Business Practices and Etiquette

First Meetings
1. When meeting a Korean business person for the first time, it is best to be introduced by a
third party, rather than introducing yourself.
2. Shaking hands is now common even among Koreans. A bow may or may not precede the
handshake.
3. The exchange of business cards is a vital part of a first meeting. It is also important to
emphasize ones title so that, right away, the correct authority, status and rank are
established and understood. The recent Western trend toward eliminating titles has created
some problems for some companies when dealing with Korean businesses as Koreans
generally prefer to deal only with someone of equal rank as opposed to someone of lower
rank.
4. Use both hands if possible when presenting and receiving a business card. If that is not
possible, use your right hand and support your right elbow with your left hand.
5. Business cards should be treated as an extension of the person. Therefore you should read it
carefully and then place it on the table in front of you. To put someones card in your pocket
or to write on it, etc. is to show disrespect to the person.

Business Meetings
1. It is important to make an appointment a few weeks in advance of a business meeting. Most
business meetings are scheduled mid-morning (10 AM to 12 PM) or mid-afternoon
(between 2 and 4 PM).
2. Punctuality is important as it is a sign of respect. If you realize that you may be a little late, it
is best to call ahead to say so. That said, dont be surprised if top Korean executives arrive a
few minutes late for appointments due to their extremely busy and pressured schedule.
3. It is also not unusual for Korean executives to cancel appointments with little or no notice.
The cancellation may be due to an unexpected and unavoidable situation. However, if its
happened before, it may be a signal that they dont really want to do business or need to
delay the process for some reason, and you were expected to have realized that.
4. Gift-giving is a common practice when doing business in Korea. The gifts given at the first
meeting are intended to acquire favours and to build relationships. Wait until your host has
presented his gift and use both hands to accept it. The gifts exchanged should be of similar
value, with that of greatest value going to the most senior person.
5. To enhance communication and reduce the possibility of misunderstanding due to language,
you may find it helpful to send written materials - brochures, marketing materials,
proposals, etc. - in writing to your Korean counterpart some time prior to the meeting.
Contracts are seen as a starting point rather than as the final goals of a business agreement and as
the parameter within which the working relationship will be conducted. Koreans prefer that
contracts be flexible so that adjustments can be made as the project/work evolves. Even those who
are aware of the legal implications regarding the signing of contract, often still view it as less
important than the interpersonal relationship between the two companies and find it difficult to
understand why, despite the excellent relationship youve been having, you are not willing to
overlook or change elements of the contract as you go along. It is important that you be aware of
how your Korean colleague/partner views the documents in order to avoid misunderstandings
while ensuring that he/she is equally aware of your position.

Names
1. When addressing a Korean, use his/her title along with her/his family name unless youve
been invited to do otherwise. If there is no title, use Mr/Mrs/Miss with the family name.
2. More and more Koreans use a Western (usually English) name as a courtesy to foreign
colleagues/clients. However, you may want to make sure to also know their Korean name
since, for example, Harry Kim may not be known as such among his Korean colleagues and
trying to find a Mr. Kim is a Korean corporation is like looking for the proverbial needle in
the haystack. It can help if you know his exact title and department.
General Etiquette
1. Modesty and humility are important in Korean culture and therefore it is best to avoid over-
selling yourself or your company previous business achievements. When interviewing
Koreans, you may want to keep this characteristic in mind ? the interviewee will either
understate her/his abilities and achievements in the belief that you will be aware of them
and that anything else would be rude or, in an attempt to live up to perceived Western
expectation, he/she may exaggerate what would not be stressed normally in a Korean
context.
2. In order to show respect, some Koreans still do not make eye-contact for any length of time
when in the presence of an authority figure. However, this is changing and you should make
direct eye-contact when addressing business professionals and clients, as doing so is
expected and is interpreted as an indication of your honesty and interest.
3. The decision- making process in Korea is done collectively and up through the hierarchy
and therefore does take more time than you may be used to. Try to be patient, and even if
youre not feeling patient, try not to show it.
4. Avoid criticizing someone in public, even if you have seen a Korean colleague do so.
Criticism, especially of colleagues or Korean subordinates, should be conducted in private
so as to reduce or prevent loss of face.
5. You may also want to avoid opposing someone in public as this, too, can mean a loss of face.
Try thinking of alternative ways of going about expressing your opinion or concerns.

Business Relationships
1. Once you have established contact with a Korean business partner or client, it is important
to nurture that relationship.
2. Gift-giving is a common practice when doing business in Korea. The gifts given at the first
meeting are intended to acquire favours and to build relationships. Wait until your host has
presented his gift and use both hands to accept it. The gifts exchanged should be of similar
value, with that of greatest value going to the most senior person.
3. It is also common to give gifts to your Korean business partners to mark major holidays
such as Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and Lunar New Year. Christmas is another time
when it is common to give gifts to clients and partner companies.
4. If you are not based in Korea, do make a point of visiting the client/partner on every
business trip here.
5. Koreans worry that foreign businesses are only here to make a quick profit and run and
therefore it is important to demonstrate that you have a long-term commitment to the
market and to the relationship.
6. Koreans business people devote a great deal of time, energy and money in getting to know
the people with whom they are dealing in order to build long-term relationships. You
willingness to participate is often interpreted as a measure of your sincerity and
commitment.
7. People who went to the same school be it kindergarten, middle-school or university, share a
special relationship. The one who graduated first is the senior (sonbae), while the one who
enrolled later is referred to as my junior (hoobae). There will always be a kind of mutual I
owe you relationship between sonbae and hoobae regardless of whether they attended
school at the same time or many years apart.

K4E Editor: Korea4Expats.com tries to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and
complete, so should you notice any errors or omissions in the content above please contact us
at info@korea4expats.com.
How to answer 7 of the most common interview questions:
Tell me about yourself. While this isnt exactly a question, answering this the wrong way could
really hurt your chances of getting a job, Teach says. I was once told by an HR executive that this
can actually be a trick question. Hiring managers cant ask you certain questions legally but if you
go off on a tangent when answering, you may tell them some things about you that are better left
unsaid. The worst way to approach this request is to tell them your life story, which is something
theyre definitely not interested in. The best way to approach this is to only discuss what your
interests are relating to the job and why your background makes you a great candidate.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? Its easy to talk about your strengths; youre detail
oriented, hard working, a team player, etc.but its also easy to get tripped up when discussing your
weaknesses, Teach says. Never talk about a real weakness unless its something youve defeated.
Many hiring managers are hip to the overused responses, such as, Well, my biggest weakness is
that I work too hard so I need try to take it easy once in a while. The best answer is to discuss a
weakness that youve turned around, such as, you used to come in late to work a lot but after your
supervisor explained why it was necessary for you to come in on time, you were never late again.
Where do you want to be five years from now? What employers are really asking is, Is this job
even close to your presumed career path? Are you just applying to this job because you need
something? Are your long-term career plans similar to what we see for this role? How realistic are
your expectations for your career? Have you even thought about your career long-term? Are you
going to quit after a year or two? says Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs.
Show them that youve done some self-assessment and career planning. Let them know that you
hope to develop professionally and take on additional responsibilities at that particular company.
Dont say something ridiculous like, I dont know, or I want your job, she says.
Teach says no one can possibly know where theyll be in their career five years from now but hiring
managers want to get a sense of your commitment to the job, the company, and the industry. In
fact, I would even mention that its hard for you to know what job title you may hold five years from
now but ideally, youd like to have moved up the ladder at this company based on your performance.
Youre hopeful to be in some management position and your goal is to help the company any way
you can. If you give the impression that this job is just a stepping stone for you, its unlikely the
hiring manager will be interested in you.
Please give me an example of a time when you had a problem with a supervisor/co-worker
and how you approached the problem. I think that the hardest thing about work isnt the work,
its the people at work, Teach says. Most employees have a problem with a supervisor or co-
worker at some point in their career. How they handle that problem says a lot about their people
skills. If you can explain to the interviewer that you were able to overcome a people problem at
work, this will definitely help your chances of getting the job, he says.
What are your salary requirements? What employers are really asking is, Do you have
realistic expectations when it comes to salary? Are we on the same page or are you going to want
way more than we can give? Are you flexible on this point or is your expectation set in stone?
Sutton Fell says.
Try to avoid answering this question in the first interview because you may shortchange yourself
by doing so, Teach says. Tell the hiring manager that if you are seriously being considered, you
could give them a salary rangebut if possible, let them make the first offer. Study websites like
Salary.com and Glassdoor.com to get an idea of what the position should pay. Dont necessarily
accept their first offer, he adds. There may be room to negotiate.
When it is time to give a number, be sure to take your experience and education levels into
consideration, Sutton Fell says. Also, your geographic region, since salary varies by location. Speak
in ranges when giving figures, and mention that you are flexible in this area and that youre open to
benefits, as well. Be brief and to the point, and be comfortable with the silence that may come after.
Why are you leaving your current job? Hiring managers want to know your motivation for
wanting to leave your current job. Are you an opportunist just looking for more money or are you
looking for a job that you hope will turn into a career? If youre leaving because you dont like your
boss, dont talk negatively about your bossjust say you have different work philosophies, Teach
says. If the work was boring to you, just mention that youre looking for a more challenging position.
Discuss the positives that came out of your most recent job and focus on why you think this new
position is ideal for you and why youll be a great fit for their company.
If youve already left your previous job (or you were fired), Sutton Fell suggests the following:
If you got fired: Do not trash your last boss or company. Tell them that you were unfortunately
let go, that you understand their reasoning and youve recognized areas that you need to improve
in, and then tell them how you will be a better employee because of it.
If you got laid off: Again, do not trash your last boss or company. Tell them that you were let go,
and that you understand the circumstances behind their decision; that you are committed to your
future and not dwelling on the past; and that you are ready to apply everything that you learned
in your last role to a new company.
If you quit: Do not go into details about your unhappiness or dissatisfaction. Instead, tell them
that while you valued the experience and education that you received, you felt that the time had
come to seek out a new opportunity, to expand your skills and knowledge, and to find a company
with which you could grow.
Why should I hire you? A hiring manager may not ask you this question directly but every
question you answer in the interview should contribute to helping them understand why youre the
best person for the job. Stay focused on why your background makes you an ideal candidate and
tell them how you are going to contribute to that department and that company, Teach says.
Let the interviewer know that one of your goals is to make their job easier by taking on as much
responsibility as possible and that you will be excited about this job starting on day one.
Salpeter suggests you print and highlight the job description, looking for the top three or four most
important details. Do they include terms such as, cross-functional team, team work, and team
player several times? If so, your answer to, Why should we hire you? (asked directly or as an
underlying question) should mention and focus on your abilities as they relate to teams.
The 50 Most Common Interview Questions:
1. What are your strengths?
2. What are your weaknesses?
3. Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
5. Why do you want to leave your current company?
6. Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?
7. What can you offer us that someone else can not?
8. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?
9. Are you willing to relocate?
10. Are you willing to travel?
11. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
12. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
13. What is your dream job?
14. How did you hear about this position?
15. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
16. Discuss your resume.
17. Discuss your educational background.
18. Describe yourself.
19. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.
20. Why should we hire you?
21. Why are you looking for a new job?
22. Would you work holidays/weekends?
23. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
24. What are your salary requirements?
25. Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.
26. Who are our competitors?
27. What was your biggest failure?
28. What motivates you?
29. Whats your availability?
30. Whos your mentor?
31. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.
32. How do you handle pressure?
33. What is the name of our CEO?
34. What are your career goals?
35. What gets you up in the morning?
36. What would your direct reports say about you?
37. What were your bosses strengths/weaknesses?
38. If I called your boss right now and asked him what is an area that you could improve on, what
would he say?
39. Are you a leader or a follower?
40. What was the last book youve read for fun?
41. What are your co-worker pet peeves?
42. What are your hobbies?
43. What is your favorite website?
44. What makes you uncomfortable?
45. What are some of your leadership experiences?
46. How would you fire someone?
47. What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?
48. Would you work 40+ hours a week?
49. What questions havent I asked you?
50. What questions do you have for me?
Common Interview Questions, Part 1
By Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer
Every interview has a unique focus, but some questions are asked so often, it makes sense to do all
you can to prepare for them. In order to be successful, you need a strategy -- not scripted answers.
Your goal should be to emphasize the experiences in your background that best fit what each
interviewer is looking for.
In this series, we'll look at some common questions and what you should consider when
formulating your responses. Work through each potential question, creating your own responses,
and you will be in great shape for your next interview. It helps to write out potential answers. Even
better: Practice aloud with someone.
QUESTION: Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
Intent: Early in your career, interviewers want to get a sense of your personal goals, ambition,
drive and direction. At mid-career, they will be listening for responses relevant to their needs.
Context: You'll need to decide how much to share. If you want to run your own business five years
from now and need a certain kind of experience in a competitive company, don't reveal that goal.
But if you want to become a VP by age 35 and are interviewing in a merit-based environment, go
ahead and tell the interviewer.
Response: "My goal is to be a corporate VP by the time I am 35." Or you might give a more
subjective answer: "In five years, I want to have gained solid experience in marketing
communications and be developing skills in another marketing function."
QUESTION:Tell me about your proudest achievement.
Intent: This question, often worded as "significant accomplishment," ranks among the most
predictable and important things you'll be asked. Interviewers want to hear how you tackled
something big. It is vital you give them an organized, articulate story.
Context: This is a behavioral question -- meaning you're being asked to talk about a specific
example from your professional history. Pick an example or story about how you handled a major
project that is both significant to you and rich in detail.
Response: Set up the story by providing context. Recount the situation and your role in it. Next,
discuss what you did, including any analysis or problem solving, any process you set up and
obstacles you had to overcome. Finally, reveal the outcome and what made you proud.
QUESTION: Give me an example of a time when you had to think out of the box.
Intent: This is code for asking about your innovativeness, creativity and initiative. Interviewers
want to learn about not only a specific creative idea but also how you came up with it and, more
importantly, what you did with that insight.
Context: This is another behavioral question, and the example you select is critical. It should be
relevant to the job you're interviewing for, and your impact in the story should be significant.
Response: Tell interviewers how you came up with a creative solution to a customer problem,
improved an internal process or made a sale via an innovative strategy.
QUESTION: What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
Intent: This is another way of asking about your weaknesses.
Context: A good approach is to discuss weaknesses you can develop into strengths. However, do
not say you work too hard or are a perfectionist. These answers are tired and transparent. Come up
with something visible to a past boss that was perhaps mentioned in your performance reviews as a
developmental area.
Response: "I don't think she would have called it negative, but she identified that I needed to work
on being more dynamic in my presentation skills. I have sought out practice opportunities and
joined Toastmasters. I have seen some real improvement."
QUESTION: What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
Intent: Some interview questions are more important than others. This is one of them. It's another
way of asking, "Why should we hire you?"
Context: There are two nuances to this question. The first is asking you to compare yourself to
other candidates -- usually a difficult if not impossible task. More importantly, the interviewer is
asking you to articulate why you are special. Your response should sum up your main selling points,
related specifically to the job requirements.
Response: Consider what you have to offer: past experience directly related to the job; specialized
knowledge; relevant situational expertise and experience (growth, change, turnaround, startup);
skills; networks; demonstrated commitment and enthusiasm for the business or your profession;
future potential.
Create a list of four to six categories of reasons that best support and summarize your candidacy,
and put them in logical order, along with supporting evidence for each reason. Most points should
be backed up with follow-up information.
Common Interview Questions, Part 2
Part 2 in a Four-Part Series
By Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer
Every interview has a unique focus, but some questions are asked so often, it makes sense to do all
you can to prepare for them. In order to be successful, you need a strategy -- not scripted answers.
Your goal should be to emphasize the experiences in your background that best fit what each
interviewer is looking for.
In this series, we'll look at some common questions and what you should consider when
formulating your responses. Work through each potential question, creating your own responses,
and you will be in great shape for your next interview. It helps to write out potential answers. Even
better: Practice aloud with someone.
QUESTION: Tell me about a time you faced an ethical dilemma.
Intent: The interviewer is looking for evidence of your high ethical standards and honesty.
Context: You might want to say you haven't had any ethical challenges, but we all have our ethics
tested at some point. For example:
You discovered wrongdoing, or someone asked you to engage in a cover-up.
Your employer failed to deliver the full value and quality on products or services paid for by
a client.
A colleague cut corners on a project.
Response: Without naming names, describe the situation and how you dealt with it. The response
may focus on you, or it may involve other people. Remember, your political acumen is being tested -
- sometimes the best action isn't blowing the whistle but taking care of the problem yourself.
QUESTION: Tell me about a time when you failed.
Intent: No one wins all the time, so the key here is to forthrightly discuss what you learned from a
situation that went awry. The interviewer also may want to hear how you handled any resulting
fallout.
Context: Failure comes in different forms: taking the wrong action, omission, or not doing enough
or taking action soon enough. Some failures are big; most are small. Tell a story that isn't a career
killer but shows you learned something substantive.
Response: Perhaps you failed to trust your gut on a hire and the person didn't work out, or you
didn't intervene early enough with a problem employee. Talk about the lesson you learned from the
mistake.
QUESTION: Tell me about a project you worked on that required heavy analytical thinking.
Intent: This is a behavioral interview question. The interviewer is asking you to demonstrate your
competency.
Context: The only way an interviewer can determine if you have enough analytical horsepower is
to hear an example of how you used your analytical skills to achieve a goal: What formal and
informal analysis did you do? How did you structure the project? What obstacles did you run into,
and how did you overcome them?
Response: "In 2005, I was given project X with a 10-day deadline and goal Y. The goal was clear,
but I had to figure out how to get there. So here is what I did (analysis/decisions/actions). The end
result was ______."
QUESTION: Why do you want to leave your current position?
Intent: The interviewer wants to make sure you won't walk out after six months and that you'll be
satisfied in your new position.
Context: You have greater market value when you are looking on your own terms. Prepare a
positive response you are very comfortable with. Refer to fit, personality issues or new directions.
Your goals and readiness for a new kind of role are generally safe terrain. Just be careful to
emphasize benefits to the employer, not your personal aspirations.
Response: Tread carefully. You don't want to bad-mouth your current employer or put yourself in
a weaker negotiating position. You could say, "Actually, I'm happy doing what I am doing now. But
recently I have been keeping my eyes open for other opportunities. I don't need to leave, but for the
right opportunity, I would consider it. This opportunity seems to fit the criteria I set out."
QUESTION: What book are you currently reading?
Intent: The interviewer is exploring your intellectual curiosity, your interests or perhaps how in
tune you are with industry or professional trends.
Context: Consider highlighting reading material directly related to the role and environment you
are interviewing for: sales-excellence books for salespeople or talent-management books for HR
workers, for example. Be prepared to talk about the book's concepts and your opinions of them.
Response: "I just finished ________ and just started _______." "I am in the middle of __________."
Common Interview Questions, Part 3
By Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer
Every interview has a unique focus, but some questions are asked so often, it makes sense to do all
you can to prepare for them. In order to be successful, you need a strategy -- not scripted answers.
Your goal should be to emphasize your past experiences that best fit what each interviewer is
looking for.
In this series, we'll look at some common questions and what you should consider when
formulating your responses. Work through each potential question, creating your own responses,
and you will be in great shape for your next interview. It helps to write out potential answers. Even
better: Practice aloud with someone.
QUESTION: Tell me about a time when you faced a major obstacle at work.
Intent: Similar to the proudest achievement question, this is a behavioral interview
question focused on an event. In this case, the interviewer is interested in your ability to overcome
a major hurdle.
Context: Pick an example that illustrates a significant obstacle that best demonstrates how you
work and that had a positive, tangible outcome. Obstacles might include business problems, a
difficult objective, key people who stood in your way or lack of resources. Once you have your
example, explain the steps you took.
Response: You could include the analysis you performed and the resulting strategy, the process
you took, the key actions performed, your arguments or anything else that clearly demonstrates
how you achieved your goal. A great response technique for this kind of question is to break your
answer down into phases or steps: "First, I... Second...."
QUESTION: How do you deal with conflict?
Intent: Conflict is part of any workplace, and the reality is that you often can't get ahead or perform
well in your job unless you can deal with conflict at a basic level. Do you avoid conflict or face it? Do
you think it through, or are you impulsive? Do you use constructive techniques to resolve the
situation?
Context: There are different forms of conflict of course: the everyday interpersonal sort,
disagreements in direction or strategy, and conflict over resources. You should describe how you
handle conflict at an appropriate level. If you are a manager or executive, for example, pick a
reflective example.
Response: Consider offering a specific example to demonstrate how you resolve conflict.
QUESTION: Tell me about yourself.
Intent: Such an innocent-sounding question, but it is a bit of a trap. The interviewer wants to see
how you present yourself, but this is not an offer to recite your resume.
Context: This question, which when asked always occurs at the beginning of the interview, is a
predictable opportunity to craft an engaging, intriguing executive summary of who you are
professionally and why you are there. While there is no hard-and-fast rule as to how long it should
be, let's say it should last up to a minute. If you are given this opportunity, turn it to your advantage
to establish momentum.
Response: The stronger the connection you can make between your background, knowledge and
interests, and the job at hand, the more compelling you will be as a candidate. If there is something
notable about your personal life that adds to your candidacy or helps explain your career trajectory,
add it. Otherwise, leave personal details out at this stage unless invited to do so.
QUESTION: How would you describe your work style?
Intent: This is a fairly open-ended question. At a basic level, the interviewer is interested in hearing
how you both understand and articulate how you work. However, there may be a requirement for
someone highly organized, or the team may have a specific way of working, and the interviewer
wants to see if you fit.
Context: You may not have thought about this too carefully before. How do you best operate?
What's the optimum work situation for you? There are two sides to this: How you work and in what
kinds of work environments you work best. Are you highly structured? Do you focus on one thing
and get it done, or move multiple projects forward concurrently? On the environment side, do you
do best in fairly structured workplaces, or do you thrive in chaos?
Response: Like any other interview answer, being specific and backing up your answer with a brief
example works best. You could use the past week as an illustrative example.
QUESTION: Why are you interested in this job/our organization?
Intent: Fair question. Why are you? The interviewer knows you are looking for a new opportunity,
and at a basic level, a job. Why else? A candidate with good reasons is going to be more interesting.
Context: This is not about telling them what they want to hear. Your reasons could involve
opportunity, career fit, cultural fit, interest in their business, personal value proposition fit and your
ability to be successful in the job. It's also a great opportunity to illustrate the research you've done
on the company.
Response: You want to present your reason as a benefit to the employer. If it is the first interview,
you might not have all the answers or will have not made up your mind yet. In this case, use a
statement like, "From what I have seen so far...."
Common Interview Questions, Part 4
Part 4 in a Four-Part Series
By Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer
Every interview has a unique focus, but some questions are asked so often, it makes sense to do all
you can to prepare for them. To be successful, you need a strategy -- not scripted answers. Your
goal should be to emphasize the experiences in your background that best fit what each interviewer
is looking for.
In this series, we'll look at some common questions and what you should consider when
formulating your responses. Work through each potential question, creating your own responses,
and you will be in great shape for your next interview. It helps to write out potential answers. Even
better: Practice aloud with someone.
QUESTION: Tell me about an assignment that was too difficult for you. How did you resolve
the issue?
Intent: The intent can be varied. The interviewer may be interested not only in your ability to
respond to a challenge but also in how you respond. Or he may want to know how you define "too
difficult." Your ability to learn from a situation you considered too difficult is also relevant. Answer
the right way, and you can impress with your coping skills and range of abilities. The wrong answer
could take you out of the running.
Context: If you have been in challenging roles, then at some point you should have found yourself
stretched to the limit. This is when we grow. So this question is a marvelous opportunity to talk
about a time you dealt with a really big challenge successfully.
Response: Do not make the mistake of saying you have never had an assignment that was too
difficult for you. Discuss an example of a time you had to overcome a lack of knowledge, skill or
experience, or when you took your game to the next level: "I wouldn't say that it was too difficult
for me. However, I was faced with..."
QUESTION: What is your management style?
Intent: This is a classic question for management-level candidates. The interviewer's intent here is
threefold: to find out if your management style fits, to determine if you have management ability
and to probe how much you understand your own work style.
Context: Avoid responding with cliches. Hopefully you can say more than that you have an open-
door policy or you manage by walking around.
Response: In today's environment, you need to speak to leading and developing your team,
communication, how you organize and plan, how you execute and how you measure progress. It
need not be a long answer, but responding with a well-thought-out approach to your management
style will make a better impression than spouting generalities.
QUESTION: How would your past experience translate into success in this job?
Intent: Either the interviewer is asking in a tone that indicates his doubt about your legitimacy as a
candidate, or he is asking you to make the connection for him effectively.
Context: You can blow the whole interview here. In fact, you have no business being in the
interview unless you are clear why you have what it takes to do the job well.
Response: You might start with naming the top few requirements for this job and then describing
how you meet or exceed each one. Or you might begin with your background and summarize how it
has prepared you for this job. Often, the context of the job is almost as important as the skills
required, so don't forget to speak to the specific challenges and objectives you see in the role.
QUESTION: How would you tackle the first 90 days?
Intent: This question is about thoroughness, process and appreciation for organizational
complexity. In a second or third interview, the interviewer may also be testing how much you have
thought about the job itself.
Context: Most people would say they would study the company's business. You must go beyond
this answer to speak to specific job's key challenges or goals. You also want to assure your potential
employer that current production will continue without interruption. Of course, you want to
express that you would work with the team, your boss and any key influencers to get up to speed as
quickly as possible.
Response: Unless asked to do so, do not get specific on changes or initiatives you would make.
Instead, think of your response as an operating framework that demonstrates you have a solid,
realistic understanding of what needs to be done and how.
QUESTION: Give me proof of your technical competence.
Intent: This question is worded vaguely on purpose. In any number of ways, your interviewer will
likely ask you to prove your competence in some technical area important to the job. You need to do
so decisively.
Context: You could be given a hypothetical scenario, such as a case study or a technical problem to
solve, or you simply could be asked to describe your level of competency in a specific skill. How you
do this will depend on the kind of question.
Response: Remember the three possible competency scenarios: exceeds, meets or needs
development. Even if you find yourself in the last category, you need to demonstrate that you are
purposefully and rapidly developing in that area and trying to compensate with an area of strength.
You are better off acknowledging where you are rather than trying to fake it.
You can see themes running throughout this series: Know yourself. Think about the position you're
interviewing for. Connect the dots between your background and the job and organizational
requirements. Expand upon your responses to ensure you effectively communicate the depth and
breadth of your experience. And of course, understand the nuances behind the questions. Good
luck!
Come prepared to answer 20 common interview questions to project yourself in the best
possible light.

By Ana Antunes Da Silva

First and foremost, congratulations if you have an interview! That in itself is commendable, so now
you just want to make sure you come across in the best possible light. I have been asked numerous
times what to do in preparation for job interviews. While there is no way of predicting exactly what
you will be asked, here are 20 common questions that tend to come up. This is by no means an
exhaustive list. The purpose is to illustrate the importance of preparation and refreshing your
memory regarding specific projects and situations.
1. Tell me about yourself.

This is probably the most asked question in a interview. It breaks the ice and gets you to talk about
something you should be fairly comfortable with. Have something prepared that doesn't sound
rehearsed. It's not about you telling your life story and quite frankly, the interviewer just isn't
interested. Unless asked to do so, stick to your education, career, and current situation. Work
through it chronologically from the furthest back to the present.
2. Why are you looking for another job (or why did you leave your previous job)?

On the surface, this appears to be a simple question, yet it is easy to slip. I would suggest not
mentioning money at this stage as you may come across as totally mercenary. If you are currently
employed, you can say it's about developing your career and yourself as an individual. If you are in
the unfortunate position of having been downsized, stay positive and keep it brief. If you were fired,
you should have a solid explanation. Whatever your circumstances, do not talk about the drama but
remember to stay positive.
3. What do you know about this organization?

Do your homework prior to the job interview. Doing the background work will help you stand out.
Find out who the main players arehave they been in the news recently? You're not expected to
know every date and individual, but you need to have a solid understanding of the company as a
whole.
4. Why do you want this job?

This question typically follows on from the previous one. Here is where your research will come in
handy. You may want to say that you want to work for a company that is X, Y, Z, (market leader,
innovator, provides a vital service, whatever it may be). Put some thought into this beforehand, be
specific, and link the company's values and mission statement to your own goals and career plans.
5. Who are our main competitors?

This shows you really understand the industry and the main players. Think about a few and say
how you think they compare (similarities and differences). This is a good opportunity to highlight
what you think are the company's key strengths.
6. What would your previous co-workers say about you?

This is not the arena for full disclosure. You want to stay positive and add a few specific statements
or paraphrase. Something like "Joe Blogs always mentioned how reliable and hard working I was" is
enough.
7. How do you handle stressful situations and working under pressure?

There are several ways of addressing this one. You may be the sort of person that works well under
pressure; you may even thrive under pressure. Whatever the case, make sure you don't say you
panic. You want to give specific examples of stressful situations and how well you dealt with them.
You may also want to list a few tools you use to help you, such as to-do lists, etc. It is alright to say
that you will ask for assistance when the job is more than what you can handle. It is equally
acceptable to say that you work best under pressure if this is indeed the case and relevant to the
particular role.
8. Are you applying for other jobs?

If you are serious about changing jobs then it is likely that you are applying to other positions. It is
also a way of showing that you are in demand. Be honest but don't go into too much detail; you
don't want to spend a great deal of time on this. If asked about names of who you have spoken to, it
is absolutely legitimate to say you prefer not to disclose that information at this stage.
9. What are you like working in a team?

Your answer is of course that you are an excellent team playerthere really is no other valid
answer here as you will not function in an organization as a loner. You may want to mention what
type of role you tend to adopt in a team, especially if you want to emphasize key skills such as
leadership. Be prepared to give specific examples in a very matter of fact sort of way.
10. What sort of person do you not like to work with?

This is not an easy one as you have no idea whom you would be working with. Even if you can
immediately think of a long list of people who you don't like to work with, you could take some time
to think and say that it's a difficult question as you have always gotten on fine with your colleagues.
11. What is your greatest strength?

This is your time to shine. Just remember the interviewer is looking for work related strengths.
Mention a number of them such as being a good motivator, problem solver, performing well under
pressure, being loyal, having a positive attitude, eager to learn, taking initiative, and attention to
detail. Whichever you go for, be prepared to give examples that illustrate this particular skill.
12. What is your biggest weakness?

This is a challenging questionas if you have no weaknesses you are obviously lying! Be realistic
and mention a small work related flaw. Many people will suggest answering this using a positive
trait disguised as a flaw such as "I'm a perfectionist" or "I expect others to be as committed as I am."
I would advocate a certain degree of honesty and list a true weakness. Emphasize what you've done
to overcome it and improve. This question is all about how you perceive and evaluate yourself.
13. What has been your biggest professional disappointment/achievement so far?

If asked about disappointments, mention something that was beyond your control. Stay positive by
showing how you accepted the situation and have no lingering negative feelings. If asked about
your greatest achievement, choose an example that was important to you as well as the company.
Specify what you did, how you did it, and what the results were. Ideally, pick an example that can
relate to the job positions you are applying for.
14. What kind of decisions do you find most difficult to take?

There is no right or wrong answer here. The logic behind this type of question is that your past
behavior is likely to predict what you will do in the future. What the interviewer is looking for is to
understand what you find difficult.
15. Tell me about a suggestion that you have made that has been successfully implemented.

Here the emphasis is on the implemented. You may have had many brilliant ideas, but what the
interviewer is looking for is something that has actually materialized. Be prepared to briefly
describe how it went from an idea to implementation stage.
16. Have you ever had to bend the rules in order to achieve a goal?

Beware of this type of question! Under no circumstances is it necessary to break company policy to
achieve something. Resist the temptation to answer and give examples, as what the interviewer is
looking for is to determine how ethical you are and if you will remain true to company policy.
17. Are you willing to travel or relocate if necessary?

This is something you need to have very clear in your mind prior to the meeting. There is no point
in saying yes just to get the job if the real answer is actually no. Just be honest as this can save you
problems arising in the future.
18. Why should we hire you?

This is an important question that you will need to answer carefully. It is your chance to stand out
and draw attention to your skills, especially those that haven't already been addressed. Saying
"because I need a job" or "I'm really good" just won't cut it. Don't speculate about other candidates
and their possible strengths or flaws. Make sure you focus on you. Explain why you make a good
employee, why you are a good fit for the job and the company, and what you can offer. Keep it
succinct and highlight your achievements.
19. Regarding salary, what are your expectations?

This question is always a tricky one and a dangerous game to play in an interview. It is a common
mistake to discuss salary before you have sold yourself, and like in any negotiation, knowledge is
power. Do your homework and make sure you have an idea of what this job is offering. You can try
asking them about the salary range. If you want to avoid the question altogether, you could say that
at the moment, you are looking to advance in your career and money isn't your main motivator. If
you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident you can get it, then it may be worth
going for.
20. Do you have any questions for us?

This one tends to come up every time. Have some questions prepared. This will show you have
done some research and are eager to know and learn as much as possible. You probably don't want
to ask more than three or four questions. Try and use questions that focus on you becoming an
asset to the company. A generic question might be, "how soon can I start if I were to get the job."
Another idea is to ask what you would be working on and how quickly they expect you to be able to
be productive. Remember to ask about next steps and when you can expect to hear back.
Bare in mind that the interview starts from the minute you walk into the building until you leave
and are out of sight. Don't think that just because you have left the meeting room, you are "off the
hook." You need to maintain an image of confidence, enthusiasm, competence, reliability, and
professionalism throughout.
One final question from me to you:
"What is the most bizarre question that you have been asked in an interview"?
Thanks in advance for sharing.
Good luck!
Below are five common questions asked by hiring managers and how to prepare for them.
1. Tell me about your experience at Company X.
In other words, how does your past experience relate to the job the hiring manager is looking to fill?
When answering this question, you want to convince the hiring manager that you can hit the
ground running and bring value to the team by providing specific examples that resulted in
successful outcomes. Its also helpful to identify how your current and prospective employers differ.
This will help you determine which skills to emphasize.
Sample Answer: Despite working for a company that prefers organic growth, I have worked through
the nuances that evolve when two organizations with distinct cultural norms are brought together.
For example, recently, new leadership from Company Y brought new ways of evaluating projects. I
set out to understand their ways of doing things by building a rapport with key leaders and sharing
with them the institutional knowledge I acquired during a successful eight-year career in the firm.
An example of when my knowledge was beneficial isetc.
2. What is your biggest professional accomplishment to date?
This is your opportunity to provide an example that shows you can do the job. Think about the
skills detailed in the job description and which of your accomplishments most directly relate. The
goal is to convey to the hiring manager not only your past successes but also what you are capable
of accomplishing if offered the job.
Sample Answer: My greatest accomplishment was when I grew the IBM IBM -0.9% business on my
agencys behalf by 25% in one year. Most clients were cutting back on producing events as a way to
warm leads for their sales force. With my creative team, I came up with a way to offer the same
high-touch experience via webinars. Each webinar was accessible 24 hours a day and led by IBM
thought leaders. In the end, I reduced event production costs by 40% and with those savings, IBM
invested in more webinars worldwide. I won my agencys award and was soon promoted.
3. How would people you have worked with describe you?
This question centers on how well you work with others and your ability to manage relationships
with your peers, managers and direct reports. Give examples of situations that illustrate how you
work with people across various functions. Answer truthfully, as the hiring manager will reach out
to your references at a later point to ensure your perception of yourself is in line with theirs.
Sample Answer: My managers would describe me as someone who would rather tirelessly
overcome obstacles on my own than continuously seek managerial guidance. I make my managers
lives easier in this way. For example, when I first started working at firm C, I was asked to figure out
ways to cut costs. Instead of relying on my manager, who had other projects to oversee, I decided to
better understand the transportation logistics behind the wood chips that my employer needed in
each facility. After seeing what worked best and what could be improved, I took this information to
my manager, who was grateful for the initiative I took.
4. What is your greatest weakness?
Often dreaded by job candidates, the key to answering this question is to be honest yet strategic. On
my site, I go into more detail on new and effective ways to answer this question truthfully without
taking yourself out of the running. You also need to address the unspoken follow up, which is what
you are doing to overcome your weakness. Ultimately, you want to show the hiring manager that
you are self-aware, thoughtful and proactive about your strengths and weaknesses.
Sample Answer: My greatest weakness is my low patience when a team member withholds
important information to the detriment of his or her peers or the assignments success. I have
always tried to maximize knowledge-sharing by bringing team members together prior to
launching any assignment to ensure everyone is on the same page. Yet, there have been times when
people have withheld information even after these efforts. In those instances, I have learned to
speak privately with those team members to understand why information was withheld.
5. Why are you the best person for this position?
In asking this question, the hiring manager is looking for you to succinctly convey what sets you
apart from the other candidates. Think of your most impressive and unique strengths that closely
relate to the job description and use those to pitch yourself in a way that clearly illustrates the skill
set and qualities you bring to the table.
Sample Answer: My analytical horsepower sets me apart from other candidates. For example, I
imagine all of your candidates can create robust Excel-based financial models. However, I can also
see and articulate the business story behind the numbers to influence decision-making. During a
major food-chain deal, I conducted the due diligence necessary to come up with the right multiple
that my superiors should consider based not only on raw data but also on what was the best way to
position the assets we were selling. My strategy resulted in a more profitable deal.

1. Tell me about yourself. This question means give me a broad overview of who you are,
professionally speaking, before we dive into specifics. You should prepare about a one-minute
answer that summarizes where youre at in your career and what youre especially good at, with an
emphasis on your most recent job. Keep your personal life out of it; your interviewer isnt asking to
hear about your family, hobbies or where you grew up.
2. What interests you about this job? Your answer here should focus on what about the
substance of the role most interests you. You should not talk about benefits, salary, the short
commute or anything else unrelated to the day-to-day work youd be doing, or youll signal that
youre not particularly enthusiastic about the work itself. Interviewers want to hire people who
have carefully considered whether this is a job theyd be glad to work at every day, and that means
focusing on the work itself, not what the job can do for you.
3. Why are you thinking about leaving your job? Or, if youre unemployed, Why did you leave
your last job? This isnt the time to talk about conflicts with your manager or complaints about
your co-workers. Job seekers are commonly advised to answer this by saying that theyre seeking
new challenges, but that answer only rings true if youre specific about what those new challenges
are and how this job will provide them in a way your last job didnt. Its also fine to cite things like a
recent or planned move, financial instability at your organization or other reasons that are
genuinely true just stay away from badmouthing employers or complaining about work.
4. Why would you excel at this job? This is your chance to make a case for why you'd shine in
the job and if you don't know the answer to that, it's unlikely that your interviewer will figure it
out either. Since this gets to the crux of the whole interview, you should have a strong answer
prepared for this ahead of time. A strong answer will point to your skills and track record of
experience and tie them to the needs of the job.
5. Tell me about a time when Good interviewers will probe into times in your past when you
had to exercise the skills required for the job. For instance: Tell me about when you had to take
initiative / had to deal with a difficult customer / had to solve a problem for a client and so forth.
Make sure to prepare in advance for these questions, so that youre not struggling to come up with
real-life past examples. Spend some time brainstorming about what skills youre likely to need in
the job and what challenges youre likely to face. Then think about what examples from your past
work you can use as evidence that you can meet those needs. When you construct your answer,
discuss the challenge you faced, how you responded and the outcome you achieved.
6. What would you do in your first 90 days if you got this position? Interviewers are looking
for answers that reveal how you set goals and problem-solve, and whether youre ambitious
without being unrealistic. You should also acknowledge that youll need to take time to get to know
the team, whats working and what can be improved before you make any big decisions but your
answer should still get into specifics to the extent you reasonably can.
7. What salary range are you looking for? Job seekers are almost always asked this question,
yet too often fail to prepare for it and then are caught off-guard when the topic comes up. If you
wing your answer to this, you risk lowballing yourself and ending up with a salary offer below what
you might have otherwise received. Its crucial to research the market rate for the job ahead of time.
Dont let discomfort with talking about money thwart your ability to negotiate well for yourself.
1. Tell me about yourself.
It seems like an easy interview question. Its 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 youre the best candidate for this position.
So as you answer this question, talk about what youve 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.
2. Why should I hire you?
The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And dont be afraid to say so.
But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you.
For example: You should hire me because Im 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.
3. What is your long-range objective?
Make my job easy for me. Make me want to hire you.
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 Ill be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which
might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what Im presently doing to
prepare myself . . .
Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and
objectives.
4. How has your education prepared you for your career?
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. Enhance your career opportunities by getting the
training you need, find top degrees and schools near you!
5. Are you a team player?
Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is not just a yes/no question. You need to
provide behavioral examples to back up your answer.
A sample answer: Yes, Im very much a team player. In fact, Ive had opportunities in my
work, school and athletics to develop my skills as a team player. For example, on a recent
project . . .
Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and focus on your openness to diversity of
backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team above the individual. And note that this
question may be used as a lead in to questions around how you handle conflict within a
team, so be prepared.
6. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?
Note that if you say no, most interviewers will keep drilling deeper to find a conflict. The
key is how you behaviorally reacted to conflict and what you did to resolve it.
For example: Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but there have been
disagreements that needed to be resolved. I've found that when conflict occurs, it helps to
fully understand the other persons perspective, so I take time to listen to their point of
view, then I seek to work out a collaborative solution. For example . . .
Focus your answer on the behavioral process for resolving the conflict and working
collaboratively.
7. What is your greatest weakness?
Most career books tell you to select a strength and present it as a weakness. Such as: I
work too much. I just work and work and work. Wrong. First of all, using a strength and
presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second, it misses the point of the question.
You should select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. For
example: I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, Im now
taking steps to correct this. I just started using a pocket planner . . . then show them your
planner and how you are using it.
Talk about a true weakness and show what you are doing to overcome it.
8. If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say?
This is a threat of reference check question. Do not wait for the interview to know the
answer. Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance. And if theyre willing to provide a
positive reference, ask them for a letter of recommendation.
Then you can answer the question like this:
I believe she would say I'm a very energetic person, that Im results oriented and one of
the best people she has ever worked with. Actually, I know she would say that, because
those are her very words. May I show you her letter of recommendation?
So be prepared in advance with your letters of recommendation.
9. What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
Focus on two words: leadership and vision.
Here is a sample of how to respond: The key quality in a successful manager should be
leadership--the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them.
The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. The highest calling of a
true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. I'd like to tell you
about a person whom I consider to be a true leader . . .
Then give an example of someone who has touched your life and how their impact has
helped in your personal development.
10. If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?
Focus on a key turning point in your life or missed opportunity. Yet also tie it forward to
what you are doing to still seek to make that change.
For example: Although Im overall very happy with where Im at in my life, the one aspect I
likely would have changed would be focusing earlier on my chosen career. I had a great
internship this past year and look forward to more experience in the field. I simply wish I
would have focused here earlier. For example, I learned on my recent internship
then provide examples.
Stay focused on positive direction in your life and back it up with examples.
How to Answer: Why Should We Hire You?
Well, I have all of the skills and experience that youre looking for and Im confident that I would be a
superstar in this project management role.
Its not just my background leading successful projects for top companies or my people skills, which
have helped me develop great relationships with developers, vendors, and senior managers alike. But
Im also passionate about this industry and Im driven to deliver high-quality work.
Why We Like It:
She has a lot of confidence and is able to concisely sum up how she meets the positions top
requirements (project management experience, relationship and team skills). This answer is a little
bit general and could perhaps be further strengthened with examples (describing a successful
project, naming one of those top companies, offering evidence of those great relationships).
However, assuming that the candidate has already discussed some specifics of her past roles, this
answer does a good job of reiterating and emphasizing. She doesnt make the interviewer put all of
the pieces together on his own.
She does it for him and naturally does it with a very positive spin. We also really like the last line:
Whats not to love about passion, drive, and high-quality work?
Example Answer 2: Programmer
Honestly, I almost feel like the job description was written with me in mind. I have the 6 years of
programming experience youre looking for, a track record of successful projects, and proven expertise
in agile development processes.
At the same time, I have developed my communication skills from working directly with senior
managers, which means I am well prepared to work on high-profile, cross-department projects. I have
the experience to start contributing from day one and I am truly excited about the prospect of getting
started.
Why We Like It:
This is another good approach to summing up key qualifications and demonstrating a great fit with
the position requirements. In particular, this candidate is likely to win points with the experience to
start contributing from day one. He wont need much training or hand-holding and thats attractive
to any employer.
Example Answer 3: New College Grad
I have the experience and the attitude to excel in this production assistant position. I have almost two
years of television production experience including two summers interning at The Ellen Show,
where I was exposed to all aspects of TV production and worked so hard the first summer that they
invited me back for a second summer and gave me more responsibilities.
During my senior year at UC San Diego, I have been working part-time for a production company,
where I have served in an assistant role but also recently had the chance to help edit several episodes. I
have a reputation for getting things done and with a smile on my face.
Thats because I love working in the television industry and am excited to learn and get experience in
every way possible.
Why We Like It:
This candidate has some nice internship and part-time experience, but shes a new college grad and
doesnt have any full-time positions to talk about.
This answer highlights the experience that she does have (and the fact that she performed well
she was invited back to her internship and was given an opportunity to edit at her part-time job).
She also expresses her enthusiasm for the job and her strong work ethic. These qualities are
important for an entry-level hire, who will likely be doing quite a bit of grunt work at first.
Some Example Answers to What Are Your Strengths?
I think one of my greatest strengths is as a problem solver. I have the ability to see a situation from
different perspectives and I can get my work done even in the face of difficult obstacles. I also feel that
my communication skills are top notch. I feel just as comfortable presenting to senior executives as I do
mediating a conflict between junior team members. I worked as a programmer in the past so I have
that perspective of a developer and I think that they respect me for that.
Why We Like It:
This is a nice answer that summarizes three strengths that are relevant for the job at hand. Just
saying that youre a problem solver and have good communication skills can sound bland and
rehearsed. You have to add some detail and color to make your answer more believable and
memorable. In this case, the candidate talks about how her problem solving skills work (seeing
things from different perspectives) and gives examples of her communication skills (presenting to
senior leaders and mediating team disputes). We also like her discussion of her programming past
and how this makes her a better manager.
Notice that she did not include a specific example for each of the strengths cited. Sometimes you
want to avoid squeezing too much detail into one answer. You dont want this answer to turn into
an endless monologue. This candidate gave a little bit of detail for each strength and then left an
opening for the interviewer to ask for more information. She should, of course, be prepared with an
Interview Story for each of her strengths. That way, she will be ready when the interviewer asks:
Tell me about a time when you solved a difficult problem or Give me an example of a conflict that
you mediated.
2. Example Answer: Work Ethic
One of my strengths is my strong work ethic. When I commit to a deadline, I do whatever it takes to
deliver. For example, last week we had a report due and got some numbers back late from our team in
Singapore. I pulled an all-nighter to finish the spreadsheet because I knew that the client HAD to
receive the report on time.
Why We Like It:
Notice that the answer goes beyond hard worker, which is way too general. Anybody can say that
they work hard. This candidate gets specific about what work ethic means to him and talks about
being deadline-driven and reliable, with a specific example.
3. Example Answer: Writing Skills (New college grad applying for analyst position)
I am proud of my writing skills and believe that they will make me a better analyst. I am able to
communicate complicated topics to different audiences. I can take a lot of data and information and
find the story and themes that clients need to know about.
I honed my research and writing abilities during my days writing for the college paper, where I
learned how to write well on deadline from pretty demanding editors. I even won an award for my
series on the financial crisis.
Why We Like It:
This answer explains why the candidate is a good writer and how that applies to the position. The
example adds credibility, showing that others also believed the candidates writing skills were top-
notch (editors, award judges).
3 Ways to Answer "What's Your Biggest Weakness?"
By Adrian Granzella Larssen, January 10, 2012
11 Shares
When youre asked "what's your greatest strength?" in an interview, youve got it covered:
You showcase your professional skills and talk about how there's no one better suited for the job.
But, "what's your biggest weakness?" That question can be much tougher to answer.
But its not a trick question. What your interviewer is really trying to dobeyond identifying any
red flagsis to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, "I can't meet a deadline to save my life"
is not an optionbut neither is "Nothing! I'm perfect!" A good answer can show how you can
overcome challenges, paint you as a committed professional who continues to improve herself, and
actually highlight your strengths.
Here are three strategies to ensure that talking about your weakness won't be the weak spot in
your next interview.
1. Show How You've Overcome Something
Everyone has areas that could use improvement, but if you can describe how you've mitigated
yours, youll seem strong, capable, and in charge of your professional development. So, think of
something that you struggle with but that youre working to improve. You could explain that you've
never been strong at public speaking, but over the past few years, you've asked for team leadership
roles, run successfully meetings, and found tools to help you be more comfortable when addressing
a crowd.
Another smart tactic is to describe something that was once a weakness, but that you now can point
to as an accomplishment. For example, "I've always had to work at math. But I took a course in
Excel, and thats helped me tackle quantitative analysis projects much more easily. In fact, let me
show you a report I recently developed."
2. Address Uncertainties in Your Background
If your background doesn't completely match up with the requirements in the job description, or if
you know that the employer has hesitations about parts of your experience, this question is a great
time to address those uncertainties.
You can talk about something she already knows is a hurdle, but at the same time, turn it around to
highlight your strong points. For example: "It might seem that my biggest weakness in applying for
this position is that I don't have any inside sales experience. But the skills I've gained during my five
years of fundraising are incredibly relevant to the positionlet me tell you why."
3. Paint a Weakness as a Strength
Choose a shortcoming that can be explained in the most positive light possible. Are you neurotic,
stubborn, or incapable of delegating? Instead, try using words that are seen as professional
strengths, like dedicated, persistent, or thorough. For example: "I tend to be a perfectionist, so
sometimes I have a hard time letting a project leave my hands until it's absolutely finalized." This
answer addresses an area you need to improve, but explains it in a positive way.
Just be sure to follow it up with how you've addressed this "shortcoming," such as: "But I've found
that sometimes it's more effective to get feedback on a project along the way, even if it is not yet
complete. I try to strike a balance between getting things done right the first time and being open to
others input."
Whatever strategy you choose, the trick is to sound genuine and to end things on a positive note.
Rehearse your response so that you can give it easily, and more importantly, conciselyif you
spend too much time talking about your flaws, it's easy to dig yourself into a hole. Get past the
"weakness" part of your answer as quickly as possible, so you can get back what's most important:
your (many!) strengths.