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Although many candidates dread them, job interview
questions are wonderful things! They are your greatest opportunity to
prove to the interviewer that you are the best person for the job!
# Anticipate likely questions;
# Develop excellent answers;
# Practice answering them
Be enthusiastic and confident when responding to questions. Don't rush
your answers, but don't ramble on and on, either.
Try to, um, avoid, like, using unnecessary words, right? And um,
repeating yourself or, like, annoying phrases, you know?
A good technique is to write out your answers to the questions you
anticipate, then edit them to make them more concise. Then practice your
polished answers out loud, over and over. If you can have someone help
you do a "mock interview," that would be the best way to do this.
Most questions will relate either to your ability to do the job or to
the type of employee you will be. Here's one that is very commonly used
to help the interviewer learn about both:
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"Tell me a little about yourself."
When responding to this request, you should focus on both your personal
and professional values. Always be honest, but talk about your best
traits only, especially those that relate to the position for which you
are applying. Highlight experiences and accomplishments you are most
proud of. Here's an example:
"I'm an experienced communications specialist with extensive knowledge
of public information tools and techniques. I've developed comprehensive
communication plans for major public events, written dozens of articles
accepted by worldwide publications, and created specialized educational
programs for adults and students. I am always eager to learn new methods
and procedures, and have implemented continuous improvement techniques
in my past positions that saved money and increased productivity. I like
working with people and enjoy group projects, but am also a self-starter
who doesn't mind working on my own. I'm a volunteer with the local
chapter of Special Olympics and enjoy participating in community events.
My goals are to complete my Master's Degree and broaden my experiences
with community relations."
Remember to tailor your response to the specific job. By studying the
job announcement, you'll get a good idea of the skills and experience
being sought. Work those into your response.
Consider this your own personal commercial. If the interview consisted
of only this ONE chance to sell yourself, what would you say?
"What do you feel has been your greatest
work-related accomplishment?"
Choose one example from your past that was important to you and helped
the company you worked for. Give specific details about what you did,
how you did it, and what the results were. Try to pick an accomplishment
that relates to the position for which you are applying. Employers like
to hear about accomplishments that reduced expenses, raised revenues,
solved problems or enhanced a company's reputation.
"What is your greatest strength?"
This is a great chance to highlight your best skills. Don't pick just
one, focus on your top three or four. Some examples are: leadership
skills, team-building skills, and organizational skills. Determine which
strengths would fit best with the position for which you are applying.
For example, if the job announcement stresses the ability to handle
multiple tasks, you could say: "I'm good at organizational skills,
prioritization and time management. But my greatest strength is my
ability to effectively handle multiple projects and deadlines."
"What is your greatest weakness?"
Be careful with this one. Most interview guides will tell you to answer
it with a positive trait disguised as a weakness. For example, "I tend
to expect others to work as hard as I do," or "I'm a bit of a
perfectionist." Interviewers have heard these "canned" answers over and
over again. To stand out, be more original and state a true weakness,
but then emphasize what you've done to overcome it. For example: "I've
had trouble delegating duties to others because I felt I could do things
better myself. This has sometimes backfired because I'd end up with more
than I could handle and the quality of my work would suffer. But I've
taken courses in time management and learned effective delegation
techniques, and I feel I've overcome this weakness."
IMPORTANT: Be sure the weakness you talk about is NOT a key element of
the position!
"How do you handle stressful situations?"
Give some examples of stressful situations you've dealt with in the
past. Tell how you use time management, problem-solving or
decision-making skills to reduce stress. For example, tell them that
making a "to-do" list helps. Site stress-reducing techniques such as
stretching and taking a break. Don't be afaid to admit that you will ask
for assistance if you are feeling overwhelmed.
If it's true, say you actually work better under pressure.
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"What is the toughest problem you've had to face,
and how did you overcome it?"
Try to make this about a problem that faced your company and not just
you or your particular work group. The bigger the problem, the better.
Give specific examples of the skills and techniques you used to resolve
this problem. Emphasize the successful results. Be generous in sharing
credit if it was a team effort, but be sure to highlight your specific
role.
"Have you ever had to discipline a problem
employee? If so, how did you handle it?"
This is a likely question if the position for which you are applying
requires supervisory duties. Explain how you used problem-solving
skills, listening skills, and coaching skills to help the employee. If
those techniques turned the employee around, be sure to say so. If those
techniques failed, tell how you followed the company's policies and what
the end result was.
"Why do you want this position?"
Here's where your research about the company will help you stand out
among the other candidates. Explain how you've always wanted the
opportunity to work with a company that... provides a vital public
service, leads the industry in innovative products, whatever... find
something specific about that company that you can tie in with your
answer. Explain how your qualifications and goals complement the
company's mission, vision and values (use specific examples). If you are
applying for a position in a company for which you already work, explain
how you'll be able to apply and expand on the knowledge and experience
you've gained from your current position, and will be able to increase
your contributions and value to the company through your new
responsibilities.
"Why are you the best person for this job?"
As with all other questions, be confident and enthusiastic when you
answer this. Don't try to say you are the best qualified person, because
you don't know the qualifications of the other applicants. Instead,
emphasize several reasons why you should be hired. For example: "I've
got extensive experience in [name the appropriate field] and have the
specific skills you are looking for. I'm a fast learner who adapts
quickly to change and will hit the ground running. I'm dedicated and
enthusiastic about helping your company meet its goals, and will provide
top-quality results with minimal oversite. I'm an outstanding performer
who takes pride in my work. You won't have any regrets when you hire
me."
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