| 1. What are your greatest strengths?This is | | | | determine whether or not you are over or |
| an opportunity to examine your self image. | | | | under qualified for the position. Whether |
| Do not get caught without an answer to this | | | | you are asked this question on an application |
| question that is short and effective. Do not | | | | form or during an interview, use a deferral |
| oversell or undersell yourself. You can | | | | tactic in answering the question. The right |
| start with something like this:"I have many | | | | time to answer is after you have received a |
| strengths which include problem solving, | | | | job offer, and not before. The idea here is |
| creativity, working well with others, and | | | | to make the question moot as it relates to |
| other skills that contribute to success in | | | | the position you are interested in. Stick to |
| the job. Is there a specific strength you | | | | your stand on providing this information in a |
| are looking for that I can demonstrate?"2. | | | | positive approach. If you are trying to move |
| What are your weaknesses?Here is another | | | | up or down the corporate ladder, you can be |
| loaded question that is often asked. What | | | | eliminated too soon by giving the wrong |
| benefit is there to you in discussing your | | | | answer. One approach would be to say |
| specific problems and issues in an interview? | | | | something like this:"My salary has varied |
| None. Do not be caught off guard with a | | | | significantly depending on job |
| question like this. You can provide a simple | | | | responsibilities. My wage has been |
| answer like:"I'm a work in progress like | | | | appropriate to the level of responsibility |
| everybody else. Professionally, we can | | | | accepted, and I will be happy to discuss |
| discuss any concerns you might have about | | | | salary with you at the appropriate time."You |
| me."If the interviewer pursues this question | | | | might also say something like this:"I pretty |
| beyond this kind of answer, do not be | | | | much focus on what the pay is for the job I |
| intimidated by probing, and do not let down | | | | am interested in doing rather than what I |
| your guard by confessing all your self | | | | have made in the past."If they pressure for |
| perceived weaknesses, past incidents with | | | | an answer, ask them directly, "Are you |
| former employers, or any other unpleasant | | | | offering me the job?"You have nothing to lose |
| information. An escape clause would be a | | | | by employing these answers unless your salary |
| good thing to develop. To move on, you might | | | | history is right in line with the job you are |
| say:"Let me think about that for a while and | | | | interviewing for. If you are making a |
| come back to that later if you'd like. Is | | | | lateral move, you can afford to provide your |
| there something in particular that you are | | | | salary history. You can only know this if |
| concerned about?"After giving your answer, | | | | you already know what pay level the job |
| you might also try smiling and asking the | | | | offers. Few people ever look for jobs that |
| interviewer what their greatest weakness is. | | | | are equal to what they are presently making. |
| By turning the question back to them, you may | | | | How hard is it for you to locate a new job? |
| find something you can work with to satisfy | | | | If you cannot handle the pressure, you should |
| why they ask such questions of you. As a | | | | give them the broadest possible range of past |
| general rule, never be afraid to ask | | | | salary, and add that the range is based on |
| questions that will clarify the level of | | | | what you have been asked to do in the past, |
| answer expected from you. You may find that | | | | and the benefits that come along with the |
| your thinking is on a completely different | | | | salary. If you cave in on revealing past or |
| level than the person who is interviewing | | | | future salary expectations, you may find |
| you. Asking your own questions in response | | | | yourself disqualified from a position you |
| can help to give you control over your | | | | would otherwise find perfectly acceptable. |
| answers. You should not respond with | | | | This is true especially if you have decided |
| questions to every question being asked, but | | | | to move down on the scale rather than up.5. |
| when you do not understand why the dialog is | | | | What makes you think you are qualified for |
| moving in a specific direction, questioning | | | | this position?A provocative question like |
| the intent is justified.3. What are your | | | | this is designed to see if it will make you |
| salary expectations?If you are in a hurry to | | | | squirm. Your best approach is to have an |
| get through an interview, and this question | | | | answer prepared that might be something like |
| is one of the first ones asked, you can | | | | this:"That is what we are here to explore. |
| eliminate yourself from consideration by | | | | So far, I see no reason to believe I am not |
| being unrealistic in what you expect to be | | | | qualified. Do you have some specific |
| paid for the position. Think about this one | | | | concerns we can discuss?"If an interviewer is |
| before you answer, or better still, wait | | | | stupid enough to bring unqualified candidates |
| until the company has actually said they want | | | | in for interviews, they should be the one to |
| to hire you for the job. The interview is | | | | explain why they selected you as a candidate. |
| where you find out about the job, so you can | | | | The very fact that you were chosen to |
| determine what it would be worth for you to | | | | discuss a position shows there was something |
| accept it. If you are wise, you will not | | | | in your qualifications that interested them. |
| focus totally on salary, but also consider | | | | Find out what they saw in your background |
| the other benefits the company has to offer. | | | | that interested them, and exploit it.At the |
| Do not state a salary expectancy on an | | | | end of your interview, you will often be |
| application, or in an interview until you | | | | invited to ask any questions you might have. |
| have information on the "big picture."What | | | | This segment can be crucial for your success. |
| you really want to consider is salary, how | | | | You should always ask when the company |
| far from home you would have to go, what kind | | | | expects to make their decision on the |
| of health insurance, dental, retirement, | | | | position. This will give you an idea how |
| perks, bonuses, and services the company | | | | much longer you will be waiting to be |
| offers to their employees. These details are | | | | accepted or rejected. You can also learn |
| rarely provided during the interview, and | | | | something by asking them if they have any |
| will take time for you to analyze before | | | | concerns about you. Using this method, I |
| giving your response. How much is the | | | | once learned that I was about to be |
| company thinking they want to pay for the | | | | eliminated because the interviewer felt there |
| job? Whatever figure they quote is likely to | | | | were some weaknesses in my skill sets. When |
| be their lowest bid. How much flexibility is | | | | I filled in more information about those |
| there in their starting salary figure? How | | | | concerns, the interviewer was visibly moved. |
| often do they give salary reviews? All these | | | | The person said, "Really? Well, that's the |
| questions should be answered, and all of them | | | | sort of thing you should have told me!" I |
| should be asked at the end of the hiring | | | | responded by asking if they had any |
| process, when it is time for you to decide on | | | | objections to notating this new information |
| whether or not to accept the position being | | | | at this point of the interview, and it was |
| offered.Until you are offered the position, | | | | like someone hit them with an electric shock. |
| you should firmly defer the discussion of | | | | They hurriedly scribbled some more notes on |
| salary. Offer a response something like | | | | my resume, and ultimately chose me for the |
| this:"We can discuss that after I have had a | | | | position. Always remember that an interview |
| chance to review the entire benefit offering | | | | is not over until it is over. Apply any |
| available from your company, and find out | | | | insights you receive when they become |
| whether or not I am a fit for your | | | | available to you.Director of Software |
| organization. I'm sure you are willing to | | | | Concepts |
| offer a fair wage for the position, but right | | | | |
| now, you are more qualified to state what the | | | | BHO Technologists - LittleTek Center |
| job is worth to the company than I am."4. | | | | |
| What is your salary history?Great or small, | | | | Please provide a rating for the article to |
| short or tall, this is another attempt to | | | | help us determine future content choices. |