Showing posts with label Tips for Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips for Interview. Show all posts
Friday, January 22, 2010
10 most common interview questions
Why Should We Hire You?
Summarize your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."
What Are Your Goals?
Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."
Why Did You Leave (Are You Leaving) Your Job?
If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."
If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."
When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."
What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?
What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."
What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?
It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."
What Salary Are You Seeking?
It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"
If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?
Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?
10 most common interview questions
Why Should We Hire You?
Summarize your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."
What Are Your Goals?
Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."
Why Did You Leave (Are You Leaving) Your Job?
If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."
If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."
When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."
What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?
What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."
What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?
It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."
What Salary Are You Seeking?
It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"
If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?
Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?
Interview FAQs
1.Question: Suppose that data is an array of 1000 integers. Write a single function call that will sort the 100 elements data [222] through data [321].
Answer: quicksort ((data + 222), 100);
2.Question: Which recursive sorting technique always makes recursive calls to sort subarrays that are about half size of the original array?
Answer: Mergesort always makes recursive calls to sort subarrays that are about half size of the original array, resulting in O(n log n) time.
3.Question: What is the difference between an external iterator and an internal iterator? Describe an advantage of an external iterator.
Answer: .An internal iterator is implemented with member functions of the class that has items to step through. .An external iterator is implemented as a separate class that can be "attach" to the object that has items to step through. .An external iterator has the advantage that many difference iterators can be active simultaneously on the same object.
4.Question: Why are arrays usually processed with for loop?
Answer: The real power of arrays comes from their facility of using an index variable to traverse the array, accessing each element with the same expression a[i]. All the is needed to make this work is a iterated statement in which the variable i serves as a counter, incrementing from 0 to a.length -1. That is exactly what a loop does.
5.Question: What is an HTML tag?
Answer: An HTML tag is a syntactical construct in the HTML language that abbreviates specific instructions to be executed when the HTML script is loaded into a Web browser. It is like a method in Java, a function in C++, a procedure in Pascal, or a subroutine in FORTRAN.
What is pure virtual function?
A class is made abstract by declaring one or more of its virtual functions to be pure. A pure virtual function is one with an initializer of = 0 in its declaration
Q. Write a Struct Time where integer m, h, s are its members
struct Time
{
int m;
int h;
int s;
};
Q. How do you traverse a Btree in Backward in-order?
Process the node in the right subtree
Process the root
Process the node in the left subtree
Q. What is the two main roles of Operating System?
As a resource manager
As a virtual machine
Q. In the derived class, which data member of the base class are visible?
In the public and protected sections.
Q1 What are the advantages and disadvantages of B-star trees over Binary trees? (Asked by Motorola people)
A1 B-star trees have better data structure and are faster in search than Binary trees, but it's harder to write codes for B-start trees.
Q2 Write the psuedo code for the Depth first Search.(Asked by Microsoft)
A2
dfs(G, v) //OUTLINE
Mark v as "discovered"
For each vertex w such that edge vw is in G:
If w is undiscovered:
dfs(G, w); that is, explore vw, visit w, explore from there
as much as possible, and backtrack from w to v.
Otherwise:
"Check" vw without visiting w.
Mark v as "finished".
Q3 Describe one simple rehashing policy.(Asked by Motorola people)
A3 The simplest rehashing policy is linear probing. Suppose a key K hashes to location i. Suppose other key occupies H[i]. The following function is used to generate alternative locations:
rehash(j) = (j + 1) mod h
where j is the location most recently probed. Initially j = i, the hash code for K. Notice that this version of rehash does not depend on K.
Q4 Describe Stacks and name a couple of places where stacks are useful. (Asked by Microsoft)
A4 A Stack is a linear structure in which insertions and deletions are always made at one end, called the top. This updating policy is called last in, first out (LIFO). It is useful when we need to check some syntex errors, such as missing parentheses.
Q5 Suppose a 3-bit sequence number is used in the selective-reject ARQ, what is the maximum number of frames that could be transmitted at a time? (Asked by Cisco)
A5 If a 3-bit sequence number is used, then it could distinguish 8 different frames. Since the number of frames that could be transmitted at a time is no greater half the numner of frames that could be distinguished by the sequence number, so at most 4 frames can be transmitted at a time.
1. In C++, what is the difference between method overloading and method overwriting?
Overloading a method (or function) in C++ is the ability for functions of the same name to be defined as long as these methods have different signatures (different set of parameters). Method overwriting is the ability of the inherited class rewriting the virtual method of the base class.
2. What methods can be overwritten in Java?
In C++ terminalogy, all public methods in Java are virtual. Therefore, all Java methods can be overwritten in subclasses except those that are declared final, static, and private.
3. In C, What is the difference between a static variable and global variable?
A static variable declared outside of any function is accessible only to all the functions defined in the same file (as the static variable). However, a global variable can be accessed by any function (including the ones from different files).
4. In C, why is the void pointer useful?
The void pointer is useful becuase it is a generic pointer that any pointer can be cast into and back again without loss of information.
5. What are the defining traits of an object-oriented language?
The defining traits of an object-oriented langauge are:
encapsulation
inheritance
polymorphism
Q: What is the difference between Stack and Queue?
A: Stack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) data structure.
Queue is a First In First Out (FIFO) data structure
Q: Write a fucntion that will reverse a string. (Microsoft)
A: char *strrev(char *s)
{
int i = 0, len = strlen(s);
char *str;
if ((str = (char *)malloc(len+1)) == NULL) /*cannot allocate memory */
err_num = 2;
return (str);
}
while(len)
str[i++]=s[--len];
str[i] = NULL;
return (str);
}
Q: What is the software Life-Cycle?
A: The software Life-Cycle are
1) Analysis and specification of the task
2) Design of the algorithms and data structures
3) Implementation (coding)
4) Testing
5) Maintenance and evolution of the system
6) Obsolescence
Q: What is the difference between a Java application and a Java applet?
A: The difference between a Java application and a Java applet is that a
Java application is a program that can be executed using the Java
interpeter, and a JAVA applet can be transfered to different networks
and executed by using a web browser (transferable to the WWW).
Q: Name 7 layers of the OSI Reference Model? (from Cisco)
A: -Application layer
-Presentation layer
-Session layer
-Transport layer
-Network layer
-Data Link layer
-Physical layer
1. How do you write a function that can reverse a linked-list? (Cisco System)
void reverselist(void)
{
if(head==0)
return;
if(head->next==0)
return;
if(head->next==tail)
{
head->next = 0;
tail->next = head;
}
else
{
node* pre = head;
node* cur = head->next;
node* curnext = cur->next;
head->next = 0;
cur->next = head;
for(; curnext!=0; )
{
cur->next = pre;
pre = cur;
cur = curnext;
curnext = curnext->next;
}
curnext->next = cur;
}
}
2. What is polymorphism?
Polymorphism is the idea that a base class can be inherited by several classes. A base class pointer can point to its child class and a base class array can store different child class objects.
3. How do you find out if a linked-list has an end? (i.e. the list is not a cycle)
You can find out by using 2 pointers. One of them goes 2 nodes each time. The second one goes at 1 nodes each time. If there is a cycle, the one that goes 2 nodes each time will eventually meet the one that goes slower. If that is the case, then you will know the linked-list is a cycle.
4. How can you tell what shell you are running on UNIX system?
You can do the Echo $RANDOM. It will return a undefined variable if you are from the C-Shell, just a return prompt if you are from the Bourne shell, and a 5 digit random numbers if you are from the Korn shell. You could also do a ps -l and look for the shell with the highest PID.
5. What is Boyce Codd Normal form?
A relation schema R is in BCNF with respect to a set F of functional dependencies if for all functional dependencies in F+ of the form a->b, where a and b is a subset of R, at least one of the following holds:
a->b is a trivial functional dependency (b is a subset of a)
a is a superkey for schema R
Interview FAQs
1.Question: Suppose that data is an array of 1000 integers. Write a single function call that will sort the 100 elements data [222] through data [321].
Answer: quicksort ((data + 222), 100);
2.Question: Which recursive sorting technique always makes recursive calls to sort subarrays that are about half size of the original array?
Answer: Mergesort always makes recursive calls to sort subarrays that are about half size of the original array, resulting in O(n log n) time.
3.Question: What is the difference between an external iterator and an internal iterator? Describe an advantage of an external iterator.
Answer: .An internal iterator is implemented with member functions of the class that has items to step through. .An external iterator is implemented as a separate class that can be "attach" to the object that has items to step through. .An external iterator has the advantage that many difference iterators can be active simultaneously on the same object.
4.Question: Why are arrays usually processed with for loop?
Answer: The real power of arrays comes from their facility of using an index variable to traverse the array, accessing each element with the same expression a[i]. All the is needed to make this work is a iterated statement in which the variable i serves as a counter, incrementing from 0 to a.length -1. That is exactly what a loop does.
5.Question: What is an HTML tag?
Answer: An HTML tag is a syntactical construct in the HTML language that abbreviates specific instructions to be executed when the HTML script is loaded into a Web browser. It is like a method in Java, a function in C++, a procedure in Pascal, or a subroutine in FORTRAN.
What is pure virtual function?
A class is made abstract by declaring one or more of its virtual functions to be pure. A pure virtual function is one with an initializer of = 0 in its declaration
Q. Write a Struct Time where integer m, h, s are its members
struct Time
{
int m;
int h;
int s;
};
Q. How do you traverse a Btree in Backward in-order?
Process the node in the right subtree
Process the root
Process the node in the left subtree
Q. What is the two main roles of Operating System?
As a resource manager
As a virtual machine
Q. In the derived class, which data member of the base class are visible?
In the public and protected sections.
Q1 What are the advantages and disadvantages of B-star trees over Binary trees? (Asked by Motorola people)
A1 B-star trees have better data structure and are faster in search than Binary trees, but it's harder to write codes for B-start trees.
Q2 Write the psuedo code for the Depth first Search.(Asked by Microsoft)
A2
dfs(G, v) //OUTLINE
Mark v as "discovered"
For each vertex w such that edge vw is in G:
If w is undiscovered:
dfs(G, w); that is, explore vw, visit w, explore from there
as much as possible, and backtrack from w to v.
Otherwise:
"Check" vw without visiting w.
Mark v as "finished".
Q3 Describe one simple rehashing policy.(Asked by Motorola people)
A3 The simplest rehashing policy is linear probing. Suppose a key K hashes to location i. Suppose other key occupies H[i]. The following function is used to generate alternative locations:
rehash(j) = (j + 1) mod h
where j is the location most recently probed. Initially j = i, the hash code for K. Notice that this version of rehash does not depend on K.
Q4 Describe Stacks and name a couple of places where stacks are useful. (Asked by Microsoft)
A4 A Stack is a linear structure in which insertions and deletions are always made at one end, called the top. This updating policy is called last in, first out (LIFO). It is useful when we need to check some syntex errors, such as missing parentheses.
Q5 Suppose a 3-bit sequence number is used in the selective-reject ARQ, what is the maximum number of frames that could be transmitted at a time? (Asked by Cisco)
A5 If a 3-bit sequence number is used, then it could distinguish 8 different frames. Since the number of frames that could be transmitted at a time is no greater half the numner of frames that could be distinguished by the sequence number, so at most 4 frames can be transmitted at a time.
1. In C++, what is the difference between method overloading and method overwriting?
Overloading a method (or function) in C++ is the ability for functions of the same name to be defined as long as these methods have different signatures (different set of parameters). Method overwriting is the ability of the inherited class rewriting the virtual method of the base class.
2. What methods can be overwritten in Java?
In C++ terminalogy, all public methods in Java are virtual. Therefore, all Java methods can be overwritten in subclasses except those that are declared final, static, and private.
3. In C, What is the difference between a static variable and global variable?
A static variable declared outside of any function is accessible only to all the functions defined in the same file (as the static variable). However, a global variable can be accessed by any function (including the ones from different files).
4. In C, why is the void pointer useful?
The void pointer is useful becuase it is a generic pointer that any pointer can be cast into and back again without loss of information.
5. What are the defining traits of an object-oriented language?
The defining traits of an object-oriented langauge are:
encapsulation
inheritance
polymorphism
Q: What is the difference between Stack and Queue?
A: Stack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) data structure.
Queue is a First In First Out (FIFO) data structure
Q: Write a fucntion that will reverse a string. (Microsoft)
A: char *strrev(char *s)
{
int i = 0, len = strlen(s);
char *str;
if ((str = (char *)malloc(len+1)) == NULL) /*cannot allocate memory */
err_num = 2;
return (str);
}
while(len)
str[i++]=s[--len];
str[i] = NULL;
return (str);
}
Q: What is the software Life-Cycle?
A: The software Life-Cycle are
1) Analysis and specification of the task
2) Design of the algorithms and data structures
3) Implementation (coding)
4) Testing
5) Maintenance and evolution of the system
6) Obsolescence
Q: What is the difference between a Java application and a Java applet?
A: The difference between a Java application and a Java applet is that a
Java application is a program that can be executed using the Java
interpeter, and a JAVA applet can be transfered to different networks
and executed by using a web browser (transferable to the WWW).
Q: Name 7 layers of the OSI Reference Model? (from Cisco)
A: -Application layer
-Presentation layer
-Session layer
-Transport layer
-Network layer
-Data Link layer
-Physical layer
1. How do you write a function that can reverse a linked-list? (Cisco System)
void reverselist(void)
{
if(head==0)
return;
if(head->next==0)
return;
if(head->next==tail)
{
head->next = 0;
tail->next = head;
}
else
{
node* pre = head;
node* cur = head->next;
node* curnext = cur->next;
head->next = 0;
cur->next = head;
for(; curnext!=0; )
{
cur->next = pre;
pre = cur;
cur = curnext;
curnext = curnext->next;
}
curnext->next = cur;
}
}
2. What is polymorphism?
Polymorphism is the idea that a base class can be inherited by several classes. A base class pointer can point to its child class and a base class array can store different child class objects.
3. How do you find out if a linked-list has an end? (i.e. the list is not a cycle)
You can find out by using 2 pointers. One of them goes 2 nodes each time. The second one goes at 1 nodes each time. If there is a cycle, the one that goes 2 nodes each time will eventually meet the one that goes slower. If that is the case, then you will know the linked-list is a cycle.
4. How can you tell what shell you are running on UNIX system?
You can do the Echo $RANDOM. It will return a undefined variable if you are from the C-Shell, just a return prompt if you are from the Bourne shell, and a 5 digit random numbers if you are from the Korn shell. You could also do a ps -l and look for the shell with the highest PID.
5. What is Boyce Codd Normal form?
A relation schema R is in BCNF with respect to a set F of functional dependencies if for all functional dependencies in F+ of the form a->b, where a and b is a subset of R, at least one of the following holds:
a->b is a trivial functional dependency (b is a subset of a)
a is a superkey for schema R
Interview questions and tips
Tell me about yourself... (Your answer should contain much more about your job skills than your personal life.) Talk about the growth of your career, what you learned from previous employment or even things like how your volunteer worked help you develop your organizational, time management and leadership skills.
? What are your strengths? (If you really enjoy new challenges and tackle them in an organized manner, this would be a useful strength in almost any situation.) You can talk about your ability to find unique solutions to problems. Be prepared with some concrete examples, since that may be the follow-up question.
? What are your weaknesses? (A "good" weakness might be that you have trouble leaving the office behind when you go home in the evenings.) This is a very difficult question that is not asked often, but it's one you should prepare for anyway. If you talk about your temper, your tendency to gossip or the fact that you're lazy, you may as well pack up and go home right then. If you mention a weakness such as your lack of patience with people who don't do their share of the work, you should also mention that you keep this impatience to yourself and try very hard not to express it toward others.
? Do you have any questions about our company? (If you have paid attention during the interview and if you have done your homework, this would be a good time to ask for more details about some aspect of the company's organizational structure or products. It would not be a good time to ask about your first raise. You could also ask questions about the community, their training program or details about the work environment.)
? Where do you expect your career to be in 10 years? (Be careful here. You do not want to give the impression that you're simply using this company as a stepping stone to another career. Think of a related managerial position within the company that would interest you.) There is a story about a young accountant who was asked this question by a CPA firm during an interview. The young accountant replied that he saw himself as the comptroller of a large corporation. In other words, "I'm just using your firm to teach me and then after you spend your resources training me, I will leave to go work for someone else." Needless to say, he was not offered a position with the CPA firm. They know that 75% of the people they hire will leave within 10 years, but they do not want to hire someone who comes in with that plan.
? What skills do you have that would benefit our company? (If your skills are not exactly those that the company may have requested, you can point out the skills you have that would be valuable to any company. Examples of these skills are: your ability to plan and execute long-term projects, your ability to organize information into usable data, your ability to research complicated issues, or your ability to work well with a team.) If your skills are not perfect for this particular company, you can mention how quickly you were able to adapt and learn in other situations. Again, be prepared with specific examples in case you are asked to elaborate.
? Why did you leave your last job? (This is not an opening to speak badly of your former employer. There is almost always a way of wording the explanation so that you do not sound like a "problem employee" and your former employer does not sound like an undesirable company.) As unfair as it may seem, there is almost no time when you should say something bad about your former employer. You can talk about the lack of potential for upward mobility, the fact that your job responsibilities changed to the point that it no longer fit into your career plan, your need to move to be closer to your aging parents, the need to reduce travel time, your need for a more challenging job, or anything else that does not get into personalities or other conflicts. If you were fired for cause, you may want to be up front about it, explain the circumstances and accept responsibility for your actions. Practice your answers to this question with someone who has interview experience. However, don't lie. If you can't say anything positive about your former employer, don't say anything. It could come back to haunt you.
IMPORTANT INTERVIEW TIPS
1. Arrive a little early. If you arrive about fifteen minutes before the scheduled interview time, you will have time to collect your thoughts, wipe the perspiration from your hands, and scan the lobby for current company information. You will also show your interviewer that you value his or her time.
2. Do your homework. Know the interviewer's name and how to pronounce it (including proper title: Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.). Know the company's major products or services, the organization of the company (divisions, parent company, etc.), current business news about the company and the company's major customers and competitors. You can learn most or all of this information from the company's website, annual report or company literature.
3. Bring a Spare Copy of Your Resume in a Briefcase or Folder. This demonstrates that you are prepared. It also gives the interviewer something to take notes on.
4. Expect to Spend Some Time Developing Rapport. Personal chemistry is a main ingredient in the hiring process. Try to relax and become comfortable with the interviewer.
5. Watch Your Non-Verbal Communication. Maintain an open body posture and appropriate eye contact. Seat yourself at a reasonable distance from the other person. Smile.
6. Don't Be Embarrassed by Nervousness. Interviewers are human, and they often become nervous, too. In fact, nervousness is a good sign - it shows that you are taking the interview seriously. Avoid nervous mannerisms such as tapping your fingers, feet, playing with pens, etc.
7. Body language is powerful! Good eye contact, a warm, natural smile and a firm handshake can help you overcome nervousness, develop a personal rapport and present a confident image.
8. Don't Play Comedian or Try to Entertain the Interviewer. It is important to be personable, but do not overdo it.
9. Don't Exaggerate or Lie. You might be tempted to embellish your achievements in the interview, but it will come back to haunt you on the job!
10. Follow the Interviewer's Lead. Don't try to take over the interview. Stick to the main subject at hand, but do not dwell too long on one point. It is better to deal with many questions rather than just one or two in-depth questions, unless that's where the interviewer leads you.
11. Be Prepared For Personal Questions, Even Some Inappropriate Ones. Anticipate how you will handle personal questions without blowing your cool. Some interviewers may not be aware of what they can and cannot legally ask you. Be sure you understand the question. It is okay to ask for clarification.
12. Emphasize the Positive. Be frank and honest, but never apologize for lack of experience or weaknesses. You can be self-confident without being overconfident or flippant. If you are new to the job market, your lack of experience has one very positive feature: you do not have to "unlearn" bad habits or different practices learned from previous employers. Many employers like the idea that you can be taught their individual company procedures without needing to get rid of other training first.
13. Wait for an Offer to Bring Up Salary. Let the interviewer bring up this subject. Often salary and benefits are not discussed at all on the first interview. Even though everyone knows that salary is important, you do not want to give the impression that it is the only consideration. If it is, you can be easily lured away be a competitor offering a slightly higher salary. The interviewer needs to see that you are interested in the other aspects of the job like the potential for growth, learning or the challenge of the position.
14. Don't be Afraid to Think Before You Speak. Use silence and intentional pause to your advantage. Time is occasionally needed to think and to reflect. The interviewer will respect you for taking a questions seriously enough to give it a moment or two of consideration before answering.
15. Emphasize What You Can Do For The Organization. This means emphasizing your transferable skills. However, be careful not to reveal trade secrets from a previous employer. Employers are concerned most with what you can do for them. Focus on your ability to tackle new situations, your communication skills, interpersonal abilities, analytical thinking talents, and other skills developed while in college or in previous positions.
16. Don't give "Prepared Answers". Most employers know a these stock answers when they hear them. This is a good reason to use interview question / answer guide as just that - guides. If your answers are not personalized to your situation, they will sound forced and unnatural. You might be surprised to learn how often interviewers hear the phrase, "I really like working with people." The phrase is used so often that it has lost it's meaning!
17. NEVER Speak Badly about a Former Employer. If there were problems with previous experiences, try to put your answers in the positive rather than the negative. If you slight a former employer, the interviewer may assume that you will someday do the same to him or her.
18. Watch Your Grammar and Your Manners. Employers are interested in candidates who can express themselves properly. Even if you have to slow down to correct yourself -- do it! Use slang expressions very sparingly. If your knowledge of rules of etiquette are rusty, take a "refresher course" from a knowledgeable friend.
19. Be Prepared to Ask Questions. Almost all interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You should have some ready and should have at least one that is related to the conversation you have just completed. This demonstrates that you are both prepared and interested. Your questions should be related to details about the company and should be based on the information you learned from the homework you have done (see Tip #2). You should not ask questions like "How long to I have to wait before I can take a vacation?" Save those what's-in-it-for-me questions for later.
20. Use Telephone Interviews. If you are applying for jobs in places in other states, you can suggest a short telephone interview. Even a preliminary telephone interview can help you assess whether or not it would be worth your time and expense to travel for a personal interview.
21. Don't Expect an Immediate Job Offer. Offers usually follow the interview, a few weeks later. If you are offered the position on the spot, it is appropriate for you to ask for one or two days to think about the offer before responding.
22. Be Careful With the Closing. Do not linger. End quickly and courteously. Thank your interviewer for the interview. Smile.
23. Be Yourself! You do not want to get hired on the basis of something you are not. You want to be hired for who you are!
? What are your strengths? (If you really enjoy new challenges and tackle them in an organized manner, this would be a useful strength in almost any situation.) You can talk about your ability to find unique solutions to problems. Be prepared with some concrete examples, since that may be the follow-up question.
? What are your weaknesses? (A "good" weakness might be that you have trouble leaving the office behind when you go home in the evenings.) This is a very difficult question that is not asked often, but it's one you should prepare for anyway. If you talk about your temper, your tendency to gossip or the fact that you're lazy, you may as well pack up and go home right then. If you mention a weakness such as your lack of patience with people who don't do their share of the work, you should also mention that you keep this impatience to yourself and try very hard not to express it toward others.
? Do you have any questions about our company? (If you have paid attention during the interview and if you have done your homework, this would be a good time to ask for more details about some aspect of the company's organizational structure or products. It would not be a good time to ask about your first raise. You could also ask questions about the community, their training program or details about the work environment.)
? Where do you expect your career to be in 10 years? (Be careful here. You do not want to give the impression that you're simply using this company as a stepping stone to another career. Think of a related managerial position within the company that would interest you.) There is a story about a young accountant who was asked this question by a CPA firm during an interview. The young accountant replied that he saw himself as the comptroller of a large corporation. In other words, "I'm just using your firm to teach me and then after you spend your resources training me, I will leave to go work for someone else." Needless to say, he was not offered a position with the CPA firm. They know that 75% of the people they hire will leave within 10 years, but they do not want to hire someone who comes in with that plan.
? What skills do you have that would benefit our company? (If your skills are not exactly those that the company may have requested, you can point out the skills you have that would be valuable to any company. Examples of these skills are: your ability to plan and execute long-term projects, your ability to organize information into usable data, your ability to research complicated issues, or your ability to work well with a team.) If your skills are not perfect for this particular company, you can mention how quickly you were able to adapt and learn in other situations. Again, be prepared with specific examples in case you are asked to elaborate.
? Why did you leave your last job? (This is not an opening to speak badly of your former employer. There is almost always a way of wording the explanation so that you do not sound like a "problem employee" and your former employer does not sound like an undesirable company.) As unfair as it may seem, there is almost no time when you should say something bad about your former employer. You can talk about the lack of potential for upward mobility, the fact that your job responsibilities changed to the point that it no longer fit into your career plan, your need to move to be closer to your aging parents, the need to reduce travel time, your need for a more challenging job, or anything else that does not get into personalities or other conflicts. If you were fired for cause, you may want to be up front about it, explain the circumstances and accept responsibility for your actions. Practice your answers to this question with someone who has interview experience. However, don't lie. If you can't say anything positive about your former employer, don't say anything. It could come back to haunt you.
IMPORTANT INTERVIEW TIPS
1. Arrive a little early. If you arrive about fifteen minutes before the scheduled interview time, you will have time to collect your thoughts, wipe the perspiration from your hands, and scan the lobby for current company information. You will also show your interviewer that you value his or her time.
2. Do your homework. Know the interviewer's name and how to pronounce it (including proper title: Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.). Know the company's major products or services, the organization of the company (divisions, parent company, etc.), current business news about the company and the company's major customers and competitors. You can learn most or all of this information from the company's website, annual report or company literature.
3. Bring a Spare Copy of Your Resume in a Briefcase or Folder. This demonstrates that you are prepared. It also gives the interviewer something to take notes on.
4. Expect to Spend Some Time Developing Rapport. Personal chemistry is a main ingredient in the hiring process. Try to relax and become comfortable with the interviewer.
5. Watch Your Non-Verbal Communication. Maintain an open body posture and appropriate eye contact. Seat yourself at a reasonable distance from the other person. Smile.
6. Don't Be Embarrassed by Nervousness. Interviewers are human, and they often become nervous, too. In fact, nervousness is a good sign - it shows that you are taking the interview seriously. Avoid nervous mannerisms such as tapping your fingers, feet, playing with pens, etc.
7. Body language is powerful! Good eye contact, a warm, natural smile and a firm handshake can help you overcome nervousness, develop a personal rapport and present a confident image.
8. Don't Play Comedian or Try to Entertain the Interviewer. It is important to be personable, but do not overdo it.
9. Don't Exaggerate or Lie. You might be tempted to embellish your achievements in the interview, but it will come back to haunt you on the job!
10. Follow the Interviewer's Lead. Don't try to take over the interview. Stick to the main subject at hand, but do not dwell too long on one point. It is better to deal with many questions rather than just one or two in-depth questions, unless that's where the interviewer leads you.
11. Be Prepared For Personal Questions, Even Some Inappropriate Ones. Anticipate how you will handle personal questions without blowing your cool. Some interviewers may not be aware of what they can and cannot legally ask you. Be sure you understand the question. It is okay to ask for clarification.
12. Emphasize the Positive. Be frank and honest, but never apologize for lack of experience or weaknesses. You can be self-confident without being overconfident or flippant. If you are new to the job market, your lack of experience has one very positive feature: you do not have to "unlearn" bad habits or different practices learned from previous employers. Many employers like the idea that you can be taught their individual company procedures without needing to get rid of other training first.
13. Wait for an Offer to Bring Up Salary. Let the interviewer bring up this subject. Often salary and benefits are not discussed at all on the first interview. Even though everyone knows that salary is important, you do not want to give the impression that it is the only consideration. If it is, you can be easily lured away be a competitor offering a slightly higher salary. The interviewer needs to see that you are interested in the other aspects of the job like the potential for growth, learning or the challenge of the position.
14. Don't be Afraid to Think Before You Speak. Use silence and intentional pause to your advantage. Time is occasionally needed to think and to reflect. The interviewer will respect you for taking a questions seriously enough to give it a moment or two of consideration before answering.
15. Emphasize What You Can Do For The Organization. This means emphasizing your transferable skills. However, be careful not to reveal trade secrets from a previous employer. Employers are concerned most with what you can do for them. Focus on your ability to tackle new situations, your communication skills, interpersonal abilities, analytical thinking talents, and other skills developed while in college or in previous positions.
16. Don't give "Prepared Answers". Most employers know a these stock answers when they hear them. This is a good reason to use interview question / answer guide as just that - guides. If your answers are not personalized to your situation, they will sound forced and unnatural. You might be surprised to learn how often interviewers hear the phrase, "I really like working with people." The phrase is used so often that it has lost it's meaning!
17. NEVER Speak Badly about a Former Employer. If there were problems with previous experiences, try to put your answers in the positive rather than the negative. If you slight a former employer, the interviewer may assume that you will someday do the same to him or her.
18. Watch Your Grammar and Your Manners. Employers are interested in candidates who can express themselves properly. Even if you have to slow down to correct yourself -- do it! Use slang expressions very sparingly. If your knowledge of rules of etiquette are rusty, take a "refresher course" from a knowledgeable friend.
19. Be Prepared to Ask Questions. Almost all interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You should have some ready and should have at least one that is related to the conversation you have just completed. This demonstrates that you are both prepared and interested. Your questions should be related to details about the company and should be based on the information you learned from the homework you have done (see Tip #2). You should not ask questions like "How long to I have to wait before I can take a vacation?" Save those what's-in-it-for-me questions for later.
20. Use Telephone Interviews. If you are applying for jobs in places in other states, you can suggest a short telephone interview. Even a preliminary telephone interview can help you assess whether or not it would be worth your time and expense to travel for a personal interview.
21. Don't Expect an Immediate Job Offer. Offers usually follow the interview, a few weeks later. If you are offered the position on the spot, it is appropriate for you to ask for one or two days to think about the offer before responding.
22. Be Careful With the Closing. Do not linger. End quickly and courteously. Thank your interviewer for the interview. Smile.
23. Be Yourself! You do not want to get hired on the basis of something you are not. You want to be hired for who you are!
Interview questions and tips
Tell me about yourself... (Your answer should contain much more about your job skills than your personal life.) Talk about the growth of your career, what you learned from previous employment or even things like how your volunteer worked help you develop your organizational, time management and leadership skills.
? What are your strengths? (If you really enjoy new challenges and tackle them in an organized manner, this would be a useful strength in almost any situation.) You can talk about your ability to find unique solutions to problems. Be prepared with some concrete examples, since that may be the follow-up question.
? What are your weaknesses? (A "good" weakness might be that you have trouble leaving the office behind when you go home in the evenings.) This is a very difficult question that is not asked often, but it's one you should prepare for anyway. If you talk about your temper, your tendency to gossip or the fact that you're lazy, you may as well pack up and go home right then. If you mention a weakness such as your lack of patience with people who don't do their share of the work, you should also mention that you keep this impatience to yourself and try very hard not to express it toward others.
? Do you have any questions about our company? (If you have paid attention during the interview and if you have done your homework, this would be a good time to ask for more details about some aspect of the company's organizational structure or products. It would not be a good time to ask about your first raise. You could also ask questions about the community, their training program or details about the work environment.)
? Where do you expect your career to be in 10 years? (Be careful here. You do not want to give the impression that you're simply using this company as a stepping stone to another career. Think of a related managerial position within the company that would interest you.) There is a story about a young accountant who was asked this question by a CPA firm during an interview. The young accountant replied that he saw himself as the comptroller of a large corporation. In other words, "I'm just using your firm to teach me and then after you spend your resources training me, I will leave to go work for someone else." Needless to say, he was not offered a position with the CPA firm. They know that 75% of the people they hire will leave within 10 years, but they do not want to hire someone who comes in with that plan.
? What skills do you have that would benefit our company? (If your skills are not exactly those that the company may have requested, you can point out the skills you have that would be valuable to any company. Examples of these skills are: your ability to plan and execute long-term projects, your ability to organize information into usable data, your ability to research complicated issues, or your ability to work well with a team.) If your skills are not perfect for this particular company, you can mention how quickly you were able to adapt and learn in other situations. Again, be prepared with specific examples in case you are asked to elaborate.
? Why did you leave your last job? (This is not an opening to speak badly of your former employer. There is almost always a way of wording the explanation so that you do not sound like a "problem employee" and your former employer does not sound like an undesirable company.) As unfair as it may seem, there is almost no time when you should say something bad about your former employer. You can talk about the lack of potential for upward mobility, the fact that your job responsibilities changed to the point that it no longer fit into your career plan, your need to move to be closer to your aging parents, the need to reduce travel time, your need for a more challenging job, or anything else that does not get into personalities or other conflicts. If you were fired for cause, you may want to be up front about it, explain the circumstances and accept responsibility for your actions. Practice your answers to this question with someone who has interview experience. However, don't lie. If you can't say anything positive about your former employer, don't say anything. It could come back to haunt you.
IMPORTANT INTERVIEW TIPS
1. Arrive a little early. If you arrive about fifteen minutes before the scheduled interview time, you will have time to collect your thoughts, wipe the perspiration from your hands, and scan the lobby for current company information. You will also show your interviewer that you value his or her time.
2. Do your homework. Know the interviewer's name and how to pronounce it (including proper title: Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.). Know the company's major products or services, the organization of the company (divisions, parent company, etc.), current business news about the company and the company's major customers and competitors. You can learn most or all of this information from the company's website, annual report or company literature.
3. Bring a Spare Copy of Your Resume in a Briefcase or Folder. This demonstrates that you are prepared. It also gives the interviewer something to take notes on.
4. Expect to Spend Some Time Developing Rapport. Personal chemistry is a main ingredient in the hiring process. Try to relax and become comfortable with the interviewer.
5. Watch Your Non-Verbal Communication. Maintain an open body posture and appropriate eye contact. Seat yourself at a reasonable distance from the other person. Smile.
6. Don't Be Embarrassed by Nervousness. Interviewers are human, and they often become nervous, too. In fact, nervousness is a good sign - it shows that you are taking the interview seriously. Avoid nervous mannerisms such as tapping your fingers, feet, playing with pens, etc.
7. Body language is powerful! Good eye contact, a warm, natural smile and a firm handshake can help you overcome nervousness, develop a personal rapport and present a confident image.
8. Don't Play Comedian or Try to Entertain the Interviewer. It is important to be personable, but do not overdo it.
9. Don't Exaggerate or Lie. You might be tempted to embellish your achievements in the interview, but it will come back to haunt you on the job!
10. Follow the Interviewer's Lead. Don't try to take over the interview. Stick to the main subject at hand, but do not dwell too long on one point. It is better to deal with many questions rather than just one or two in-depth questions, unless that's where the interviewer leads you.
11. Be Prepared For Personal Questions, Even Some Inappropriate Ones. Anticipate how you will handle personal questions without blowing your cool. Some interviewers may not be aware of what they can and cannot legally ask you. Be sure you understand the question. It is okay to ask for clarification.
12. Emphasize the Positive. Be frank and honest, but never apologize for lack of experience or weaknesses. You can be self-confident without being overconfident or flippant. If you are new to the job market, your lack of experience has one very positive feature: you do not have to "unlearn" bad habits or different practices learned from previous employers. Many employers like the idea that you can be taught their individual company procedures without needing to get rid of other training first.
13. Wait for an Offer to Bring Up Salary. Let the interviewer bring up this subject. Often salary and benefits are not discussed at all on the first interview. Even though everyone knows that salary is important, you do not want to give the impression that it is the only consideration. If it is, you can be easily lured away be a competitor offering a slightly higher salary. The interviewer needs to see that you are interested in the other aspects of the job like the potential for growth, learning or the challenge of the position.
14. Don't be Afraid to Think Before You Speak. Use silence and intentional pause to your advantage. Time is occasionally needed to think and to reflect. The interviewer will respect you for taking a questions seriously enough to give it a moment or two of consideration before answering.
15. Emphasize What You Can Do For The Organization. This means emphasizing your transferable skills. However, be careful not to reveal trade secrets from a previous employer. Employers are concerned most with what you can do for them. Focus on your ability to tackle new situations, your communication skills, interpersonal abilities, analytical thinking talents, and other skills developed while in college or in previous positions.
16. Don't give "Prepared Answers". Most employers know a these stock answers when they hear them. This is a good reason to use interview question / answer guide as just that - guides. If your answers are not personalized to your situation, they will sound forced and unnatural. You might be surprised to learn how often interviewers hear the phrase, "I really like working with people." The phrase is used so often that it has lost it's meaning!
17. NEVER Speak Badly about a Former Employer. If there were problems with previous experiences, try to put your answers in the positive rather than the negative. If you slight a former employer, the interviewer may assume that you will someday do the same to him or her.
18. Watch Your Grammar and Your Manners. Employers are interested in candidates who can express themselves properly. Even if you have to slow down to correct yourself -- do it! Use slang expressions very sparingly. If your knowledge of rules of etiquette are rusty, take a "refresher course" from a knowledgeable friend.
19. Be Prepared to Ask Questions. Almost all interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You should have some ready and should have at least one that is related to the conversation you have just completed. This demonstrates that you are both prepared and interested. Your questions should be related to details about the company and should be based on the information you learned from the homework you have done (see Tip #2). You should not ask questions like "How long to I have to wait before I can take a vacation?" Save those what's-in-it-for-me questions for later.
20. Use Telephone Interviews. If you are applying for jobs in places in other states, you can suggest a short telephone interview. Even a preliminary telephone interview can help you assess whether or not it would be worth your time and expense to travel for a personal interview.
21. Don't Expect an Immediate Job Offer. Offers usually follow the interview, a few weeks later. If you are offered the position on the spot, it is appropriate for you to ask for one or two days to think about the offer before responding.
22. Be Careful With the Closing. Do not linger. End quickly and courteously. Thank your interviewer for the interview. Smile.
23. Be Yourself! You do not want to get hired on the basis of something you are not. You want to be hired for who you are!
? What are your strengths? (If you really enjoy new challenges and tackle them in an organized manner, this would be a useful strength in almost any situation.) You can talk about your ability to find unique solutions to problems. Be prepared with some concrete examples, since that may be the follow-up question.
? What are your weaknesses? (A "good" weakness might be that you have trouble leaving the office behind when you go home in the evenings.) This is a very difficult question that is not asked often, but it's one you should prepare for anyway. If you talk about your temper, your tendency to gossip or the fact that you're lazy, you may as well pack up and go home right then. If you mention a weakness such as your lack of patience with people who don't do their share of the work, you should also mention that you keep this impatience to yourself and try very hard not to express it toward others.
? Do you have any questions about our company? (If you have paid attention during the interview and if you have done your homework, this would be a good time to ask for more details about some aspect of the company's organizational structure or products. It would not be a good time to ask about your first raise. You could also ask questions about the community, their training program or details about the work environment.)
? Where do you expect your career to be in 10 years? (Be careful here. You do not want to give the impression that you're simply using this company as a stepping stone to another career. Think of a related managerial position within the company that would interest you.) There is a story about a young accountant who was asked this question by a CPA firm during an interview. The young accountant replied that he saw himself as the comptroller of a large corporation. In other words, "I'm just using your firm to teach me and then after you spend your resources training me, I will leave to go work for someone else." Needless to say, he was not offered a position with the CPA firm. They know that 75% of the people they hire will leave within 10 years, but they do not want to hire someone who comes in with that plan.
? What skills do you have that would benefit our company? (If your skills are not exactly those that the company may have requested, you can point out the skills you have that would be valuable to any company. Examples of these skills are: your ability to plan and execute long-term projects, your ability to organize information into usable data, your ability to research complicated issues, or your ability to work well with a team.) If your skills are not perfect for this particular company, you can mention how quickly you were able to adapt and learn in other situations. Again, be prepared with specific examples in case you are asked to elaborate.
? Why did you leave your last job? (This is not an opening to speak badly of your former employer. There is almost always a way of wording the explanation so that you do not sound like a "problem employee" and your former employer does not sound like an undesirable company.) As unfair as it may seem, there is almost no time when you should say something bad about your former employer. You can talk about the lack of potential for upward mobility, the fact that your job responsibilities changed to the point that it no longer fit into your career plan, your need to move to be closer to your aging parents, the need to reduce travel time, your need for a more challenging job, or anything else that does not get into personalities or other conflicts. If you were fired for cause, you may want to be up front about it, explain the circumstances and accept responsibility for your actions. Practice your answers to this question with someone who has interview experience. However, don't lie. If you can't say anything positive about your former employer, don't say anything. It could come back to haunt you.
IMPORTANT INTERVIEW TIPS
1. Arrive a little early. If you arrive about fifteen minutes before the scheduled interview time, you will have time to collect your thoughts, wipe the perspiration from your hands, and scan the lobby for current company information. You will also show your interviewer that you value his or her time.
2. Do your homework. Know the interviewer's name and how to pronounce it (including proper title: Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.). Know the company's major products or services, the organization of the company (divisions, parent company, etc.), current business news about the company and the company's major customers and competitors. You can learn most or all of this information from the company's website, annual report or company literature.
3. Bring a Spare Copy of Your Resume in a Briefcase or Folder. This demonstrates that you are prepared. It also gives the interviewer something to take notes on.
4. Expect to Spend Some Time Developing Rapport. Personal chemistry is a main ingredient in the hiring process. Try to relax and become comfortable with the interviewer.
5. Watch Your Non-Verbal Communication. Maintain an open body posture and appropriate eye contact. Seat yourself at a reasonable distance from the other person. Smile.
6. Don't Be Embarrassed by Nervousness. Interviewers are human, and they often become nervous, too. In fact, nervousness is a good sign - it shows that you are taking the interview seriously. Avoid nervous mannerisms such as tapping your fingers, feet, playing with pens, etc.
7. Body language is powerful! Good eye contact, a warm, natural smile and a firm handshake can help you overcome nervousness, develop a personal rapport and present a confident image.
8. Don't Play Comedian or Try to Entertain the Interviewer. It is important to be personable, but do not overdo it.
9. Don't Exaggerate or Lie. You might be tempted to embellish your achievements in the interview, but it will come back to haunt you on the job!
10. Follow the Interviewer's Lead. Don't try to take over the interview. Stick to the main subject at hand, but do not dwell too long on one point. It is better to deal with many questions rather than just one or two in-depth questions, unless that's where the interviewer leads you.
11. Be Prepared For Personal Questions, Even Some Inappropriate Ones. Anticipate how you will handle personal questions without blowing your cool. Some interviewers may not be aware of what they can and cannot legally ask you. Be sure you understand the question. It is okay to ask for clarification.
12. Emphasize the Positive. Be frank and honest, but never apologize for lack of experience or weaknesses. You can be self-confident without being overconfident or flippant. If you are new to the job market, your lack of experience has one very positive feature: you do not have to "unlearn" bad habits or different practices learned from previous employers. Many employers like the idea that you can be taught their individual company procedures without needing to get rid of other training first.
13. Wait for an Offer to Bring Up Salary. Let the interviewer bring up this subject. Often salary and benefits are not discussed at all on the first interview. Even though everyone knows that salary is important, you do not want to give the impression that it is the only consideration. If it is, you can be easily lured away be a competitor offering a slightly higher salary. The interviewer needs to see that you are interested in the other aspects of the job like the potential for growth, learning or the challenge of the position.
14. Don't be Afraid to Think Before You Speak. Use silence and intentional pause to your advantage. Time is occasionally needed to think and to reflect. The interviewer will respect you for taking a questions seriously enough to give it a moment or two of consideration before answering.
15. Emphasize What You Can Do For The Organization. This means emphasizing your transferable skills. However, be careful not to reveal trade secrets from a previous employer. Employers are concerned most with what you can do for them. Focus on your ability to tackle new situations, your communication skills, interpersonal abilities, analytical thinking talents, and other skills developed while in college or in previous positions.
16. Don't give "Prepared Answers". Most employers know a these stock answers when they hear them. This is a good reason to use interview question / answer guide as just that - guides. If your answers are not personalized to your situation, they will sound forced and unnatural. You might be surprised to learn how often interviewers hear the phrase, "I really like working with people." The phrase is used so often that it has lost it's meaning!
17. NEVER Speak Badly about a Former Employer. If there were problems with previous experiences, try to put your answers in the positive rather than the negative. If you slight a former employer, the interviewer may assume that you will someday do the same to him or her.
18. Watch Your Grammar and Your Manners. Employers are interested in candidates who can express themselves properly. Even if you have to slow down to correct yourself -- do it! Use slang expressions very sparingly. If your knowledge of rules of etiquette are rusty, take a "refresher course" from a knowledgeable friend.
19. Be Prepared to Ask Questions. Almost all interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You should have some ready and should have at least one that is related to the conversation you have just completed. This demonstrates that you are both prepared and interested. Your questions should be related to details about the company and should be based on the information you learned from the homework you have done (see Tip #2). You should not ask questions like "How long to I have to wait before I can take a vacation?" Save those what's-in-it-for-me questions for later.
20. Use Telephone Interviews. If you are applying for jobs in places in other states, you can suggest a short telephone interview. Even a preliminary telephone interview can help you assess whether or not it would be worth your time and expense to travel for a personal interview.
21. Don't Expect an Immediate Job Offer. Offers usually follow the interview, a few weeks later. If you are offered the position on the spot, it is appropriate for you to ask for one or two days to think about the offer before responding.
22. Be Careful With the Closing. Do not linger. End quickly and courteously. Thank your interviewer for the interview. Smile.
23. Be Yourself! You do not want to get hired on the basis of something you are not. You want to be hired for who you are!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
10 tricks to Acing the Interview
Here are 10 tips that will help get you on the right path to knocking their socks off.
1. Do your research: You need to be prepared to demonstrate that you have solid knowledge of the company, its business and its challenges.
Do a news search, read its recent press releases and annual report, and talk to others. Chances are you will be asked the important question, "Why do you want to work for our company?" or "What do you know about our business?"
Failing to show that you have done your research will tell your interviewer you didn't care enough to take the time to prepare.
2. Shut up and listen: While you will be anxious to tell the interviewer all about your professional career, don't be so chatty that you miss important signals and messages from the other person.
You'll need to present your story in the context of what the interviewer is looking for. Listen for clues and adjust.
3. Remember what's in your resume and cover letter: "Sometimes, especially at an initial screening, the interviewer will ask you questions simply to gauge the accuracy of your resume and cover letter," writes Richard Fein in his book "95 Mistakes Job Seekers Make ... and How to Avoid Them." "If you have forgotten what you wrote, you will lose a great deal of credibility."
Re-read your resume before you go to your interview and be able to
talk intelligently about anything and everything included.
4. Know how your qualifications relate to the company's needs: It is not enough to just be prepared to talk about your skills and qualifications. You need to relate your skills to the company's needs. Examine the job description before the interview. Then identify the skills needed for the job and think of how your qualifications relate to those skills.
Fein suggests making a chart with two columns, one for skills and qualifications the company is seeking and the other for an example of how, when and where you demonstrated those characteristics or skills.
5. Don't forget to prepare for telephone pre-screen interviews: Prepare in advance for phone pre-screen interviews just as much as you would any other interview opportunity. Fein suggests having a list of questions ready, having your resume handy and getting yourself excited about the conversation. "Your energy and friendliness in your voice send a message, just as body language would at a face-to-face interview."
6. Practice: The best way to be prepared for an interview once you have done your research is practice.
Think about potential interview questions such as "Tell me about yourself," "Why are you leaving your current employer?" and "Why should we hire you?"
You should also be prepared for behavioral questions, such as "Tell me about a time when you had a problem at work and came up with a way to solve it." Developing answers ahead of time will keep you from hemming and hawing during the interview.
7. Save the salary talk for later: Discussing money is always tricky, and it is best to save the talk about salary for later, once you have received an offer.
Fein suggests letting the interviewer know that you are certain the company will offer a fair salary or giving a range if you are pressed for a number.
8. Have a list of questions for the interviewer: Almost every interview will end with this question: "So, do you have any questions for us?"
Fein says that one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is not being prepared to answer this.
Be sure to develop a list of questions to ask before you go to the interview. Do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer's Web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. Instead, ask specific questions like "What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?" or "Could you explain your organizational structure?"
9. Be confident: "Everyone needs to remember that an interview is a business meeting between professionals," Fein says. "The company needs an employee, and you need a job."
If you are in for an interview, the company has seen something in you that is attractive. Now you just need to believe in yourself and let your talents shine.
10. Follow up: Your best-laid interview plans will go to waste if you neglect to follow up with your interviews. Send a thank-you letter immediately after your interview that reiterates positive characteristics about yourself and, if possible, refers to some part of your conversation.
1. Do your research: You need to be prepared to demonstrate that you have solid knowledge of the company, its business and its challenges.
Do a news search, read its recent press releases and annual report, and talk to others. Chances are you will be asked the important question, "Why do you want to work for our company?" or "What do you know about our business?"
Failing to show that you have done your research will tell your interviewer you didn't care enough to take the time to prepare.
2. Shut up and listen: While you will be anxious to tell the interviewer all about your professional career, don't be so chatty that you miss important signals and messages from the other person.
You'll need to present your story in the context of what the interviewer is looking for. Listen for clues and adjust.
3. Remember what's in your resume and cover letter: "Sometimes, especially at an initial screening, the interviewer will ask you questions simply to gauge the accuracy of your resume and cover letter," writes Richard Fein in his book "95 Mistakes Job Seekers Make ... and How to Avoid Them." "If you have forgotten what you wrote, you will lose a great deal of credibility."
Re-read your resume before you go to your interview and be able to
talk intelligently about anything and everything included.
4. Know how your qualifications relate to the company's needs: It is not enough to just be prepared to talk about your skills and qualifications. You need to relate your skills to the company's needs. Examine the job description before the interview. Then identify the skills needed for the job and think of how your qualifications relate to those skills.
Fein suggests making a chart with two columns, one for skills and qualifications the company is seeking and the other for an example of how, when and where you demonstrated those characteristics or skills.
5. Don't forget to prepare for telephone pre-screen interviews: Prepare in advance for phone pre-screen interviews just as much as you would any other interview opportunity. Fein suggests having a list of questions ready, having your resume handy and getting yourself excited about the conversation. "Your energy and friendliness in your voice send a message, just as body language would at a face-to-face interview."
6. Practice: The best way to be prepared for an interview once you have done your research is practice.
Think about potential interview questions such as "Tell me about yourself," "Why are you leaving your current employer?" and "Why should we hire you?"
You should also be prepared for behavioral questions, such as "Tell me about a time when you had a problem at work and came up with a way to solve it." Developing answers ahead of time will keep you from hemming and hawing during the interview.
7. Save the salary talk for later: Discussing money is always tricky, and it is best to save the talk about salary for later, once you have received an offer.
Fein suggests letting the interviewer know that you are certain the company will offer a fair salary or giving a range if you are pressed for a number.
8. Have a list of questions for the interviewer: Almost every interview will end with this question: "So, do you have any questions for us?"
Fein says that one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is not being prepared to answer this.
Be sure to develop a list of questions to ask before you go to the interview. Do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer's Web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. Instead, ask specific questions like "What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?" or "Could you explain your organizational structure?"
9. Be confident: "Everyone needs to remember that an interview is a business meeting between professionals," Fein says. "The company needs an employee, and you need a job."
If you are in for an interview, the company has seen something in you that is attractive. Now you just need to believe in yourself and let your talents shine.
10. Follow up: Your best-laid interview plans will go to waste if you neglect to follow up with your interviews. Send a thank-you letter immediately after your interview that reiterates positive characteristics about yourself and, if possible, refers to some part of your conversation.
10 tricks to Acing the Interview
Here are 10 tips that will help get you on the right path to knocking their socks off.
1. Do your research: You need to be prepared to demonstrate that you have solid knowledge of the company, its business and its challenges.
Do a news search, read its recent press releases and annual report, and talk to others. Chances are you will be asked the important question, "Why do you want to work for our company?" or "What do you know about our business?"
Failing to show that you have done your research will tell your interviewer you didn't care enough to take the time to prepare.
2. Shut up and listen: While you will be anxious to tell the interviewer all about your professional career, don't be so chatty that you miss important signals and messages from the other person.
You'll need to present your story in the context of what the interviewer is looking for. Listen for clues and adjust.
3. Remember what's in your resume and cover letter: "Sometimes, especially at an initial screening, the interviewer will ask you questions simply to gauge the accuracy of your resume and cover letter," writes Richard Fein in his book "95 Mistakes Job Seekers Make ... and How to Avoid Them." "If you have forgotten what you wrote, you will lose a great deal of credibility."
Re-read your resume before you go to your interview and be able to
talk intelligently about anything and everything included.
4. Know how your qualifications relate to the company's needs: It is not enough to just be prepared to talk about your skills and qualifications. You need to relate your skills to the company's needs. Examine the job description before the interview. Then identify the skills needed for the job and think of how your qualifications relate to those skills.
Fein suggests making a chart with two columns, one for skills and qualifications the company is seeking and the other for an example of how, when and where you demonstrated those characteristics or skills.
5. Don't forget to prepare for telephone pre-screen interviews: Prepare in advance for phone pre-screen interviews just as much as you would any other interview opportunity. Fein suggests having a list of questions ready, having your resume handy and getting yourself excited about the conversation. "Your energy and friendliness in your voice send a message, just as body language would at a face-to-face interview."
6. Practice: The best way to be prepared for an interview once you have done your research is practice.
Think about potential interview questions such as "Tell me about yourself," "Why are you leaving your current employer?" and "Why should we hire you?"
You should also be prepared for behavioral questions, such as "Tell me about a time when you had a problem at work and came up with a way to solve it." Developing answers ahead of time will keep you from hemming and hawing during the interview.
7. Save the salary talk for later: Discussing money is always tricky, and it is best to save the talk about salary for later, once you have received an offer.
Fein suggests letting the interviewer know that you are certain the company will offer a fair salary or giving a range if you are pressed for a number.
8. Have a list of questions for the interviewer: Almost every interview will end with this question: "So, do you have any questions for us?"
Fein says that one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is not being prepared to answer this.
Be sure to develop a list of questions to ask before you go to the interview. Do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer's Web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. Instead, ask specific questions like "What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?" or "Could you explain your organizational structure?"
9. Be confident: "Everyone needs to remember that an interview is a business meeting between professionals," Fein says. "The company needs an employee, and you need a job."
If you are in for an interview, the company has seen something in you that is attractive. Now you just need to believe in yourself and let your talents shine.
10. Follow up: Your best-laid interview plans will go to waste if you neglect to follow up with your interviews. Send a thank-you letter immediately after your interview that reiterates positive characteristics about yourself and, if possible, refers to some part of your conversation.
1. Do your research: You need to be prepared to demonstrate that you have solid knowledge of the company, its business and its challenges.
Do a news search, read its recent press releases and annual report, and talk to others. Chances are you will be asked the important question, "Why do you want to work for our company?" or "What do you know about our business?"
Failing to show that you have done your research will tell your interviewer you didn't care enough to take the time to prepare.
2. Shut up and listen: While you will be anxious to tell the interviewer all about your professional career, don't be so chatty that you miss important signals and messages from the other person.
You'll need to present your story in the context of what the interviewer is looking for. Listen for clues and adjust.
3. Remember what's in your resume and cover letter: "Sometimes, especially at an initial screening, the interviewer will ask you questions simply to gauge the accuracy of your resume and cover letter," writes Richard Fein in his book "95 Mistakes Job Seekers Make ... and How to Avoid Them." "If you have forgotten what you wrote, you will lose a great deal of credibility."
Re-read your resume before you go to your interview and be able to
talk intelligently about anything and everything included.
4. Know how your qualifications relate to the company's needs: It is not enough to just be prepared to talk about your skills and qualifications. You need to relate your skills to the company's needs. Examine the job description before the interview. Then identify the skills needed for the job and think of how your qualifications relate to those skills.
Fein suggests making a chart with two columns, one for skills and qualifications the company is seeking and the other for an example of how, when and where you demonstrated those characteristics or skills.
5. Don't forget to prepare for telephone pre-screen interviews: Prepare in advance for phone pre-screen interviews just as much as you would any other interview opportunity. Fein suggests having a list of questions ready, having your resume handy and getting yourself excited about the conversation. "Your energy and friendliness in your voice send a message, just as body language would at a face-to-face interview."
6. Practice: The best way to be prepared for an interview once you have done your research is practice.
Think about potential interview questions such as "Tell me about yourself," "Why are you leaving your current employer?" and "Why should we hire you?"
You should also be prepared for behavioral questions, such as "Tell me about a time when you had a problem at work and came up with a way to solve it." Developing answers ahead of time will keep you from hemming and hawing during the interview.
7. Save the salary talk for later: Discussing money is always tricky, and it is best to save the talk about salary for later, once you have received an offer.
Fein suggests letting the interviewer know that you are certain the company will offer a fair salary or giving a range if you are pressed for a number.
8. Have a list of questions for the interviewer: Almost every interview will end with this question: "So, do you have any questions for us?"
Fein says that one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is not being prepared to answer this.
Be sure to develop a list of questions to ask before you go to the interview. Do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer's Web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. Instead, ask specific questions like "What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?" or "Could you explain your organizational structure?"
9. Be confident: "Everyone needs to remember that an interview is a business meeting between professionals," Fein says. "The company needs an employee, and you need a job."
If you are in for an interview, the company has seen something in you that is attractive. Now you just need to believe in yourself and let your talents shine.
10. Follow up: Your best-laid interview plans will go to waste if you neglect to follow up with your interviews. Send a thank-you letter immediately after your interview that reiterates positive characteristics about yourself and, if possible, refers to some part of your conversation.
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