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JOB INTERVIEWS
Source: The business careers

A job interview is a formal meeting at which someone is asked questions in order

to find out if they are suitable for a post of employment.

With each job interview, you are meeting new people, selling yourself and
your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don't know.
And, you need to stay upbeat and enthusiastic through it all. This can be a
challenge, especially when you're interviewing for a job you would love to get hired
for.

There are ways to make a job interview feel much less stressful. Just a little
preparation time can go a long way. The more time you take in advance to get
ready, the more comfortable you'll feel during the actual interview.

1. Practice and Prepare

Review the typical job interview questions employers ask and practice your
answers. Strong answers are those that are specific but concise, drawing
on concrete examples that highlight your skills and back up your resume. 1

Your answers should also emphasize the skills that are most important to the
employer and relevant to the position. Be sure to review the job listing, make a
list of the requirements, and match them to your experience.
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While it’s important to familiarize yourself with the best answers, it’s equally
important to listen carefully during your interview in order to ensure your
responses give the interviewer the information they are looking for.

Also, have a list of your own questions to ask the employer ready. In
almost every interview, you’ll be asked if you have any questions for the
interviewer. It is important to have at least one or two questions prepared in
order to demonstrate your interest in the organization. Otherwise, you might
come across as apathetic, which is a major turnoff for hiring managers.

2. Develop a Connection With the Interviewer

In addition to indicating what you know about the company, you should also try to
develop a connection with your interviewer. Know the interviewer's name, and use
it during the job interview. If you're not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the
interview. And, listen very carefully during introductions.

3. Research the Company, and Show What You Know

Do your homework and research the employer and the industry, so you are
ready for the interview question, "What do you know about this
company?" If this question is not asked, you should try to demonstrate what
you know about the company on your own.

You should be able to find out a lot of information about the company’s
history, mission and values, staff, culture, and recent successes on its
website. If the company has a blog and a social media presence, they can
be useful places to look, too.

4. Get Ready Ahead of Time

Don't wait until the last minute to pick out an interview outfit, print extra
copies of your resume, or find a notepad and pen. Have one good interview
outfit ready, so you can interview on short notice without having to worry
about what to wear.

5. Be on Time (That Means Early)

Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be,
drive to the interview location ahead of time so you know exactly where you are
going and how long it will take to get there.
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Take into account the time of your interview so you can adjust for local traffic
patterns at that time. Give yourself a few extra minutes to visit the restroom,
check your outfit, and calm your nerves.

6. Try to Stay Calm

During the job interview, try to relax and stay as calm as possible.
Remember that your body language says as much about you as your
answers to the questions. Proper preparation will allow you to exude
confidence:

 As you answer questions, maintain eye contact with the interviewer.

 Be sure to pay attention to the question so that you don’t forget it, and
listen to the entire question (using active listening) before you answer,
so you know exactly what the interviewer is asking.
 Avoid cutting off the interviewer at all costs, especially when he or she
is asking questions.
 If you need to take a moment to think about your answer, that’s totally
fine, and is a better option than starting out with multiple “ums” or
“uhs.”

7. Follow-Up After the Interview

Always follow up with a thank-you note reiterating your interest in the position.
You can also include any details you may have forgotten to mention during your
interview.

It's worth the extra effort. A Robert Half survey reports that 80% of hiring managers
said it was helpful or somewhat helpful to receive a thank-you note after an
interview.2
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Job Interview Questions and Answers

Here's a list of common job interview questions, with examples of the best
answers about you, your work history and experience, the job, your goals,
the new job, salary, and what you have to offer the employer.

Questions About You

Interviewers will ask questions about you to gain insight into your personality
and to determine whether you're a fit for both the job and the company.
These are open-ended questions which will give you the opportunity to
show the employer that you're well-qualified for the position.

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What is your greatest strength?
3. What is your greatest weakness?
4. What makes you unique?
5. Tell me about something that's not on your resume.
6. How will your greatest strength help you perform?
7. How do you handle failure?
8. How do you handle success?
9. Do you consider yourself successful? Why?
10. How do you handle stress and pressure?
11. How would you describe yourself?
12. Describe a typical work week.
13. Are you nice?
14. Are you willing to fail?
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15. Are you willing to relocate?

16. Describe your work ethic.
17. Describe your work style.
18. Do you work well with other people?
19. Do you take work home with you?
20. How are you different from the competition?
21. How do you view yourself? Whom do you compare yourself
to?
22. How does this job fit in with your career aspirations?
23. How many hours a week do you normally work?
24. How well do you assimilate into a new environment?
25. How would you adjust to working for a new company?
26. How would you describe the pace at which you work?
27. How would your co-workers describe your personality?
28. How would a professor describe you?
29. Is there anything else we should know about you?
30. What motivates you?
31. Are you a self-motivator?
32. What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
33. What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?
34. What are you passionate about?
35. What are your hobbies?
36. What are your pet peeves?
37. What is your dream job?
38. What is the worst thing you've gotten away with?
39. What won’t you miss about your last job?
40. Would you rather be liked or respected?
41. Why should I take a risk on you?
42. If you could relive the last ten years of your life, what would
you do differently?

Questions About Leaving Your Job

Employers almost always ask about why you left, or are leaving, your job. Be
prepared with an explanation for why you're moving on. Do make sure the
reasons you give match what past employers will say about you if they are
contacted for a reference.

1. Why are you leaving your job?

2. Why do you want to change jobs?
3. Why were you fired?
4. Why were you laid-off?
5. Why did you quit your job?
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6. Why did you resign?

7. What have you been doing since your last job?
8. Why have you been out of work so long?

Why You Should Be Hired

Why should you be hired over the other applicants? What makes you the
best candidate for the job? Here's when you'll have the opportunity to make
a case for getting a job offer, and the chance to sell yourself to the
interviewer.

1. Why should we hire you?

2. Why shouldn't we hire you?
3. What can you contribute to this company?

Questions About Salary

Some of the hardest questions to answer during a job interview are about
compensation. Here's what you will be asked and examples of the best
answers. Questions about salary can be tricky to answer, and, in some
locations, employers aren't allowed to ask about your salary history.

1. What were your starting and final levels of compensation?

2. What are your salary expectations?
3. What are your salary requirements?
4. Why would you take a job for less money?

Qualifications Questions
The most important thing for interviewers to determine is whether you're
qualified for the job. Here's what they will ask to find out. When responding,
be specific.

1. What applicable experience do you have?

2. Are you overqualified for this job?
3. How did you impact the bottom line?
4. Interview questions about your abilities.
5. Sell me this pen.
6. Tell me about your educational background.
7. What can you do better for us than the other candidates for the
job?
8. What part of the job will be the least challenging for you?
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9. Which parts of this job are the most challenging for you?
10. What philosophy guides your work?
11. What strength will help you the most to succeed?
12. Why are you interested in taking a lower level job?

Questions About Your Work History

Is your work history stable, has it prepared you for the job you're interviewing
for, and do you have any gaps in your employment history that the company
should be concerned about? If not, prepare to answer questions about what
you were doing when you weren't in the workforce.

1. Questions about your work history.

2. Questions about your resume.
3. What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were
they met?
4. What were your responsibilities?
5. What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you
handle them?
6. What have you learned from your mistakes?
7. What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
8. Which was most / least rewarding?
9. What was the biggest accomplishment/failure in this position?
10. Questions about job demotions.
11. How have you impacted worker safety?
12. Describe the gap in your employment history.

Job Performance Questions

How you performed in previous roles can indicate how you will perform in
the job for which you're applying. Be prepared to answer questions about
what you did well - and what you didn't.