Job Interview Questions

Answering Job Interview Questions

So how did you get the interview? Personal reference? Posted your resume (on Joboodles.com, we hope)? Some other way? Don’t be mislead into believing that because you were referred by someone else for the interview, the interview will be ‘easier’. No matter what the circumstances surrounding how you got the interview, understand that the person doing the interview is looking for the most qualified, most experienced and most personable person they can find for the job. No matter how you got into the interview, the questions you will be asked will be pretty much the same. The person conducting the interview is there to learn more about your skills and experience level.

There are a number of sources where you can find reports or lists of typical interview questions. The thing to remember is that for the vast majority of questions, there is no right or wrong answer.

Do not go into the interview thinking you will have to answer ‘trick questions’. Most questions are asked out of a genuine desire to learn more about a particular subject. A direct honest answer is alway the best policy.

Interviewers often answer ‘open ended’ questions in order to help assess the persons communications skills and style. An ‘open ended’ question is a question that cannot be answered by a simple Yes or No answer.

You shouldn’t be nervous during the interview but if you are, understand that most people feel nervous too. Afterall it’s a very important step in landing the job. If you are the nevous type, then you should do an honest self analysis of your nervous habits and how your nervousness changes your personality. Do you speak quicker? Do you speak quieter? Do you fidget? Even if you do all of the above, it’s okay. You see, since most people are nervous, the person conducting the interview will most certainly take that into account.

If that is not enough assurance for you then you can work on miminizing those little nervous habits you may have. IF you smile, then most likely the other person will too. Seeing that smile will do a lot to dissapate your nervousness.

Honest answers regarding your skills and experience are the best and, of course, you can’t prepare in advance for the exact questions you may be asked about your resume. But since the questions will be asked to help assess your qualifications, you should not be nervouse about those.

There are some common questions that may be asked and you can certainly prepare your answers in advance for those. Answers to common questions like, “Why do you want this job?” or “Why should we hire you over the other applicants? can be prepared prior to the actual interview.

Rehearse your answers to questions like these ahead of time. Of course your answers should be honest but just know that this is the time to sell yourself. Reinforce your qualifications, your leadership, your drive and other strong qualities that you possess.

As you answer the questions you will be giving the interviewer more insight into your experience and along the way you will also be giving them clues as to your values and beliefs. A good interviewer will be able to assess if your personality will match up with the personality neeeded to fill the open position.

The last point is that almost without exception you will be asked why or on what terms you left your last job or why you are considering leaving your current position.

Prepare your answers ahead of time for questions like these. Regardless of what you thought of your last boss or your current boss, now is not the time to discuss those feelings. You should discuss the facts and not your feelings about those facts. You may think that an honest answer is “My last boss didn’t have a clue what he was doing” but give an answer like that and the interview will be over very quickly. Trying to make your boss, or ex-boss look worse does not make you look better.

If it’s the truth, responses like you need a more challenging job, or you are looking for an opportunity to show how much more you are capable of are more likely to get you the job or at least the next interview.

So prepare your responses in advance for common interview questions. Practice your answers in front of a mirror and try not to be nervous.