before the interview. If you are worried about your stomach growling, you will not be able to concentrate on the questions.
Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people who work there would dress if they were representing their organization at some function. If you are unsure about what to wear, always err on the side of being too dressed up.
Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview situation.
Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples with you. Also take a pen and paper, as you may wan to record some important information.

Interview Questions and Answers

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Interview Types
Once you have sent your resume to a company and survived the weeding out process, your resume typically gets passed along to the hiring manager.
Phone Interview
So why do companies conduct phone interviews? Phone interviews give the company a chance to get a feel for your skill-set, interests, desired compensation etc., and see if there is a match between their needs and your strengths. If there is enough common ground, then the phone interviews are almost always followed-up by an in-person interview. Phone interviews are generally conducted in two steps. The first step is with a recruiter in Human Resources. The second step is a technical interview, usually with one of the people you would be working with. Technical phone interviews are usually only conducted for people living outside the geographical region. This is done because the company wants to have some level of confidence in your technical abilities before they decided to spend the money to fly you in for an in-person interview.
In-Person Interview
If you survived the initial phone interview, the next step is probably an in-person interview. Every company has their own way of conducting these interviews. Some prefer to have "panel-like" interviews, while others prefer one-to-one interviews. Expect to interview with three to four technical people (most likely the people you will end up working with) and maybe a group manager. The entire interviewing process can take anywhere between 2 to 6 hours. If the interview overlaps with lunch hours, the company will usually arrange for lunch. Expect a wide variety of questions that range from common personal questions to very challenging technical questions relevant to the job you are applying for. Remember that the whole point of this exercise is for the interviewers to determine if you have the skills to do the job you are interviewing for, and if you are someone they would like to work with.
Panel Interview/Board Interview
Candidates are interviewed by two or more individuals. This process is commonly used by governments and large organizations. It is important to maintain eye contact with the person asking the question and give an answer with an example to support it. Always acknowledge the other interviewers' presence by making eye contact while answering rotating questions. Direct your attention at the beginning and end of your response to the person who asked you that question. The questions asked in the interview are often set out in advance. The board may already have decided which answers they will accept/prefer for the questions. Ignore note-taking by board members. Obtain employers' names prior to the interview and use them during the conversation.
One-On-One Interviews
Candidates are interviewed by one person. These interviews tend to be more informal, however, it always depends on the employer's style. The interviewer will often have a series of prepared questions, but may have some flexibility in their choices. It is important to maintain eye contact with the person interviewing you.
Impromptu Interviews
This interview commonly occurs when employers are approached directly and tends to be very informal and unstructured. Applicants should be prepared at all times for on-the-spot interviews, especially in situations such as a job fair or a cold call. It is an ideal time for employers to ask the candidate some basic questions to determine whether he/she may be interested in formally interviewing the candidate.
Second Interviews or Follow-Up Interviews
Employers invite those applicants they are seriously considering as an employee following a screening or initial interview. These interviews are generally conducted by middle or senior management, together or separately. Applicants can expect more in-depth questions, and the employer will be expecting a greater level of preparation on the part of the candidate. Applicants should continue to research the employer following the first interview, and be prepared to use any information gained through the previous interview to their advantage.
Dinner Interviews
The interviews may be structured, informal, or socially situated, such as in a restaurant. Don't be the only one at the table to order an alcoholic drink, and if you have an alcoholic drink, stop at one. Decide what to eat quickly, some interviewers will ask you to order first (don't appear indecisive). Avoid potentially messy foods, such as spaghetti. Be prepared for the conversation to abruptly change from 'friendly chat' to direct interview questions, however, don't underestimate the value of casual discussion, some employers place a great value on it.
Telephone Interviews
Have a copy of your resume and any points you want to remember to say nearby. If you are on your home telephone, make sure that all roommates or family members are aware of the interview (avoids loud stereos, etc.). Speak a bit slower than usual. It is crucial that you convey your enthusiasm verbally, since the interviewer cannot see your face. If there are pauses, don't worry, the interviewer is likely just making some notes.
Group Interviews
Employers bringing several candidates together in a group situation to solve a problem are testing your ability to work in a team environment. They want to know how you will present information to other people, offer suggestions, relate to other ideas, and work to solve a problem. In short, they are testing your interpersonal skills. It is difficult to prepare for this type of interview except to remember what is being testing and to use the skills you have to be the best team player and/or leader you can be. Some employers will take you to meet the staff who would be your co-workers if hired. This is a very casual type of interview, but leaving a positive and friendly impression is no less critical.
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