| Interview Questions You May Be Asked |
Before attending an interview you should think about your responses to
the following questions. Your answers may depend on the job or company in
question, so you should go through your responses just before each interview.
|
| 1. Why do you want this job? |
| Think carefully about this question. Stress the positive aspects which
have attracted you to applying for this position. Do not mention the negative
aspects of your current job or the job in question. |
| |
| 2. What qualities do you think will be required
for this job? |
| Their advertisement for the job may help you a little bit, but you should
also think of the other qualities that may be required. These may include
leadership ability, supervisory skills, communication skills, interpersonal
skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc. |
| |
| 3. What can you contribute? |
| This is your chance to shine. Tell them about your achievements in your
previous position(s) which are relevant to the new position you are applying
for. |
| |
| 4. Why do you want to work for this company? |
| Emphasize the positive reasons why you want to join their company, but
avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours. These would not endear
you to a prospective employer. |
| |
| 5. What do you know about this company? |
| This is your chance to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of
their company. Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures,
news, company figures, customers, etc. |
| |
| 6. What interests you about our product
(or service)? |
| Again, your research into the company should aid you in answering this
question. |
| |
| 7. What can we (the new company) offer that
your previous company cannot offer? |
| Tread carefully here! Again do not mention money. Stress opportunities
for personal growth, new challenges, etc. |
| |
| 8. You have not done this sort of job before.
How will you cope/succeed? |
| Say that you are the sort of person who aims to succeed at everything
you do and that you are very determined and will do whatever it takes to
get the job done. |
| |
| 9. Why should we employ you? |
| The answer to this question will be based on your previous experience
and achievements which relate to the company. At the end you could add that
you think there is a good fit between you and the job, and do ask the interviewer
for their opinion. |
| |
| 10. How long do you think it would be before
you were making a significant contribution to the team/company? |
| If you think that you could contribute from day one then say so. Then
turn the question round on them and say how soon would they expect it. |
| |
| 11. How ambitious are you? Would you compete
for my job? |
| Depending on the position you are applying for you may want to sound fairly
ambitious, but do not look as if you are after the interviewer's position. |
| |
| 12. What do you like and dislike about the
job we are discussing? |
| Likes: stress things such as a new challenge or the opportunity to bring
fresh experience to the company. Dislikes: Imply there is nothing to dislike
about the job, which is why you are so interested. |
| |
| 13. Why did you choose a career in …? |
| Be positive about your reasons. If you have changed careers make a logical
argument as to why you did so. |
| |
| 14. Why are you changing careers? |
| This question will only be asked if you are making a radical change in
your career. Always stress the positive aspects of the change rather than
the negative aspects of your previous career - you do not want to come across
as someone who is moving just because you hate your old career. Say why
you think you will be good in the new career - this should come from your
experience and achievements, stress the transferable skills you have, such
as leadership ability, etc. |
| |
| 15. How much does your last job resemble
the one you are applying for? What are the differences? |
| The interviewer is trying to see how well you would fit in to the position
you are applying for. So you should stress the similarities rather than
the differences. When it comes to discussing the differences it will help
your case if you can show that either you have done something similar in
the past or that you can quickly pick up the new skills. |
