Discuss your work experience.
Provide well-organized, well-supported, specific information. Keep it relevant to the job at hand. It’s not necessary to bethorough, giving each job equal time. Focus on the jobs that relate and highlight the parts of the jobs that would be of interest to the interviewer. Cover the rest in a brief, general statement.
What are your goals?
Keep your goals consistent with the goals of the field for which you are interviewing and with those of the employer. Again, your research is important for this answer. Stay away from interviews in which your goals are not in concert with either those of the position or the employer. At best, that just wastes everyone’s time. At worst, you might end up getting a job that won’t take you where you want to go.
Where do you want to be in five years?
Phrase your answer to this in terms of the next job up the ladder. Don’t tell the interviewer you want his or her job! Don’t talk about being the president of the company eventually. Keep your answer more immediate.
Why do you want this job?
This question gives you a chance to discuss all you know about the .job and why you’re such a good match for it. This is another tough question to answer without having done the homework.
How would you describe yourself?. What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
In describing yourself use only your positive traits. This is no time to present a balanced view. On the other hand, outright bragging doesn’t come off well either. Provide some objective support to your answer in discussing your achievements by recounting situations you’ve been in and how you’ve behaved, or how you’ve solved problems.
The weaknesses question may be the most difficult one of the interview. Plan for what you’ll say. Stay away from the trite approach, “I’m just a workaholic.” Some interviewers might perceive this as threatening. Most will hear it as inauthentic. There are at least two better approaches.
You might focus on a preferred, but peripheral qualification in the job description, particularly if it could be easily learned. Minimize the deficit and focus on your eagerness to learn more about it.
Another effective approach is to actually think about problems you have faced in your life. We seem to be given multiple opportunities to learn lessons in our weak areas. If you can think of a weakness that has given you trouble, you might consider using it. You will probably score points for being genuine. A word of caution–obviously, this flaw can’t beirrelevant (like a weakness for chocolate). More importantly, it can’t be a fatal flaw, e.g., “I can never seem to meet a deadline,” or “I’m always late,” or “I hate numbers.” It should be something that won’t have a profound impact on the work of this position and something you are striving successfully to correct.
Why should I hire you?
Focus on your assets, what you have to offer the employer, the strengths you would bring to the position.
What are your greatest achievements?
Keep these as relevant to the job as possible. Tailor each answer to the objective at hand.
How much of your college expenses did you earn?
Keep in mind that employers are looking for work ethic and they fear it is missing, often as not. If you held the normal part-time and summer jobs to keep yourself in clothing, food, incidentals and your car in gasoline, remember that those expenses add up–possibly to 25 percent or more of your overall living costs.
What are your educational goals?
This may not be the time to divulge that you only want the job to earn money to go back to graduate school full-time. Frame you answer around your love of learning either through formal or informal means, especially as the organization and position might demand.
Why do you want to work for us?
This is a good opportunity to discuss all that you’ve learned about The organization and to use that as a major part of the reason you want the job.
Other Commonly Asked Questions
+ How did you select your university?
+ What were your favorite classes? Least favorite?
+ Tell me about a problem you’ve had and how you solved it.
+ How has your education (or experience) prepared you for this position?
+ What did you like most about the jobs you’ve held? Least?
+ Why do you want this particular job?
+ Do you feel your transcript reflects your true ability?
+ Of what value were your extracurricular activities?
+ What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
+ How do you spend your free time?
+ What type of relationship do you like to have with your supervisor?
+ How does this job contribute to your overall career goal?
+ Are you willing to relocate?
+ Do you work well under pressure?
+ How do you define success?
+ Describe your ideal job.
+ What do you know about our organization?
Ending the Interview
You are generally asked if you have questions or comments at the end of the interview. This is a good point to interject any important points not covered by the interviewer, or which you forgot to mention earlier. Questions should be few in number and not require lengthy explanations. This segment of the interview is usually allotted five or ten minutes before the conclusion. Don’t annoy the interviewer by detaining him or her. On the other hand, it is considered very bad form if you have no questions or comments. Thoughtful questions display your interest in and enthusiasm for the job. They might include:
+ Who would my supervisor be?
+ What type of equipment is used (computers, software, etc.)?
+ What type of training is provided?
+ Tell me about the evaluation process for this position.
+ What are the most important skills and abilities that you are seeking?.
+ How does one advance in this organization?
+ If I were offered the position, when would I start?
+ When can I expect to hear from you?