10 Killer Job Interview questions and Answers: Carole Martin

10 Killer Job Interview questions and Answers

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Written by Carole Martin Behind every interview question there is a concern or another question. Your job is to process the question thinking about what the interviewer’s concern might be. In other words, why is the interviewer asking you this question? Q#1 - How long have you been looking for a job? (Concern - is there something wrong with you that other employers have picked up?) A#1 - “After I was laid off from my last job, I took the opportunity to take some time out to examine my career goals and where I was going with my life. I have just begun my search in the last few weeks. I have a definite goal in mind and have been selective about the positions I consider. Your company and this position are of great interest to me.” Q#2 - How did you prepare for this interview? (Concern - are you interested enough to do some research, or are you going to “wing it”?) A#2 - “When I found this position posted on the internet (monster.com) I was immediately interested. I checked out the company website and mission statement, looked at the bios of company founders and executives, and was impressed. Once I had the interview appointment, I talked with friends and acquaintances in the industry. And, I’m sure I’ll find out a lot more in today’s meetings.” Q#3 - What is your salary expectation for this job? (Concern - Can we afford you? Can we get you for less than budgeted?) A#3 - “I’ll need more information about the job and the responsibilities involved before we can begin to discuss salary. Can you give me an idea of the range budgeted for this position?” Q#4 - How do you keep current and informed about your job and the industries that you have worked in? (Concern - Once you get the job do you continue to learn and grow - stay challenged and motivated?) A#4 - “I pride myself on my ability to stay on top of what is happening in my industry. I do a lot of reading - the business section of the newspapers and magazines. I belong to a couple of professional organizations and network with colleagues at the meetings. I take classes and seminars whenever they are of interest, or offer new information or technology.” Q#5 - Tell me about a time when you had to plan and coordinate a project from start to finish. (Concern - behavioral questions - seeking an example of specific past behavior) A#5 - ” I headed up a project which involved customer service personnel and technicians. I organized a meeting to get everyone together to brainstorm and get his or her input. From this meeting I drew up a plan, taking the best of the ideas. I organized teams, balancing the mixture of technical and non-technical people. We had a deadline to meet, so I did periodic checks with the teams. After three weeks, we were exceeding expectations, and were able to begin implementation

of the plan. It was a great team effort, and a big success. I was commended by management for my leadership, but I was most proud of the team spirit and cooperation which it took to pull it off.” Q#6 - What kinds of people do you have difficulties working with? (Concern - ability to be flexible and work in a diverse environment?) A#6 - “In my last three jobs I have worked with men and women from very diverse backgrounds and cultures. The only time I had difficulty was with people who were dishonest about work issues. I worked with one woman who was taking credit for work that her team accomplished. I had an opportunity to talk with her one day and explained how she was affecting the morale. She became very upset that others saw her that way, and said she was unaware of her behavior or the reactions of others. Her behavior changed after our talk. What I learned from that experience is that sometimes what we perceive about others is not always the case if we check it out.” Q#7 - We expect managers to work more than 8 hours a day. Do you have a problem with that? (Concern - are you a work-aholic or a person who requires balance?) A#7 - “I have no problem working long hours. I have worked 12 or 14 hour days. What I have found works for me is to work smarter, not necessarily longer. My goal is to get the job done, whatever that takes, in the most efficient manner.” Q#8 - When have you been most satisfied in your career? (Concern - what motivates you? Or demotivates you?) A#8 - “The job before the one I am currently at, was my most rewarding experience for me. I worked in a wonderful team environment. There was a lot of camaraderie. I worked with a team of four people and we did some really original thinking. It is that kind of environment I want to be involved in again.” Q#9 - Why do you want this job? (Concern - are you using the shot-gun approach to job search or do you really know what you want?) A#9 - “I’ve been very careful about the companies where I have applied. When I saw the ad for this position, I knew I found what I was looking for. What I can bring to this job is my seven years of experience, and knowledge of the industry, plus my ability to communicate and build customer relationships. That, along with my flexibility and organizational skills, makes me a perfect match for this position. I see some challenges ahead of me here, and that’s what I thrive on. I have what you need, and you have what I want.” Q#10 - We are ready to make an offer. Are you ready to accept today? (Concern - we don’t want you to go away and think about it and change your mind - we want you.) A#10 - “Based on my research and the information I have gathered during the interview process, I feel I am in a position to consider an offer. I do, however, have a personal policy that I give myself at least 24 hours to make major life decisions. I could let you know by tomorrow.” There is no way you can accurately predict the questions that will be asked in an interview, but you can be ready and prepared by thinking about the factors that might concern an interviewer or employer before the interview. —————— Carole Martin, America’s #1 Interview Coach, is a celebrated author, trainer, and mentor. Carole can give you interviewing tips like no one else can. Get a copy of her FREE 9-part “Interview Success Tips” report by visiting Carole on the web at The Interview Coach http://www.interviewcoach.com

Commonly Asked Interview Questions We have provided the following interview questions to help you prepare for any interview that you might be facing. The questions provided are suitable for use in any interview situation where you may be asked about yourself. You can run through the list and practice, with friends and family. Just by rehearsing interview questions, you will become more familiar with your own qualifications and will be well prepared to demonstrate how you can benefit an employer. We have provided the following examples together with suggestions on how they can be answered. Think about how you would answer each of these, in an interview setting. • "Can you tell me all about yourself?" The interviewer is trying to gain a picture of you and your experience. Make sure that your answers are initially short; you can always expand further if necessary. Being able to read body language is an advantage in this situation. However, always try to be conscious of the interviewer’s time. They may be asking you about your education, professional achievements, personality, goals and aspirations. When explaining you experience, try to relate it to the job on offer. It is more important to show that you understand what will be expected of you than to brag about your achievements, unless relevant. Always try to show the interviewer the contributions you could make to the company. Give them a reason to hire YOU. • "Why do you want to work here?" It is important to answer with enthusiasm and in a thoughtful manner. It is your chance to demonstrate your interest in the company, to the interviewer. Relay what you have learned about the job, the company, and the industry as a whole through your own research. Explain exactly what it is that you like about the job. Talk about how your professional skills will benefit the business. • "What is it that interests you about our company?" Your answer should never be simply "money" as this will make it appear you have no enthusiasm for the job, but are merely being forced into it by financial pressures. Try to identify what it is that excites you about the job. Enthusiasm is an important attribute. • "Why did you leave your last job?" The interviewer is trying to see how you will fit into the current team. Be honest but also be constructive. The fact that you are looking to change your situation is an encouraging one and you should recognise it as such. The interviewer may also be trying to find out if you had any problems on your last job. If you did not have any problems, simply give state your reasons for leaving. This could include; “I relocated away from the job”, “I was made redundant”, “It was a temporary job”, “There was no possibility of Í” or “I wanted a job better suited to my skills”. If you did have difficulties in your last job, be honest. Show that you can accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes. Never describe any employer in negative terms.

Demonstrate that whatever difficulties you have faced have been a learning experience. Show that you are committed to your own personal development. If you have taken any steps to correct any issues you faced, describe them. There are many courses, which can help you to overcome any issues you have. • "What are your best skills and/or qualities?" If you have sufficiently researched the company, you should be able to envisage what skills they will require and value. Before the interview you should prepare some answers so that you can list them, giving examples where you have demonstrated each of these skills. This is not the time to be shy. Practice if you find talking about yourself difficult. • "What is your biggest weakness?" This question can sometimes be used to catch-out a candidate; don’t let it happen to you. Be positive. Try to turn a weakness into a positive strength. For example, you might say: "My work is important to me and I find I spend a lot of time thinking about it” or “Sometimes I work late to make sure the job is done well". • "Do you prefer to work individually or as part of a team?" Be honest, if you really can’t stand working with others then some jobs will not be for you. In most cases, it is important to show that you are equally capable of working well in both situations. Give recent examples to demonstrate. You can draw on other relevant experience such as sports teams or associations. • "What are your ambitions?" If appropriate, share your goals with the interviewer. It may be important to see if they are happy to support you in your future plans. If you plan to study, be prepared to discuss the merits of your course to your employer. Many companies will be happy to provide training if it will benefit them. The interviewer wants to know if your plans are compatible with the company's goals. Let them know that you are ambitious enough to have given some consideration to your future. If appropriate, talk about your desire to learn more skills, and develop the ones you have. Be specific about how you intend to meet the goals you have set for yourself. • "Where do you see yourself in five years?" In order to make sure that you are fully prepared, it may be wise to think about your career goals for the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years. Avoid replying to this question with "Doing your job" or anything similar, this will make you appear aggressive. Give a flavour of where you plan to be in the future. • "Do you have any hobbies?" or "Do you play any sports?" The interviewer is looking for evidence of your skills outside of your professional experience. For example, hobbies such as Chess or Bridge demonstrate analytical skills. Also, the interviewer might simply be curious to see whether you have a balanced life outside of work. Employees who have creative or athletic outlets for their stress are often healthier, happier and more productive. It is also more likely that you have more developed social skills if you participate in activities outside work.

Individual sports show determination and stamina, whilst playing team sports indicates that you possess team-working skills. The interviewer may also be trying to assess the risk to the company of your pastimes. If you take part in particularly dangerous sporting activities they will be worried about time off work caused by injuries. It may be wise to keep such activities under wraps, judge the situation. • "What sort of salary are you expecting?" Some people find answering this type of question difficult. You can deflect the question by saying something like: "What are you planning to pay the successful candidate?" Let the employer make the first offer. If you are used to negotiating this is you opportunity to tell the company what you are looking for. Research will help you to understand the typical salaries offered by the company. If you are a skilled negotiator you could use this as an opportunity to increase your salary. Check other job adverts to see what comparable jobs are paying in your region. This information can help you negotiate your salary once the employer has made you an offer. • "Is there anything I have forgotten to ask?" or “Is there anything else you would like to tell me?” Use this as an opportunity to summarise your good characteristics and attributes and how they may be used to benefit the company. Convince the interviewer that you understand the job requirements and that you can succeed in the post. Try to leave a lasting (good) impression on the interviewer. Here are some more Job Interview questions that you can rehearse. They are arranged by subject. Also included are some questions you may be asked to help demonstrate the skills you have. There are also some miscellaneous questions, which may well crop up, so be prepared! Your Education & Qualifications • 0you think your education has prepared you for this position? • What were your favourite subjects/activities at school? • Why did you choose your Degree or College course? • Do you plan to continue your education? • What qualifications can offer us that another candidate cannot? • What qualifications do you have that are relevant to this position? Your Skills & Competencies • What new skills or competencies have you developed recently? • What skills do you have which are relevant to this post? • What skills do you think are important for this job? • What skills would you most like to acquire/develop? • What specific skills acquired or used in previous jobs relate to this position? Your Career Goals • What are your future plans? • How will you achieve success? • How will you judge yourself to be successful?

• What type of position are you interested in? • How will this job fit in your career plans? • What do you expect from this job? • What would you ultimately like to do? Your Work Experience • What type of duties have you previously had to perform? • What have you learned from your past employment? • What were your biggest responsibilities? • How does your previous experience relate to this position? • What did you like most/least about your last job? • How have your previous jobs prepared you for this position? • Have you been responsible for the supervision of others? • Have you ever been responsible for the training of others? • Have you ever been required to administer disciplinary action? N.B. If this is to be your first job then say so and try to relate the question to other activities you have undertaken, such as projects or organising a trip, caring for a child, etc… Miscellaneous • What has been your greatest accomplishment? • What has been your biggest failure? • What is important to you in a job? • What motivates you in your work? • What have you been doing since your last job? • What qualities do you find important in a colleague? • Are you prepared to travel? • What hours can you work? • When could you start? • Whom may we contact for references? Demonstrative • Give an example of a time you have had to think on your feet • Give me an example from a previous job where you have shown initiative. • Describe an occasion when you have used your negotiation skills to resolve a problem. • Describe a time when you have had to use your communication skills. • Give me an example of a time you have had to motivate others. • Describe a time when you have had to motivate yourself.

List of interview questions relating to the new job / company 1. Why do you want this job? 2. What qualities do you think will be required for this job? 3. What can you contribute? 4. Why do you want to work for this company? 5. What do you know about this company? 6. What interests you about our product (or service)? 7. What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer? 8. You have not done this sort of job before. How will you cope/succeed? 9. Why should we employ you? 10. How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the team/company? 11. How ambitious are you? 12. Would you compete for my job? 13. What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing? 14. What are you looking for in a new job? 15. What would you like to avoid in your next job? 16. Are you too old for this job? [Shouldn't be asked in countries with age discrimination legislation.] 17. Are you too young for this job? [Shouldn't be asked in countries with age discrimination legislation.] 18. You may be over qualified for this position? 19. Are you prepared to relocate? 20. Are you willing to travel? 21. What level of salary are you looking for now?

List of interview questions relating to your current / previous job 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for? What are the differences? What do you think of the last company you worked for? Why did you join your previous company? Did they live up to your expectations? Why are you leaving now? Explain the organizational structure in your last company and how you fitted into it? What did you think of your manager/supervisor? How did you get on with your previous manager/supervisor, coworkers and subordinates? 10. What did you do on a day to day basis? 11. Did you increase sales or profits in your last job? 12. Have you reduced costs at your last company? 13. Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job? 14. What problems did you encounter in your last job? 15. What annoyed you about your last job? 16. What did you earn in your last job?

Career related interview questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Why did you choose a career in …? Why are you changing careers? What are your career goals? How long have you been looking for a new job? Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company? What would your ideal job be? Are you considering any other positions at the moment? If you have changed jobs a lot you may be asked how long you would stay in the new job. 9. Have you ever been fired? 10. How often are you off sick? 11. What will your referees say about you?

List of interview questions relating to you 1. How would you describe yourself? 2. How would others describe you? 3. Do you consider yourself successful? 4. What was your greatest success? 5. How did you achieve it? 6. What has been your biggest failure? 7. How could you improve yourself? 8. Are you a leader? 9. How do you handle criticism? 10. What sort of manager are you? 11. What makes a good manager? 12. Do you work well with others? Or are you a loner? 13. Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated? 14. Are you accepted into a team quickly? 15. Can you act on your own initiative? 16. How do you run a meeting? 17. What motivates you? 18. What management style gets the best results out of you? 19. Do you know how to motivate other people? 20. Are you competitive? 21. Are you aggressive? 22. What do you dislike doing? 23. Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities? 24. Can you work under pressure? 25. How many hours are you prepared to work? 26. Do you mind working for someone older than yourself? Younger than you? Of the opposite sex? 27. What interests do you have outside work?

Interview Techniques for the Sales Executive It's a well known fact that sales people can sell themselves better than any other professional. The problem is the sales professional doesn't always apply the same methodology to interviews as he/she would to prospecting a new client. OK, so not you then! You always research the company thoroughly? Make sure you know who is interviewing you? Their position in the company? What interview techniques they may use? Behavioural techniques you should employ when answering their questions? The list would seem endless. This article may help to refresh your strategy before you embark on that next GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

The Company Prepare yourself with as much information about the company and role as possible - visit the company's website as it should provide good information about the products/services the company offers. Try to gain an understanding of the structure of the company and the market the company is in. • • • • • • •

Size of organisation, number of employees. History, how long have they been operating – do they have any affiliated organisations or belong to an umbrella group? General information about their services/products/aims etc. Major competitors or other organisations operating in the same field. (Always an interesting one if you work in sales) Job description – understand the skills required for the position. Relationship between the open position and other members of staff - have a sense for the department. Have some well thought-out questions that would help further your understanding of the organisation e.g. How will the organisation be affected by the latest developments within their industry or how do you see the organisation developing over the next year/three years?

The Interview Establish how many people will be interviewing you. Find out what their roles are within the company and preferably what their interview techniques are like (You can do this by asking your recruitment consultant or if you are applying direct then use D.I.S.C. analysis during the interview (see other articles within Saleswork Sales Techniques). Questions that you can expect (we hope not all of them in one sitting).

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large organisation? Why do you want this job? What qualities do you think this job requires? Why do you want to work for this organisation? What have you got to contribute? What can we offer you that your previous organisation cannot offer? How long have you been looking for a new job? What do you know about this organisation? What interests you about this organisation? What are you looking for in a new job? What would be your ideal job? What sorts of jobs are you considering at the moment? What did you do on a day to day basis? What do you not like about the job? How did you make a difference to your last organisation? How successful are you? (Bring a BRAG FILE, this consists of past pay cheques with commissions, letters from satisfied clients or awards). What was your greatest success and how did you achieve it? What has been your biggest failure? How could you improve yourself? How did you progress in your last job? How do you handle criticism? How do you work with others? Do you need other people around to stimulate you? Are you accepted into a team quickly? Give me an example of when you took initiative to solve a problem? What motivates you? Are you competitive? What problems did you encounter and how did you overcome them? Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities? What are you like under pressure? How many hours are you prepared to work? What are your career goals? How did you get on with your last manager/colleagues?

Behavioural Questions Please note: The key in behavioural interviewing is to paint a picture of the reasons and thinking about the decision or behaviour without bringing in unessential details. It is expected that forming an answer will take time. Think your examples through. Be aware of the tendency to become too relaxed and reveal information that you didn't intend to share. You need to do your part to foster the conversational tone, but don't become so relaxed that you start straying from the point. Be friendly, stay professional. Typical questions are such as: • •

Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult person at a work. What proactive steps have you taken to make your workplace more efficient and productive? Specifically describe a policy, project or system you created or initiated.

• • •

Describe a high pressure situation you had to handle at work. Tell me what happened, who was involved and what you did in terms of problem solving. If I was chatting to your previous manager what 3 comments would he say to describe you. Some situations require us to express ideas or opinions in a very tactful and careful way. Tell me about a time when you were successful in this type of situation.

Again when answering questions please consider the following: • • •

•

Eye contact. Where you place your hands (don't sit on them nor wave them around). Don't get over friendly nor aggressive (even if they seem to be grilling you pretty hard, smile and keep your composure, it could be they want to see how you react in a negative environment). If you don't understand the question ask the interviewer to repeat it, don't second guess the question.

Do you have any questions for the interviewer? • • • • •

What are the company's future plans? What is the likely career development pathway in the next few years? What possible training could I receive in this role? How would you describe the culture of this company? What they would hope you achieve in the first six months.

Finally if you are interested in the job then tell the interviewer, ask for a second interview or ask how the interviewer intends to process the application from now. Don't be too pushy or over confident. SAY THANK YOU FOR THEIR TIME.

Quick check Before the interview: • •

•

• •

Did you make sure you know where the interview will be held? If travelling a distance did you get a map and check the route you will be taking? Try to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to find time to park the car, compose yourself and recheck your research, walk in to the building 5 to 10 minutes before the interview is to start. Appearance: Smart but not flash, suited and booted is best, bring a comb/hair brush/makeup to retouch before you enter the building. Umbrella/overcoat & Handkerchief. Brag file, job description, name of interviewer. Time: Allow 90 minutes for the first interview, (unless you have been told otherwise).

Here are a few common questions to help you prepare:About you: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

What skills do you think you need to do the job? Why do you want the job? What can you offer? Why should we employ you? How ambitious are you? Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company? Describe your strenghths Describe your weeknesses Are you a leader? Do you work well within a team? Are you self-motivated? Can you act on your own initiative? What motivates you? What do you dislike doing? What problems did you encounter in your last job? Can you work under pressure? Where do you want to be in the next few years? What do you know about this company? What can the company offer that your previous company cannot? What did you're day to day duties entail? What was your greatest success? What has been your biggest failure? How often were you off sick? What was your previous salary? What salary are you looking for now? Why are you leaving your current employment?

Questions you may want to ask the Interviewer • • • • • • •

What will be my duties? Where will I fit into the overall company structure? What do you expect me to do in the first 3 to 6 months? Where are your company expansion plans What are the promotion possibilities in this position? Will travelling be required in this position? What training do you provide?

Factors that can cost you the job • • • •

Getting to the interview late Being unprepared Poor manners Complaining about previous employers

• • • •

Making excuses Looking scruffy and unclean Lacking enthusiasm and energy Being evasive or vague with your answers