Tips for a Successful Job Interview

As a jobseeker, a job interview would probably be a nerve-racking situation for you. You may be stressed out,
but still you have to compose yourself and show your confidence when presenting yourself for a job interview.

The main objective of a job interview is to advertise yourself. You have to sell yourself effectively to your
potential employer within the !" # $% minutes most interviews last and convince them that you are the best
person for the position.

&nterviewers know how to elicit information to identify the candidate who will match their needs. They are
skilled in assessing how an applicant thinks, and are well e'perienced in evaluating an individual(s personality.
They have a ways of knowing if a jobseeker is lying, and are adept in cross-e'amining an applicant.

A typical job interview is usually a face-to-face interview with your potential employer )or their representative*.
&t may also be an interview series, or a panel interview.

The best strategy for a winning job interview is to have a clear picture of how you would like to project yourself
during your interview. +ere are tips for a successful job interview,

- Do research on the company. .now the products or services offered, as well as the culture of the
corporation. /ake the interviewer feel that you are very interested in the job. 0ind out too, the characteristics of
the employees they hire, if you can talk to one of them.

- Bring extra copies of your resume. You never know, but you might be interviewed by more than one person.

- Have a ball pen on hand. 1ther companies have their own application forms, which you have to fill up.
2esides, you might be asked to sign some papers. You may also bring a notepad, just in case you have to take
down notes.

- Dress your best for the interview. &n other businesses, this is not important. +owever, it would be best to
present yourself appropriately during this time. &f uncertain, err on the side of conservatism. Avoid clothes in
bright colors. 3ut on limited jewelry, and use perfume sparingly. 0or ladies, avoid wearing short and tight skirts
that you could hardly sit down in. 0or men, hair should be short and neatly combed.

- Arrive early. 4ome to the office !" to 5% minutes ahead of time, but aim to be in the vicinity of the building
an hour beforehand, to allow for unusual traffic or a flat tire.

- Be courteous. 6reet the persons you meet, or offer a smile. 0rom the receptionist to the secretary, show
everybody that you are nice and friendly. They might influence your interviewer into hiring you.

- ait to be seated. 7ay thank you when offered a seat. 8hen already seated, do not slouch, nor fidget.
9ever place anything on the table of the interviewer. :emain as calm as possible.

- !et the interviewer start the conversation. &f the interview has not started yet, keep ;uiet, sit straight, and
maintain eye contact.

- Be honest. <o not lie about anything. &f hired, and your employer discovers an inconsistency in your
application, you might just be terminated.

- !isten well. &f some ;uestions are unclear, courteously ask for clarification. 3ause before answering the
;uestions, so you will have time to organi=e your thoughts and think of the best answers.

- Be direct to the point. <iscuss only the important details needed to answer the ;uestion. Also, avoid
interrupting the interviewer. >ven if you are impatient to answer, let the interviewer finish the ;uestion.

- "ocus on positive ideas. 1ffer answers featuring your strengths or skills. <o not give too many personal
details. 9ever critici=e your previous employers.

- Answer #uestions loud and clear. <o not mumble. :ela', and show that you are confident.

- Do not ta$e cell phone calls while being interviewed. This is not only inappropriate, but will also irritate
your interviewer.

- !eave on a positive note. Thank the interviewer for her ? his time. Ask also when it would be best to follow-
up on your application.

- Send a than$ you letter to the interviewer. .eep the letter short, and reiterate your interest in the position,
as well as your assurance that you meet the criteria for the position.

You only have a limited time to convince your interviewer that you are the most competent candidate for the
position, so you must come well prepared. .now the most fre;uently asked ;uestions during interviews, and be
ready to answer them )see /17T 41//19@Y A7.>< AB>7T&197 below*.

After the interview, it is most certain that the interviewer will ask if you have ;uestions before she ? he
concludes the interview. /ost applicants would politely say none. This is not recommended. +aving no
;uestions sends the message that you are not serious about the job.

Always prepare ;uestions to ask after the interview. +owever, do not ask ;uestions about wages and benefits,
unless those issues are raised by the interviewer. 3repare sensible ;uestions, such as the following, to make a
good impression,

- 8hat would you e'pect me to accomplish in this jobC
- 8hat will be the greatest challenge in the positionC
- 8hat tasks have the highest priorityC
- +ow will my leadership skills and performance be measuredC

<uring the job interview, the interviewer gets the chance to evaluate your e'pertise, knowledge, and skills.
Always keep in mind that the best way to answer the ;uestions is to be as direct and honest as you can.
6athering your thoughts prior to answering is not only helpful but also wise. 7tay calm, and have funD Your
prospective employer would want to add positive, energetic, and confident employees to their roster

Are you the best person for this job? Why?
- 8hen an employer asks you, 8hy should we hire youC she is really asking, 8hat makes you the
best fit for this positionC Your answer to this ;uestion should be a concise sales pitch that e'plains what you
have to offer the employer.
The best way to respond is to give concrete e'amples of why your skills and accomplishments make you the
best candidate for the job. Take a few moments to compare the job description with your abilities, as well as
mentioning what you have accomplished in your other positions. 2e positive and reiterate your interest in the
company and the position. +ereEs how to prepare your response.
Thin$ of the Job !isting
To prepare an answer to this ;uestion, look at the job listing. /ake a list of the re;uirements for the position,
including personality traits, skills, and ;ualifications. Then, make a list of the ;ualities you have that fit these
re;uirements. 0or each ;uality, think of a specific time that you used that trait to achieve something at work. 0or
e'ample, if you list that you are a team player, think of a time in which your ability to work well on a team
resulted in a successfully completed project.
%eep it &oncise
You want your answer to be brief # no more than a minute or two long. Therefore, select one or two specific
;ualities from the list you created to emphasi=e in your sales pitch. 2egin by e'plaining what you believe the
employer is looking for, and how you fulfill that need.
"ocus on your 'ni#ueness
The interviewer wants to know how you stand out amongst the other applicants. Therefore, focus on one or two
;ualities you possess that might be uni;ue, or more difficult to find, in other interviewees. 0or e'ample, if you
are very e'perienced with a certain skill that the job re;uires, say so. This is your chance to tell the interviewer
why you would be an invaluable employee.
(xamples of Answers
You have e'plained that you are looking for a sales e'ecutive who is able to effectively manage over a do=en
employees. &n my fifteen years of e'perience as a sales manager, & have developed strong motivational and
team-building skills. & was twice awarded manager-of-the-year for my innovative strategies for motivating
employees to meet and surpass ;uarterly deadlines. &f hired, & will bring my leadership abilities and strategies
for achieving profit gains to this position.
You describe in the job listing that you are looking for a special education assistant teacher with an abundance
of patience and compassion. +aving served as a tutor at a summer school for dysle'ic children for the past two
years, & have developed my ability to be e'tremely patient while still achieving academic gains with my
students. /y e'perience teaching phonics to children ages F to !G has taught me strategies for working with
children of all ages and abilities, always with a smile. /y previous employer often placed me with the students
with the most severe learning disabilities because of my history of success. & will bring not only e'perience, but
patience and creative problem-solving, to this position.
How Long Do You Expect To Remain With This ompany?
- :eview sample answers to the interview ;uestion H+ow long do you e'pect to remain employed with
this companyCH 8hen you respond, be sure to frame your response so that itEs positive.
&Eve heard applicants say that they only want the job for a short amount of time or are planning to relocate or go
back to school. :esponses like that arenEt going to impress the hiring manager who is looking to hire a long-
term employee.
The first level of your response should include some positive commentary about the employer and the role you
would play. @et the employer know clearly how much and why working for them is very attractive to you. 9ote
specific aspects of the job which appeal to you and would encourage you to stay on for a long time.
Sample Answers
& believe that this company has the capacity to offer me a rich and satisfying career, and & would like to
remain employed here for as long as & am having a positive impact.
& would like to pursue my career here for as long as & have the opportunity to.
& would like to remain employed here for as long as my services are needed.
Why Do You Want to Wor! Here?
- A typical interview ;uestion, asked to ensure that you are seriously interested in the job and the
company, and to find out how much you know about the company, is H8hy do you want to work hereCH
&hec$ )ut the &ompany
The best way to answer this ;uestion is, first of all, to be prepared and knowledgeable about the company.
7pend some time researching the company )the About Bs section of the employerEs website is a good place to
start* so you can talk about the benefits of working for this employer.
4heck out the companyEs @inked&n page, as well. &f you have a connection at the company, ask them if you can
get some insight into what the company is seeking in an ideal employee.
&ompare *our +oals to the Job
4ompare your goals with the objectives of the company and the position, then reiterate why you would be an
asset to the employer. @et the interviewer know what you can do for the company, if you get a job offer.
>ven though the ;uestion is about why you want to work here, you still need to convince the interviewer that
hiring you will benefit the company.
+ere are sample answers you can use to frame your own response,
This company is internationally known for its )widgets*, and my e'perience in the
)marketing?planning?production?etc.* of )widgets* has me intrigued by the opportunity this position
presents.
The businesses in this area are known for their commitment to the community, and & would like the
opportunity to participate in making this a better place to live.
& am a )widget* connoisseur, and would love the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for )widgets* with
customers.

How Do You Han"#e $tress % &ressure?

- A typical interview ;uestion, asked to get a sense of how you handle on-the-job stress, is H+ow do you
handle pressureCH >'amples of good responses include,
7tress is very important to me. 8ith stress, & do the best possible job. The appropriate way to deal with
stress is to make sure & have the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. & need good stress to
stay motivated and productive.
I react to situations, rather than to stress- That way, the situation is handled and doesn.t become
stressful-
& actually work better under pressure and &Eve found that & enjoy working in a challenging environment.
0rom a personal perspective, & manage stress by visiting the gym every evening. &tEs a great stress
reducer.
/rioriti0ing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of what needs to be done when, has helped
me effectively manage pressure on the 1ob-
&f the people & am managing are contributing to my stress level, & discuss options for better handling
difficult situations with them.
& find that when &Em under the pressure of a deadline, & can do some of my most creative work.
&Em not a person who has a difficult time with stress. 8hen &Em under pressure, & focus, and get the job
done.
& find it e'hilarating to be in a dynamic environment where the pressure is on.
& find a past pace to be invigorating, and thrive when the pressure is on.
&Eve done some of my best work under tight deadlines, where the atmosphere was very stressful.
&Em the kind of person who stays calm under pressure, and handles stress fairly easily.
What Are Your 'oa#s for the (uture?
- 1ne of the ;uestions typically asked during an interview is about your future goals. >mployers want to
be sure that you wonEt be moving on to another job right away.
The best way to respond to the interview ;uestion H8hat are your goals for the futureCH or H8here do you see
yourself in five yearsCH is to refer to the position and the company you are interviewing with.
<onEt discuss your goals for returning to school or having a family, they are not relevant and could knock you
out of contention for the job. :ather, you want to connect your answer to the job you are applying for. >'amples
of good responses include,
/y long-term goals involve growing with a company where & can continue to learn, take on additional
responsibilities, and contribute as much of value as & can.
& see myself as a top performing employee in a well-established organi=ation, like this one. & plan on
enhancing my skills and continuing my involvement in )related* professional associations.
1nce & gain additional e'perience, & would like to move on from a technical position to management.
&n the IYJ 4orporation, what is a typical career path for someone with my skills and e'periencesC
How Wi## You Achie)e Your 'oa#s?
- As a follow-up to the interview ;uestion H8hat are your goals for the futureCH the interviewer will
often ask how you plan on achieving those goals. A good answer to this ;uestion will speak specifically about
what you are going to accomplish and how you are going to accomplish it. >'amples of good responses include,
& plan on gaining additional skills by taking related classes and continuing my involvement with a
variety of professional associations.
& noticed that IYJ company )the company you are interviewing with* provides in-house training for
employees and & would certainly be interested in taking classes that would be relevant.
& will continue my professional development my participating in conferences, attending seminars, and
continuing my education.
Where Do You $ee Yourse#f * Years from +ow?
- 8hen you are interviewing for a new job, it can be hard to articulate where you would like to be in
your career ne't year let alone five years down the road. >ven when you do know, itEs important to be careful
how you respond because youEll need to tailor your answer to the job for which you are interviewing.
+ere are tips for responding to ;uestions about the ne't stage of your career, while affirming your interest in the
role you are being interviewed for.
here Do *ou See *ourself 2 *ears from 3ow4
)utline a &areer /ath
&n order to prepare well for this ;uestion, research a reasonable career path which will flow from the position
for which you are applying. +ow long does one ordinarily spend in that jobC 8hat are the ne't steps within five
yearsC
7ome employers will clearly outline pathways in the career section of their website. +owever, you may need to
approach professionals in the field through alumni, family, friends or professional associations to gain an
accurate picture.
Start ith *our Interest in This Job
&t is often advantageous to emphasi=e your interest in thoroughly mastering the initial position before moving
on. &f it seems like you are rushing past that first job, employers might ;uestion how motivated you are to carry
out those duties.
After all, the hiring manager will probably want someone who will be happy and competent in that role for at
least a year or two. &ntegrating a clear rationale into your answer regarding how your interests and skills e;uip
you to do the job you are being considered for can help to alleviate any concerns about how long you will want
to stay at the job.
hen There is 3o &lear &areer /ath
9ot all jobs are stepping stones to higher positions. 0or positions like counseling, sales, event planning,
teaching and computer programming, for e'ample, it will be perfectly appropriate to emphasi=e mastery of that
job as your five year goal. Think about components of the job in which you can e'cel. 0or e'ample for a sales
job, H8ithin " years & would like to be recogni=ed as an e'pert in terms of product knowledge, have developed
very close relationships with clients, have significantly e'panded the client base in my region and perhaps have
been assigned some major national clients.H
+oals 5 6esults
7tating your goals in terms of results which you would like to produce is another angle for responding. 7o, for
e'ample, a prospective teacher for a district which is trying to upgrade performance on standardi=ed tests might
say H& would like to significantly increase the percentage of students reading at or above grade level through
creative instructional methods.H 1f course, you would need to be able to share some e'amples of how you
would achieve this.
7oving 'p the &areer !adder
There are a few jobs where you are e'pected to move on after a couple of years, including some analyst
positions in investment banking and consulting, as well as legal assistants and scientific research assistants )for
new college grads*. &n those cases, you will have more leeway in your answers, but you will still want to
establish how the job at hand makes sense given the skills and interests you would bring to the employer.
8- hat is your greatest wea$ness4
1ften dreaded by job candidates, the key to answering this ;uestion is to be honest yet strategic. 1n my site, &
go into more detail on new and effective ways to answer this ;uestion 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. Bltimately, you want to show the hiring manager that you are self-aware, thoughtful and proactive
about your strengths and weaknesses.
Sample Answer, /y greatest weakness is my low patience when a team member withholds important
information to the detriment of his or her peers or the assignment(s success. & have always tried to ma'imi=e
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. &n
those instances, & have learned to speak privately with those team members to understand why information was
withheld.
2- hy are you the best person for this position4
&n asking this ;uestion, the hiring manager is looking for you to succinctly convey what sets you apart from the
other candidates. Think of your most impressive and uni;ue strengths that closely relate to the job description
and use those to pitch yourself in a way that clearly illustrates the skill set and ;ualities you bring to the table.
Sample Answer: /y analytical horsepower sets me apart from other candidates. 0or e'ample, & imagine all of
your candidates can create robust >'cel-based financial models. +owever, & can also see and articulate the
business story behind the numbers to influence decision-making. <uring a major food-chain deal, & 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. /y strategy resulted in a
more profitable deal.
How Do You E)a#uate $uccess?
- <uring an interview, your interviewer might ask a ;uestion like, H+ow do you evaluate successCH A
;uestion like this gives your potential employer a sense of your work ethic, your goals, and your overall
personality.
"ocus on the Job
&n your answer, you should be cogni=ant of the type of job youEre applying for. 8hereas a large corporation
might place all their emphasis on the bottom line, a non-profit would measure success not in money but in
social impact.
<o your research before the interview, browse the companyEs website, research their presence in the news and
media, and see if you can find any information about their mission statement. +ereEs how to research a
company.
1f course, youEll also want to include aspects of your own personality in your answers. &f thereEs an area where
your values overlap with the companyEs, then make sure to emphasi=e that in the interview.
2ut, you also want to make sure you give a balanced answer, illustrating a dynamic focus on improving your
own performance, furthering your companyEs mission, and making a positive impact overall.
Sample Answers
+ere are some sample answers,
H& evaluate success in different ways. At work, it is meeting the goals set by my supervisors and my
fellow workers. &t is my understanding, from talking to other employees, that the 66: company is
recogni=ed for not only rewarding success, but giving employees opportunity to grow as well. After
work, & enjoy playing softball, so success on the field is catching the winning pop-up.H

H0or me, success is about doing my job well. & want to be recogni=ed as someone who always does their
best and tries their hardest to make my goals.H

H& evaluate success based on not only my work, but the work of my team. &n order for me to be
considered successful, the team needs to achieve both our individual and our team goals.H

H& evaluate success based on outcomes. &tEs not always the path you take to achieve success that matters.
:ather, itEs ;uantifiable results.H

HTo me, success is when & am performing well and satisfied with my position, knowing that my work is
adding value to my company but also to my overall life and the lives of other people.H
Describe a time when your wor! was hea)y an" how you han"#e" it,
- I have no experience yet in working in diferent companies since this
is the frst time that i am going to work and for internship purpose. But
being a student, there's a ot of time that i underwent on a heavy situation
and pressures ike exams, reporting, case study etc., what i did is !ust I react
to situations, rather than to stress and In that way, the situation is handed
and doesn't become stressfu. I aso prioriti"ing my responsibiities so I have
a cear idea of what needs to be done, and it has heped me efectivey
manage pressure on the !ob.
Describe your persona# -ua#ities that suit the re-uirements of this
position,
- I ove my profession. I am oya and I wi utii"e my knowedge for the
betterment and deveopment of this company. I am a hard working person
and I wi do my best for company deveopment.