Interview Questions - How to Answer - Tips and Advice

Top 10 Interview Questions and How to Answer

Every question has its own purpose. The interviewer cannot just ask you about anything and everything. Every question asked is used to differentiate your skills, and personality from other candidates. There is actually no correct answer to any interview questions. It just depends on how you answer them. Companies have their own standing with regards to the answers you have given them. They want to determine if you can offer something to their goals.

1. Can you tell me something about yourself?

This is the probably the most terrifying interview questions of all time and the most difficult to answer as well. As an applicant for a certain job, you'd be wondering what the employer wants to know. What's the point of asking this kind of question? I suggest that you should relax and think of this situation as a great opportunity to impress your employer. Well, the technique here is you should answer them with something that supports your career goals. Avoid telling those things about your name, your birth date, where you live, hobbies and other extra curricular activities. It would be better if you tell them something relevant about your qualifications and employment history.

2. What are your strengths?

Be sure that you tackle those points that would help you do the job you're applying for. Tell something about your technical skills and your qualifications and be sure to support them with specific examples.

3. What are your weaknesses?

With regards to your weaknesses, you should answer them with things that you are improving upon and make sure that it is work related. Do not just tell your weak points; you should back up your statement with things that you are doing to improve your weak points.

4. How do you handle stress or pressure?

Some companies have a type of interviews where in a group of interviewers ask you a set of questions. Some interviewers purposely stir up emotional responses by asking questions in a challenging manner. Their purpose is to find out how you handle the stress. If you were asked about this question, just relax and keep your self calm because they are already observing you. Just describe how you handle pressure by being honest and direct, but avoid being anxious.

5. What do you know about our company?

Before you can answer this question, you must have a research about the company you are applying to. Knowing their mission and vision can help you make the interview more interactive. It would be better if you tell them that you want to know more about the company. This shows that you are interested to the company and you really wanted to be part of the team.

6. Why do you want to work in our company?

If you were asked about this question, the first thing that would come into your mind would be "Because you have a job opening". Well, those are clear answers but it won't give you additional points on your interview. Those kinds of answers might sound sarcastic and may possibly annoy the interviewer. The point of asking this question is to determine whether you have an idea about where you want to work or you're just applying to any company that has a job opening. Having a brief research on a company before your interview can help you to stand out as a competent applicant. It would be helpful if you can think of some reasons about what you can contribute to the company.

7. Why do you want to leave your current job?

Not all interviewee can deliver a straight forward answer to this question. Of course you have your own reasons why you want to leave your current job. You should be careful in answering this question. By all means you should keep your answers in a positive manner. As much as possible, do not give them a hint on how much you hate your current officemate or your boss. At this point, the interviewer is testing your attitude. The firm wants to hire someone who has the potential to become part of their team and not a negative one who can pull them down.

8. What can you contribute to our company?

Tell them your qualities that are related to the position you are applying for. Give them some ways in which you can help the company grow and be productive by sharing your thoughts and ideas. Show them your dedication and your willingness to be a part of the company.

9. Why should the company hire you?

Basically, this question is about selling yourself. Just like the first question, telling something about your self. Develop a sales statement and be more detailed as much as you can. Tell them something about what makes you unique and what you can contribute to the company. Think of your qualities you have to offer that match on what the employer is looking for.

10. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years from now?

In answering this question, you should focus on your career-advancement goals that are related with the job you are applying for. Interview questions are very tricky and you should be more careful in answering them. Your future career relies on how you deliver your answers. Respond appropriately, just relax and be yourself.

Worth in the Workplace

Worth Personnel Group

Worth in the Workplace

SHORT TERM JOBS AND YOUR RESUME

Based on today's ever-changing and tight job market, it is not unusual to see short term jobs on a resume. Short term jobs might raise a red flag for employers. Short term jobs could be contract positions or permanent jobs.

DON’T LIE

The first rule of thumb when applying for a job is to never lie on your resume. If you put information on a document and submit it for consideration for employment, it better be valid information. There is nothing worse than being offered a job only to have that offer rescinded when your background is thoroughly checked.

DON’T BAD MOUTH

The second rule of thumb when applying for a job is to never bad mouth a previous employer or company. Bad mouthing creates negative feelings in an interview or conversation and will almost always cost you the job offer. Keep your negative opinions to yourself.

LEAVE IT OFF

With these rules in mind, let's look at the various ways you can allay an employer's fear about short term positions on your resume. One oft forgotten method of avoiding concerns over short term employment is to leave that job off of your resume. While not always the best solution, this is one possible way to avoid any concerns. If asked about the gap in employment you can say that you worked a short-term contract job that did not contribute to your overall experience and you did not want to record it on your resume.

SHORT TERM CONTRACTS

Short term contracts are easily explained by either mentioning that you took the position to get experience in a certain area or by explaining that no matter what, you must always work and this was the only position available at the time. You can further qualify the second reason by saying that you are responsible for providing for your family and will do that no matter what. While not the greatest way to explain a short term contract, it does allow you to demonstrate to the prospective employer that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

SHORT TERM PERMANENT JOBS

While these types of jobs are harder to explain away with a simple statement, there is almost always something you can come with about the job that would warrant you leaving. Things like software piracy, illegal activities and sexually abusive superiors are reasons that any employer will understand. However, do not use them lightly.

You can also use reasons like: after evaluating their business model, I was sure they would be out of business in six months, the corporate culture was one that did not coincide with my attitude of teamwork and mutual achievement, and my job responsibilities did not match what I was hired for and I did not sign up for a secretarial position.

All in all, you need to evaluate the position in question and find the most viable and least offensive reason why you left the company. Once you decide, use that excuse consistently in all of your correspondence with potential employers. You never know when one hiring manager might know another from a different company.

Rules For Winning Interviews

· Know your past achievements. An achievement is something that excited you, gave you a feeling of pride, something that you enjoyed doing. Each achievement is made up of factors that have made you successful: creativity, for example, or management, directing, leading, or selling.

· Do your research. Gather and analyze information about the company and the companies' competition. Your painstaking research should include: what the company produces, who the company's customers are, what their culture is like, and if they have a company mission and, if so, what it is. Also find out if they are growing and why, what their plans are for the future, and who their primary competition is. Your knowledge about them will not only contribute to your self-confidence, but also show that you have sincere interest in them.

· Answer all questions directly. Don't get long-winded or go off on unrelated tangents. The best insurance for a direct response is to listen: do your company research; and know your skills, achievements, values, and personal qualities. Listening and preparation are the keys to a winning presentation at an interview.

· Be prepared to answer personal questions. Your personality and core values are strongly considered in a competitive market. Every person counts. You will not only contribute to the profitability of the company but also to its culture. You may be asked, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" "Describe your best or worst boss" "What are your three top values?"

· Balance listening with telling your story. Do not interrupt and sit back (don't slouch) when the interviewer is talking. Be brief when it's your turn to tell your story or answer a question. Pause and check in by asking, "Would you like me to continue?" or "Am I answering your question?" or "Is there any aspect of my background that is of most interest?"

· Focus on what you can do for them. Employers are interested in how you can solve their problems and work with their customers. Do not operate out of a "job description mentality" that emphases title, position, and narrowly defined responsibilities. Today, businesses are focusing on the customer. They look for people whose primary concern is the customer and the company and who want to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

· Let the employer raise the issue of compensation. Remember this golden rule: If you bring up money first, you've lost. All employers want to hire the best person for the job, especially in a competitive marketplace. They'll make you an offer if you've done your homework and have shown them the relevancy of your experience and ability to meet their needs. If they ask, "What would you like?" respond, "I'd like you to make me an offer." Then you'll have additional significant information from which to think over their proposal and to counteroffer and negotiate.

· Be bold - state your interest and why. In a competitive business market, employers hire people who know what they want and why. Often interviewers will not be as prepared as you are. So do your personal and company research. If the company and the specific job interest you, say so and why. For example, the organization may have similar values to yours regarding their respect for employee growth and development, or their product/service could contribute to the environment in a way in which you believe.

· Relate your past experience to their needs. Hearsay is that all employers are looking for employees with experience in their specific industry - but maybe not!! Be prepared to demonstrate how your experience and skills are allied with their needs. For example, tell a story about how you consistently met customers' needs. Also give examples of your fair and productive management style. Excellence in customer service and management is highly transferable if you can clearly demonstrate how.