Can you ace a job interview? How you present yourself is just as important as what your
qualifications are. By practicing your answers to potential questions, you can confidently approach each
employer well prepared and relaxed.
Employers use the interview process to find out what distinguishes you from
other people who have also applied for the same job. Even though it's
understandable that you might be nervous, remind yourself that the company thought you were qualified enough to
want to talk to you. Below are some potential question that you might be asked in an interview.......
Tell me a little about yourself. What is your major strength?
Talk about your experience, qualifications, and accomplishments, not
your childhood, family, or hobbies.
Why do you want to work here? Talk about the interesting details of the job and why
they fascinate you (do some research on the company).
What qualities do you have that will apply to this job? List your past relevant
experience, showing how you can use these skills in the position that you are interviewing for.
You seem to switch jobs a lot. Why? Some possible explanations are job stagnation,
demotions due to downsizing, or career exploration.
Why have you been out of the workforce for so long? Be honest if you were home
raising the children. Explain that since they are older, or that you have qualified child care, you
are now comfortable returning to work.
Tell me about your current ( or last ) job. List your duties and
responsibilities, and also highlight your accomplishments.
Why are you leaving that job? Employers ask this question to determine your career
direction and level of ambition. Job stagnation, no chance for advancement, or in an unrelated
field to your training are all good reason.
What did you like most about that job? Least? Talk about your responsibilities,
challenges, accomplishment, and the people. Don’t bad-mouth the job or your
ex-boss. Explain that you’d want more responsibilities. It shows initiative.
Have you ever been fired from a job, and why? Explain that you usually get along
really well with everyone, but you couldn’t seem to work things out with your ex-employer.
What do you do to relax after work? Don’t brag about dangerous hobbies. They
suggest a reckless behavior, and might cause absences from work. Highlight your interests,
because companies really don’t want an employee that has no life outside work ( they burn out
too soon ).
What is your greatest weakness? Focus on a work ( not character ) issue, and turn it
into a positive, such as being a workaholic or extremely organized.
What motivates you to do a good job? A good answer to this interview question might be,
“having responsibilities and being acknowledged when the job is done right.”
Are you at your best when working alone or in a group? The best answer is both. It
shows that you enjoy working as a part of a team and working independently.
How much were you paid at your last job? What do you expect to make here? Be
honest about what you have made before, but try not to set an amount for this job. You might
say: “ I have no set salary in mind. What salary is usually offered to someone with my
qualifications?’ If they persist, name a ball-park figure like, “somewhere in the twenties,” or
“somewhere in the upper thirties".
Do you have any questions? This is a common question to see just how interested in this
positions you are. Some things you may want to ask are: What are the typical duties of this job? How
many people work in this particular department? Who are the people I’d be working with, and
who would I be working under? If you were to offer me this job, where could I expect to be in
five years? How long should it take me to get my feet on the ground and become productive?
You can get some more ideas by looking over these questions to
ask during an interview.
The Actual Interview
When preparing for
your interview, make sure that you are well groomed and dressed appropriately. As you enter, walk
tall, and if the interviewer initiates a handshake, make sure that you respond politely and with a
firm grip. When seated, lean slightly forward, uncross your arms, maintain eye contact, and
project a positive attitude during your meeting.
Answer
the questions in such a way as to reflect how your
strengths will benefit your potential employer. At the end of the interview, express that you are glad for the chance to meet with the
interviewer, and that you feel that this is a position that you can do well at. Let them know that
you want this job. You might even ask if they would consider hiring you on a 30-day trial period
to prove that you can do the job.
Once your interviewer stands, it signal that the interview is over.
If they extend their hand, be sure to return with a firm handshake. Thank them for the
opportunity to discuss your potential of working for them.
After your interview, you need to respond immediately with a thank you letter, and possibly a call
if it was discussed in your meeting. For ideas on how to do this, read the
following article on how to format your
thank you letter.
