February 7, 2012

What about Tough Interview Questions?

By Judy Leu

The purpose of the resume is to get you into your next job interview. Then you have the opportunity to sell yourself. Research the company and position and take time to practice how you would answer questions such as:

• “Tell me about yourself”
  Very common interview question, but where do you start and where do you end? Highlight how your skills, knowledge and experience relate to the job and the company profile. Where you were born and grew up, or what pets you have is not likely to show the interviewer why you are a good candidate for the job opportunity. Make your interview answer relevant! The interviewer wants to know if you will fit in with the rest of the team, the department and the company. The interviewer is also trying to find out what motivates you and whether it is consistent with what the job and the employer offer.
• " What are your strengths?"
  Spend some time thinking about this before the interview, what do you do well? Tailor your strengths to the job and highlight why they qualify you as the right candidate for the job opportunity. Don't make the mistake of frustrating the interviewer as you describe what a great athlete you are and list your latest sports achievements during your sales job interview. Don't just list your strengths, back them up with facts. An attribute is far more powerful if it is rooted in a relevant example.
• " What are your weaknesses?"
  The interviewer is assessing your self awareness and insight rather than your weaknesses. The ability to acknowledge a weakness is often seen as a sign of maturity and wisdom. Refer to a true weakness but then turn it into a positive by describing it as an area for development. In your job interview answer relate what steps you have taken to try and improve. A good guide is to acknowledge one or two weaknesses, describe the efforts made to overcome these and end your story on a positive note.
• " Why should we hire you?"
  Be enthusiastic about why you want this job. Refer to your skills and experience relevant to the job requirements and the company's needs. Mention your previous successes and your goals for the future. Be straightforward and confident about your abilities. An excellent reason to employ you is that you are a hard worker. Candidates tend to underplay this quality when answering interview questions. Every employer wants a hard worker and whatever job you are interviewing for, hard work is central to succeeding in it.

Email job search questions to judyl@skillsource.org
Contact SkillSource, 663-3091, or WorkSource, 665.6605, for assistance.

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Job Search Quote of the Week

"It's not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."
— Paul "Bear" Bryant