| Q. How do you handle stress? | | | | customers needs. It also took up a lot of |
| | | | time but I got around this by establishing a |
| Notice how this question is subtly different | | | | clever database for merging that sped up the |
| to "can you handle stress?" Reply with: "I | | | | process significantly. |
| break my work down into smaller steps and | | | | |
| work through those steps rather than get | | | | This shows you are goal oriented, that you |
| worked up over the bigger picture." | | | | believe in getting the job done and not just |
| | | | in being busy. Some task-oriented people |
| Or: "I tend to see problems arising before | | | | believe in simply being busy. Employers |
| they become too large to handle and I make | | | | desperately want goal-oriented people. |
| contingencies to cover them." | | | | |
| | | | Q. Can we check your references? |
| Q. How long have you been looking for work | | | | |
| another position? | | | | This question is often asked to put you |
| | | | off-guard. This is especially true if you |
| If you've been unemployed for a while | | | | come across as being too perfect, or too |
| obviously the employer is going to think why | | | | smooth. |
| didn't anyone want them in all that time? If | | | | |
| they were any good surely they?d have found a | | | | If you already have a job and are considering |
| job by now? Also - always remember that | | | | changing tell the interviewer they can check |
| businesses are fuelled by innovation and | | | | your references if you receive a firm job |
| solving customer's needs and problems. | | | | offer as you want to keep matters |
| They're not fuelled by the amount of hours | | | | confidential for the moment. |
| their employees work. | | | | |
| | | | If they want to check your present employer |
| You're not there to work 40 hours a week. You | | | | for a reference, make sure they give you a |
| are there to reach and attain certain goals. | | | | written job offer first. The last thing you |
| So, your best answer to the question is along | | | | need is to miss out on the job and arrive |
| the lines of: | | | | back at work to find your present employer |
| | | | finding ways to dismiss you for lack of |
| I don't want just any old job. I?ve been | | | | loyalty. |
| using my days researching companies I'd most | | | | |
| like to work for and where I feel I could | | | | Q. Tell me about yourself? |
| grow and develop my skills and be a key | | | | |
| member in the company's success. I?ve also | | | | Make sure you answer this question in a way |
| been studying and reading to give myself more | | | | that benefits the employer. They are looking |
| skills to add more value to my chosen career. | | | | for honesty, integrity, being a team player, |
| | | | punctuality and goal orientated people. If |
| You might also go on to explain that you knew | | | | you are going to talk about something, don?t |
| this would go against you because of the | | | | ramble on and on. Instead, talk about one of |
| length of time you were out of work, but you | | | | the subjects I've just mentioned. |
| realized that your whole future relied on | | | | |
| what you did now and you were willing to take | | | | A great strategy is to ask: "What area of my |
| that risk. | | | | background are you most interested in?" Their |
| | | | response allows you to tell them what they |
| Q. Have you ever been fired? | | | | want to hear. |
| | | | |
| Try to answer "NO." | | | | Q. Why do you feel you are a better |
| | | | .................. than the other applicants? |
| If you have been and are asked about it, | | | | |
| explain why, and what you learned from the | | | | This is not the time to put down other people |
| experience. If other people were fired with | | | | nor is it the time to brag about how great |
| you or resigned because of a change in | | | | you are. |
| management, or were laid off due to | | | | |
| offshoring then explain that as well. | | | | You have a few options. The first is to say |
| | | | something along the lines like "to many |
| Q. In your last position what duties did you | | | | people, being a ..................... is just |
| perform? | | | | a job. To me it's something I?ve always |
| | | | wanted to be. Being a ................ is |
| This question is to see whether you are goal | | | | more than a job to me ? it's a passion and |
| or task oriented. | | | | that passion comes through in my work." |
| | | | |
| Tell them what you did and what it meant to | | | | The other option is to say you never worried |
| the company: | | | | about being better than the rest. You've only |
| | | | considered being the best you can be. Go on |
| Part of my job involved typing letters to | | | | to tell them you think your skills are the |
| customers to nurture and develop the value of | | | | most valuable for the position and then show |
| our relationships with them. This involved | | | | them how you can use them to be incredibly |
| establishing an intimate knowledge of our | | | | productive and a great team member. |