Fielding
Tough Interview Questions
The first thing to remember is that
interview questions are calculated to produce information.
The interviewer may not be as interested in the answer to
the question as he is in understanding what makes you tick.
Armed with this perspective, you will be in a better position
to provide valuable insights by giving careful thought to
your responses. Let's evaluate some of the more common but
tricky questions you may run into.
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1. What makes you want to work
for this company? or Why did you select this career?
Bad Response:
"I've had a difficult time
deciding what I really want to do in life. I thought I'd give
this a try. Your company looked like as good a place as any
to start."
Better Response:
"I have always had a very strong
interest in Manufacturing. I believe that my experience and
education will provide a solid foundation for success. I am
targeting your company because of your dominant market position
in Widget production. It has become obvious to me through
my research that you are committed to a high standard of excellence
and that you are in a unique position to sustain and build
upon your competitive advantages."
Analysis:
The interviewer wants to feel that
you have your head on straight and that you have a clear sense
of where you are heading. He wants to feel that you are enthusiastic
about the industry, the company and the position. To effectively
answer this question you must have done your homework. You
must be able to talk intelligently about what the company
does, and how it stands out among it's competitors.
2. Why should I hire you? or
What do you bring to the table?
Bad Response:
"I could really use the job.
I've had poor luck lately and have not really been able to
stay on track with a good company. It would be really nice
if you could take me in."
Better Response:
"I have excellent analytical
and problem solving skills and I am an effective team player.
I also have a solid work ethic and possess a strong desire
to succeed. I understand the industry and believe that I could
add significant value to your organization."
Analysis:
This is really your opportunity
to sell yourself. The interviewer is putting you on the spot.
She expects a direct response without a lot of waffling. If
you cannot articulate rather forcefully how your presence
will benefit the company then she may conclude at that moment
that you are not the person for the position. Be reasonably
brief, but don't be afraid to bring specific experience and
education to light if you feel it applies to the position
or industy.
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3. What is your greatest weakness?
Bad Response:
"I have a hard time getting
along with people. It has been a problem all my life really.
I am hoping to be able to overcome it with time."
Better Response:
"I certainly do admit that
I'm not perfect. I sometimes lack patience when I must rely
on the work of others to meet a tight project deadline. Generally
however, I have found that through direct and frequent communication,
I can gain the cooperation I need to see the project through
to a successful and timely conclusion."
Analysis:
Some consider this a no-win question.
With a little thought and preparation, however, you can turn
your response into a positive rather than a negative. Use
sincerity, creativity and good judgement to turn this situation
to your advantage.
4. What is your greatest accomplishment?
Bad Response:
"I won $1,000 in Vegas a couple
of weeks ago. I wish I could say the same thing about this
past weekend - it was a real roller coaster - I ended up giving
most of it back."
Better Response:
"I have many accomplishments
that I am proud of. A recent example would be when I was given
the task to improve throughput on our production line by 20%
through process improvements alone - without any capital assistance.
My team had to focus incredible creative energy to accomplish
the goal. But we were able to achieve the mandate three weeks
ahead of schedule."
Analysis:
It is usually best to keep your
responses to this type of question work related. To the extent
possible you should also try to orient your response to an
accomplishment that has relevance to the company or position
to which you are applying. Avoid taking undue credit or telling
tall tales. You want to come across as sincere and believable
- not like you just walked in off of Fantasy Island.
5. What did you dislike most
about your last job?
Bad Response:
"Oh, that's easy. My boss.
He was a real jerk!"
Better Response:
"I really don't have any complaints
about the job or the company. In fact, I learned a great deal
from my last job. However, I am seeking a position with a
company that is more growth oriented and where my contributions
will be more visible."
Analysis:
Bad mouthing your past employers
is considered a no-no in an interview setting. Avoid negative
comments - even when a the interviewer specifically asks for
them. Keep your response short and positive. No employer wants
to saddle himself with a troublemaker. Keep all discussions
about past employment experiences as positive and upbeat as
possible.
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6. How would you describe yourself?
or How would your co-workers describe you?
Bad Response:
"I'm about 5'10" and a
little on the heavy side. Green eyes..."
Better Response:
"I am a self starter. I like
being part of a team and am primarily motivated by achievement.
I am creative and feel that I can generally be relied on to
do what it takes to get the job done."
"I believe that my co-workers
would describe me as being a strong contributor and a team
player."
Analysis:
The interviewer will typically be
looking for signs that you possess a strong degree of self
confidence and that you are intelligent, reliable and hard
working. She may also want to develop a comfort level with
your ability to fit into a team environment.
7. Describe a difficult situation
you faced and tell me how you handled it. or Tell me about
a time when you overcame a major conflict.
Bad Response:
"I was once challenged in a
meeting by a co-worker who had no idea what he was talking
about. I asked him to step outside. When he refused I came
across the table at him. Boy, you should have seen people
scatter - it was really something."
Better Response:
"I was once asked to perform
some analysis on a controversial project. Unfortunately, my
results conflicted with the perspective and opinions of a
key senior manager in the company. I knew he would not be
happy when he saw my analysis, however, I also felt strongly
that my analysis and recommendations were correct. I discussed
the situation with my boss and got his buy-in on my work.
We then approached the senior manager together and indicated
that we were interested in receiving his feedback on our analysis
before going public with it. This seemed to defuse the situation
and we had a productive discussion. Ultimately he was able
to see that the analysis was solid and we were able to move
forward with my recommendations."
Analysis:
The interviewer will be looking
for evidence that you are able to cope with criticism and
resolve conflict in a professional and productive manner.
Think carefully about situations like the one described above
that you have been involved in. Take the time to sketch out
a brief synopsis of the situation. Avoid unnecessary details.
Make the key points and emphasize the positive nature of the
outcome. Rehearse these in your mind until you can relate
the incidents fluidly and with appropriate emphasis.
8. What is your salary requirement?
Bad Response:
"What are you getting at? You're
not one of those really cheap companies are you? The next
thing I know you'll be telling me that you don't offer a signing
bonus!"
Better Response:
"Well of course I want to make
a fair wage given my skills, experience and education. However,
salary is certainly not my only criteria for making a job
decision. I feel that your company has a lot to offer in many
ways. Can you tell me what the salary range is for this position?"
Analysis:
This is a difficult subject - particularly
if you are in the early stages of the interview process. You
want to avoid throwing out the first number if possible. This
will be critical to the negotiation process. By answering
the question with a question you can often throw the ball
back into the other court and put the impetus on the interviewer
to frame the potential salary range for you.
If the interviewer presses you or
becomes insistent that you divulge your salary requirement
then you should be as candid as possible. A good way to do
this is to offer up a salary range. "Somewhere in the
50's" for example. This doesn't tip your entire hand
and often provides sufficient information to satisfy the interviewer.
When indicating your salary requirement
don't shortchange yourself, but don't be unrealistic either.
You don't want to eliminate the possibility of an offer by
coming across as arrogant or unreasonable at this stage. Remember
that once an offer is given, there is still room for negotiation.
Your initial objective is to get an offer.
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9. Tell me about yourself. or
Walk me through your background.
Be careful here. This is generally
a copout on the part of the interviewer. It usually (although
not always) means he hasn't really taken the time to review
your resume very carefully - if at all. That's o.k. Go ahead
and take him through it. But do it concisely. Take advantage
of what you know about the organization to tailor your summary
to the specific position. Focus in on those areas of experience
and education which are most applicable. Don't dwell on points
that are not particularly relevant.
More Questions
Listed below are additional questions
that are commonly asked in interviews. You should consider
formulating responses to as many of these questions as possible
prior to the interview. While the interviewer may not use
this exact language, many of the questions you will ultimately
hear will be variations on these general themes.
Why should I hire you?
Are you willing to relocate?
What motivates you?
What qualities should a successful
manager possess?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What are some of your personal interests?
Why do you want to leave your current
job?
Why do you want to work here?
What interests you most about this
position?
Do you work well under pressure?
How do you feel about travel?
Give an example of a time when you
were involved in a group project. What was your role? What
was the outcome?
Summary
A little thought and preparation
will go a long way in preparing for an interview. By thinking
through some of these questions now, you will avoid stumbling
through your responses in an actual interview setting. You
will come across as professional, polished and prepared. And
you will compare very favorably to those individuals who are
willing to just take things as they come. Good Luck!
Secrets
to a Successful Job Interview
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