Top 9 Job Interview Questions - Home Run Answers
To a skilled interviewer every interview question asked an applicant has a purpose.
Each question is designed to grade your skills and personality and compare your answers to all the other candidates.
Most interview questions have no correct answer, but it is critical on how you approach the interview and your interview preparation as it will determine if you and not someone else get the job offer.
Keep these ideas in mind as you prepare for the job interview: What is the prospective employer looking for? What problem or task does the employer want resolved? How can I answer the interview questions to best position myself to resolve the employer's opportunity? With these concerns in mind let's turn to the questions you will likely be asked in the job interview and your strategy to hit a home run with every answer.
Here are some of the basic questions you are likely to be asked: 1.
Tell us about yourself? Don't under any circumstances start with you date and place of birth.
What the interviewer is looking for is something concise that relates to the job opening.
If the job is, for example, "Director of Customer Service," what can you relate that demonstrates you are the person for the job? Perhaps, your career progression that shows you are qualified for the position? 2.
What are your strengths? The interviewer is looking for strengths that relate to the qualifications for the position.
If the customer service job requires training others in dealing with the most complicated and difficult situations, lead off with your training skills and some quantifiable achievements.
3.
What are your weaknesses? It should be job related and something you are working to improve.
Refer to a book or other self-study in which you a learning to turn the weakness into a strength.
Give them an example from your studies in which you have improved.
4.
How do you handle stress? Answer with an example.
A story how you resolved a difficult customer problem.
Perhaps a tight deadline.
Or maybe you were a team leader with difficult priorities.
5.
What do you know about our company/organization? You've studied the company's web site, you've gone to the library and pulled up all the newspaper clippings in the past year on the company, and you've done the same for the companies main competitors.
What stood out in your research? Lead with this item and then give them a short overview of what you learned.
Don't forget to mention possible future products and projects.
6.
Why do you want to work for us? Again go back to your research on the company.
Is there something in the company's mission statement that rings a bell? What about the challenges of the job and the company's future? Don't answer the question, "Because you have a job opening.
" 7.
Why do you want to leave your present job? Be positive in your answer and be as truthful as possible.
Greater opportunities or challenges are always good answers.
8.
Why should we hire you and what can you contribute to the company?Match your qualifications to the requirements of the job and answer accordingly.
Sell yourself as being the most qualified candidate.
This answer should be a combination to your answers to #2, #5 and #6.
Add a brief story of quantifiable results you achieved in a similar situation.
9.
Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years? Relate to your career plans up to date and what you see in the near future.
No one can see 5 years ahead much less 10 years.
Briefly discuss your career plan and your periodic updates to keep you headed in the right direction.
Take this list of nine tough questions and expand the list to fifty or more.
One winning technique is to use 3x5 cards and write the question on one side and your answer on the other.
Have a friend ask you the questions in a mock interview.
Video tape the interview.
If this is not possible make an audio recording of the interview.
View you answers and demeanor critically.
Make whatever changes and improvements are required.
If needed run through the interview again until you are completely comfortable with your performance.
With this approach you'll be in position to hit a home run with your answers and move to the number one position of all the candidates.
Each question is designed to grade your skills and personality and compare your answers to all the other candidates.
Most interview questions have no correct answer, but it is critical on how you approach the interview and your interview preparation as it will determine if you and not someone else get the job offer.
Keep these ideas in mind as you prepare for the job interview: What is the prospective employer looking for? What problem or task does the employer want resolved? How can I answer the interview questions to best position myself to resolve the employer's opportunity? With these concerns in mind let's turn to the questions you will likely be asked in the job interview and your strategy to hit a home run with every answer.
Here are some of the basic questions you are likely to be asked: 1.
Tell us about yourself? Don't under any circumstances start with you date and place of birth.
What the interviewer is looking for is something concise that relates to the job opening.
If the job is, for example, "Director of Customer Service," what can you relate that demonstrates you are the person for the job? Perhaps, your career progression that shows you are qualified for the position? 2.
What are your strengths? The interviewer is looking for strengths that relate to the qualifications for the position.
If the customer service job requires training others in dealing with the most complicated and difficult situations, lead off with your training skills and some quantifiable achievements.
3.
What are your weaknesses? It should be job related and something you are working to improve.
Refer to a book or other self-study in which you a learning to turn the weakness into a strength.
Give them an example from your studies in which you have improved.
4.
How do you handle stress? Answer with an example.
A story how you resolved a difficult customer problem.
Perhaps a tight deadline.
Or maybe you were a team leader with difficult priorities.
5.
What do you know about our company/organization? You've studied the company's web site, you've gone to the library and pulled up all the newspaper clippings in the past year on the company, and you've done the same for the companies main competitors.
What stood out in your research? Lead with this item and then give them a short overview of what you learned.
Don't forget to mention possible future products and projects.
6.
Why do you want to work for us? Again go back to your research on the company.
Is there something in the company's mission statement that rings a bell? What about the challenges of the job and the company's future? Don't answer the question, "Because you have a job opening.
" 7.
Why do you want to leave your present job? Be positive in your answer and be as truthful as possible.
Greater opportunities or challenges are always good answers.
8.
Why should we hire you and what can you contribute to the company?Match your qualifications to the requirements of the job and answer accordingly.
Sell yourself as being the most qualified candidate.
This answer should be a combination to your answers to #2, #5 and #6.
Add a brief story of quantifiable results you achieved in a similar situation.
9.
Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years? Relate to your career plans up to date and what you see in the near future.
No one can see 5 years ahead much less 10 years.
Briefly discuss your career plan and your periodic updates to keep you headed in the right direction.
Take this list of nine tough questions and expand the list to fifty or more.
One winning technique is to use 3x5 cards and write the question on one side and your answer on the other.
Have a friend ask you the questions in a mock interview.
Video tape the interview.
If this is not possible make an audio recording of the interview.
View you answers and demeanor critically.
Make whatever changes and improvements are required.
If needed run through the interview again until you are completely comfortable with your performance.
With this approach you'll be in position to hit a home run with your answers and move to the number one position of all the candidates.
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