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Practice, Practice, Practice Practice makes perfect in anything we do. Don’t take the skill of interviewing lightly. The result of a single interview could catapult your career to a new level or leave you disappointed about not getting that ‘perfect job’! Write Out Answers to Common Questions - It will make you more comfortable, appear more prepared, and sound more articulate. Getting Started - Determine the skills, qualities, and experience you would like the interviewer to remember after the interview. Your resume will contain a list of your experience, professional history, and skills, but it is your interview that will convey your qualities and personality. When answering questions use words from your resume and some of the words used in the job posting. But always remember, what makes you unique. Common Interview Questions Tell me a little about yourself - This should be a 60 second advertisement that includes the information you want to convey. Begin by talking about past experiences and proven success. Mention your strengths and abilities, along with what you are looking for now. Why should we hire you?/ What makes you a good fit for the position? Focus on your key skills and personality traits. What makes you unique? What makes you right for this job? What are your weaknesses?/ What are your strengths? Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits. For your weakness, always indicate how you overcome or are working on overcoming your weakness. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? State your short-term and immediate goals rather than distant future goals. For example, one position higher than the position you are applying, not the CEO. Why did/are you leaving your current job? If your unemployed, state the reason in a positive context. If you were fired, be open and honest and put a positive spin on the experience by revealing what you learned about the experience and how you changed as a person because of it. If you don't like your current boss or company, keep it to yourself. Instead focus on what you are trying to obtain. For example, "an opportunity at a growing company... to gain new experience and skills..etc..". What would your last manager say about you? Select a positive characteristic or trait that your previous manager had stated about you or written in your performance review and put it in your previous manager's words. What salary are you seeking? Try to obtain the range of the position first. Or state that your salary is negotiable based on the requirements of the position. If you state your salary requirements first, you risk aiming low and being offered a lower salary or aiming high and being eliminated as a candidate for the position. Tell me about a time when you.... led a project, were overwhelmed, had to work with a difficult person, recovered from a bad customer service experience, managed multiple priorities, worked on a team, etc.. These type of behavorial questions are used to learn of past experiences and behaviors. Be specific and speak of a specific example. Think of several examples prior to your interview that demonstrated the skills and experiences required of the position. Your answers should not be winged. You should script out and practice your answers prior to the interview by having a friend or relative read the questions to you. These answers should also sound natural, not rehearsed! Practice, practice, practice!!
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