FAQs

The 10 Most Common Job Interview Questions

Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. So study this list, plan your answers ahead of time and you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.

Read on to learn how to overcome the most dreaded interview questions.

What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful."

Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the travel industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."

Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."

What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."

Why Did You Leave (Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."

If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?

What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humour."

What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"

If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

When it comes to the job interview, there are four things you need to master, being positive, being prepared, being personable, and being professional.

Positive thinking means believing in yourself and your abilities. When interviewing, attitude is everything. If you know you are the best person for the job, you have a much better chance of convincing of someone else.

Preparation is the second key ingredient to successful interviewing. If you come prepared and ready to get the job, you can impress the employer with your knowledge about the position, company, and product. Prior to the big day, gather all the information you can about the employer. You can do this by accessing the employer's web page, reading annual reports, and talking with people who work there. There is no excuse for a poor response to the question: "What impresses you most about our company?"

Be personable. Be who you are. Laugh, make jokes if appropriate, make small talk. Build rapport with him or her. Employers want to hire people, not robots. By showing your personality, your geniuses shines through. Not surprisingly, one of the main reasons people get hired is because they are likeable.

Finally, be professional. Even if this is your first time in an interviewing situation, you can act like you are a pro by dressing conservatively, answering questions directly, and maintaining proper nonverbal communication (leaning forward in your chair and smiling). This may be their first or last impression of you, so make it a good one!

After your interview, evaluate how you think you did and make notes so that you can improve your next time around.

How To Win In An Interview

Research the organization:

This will put you ahead in the employers mind.

How:

Ask them (or the recruitment consultant) what written info is available.

• Go to the website
• Ask anyone if they know anyone who works there or used to.

Become familiar with history, purposes and goals of the company. All organizations love to be loved and research shows your knowledge of the company will give you an advantage ahead of other applicants.

Observe the 50 – 50 rule

Studies reveal that in general people who get hired are these who mix speaking and listening fifty-fifty in the interview. If you talk too much come across as someone who would ignore the needs of the organization and if you talk too little you come across as trying to hide something.

Determine to be seen as part of the solution not part of the problem.

Every organization has two main preoccupations; the problems they are facing and what solutions people are coming up with. Prior to the interview think about how would a ‘bad’ employee mess up and emphasize during the interview how you are the very opposite.

Employers these days are generally looking for the following qualities in people:

• Punctuality
• Willingness to arrive early and work late
• Drive, energy and enthusiasm
• Self-discipline
• Team players with good people skills
• Flexible and adaptable
• Trainable and love to learn
• Integrity
• Creativity and good problem-solving skills

Bring Evidence If You Can

Any evidence / proof of skills and achievements will make an impact.

Never Bad-mouth Previous Employers

Bad-mouthing a previous employer only makes this employer worry about what you would say about them after they hire you.

Use the interview to gather more info about the company

An interview is like going on a date two people need to size each other up before even talking about “going steady” you must decide if you really want to go and work there and not only focus on selling yourself in the interview.

Remember: Employers Are As Scared As You Are During The Hiring Interview

Why? Employers knows that the hiring interview is not a very reliable way to choose an employee. One survey conducted in the UK revealed that an interview is only 3% more effective in selecting the right candidate than picking a name out of a hat.

The following will illustrate the “fears” behind every question that an employer may ask:

The 5 Questions That Really Matter

There are many books that publish long lists of questions that you could be asked in an interview. The 5 questions that really matter in the new millennium are the following: (Even if these aren’t overtly asked these questions lurk beneath the surface throughout the interview).

{{bold“Why are you here?” They mean by this, “Why are you knocking on my door, rather than someone else’s door?”

“What can you do for us?” They mean by this, “If I were to hire you, would you be part of the problems I already have, or would you be a part of the solution to those problems? What are your skills, and how much do you know about some subject or field that is of interest to us?”

“What kind of person are you?” They mean by this, “Do you have the kind of personality that makes it easy for people to work with you, and do you share the values which we have at this place?”

“What distinguishes you from nineteen other people who can do the same tasks that you can?” They mean by this, “Do you have better work habits than the nineteen others, do you show up earlier, stay later work more thoroughly, work faster, maintain higher standard, go the extra mile, or … what?”

“Can I afford you?” They mean by this, “If we decide we want you here, how much will it take to get you, and are we willing and able to pay that amount – governed, as we are, by our budget, and by our inability to pay you as much as the person who would be above you, on the organizational chart?”

The Most Important Questions You Need Answers To

“What does this job involve?” You want to understand exactly what tasks will be asked of you, so that you can determine if these are the kinds of tasks you would really like to do.

“What are the skills a top employee in this job would have to have?” You want to know if your skills match those which the employer thinks a top employee in this job would have to have, in order to do this job well.

“Are these the kinds of people I would like to work with, or not?” Do not ignore your intuition if it tells you that you would not be comfortable working with these people!! You want to know if they have the kind of personality that would make it easy for you to accomplish your work, and if they share the values, which are important to you.“

“If we like each other, and both want to work together, can I persuade them there is something unique about me, that makes me different from nineteen other people who can do the same tasks?” You need to think out, way ahead of time what does make you different from nineteen other people who can do the same job. For example, if you are good at analyzing problems, how do you do that? Painstakingly? Intuitively, in a flash? By consulting with greater authorities in the field? You see the point. You are trying to put your finger on the ‘style’ or ‘manner’ in which you do your work, that is distinctive and hopefully appealing, to this employer.

“Can I persuade them to hire me at the salary I need or want?” This requires some knowledge on your pat of how to conduct salary negotiation. See salary negotiations.

Additional questions you may want to ask, to elaborate upon these five:

• What significant changes has this company gone through in the last five years?
• What values are sacred to this company?
• What characterizes the most successful employees this company has?
• What future changes do you see in the work here?
• Who do you see as your allies, colleagues or competitors in this business?

Interviews are lost to “mosquitoes” rather than dragons and are lost within first two minutes

Many people lose opportunities because of apparently small reasons like for example … bad breath. The interview “mosquitoes” that could cost you and that fly in during the first 2 minutes are the following:

Appearance:

If you are male you are more likely to get the job if:

• You have obviously freshly bathed, have your face freshly shaved or your hair and beard freshly trimmed, have clean fingernails, and are using a deodorant.
• You have on freshly laundered clothes, pants with a sharp crease, and shoes freshly polished.
• You do not have bad breath, do not dispense gallons of garlic, onion, stale tobacco, or the odor of strong drink, into the enclosed office air, but have brushed and flossed your teeth.
• You are not wafting tons of after-shave cologne fifteen feet ahead of you, as you enter the room.

If you are a female you are more likely to get the job if:

• You have obviously freshly bathed, have not got tons of makeup on your face; have had your hair newly ‘permed’ or ‘coiffed’, have clean or nicely manicured fingernails, that don’t stick out ten inches from your fingers; and are using a deodorant.
• You wear a bra; have on freshly cleaned clothes, a suit or not wearing clothes so daring that they call a lot of attention to themselves. In these days of sexual harassment lawsuits this tends to make many employers, male and female, very nervous. I grant you there are some employers who might like this kind of outfit, but – trust me – in most cases you don’t want to work for them (as with all items here, I am only reporting what can affect your chances of getting hired – not whether or not I think this employer reoccupation with just outward appearance is asinine).
• You do not have bad breath, do not dispense gallons of garlic, onion, stale tobacco, or the odor of strong drink, into the enclosed office air, but have brushed and flossed your teeth.
• You are not wafting tons of perfume fifteen feet ahead of you, as you enter the room.

Nervous mannerisms:

The following is a turn-off:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Limp handshake
• Slouching, fidgeting, playing with you hair

Lack of self-confidence:

• Speaking too softly or too loudly
• Extremely hesitant to answer
• One-word answers
• Constantly interrupting
• Being self-critical

Consideration you show to other people;

• Showing a lack of courtesy to receptionist / secretary etc.
• On a lunch meeting ordering strong drink.
• Not thanking the interviewer.

Values:

• Any sign of arrogance or aggressiveness.
• Not being punctual on failing to keep an appointment.
• Blaming / complaining.
• Any sign of dishonesty.
• Any sign of not following instructions / obeying rules.
• Any sign of instability.

Questions you must ask before closing the interview:

Before you let the interview end, there are six questions you should always ask:

1. “Given my skills and experience, is there work here that you would consider me for?”
   This is if you haven’t come after a specific job, from the beginning.
2. “Can you offer me this job?”
   I know this seems stupid, but it is astonishing how many job-hunters have secured a job simply by being bold enough to ask for it, at the end of the interview, either with the words May I have this job, or something similar to it, in language they feel comfortable with. I don’t’ know why this is. I only know that it is. Maybe it has something to do with employers not liking to say “No”, to someone who directly asks them for something. Anyway, if after hearing all about this job at this place, you decide you’d really like to have it, you must ask for it. The worse thing the employer can say is “No”, or “We need some time to think about all the interviews we’re conducting.”
3. “Do you want me to come back for another interview, perhaps with some of the other decision-makers here?”
   If you are a serious candidate in this employer’s mind for this job, there usually is a second round of interviews. And, often, a third, and fourth. You, of course, want to make it to that second round. Indeed, many experts say the only purpose you should have in the first interview, at a particular place, is to be invited back for a second interview. If you’ve secured that, say they, it has been a successful first interview.
4. “When may I expect to hear from you?”
   You never want to leave control of the ensuing steps in this process in the hands of the employer. You want it in your own hands. If the employer says, “We need time to think about this," or “We will be calling you for a second interview,” you don’t want to leave this as an undated good intention on the employer’s part. You want to nail it down.
5. “Might I ask what would be the latest I can expect to hear from you?”
   The employer has probably given you their best guess, in answer to your previous question. Now you want to know what is the worst-case scenario? Incidentally, one employer, when I asked him for the worst-case scenario, replied, “Never!” I thought he had a great sense of humor. Turned out he was dead serious. I never did hear from him, despite repeated attempts at contact, on my part.
6. “May I contact you after that date, if for any reason you haven’t gotten back to me by that time?” Some employers resent this question. You’ll know that is the case if they snap at you, “Don’t you trust me?” But most employers appreciate your offering them what is in essence a safety-net. They know they can get busy, become overwhelmed with other things, forget their promise to you. It’s reassuring, in such a case, for you to offer to rescue them.
7. “Can you think of anyone else who might be interested in hiring me?”
   This question is invoked only if they replied ”No,” to your first question, above.

Jot down any answers they give you to the questions above, then stand up, thank them sincerely for their time, give a firm handshake, and leave. Write a thank-you note that night, to them, and mail it without fail the next morning , or mail it to your recruitment consultant to forward on your behalf.

ALWAYS send a thank you note.

Every expert on interviewing will tell you two things:

1. Thank-you notes must be sent after every interview, by every job-hunter
2. Most job-hunters ignore this advice. Indeed, it is safe to say that it is the most overlooked step in the entire job-hunting process.
   

If you want to stand out from the others applying for the same job, send thank-you-notes – to everyone you met there, that day. If you need any additional encouragement (besides the fact that it may get you the job), here are six reasons for sending a thank-you note, most particularly to the employer who interviewed you:

First, you were presenting yourself as one who has good skills with people. Your actions with respect to the job-interview must back this claim up. Sending a thank-you note does that. The employer can see you are good with people, you remember to thank them.
Secondly, it helps the employer to remember you.

Thirdly, if a committee is involved in the hiring process, the one man or woman who interviewed you has something to show the rest of the committee.

Fourth, if the interview went rather well, and the employer seemed to show an interest in further talks, the thank-you letter can reiterate your interest in further talks.

Fifth, the thank-you note gives you an opportunity to correct any wrong impression you left behind you. You can add anything you forgot to tell them, that you want them to know. And from among all the things you two discussed, you can underline the main two or three points that you want to stand out in their minds.

Lastly, if the interview did not go well, and you lost all interest in working there, they may still hear of other openings, elsewhere, that might be of interest to you. In the thank-you note, you can mention this, and ask them to keep you in mind. Thus, from kindly interviewers, you may gain additional leads.

The secrets of successful salary negotiations

Never discuss salary until end of interviewing process when they have definitely said they want you.

When to discuss salary:

Not until all of the following conditions have been fulfilled –

• Not until they’ve gotten to know you, at your best, so they can see how you stand above the other applicants.
• Not until you’ve gotten to know them, as completely as you can, so you can tell when they’re being firm, or when they’re flexible.
• Not until you’ve found out exactly what the job entails.
• Not until they’ve had a chance to find out how well you match the job-requirements.
• Not until you’re in the final interview at that place for that job.
• Not until you’ve decided, “I’d really like to work here.”
• Not until they’ve said, “We want you.”
• Not until they’ve said, “We’ve got to have you.”

- should you get into salary discussion with this employer.

If the employer raises the salary question earlier, in some form like “What kind of salary are you looking for?”, you should have three responses at your fingertips.

1. If the employer seems like a kindly man or woman, your best and most tactful reply might be: “Until you’ve decided you definitely want me, and I’ve decided I definitely could help you with your tasks here, I feel any discussion of salary is premature.” That will work, in most cases.
2. There are instances however, where that doesn’t work. You may be face-to-face with an employer who will not so easily be put off, and demands within the first two minutes that you’re in the interview room to know what salary you are looking for. At this point, you use your second response: “I’ll gladly come to that, but could you first help me to understand what this job involves?”
3. That is a good response, in most cases. But what if it doesn’t work? The employer with rising voice says, “Come, come, don’t play games with me. I want to know what salary you’re looking for.” You have response #3 prepared for this very eventuality. It’s an answer in terms of a range. For example, “I’m looking for a salary in the range of R 35 – 45, 000 a year.”
   

If the employer still won’t let it go until later, then consider what this means. Clearly, you are being interviewed by an employer who has no range in mind. Their beginning figure is their ending figure. No negotiation is possible. (One job-hunter said his interviews always began with the salary question, and no matter what he answered, that ended the interview. Turned out, this job-hunter was doing all the interviewing over the phone. That was the problem. Once he went face-to-face, salary was no longer the first going discussed in the interview.)

This happens, when it happens, because many employers are making salary their major criterion for deciding who to hire, and who not to hire, out of – say – nineteen possible candidates.

If you run into this situation, and you want that job badly enough, you will have no choice but to capitulate. Ask what salary they have in mind, and make your decision. (Of course you should always say, “I need a little time, to think about this.”)

Purpose of salary negotiations is to uncover the most that an employer is willing to pay to get you.

Every employer has a salary range in mind, you have every right to try to discover what the highest point of that salary range is.

Employer will always start lower and negotiate from there.

During salary discussion try never to be the fist one to mention a salary figure whoever mentions a figure first in salary negotiation generally loses. You should respond by asking, “what do you have in mind?”.

Before you go to the interview do some homework on how much you will need if offered this job.

Before you to the interview, do research on typical salaries for your skills.

Try to get hold of salary surveys or talk to people in the industry. What are similar positions being advertised for?

Six Greatest Mistakes Made In Job Interviews

• Doing no homework on an organization before going there.
• Letting your resume / CV be used as agenda for the interviews.
• Talking primarily about yourself and what benefit the job will be for you.
• When answering a question talking longer than 2 minutes at a time.
• Approaching them as if you were a job beggar.
• Not sending a thank you note right after the interview.