Interview Success Tips

How to Answer Ten More Tricky Questions you May be Asked in a Job Interview (Part 8 of 10)

Q70 – Are you willing to meet very high standards of performance? This question probes your attitude to see if you think you are an excellent performer. Very high standards sounds a little scary, but remember these terms are relative, and until you get on the job you may not even know how high they mean. You should answer yes to this question .

Q71 – Which are the best and worst bosses you have ever had & why? Here is more probing to determine if you get along well with your superiors. The best answer you can give here is that you’ve always gotten along with all your bosses and never really had a “bad” boss. Always be positive when answering this one as well as any questions about what you think for the companies where you have worked. Any negatives in this area can only hurt you.

Q72 – What is the most interesting and the least interesting work you have done? This is another question designed to probe into your preferences about work areas. A positive answer, as usual would be helpful.

Q73 – Have you ever had a job you really didn’t like? Another loaded question here and it should be handled with caution. If you didn’t like a particular job because it wasn’t stimulating, was boring, or didn’t bring out your real talents, you can mention these bur put a positive slant on it. Anything negative about the people involved in these jobs should be avoided.

Q74 – What did you do during the gap in employment between your last job and the one before? Interviewers pick up on any gaps in employment so be prepared for this one if you have any gaps.

Q75 – What is your Social Security Number? This will always be asked at some time, so should either have it memorized or have your card with you.

Q76 – How do you feel about working with minorities? Asking this question may be illegal, but you should in most cases answer that you try to avoid any prejudices and treat all people alike.

Q77 – Do you have references I can check? Be prepared with names, addresses & phone numbers on your references. You should always ask people for permission to use them as a reference before you do so.

Q78 – Do you have any direct work experience in this job area? Handle this question by outlining your accomplishments in specific areas related to the job you are seeking. Always use concrete examples where possible as these are more credible than generalities.

Q79 – How do you feel about working for a woman? Common sense should tell you the answer is that you have no qualms whatever.

For more answers to questions, watch for part 9 of 10 in this series of articles.

Good luck at your next interview!.

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Ways to Answer Ten More Tricky Questions you May be Asked in a Job Interview (Part 9 of 10)

Q80 – Do you feel that you can deal with the general public? If you have never had a job dealing with the general public, you should indicate that you get along well with all the people you meet and it should be easy for you.

Q81 – Are you a joiner? Here the interviewer is trying to find out if you are a socializer and get along well with people. In most cases the interviewer should know from reading your resume’, but a positive answer here would be more helpful than a neutral or negative answer.

Q82 – How did you get our name? This question may be designed to help the company keep track of their sources of new prospects. If you answered an ad they will probably ask what newspaper or magazine. A straightforward answer is best.

Q83 – Where did you first hear about our company? As in Q82, they are probably tracking sources of new prospective employees. A straightforward answer is best.

Q84 – Do you consider yourself a “nice guy (or gal)? The old saw “nice guys finish last” is still believed by some. Best answer here is that you expect to be paid based on your performance on the job, and your goal is to do what it takes to be a high quality employee.

Q85 – What’s a nice girl (or guy) like you doing applying for work in a place like this? The best response to this one is to question the interviewer about what is so bad about this place that I should have to worry about applying here? Their answer may or may not give you second thoughts about trying for a job here.

Q86 – How is your health in general? This question may be designed to catch you off guard in case you have had recurring medical problems that may either impair your job performance, or may cost the company health providers with high expenses. You need to be truthful here.

Q87 – Ever had any back problems? This is a loaded question and a no answer is what they are looking for. If you have had problems, it may limit what jobs you can do and may also cost the company more for your health care.

Q88 – How’s your coordination? On some jobs this may be very important. Best answer is “normal”, but if you are really a “klutz”, then you might want to think twice about taking a job requiring super coordination.

Q89 – Do you get bored easily when doing routine and repetitive tasks? Most people would answer ‘yes’ to this. If you can truthfully answer ‘no’ then you might make a terrific assembly line worker.

For more answers to questions, watch for part 10 of 10 in this series of articles.

Good luck at your next interview!.

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How to Answer Ten More Tricky Questions you May be Asked in a Job Interview (Part 2 of 10)

Q11- Can you tell me a little about yourself?

This commonly asked question is like an opener to get the interview rolling, Many people like to talk about themselves and after all this question does get at the purpose of the interview in the first place, which is to get information. The employer wants to learn as much as he/she can about you. It also gives the interviewer a chance to watch you in action, see your body signals, poise, etc. This is your golden opportunity to sell yourself by telling about your abilities, past accomplishments, future aspirations, etc. You also have an opportunity to tell about what contributions you think you can make to their company based on what you have done in then past. It also gives you some measure of control over the interview. You could, for instance, answer some of the questions you anticipate they will ask you, rather than just sit back and wait to be asked. Your interviewer should appreciate this because it tells him you are “cutting to the chase” and perhaps saving some time. By doing this you are also displaying your confidence in yourself, your way with words, and perhaps your assertiveness.

Think of the interviewer as a customer and you as a salesman (and the product being sold). Your job is to convince he/she that you are the best product to fill his needs as a customer. Be prepared for this question or some variation because it’s almost a certainty that you will be asked it.

Q12 – Why do you want to work for our company?

This question gives you the opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done your homework and are really interested in their company. Use the information you have gathered about the company to relate to what you have done. Now you can launch into what contributions you think you can make to their company.

Q13 – What position are you after?

The answer to this should be on the tip of your tongue. If you answered and ad, use the same words the ad used. If you aren’t sure what the position is this is a good opportunity to ask the interviewer what the position is and what it entails.

Q14 – What do you consider your outstanding achievements in school and on the job?

These should be on your resume’ in brief form but here you can expand upon them with more detail. Use specific numbers where you can. It’s lots more convincing to say “my suggestion to raise the temperature 10 degrees C. for making product X caused a 10.4 % increase in the production rate for this product and ended up adding $14,350 in additional profit to my company” than to say “I told them to raise the temperature on this one product and it made the company lots more money.

Q15- What is your greatest strength?

A good answer here will undoubtedly increase your chances for a job offer. Consider this another opportunity to tell your prospective employer what you do best. This is not the time to be modest. Just don’t go so far as to sound like a braggart. Here again be specific about why X is your greatest strength. Put numbers on it if you can.

Q16 – Do you plan to make this job your career?

If you are applying for a job as a mail boy to get your foot in the door, resist the temptation to reply with “yeah, I want to be a mail boy the rest of my life” Instead you could say you like what their company does and think you might fit in to one of several areas as openings develop. The absolute WORST answer you could be “I don’t know” Don’t do it.

Go over this question ahead of time and have an answer ready in case they ask.

Q17- What hours are you available to work?

Best answer is that you are flexible and will work whatever hours they need you to work. Any other answer may limit your opportunity to get an offer. Most employers expect their employees to work whatever hours they are assigned and also work overtime if it needed.

Q18 – What minimum salary would you accept?

The answer to this has to be a personal choice but if you think they are just shopping around for the cheapest employee, you might just answer that you are interested in the going rate for the particular position. Another answer is to turn it around and ask them that if they feel you are qualified for the job, to make you an offer.

Q19 – Will you work overtime if it is offered?

The only acceptable answer here is yes. Saying anything else will probably spoil your chances with just about any company.

Q20- Why did you leave your last job?

If you are still working for a company, the simplest answer is I haven’t left the job I have at present. If you are unemployed be sure you have a positive answer here. An answer like ‘I couldn’t get along with my boss’ won’t cut it here. If you were laid off, better have a good reason for it. One of the better answers is you are very ambitious and your previous employer just didn’t have enough opportunity for advancement.

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For more answers to questions, watch for part 3 of 10 in this series of articles.

Good luck at your next interview!.

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How to Answer those Tough Questions you may be asked at a Job Interview – Part One of a Series of Ten Articles

When interviewing for a new job, whether it be your first or a job change, you will be asked lots of questions. The sometimes highly skilled human resources people and managers of your prospective employer want to find out as ,much as they can about you. Will you fit in? Will you stay or are you just looking for a parking place until you can find something else? Are you a team player? In most cases they won’t ask these questions in this way. rather, they will likely ask indirectly. The more people who interview you, the more questions you will be asked. A short manual written several years ago for use in conjunction with a resume’ service I ran contains a list of 100 questions. Ten of them are presented here.

Better to be prepared in advance than to fumble around for answers during the interview. The mere fact that you did or did not prepare ahead says something about you. Being prepared is one of the attributes that may win you the job. Do otherwise at your own peril. Having changed jobs several times during my career, I learned how to answer most of them with ease. To be successful you need to do the same. The answers I propose are not the only answers, but hopefully they will serve as a guide for you in your search for a job. Good luck (or as a friend of mine once said good skill) to you in finding your new job!

Q1 – What do you know about our company?

You should consider this question as an opportunity to let the interviewer know you are interested, and that you have done your homework. Use can now use this as a springboard to tell the interviewer how your experience and/ or education and training relates to what their company does, the products they make, etc.

Q2 – What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?

Answering this question gives you the opportunity to state your goals, career milestones you hope to achieve, etc. Hopefully you have thought about this and put it down on paper. If you haven’t done it be sure you do it before the interview. Vague answers like “I hadn’t really though about ” will be scored against you and lessen your chances of getting the job offer. An answer well thought out in advance will work in your favor.

Q3 – What is your greatest weakness?

This question is a little tricky to handle, but obviously you should not start spouting out all your bad points (we all have a few). Rather you should turn the question around on the interviewer, so that your greatest weakness is not really a weakness at all, but is really a strength, i.e. – You could say that your greatest weakness is that you talk too much, but that in most cases this helps you communicate better and you usually learn more than you would if you were quiet all the time. Another example: I’m afraid I’m a “workaholic.” While this might seem like a weakness because of all the material that’s been written about this “disease.”

On the contrary, most employers look at a “workaholic” as one who is “dedicated to their job.” Many great musicians, for example have become great by spending most of their waking hours practicing, and who can say this is really a weakness?

Q4 – Why should I hire you?

Answer this one with all the attributes, accomplishments, etc. that make you the best choice for this job. Tell them that you like this kind of work, or that you want to help contribute to your new employer’s success. If you have done something in the past that specifically relates to what they do, tell them about it in detail, then tell them you can do the same for them. The absolute WORST answer here is “I don’t know” Please don’t give that answer, rather go over this question in advance and be ready for it when asked!

Q5 – Why are you leaving your present job?

If you are presently employed, the best answer is that I haven’t left my present job yet, and I may not, but that depends upon the opportunity I am offered. Another acceptable answer would be that my present job has little opportunity for growth, and that I am looking for a job with more responsibility, or I want to broaden my experience, or a similar answer that is positive.

Q6 – What was your biggest problem with your last job (or the job you are in now)?

This is another question you need to turn from negative to positive. Example of a good answer – My biggest problem was that I wanted more responsibility and authority and then job you are offering looks like just what I was looking for.. Or – My present job is not challenging enough and your offering looks like it is more challenging.

Q7 – Do you make mistakes?

Best answer here is – I am only human but I don’t make any more than the next guy, and any mistakes I make are usually minor ones and I learn from them.. If true, you could also mention that you are a stickler for doing things right the first time, and you are able to do this almost all of the time.

Q8 – Are you afraid of being fired from your present job?

This question is probably designed to put you off balance or get you flustered. Don’t let it worry you. The best answer is that you have no reason to be afraid because..and then you can start telling about some of the contributions you have made, and that you consider your self an asset to your employer.

Q9 – If you had it to do all over again, what field would you go into?

This question is probably designed to find out if you really like what you are doing presently. If you give a negative answer, or say you wish you had gone into another field, you are asking for trouble. Best answer here is the simplest – I can’t think of any field I would rather be in.

Q10 – What do you dislike about your present employer?

The safest answer here is that you have nothing against your present employer, but what you are seeking is more responsibility, a more challenging job, etc.

To see all 100 questions you need to be ready to answer at a job interview go to my website and click on the link for the book “How to Get a Job Anywhere, Anytime” part of which was the basis for this article. The rest is filled with lots of tips and how-to’s for hunting a first or a new job.

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