Effective Interview tips

The Baker’s Dirty Dozen

By thoroughly Researching your target companies you can be prepared to answer questions such as these as well as others which pertain  to the specific industry and company you are targeting. When you have a ready answer for all of the employer’s question you will be successful in your interview.

The following list contains 13 of the most interview questions. On other sheet of paper, prepare answers to these questions and others and role-play them with your coach to be sure they sound right.

1.       Tell me about yourself.

2.       What are your greatest strengths-weaknesses?

3.       Why di you leave your last job?

4.       Why do you want to work for us?

5.       How did you like your last job?

6.       What kind of salary are you looking for?

7.       What do you know about our company?

8.       Why should we hire you?

9.       What did you think of your old boss?

10.   What are your long range goals?

11.   Do you like to work overtime?

12.   You seem over-qualified (or underqualified)?

13.   Do you have any questions?

The questions may be asked in different ways. For example,  after viewing a resume an interview may ask, ”After all of the things that you have done, are you sure you want to work for us?”   The interviewer is asking question number 12- “You seem over-qualified for this job.”

The interview may ask, “If I called your former employer right now, what would he say about you?” The employer is asking for your strengths- the last part of question number 1. This is a chance for you to say something like, “He would say that I have a great work ethic, I work hard and produce a good quality product. He would say that I am an honest and reliable person, if he had something to do, he could count on me.”

THE DIRTY DOZEN AGENDA

Interviewers are trying to discover pieces of information about you. This information will guide them in their hiring decision. The following is an attempt to provide you with an awareness fo what they are looking for  so that you may be better prepared to provide a better answer. The following contains a buzz-word for each question, the philosophy of why it is asked, and what you can do to respond.

1.       OVERVIEW question: Tell me about yourself.” Give your “Me in 30 seconds” summary. The interviewer is trying to understand who you are. Remember that it is not appropriate to volunteer personal information. In fact, the interviewer may resent being loaded down with information that is none of his business. Remember that it is against the law to discriminate because of ethnic origin, religious affiliation, marital status, age, sex, condition of your health, etc., therefore, leave this information out. Make sure that you don’t leave out your strongest characteristics and capabilities. These are called “The words that get you hired.”

2.       DISARM question: “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” The interviewer makes an assessment while you are giving your overview as to how best to put you on the spot. He wants to see how you behave under pressure. If he feels that you are bruised easily, he will ask for a strength. If he is looking for impact, he will ask for biggest weakness. You must respond with a weakness, a very brief description of why it is a weakness, then what you are doing about it.

 Example:  “My biggest weakness is that I was very aggressive when I work  and it intended to     make people    uncomfortable around me. So I have learned to be sensitive to the feelings of others. I have learned that I can be assertive without being abnoxiously aggressive.”

Example: “My biggest weakness was that I am a perfectionist and tended to hold onto a project longer than I should. Now I am more aware of schedules so I get my work done on time and with the best possible quality.”

Example: “My biggest weakness is that  I just do not have a lot of experience in this area. However, I am a quick learner, I have a lot of energy and drive, I amvery adaptable , and I am confident that it will not be a problem for me or you.

3.       LOYALTY question: Why did you leave your last job?” The interviewer wants to know if you are the kind who stays around or skips from job to job. Make sure that you have a loyalty statement in you answer.

Example: “I left my last job because it was a dead-end position. I f it could have given me the opportunity to continue to grow and develop I’d still be there today.”

Example: I left my last job because the economy was such that some that some jobs had to be eliminated and I was one of the ones that fell out. I f the economy was such that I could continue to make my contributions, I’s still be there today.

4.       HAPPINESS question: “Why do you want to work for us?” the interviewer is trying to determine if you would be satisfied and content to work for them. A happy worker is a good employee. Tell them why you would enjoy working for them. Notice all of the happy words in the example.

Example: “I would like to work for yo because I feel good about doing that kind of thing. It is the type of thing that I have been trained to do. I feel that it would be a challenging assignment, and give me an opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of the company.”

5.       ORIENTATION questions: “How did you like your old job?” The interviewer is trying to determine if you are a positive or a negative type of person. He is trying to discover if you will fit into his organization or be some sort of misfit. If you simply say, “I loved it.” He will ask you to tell him five things that you liked about it followed by five things that you disliked. It is best if you start enumerating the things you liked before he asks. Emphasize your PEOPLE statements. Be careful about negative responses. If you have anything negative to say, it better have some substance to it.

Example: “I really enjoyed my last job. I enjoyed the people I worked with, my peers. I enjoyed working with the public.. I enjoyed working with the management team. I enjoyed the technical challenge. I also enjoyed the opportunity to work independently. I can’t think of anything that I disliked, I’m a positive person and I have learned how to handle negative things in a positive way.”

6.       SERIOUSNESS/LEANINGS  question: “What kind of salary are you looking for?” The interviewer is trying to find out how serious you are about this job and if you will consider or reject his offer.

Example: MEMORIZE THIS ANSWER:  “I would really like to work here, I know that I am qualified for the work.

I will seriously consider any reasonable offer you would like to make.”

That answer tells him you are serious, please make an offer reasonable, and that it is his responsibility to make the offer and not yours to tell him what you will work for.

7.       YARDSTICK question: “What do you know about our company?” The interviewer will measure you and all you say to him against what you say here. For example if you say, “I know that you treat your employees fairly.” The interviewer will take everything that goes into treating an employee fairly and assume that you know all about it. He will assume that you know all about the company’s salary plan, career plan, and benefits plan because all of those things go into treating  an employee fairly.

Did you do your homework? You should have talked to some employees previously to see what the benefits are and how they treat employees. Ask the secretary when you check in for your interview,”Is this a great company to work for?” Then you can give a response like the example.

Example: “I know that you have a great reputation in the community. I know that you have a good product. Everyone that I know feels that you are a great company to work for and that you treat your employees fairly. You are just the kind of company that people like to be associated with.”

Always be very careful how you act from the first minute park your car, enter the waiting room and beyond. You may be watched every step of the way.”

Always be POLITE TO THE SECRETARY!! People have been hired and not hired because the boss came out and asked the secretary what she taught of you or how you acted toward her, or what you did in the waiting room.

Make sure that you talk about things centered on the job and not what is in it for you. Do not give the interviewer the impression that you are self centered. This is called a “fatal” impression.

8.       COMPETITIVE EDGE question: “Why should we hire you?” the interviewer has talked to the other candidates. You must tell him why you are the best person for the job. You response should tell him that you are a competitive pesson.

Example: “Because I’m going to make sure that I do the job in a way that will please you and my performance will be exemplary—that’s just the way I am. I’m not content to be just an average employee, I like to excel.”

9.       REPUTATION questions: “What did you think of your old boss?” The interviewer is trying to determine what you do with people’s reputation. He is thinking, “If you work for us, what wil say about us  when you leave?” If you can’t say something good about your last employer, you will fail this question. The following example describes a boss that was not your favorite, yet does not cause undue concern.

Example: “My last boss knew exactly what he wanted to do and when he wanted to do it. I did not always agree with him, but he was a successful business man and I learned a lot from him.”

10.   MOTIVATION questions: “ What are your long range goals?” The interviewer wants to know if you are a motivated person or if you just muddle through life. Your answer should tell him that you area doer.

Example: “I want to go as far as I can in life and realize my greatest potential. I do that by getting thoroughly involved in the work. I’m going to continue my education where I discover that I need to improve. I would like to make myself so valuable to my employer that he might consider me for a leadership position someday. I am an active employee. I am self motivated.”

11.   LIKES/WILLINGNESS questions: “Do you like to work overtime?” The interviewer is trying to discover your willingness to help when needed. They are asking if you are willing to bend your schedule to meet the demands of their business. You need to answer both parts. Employers have a dislike for employees who spend overtime budget unnecessarily; they like to hear words that show that a prospective employee is not that type.

Example: “No, it’s not my favorite thing, but I know that iti si often necessary in business, and I want you to know that if you need me to help out, I will, I don’t have a problem with that.”

12a. BOREDOM question:  “You seem over-qualified for this job.” The interviewer has made a value judgement and you are deemed to be a winner. Be sure to thank him for the compliment then go on to describe how you handle boredom.

Example: “Thank you for the compliment. I feel that my experience will benefit the company. I will contribute in any way that I can to enhance the company and productivity. Also I am a team player and will follow directions chosen by management. I am a self-motivated person who knows how to keep busy and productive.”

12b. FRUSTRATION question: “You seem to be a bit under-qualified for this job.” The interviewer is concerned about this job causing trauma in your life. If you want this job you need to minimize his concerns. You need to tell him that this job will not cause you problems and that you will grow to meet the demands.

Example: “Yes, there are things in that job that I haven’t done before, but I like a good challenge. If I don’t have a challenge then I don’t have any personal growth either. It doesn’t bother me to stretch. Also, I am not afraid to ask questions and I have a good research technique to find answers. I take challenges as opportunities to bring out my best. I will probably do that job better than someone that treats it like a routine task.”

13.UNHOOKING questions: “Do you have any questions?” the interviewer Is asking your permission to finish the interview. He may even have another interview pending in a few minutes. Do not ask fatal questions. Do not try to sustain the interview. However, here are the two questions that should always be asked-unless you got the job!

Question 1: (Always ask this question and question #2 at the end of the interview)

“When do you plan to fill this position?”

This is a neutral question that will not offend. It also gives you informations as to how much more time you have to try to get the job.

Question 2: (Always ask this question also.)

May I check back with someone in a few days? I may be able to reinforce or clarify something from our interview that may help me get this job.”

This question tells the interviewer that you are the one of the 3% that follows through on an interview. If you fail to let him know that you are in the 3% group, he may feel that he could discard your application and 97% of the time no one would ever know. It keeps your application out of the wastebasket and on his desk. The longer it stays on his desk the more valuable it becomes.

Why Don’t You Get Hired

Do you present a strong image at a job interview? The following list itemizes things which personnel directors in 153 companies mentioned as reasons for not hiring an applicant. (NOTE: all of these have little or nothing to do with EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE!)

1.       Poor personal appearance. (the first seven seconds)

2.       Overbearing personality. (the first seven words)

3.       Lack of planning for a career, purpose or goals.

4.       Lack of interest and enthusiasm.

5.       Criticism of past employers.

6.       Lack of courtesy.

7.       Late to interview without a good reason.

8.       Marked dislike for school work.

9.       Little or no interest in the company.

10.   Lack of confidence.

11.   Unwilling to start at the bottom- expects too much.

12.   Failure to look interviewer in the eye.

13.   Limp handshake.

14.   Sloppy application form.

15.   Wants job for only a short time.

16.   Asks no questions about the job.

17.   Talks too much. (More than 50% of the time)

Check yourself on these before your next interview!!!

PUT YOUR SHOULDER TO

THAT THIN, GRAY LINE

BETWEEN

“VERY ASSERTIVE”

AND

“OBNOXIOUSLY AGGRESSIVE”

AND PUSH, BUT DDON’T EVER,

EVER CROSS THE LINE!!!