Most people spend a lot of time and money in their job searches, trying to be sure they are dressed for the position and their resume is perfect, but so many make the mistake of not being ready for the interview process. Hiring managers want to know what kind of person they are hiring and one of the best ways to determine this is by asking questions at the job interview. Questions can be simple and to the point or varied and abstract. The savvy job seeker learns to anticipate both and to handle either kind of question with ease.
What Would Your Previous Employer Say is Your Best Quality?
This question should be answered as honestly as possible and with an explanation of why, if the interviewer allows the time.There is a good possibility that this employer will be calling the last employer. If this question should come up, it will probably be with the potential employer asking something like, "Would you say [job seeker] is energetic?". If the old employer completely disagrees, it will not look good.
The responses that are best in this instance are that the potential employee is loyal, energetic, diplomatic, organized, enthusiastic and other such qualities. Giving an explanation as to why the previous employer might say that, helps to be certain that the interviewer does not misinterpret something like "an achiever" as a someone who will stab them in the back trying to get to the top.
Disagreement With a Previous Supervisor or Co-Worker & How You Handled the Situation?
This can be a tricky question to answer. If answered negatively, the job seeker can make herself look like she is difficult to work with. This question should be answered in the most positive way that is possible. The best response to this kind of question is that there really wasn't any situation that the job seeker can recall where a disagreement interfered with the working environment. She might talk about a slight difference of opinion about something small and how she went to the other person and asked to talk it over, successfully resolving the situation.
What are You Looking for in a Job?
This question is a good opportunity for the interviewee to let his needs known and to learn about the job position. If the position and duties of the job have been discussed already, he should incorporate the parts of the job that he believes he will like without repeating what the interviewer told him. This is also a good question to ask himself before the job interview. There should be a mental list of things that he really wants in a job and if applicable, a list of things that he simply cannot work with.
If the things that he cannot work with come up during the interview, he should be honest about his feelings in this regard. If this costs him the job, it is better than accepting a job that he runs the risk of getting fired from or leaving under detrimental circumstances. The best response for this kind of question would be simple, generic and upbeat, such as wanting a job where the job seeker enjoys the atmosphere and the people that he works with and can feel that he contributes to the success of the company.
Why Should We Hire You?
This question should be used to the interviewee's best advantage. There are hundreds of job seekers out there quite possibly looking for the same position as the one that he is interviewing for. What the interviewer is really asking is "Why should we hire you instead of the 30 other people I have to interview this week?" The job seeker should use this time to really sell himself and use all of the knowledge he has about the company, the industry and any particular information and explain what his skills and abilities will do to help the company succeed. He should explain his past successes, projects that helped previous companies, plans and expectations for the future.
The most important thing a job seeker can do in an interview is to stay positive. Using negative words or expressions will only serve to plant negative seeds in a future employer's thoughts. When the interviewee leaves the office, the interviewer should feel upbeat, happy and encouraged. Interviewing prospective employees is a grueling job and can be stressful. The successful candidate will leave the interviewer with a feeling of being mentally refreshed and invigorated. If he can accomplish this, he stands a great chance of getting that job.
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