Questions tell interviewers about your background and personality. In answering questions, say enough but not too much. Answer honestly but accentuate the positive. If you do not get the job, the interview was still good practice. Try doing several interviews before going on the job you really want. Remember, an interviewer is looking for balance not extremes. Be courteous but not submissive, confident but not aggressive, relaxed but not slovenly.
Questions to Expect
Questions generally fall into common categories:
• “Tell me about yourself.” Talk about accomplishments,
skills, and abilities. Avoid talk of family, hobbies, or interests
unless requested.
• “Describe a time when....” Use stories from
your life to illustrate skills the company wants. Don’t
use them all to answer one question. Often you will be asked
how you have handled workplace conflict.
• “What are your worst characteristics/failures?”
Be honest but not negative. If you hate math consider “I’m
not fond of math, I’ve always preferred English.” Confessing
a failure shows maturity, but pick one unrelated to the job.
• “Why do you want this job?/Where will you be five
years from now?” Be prepared to express your desires and
match your skills to the position. The answer you give pertaining
to your future needs to show ambition and commitment.
• “Give reasons why I should NOT hire you”
If you’ve applied for the job, there are no valid reasons
you should not be hired.
• Personality questions: These often include a why? For
example, who are your heros and why? If you were a piece of furniture
what would you be and why? To answer the more off-the-wall questions,
focus first on the why and then find an object/hero that fits
the characteristic.
• Salary questions: Salary and benefits should be mentioned
first by the interviewer. If asked what salary you want, ask
what the job pays. If pressed, give a range.
• Current employment questions: If you dislike your current
employment, avoid launching into how much you hate your company
or boss. Confessing to differences of opinion is okay but don’t
appear a trouble-maker or habitual complainer.
• Academic Questions: If you did poorly in school, don’t
lie about it. Instead, emphasize improvements made. Saying you
disliked school may indicate that on-the-job training would be
lost on you.