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86 Interview Questions & Answers

Part One: 1-34: Personal/General Questions

1. Tell me about yourself. (Or Ho oul! you !es"ribe yourself#$

Often described as a stress question which either paralyzes job seekers into stunned silence or spurs an attack of the rambles this is actually a splendid invitation to market yourself. You have the opportunity to showcase your qualifications for the job and present a condensed history of your professional back!round. "resent a unified pattern in broad brushstrokes which makes a stron! case that you are ideal for the job in question in no more than two minutes, tops. #he interviewer can always ask you to elaborate more later. #his can be a dream question but only if you$re prepared. %t offers the opportunity to tell the most important thin!s about yourself in an open&ended way you$d like. %n your answer start with where you are now in your career and !ive a summary of the qualifications that make you perfect for the job in question. 'or e(ample) %$m a history major with over * years of sports broadcastin! e(perience. 'or +,-. % led a team that developed and delivered a weekly sports show which reached an audience of over / 000. 1ehearse your two&minute pitch until it falls trippin!ly off your ton!ue and sounds convincin! and spontaneous not mechanical. %. &'at are your (reatest stren(t's# "ick a couple of the key personality traits employers$ desire drive reliability determination or problem& solvin! skills for e(ample. 2ut just sayin! %$m very reliable or % have lots of drive won$t convince anyone. 3ive examples from your jobs to demonstrate that you indeed have what you say you do.

3. &'at is your (reatest ea)ness#

4on$t place your foot in your mouth and turn confessional here bein! painfully honest about your faults won$t score you any points. #he overused no&no is to turn a positive trait into a weakness 5% am a workaholic or % am motivated to the point of bein! driven6. , better answer) mention a former weakness you have overcome. 'or e(ample you now possess e(cellent time mana!ement skills since earlier in your career you failed to allot enou!h time to sales calls and writin! up sales reports. ,nother option) state candidly your analytical skills are weaker than your people skills. 4. &'at are your most im*ortant a""om*lis'ments# 4id you help your company make money save money save time or become more efficient in any way7 8(plain how. 2e aware that most job accomplishments are achieved as part of a team or department so don$t make it sound as thou!h you sin!le&handedly turned a situation around or e(ecuted a triumph by yourself unless you truly did. %nterviewers usually can smell someone who takes credit for others$ work a mile away.

5. &'y !i! you *i") +al#

#he interviewer is lookin! for sound reasonin! and jud!ment behind some of your choices as well as the ability to articulate it. 4on$t act as thou!h you went wherever the wind blew. /. +an you 'an!le *ressure# Of course sayin! yes will not convince anyone. Explain how you turned out a professional work product despite ju!!lin! many competin! projects or despite a short deadline or whatever the specific pressure was. %t$s also recommended to note that you !enerally plan and mana!e your time well to avoid panic deadlines. 0. Ho !o you 'an!le !ea!lines#

8(plain that you plan ahead for the materials and staff you need to handle a project anticipate when certain steps need to be started and completed and build in a time cushion to prevent last&minute panic. 1. &'y s'oul! - 'ire you# #his offers an e(cellent opportunity to trumpet your two&minute pitch showin! why you are the ideal person for the job. 9ummarize your qualifications and your positive personality traits matching each point of the interviewers job description with what you offer. :ite an e(ample or two of how you can make a contribution to the job based on your past job performance. 2. ,re you illin( to relo"ate#

%f you want the job the answer is yes. ;owever remember that you never have to make a decision about a job until an offer is made to you and the job and<or the salary may be considerably reshaped by then. 13. 4o you t'in) your (ra!es a""urately refle"t your ability# %f you have hi!h !rades the answer obviously is yes. %f you don$t say no but describe other thin!s which do demonstrate your ability your part&time or full&time job durin! your leadership role in e(tracurricular activities your internship at a local radio or #= station takin! care of or financially supportin! a sick parent volunteer work at a local hospital once a week etc. 4o this without bein! defensive !rades matter very little to an employer after that first post&colle!e job since all he or she really wants is a !ood employee who will perform the job well and be mana!eable. 11. &'at moti5ates you to *ut fort' your (reatest effort# 4isabuse the interviewer of the suspicion that !enerous salary !i!antic title and corner office are your prime motivators. 8(plain that to you a job well&done is its own best reward since your own work and ethic demand it but that kind words of appreciation from your boss are always welcome. ,dd that you like everyone look forward to re!ular salary reviews. 1%. &'at 'a5e you !one t'at s'o s initiati5e# #hink of somethin! which demonstrates a take&char!e attitude where you came up with an idea and acted on it for the !reater !ood of everyone. #he action you took should not have flouted rules and procedures. "erhaps you or!anized multiple tasks and deadlines for a major project you were workin! on7 Or you can cite the time you started a typin! service for your fellow students$ term papers and employed three students part&time or the time you traveled to 8urope for two months alone made all your own travel arran!ements and funded it throu!h part&time jobs. 13. -f you "oul! li5e your life o5er a(ain6 'at oul! you !o !ifferently#

#he interviewer is lookin! less for the ri!ht answer than for how you think how you assess yourself and what makes you tick to see if you are a !ood fit for the company. 9how maturity perspective and sound reasonin! in your answer and mention only one thin! or nothin!. "erhaps you would have traveled the !lobe more e(perienced different cultures and met many different types of people. Or perhaps you are content look forward to everyday with enthusiasm and vi!or have no re!rets and would have chan!ed nothin!. 14. &'at !i! you learn in your "olle(e "areer# #he interviewer is not as interested in the subject matter you learned as in if you developed some key personality traits necessary in the work world such as disciplined work habits reliability initiative etc. 5;e or she is hopin! for proof you did not spend all your time partyin! and livin! off your parents$ money6. 17. 4o you 'a5e *lans to "ontinue your e!u"ation# %f you do make clear that it will be done ni!hts or weekends so it will not interfere with your job. 1/. Ho as your "olle(e e!u"ation fun!e!#

8(plain the proportion covered by a scholarship part&time jobs and loans. %f you were responsible for >00? of your education point it out it never fails to impress. %f 4O1 helped and if you don$t want to disclose your disability leave it out. 10. &'at are your 'obbies# #his sounds like a harmless question but usually the interviewer is tryin! to sound out if you will be a !ood fit for the corporate culture. 9olitary pursuits such as readin! runnin! and bikin! indicate you prefer to be alone@ sports such as baseball softball basketball etc. indicate you feel comfortable bein! part of a team. 11. +an you ta)e !ire"tion# Yes you can and you also welcome constructive criticism without feelin! attacked because you understand you have a lot to learn from more e(perienced people in the company.

19. 4es"ribe your i!eal 8ob

4escribe a job which matches the description of the job !iven you by the interviewer which enables you to use your qualifications and skills to !row and make a contribution to the company. %3. &'at as t'e last boo) (or mo5ie$ you rea! (or sa $# &'at !i! you t'in) of it#

2e sure you mention a book you have read or a movie you have seen not just the hot item of the moment in case you are asked questions about it. "ick one that stimulated your thinkin! and tau!ht you somethin! useful in the work world in other words not the latest action thriller or horror flick. %1. 4o you 'a5e any 9uestions# #he wrong answer is no or an e(tended ummm. #his !enerally means the interview is at an end and so is your final opportunity to score some points. 4emonstrate interest enthusiasm and knowled!e about the company and its product or service one last time. %f you can ask at least one insi!htful question pe!!ed to somethin! you read in the business press or a trade ma!azine why the company is succeedin! with a new strate!y or more details about e(pansion in the division where you are interviewin!. 2e savvy and encoura!e the interviewer to talk about a subject he or she is e(pert on which often means you$ll be re!arded as an e(cellent

conversationalist. Auestions about salary benefits or vacation are out of line here. Bait for the job offer without which you have no ne!otiatin! chip. %%. &'at are t'e reasons for your su""ess# Offer !eneral reasons back them up with an e(ample or two from your jobs and mention the help from collea!ues or mana!ers teamwork a!ain to avoid comin! across like an e!omaniac. "erhaps you have a !reat deal of drive welcome masterin! new skills have indefati!able ener!y you never leave the office before makin! one more phone call or writin! one more letter and have been lucky enou!h to have worked with e(ceptionally talented mana!ers and staff. %3. &'at are some of your *et *ee5es# Came some thin!s which bother any hard&workin! employee collea!ues who do their work incompetently are clock&watchers are often absent forcin! others to do their work and complain about their lack of promotions or raises. 4on$t indicate in any way that such peccadilloes cause you to lose your temper and don$t !ive e(amples of previous coworkers or supervisorsD %%. ,re you a ris) ta)er# #he interviewer wants to know if you take prudent risks backed by knowled!e !ood jud!ment and consultation with your boss or if you are the type who flies off the handle and is apt to make a fool out of yourself and the company. 2efore you answer ask what sort of risk the interviewer has in mind. #his way you have a better idea of how to frame your answer to describe how you evaluate a risk. %3. &'i"' of your s)ills "an stan! im*ro5ement at t'is time# #his is a clever way to !et you into admittin! your weaknesses. 9ay instead that from the interviewer$s description you seem to have all the necessary skills and qualifications for the job but that since one or two areas are crucial you believe in constantly updatin! and polishin! your skills to do the best possible job. You$re tryin! to make a diamond shine bri!hter not confess to only bein! a rhinestone. %4. &'at as t'e 'ar!est !e"ision you e5er 'a! to ma)e6 an! 'o !i! you 'an!le it#

, major decision such as radically reshapin! strate!y to help an ailin! project 5which of course succeeded6 your rationale and how you carried it out is needed here. Co need to confess any a!onizin! choicesEwhile they may have been your most difficult decisions avoid the trap some job&seekers fall into when faced with a friendly you&can&tell&me tone from an interviewer. %7. &'o (or 'at$ 'as been a ma8or influen"e on your life#

Bho or what is less important than a sound rationale backin! up why this made you into what you are today a holder of key personality traits such as inte!rity determination initiative that are valuable to employers. #hink carefully about your formative influences parent teacher coach minister and offer self&assessment which is on tar!et. %/. &'at !o you orry about#

4on$t open a window into your psyche and reveal what you truly worry about at F)00 a.m. 9tick to thin!s that are job&related and e(pected of a hard&workin! employee what the competition is doin! deadlines team members who are not pullin! their wei!ht winnin! that new piece of business you$ve been eyein! but note you aim to solve the situation not just stew about it. %0. &'y !o you ant to s it"' from t'e *ubli" to t'e *ri5ate se"tor#

Bhile you have learned a !reat deal workin! for the !overnment specify what you welcome the opportunity to work in an atmosphere where attention is paid to the bottom line and where individual effort and decision& makin! is both e(pected and rewarded.

28.

,re you a self-starter#

%f you say yes and stop dead you aren$t. Gse this question as an opportunity to sell yourself and you$re proactive to your jobs. You know what to do and you !o ahead and do it without relyin! on constant direction and feedback from your mana!er. Offer the same e(amples as for Bhat have you done that shows initiative7 %2. Ho 'a5e you benefite! from your !isa**ointments#

Co need to site specific disappointments which saddened or demoralized you unless you are asked just !ive a !eneral list of how you are a better person as a result. You analyzed these events to uncover the kernel which caused them you know now how you would act differently at various points if the same situation arose and you remember the lessons learned so they can be applied to new situations. 33. Ho !o you *lan your time#

9how an or!anized prioritized approach the interviewer dislikes visions of people who jump in an unfocused manner from one task to another often missin! out on major priorities. 'or e(ample perhaps you only return phone calls from mid&afternoon on savin! the rest of the day for client meetin!s staff contact thinkin! and writin!. You read correspondence and trade ma!azines after H)00 ".I. and never leave before writin! a do list for tomorrow. #his way you$re ready to hit the !round runnin! each mornin!. 31. +an e "'e") your referen"es#

%f you want a job offer the answer is yes. 2ut if you are currently workin! protect yourself say you will be happy to provide references from current and former employers at the time a job offer is e(tended. ,dd that you want these references to be checked after you have accepted a written job offer and resi!ned from your current company. You want to avoid the horror of havin! your current employer who is not even aware you are job& huntin! bein! called for a reference then failin! to receive a job&offer and perhaps bein! terminated by your irate employer. 5%t happens.6 3%. Ho !o you 'an!le re8e"tion#

'or jobs in sales public relations and similar fields rejection is a part of life. ,nswer that you do not take it personally and let it !et you down@ you for!e ahead and make more phone calls or customer sales calls since you realize the field is a numbers !ame with a hi!h ratio of failures to successes.

Part T o: 37-41: &or) History 33. &'at !on:t you li)e about your "urrent (*re5ious$ em*loyer# You like everythin! about your current or previous employer. 4on$t let words like personality conflict outmoded business practices unfair promotion systems and other forms of criticism escape your lips. %nterviewers assume ri!htly or wron!ly that if you badmouth one employer you will badmouth the ne(t. , company does not willin!ly hire someone who is a potential troublemaker. 9ave your job horror stories for friends and relatives. ,t your interview say you learned a tremendous amount from your last employer and the

e(perience was indispensable for your career. You hi!hly respect the professionalism and jud!ment of your boss and so on. 34. Ho lon( 'a5e you been loo)in( for a 8ob#

Cot to worry if you already hold a job. Your answer) You are now seekin! a job that will challen!e you at this sta!e of your career and a company that will provide opportunities for career !rowth. %f however you are unemployed be very careful how you answer. , flat year and a half or two years will not e(actly draw job offers in droves. %f you have been doin! constructive activities in the meantime such as helpin! out in your son$s business learnin! a new skill studyin! for your broker$s license consultin! or chairin! the fundraisin! committee of your favorite charity by all means say so. 9ubtract this time from the time you have been unemployed so that the time you have been actively lookin! for a job full&time is much shorter. ,void soundin! defensive or chastened if you are unemployed. %nterviewers want people who are hot commodities so act like the desirable candidate you are. Cote that you have wei!hed other job offers in the meantime but that you are bein! particular about the job and environment you choose so you can be challen!ed. 1emember how you answer an interview question is often as important as the content of what you say. 37. &'at !o you )no about our "om*any#

9ound informed about the company$s products or services !rowth areas future plans etc. in other words the sort of information you learned when you researched the company as discussed in :hapter >. "ositives only please don$t remind the interviewer of the failure of the introduction of "roduct . or how much stock prices have fallen since the recent !overnment investi!ation. You have no business bein! in a job interview if you have not prepared yourself to discuss the company and its prospects. 3/. &'i"' 8obs (or !uties$ 'a5e you en8oye! most# Your answer should be jobs or duties which enabled you to showcase some of the key personality traits employers$ desire and which ideally resemble the job you are presently interviewin! for. 30. &'i"' 8obs (or !uties$ 'a5e you en8oye! least# %t doesn$t speak well for you to admit to holdin! jobs that were dead&end or stultifyin!ly dull. #he interviewer will wonder why you stayed. #ry to find somethin! the job tau!ht you or how it helped you develop one of the key personality traits employers desire. 31. Ho !o you (et alon( it' your "urrent (former$ boss#

You !et alon! fine with your current or former boss and you respect his or her ability jud!ment and professionalism. #ake the hi!h road on this. Your boss may be an o!re who rules with an iron hand but intimations of this should never pass your lips. 32. Ho !o you !eal o n# it' *eo*le it' !ifferent ba")(roun!s an! 5alue systems from your

You try to cooperate and !et alon! with everyone to achieve the !oals of the department and company as a whole. You enjoy workin! with different types of people as you learn new thin!s and believe variety is the spice of life.

Part T'ree: 41-40 : ;alary 43. &'at salary are you loo)in( for (or 'at is your salary re9uirement$#

#ry to buy time and throw the question back into the interviewer$s court. %t$s foolish to name a fi!ure and either cause the interviewer to chuckle inwardly at the absurdly cheap hire you are or throw yourself out of the rin! by askin! for too much money. #his is a !ame where whoever names a fi!ure first loses. 'irst list all the duties of the job accordin! to the description you have been !iven to make sure you and the interviewer are on the same wavelen!th. #hen ask what salary ran!e he or she is allowed to offer for the job or what salary ran!e your skills are worth. ;opefully you will hear a ran!e strai!ht from the interviewer$s lips from which you can ne!otiate. %f all else fails his or her lips are sealed counter with a ran!e not a fi(ed fi!ure you are comfortable with. 41. T'at:s a little 'i(' for us. +an you "ome !o n a little# 4on$t !ive in yetD throw the ball back. ,sk the interviewer what he or she envisions as the salary ran!e and ne!otiate with that ran!e in mind. You instantly weaken your ne!otiatin! position if you cave in after five seconds and lower your fi!ure. 4%. Ho mu"' money are you ort'#

9imilar to askin! the salary you want this also demands you offer proof to back it up. 4emonstrate an awareness of the market rate for the job based upon your skills and e(perience and a confidence that your qualifications match the job requirements point by point when you name a ran!e you are comfortable with. 43. &'at salary are you ma)in( no # 9ince employers display a distressin! propensity to take your current salary into consideration when makin! a salary offer !enerally offerin! about >0&>H percent more if you are makin! market rates answer this question with a !reat deal of care. #hrow the ball back in the interviewer$s court if you can when you are makin! a below& market or above&market ran!e for the job to provoke the interviewer into fi!ure) instead e(press interest in the job and confidence in reachin! a!reement. You should probably only baldly mention your current salary if you are makin! the market rate.

44. &'at salary !o you e<*e"t to earn fi5e years (or t'ree years6 et".$ from no #
Of course you don$t even know what position you$ll be holdin! at this point or if you$ll still be at the company. ,sk the interviewer what would be a reasonable salary to e(pect for someone with your skills and back!round. %f pressed cite a ran!e based upon market rates and career path to back it up. %t$s best to be va!ue at that point %$ll have si( years of e(perience as an account supervisor in the pharmaceutical area and avoid job titles. 47. =ou:5e been stu") in t'e same *osition at basi"ally t'e same salary for t'e *ast fi5e years at your "urrent (or former$ em*loyer. &'y# Ouch. %f you$ve inadvertently disclosed this you must deal with it. 8(plain that opportunities for advancement were very limited at your company and that other employees with more seniority were ahead of you. %f the last promotion in your division was a lon! time a!o cite the date. ,dd quickly that you are ea!er to assume more responsibility and have the skills and talent to do so which is why you are interviewin! at this firm today.

Part >our: 41-/3: Team or) an! ?ea!ers'i*

4/. Ha5e you e5er 'a! a *roblem in !ealin(

it' ot'er *eo*le#

Your answer is no you have always tried to be a team player and cooperate with others for the !ood of the company. 40. &'at )in!s of *eo*le !o you *refer to or) it'#

"eople who are hard&workin! honest enthusiastic and take pride in their work in other words people who share some of the key personality traits employers$ desire. 41. &'at )in!s of *eo*le !o you fin! it !iffi"ult to or) it'#

"eople who possess the opposite of these traits who lack a work ethic are dishonest are malcontents who complain incessantly who don$t pull to!ether in a team effort. 42. +an you tell me about your mana(ement style# Your answer should involve the followin!) you motivate your staff by praise rewards and settin! a !ood e(ample@ you treat them with respect invitin! their su!!estions@ you empower them to take on tasks of !reater responsibility and make them feel part of a team where everyone is pullin! to!ether@ and you e(plain the lon!& term as well as the short&term !oals of the work bein! done. 73. &'en !o e<*e"t to be *romote!# #he wron! answer is to name a specific time like si( months a year or three years& which brands you as cocky and arro!ant. #o be safe answer that you e(pect to !row steadily in skills and e(perience so you will be ready when an opportunity is ripe in the company and you are sure your performance will merit a promotion over time since you always try to do the best possible job you can. 71. &'y !o you ant to (et into t'is fiel! (or (et t'is 8ob$#

%t never fails to astonish and irritate interviewers when candidates cannot respond. Your answer should display some insi!ht about how the industry works or what the job really entails day to day. %t should convey that you have thou!ht about what you want. #here are no best answers for different jobs but you should beware of tired meanin!less clichJs like % just love people or % love to travel. %nterviewers want to separate dreamers from doers. 7%. &'at are your "areer (oals an! 'o !o you *lan to a"'ie5e t'em#

You want to !o as far as your skills and talents will take you want to serve the community in the areas where you can be most useful and meet all the challen!es that arise so you can become the professional you aspire to be. ,void annoyin! statements like % want to be president of the firm someday or % really want your job) they don$t convey ambition and drive but arro!ance and e!ocentricity.

53. 4o you *refer or)in( it' ot'ers or alone#

2efore you answer be sure you know what type of person the company is seekin! for the job in question either from your own research or from askin! the interviewer. 2e aware however that the vast majority of firms operate in a team environment and that interpersonal skills are considered important even for most technical writin! and other positions. %f you truly want to work alone consider self&employment even then you will deal with clients suppliers and so on. , safe answer) You prefer to work as part of a team but can work alone as necessary since you don$t require constant feedback and direction.

74. Ho

!o you o*erate as a team *layer#

You realize that everyone on the team has an important and interdependent role to play you listen to their opinions with respect you try to !et alon! with everyone for the !reater !ood of the company and you do your job in a manner that helps the team operate smoothly and productively. 77. &'at are you loo)in( for in your ne<t 8ob# :ouch what you seek in terms of what you can offer the employer not what the employer can offer you such as !lamour travel etc. 'or e(ample % am seekin! a company where % can apply my proven ability to tap underutilized markets and motivate sales staff and !row as much as % can professionally. Bhen % was at ,2: :ompany %E. 7/. Ho lon( oul! you stay it' our "om*any#

#he best answer is that you are very interested in the company and intend to stay as lon! as you are facin! challen!es and !rowin! as a professional. %f you have a stable work history marked by lon! periods at various companies point this out. %f not emphasize that this is the company you want to settle down with. ,sk about which specific projects you can !et involved with immediately. 70. &'at is you ne<t "areer ste*# Your ne(t step matches the description of the job the interviewer has !iven you perfectly and you are ea!er to make a contribution based on your proven ability in 5sales supervision quality control copywritin! etc.6. 9how how this ne(t step will benefit the company 5and you only incidentally6. 71. &'y !o you ant to "'an(e "areers at t'is *oint in your life#

Bhile you have enjoyed your former career you have always had an innate talent and hankerin! for this field re!ularly read its trade ma!azines as a hobby and are ready and ea!er to make a chan!e and !o for it.

Part >i5e: /1-1/: >uture Goals an! +areer Pat' 72. &'ere !o you e<*e"t to be in fi5e (t'ree$ years# , question that$s become more rare in today$s fast&paced downsized world but sometimes still asked. You doubtless don$t know where you will be in five years and the interviewer probably doesn$t know where he or she will be either. ;owever to be on the safe side say you e(pect to be with the same company in the area where your skills and talents can serve the firm the most in a position of !reater responsibility. %f you can identify the area which is the fastest&!rowin! from your research or from what the interviewer has told you say so. %t$s also alri!ht to say that while you cannot predict specifics you hope to take advanta!e of opportunities and !rowth areas as they arise and let your skills and talents take you as far as they can. %t$s best not to name a specific job title but to concentrate on the work itself. "romotability in a firm depends on some factors beyond your control such as a willin! boss or employees with more seniority than you. ,bove all don$t be like the woman who unenthused about the job she was applyin! for her first love was the music industry spontaneously replied Cot here.

/3. ;in"e you ere in t'e same 8ob for su"' a lon( time6 you:5e *robably (ro n 5ery "omfortable in it @ maybe a bit stale. Ho oul! you "o*e it' a ne 8ob in a "om*any su"' as ours# You welcome new challen!es and the opportunity for more professional !rowth which is why you are ready to move on. You$ve learned a !reat deal and hope to make a contribution based on what you$ve learned. You are ea!er to learn new thin!s and would like to hear more about the challen!es you would face in this job. /1. &'at !o you li)e least about t'is 8ob# "ick somethin! very minor and unconnected to the main !oals dear to the company$s heart makin! money savin! money or savin! time. 4oin! those e(pense reports updatin! press lists takin! calls from vendors pitchin! their services all are acceptable. /%. -:m not sure you 'a5e t'e ri('t 9ualifi"ations (or are suitable$ for t'is *osition. Cot to worry it$s not as bad as it sounds. #he interviewer may simply be sayin! sell me. 8ven if the interviewer isn$t act innocently as thou!h he or she is. 4on$t react as if this is a kiss&off with shock or discomfiture@ and don$t be ar!umentative. %nquire calmly if he or she is concerned about any particular area. #hen mildly but firmly reassure the interviewer of the stren!th of your skills in this area !ive an e(ample or two or concede that while this area is not your stron! point similar skills e(tensive e(perience and personality traits you possess more than compensate for the lack. You have always been a quick study unafraid of new challen!es and your rapid promotions in your previous jobs demonstrate this for e(ample. %f you are a career&chan!er or have performed a similar job in a different settin! emphasize the transferability of these skills. #he interviewer you see is lookin! not only for a substantive answer but for confidence and !race under pressure as well as your astuteness in hearin! the true messa!e behind this statement. 4on$t disappoint. /3. =ou are reenterin( t'e labor mar)et after an absen"e of 17 years. &'y !o you t'in) you "an !o t'e 8ob# 8mphasize how your skills and accomplishments in volunteer work for charities schools churches or syna!o!ues non&paid work e(perience in helpin! out relatives$ businesses mana!in! and bud!etin! your household$s finances and hobbies are transferable to the job. ,lso e(plain which key personality traits you will brin! to the job. /4. Ho soon "an you start#

#wo weeks$ notice is !enerally e(pected as the minimum in !ivin! notice to your current employer and makin! sure your workload is covered. %n cases where you have been at the firm for many years you may want to !ive more notice. /7. &'at !o you li)e most about t'is 8ob# ,nswer this only after you have ascertained the main problem the interviewer wants solved in this job. %f you are uncertain ask to clarify the projects which need immediate attention the overall mission of the division at present etc. #hen say you are ea!er to tackle this challen!e and e(plain why you are well suited in terms of qualifications and key personality traits to do so. //. &'o !o you see as our "om*any:s "om*etition6 an! 'y#

You have learned the answer to this question from your pre&interview research on the company which included readin! the business press and trade ma!azines. Came a few firms that offer similar products or services and what differentiates them from this company price quality availability marketin! strate!y etc.

/0. Ho

is our "om*any su*erior to ot'ers in its fiel!#

'rom your research you should be able to cite a few areas where this company shines. /1. Ho !o you )ee* abreast of ne !e5elo*ments in your fiel!#

You re!ularly read trade ma!azines and the business press and attend trade association meetin!s and an occasional seminar or conference. "erhaps you have also used your company$s tuition reimbursement pro!ram to take classes to brush up on skills or learn new ones.

69. Ho !o rate your "areer *ro(ress to !ate#

9how a healthy sense of self&respect and note that while you are proud of your accomplishments and have learned a !reat deal about the industry within the specific sphere of your jobs the best is yet to come. 03. &'at as*e"ts of your 8ob !o you rate as most im*ortant# "rioritize which of your duties most impact your company$s bottom line i.e. which make money save time or increase efficiency. 9how that you are not missin! the forest for the trees and are not wastin! precious time and effort on inessentials. 01. &'at *ersonality traits !o you t'in) are ne"essary to su""ee! in t'is fiel!# :ite some of the key personality traits we have discussed all alon! hi!hli!htin! those which may be especially important in your chosen field based on your own research or hints from the interviewer. 0%. 4es"ribe your "urrent 8ob res*onsibilities. -ist your duties but with an eye to how they fir into the mission of the company as a whole. ,n employer does not want someone with tunnel vision who sees his or her job as the be&all and end&all but a person with a sense of interrelatedness who functions as part of a team. 03. Ho many 'ours a ee) !o you or)#

9ince workaholism is a virtue not a vice in today$s lean and mean companies the more hours you can cite the better. ;owever say that you also try to plan and mana!e your time so you are a productive as possible just in case the company believes lon! hours denote poor time mana!ement and an inability to dele!ate. 04. Ho oul! you !o t'is 8ob !ifferently from ot'er *eo*le#

4emonstrate that your mi( of skills and key personality traits is a winnin! combination which will do a ban!&up job. %f you are not aware of all the challen!es the job presents ask@ and then e(plain a creative approach to handlin! at least one of them.

75. ,re you illin( to ta)e a !ru( test as a "on!ition of em*loyment#

#he only answer is yes if you are at all interested in !ettin! a job offer. 4ru! testin! has become very common today as employers try to screen out prospective employees who are dru! abusers. 2efore a test is actually administered a company should !ive you a form to si!n authorizin! your permission which should name all the prescription and over&the&counter dru!s and foods believed to cross&react with the test. -ist all the dru!s and medications you have taken in recent weeks as well as the foods named on the form.

%t may surprise you to learn that many substances such as cold medications ibuprofen tranquilizers and even poppy&seed ba!els can cause positive results on dru! tests and thus unfairly brand you as a dru! user. %f you are not offered a form to si!n that lists these substances say politely that while you are willin! to be tested you would like to know which substance can cross&react with the test because you are familiar with articles on this subject. %f the firm does not !ive you a list wei!h the risk of the test and your interest in a job offer perhaps you can su!!est that your family doctor conduct the test. 0/. Ho !o you feel about or)in( o5ertime#

You understand there are times when a company e(pects employees to pitch in with e(tra effort and e(tra hours and this is fine with you. #he interviewer wants to find out if you are a K&to&H clock&watcher so cite an e(ample from a past job where you e(pended e(tra hours to !et a project completed. 00. 4es"ribe a !iffi"ult situation at or) an! 'o you 'an!le! it.

Bhile the interviewer wants to probe your problem&solvin! skills you have the chance to demonstrate some of the key personality traits employers$ desire as well such as listenin! skills initiative determination etc. 'or e(ample) ,s a supervisor with a difficult client % listened to the demands of the client and my staff su!!ested compromises where needed and implemented new su!!estions. 01. &'y 'a5e you "'an(e! 8obs se5eral times in t'e *ast fe years#

, char!e of job&hoppin! is much less serious today than it used to be since the days of lifetime employment are over. ;owever emphasize that you learned somethin! in every job which you can now brin! to your new company. #his may take some persuasion but convince the interviewer you have been movin! steadily toward more professional !rowth and !reater responsibility and that you firmly believe the position you are interviewin! for offers the challen!es you require. "oint out that you have also developed fle(ibility in adaptin! to different work environments a real plus in today$s world and a trait that someone mired in the same company for a decade or more may not possess. 02. ;in"e you:5e 8ob-'o**e! a lot in t'e *ast fe 'ere# years6 isn:t it *ossible you ill be bore! or)in(

Co because this job offers you the challen!es you$ve been seekin! your entire life. 8laborate a bit on why these challen!es intri!ue you and how you plan to handle them to deflect attention from your job&hoppin! past and direct it toward your soon&to&be settled and stable present with this company. 02. &'y ere you fire!#

Of course this question comes not because you volunteered this information but because the interviewer is aware you have been fired. %f your job was one of hundreds of thousands eliminated throu!h downsizin! a very common occurrence today point this out as it removes most of the onus from you. %f your former company has hi!h turnover fi!ures either resi!nations or firin!s cite theses fi!ures since this shows your leavin! was not an isolated incident. %f you were fired for cause present the facts in the most positive li!ht possible and state that the problem has been rectified. "erhaps a former boss or former client is willin! to say !ood words about your performance. 9tate who will be happy to !ive references. Bhatever you do don$t badmouth your employer for firin! you and don$t act defensive and discoura!ed this will make it tou!her not easier to find another position. 13.+an you sell me on our *ro!u"t (or ser5i"e or "on"e*t$# %t$s not as difficult as it sounds to do a sales presentation for a company$s product or services. You should already be prepared because of the research you did before the interview. :almly and confidently act as if you are on a sales call) enumerate the major sellin! features note if the product or service is unique in any way and

how it differs from its competition. #he interviewer is lookin! for sales ability !ood communication skills and the ability to think quickly under pressure. 11. &'y !i! you lea5e your last 8ob (or ant to lea5e your "urrent 8ob$#

:ite one of the few acceptable reasons) you wanted !reater responsibility more challen!e a hi!her salary lar!er company for specialization 5or smaller company for opportunity6 or more job security. %f you are a career& chan!er e(plain that you enjoyed your previous career but have always wanted to work in this field and finally decided to !o for it. 1%. &'at are some mista)es you:5e ma!e in *re5ious 8obs# Gh&oh You$re bein! invited to tell tales a!ainst yourself. Bhatever you admit to make sure it$s fairly innocuous and didn$t involve losin! money or time for your company. 2e quick to e(plain what you learned from a past mistake and how you rectified thin!s. 'or e(ample perhaps you didn$t document your activities or keep your boss up to date as much as you should have makin! it difficult for others to fill in when you were out sick or on vacation. 2ut once you were admonished as to how this inconveniences your co&workers you now keep one of the most thorou!h paper trails in your firm. 13. &'at 'a5e you learne! from your mista)es in your 8obs# You should have stated what you learned in your answer to the previous question to deflect this one. 9how that you benefit from constructive criticism and do not take it personally and that you have acquired on of the key personality traits employers desire 5team player initiative determination etc.6 14. &'ere else are you a**lyin( for a 8ob# %t$s okay to admit to interviewin! at other firms but don$t say where. %f pressed politely decline to say. Bhile it$s alri!ht to convey the idea you are wanted it$s a bad idea to !et into a sparrin! match droppin! names of other firms positions and salary. 4on$t communicate the impression that this job is a fall&back or that your first choice lies elsewhere. ,bove all if you are seekin! a different type of job elsewhere or in a different industry alto!ether do not admit it. You may be coverin! all your bases in a tou!h economy but it will only alarm the interviewer to know you are considerin! jobs in widely diver!ent fields.