interview-questions-answered

..PAGE/NUMPAGESInterviewQuestionAnsweredTellmeaboutyourself-------Summaryoftips:1.keeptheanswershortatabouttwominutes.2.focusonwork-relatedskillsandaccomplishments,notpersonalinformation.3.telltheinterviewerwhyyouthinkyourwork-relatedskillsandaccomplishmentswouldbeanassettothecompany.4.describeyoureducationorworkhistoryverybriefly.5.telltheintervieweraboutthingsyouhavedoneandjobsyouhavehadrelatedtothepositionyouareinterviewingfor.6.mentiononeortwopersonalcharacteristicsthathavehelpedyouaccomplishyourgoals,givingshortexamplestoillustrate.---------Sampleanswers:Ihavealwaysenjoyedworkingwithcomputers,soitwasaneasydecisiontomajorincomputerscienceatCaliforniaUniversitywithaplantoentertheITfield.Inschool,Iexcelledinmycomputer-relatedclassesandduringmycollegeyears,Ibecameparticularinterestedinsoftwaredevelopment,especiallysoftwarethatwouldhelpconsumers.That’swhyIappliedforandcompletedaone-yearinternshipwithLotadoeindustries.AtLotadoe,Ilearnedhowtoformulatenewideasforsoftwareandhowtocommunicatethoseideaseffectivelytotherestofthedevelopmentteam.IamaveryfocusedpersonandItendtobeproduct-oriented.AtLotadoe,ImadesurethatwhateverprojectsIworkedon,Isawtocompletion.Forinstance,IworkedwithateamthatwasdevelopinganewversionofapieceofpopularsoftwarecalledRototype.Iaskedtobepartofeverystepofsoftwaredevelopmentandattheendoftheproject,Iwasgiventheresponsibilityofgettingtechnicalapproval.ImadesurethatIfollowthroughwiththerightdepartments,keepingmyteaminformedoftheprogress.ThisisthetypeofworkIenjoyandthat’swhyIappliedforapositionwithyourcompany.TellmeaboutyourselfIhaveworkedsuccessfullyinsalesforover10years.Oneofmyfirstsalesjobswasincollege,whereImajoredinbusiness.Iworkedforthecollegenewspapersellingadvertisingspace,andasanextrovertwholikesinteractingwithpeople,Iwasverysuccessfulinthejob.Whatalsohelpedmesellmorethananyothersalespersonwasmypersistence.Iwaswillingtofollowupwithapotentialclientoverweeksandevenmonths,developingwiththemuntiltheywerereadytomakeadealwithus.IamcurrentlyworkingasasalesrepfortheMichmuneyCompany.Ihavebeentheirtopsalespersonforthepasttwoyears.Lastyear,Isoldover$3millionworthofproducts.Now,Iamreadyforanewchallenge.IwanttoworkinpublicrelationsbecauseitisanareawhereIcanusemycreativitytogetherwithmyknowledgeofadvertisingandsales.IhaveaprovenabilitytoworkwellwithpeopleandIcandevelopgoodlong-termrelationshipswithclients.IwanttoworkwellwithpeopleandIcanworkforyourcompanyinparticularbecauseyouworkprimarilywithInternet-basedcompanies,whichisanareathatisgrowingattherateof40%ayear.ThismakesyourcompanyaleaderintheindustryandIwouldliketobepartofthat.Whydidyouleaveyourlastjob?------summaryoftips:Tominimizeanyproblemsandtoshowthatyouhadpositivereasonsforleavingpreviouspositions.1mentionpositivereasonsforleaving2nevercriticizesupervisors,co-workers,orthecompany/organization.3don’tmentionmajorproblemswithmanagement.4telltheintervieweraboutanyneutralreasonsforleaving.5staypositivenomatterhowbadthesituationyouareleavingmaybe.6usetherightwordssoyoudon’tsoundself-serving.Insteadofsaying”ILEFTTOSEEKBETTEROPPORTUNITIES”say”Iamlookingforasituationwhichwillusemoreofmyskillsandexperience”.7avoidsoundinglikea“jobhopper”8turnthisintoanopportunitytotelltheintervieweraboutyourskillsandabilities,ifpossible.9keepyourexplanationshortortheinterviewermaythinkyouaremakingexcuses.---------sampleanswersIhavebeenwithLotadoeforoverfiveyearsandIhaveenjoyedworkingthere.Ilearnedalotaboutsoftwaredevelopmentandhowtoworkeffectivelywithmycolleagues.Abouttwoyearsago,Ibegangettinginterestedinotheraspectsofdesignandstartedlearningaboutnewwaysthatthefieldiscreatinganddevelopingnewdesigns.IcompletedtrainingthatqualifiesmetooverseeothertypesofprojectsthantheonesIworkonnowatLotadoe.That’swhyIamnowlookingforacompanythatwillallowmetomorefullyutilizemynewskillsandwhereIcantakeonnewchallenges.WhatIseeinthispositionisalsotheopportunityforgrowthandadvancement.Ithinkthatmycurrentskillsandabilitiesareagoodmatchwiththecurrentneedsofthiscompany.Whyareyoulookingforanewjob?TheprimaryreasonIleftMichmuneyCompanywasbecausethecompanywentthrougharestructuringandmypositionwaseliminated.Uptothatpoint,however,IhadaverygoodtrackrecordandreceivedpositiveemployeeevaluationseachofthethreeyearsIworkthere.LeavingMichmuneyactuallyallowedmetomakeacareerchangethatIhadbeenthinkingaboutforsometimeandthatismorealignedwithmycareergoals.AlthoughIhaveworkedsuccessfullyinsalesforthepastseveralyears,myeducationandmyinterestsaremorecloselyrelatedtomarketingIwouldliketofindapositionthatwouldallowmetousemyknowledgeandskillstodochallengingwork.ThispositionwouldalsogivememoreresponsibilitythanIhadatmylastcompanyandmorepromotionopportunities.Ithinkthatmyskillsandabilitiesareagoodmatchforthisjob.Whydoyouwanttoworkhere?------summaryoftips:1toshowthatyouknowalotaboutthecompanyandthatyourqualificationsmatchthecompany’sneed.2findoutallyoucanaboutthecompany,includingthedepartmentwhereyouwouldworkandthepeopleyouwouldworkfor.3researchthecompany’sproductsorservicesandthepositivethingsithasdoneforthecommunityorsociety.4befamiliarwiththecompany’smissionstatementandcorevalues.5don’tmaketheanswerallaboutyou.Focusonthepositivethingsaboutthecompany,includingitsreputationintheindustry.6telltheinterviewerhowyourqualificationsmeetsaneedintheircompany.7showtheinterviewerthatyouarebeingselectiveaboutwhereyouwanttoworkandarenotwillingtotakejustanyjobofferedtoyou.---------sampleanswersThiscompanyisanindustryleaderandisattheforefrontofexcitingnewdevelopmentsinthisfield.Itsmissiontochangethewayconsumersgetandsendinformationis,Ibelieve,wherethebiggestareaofgrowthareintheindustry.Basedonthecompany’sfinancialsanditsgeneralperformanceinthepastyear,Lotadoeispoisedtotakeoverasoneofthetopsupplierofonlineserviceintheworld.Ihavereadaboutthecompany’smanyfutureprojectsthataredesignedtomovethecompanyforwardtowardachievingitsmission.IwanttobepartofthiscompanybecauseIbelieveIcanbepartofthatgrowth.Inthepastseveralyears,Ihaveledanumberofinnovativeprojectsalongthesamelinesasthecurrentdirectionofthiscompany.Bydoingthis,Iwasabletohelpmycurrentcompanygetafootholdinthemarket.IamconfidentthatIcanbringmyprovenskillsinmanagement,development,andtechnologytosucceedinyourorganization.Whydoyouwanttoworkhere?ThereareseveralreasonswhyIwanttoworkforthiscompany.First,Iwasimpressedwiththebackgroundsofthefoundersandtheirvisionforthiscompany.Theirinnovativethinkingis,Ibelieve,inlinewiththebestthinkinginthefieldrightnow.Yourcompanyalsohasoneofthebestreputationsintheindustryforinnovativethinkingandtakingseriouscorporateresponsibilityformakingadifferenceinthelocalcommunities.AsIlearnedmoreaboutthecompanyanditsgrowthpotential,itbecamecleartomethatImaybeabletomakeasignificantcontributiontoitsgoals.SinceIhavebeenworkingforthepastfiveyearsasasuccessfulmarketingstrategist,IbelieveIcanbringthoseskillsandtheknowledgeIHavegainedtohelptheorganizationreachitsmissiontobecomeanindustryleader.IamnowlookingforanewchallengewhereIcantakemyprovenskillsandapplythemtonewsituations,aswellaslearningnewtechniquestocontinuemyowndevelopment.ThisisthecompanyIhavebeenlookingfor,aplacewheremybackground,experience,andskillscanbeputtousetomakethingshappen。Whatareyourstrengths?------summaryoftips1toshowhowyourstrengthsmatchtheneedofthejob2knowyourstrengthsinthreecategories:Knowledge-basedskills:theseareskillsdevelopedthrougheducationandexperience,suchascomputerskills,universitydegrees,languagesyouspeak,andtechnicalability.Transferableskills:theseareskillsthatyoucantakefromonejobtoanother,suchasbeingabletomanagepeoplewell,beinggoodatsolvingcomplexproblems,beinggoodatplanning,andbeingagoodcommunicator.Personaltraits:thesearequalitiesaboutyouareaperson,suchasbeingdependable,beinghardworking,beingflexible,andbeingoutgoing.3reviewwiththeintervieweryourstrengths,whicharealreadynotedinyourresumeandcoverletter.4givespecificevidenceorexamplesofhowyourstrengthshavehelpedyouinthepast.--------sampleanswer1:Asyoucanseefrommyresume,Ihavetakenadvantageofeveryopportunitytocompletetrainingtodeveloptechnicalknowledgeinthisfield.NowIamconsideredanexpertinthetechnologiesthatmycurrentcompanyisworkingon.Lastyear,whenthecompanydecidedtoexpandinthisarea,themanagementselectedmetoheadthenewproject.Toheadthisteameffectively,Iusedmyplanningskillstomakesurethattheteamwasontaskandontime,atalltimes.Mymanagementskillscameinhandytogetthemostoutofeachpersonontheteam.Forinstance,twooftheteammemberscamefromcompetingdepartments.Iworkwithbothofthemcloselyandtrustedthemwiththemostimportantpartoftheproject.Thisway,Iwasabletodeveloptrustbetweentheseteammembers.Thisresultedinproducingexcellentwork,whileformingoneofthemostsought-afterpartnershipsinthecompany.Becausethiswasanewinitiative,thenatureofthejobchangedastheprojectdeveloped.AnotheroneofmystrengthsisthatIamflexibleandIamabletohandlechangeinthecompanyorinmyjobresponsibilities.WhenIstartedonthisproject,wehadfourteammembers.Bytheend,wehad16.ThatmeansthatIneededtogofromworkingone-on-onewitheachteammembertohavingtodelegateresponsibilityastheprojectgrew.ThiswaspossiblebecauseofthetrustIhadbuiltupwithintheteamandmyabilitytoshiftgearswhentheprojectchangedovertime.--------sampleanswer2:Oneofmybiggeststrengthsismycommunicationskills.Inmycurrentjob,Iworkwithpeoplefromallovertheworldandmanydifferentbackgrounds.Iamabletounderstandthateveryonehasdifferentperspectivesaboutprojectsandworktasks.Oneofourmostrecenthirescomesfromadevelopingcountry.It’sverytemptingwhentalkingaboutthelatesttechnologicaldevelopmentstodismissoratleastignoreherperspective.However,astheheadofthedepartment,itwascleartomethatthisnewemployeebroughtafreshperspectiveonwhyweneededtoconsiderdifferentoptionswhendecidingonthetypeoftechnologytoadopt.Throughhardworkanddetermination,Iwasabletogettherestofthedepartmenttomakeimportantchangesthatmovedusinthesamedirectionastheproject.IwasfortunatethatIwasabletodeveloptheseanalyticalskillswhenIwasanundergratuatestudentatUniversity.TheprogramIwasinusedcase-basedteachingsothatweworkedonsolvingreal-lifeproblemsunderreal-lifeconditions.Igraduatedatthetopofmyclass,andnow,ImakeuseoftheskillsIlearnedthereeveryday.Otherstrengths:Ihaveapositiveattitude.Iamdependableandpunctual.Iamabletoprioritize.Ibelieveinmyselfandhaveself-confidence.Iamabletohandlefailuresandlearnfrommymistakes.Iamateamplayer.Ihavegoodinterpersonalskills.Whatareyourweaknesses?------summaryoftips：1tonameweaknessesthatcanbeimprovedonandthatmaybeanassetintherightcircumstances.2donnottrytopresentastrengthasaweakness,suchasbeingaworkaholicorbeingtoodetail-oriented.3keeptheweaknessasmallone.4showhowyouareworkingtoimproveonyourweakness.5givespecificevidenceorexamplesofhowyouareworkingtoovercomeyourweakness.6someoptions:Telltheintervieweraboutaweaknessyouhavealreadyovercome.Telltheintervieweraboutamistakeyoumadeinthepasttoshowthatyoucanlearnfromyourmistakes.Telltheintervieweraboutaweaknessthatdoesnotrelatetothedutiesofthisjob.---------sampleanswer1:AweaknessthatIhaveisthatIdonnotliketodopublicspeakingandIgetnervouswhenIhavetogiveapresentationoraspeechinfrontofotherpeople.IrealizethatIwillnotneedtodoanypublicspeakinginthisjobrightnow,butIwanttoovercomethisfearsothatwhenthetimecomes,Iwillbeprepared.Itisimportanttometoidentifyanyshortcomingsthatmayaffectmyjobperformanceorcareeradvancementopportunities,andtodosomethingaboutthem.Tocombatmyfearofpublicspeaking,ItookapublicspeakingclassatLittoncollegeafewmonthago,andafterIfinishedthecourse,Ijoinedatoastmasterclub.IhavebeengoingtotheclubmeetingsregularlywhereIgivespeechesinfrontofothermembersandIgetconstructivecriticismaboutmyperformance.Icansaythatinthepastfivemonths,Ihavebecomeabetterandmoreconfidentspeaker.Ithink,however,Icanbeevenbetter,andthatiswhyIhavecontinuedtoattendmeetingsandtolookforopportunitiestoputintopracticewhatIhavelearned.Iamconfidentthatinaveryshorttime,Iwillbeanevenbetterandmoreeffectivespeakerandpresenter.WhenIstartedmyfirstjob,Ihadtroublewithprocrastination.EventhoughInevermissedadeadline,Ifoundthatprocrastinatingputmeunderunnecessarystress,andthishurtmyenjoymentofthejob.Fortunately,Irealizedtheproblemfairlyquicklyanddidsomethingaboutit.ThefirstthingIdidwastotalktomycolleaguesabouthowtheymanagedtheirtimeeffectively.Ilearnedthatmanyofthemusedprojectmanagementsoftware,whichIalsobegantouse.ThistypeofprogramallowedmetosetdeadlinesandbenchmarksforthedifferenttasksIhadtodo,andgavemeremindersabouthowfaralongIshouldbeonagiventask.Thishelpedwithmyplanningandhasmadememoreorganizedoverall.Now,Iusethistypeofplanningforallofmymajorjobtasks,andprocrastinationisnolongeraproblemforme.Otherweaknessesandremedies:IsometimelosepatiencewhenIattendlongmeetings.WhatIdonowisIpreparemyselfmentallybeforeeachmeetingtoexpectacertainamountofdiscussion.Settingthatexpectationinmymindhelpsmetobemorepatientandtobeabetterlistener.SometimeswhenIamworkingonabigproject,Ifocustoomuchonthedetails.Sonow,Ialwaysspendafewminutesattheendofeachdaysittingbackandthinkingaboutthegeneralscopeofmywork.Itforcesmetokeepprioritiesstraightandhelpsmekeeptherightmindset.Iusedtohavesomeproblemwithorganization.Now,Ikeepaschedulebookwithmeatalltimesthroughoutthedayandthatkeepsmeontrack.