Introduction:
Many of job candidate can't pace perfectly to interview board. Now we tell how can you pace a interview and what kind of questions asking by an employer.
The interview is when a candidate will get to know your
personality, interests, goals, and objectives. You will no longer be a list of
skills and experiences on a piece of paper; this is your opportunity to give
specific examples and anecdotes and explain how these experiences make you the
perfect candidate for the position. It is the perfect time to demonstrate your
interest in the position and your knowledge about the company or the industry.
This is the time for the employer to find out who you are, so be yourself.
What Employers Are Looking For:
Interviews can be very stressful, but the best way to overcome
this is to be prepared and know what employers are looking for:
*Job candidates with a definite idea of their goals,
objectives, strengths, and skills.
*Candidates who are knowledgeable about the position they are
interviewing for, the company and its products, and the industry overall.
*Candidates who can match their own skills and experiences
with the needs of the company.
*Candidates who are confident in themselves and their ability
to contribute to the company.
*Candidates who can discuss past experiences and give
specific examples that demonstrate their skills and accomplishments.
Prepare Beforehand:
Another way to decrease the stress of an interview is to
prepare beforehand. Review your resume and make sure you know your skills,
experiences, goals, interests, accomplishments, and objectives inside and out.
You'll be asked a lot of open-ended questions, and you will need to be able to
give specific examples and articulate yourself clearly and concisely.
Familiarize yourself with the most common Questions Asked by
an Employer. Develop answers to these questions, but do not memorize your
answers. Make sure all of your responses are positive and highlight your skills
and accomplishments. When asked about difficult or negative experiences,
describe those experiences as learning experiences.
During the interview, the employer will not be the only
person asking questions; you are expected to ask questions throughout the
interview, as well as at the end when the inevitable question is asked:
"So, do you have any questions for me?" Always ask questions. If the
employer has answered all of your questions already, come up with something
else to ask about. Your questions can demonstrate your interest in the position
and your knowledge about the company and industry. Keep your entire
questions job related.
What kind of questions asking by an interviewer and how can I answered that.
Here is a list of the repeated questions that relate to
almost any type of job. Please note that an interviewer may also ask questions
that relate to the specific position that you are applying for.
Tell something about yourself.
The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound
rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk
about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position
you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the
present. Since this is often the opening question in an interview, be extra
careful that you don't run off at the mouth. Keep your answer to a minute or
two at most. Cover five topics including personal introduction, early years,
education, work history, and recent career experience. Emphasize this last
subject. Remember that this is likely to be a warm-up question. Don't waste your
best points on it.
What is your greatest / best strength? Or, what is your
strength?
For this question numerous answers are good, just stay
positive. A few good examples may be a) Your ability to prioritize, b) Your
problem-solving skills, c) Your ability to work under pressure, d) Your ability
to focus on projects, e) your professional expertise, f) your leadership
skills, g) your positive attitude towards works etc., in addition to your
strong academic background.
Tell something about
your weakness. Or what are your weakness?
The interviewer who asks this question is looking to see how
honest you are with yourself, and how well you deal with your own shortcomings.
Bit of a tricky question this, after all no one wants to
show their weaknesses but we all have them. Don't pretend you don't have
weaknesses, and don't avoid answering the question. This is your chance to show
that you are honest and take responsibility for your actions.
A good way to answer this question is to mention your
weakness, then tell what you have done to overcome that weakness. If you have
been disorganized in the past, you could say, "I used to be very
disorganized, always forgetting assignments and birthdays. But I managed to
work out a computerized system of to-do lists and reminders that keeps me on
top of everything. "You could also say, I don’t have straight way
transport or bus service from my residence to the office. So, during the rainy
days I had difficulties in finding a rickshaw to reach the bus stop and I would
get late, occasionally. Now on the raining days, I get up earlier in the
morning and rush out to my office to reach on time.”
The most comprehensive way of dealing with this question is
to try and turn it into a “positive” from a “negative”.
Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good
explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track
to achieve the others.
What do you know about this organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on the
organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they
are going. You should be able to discuss products or services, revenues,
reputation, image, goals, problems, management style, people, history and
philosophy. But don't act as if you know everything about the place. Let your
answer show that you have taken the time to do some research, but don't try to
overwhelm the interviewer, and make it clear that you wish to learn more. You
might start your answer in this manner: "In my job search, I've
investigated a number of companies. Yours is one of the few that interests me,
for these reasons..."
Give your answer a positive tone. Don't say, "Well,
everyone tells me that you're in all sorts of trouble, and that's why I'm
here", even if that is why you're there.
Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep
the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else
is a distraction.
Why do you want to work for this organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on
the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely
important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career
goals.
Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too
experienced for this position. What's your opinion?
Emphasize your interest in establishing a long-term
association with the organization, and say that you assume that if you perform
well in his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a strong
company needs a strong staff. Observe that experienced executives are always at
a premium. Suggest that since you are so well qualified, the employer will get
a fast return on his investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can
never have too much talent.
What important trends do you see in our industry?
Be prepared with two or three trends that illustrate how
well you understand your industry. You might consider technological challenges
or opportunities, economic conditions, or even regulatory demands as you
collect your thoughts about the direction in which your business is heading.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
A typical interview question, asked to get a sense of how
you handle on-the-job stress, is "How do you handle pressure?"
Examples of good responses include:
Stress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best
possible job. The appropriate way to deal with stress is to make sure I have
the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to
stay motivated and productive.
I react to situations, rather than to stress. That way, the
situation is handled and doesn't become stressful.
I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I
enjoy working in a challenging environment.
From a personal perspective, I manage stress by visiting the
gym/ walking a mile every evening. It's a great stress reducer.
Prioritizing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of
what needs to be done when has helped me effectively manage pressure on the
job.
If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress
level, I discuss options for better handling difficult situations with them.
Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer
to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors,
co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad.
Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as
an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking
reasons.
What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are
applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably
lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
"that’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position?”
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell
you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide
range. If you are asked the question during an initial screening interview, you
might say that you feel you need to know more about the position's
responsibilities before you could give a meaningful answer to that question.
Here, too, either by asking the interviewer or ‘Executive Search firm’ (if one
is involved), or in research done as part of your homework, you can try to find
out whether there is a salary grade attached to the job. If there is, and if
you can live with it, say that the range seems right to you. But whenever
possible, say as little as you can about salary until you reach the
"final" stage of the interview process. At that point, you know that
the company is genuinely interested in you and that it is likely to be flexible
in salary negotiations.
Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples
ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather
than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just
say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.
Explain how you would be an asset to this organization.
You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a
chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being
discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.
Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say
the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say
another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with
this position if hired. The best is to stay generic and say something like: A
job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can’t wait to
get to work.
What is more important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the most
important. There is no better answer.
What has disappointed you about a job?
Don’t get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can
include:
Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction
Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.
Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.
What motivates you to do your best on the job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good
examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say “yes” just
to get the job if the real answer is “no”. This can create a lot of problems
later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future
grief.
What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson
learned. An example would be “working too far ahead of colleagues on a project
and
thus throwing coordination off”.
What do you look for when You hire people?
Think in terms of skills, initiative, and the adaptability
to be able to work comfortably and effectively with others. Mention that you
like to hire people who appear capable of moving up in the organization.
What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a
manager or executive?
Mention planning, execution, and cost-control. The most
difficult task is to motivate and manage employees to get something planned and
completed on time and within the budget.
Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) job?
(if there is one)
Be brief, to the point, and as honest as you can without
hurting yourself. Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. Where
you considered this topic as you set your reference statements. If you were
laid off in an across-the-board cutback, say so; otherwise, indicate that the
move was your decision, the result of your action. Do not mention personality
conflicts. The interviewer may spend some time probing you on this issue,
particularly if it is clear that you were terminated. The "We agreed to
disagree" approach may be useful. Remember that your references are likely
to be checked, so don't make-up a story for an interview.
In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you
like the most? The least?
Be careful and be positive. Describe more features that you
liked than disliked. Don't cite personality problems. If you make your last job
sound terrible, an interviewer may wonder why you remained there until now.
What do you think of your boss?
Be as positive as you can. A potential boss is likely to
wonder if you might talk about him in similar terms at some point in the
future.
What are your long-range goals?
Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. Don't
answer, "I want the job you've advertised." Relate your goals to the
company you are interviewing: 'in a firm like yours, I would like to..."
Do you have any questions for me?
Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared
where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be
able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
Are examples.
Where do you expect your career to be in 10 years?
(Be careful here. You
do not want to give the impression that you're simply using this company as a
stepping-stone to another career. Think
of a related managerial position within the company that would interest you.)
There is a story about a young accountant who was asked this
question by a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) firm during an interview. The young accountant replied that he saw
himself as the comptroller of a large corporation. In other words, "I'm just using your
firm to teach me and then after you spend your resources training me, I will
leave to go work for someone else."
Needless to say, he was not offered a position with the CPA firm. They know that 75% of the people they hire
will leave within 10 years, but they do not want to hire someone who comes in
with that plan.
Describe your Management style.
Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like
progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions
depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the
situation, instead of one size fits all.
FINAL NOTE:
You can never be sure exactly what will happen at an
interview, but you can be prepared for common interview questions. Take time to
think about your answers now. You might even write them down to clarify your
thinking. The key to all interview questions is to be honest, and to be
positive. Focus your answers on skills and abilities that apply to the job you
are seeking. BEST OF LUCK.
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