Then interviewer will think you "pandai pandai want to jawab balik" attitude. Its better to "buat bodoh" ask to test waters.

sometimes i could see some interviewer so cocky and want to make them looked knew everything and their answer was the best answer in the world... they were not hiring slayer but a colleague/ team player so interviewee just be humble to them but not like bagging to them lol..

Ahhh you seem to have attended a lot of interviews. Sometimes cocky interviewer just need to be put where they belong. I remember my last job I really give the interviewer a good shelling. When it was my turn to ask question I gave him a tough question. His answer was "this only the management will know". I responded, "Gee, believe it or not if I ask any 7 years who just started school they will give me the same answer?" He was stunned as he did not expect an interviewee would dare to insult him. I spare no mercy, "Wanna put a wager on it? You pick the school and we go ask 10 Std 1 students there. *knock  knock on table* Hah, I don't think so. What's your position here by the way?" I walk off saying, "thanks I know my way out".

wow... you totally "no face give" woh.. so harsh... luckily i were not the interviewer who interview you..

can i mention in the interview that I got offer from other company, and ask them when can i expect to hear from them wether i'm hired or not?

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.

can i mention in the interview that I got offer from other company, and ask them when can i expect to hear from them wether i'm hired or not?

Hi,

You never tell the company what is your expected salary.  You let the company to make the first offer.  In any type of negotiation, whoever make the first offer loses..

Dreamer

Well, what if the company INSIST that you let them know what your range is first and they will see if they can meet that? Then eventually you will have to be the first one telling, right? Btw, what's the average market pay for fresh grad these days?

Went for an interview last Saturday and the ''current salary'' column I leave it blank while the expected salary i just put ''negotiable''.

The interviewer insist me to put a numbers 1st so they can negotiate/offer based on the price i written.

Then i ask them whats the budget / salary range they could offered and apparently they stunned for a while , and said ''actually this salary thing is quite sensitive bla bla bla....''

So moral of the story , they dont need ur current salary to hire you. They have their own scale.

If u told them your current salary , they might just use that as their ''new scale'' and offer u merely 10-15% more than your current salary.You'll never know their budget if you let them know your current pay.

As dreamer101 said , whoever put the number 1st ,LOSE  .

Smurfs,

Actually, the real situation is WORST than that.  In many companies, there is a HR policy that they cannot offer you more than 15% above your current salary.  So, once you put your current salary down, the hiring manager cannot offer you much more than 15% above current salary without SPECIAL APPROVAL from the executive level.  The candidate had limited their salary offer when they put down their current salary.

Dreamer

Sammyking,

They can INSIST but you can REFUSE.  You can ask them what is their budget?? And, please do not give you BS that they DO NOT KNOW how they budgeted for this job.  This ONLY works for people with LEVERAGE and GUT to stand their ground.

The GOAL to ask you for your expected salary is to offer you as low salary as possible.  They have a budget.  They do not need to know your expected salary to make an offer.

As I usually said,

"Average people are not rich.  Rich people are not average."

You have to CHOOSE to be AVERAGE or RICH.  If a person CHOOSE to behave like AVERAGE people, they will not be RICH.

Dreamer

I think perhaps this works better for people who are already working. I don't see how making the first move is a disadvantage as there were times, I didn't reveal my expected salary, instead my interviewer told me their budget and salary range that they usually pay for fresh grad. And there were also times I revealed my expected salary when asked and if they want me bad enough, they'll meet it if not, they'll just tell me so sorry, your salary is out of our range, then I'll proceed to ask how much do they usually pay fresh grad and then proceed to negotiate with them. So for fresh grads, revealing how much you want may work.

What do you answer if the interviewer ask you whether you have any other interviews? Seems like a trick question.

Sammyking,

<<And there were also times I revealed my expected salary when asked and if they want me bad enough,>>

And, you had just LIMITED your offer.  Why?? If they REALLY want you bad enough, they may pay you a lot more.  I had offer 70% to 80% more than my current salary.

YOU do not know how much that they are willing to pay.  And, especially for people with special skill.

KNOW how to pay the game.  Or else, you will not get the MAXIMUM pay that you can get.

Dreamer

but like he said it won't work for fresh grad right?

what makes you stand out from others probably gives u a chance to do so.