I'm looking for a new job......... Its been more than 7 years since I had to interview for a job, so I'm getting a bit nervous, so I thought I would ask, if y'all remember some of the interview questions that y'all were asked, or some that someone else y'all know was asked, so I could start thinking along those lines, and be better prepared, and not a deer in headlights when I get to the interview. Im looking for a job in management, so throw your toughest ones at me, so I can really get to thinking about my experience, and how to talk about it.
Nowadays a lot of the questions are competency based. So they are looking for a lot of concrete examples. Like name a time when you turned a situation around. And the answer they want is what was the situation, what did you do, and what was the outcome.
One of the worst ones I was asked was for the job I am in now "how do you want people to remember you when your dead?" Another doosie for the job previous to this was "what was the worst mistake you have ever made at work and how did you overcome it?"
Interviews are NOT just for the prospective employer to see what YOU are like. They are also for YOU to see if the prospective employer is someone YOU want to work for! Confidence is key and if you go in asking questions about the company and what will be expected of you, as well as them asking questions to you about if you'll be a good fit for the position, you'll seem intelligent and interested in making a good fit in the job. Watch yourself for any nervous habits like biting nails or tapping your feet, playing with your hair is also a no-no. Be open and see it as an opportunity for YOU to see if this is a job YOU want. Most of all, relax. These are not robots that are there to judge you. They are just people that are looking to have someone work for them. If it doesn't work out, then the job wasn't meant for you to have and you probably would suffer working for someone in a job that you aren't cut out for. In short, if you don't get hired, move on to the next interview and the right fit will ensure an easy interview and an easy score of the job.
Hope this helps!!
Also...do you have a resume? Make sure it's on one page and only has simple, job-related factoids on it. Make sure all gaps in employment are spoken for. Give interesting, job-related facts about your career, but not TOO much information so that the prospective employer is left wanting to know more and more likely to call you for an interview.
My favorite has got to be: "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
They will also probably ask situational questions like what kykaree mentioned. Especially if you are in management - ie "You find out that one of your employees has a drinking problem. What do you do?"
My other favorite is probably "what would you say is your greatest weakness and why?"
From my experience the most important thing is knowing something about the company you are going to and having a few intelligent questions about the place you are interviewing. It shows that you aren't just looking for a job but that you have taken time and energy to look at that specific company.
"Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?" I don't have any grand plans for my career. I want to be gainfully employed hopefully making more then I am now, but other then that I don't really have any plans for management or world domination, I just want a job that I like. But that doesn't sound good so I bluff my way through it.
My "favorite" interview question is how do you deal with conflict. Do they really expect you to say that you kick someone in the shins if they rub you the wrong way?
The key to a good interview is being able to communicate.
Last edited by BeatlesFan; 03-23-2006 at 10:16 AM.
Some things (including the type of questions to expect) will depend upon the type of job you're looking for as well as the field the job is in. There are a couple of standards, though, that you can look for...
Be prepared to answer "Why do you want this job?" If you can find any information about the company (a web search will turn up recent articles), any information you can spew that shows that you care enough to do the research will impress them.
Also - and this is something that is so rarely done anymore - after the interview, mail the interviewer a thank you note. Thank him/her for meeting with you, reinforce why you're right for the job, and tell them anything you forgot to mention in the interview. It really makes a big impression.
Also - and this is something that is so rarely done anymore - after the interview, mail the interviewer a thank you note. Thank him/her for meeting with you, reinforce why you're right for the job, and tell them anything you forgot to mention in the interview. It really makes a big impression.
YES!! Especially if they get the note at a particular time when they are sitting there wondering aobut the interviewees. It'll definitely put you on the top of the list as very proactive and professional...which is very important.
Actually, I quite like the "Kick 'em in the shins" answer. And after they stop laughing, you can follow it up with, "It depends on the situation..every conflict is different and requires a different approach." A lot of questions they ask are a direct result of the last person that had that job...if that person was fired because they were constantly quarreling with their co-workers, then that would inspire the "How do you handle conflict?" question. This is an opportunity for YOU to read between the lines of what kind of situation you're getting into. Is that question telling you that your prospective co-workers are a pain to work with? Take their questions with a hint and ask the questions back.
Oh...and I HATE that question: Why do you want this job? DUH!! I NEED A FRIGGEN PAYCHECK? Oh, and because this looks like a cool building to work in and there's a great place to eat lunch at across the street. And then I'd like to follow it up with, "And what makes you such a great person to work for?"
lots of companies are all about what you can save them...if you have any projects from previous jobs in which you were a part of teams or had a vital role in a project in which substantial savings occurred, these are definitely great things to talk about.
Then there's always the old "what are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?" one. I hate that! You have to come up with a weakness that isn't a job killer, but also isn't a fake weakness: "I'm just too much of a workaholic!" or something lame like that.
Every interviewer has a different approach, of course. I can tell you that when I was in a position of hiring employees what always made an impression on me were honest answers. Working for a large corporation we did have a standard list of questions we were required to ask. However, it was the more general chat that gave me the more accurate read on the applicants. For instance, one of the questions we HAD to ask was, "Why are you interested in this postion/leaving your current position?" I got all of the standard, "I have something to offer" type answers. But the person I hired was the one who told me she was looking to better herself and her lifstyle and that the postion offered higher pay/better benefits than her current one. THEN she added her attributes that would benefit the company as well.
All of that to say be prepared for the standard questions but don't be afraid to be honest in answering them. Most employers want honest, dedicated, and loyal employees who are qualified for the position - not someone who can B.S. their way through the interview (and it is EASY to tell the difference!). I agree with the others who suggested you research the company too. It makes a really good impression if you are informed and allows you to decide whether or not you are a good fit for the job. After all, YOUR satifaction with the job/company is as important as anything because it will be a big part of what determines how well you perform in your position.
Don't be afraid to say you WANT the job. I know I was much more likely to schedule a second interview with someone who told me that they were serious about applying for the position and wanted to be hired.
Finally, write a thank you note (not an email) to the person who interviews you. And, if you aren't hired, don't be afraid to contact the person and find out why. Obviously, not in a confrontational way - but just to politely find out if there was something specific that might have made you a more attractive candidate. It will be information that you can use in your NEXT interview.
I went through a slew of interviews last fall for a co-op position, and every interviewer asked how I dealt with stress, and if I could give an example of how I personally had handled a stressful situation (they want specifics, not generals). And every interview opened with them asking me to tell them a little about myself. This doesn't mean they want your personal history! Don't regale them with tales of where you went to school, or what you did 10 years ago. Throw in a few of your interests (make them real - if you say you love to read you'd better be prepared to tell them what book you're reading right now - interviewers like to call you on that to catch you off guard) and what your plans are for the future. Also, and this is a big one, make sure you ask them questions about their business. Do a bit of research first, look them up on the internet. If you find out that they put on a fundraiser for a charity every year, ask if you'd have the opportunity to participate in it. Make sure they know you've put time into the interview. And ask any questions you have that they havn't answered about the job itself - duties, movement in the company, whatever.
And take a big breath before you go in!
Good luck!!!
Interview questions
