1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What did you most enjoy about your last job?
3. How would your colleagues or supervisor describe you?
4. What can you offer us that other people cannot?
5. What about this job attracts you? What is unattractive?
6. How long do you see yourself with us?
7. How would you describe an ideal working environment?

Standard interview questions might not seem difficult, but your answer to each should be polished and sharp. Craft responses and practice them before your interview so that they roll off your tongue when you face the interviewer. Effective responses answer questions honestly, positively, and briefly, highlighting important qualities and accomplishments that are relevant to the position at hand. Give examples to illustrate and corroborate your statements when possible. Your responses should work together, making connections between what you have previously done, the available position, and your goals.



Tell me about yourself.
Ineffective: I am a hard-worker who is good with numbers. After I worked as a financial analyst for a few years, I decided to go to law school. I just finished and now am looking for a new challenge.

Effective: I began developing skills relevant to financial planning when I worked as a financial analyst for three years. In that role, I succeeded in multiplying the wealth of my clients by carefully analyzing the market for trends. The return on the portfolios I managed was generally 2% more than most of the portfolios managed by my company. My initiative, planning, and analytic skills were rewarded by two promotions. As the manager of a team, I successfully led them to develop a more efficient and profitable strategy for dealing with new accounts. My subsequent training in the law, including tax law and estate law, gives me an informed view of what types of investments and charitable gifts would be most advantageous for your clients.


What did you most enjoy about your last job?
Ineffective: I liked lots of things-the people, the challenge, the rewards. Sometimes we had to work long hours, but it always seemed to pay off.

Effective: Of the many things that I enjoyed, I would say that the strategic aspects of my job most energized me. I liked setting concrete performance goals for myself and finding ways to meet them. I similarly enjoyed analyzing markets for trends and identifying when would be the most beneficial time to enter or withdraw from certain funds. When I was a manager, my team and I developed a new approach to accounts that became a standard for the company. Strategizing gave my work a sense of tangible direction and accomplishment.


How would your colleagues or supervisor describe you?
Ineffective: I guess they would say that I am a hard worker who is successful.

Effective: My supervisor and colleagues have described me as a dependable worker. My supervisor has appreciated that I prioritize tasks and manage my responsibilities so that she can rely on me. My bosses tell me I have a sixth sense for markets and I learn new information and procedures quickly. These skills account for my two promotions in three years. My boss was also impressed by how I was able to lead my team.


What can you offer us that other people cannot?
Ineffective: I have a unique combination of skills. I also really want the job.

Effective: I have a track-record of multiplying wealth through investments and developing strategies with teams. Since I have a JD, I also know what legal parameters and loopholes affect families and individuals planning their finances. My CFA training not only shows that I will succeed in the CFP courses, but also gives me a broader view of why financial plans work as they do. Since I am organized and self-motivated, I will add value to the company without requiring much tending and supervision.


What about this job attracts you? What is unattractive?
Ineffective: I like that it is in the field I am targeting. I don't like the commute that it will require.

Effective: As I evaluate my skills and goals, this job maximizes on both. I will be able to merge my knowledge of law and markets while strategizing for the sound financial future of clients. Since this is a small company, I imagine that there will be opportunity for increased responsibilities and challenges. I share the values of the company. I am not eager to do much data processing, but the position is very attractive.


How long do you see yourself with us?
Ineffective: I don't want to make any hasty commitments, and I like to keep my options open. Maybe I will be here for one year, maybe for five. It depends.

Effective: I see myself here as long as we both think that I am contributing to the vitality of the company while still being grown through challenges.


How would you describe an ideal working environment?
Ineffective: A laptop and cell phone on a beach sound ideal to me. Short of that, I would like an environment in which I am able to work as I please, without much supervision.

Effective: It is important to me that my company has clear objectives and strives for success. Similarly, I like having colleagues whom I admire for their skills and perspectives. When communication is clear between colleagues, our energy becomes synergy. In addition, I find that I flourish when given discretion after having gained the trust of my supervisor.

This post has been edited by JobListed: May 20 2005, 09:38 PM

Thank you...This is really helpful...hahaha....I got this question asked frequently...

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Normally i'll tell them about my plans and I make sure my plans wun venture away from the job I am applying or makes them sound like I'll juz be working with them in short term....

Is this the proper way?

What is your strength and weakness?
My answer : My strength is that I am willing to learn and work and I can go far if you give me this oppurtunity. My weakness is my due to my lack of experience since I am a freshie but I will not hesitate to learn from others. (do not brag too much. And try to cover when telling about your weakness)

What do you know about this company?
Very common question. So read about the company's latest news and developement before going to the interview.

So, here's 2 questions I was always ask when going to interviews. Some interviewer might get too creative and ask weird questions...so be prepare. LOL

Well done...thanks for sharing! Appreciated!

Template answers are huge turnoff for employers esp when you do not even mean it.

Q: I'm not going to hire you, do you know why?

Do you really think covering up your weaknesses will make them go away? The interviewer knows more about the company and position and is in a position to assess if your weaknesses will affect your success at the company. It is in your interest not to be in a position where you are unlikely to succeed given your weaknesses. Alternatively, the interviewer may realize that you are more suited to another position, possibly even a better position.

Your weaknesses will be discovered later on by your employer so there is little reason to hide or cover them up. Be honest and explain your any weaknesses that may be relevant to the job. You do not need to share non-relevant weaknesses such as your addiction to chocolate or anime unless you think it may affect your job.

You are welcome.

If you tell them regarding your plan and you are just be working with them in short term only, they will hire you too if they need you but they will not put more attention on you, exspecially they will not increase your salary. Right?

You are welcome. Below is some tips for Interview

. Be punctual
. Introduce yourself in a courteous manner and remember to smile,smlile smile!
. Read company materials while you wait.
. give a firm handshake.
. Use body language to show interest.
. Smile, nod, give nonverbal feedback to the interviewer.
. Ask about the next step in the process.
. Thank the interviewer.
. Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to.

i was asked by an interviewer this question;

"so basically thats what u need to do if u are hired, this not an interesting job but rather a boring job, do u think this is the job that u looking for? do u think u can suit urself with this kins of job?"


* the position offered was system support and monitoring. the job is basically just sit there and monitor the server, if got problem occurs just write the problem's detail and call the system engineer to solve the problem.

anyone have any idea how to answe this question?

What do they ask before this question? Seem like you did some mistake in the previous questions that they asked.

Try to arrive at the company 30 minutes before the interview. Normally they require you to fill up interview form. eg if they ask u to come at 10am, try to reach there by 9:30am

Below is some dificult questions during Interview

1. What are your weaknesses?
2. Why did you leave your last job?
3. How do you deal with criticism?
4. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
5. How do you deal with authority?
6. What do you think of your previous manager?
7. What is the riskiest thing you have ever done?

Be confident and speak with a clear and convincing voice. Don't panic and squirm uncomfortably. As you prepare responses before the interview, consider what information the questions seek: are there ways in which you would be a liability to the company? If the company invests in you, what kinds of things would it need to overcome? Are you the kind of person who can deal with things when they get rough, or are you pure gloss?

In answering sensitive questions, make sure that your answers are honest, but reassuring. Use tact and choose your words carefully so that you show respect for other people in your responses. You should usually use understatement in your reply to sensitive questions. When people hear something bad, they tend to focus on it in a way that is out of proportion to its significance in everyday life. If you say that you are not always organized, the interviewer could imagine your desk with papers strewn everywhere and deadlines missed. But in reality your conception of disorganization might look a lot like the interviewer's conception of organization. In addition, most of the interviewer's questions could be answered honestly in a variety of ways. You want to choose the version of the truth that is most appealing and sensitive--the version that helps support your main message.


What are your weaknesses?
Overemphasized: I am not a good manager.

Avoidant: I always get my work done on time. When other people drop the ball, sometimes I get frustrated with them.

Effective: I prioritize continual growth and improvement. An area on which I would like to focus is managing others who have different expectations from me. What needs to be done in order to complete responsibilities is intuitive for me, so I am learning how to give better direction to others who are not self-motivated.


Why did you leave your last job?
Vague and negative: Law always interested me, and I was looking for a new challenge. I thought it would be a good time to go to law school. Besides, I had gotten frustrated with the lack of support I felt at work.

Dangerous: In the end, my manager and I could not get along. He was driving me crazy and I needed to leave.

Effective: As I succeeded in financial analysis, I became increasingly interested in broader issues of managing money. I wanted to understand how legal regulations and individuals' goals affect decisions about how to manage money. When I gained entrance to my top choice in law school, I seized the opportunity to infuse my financial training with legal knowledge.


How do you deal with criticism?
Disrespectful: When I remember the source, I usually realize that the other person is in no position to criticize me.

Unbelievable: Criticism does not bother me at all.

Effective: Criticism is vital to my continued growth, and I welcome constructive criticism that helps a team operate better together or produce better results. It is important to me to understand where my critic is coming from so that I know how to apply the feedback.


Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Dismissive: Living in a boat off the coast of Bermuda.

Exploitative: I hope to have gained enough skills here to start my own company.

Scattered: In ten years, I imagine that I will want a change of scene. One of my long-term interests has been ecological protection, and I can see myself working as a spokesman for a lobbyist organization. First, though, I need to make some money and I want to contribute to your company.

Effective: In ten years, I endeavor to have refined my strategic and client relations skills. I intend to be a leading expert in estate planning. After having proven myself as a senior manager, I hope to help shape the strategic direction of estate planning services. I could do this in any number of official roles. The important thing is that I will continue contributing my abilities in a challenging and rewarding environment.


How do you deal with authority?
Concerning: I think it is important to question authority from time to time.

Frightening: In my last job, there was a time when my boss made a financial decision that I knew would be abysmal. I went directly to his superior to explain the problem. His superior agreed that I was right, and my boss had to alter his plan.

Effective: Respect is very important to me. As an employee, I try to respect my boss not only by following her guidance, but also by seeking her guidance. When a trusting relationship is formed, I have often found that my bosses have appreciated concerns or options that I raised to them. They know that I support them, and I know that they respect me.


What do you think of your previous manager?
Evasive: She did her job fine. She was a pretty nice person.

Disrespectful: She knew her stuff, but she did not give my colleagues or me any real guidance. It is like we were fending for ourselves. She rarely stood up for us either. I do not really think she should be a manager.

Effective: My previous manager had excellent technical skills and was very agreeable as a colleague. I would have liked more support from her at times, but her hands-off style meant that I had to become resourceful in problem solving and negotiating with colleagues.


What is the riskiest thing you have ever done?
Too much information: My wife and I conceived our first child in front of the police department.

Dangerous judgment: I play chicken with trains.

Effective: The greatest calculated risk that I have taken was to launch my own internet company. My idea was solid, but I knew the market was volatile. Even though the venture ended, my investment of time and money paid off in terms of the skills, perspectives, and contacts that I made through the process. I feel like I matured-rather than aged-ten years during that time.

before this she asked me whether i know the scope of this job or not. i told her i know as i read it from the job advertisment. then she straight assume that that job is a boring job, i dint even mention the word 'boring' in front of her before she asked that question.


then i replied her that the word 'boring' has different defination to different kind of people, example is some people feel programmng is a challenging and interesting job to attempt but some find it boring as it only deals with coding. another example is some body can sit in front of a pc and spent 4-5 hours to surf in the internet while somebody cant sit in fornt of a computer more than 30 minutes. this is up to the person attitude and interest. u feel it boring doesnt mean other ppl feel boring to it.

any comments to my reply? is it abit rude? especially the last sentence. i think it is abit rude to say the last sentence.

This post has been edited by wenloong78: May 21 2005, 05:07 PM

My point of view is she will not hire you. You did a big mistake in the interview. When she ask you regarding whether you know the scope of this job or not, you should answer according, not mention that you get the info regarding this job function from the job advertisement. Try to learn from your mistake.

Additional, you can not mention that "you feel it boring doesnt mean other ppl feel boring to it too". This is too rude. The tip here is you must show your interest for this job during your interview.

Covering the weakness by telling something good instead to back up. I did not say lie or hide about the weakness. Everybody has their weakness and interviewer ask question like this to see if we're brave enough to admit.
Backing up weaknesses like this way...
Examples:
*I'm not too keen with computer's application but I'm thinking of taking part time courses to improve.
*Although I don't have much experience in this field but I think it's really interesting and I am willing to learn.
*Since I'm a fresh graduate, lack of experience is my weakness but I won't hesitate to ask and learn from others.

BTW, to be over-honest is not really necessary in interviews...I don't think by telling them something like 'I tend to be always late for work' or 'I have really hot temper' will earn you any honesty points.

This post has been edited by Kii: May 22 2005, 03:02 PM

HI Kii,

Just an interesting test.. What would you say of you get this response...

So, what you are saying is you have not taken any concrete step to address this weakness now. What makes you think you will do anything different in the future??

So, since you say you think this field is interesting, please tell me what you done so far to learn more about this interesting field??

Heh, I had interviewed quite a few fresh graduates and they had taken the trouble to get some exposure to this area in spite of their heavy study schedule. Why you have not done the same?? If you were not motivated to learn on your own in the past, why should I believe that you will act differently in the future??

Please noted that I had lived and worked in USA for a long time. So, I am very Americanized. If you apply to work in some companies that are American culture based, you may get this kind of response to your answers...

Dreamer

This post has been edited by dreamer101: May 22 2005, 03:20 PM

Hi,

Some time, the best and correct answer is "I do not know" instead trying to B.S. someone...

This is a very normal technique that I used when I interview some new people and trying to decide whether to work with someone.. I will ask question after question until the level of technicality of the question reach to a point that I know the person will not know the answer. Then, at that point, from the answer, I will know whether the person has the integrity or honesty of telling me the truth aka "I do not know". If the person will not tell you the truth when he/she do not know the answer, I either will not work with the person or I will be very careful on anything that I hear from the person.

Dreamer

Actually I think b4 an interview, it is important to do some homework on the job I am applying to... I think the most important part of interview is to show the employer we hv done some homework b4.. Am i right?

Anyways, another question I frequently came across here is... What kind of person you can't actually get along with??

I always tell them I can't work with irresponsible kind of ppl.. but after some thoughts... I figured, should we tell them I can't work with xxx and yyy type of ppl.. Or should we tell them, I hv no problem working with anyone... Unless they really dislike me...

Another thing I wanna ask is, should we remain serious during the interview or should we smile often? Even when answering question??

Cuz I hv a tendency of smiling all the time...

Hi,

Whether you done your homework on the particular job, it will show up on the interview.. Preparation is important...

The answer is the goal is to get the job done.. I will find a way to get the job regardless of what kind of person that I work with.. Getting along is irrelevant..

What should you care whether someone like you or not?? It is a job and you get pay.. In fact, some time, people liking each other make the job a lot of harder..


Be yourself. If someone cannot stand you smiling all the time, let's find out during the interview as opposed after you work on the job for a while..

Dreamer

My answer will be : What I know is very basic computer knowledge and if that's not efficient enough to do my work, and if my work requires me to know more, yes, I will do something about it and take up a course to improve.


My answer will be : By joining this company is the best way to indulge more in this field. It's only up to you whether to give me this opportunity to learn or not.


My answer will be : Not everyone has the same opportunity to access their own field of interest. But I've been exposed to other area such as plastic industry and quality management.

Yes, Americanized or not we should all be prepare to be criticized. I'd gone through a 3 hours interview aka debating session. Torturing...really torturing.