Unit 4-3 Answering Interview Questions

1. Good interview preparation includes trying to guess the questions you may be asked in an interview and give some thought to how you will answer them. Answering Interview Questions

2. Most interview questions fall into 3 categories: ◦ Why you are applying ◦ What kind of person you are ◦ What you can do Answering Interview Questions

3. Below are some typical questions. General: ◦ Why do you want to work for us? ◦ What are your strengths and weaknesses? ◦ What would you like to be doing in five years from now? Answering Interview Questions

Educational: ◦ What is your grade point average? ◦ What have been your favorite and least favorite courses? ◦ Were your extracurricular activities worth the time you put into them? Answering Interview Questions

Job Related: ◦ Why should I hire you? ◦ How long a commitment do you plan to give this company? Answering Interview Questions

Personal: ◦ Tell me something about yourself. ◦ What accomplishment in your life has made you the proudest? ◦ What is the last book you read? Answering Interview Questions

4. A good interviewee will take advantage of questions, to tell the interviewer certain positive things about themselves. Prepare a short list of positive points you wish to make about yourself. Be alert for situations where you can bring the points into the conversation naturally, such as: Puff balls, Pauses, and Bridges Answering Interview Questions

Puff balls – easy questions, such as “Tell me about yourself,” that allow you to easily tell the interviewer anything you want them to know about you. Answering Interview Questions

Pauses – give you a chance to use some initiative. You don’t have to wait to be questioned. Answering Interview Questions

Bridges – are transitions from one subject to another. You take the opportunity to answer the interviewer’s questions and then immediately show how it relate to something else you want them to know. Answering Interview Questions

5. Elaborate on all your answers, which means to give more detail than just a simple one word or short phrase answers. Give examples that act as evidence that your answers are true. Instead of just saying you are an organized person, back up your answer by telling how you organized a complex school project from beginning to end. Answering Interview Questions

6. Although you want to elaborate on your answers, you want to keep your answers relatively brief. You don’t want to monopolize the conversation. Plan to answer each question in about 30 seconds. Answering Interview Questions

7. Consider the purpose of typical questions. Prepare answers that will tell the interviewer what they want to know, while taking the opportunity to sell yourself. Here are some common questions with their purpose: Answering Interview Questions

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” The interviewer probably wants to know if you are ambitious. Answering Interview Questions

“Why should I hire you?” Here’s where the firm finds out how well you understand its needs. Answering Interview Questions

“Why do you want to work here?” This is where the employer finds out how much you know about its organization. Answering Interview Questions

8. A common questions is “What is your greatest weakness?” Be careful with this one. You may be tempted to answer it with a positive trait, disguised as a weakness. For example: “I tend to be a perfectionist.” Answers like this sound “canned” and may work against you. Answering Interview Questions

Be more original and state a true weakness of yours and show how you are overcoming it. For example: “I’ve had trouble delegating duties to others because I felt I could do things better myself. This has sometimes backfired because I’d end up with more than I could handle. However, I am studying time management and am learning effective delegation techniques. I feel I am overcoming this weakness. Answering Interview Questions

Be sure the weakness you talk about is NOT a key element or requirement of the position! Answering Interview Questions

9. If the interviewer asks why you are lacking in a particular area, such as grades, extracurricular activities, or work experience; you need to stay positive. Answering Interview Questions

In response to a question about a low grade average, you might way something like, “I had not yet learned how to say no. I was on the soccer team, the speech team, and Student Council. There just weren’t enough hours in the day and my grades began to slip. But I learned my lesson and now know how to prioritize. Answering Interview Questions

10. Take your time. If you are asked an extra-tough question that take you by surprise, don’t let it make you nervous. Take a moment or two to gather your thoughts. When you pause before answering, you show your poise (a dignified, self- confident manner.) Answering Interview Questions

You may want to ask the interviewer to give you a moment to think. You would not want to do this more than once or twice. Pausing shows the interviewer that you are able to think before speaking, a positive trait that is becoming less common. Answering Interview Questions

Once in a while, the best answer to a tough question is simply, “I don’t know.” If appropriate, most interviewers will appreciate your honesty. The worst mistake you can make is to try to bluff your way through when you really don’t know what you’re talking about. Answering Interview Questions

11. Some interview questions are inappropriate and possibly illegal. Interviewers should only ask questions that show your ability to do the job. They should not ask questions that might give employers a reason to unfairly discriminate against some applicants. Answering Interview Questions

Just asking the wrong question is not illegal in itself. But it may open an employer up to a lawsuit if an ohterwise- qualified applicant is passed over for ajob based on her or his answer. Sometimes interviewers don’t realize that they are asking improper questions. Answering Interview Questions

Some interviewers know and ask anyway to see how you handle uncomfortable situations. (This should not happen in our class interviews.) Some questions may seem inappropriate; however, if they have to do with your ability to perform the job, they are fine. Answering Interview Questions

Acceptable examples: ◦ “Are you in good health? What do you do to stay in shape? ◦ “Do you have any physical problems that may limit your ability to perform this job?” Answering Interview Questions

Some illegal questions: ◦ What political party are you affiliated with? ◦ Do you go to church regularly? ◦ Are you currently married? ◦ What is your sexual orientation? ◦ Do you drink? ◦ Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? ◦ Do you have a physical disability? ◦ What is your IQ? ◦ How much do you weigh? Answering Interview Questions

How to handle an inappropriate question: ◦ Pause and consider the overall situation and try to consider the employer’s real concern. ◦ Try to answer the question in a manner that would show your ability to meet the requirements of the position. ◦ It is best not to make a big deal about the question being inappropriate. ◦ The interviewer may even recognize his or her mistake and appreciate your willingness to put in aside and go on. Answering Interview Questions

12. Rehearse your answers. Practice saying your answers out loud. It will force you to consider your answers in advance. However, do NOT memorize your answers; it will be obvious and make it sound like a canned speech. Answering Interview Questions

13. Questions to ask the interviewer: Near the end of the interview, you should be given a chance to ask questions. This is NOT optional. Don’t underestimate the importance of asking questions. If you don’t, the interviewer might assume you are uninterested. Answering Interview Questions

Expect to be judged on the quality of questions you ask. Have several good questions prepared. The answers to your prepared questions may naturally get answered before you have a chance to ask them. Answering Interview Questions

On a first interview, do NOT ask “What’s in it for me?” questions, such as: ◦ Questions about the pay ◦ Questions about the days off or flexibility of hours ◦ Questions about the benefits Answering Interview Questions

14. No matter what method you use to tell the interviewer about yourself, be sure to make it a natural conversation, not an interrogation, (an intimidating question and answer session.) Answering Interview Questions

15. Your goal is to be well prepared so you can: ◦ Relax and make your answers sound spontaneous and natural ◦ Sell yourself ◦ Convince the interviewer you are the best person for the job. Answering Interview Questions