10 Job Interview Tips

Whether you're being interviewed to be an intern or a CEO, you're going to run into a few notoriously tricky questions--here's a road map of what you'll be asked, and how to craft impressive answers to even the toughest questions.

No two situations are ever exactly the same, but as a general guide, these are the types of questions that could come up in a typical interview.

1. Why don’t you tell me about yourself?

This question, often the interview opener, has a crucial objective: to see how you handle yourself in unstructured situations. The recruiter wants to see how articulate you are, how confident you are, and generally what type of impression you would make on the people with whom you come into contact on the job. The recruiter also wants to learn about the trajectory of your career and to get a sense of what you think is important and what has caused you to perform well.

Most candidates find this question a difficult one to answer. However, the upside is that this question offers an opportunity to describe yourself positively and focus the interview on your strengths. Be prepared to deal with it.

There are many ways to respond to this question correctly and just one wrong way: by asking, “What do you want to know?” You need to develop a good answer to this question, practice it, and be able to deliver it with poise and confidence.

The right response is twofold: focus on what interests the interviewer, and highlight your most important accomplishments.

Focus on what interests the interviewer

Do not dwell on your personal history--that is not why you are there. Start with your most recent employment and explain why you are well qualified for the position. The key to all successful interviewing is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. You want to be selling what the buyer is buying. 

Highlight Important Accomplishments

Have a story ready that illustrates your best professional qualities. For example, if you tell an interviewer that people describe you as creative, provide a brief story that shows how you have been creative in achieving your goals.

Stories are powerful and are what people remember most.

A good interviewee will memorize a 60-second commercial that clearly demonstrates why he or she is the best person for the job. 

2. How long have you been with your current (or former) employer?

This is a hot-button question if your résumé reflects considerable job-hopping. Excellent performers tend to stay in their jobs at least three to five years. They implement course corrections, bring in new resources, and, in general, learn how to survive--that’s why they are valued by prospective employers.

If your résumé reflects jobs with companies that were acquired, moved, closed, or downsized, it is still viewed as a job-hopper’s history. Volunteer and go to events where hiring authorities may be found. Ratchet up your networking to include anything that exposes you to hiring authorities who can get past your tenure issue because now they know you. Your networking efforts have never been so important. 

3. What is your greatest weakness?

An impressive and confident response shows that the candidate has prepared for the question, has done serious self-reflection, and can admit responsibility and accept constructive criticism. Sincerely give an honest answer (but not a long one), be confident in the fact that this weakness does not make you any less of a great candidate, and show that you are working on this weakness and tell the recruiter how. 

4. Tell me about a situation where you did not get along with a superior.

The wrong answer to this hot-button question is, “I’ve been very fortunate and have never worked for someone I didn’t get along with.”

Everyone has had situations where he or she disagreed with a boss, and saying that you haven’t forces the recruiter to question your integrity. Also, it can send out a signal that the candidate is not seasoned enough or hasn’t been in situations that require him or her to develop a tough skin or deal with confrontation.

It’s natural for people to have differing opinions. When this has occurred in the past, you could explain that you presented your reasons and openly listened to other opinions as well. 

5. Describe a situation where you were part of a failed project.

If you can’t discuss a failure or mistake, the recruiter might conclude that you don’t possess the depth of experience necessary to do the job. The recruiter is not looking for perfection. He or she is trying better to understand your level of responsibility, your decision-making process, and your ability to recover from a mistake, as well as what you learned from the experience and if you can take responsibility for your mistakes.

Respond that you’d like to think that you have learned something valuable from every mistake you have made. Then have a brief story ready with a specific illustration.

It should conclude on a positive note, with a concrete statement about what you learned and how it benefited the company. 

6. What are your strengths?

Describe two or three skills you have that are relevant to the job. Avoid clichés or generalities; offer specific evidence. Describe new ways these skills could be put to use in the position you are being considered for. 

7. How do you explain your job success?

Be candid without sounding arrogant. Mention observations other people have made about your work strengths or talents. 

8. What do you do when you are not working?

The more senior the position, the more important it is to know about the candidate’s qualities that will impact his or her leadership style: is the person well adjusted and happy, or is he or she a company zealot?

Discuss hobbies or pursuits that interest you, such as sports, clubs, cultural activities, and favorite things to read.

Avoid dwelling on any political or religious activities that may create conflict with those of the interviewer. 

9. Why did you leave your last position?

At high levels, issues that relate to personality and temperament become more important than they might otherwise. The recruiter wants to know if you will fit in with the client company. The recruiter may also be fishing for signs of conflict that indicate a potential personality problem.

Be honest and straightforward, but do not dwell on any conflict that may have occurred. Highlight positive developments that resulted from your departure, whether it was that you accepted a more challenging position or learned an important lesson that helped you to be happier in your next job. 

10. Why do you want to work in this industry?

Think of a story to tell about how you first became interested in this type of work. Point out any similarities between the job you’re interviewing for and your current job. Provide proof that you aren’t simply shopping in this interview. Make your passion for your work a theme that you allude to continually throughout the interview.  

 

Making An Impression

First impressions really do count. If you get an interview you can assume that your potential employers already like what they have seen. The interview is an opportunity for you to build on that impression to secure the job.

It’s not just what you say but how you say it that reinforces the message you are giving and creates an overall impression of your suitability. Here are some tips for making a good initial impression:

• arrive on time - ideally at least ten minutes early which will give you time to relax and collect your thoughts. If you are unexpectedly delayed, contact your prospective employer as soon as possible to explain the situation;
• when you arrive you will meet a receptionist or someone appointed to receive you. State, in a clear and friendly manner, your name, the time of your appointment and the name of the person you expect to meet;
• have all the relevant documentation ready to present if needed: your interview invitation and a copy of your CV and cover letter or application form;
• switch your mobile phone off before you enter the interview room.

Once the interview commences you will continue to make a positive impression if you:

• listen carefully to each question and give concise answers supported with relevant examples; avoid saying just yes or no;
• ask for clarification if a question is not clear;
• speak clearly and loudly enough for the interviewer to hear and try to keep to a moderate pace;
• stay as relaxed as possible. Prepare techniques in advance that will help to offset any nervousness. This might be simply repeating a silent mantra such as 'relax' or whatever works for you and also taking a deep breath before you start to answer a question.

Types of Interviews

Some recruiters use a single interview to decide whether to hire you. Many will use a sequence of interviews to inform their decision. In sequential interviews you will be interviewed by a number of different interviewers or panels in turn. You may find that the questions asked get more difficult each time. Alternatively you may be interviewed by a more senior member of the organisation each time or be asked about a different set of competencies. Answer every question fully even if you feel you have been asked it previously.

• Face-to-face interviews - this is the most common method. One interviewer or two or a panel of interviewers will conduct the interview. The one-to-one method is the least preferred due to ethical issues around equality and transparency but is sometimes used for informal pre-screening interviews as part of a multi-stage recruitment process. Two person interviews ideally have an interviewer of each gender. Panel interviews generally contain a spread of gender and expertise and are often chaired by the person to whom you will report, should you get the job.

• Group interviews - several candidates are present and will be asked questions in turn by two or more interviewers. A group discussion around a specific topic may be encouraged and you may be invited to put questions to the other candidates and/or to the panel.

• Telephone interviews - telephone interviews are increasingly used by companies as part of the recruitment process, often at an early stage of selection, especially by overseas recruiters. Prepare in the same way that you would for a face-to-face interview. Make sure you choose a suitable time and date, in a place where you will be free to chat in a quiet place without any interruptions. Make sure your mobile is charged if you are using it. Remember to keep any necessary documents, like your CV and the job advert, to hand throughout the phone call.

Ten Resume Cliches That Could Cost You Your Dream Job

Does your resume have clichés? You know, boring little chestnuts such as ‘innovative’ or ‘motivated’ that could be replaced with something better? You may have been taught to use these in high school, but if you’re a graduate entering the job market, it’s time to step it up and stand out. 

In today’s competitive job market, using dull terms on your resume sends the wrong message to potential employers. You want your resume to fascinate the reader and make them reach for the phone – it’s your calling card to an interview.

So what are the clichés you should avoid to make sure you get noticed? Here are the top 10 overused words on US LinkedIn profiles in 2012:

1. Creative
2. Organisational
3. Effective
4. Motivated
5. Extensive experience
6. Track record
7. Innovative
8. Responsible
9. Analytical
10. Problem solving

What do you notice about all of these words? That’s right – they’re all general terms. Some of them may truly describe you, but since they are also being used to describe everyone else, they've lost their impact.

Your resume should provide details and examples of your achievements so that the employer can see what you could potentially bring to their role. If you are innovative, don't say it - prove it. Describe the processes you have modified or ideas you have developed. 

Recruiters and human resource teams in big firms receive thousands of applications a year. Many of those applications will include the words mentioned above. Recruiters will skip over those words searching for examples of what you have actually achieved in your career to date. If you don’t include specifics, they will skip over your application altogether.  

Remember – the easier you make it for a recruiter to recommend you for a role, the more likely you will be hired!

How to Make Your Mark At Career Expos

Career expos provide you with a fantastic opportunity to meet with potential employers and industry experts. To really make a good impression, you’ll need to do some preparation first. Get your corporate, job-interview-worthy outfit ready, then check out these six tips to make sure you are putting your best foot forward:

Do your research: Find out about the participating employers, and narrow down a shortlist of, say, your top five. Then research as much as you possibly can about each of these companies so that you have an understanding of who they are and what they are looking for in graduate recruits. This knowledge can form the basis of your chat with them, and show just how keen you are to secure your spot in their organisation.    

Update and proofread your resume: This is a career expo people – take a few copies of your resume with you! Employers may want to have a quick look over it while you’re speaking with them. Have several people proofread it to ensure it reads well and contains absolutely no errors – spelling mistakes or poor grammar on a resume will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. If you can, print all the copies on high-quality paper and carry them in a professional-looking portfolio.

Ask thoughtful questions: Don’t waste anyone’s time (or your own) by asking something you could have found out via the company’s website. Come up with some questions about the employer’s own experience with the organisation, why they chose to take a role there, what they feel are the best aspects of the graduate program, maybe even what they enjoy most about their job. This is a chance for you to learn about the cultural aspects of the company, and find out a little more about your potential boss.

Use a great opening line: Think about how many people these employers will be meeting on the day. How many times will they hear, “Nice to meet you, my name is …” – a lot! There is nothing wrong with this standard opening line, but it isn’t exactly memorable is it? Be someone they remember by coming up with a great opening line to use – something that gives a quick snapshot of who you are as a person and what you love about their company.

Print your own business cards: Your own personalised business cards will impress anyone you give them to, because they demonstrate your professionalism and willingness to make that extra effort. Not only will people accept them, they’re very likely going to offer you their own in return, which makes it easy for you to follow up and thank them for their time. Make sure they look so good they’re worth keeping, include all your contact details, and feature a sharp tagline that describes you in a nutshell.

Get Linking: Take advantage of the networking opportunities a career expo presents and ask people if you can “LinkIn” with them. LinkedIn allows you to keep in touch with professional contacts long after the event, even if you lose their business cards, so have your smartphone ready.

There will be lots of other hopefuls in attendance, but at the risk of sounding corny, there will only be one you. Follow these tips and give yourself the best chance of standing out – employers will always remember the student who really makes an effort!

How To Ace The Phone Interview

Nine steps to phone interview success

Phone interviews are more important than you might think. In today’s busy recruitment world, impressing the person who screens your application by phone could be the difference between making it to the next round and receiving a rejection letter. If you have a phone interview coming up, here are nine ways to help you progress to a face-to-face interview:

1. Treat it as though it’s a real interview: Why? Because it is! Phone interviews are used by employers and recruiters to narrow down their pool of candidates and decide who will move forward in the process. If you want the chance to meet this employer in person, respect the recruiter, their time and the phone interview process. Manners are important.

2. Prepare thoroughly: Given that this is a real interview, you should spend some time beforehand studying the job description, researching the company, and preparing your answers to possible behavioural questions. Behavioural questions require you to provide specific examples of past experiences to demonstrate your skills, so think of some recent, interesting examples that relate to the skills required for this role.  

3. Take the call in a quiet room: This one might sound obvious, but it’s amazing how many people are in noisy public places when recruiters call them for their interview. Go somewhere quiet, shut the door and don’t let anyone interrupt you. This will help you to think and speak clearly, as well as show respect for the caller.  

4. Use a reliable phone and network: Back in the day, the rule was you should never use your mobile for a phone interview. Times have changed though and nowadays this isn’t really practical. Just make sure you use a phone that is fully charged and in an area with good reception – you don’t want this call to drop out.

5. Pay attention to your tone: In a face-to-face interview, your facial expressions and body language convey signals about your interest and enthusiasm. In a phone interview, since the interviewer can't see you, your tone of voice becomes especially important. Make sure that you sound engaged, upbeat, and friendly.

6. Be ready to answer salary and availability questions: If you haven’t thought about what salary you’re looking for in this role, or how much notice you’ll need to give to your current employer, now is the time. Phone interviews are often used to screen out basic incompatibilities with these two points.

7. Have your resume and cover letter in front of you: The recruiter will have your application in front of them as they are conducting the phone interview. Don’t risk blanking or making something up when they start asking specifics about previous roles – know what information you have provided by keeping it in front of you. It’s also important to note that while the information they are seeking may be on your resume, it’s the way you answer that they are really interested in.

8. Stay focused: This call is not the time to multi-task – don’t be logged into anything else while you are being phone interviewed. Ideally, don’t be anywhere near a computer so you are not tempted to check emails or IM someone. If an email comes in while you're talking and you start even partially processing it, you will take your full attention off the conversation and the recruiter will hear that you are distracted.  

9. Listen carefully: Further to staying focused on the call, really take the time to listen to the recruiter’s questions. If you don’t understand or hear exactly what they have asked you, apologise and ask them to repeat or possibly rephrase the question – don’t bluff your way through an answer that may well be irrelevant. 

With phone interviews becoming more and more common in the recruitment process, it’s important to know how to use them to your advantage. Follow these tips and you’ll leave your interviewer looking forward to meeting you in person!