Yes, they are pretty similar questions, but requires diff method to answer.

1) Will have to depend on your personal view of success. Maybe sitting in an MNC office high up, with the title Director is how you define 'success'. Or maybe simply achieving a target set - is success in your terms. This have to be based on your personal POV.

2) Again, same as above. Varies from invidual - success factor could be your motivation, your will, persistence, high adaptability skills etc

3) What do you want to achieve in these upcming years? 3 years' time - Executive, 5 years - Assistant Mgr, 7 years - Manager? Or 3 years - Ass Mgr, 5 years - Mgr, 7 years - Deputy Director?

Well this question test how ambitious you are, and check whether you have an aim. In any case, since you know interviewers like to ask these questions to you, plan your answer first before attending

Hi duhdude, you don't have to feel pessimistic. We all understand that retrenchment could not be helped esp when the economy's not doing well. Just be honest with the interviewer on what happened, they usually understand your situation. As a matter of fact, the company had viewed your resume and then call you up for interview. It could mean that they are more interested in your experience and what you have to offer for the company - rather than the fact you were retrenched twice.

And since we're at it, why didn't you stay in a company for more than 2 years (not the closed down ones)?

Job hop is not ideal (at least to me). There's so much more a person can learn from a company, even with years down the road. No such thing as "i learn everything there already" ...what is the 'everything' anyway?

Hmmmmm~ *thinks hard*

I agree with my friend who also seems to think that it's not a good idea to job hop often because it doesn't look appealing in resume, plus you lose the seniority of benefits in your company (and also bonus sometimes). Furthermore, very often we only acquire higher skills when manager/ boss delegate some of their work down... but that'll usually only happen when you've worked long enough to understand aspects of the company and they believe you can handle the task/ responsibility.

But staying at one place limits one's innovatiness and (maybe) much needed challenge or work environment.

In your case, it's really hard to explain. If i'm you - the company that I didn't learn anything, I'll just take it out of the resume and cite that I took a long break sumwhere or took the time to learn something... j/k. Anyway, forget bout the 2 comp that retrench u. Focus on the other 3 - you can say you did not expect (it's true) that 2nd comp retrench. You wanted more challenges from your 1st job, and didn't knew it would happen otherwise.

Mention afterthat you found a job in 3rd company (after retrench), but unfortunately there were heavy politics and it puts you in crossroad, which brings you to the 4th job. In your 4th job, work were not delegated to your properly and low staff involvement. You are unhappy to be not 'part' of projects and discussions (but if this is true, make sure you also explain to interviewer the action you took - eg. spoke/ explain to boss of the prob but boss didn't care etc). You find that work is supposed to be a 'team work' and with low or no involvement, you don't feel like you belong there. The expectation was different.

Actually it isn't difficult to BS your way (like I did above). Interviewers want a reason to believe, so give them one. You can use "pity" and "different perception" to show why you left those comp. Make yourself sound like a 'victim' in these cases (tho in actual it may be your attitude and expectation towards work that needed a reality check).

Maybe it's a good chance to take a good look at yourself and criticize in all ways. Also check on what sort of job you enjoy and want (with experience in 5 companies, I'm sure you somehow or rather, have a picture), to which you'll be able to last at least up to 2-3 years. My advice is this: if you think this job suits you and you want it, make a pledge not to quit no matter what until you've met your target. Eg. You plan to stay in this comp at least 2 years, so don't leave before that (unless things got really really bad).

Yes indeed. Normally interviewers who stayed in a company for... say, 5-8 years would be skeptical when they check your job history. So you've gotta convince them - one way or another. I agree that candidates shouldn't lie. Nothing can remain in the closet forever. Someday when it got it, it'll be ugly.

This is good opportunity to find out more abt the comp. Depending on your 'knowledge' and 'interest' towards the company, you can ask about their history (which is why I said depends on interest, and whether the interviewer elaborated this to you earlier on or not), what is the structure like, ask a little abt their products, your job function, daily tasks etc.

Yes, like Kucing said... but if you still can't recall some of the stuffs you read (could be due to nervousness, sudden blackout etc) you can say that you're not really good with this field but are much better on this other part (elaborate) of the technical side. Generally there must be SOMETHING you can recall, be it the simpler part of your studies/ side that you fare best in Uni.

Depends. Some companies make it 3 interviewees at the same time while others have it 5 to 10 simultaneously (esp for walk-in).

I had a 3P interview, excluding the interviewer - a lady (yes, only 1 person). We were asked the usual questions: intro yourself, talk abt yourself etc. When it was done, the lady explain about the company and ask us some basic questions about their comp. Then she proceed to give us a casestudy to which we are to discuss among ourselves. She will be present to listen/ observe but deem invisible.

In any case, we spoke and present our views about the issue and decide the 'part' we would like to answer later on. So after about 10minutes, we were asked to speak. Upon presenting our views, she proceed to prompt some questions to our answers.

There was nothing much and as a matter of fact it was really fun. I prefer a group interview rather than the usual 'interview'.

Oh wait, I forgot to elaborate. The case study given is based on our expertise. It was kononnya a marketing position so she asked marketing-related question. But in the end when I went for the 2nd stage interview, it's actually a Sales job so no thanks, I turned it down.

Hahahahaha this is always the first 'confirmed' question in all interviews. I usually start with the boring way - Education. But since I've been to overseas before, I usually mentioned a little of my experience there and how it's culturally different in my POV. Upon that I proceed to my previous and then current job.

Try to limit yourself to the time between 1.5 - 2.5min, and not too long.

This question is actually subjective and it's fine if you want to answer in relation to work or not. Even so, remember that most prob the interviewer only had a glance of your resume (before the interview) which is why it would be good if you'll talk briefly over some of the things you had in resume.

that's a really straightforward answer. Yes, you can say you like maths that's why you're in finance... but it would be better if you can come up with an answer that shows your true passion for numbers and elaborate a slightly longer answer (rather than 1 simple sentence).

There are times when you're done with introducing yourself that the interviewer will prompt you with questions in relation to the stuffs you talked about, so make sure you know what you said

I hope it's not too late for you to read this yes, normally you'll go from Secondary, diploma/ degree to any part time jobs experience you've taken. Also talk about your co curricular, club activities etc. Just tell them briefly - in a summarized version of what you did. Nothing more than 2.5min of total time to answer your question.

Good luck tell us all bout your experience in gp interview (as it vary from company to company) and bout the whole session. All the best!

Just copy & paste above answer:

"Hahahahaha this is always the first 'confirmed' question in all interviews. I usually start with the boring way - Education. But since I've been to overseas before, I usually mentioned a little of my experience there and how it's culturally different in my POV. Upon that I proceed to my previous and then current job.

Try to limit yourself to the time between 1.5 - 2.5min, and not too long.

This question is actually subjective and it's fine if you want to answer in relation to work or not. Even so, remember that most prob the interviewer only had a glance of your resume (before the interview) which is why it would be good if you'll talk briefly over some of the things you had in resume."

It's the same for fresh grad. Most prob the topic you can elaborate most if your education. Talk about your KK activities, Uni clubs/ societies, group projects etc. You can also mention your fav subject and why.

It depends. If you are required to sign on the offer letter, then most probably you'll briefly read the T&C stated on the letter then sign. A high chance that HR or your direct superior will be in the room with you, in case you have any questions to ask in regards to the T&C.

For some other companies, you don't have to sign anything. Just pick-up the letter from HR and you can leave

Yes, it's kinda lame!!! Your hobby means it's something you like to do and would do during your free time. Think summore la, what else you love to do other than sitting in front of your PC? Do you enjoy trekking, rock climbing, surfing (not net ah) etc? Or maybe simply collecting some stuffs?

Perhaps you don't get to do the above very often, but it can be named as hobby because you would go for them occasionally when you have the time. Travelling can also be a hobby

Hehe nice tips and experience! But one thing I don't really quite agree is where u mention we don't have to repeat edu background. Keep in mind that interviewers might have > 50 candidates and they can't remember all resumes they might went through before that (or maybe didn't go through at all, only glance at it seconds before interview session because there's a possibility that HR filtered the candidates). In any case, there's a lot of possibilities and I usually go with talking bout Edu in any case.

The "tell me about yourself" is subjective. You can talk about almost anything but I agree with you that it has to be interesting. I usually go with the culture shock and difference in perception that I observed when I studied out of country back then. Some interviewers find it interesting (also have to depend on what you say).

For interviewes, be armed with all sort of possibilities and questions.

Funny enough, I hardly send a thank-you note X( I think I only did it for 2 companies.

It's normal for ppl to ask for 'discount'. Maybe knowing that you could put it slightly higher and then reduce it during the interview. Make sure you put the term: Negotiable in your resume.

In the end it depends on you. You are 'selling' yourself during the interview. The company is the customer and determines whether they want to 'buy' you or not. So it's expected for them to 'negotiate' prices before 'purchasing' just like we do at times

IMO you only tell that to the company when they have confirmed they want to take you in. For example you were confirmed on the spot during the interview. So upon that, let them know that you have not gone for your convo yet and it'll be in xxx month and you might need to take xxx days off.

I think it's wiser to check the title of the thread before posting. Whatever that telco job is, all the best and pls post it in Job Enlistment in future. This thread is to discuss on interview questions (in case you did not notice).

Those questions are actually pretty standard and part of the FAQ.

Look at them positively. It's a 'get to know each other' session. You are trying to find out more abt the employer while he/ she is doing the same, thus the interview. Like it or not, every job requires an interview - be it formal or informal.

Hahahahahahahaha who is this someone? It's weird! I don't see the connection and yes, maybe it's merely a coincidence. Asking abt your hobby they'll get to know whether you're an active or passive person. For example, you answered that you like to read, watch movies and surf the net etc then that shows you're not really active socially. On the other hand if you love travelling, jungle trekking, mountain climbing etc you're an active person who likes something challenging. Your hobby do make a difference and impression so don't think it's just 'passing-by' question. Your hobby reveals a lot abt you...

It would be difficult to grasp the marketing job if you have no experience nor basic. But you can venture into Sales first then perhaps slowly enter marketing at later stage.

It's fine, normally for Sales position, employers like to hire ppl from many diff backgrounds. You can honestly say that you have no experience whatsoever (to which I'm sure the interviewer already knows - looking at your resume) BUT you are willing to learn and work hard. Also mention you're willing to go the extra mile (something employers like to hear).

Typical Chinaman.

A friend went to this company for interview 1 year back. This man took a look at her resume and havent even give her the chance to speak nor introduce herself, he started with: "Fresh graduates nowadays ah bla bla bla bla bla don't appreciate what they have, and don't know the value of money bla bla bla think they are really good with the cert bla bla bla..."

I salute her for her patience.

I was asked "How many interviews have you gone through by far?" for one of my interview last year. I merely told the truth and I think it's best to be honest if we can.

And I replied them that I went through 3 that week (theirs being the 3rd). Then they asked whether I received any offer and I said, yes, one of them (which was indeed the truth). So with that, they tried to get out of me which company that offered me the job but I gave them vague answers and whatever I could answer (eg. location in xxx).

I was selected for the 2nd round but decided to go with the other company's offer XD

In any case, IF you have applied for 10 companies for the last 2 weeks, it would be better to say that you applied for 5. Do not make an impression that you are desperate.

I don't get it, why is this "dislike" thingy being mentioned all of a sudden? What is it about? Why would the interviewer ask something like that? And what sort of questions can the interviewer ask based on who you dislike the most?

red queen/ joey>> thx for replying! I find that it's rational to answer the interviewer in any way you want as long as you don't mention anything negative. Simply put, it's relatively easy to provide the 'textbook' answer that the interviewer wants.

"I would confront him/ her and sort out the issues" "I have no problem getting along with various types of people" "I am a 'people' person" bla bla bla

Hi kaffra, you're right. Approach is a better word than 'confront' as using the latter is something strong...

Same as the word 'regret' do not use it as it held a strong meaning as well.