Interview Tips

1. Tell me about yourself OR Who really you are?

In a concise two minutes reply, you might talk about your education and work experience, bridging into why you are right for the project. You should include a sentence that will make you memorable. Keep it mostly work and career related.

Here is an example from a person with recent training but little experience:

"I have over two years of training in this field and know about all the latest equipment and methods. That means I can get right to work and be productive almost right away. I am also willing to work hard to learn new things. During the entire time I went to school, I worked a full-time job to help earn the tuition. I learned to work hard and concentrate on what was important. I expect to do the same thing here. Since I won't be going to school now, I plan on putting in extra time after regular work hours to learn anything this job needs."

2. What can you do for us?

The interviewer is seeking evidence that you researched the company.

3. What are the good qualities in you? What are your major strengths?

Personal Qualities

1. Motivation

§ Motivation to achieve success

§ Capacity to continue to learn from experience and self-management

§ Open-minded towards change and ready acceptance of new ideas

2. Emotional stability

§ Ability to cope with difficulty and frustration and retain emotional balance

§ Inclination to take a positive view under adverse situations

§ Not being subject to continuous anxiety and tension

§ Ability to deal with situation and hardship in an impersonal constructive and detached manner when required.

Try to give example for whatever quality you explain.

Response Options

. Be specific

. Be positive

. Be objective and realistic

Adaptability: Even Under pressure accept things as normal.

Responsibility and Enthusiasm: Winners make it happen, while losers let life happen to them.

High energy level? Enthusiasm?

Assertiveness (confidently aggressive or self-assured; forceful; dogmatic.)

Decisiveness Maturity Social Sensitivity Results Tough mindness

Here is one answer from a person who had little prior experience:

"I think one of them is that you can depend on me. I work very hard to meet deadlines and don't need a lot of supervision in doing it. If I don't know what to do, I don't mind asking either. In high school I got a solid B-plus average even though I was very involved in sports. I always got my assignments in on time and somehow found the time to do extra credit work, too."

4. Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself?

Answer with positive, work-oriented adjectives, such as conscientious, hard-working, honest and courteous, plus a brief description or example of why each fits you well.

5. What are the bad qualities in you? What is the area you need most improvement in?

Always try to show that you profited from your mistake.

Everybody has weaknesses, but don't spend too much time on this one and keep it work related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying "I work too hard." It's a predictable, common answer.) For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.

Sometimes I have a hard time saying no to people, and I end up taking on more than my share of work

Sample response:

"I do have some weaknesses. For example, in previous jobs I would get annoyed with co-workers who did not work as hard as I did. I sometimes said 'no' to them and several times refused to do their work when they asked me to."

"But I have learned to deal with this better. I still work hard, but I let the supervisor deal with another worker problem. And I have gained some skills as a supervisor myself. I have learned to motivate others to do more because they want to, not because I want them to."

6. What type of boss do you like?

"A competent and strong leader I can learn from, who will let me take chance, coach me and be critical of me when I need it"

7 What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction? What are your significant achievements?

A. Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, raises, etc. Focus more on achievement than reward.

8. What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction?

A. Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, raises, etc. Focus more on achievement than reward.

9. What makes you want to work hard?

A. Naturally, material rewards such as perks, salary and benefits come into play. But again, focus more on achievement and the satisfaction you derive from it.

“I enjoy working in my field. I see myself growing in it and contributing to the growth of the company I am working for. “

10. What type of work environment do you like best? What interests you most about this position?

A. Tailor your answer to the job. For example, if in doing your job you're required to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player when needed, but also enjoy working independently. If you're required to attend regular project planning and status meetings, then indicate that you're a strong team player and like being part of a team.

11. What salary you are looking for? How much salary do you expect?

Never bring salary into focus unless you are pressed on it. Don't tell too high that would affect the company project and don't tell too low tat would show lack of skills in you.

Response Options

. Never discuss salary until you are being offered the job

. know the probable salary range

. Bracket your salary range

If you think the employer pays between $14,000 and $16,000/month, state your range said to upper teens?

Salary requirements

Employer's pay	Your say
$50/hour	$50 to $70 /month
$13,000/month	low to mid tens of thousands

12. Why do you want to work here?

Avoid the predictable, such as, "Because it's a great company." Say why you think it's a great company.

12. Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?)

A. Be careful with this. Avoid trashing other employers and making statements like, "I need more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move."

13. What do you know about our company?

14 .Why do you want to work here?

Avoid the predictable, such as, "Because it's a great company." Say why you think it's a great company.

15. Why should I hire you? What makes you suitable for this position?

A. Point out your positive attributes related to the job, and the good job you've done in the past. Include any compliments you've received from management.

Response Options

Show how you can:

. Solve a problem for them

. Help the business make more money

. Provide something of value they need

16. Why do you want this job?

A. To help you answer this and related questions, study the job ad in advance. But a job ad alone may not be enough, so it's okay to ask questions about the job while you're answering. Say what attracts you to the job. Avoid the obvious and meaningless, such as, "I need a job."

17. How do you handle pressure and stress?

A. This is sort of a double whammy, because you're likely already stressed from the interview and the interviewer can see if you're handling it well or not. Everybody feels stress, but the degree varies. Saying that you whine to your shrink, kick your dog or slam down a fifth of Jack Daniels are not good answers. Exercising, relaxing with a good book, socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy are more along the lines of the "correct" answers. Even Under pressure I accept things as normal.

18. Explain how you overcame a major obstacle.

A. The interviewer is likely looking for a particular example of your problem-solving skills and the pride you show for solving it.

19. Where do you see yourself five (ten or fifteen) years from now? OR

How long do you plan to stay at our company?

A. Explain your career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are interviewing. Your interviewer is likely more interested in how he, she or the company will benefit from you achieving your goals than what you'll get from it, but it goes hand in hand to a large degree. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management position.

20. What qualifies you for this job?

A. Tout your skills, experience, education and other qualifications, especially those that match the job description well. Avoid just regurgitating your resume. Explain why.

21. Why did you choose your college major?

A. The interviewer is likely fishing to see if you are interested in your field of work or just doing a job to get paid. Explain why you like it. Besides your personal interests, including some rock-solid business reasons might show you have vision and business sense.

22. Talk for 3 minutes on any topic.

23. How would you react if I told you that your interview, so far, was terrible?

24. What is the worst thing you have heard about our company?

25. What was the last book you read or the last movie you saw
and how did it affect you?

26. I'm still not really sure if you are suitable for this job. What do you think?

27. Tell me about a time that you failed at something, and what you did afterwards

28. Think back to a situation in which you had to resolve a conflict. Tell me how you did it.

29. Tell me about a project that you had either at work or school. Describe in detail how you managed it and what was the outcome?

30. What do you do in your spare time?

31. What salary are you expecting?

32. What other types of jobs or companies are you considering?

33. Have you any questions for us?

Toward the end of most job interviews, the interviewer will give you the opportunity to ask questions. You must ask a least one question; to do otherwise often signals the interviewer that you don't really have any interest in the job or the company. On the other hand, do not ask questions where the answer is obvious or readily available -- or when the topic has already been thoroughly discussed in the interview. And never ask about salary and beneift issues until those subjects are raised by the employer.

So what follows are just some examples of the types of questions you might ask at a job interview:

• Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position?
• What is the top priority of the person who accepts this job?
• What are the day-to-day expectations and responsibilities of this job?
• How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? And by whom? How often?
• Can you describe the company’s management style?
• Can you discuss your take on the company’s corporate culture?
• What are the company’s values?
• How would you characterize the management philosophy of this organization? Of your department?
• What is the organization’s policy on transfers to other divisions or other offices?
• Are lateral or rotational job moves available?
• Does the organization support ongoing training and education for employees to stay current in their fields?
• What do you think is the greatest opportunity facing the organization in the near future? The biggest threat?
• Why did you come to work here? What keeps you here?
• How is this department perceived within the organization?
• Is there a formal process for advancement within the organization?
• What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within the organization?

31.What is the best part of working at this company for you?

32.Are there significant opportunities to take seminars, classes, etc. to learn more about the different facets of the company?

33.What is your ultimate career goal?

34.What separates you from other candidates

35. Why don't you tell me about your personal situation?

Interviewer wants to know:

. can you be counted on?

36. What difficult problems have you faced in the past? How did you solve them?

37. Your department manager is on leave. The manager of another department tells you that there is a very important project which needs additional help. He asks you to help. But you are working on a project which your own manager has asked you to do before he left. How would you handle this situation?

38. How does your experience relate to the job are you applying to?

39. How does your previous experience relate to the jobs we have here?

Here is an example of how one person handled this situation:

"As you know, I have over five years of experience in a variety of jobs. While this job is in a different industry, it requires my same skills in managing people and meeting in the public. In fact, my daily contact with large numbers of people on previous jobs has taught me how to handle things under pressure. I feel very able to deal with pressure and to get the job done."

One of the jobs this person had was a customer service officer. He had to learn to handle people under pressure in such a job. By presenting the skills he used, his answer tells us he could use the same skills in other jobs.

40. What are your future plans?

This question is really asking whether you are likely to remain on the job. But an employer has many concerns, depending on your situation.

Try to put yourself in a employer place, then answer the real question. Try to bring up anything in your own life situation that some employers might be concerned about.

41. What are the most important rewards you expect to gain from your career?

41. Why did you choose this career?

“I enjoy working in my field. I see myself growing in it and contributing to the growth of the company I am working for. “