2. INTRODUCTION
The interview is your opportunity to shine. Never
assume the the panel knows you or has read your
resume or application. It takes a lot of time and effort to
get an interview in the first place – so don’t blow it by
not being ready. Interviewing is a skill, you can only
improve your style and expertise with practice.
3. Questions You Might Be
Asked
Question #1: Tell me about yourself
Answer:
This question is often used to break the ice. The
important thing to remember is to keep the answer brief
and make sure that it relates to the job.
Question #2: Why are you interested in working
for this company?
Answer:
State the positive things that you have learned about the
company and how they fit with your career goals. This
shows the employer that you cared enough about the
interview to prepare for it.
4. Question #3: What is your major weakness?
Answer:
Answer this is a positive manner by showing how you
overcame a specific weakness. For example, "Sample
Answers:
• In the past, it was difficult for me to accept criticism from my peers. I have
learned to value and solicit this input, and it has improved my job
performance.
• I like to make sure my work is perfect, so I tend to spend a little too much
time checking it. However, I’ve come to a good balance by setting up a
system to ensure everything is done correctly the first time.
• I’ve learned to make my perfectionism work to my advantage at work. I am
excellent at meeting deadlines, and with my attention to detail, I know my
work is correct.
5. Question #4: How would others describe you?
Answer:
This is another way of asking "How do you think you will
fit in?" You can prepare for this question before the
interview by asking friends and/or people you have
worked with how they would describe you.
Sample Answer:
• Words others have used to describe me are: hard working, trustworthy, self-
starter, and a team-player
6. Question # 5: What do you consider the most
important idea you contributed or your most
noteworthy accomplishment in your last job?
Answer:
Describe specific examples of how effective you have
been in your other positions, change you have
implemented, and goals you have achieved.
7. Question # 6: What are your strengths? Or, if
you were hired, what ideas/talents could you
contribute to the position or our company?
Answer:
These questions give you an opportunity to sell yourself
and qualify you as the best candidate for the job. Be
sure to show how your strengths could be used on the
job and could benefit the company.
Sample Answers:
• I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what
could be difficult situations.
• My time management skills are excellent and I’m organized, efficient, and
take pride in excelling at my work
8. Question #7: What relevant experience do you
have?
Answer:
Hopefully if you're applying for this position you have
bags of related experience, and if that's the case you
should mention it all. But if you're switching careers or
trying something a little different, your experience may
initially not look like it's matching up. That's when you
need a little honest creativity to match the experiences
required with the ones you have. People skills are
people skills after all, you just need to show how
customer service skills can be used in any work
environment.
9. Question #8: Why should we hire you?
Answer:
As I'm sure you know, "because I'm great" or "I really
need a job" are not good answers here. This is a time to
give the employer a laundry list of your greatest talents
that just so happen to match the job description.
Sample Answer:
• Summarize your experiences: I have the skills outlined in the job description
and I bring 10+ years of expertise to this position.
10. Question # 9: Where do you see yourself in five
years?
Answer:
Do not say you don’t know (even if you don’t) and do not
focus on your personal life (it’s nice that you want to get
married or that you want to buy a house, but that’s not
relevant). Show the employer you’ve thought about your
career path and that your professional goals align with
the job.
11. Question # 10: Do you have any questions that
you want to ask?
Answer:
This is not an option. As a job applicant, you want to
show your interest and curiosity about the company you
chose to apply. Aside from knowing company facts and
information, one other way to show your interest is to
ask questions if the interviewer gives you that
opportunity to do so. It is also important to know the kind
of questions you ought to ask.
For a list of questions you should ask the employer, follow this link:
http://www.recruiter.com/i/10-great-questions-to-ask-at-interview/
