Professional Recruiters Saginaw is providing interview preparation material free to the general public in addition to our candidates. An important step to taking serious job search action is being prepared to capitalize on an opportunity when it presents itself. Developing personalized answers to the 62 job interview questions will assure you of leveraging your career potential. Be sure to utilize your value keys from your personal, professional, achievement and business profiles when preparing your answers.
Job interview questions and answer tips Page 2
16.What interests you most about this
job? Be straightforward, unless you haven't
been given enough adequate information to determine
an answer, in which case you should ask a question of
your own to clarify.
17.How much money do you want? "I
naturally want to make as much as my background and
experience permits. I was/am making X dollars. THe
most important thing to me, however, is the job and
the people I will be working with. If I am right for
the job, and I believe I am, I feel sure you'll make
me a fair offer." "What figure did you have in
mind?"
18.What are you
looking for in your next job? You want a
company where your personal profile keys and
professional profile keys will allow you to
contribute to business value keys. Avoid saying what
you want the company to give you; you must say what
you want in terms of what YOU can give to the
employer.
19.Why should
I
hire you? Recap the interviewer's job
description of the job, meeting it point by point
with your skills. Finish your answer with: "I have
qualifications, I'm a team player, I take direction,
and have the desire to make a thorough
success."
20.What can
you
do for us that someone else cannot
do? Recap the interviewers job description,
then follow with: "I can bring to this job a
determination to see projects through to a proper
conclusion. I listen and take direction well. I am
analytical and don't jump to conclusions. And
finally, I understand we are in business to make a
profit, so I keep an eye on cost and return. How do
these qualifications fit your needs?"
21.Describe a difficult problem
you've
had to deal with. "Well, I always follow a
five step format with a difficult problem. One, I
stand back and examine the problem. Two, I recognize
the problem as the symptom of other, perhaps hidden,
factors. Three, I make a list of possible solutions
to the problem. Four, I weigh both the consequences
and cost of each solution, and determine the best
solution. And five, I go to my boss, outline the
problem, make my recommendation, and ask for
my superior's advice and approval." Then give an
example of a problem and your solution.
22.What have you learned from
jobs you have held? "More than anything, I
have learned that what is good for the company is
good for me. So I listen very carefully to
directions and always keep my boss informed of my
actions."
23.What would
your
references say? Be positive. If you
demonstrate how well you and your boss got along, the
interviewer does not have to ask.
24.What type of decisions did you make on
your
last job? Your answer should include
reference to the fact that your decisions were all
based on appropriate business profile keys. It is
also an opportunity to show your achievement
profile.
25.In your last
job,
what were some of the things you spent most of your
time on, and why? You must demonstrate good
time management, and that you are, therefore, goal
oriented.
26.In what
ways
has
your job prepared you to take on greater
responsibility? This is one of the most
important questions you will have to answer. The
interviewer is looking for examples of your
professional growth, so you must tell a story that
demonstrates it. Example: "In the early days my
boss would brief me morning and evening. I made some
mistakes, learned a lot, and got the jobs in on time.
Nowadays, I meet with her every Monday for breakfast
to discuss any major directional
changes."
27.What is
your
greatest weakness? "I enjoy my work and
always give each project my best shot. So when
sometimes I don't feel others are pulling their
weight, I find it a little frustrating. I am aware
of this weakness, and in these situations I try to
overcome it with a positive attitude that I hope will
catch on."
28.Wouldn't
you feel
better off in another company? Answer "no"
and explain why. The question has a twofold purpose:
one to identify a critical area to sell yourself; and
two, to encourage the interviewer to consider an
image of you working at the company.
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