10/02/2015
BETTER WAY TO ATTEMPT INTERVIEW
1. Tell us about yourself.
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 four topics: 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.
2. What do you know about our organization?
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 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.
3. Why do you want to work for us?
The deadliest answer you can give is "Because I
like people." What else would you like-animals?
Here, and throughout the interview, a good
answer comes from having done your homework
so that you can speak in terms of the company's
needs. You might say that your research has
shown that the company is doing things you
would like to be involved with, and that it's doing
them in ways that greatly interest you. For
example, if the organization is known for strong
management, your answer should mention that
fact and show that you would like to be a part of
that team. If the company places a great deal of
emphasis on research and developments
emphasize the fact that you want to create new
things and that you know this is a place in which
such activity is encouraged. If the organization
stresses financial controls, your answer should
mention a reverence for numbers.
If you feel that you have to concoct an answer to
this question - if, for example, the company
stresses research, and you feel that you should
mention it even though it really doesn't interest
you- then you probably should not be taking that
interview, because you probably shouldn't be
considering a job with that organization.
Your homework should include learning enough
about the company to avoid approaching places
where you wouldn't be able -or wouldn't want-
to function. Since most of us are poor liars, it's
difficult to con anyone in an interview. But even if
you should succeed at it, your prize is a job you
don't really want.
4. What can you do for us that someone else
can't?
Here you have every right, and perhaps an
obligation, to toot your own horn and be a bit
egotistical. Talk about your record of getting
things done, and mention specifics from your
resume or list of career accomplishments. Say
that your skills and interests, combined with this
history of getting results, make you valuable.
Mention your ability to set priorities, identify
problems, and use your experience and energy to
solve them.
5. What do you find most attractive about this
position? What seems least attractive about it?
List three or four attractive factors of the job, and
mention a single, minor, unattractive item.
6. Why should we hire you?
Create your answer by thinking in terms of your
ability, your experience, and your energy. (See
question 4.)
7. What do you look for in a job?
Keep your answer oriented to opportunities at this
organization. Talk about your desire to perform
and be recognized for your contributions. Make
your answer oriented toward opportunity rather
than personal security.
8. Please give me your definition of [the position
for which you are being interviewed.
Keep your answer brief and task oriented. Think it
in terms of responsibilities and accountability.
Make sure that you really do understand what the
position involves before you attempt an answer. If
you are not certain, asks the interviewer; he or
she may answer the question for you.
9. How long would it take you to make a
meaningful contribution to our firm?
Be realistic. Say that, while you would expect to
meet pressing demands and pull your own weight
from the first day, it might take six months to a
year before you could expect to know the
organization and its needs well enough to make a
major contribution.
10. How long would you stay with us?
Say that you are interested in a career with the
organization, but admit that you would have to
continue to feel challenged to remain with any
organization. Think in terms of, "As long as we
both feel achievement-oriented."
11. 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.
12. What is your management style?
You should know enough about the company's
style to know that your management style will
complement it. Possible styles include: task
oriented (I'll enjoy problem-solving identifying
what's wrong, choosing a solution and
implementing it"), results-oriented ("Every
management decision I make is determined by
how it will affect the bottom line"), or even
paternalistic ("I'm committed to taking care of my
subordinates and pointing them in the right
direction").
A participative style is currently quite popular: an
open-door method of managing in which you get
things done by motivating people and delegating
responsibility.
As you consider this question, think about
whether your style will let you work happily and
effectively within the organization.
13. Are you a good manager? Can you give me
some examples? Do you feel that you have top
managerial potential?
Keep your answer achievement and task-oriented.
Rely on examples from your career to buttress
your argument. Stress your experience and your
energy.
14. 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.
15. Have you ever had to fire people? What were
the reasons, and how did you handle the
situation?
Admit that the situation was not easy, but say
that it worked out well, both for the company and,
you think, for the individual. Show that, like
anyone else, you don't enjoy unpleasant tasks but
that you can resolve them efficiently and -in the
case of firing someone- humanely.
16. What do you think is the most difficult thing
about being a manager or executive?
Mention planning, ex*****on, 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.
17. 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.
18. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your
present (last) job?
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 hat your
references are likely to be checked, so don't
concoct a story for an interview.
19. How do you feel about leaving all your
benefits to find a new job?
Mention that you are concerned, naturally, but not
panicked. You are willing to accept some risk to
find the right job for yourself. Don't suggest that
security might interest you more than getting the
job done successfully.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Why aren't you earning more at your age?
Say that this is one reason that you are
conducting this job search. Don't be defensive.
23. What do you feel this position should pay?
Salary is a delicate topic. We suggest that you
defer tying yourself to a precise figure for as long
as you can do so politely. You might say, "I
understand that the range for this job is between
$______ and $______. That seems appropriate for
the job as I understand it." You might answer the
question with a question: "Perhaps you can help
me on this one. Can you tell me if there is a range
for similar jobs in the organization?"
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 search executive (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.
If the interviewer continues to probe, you might
say, "You know that I'm making $______ now.
Like everyone else, I'd like to improve on that
figure, but my major interest is with the job
itself." Remember that the act of taking a new job
does not, in and of itself, make you worth more
money.
If a search firm is involved, your contact there
may be able to help with the salary question. He
or she may even be able to run interference for
you. If, for instance, he tells you what the position
pays, and you tell him that you are earning that
amount now and would like to do a bit better, he
might go back to the employer and propose that
you be offered an additional 10%.
If no price range is attached to the job, and the
interviewer continues to press the subject, then
you will have to respond with a number. You
cannot leave the impression that it does not
really matter, that you'll accept whatever is
offered. If you've been making $80,000 a year,
you can't say that a $35,000 figure would be fine
without sounding as if you've given up on
yourself. (If you are making a radical career
change, however, this kind of disparity may be
more reasonable and understandable.)
Don't sell yourself short, but continue to stress
the fact that the job itself is the most important
thing in your mind. The interviewer may be trying
to determine just how much you want the job.
Don't leave the impression that money is the only
thing that is important to you. Link questions of
salary to the work itself.
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.
24. 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..."
25. How successful do you you've been so far?
Say that, all-in-all; you're happy with the way
your career has progressed so far. Given the
normal ups and downs of life, you feel that you've
done quite well and have no complaints.
Present a positive and confident but don't
overstate your case. An answer like, "Everything's
wonderful! I can't think of a time when things
were going better! I'm overjoyed!" is likely to
make an interviewer wonder whether you're trying
to fool him . . . or yourself. The most convincing
confidence is usually quiet confidence.
