Most people are nervous when they go to a job interview. However, by preparing beforehand, you won’t have anything to worry about. Believe it or not, occasionally the person conducting the interview is nervous too! One of the best ways to prepare for a job interview is to review lists of typically asked interview questions. You can mentally prepare your answers, and you may even find it helpful to write down your responses, a process that helps you to thoughtfully organise them and compose them in an articulate fashion. Just don’t get hung up trying to remember your answers word-for-word during the interview.
The Interviewer
Most interviewers will make a decision within the first 5 to 10 minutes of the interview. There are a number of steps that you can take that will greatly improve your chances of getting that next big opportunity!
Your Appearance
The first (and perhaps the most obvious) thing to consider is your appearance. No matter what type of job you apply for, you should dress appropriately. A suit isn’t always the right choice – consider the role you are applying for and what is appropriate. Regardless – make sure all of your clothes are wrinkle free and that your shoes are polished. Ladies, wear something on the conservative side of what you think is right. Even in creative industries, it is not always acceptable to be at the height of fashion! Avoid excessive jewellery, keep make-up and perfume light and natural and if you are wearing nail polish, make sure it is not too bright and doesn’t have any chips.
On the big day
- Arrive early. If you arrive late, you’ll be rushed and the interviewer may consider you unreliable.
- Walk briskly, with purpose, and stand up straight.
- Don’t smoke, chew gum, slouch, listen to your iPod, text your friends, read a novel, or other similar activities while you are waiting in the lobby. If some of the company’s literature is available, read that instead to get an understanding of what is current in the business.
- Give the interviewer a firm handshake, and don’t be afraid to look him or her in the eye.
- Be prepared. Carry an extra copy of your resume and academic record.
- Don’t talk too much… or too little.
- Think of some examples of where you have performed well (and not so well), so you can use them when asked.
- Above all, try to be natural and relaxed. Be yourself.
During the Interview
- Be positive and enthusiastic.
- Try to focus upon your accomplishments and achievements in past jobs.
- Find out as much as possible about the job duties and requirements of the position you are applying for. This will help you to be able to ask further questions.
- Find out as much as possible about the company.
- If you are really interested in the job, let the interviewer know about it.
- Questions you need to ask include: when will the job start? To whom do I report? What would a typical day be like?
- Don’t be too concerned about salary and benefits at this stage. If you are selected, they will make you a salary offer.
Handling Interview Questions
The following are some of the most difficult questions you will face in the course of your job interviews. Some questions may seem rather simple on the surface–such as “Tell me about yourself”–but these questions can have a variety of answers. The more open-ended the question, the wider the variation in the answers. Once you have become practiced in your interviewing skills, you will find that you can use almost any question as a launching pad for a particular topic or compelling story. Others are “classic” interview questions, such as, “What is your greatest weakness?” Questions which most people answer inappropriately. In this case, the standard textbook answer for the “greatest weakness” question is to give a veiled positive–“I work too much. I just work and work and work”–which ends up sending the wrong message. Either you are lying or, worse yet, you are telling the truth, in which case you define working too much as a weakness and really don’t want to work much at all. Think about it. The following answers are provided to give you a new perspective on how to answer tough interview questions. They are not there for you to lift from the page and insert into your next interview. They are there for you to use as the basic structure for formulating your own answers. While the specifics of each reply may not apply to you, try to follow the basic structure of the answer from the perspective of the interviewer. Answer the questions behaviourally, with specific examples that show clear evidence backs up what you are saying about yourself. Always provide information that shows you want to become the very best at what you do for the company and that you have specifically prepared yourself to become exactly that. They want to be sold – they are waiting to be sold! Don’t disappoint them!
- Tell me about yourself. My background to date has been centred around preparing myself to become the very best [sales representative / product manager / receptionist / manager] I can become. Let me tell you specifically how I’ve prepared myself . . .
I was involved in project planning during my role at [Organisation] where I was responsible for leading my team. In [Organisation 3], I worked on several team projects, serving as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than any one of us could have achieved individually. As an example . . .
- Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or someone in a higher position? How was it resolved? Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where there was a disagreement that needed to be resolved. I’ve found that when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end, you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of this was when . . .
- What is your greatest weakness? I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper planning in the past. I would overcommit myself with too many variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and “to do” items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned out . . .
- If I were to ask your current or previous managers to describe you, what would they say? I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They would say that if they ever had something that needed to be done, I was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that theywould say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would say those things because I have with me several letters of recommendation from my previous managers, and those are their very words. Let me show you . . .
- What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have? The key quality should be leadership-the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider to be a true leader . . .
In reviewing the above responses, please remember that these are sample answers. Dont rehearse them verbatim or adopt them as your own – they are meant to stir your creative juices and get you thinking about how to properly answer the broader range of questions that you will face. Good luck!
After the Interview
- Write a thank you letter. If you really want the job, say so in the letter.
- If you have not heard anything within 8 to 10 days, you may want to call. Assure them that you are not trying to be pushy, but that you are just interested.
- If you aren’t hired, you can still send a thank you letter to the company and ask them to keep you in mind for any other similar job openings.
- You may want to ask the interviewer for a specific reason as to why you weren’t hired. This information will help you as you search for other jobs.
