That nobody is perfect is the maxim that sounds even more pertinent in the context of an interview. Interview is without a doubt a trepidation for everyone, and the novices and the old hands alike find themselves on pins and needles at the prospect of being interviewed.
What makes people lose sleep over the interviews is essentially an apprehension of the unforeseen, a dread of being confronted with something they don't know; and no matter how many interviews has one faced and sailed through, every new interview brings a new pain in the neck. Jitteriness hangs over everyone; only the intensity may differ.
And though there are no alternatives to awareness and conviction, there are certain guidelines which when followed will put off some seemingly trifling slip-ups, which could turn your interview into a dismal affair at the end of the day. These are the gimmicks that must be exercised if the interview is to be saved from some apparently petty blunders.
Before Taking the Bull by the Horns
The homework starts right from the word go- immediately after you receive the interview call. Apart from brushing up your technical know-how, which is undoubtedly pivotal to your success, you need to pay heed to some aspects that will pump up your confidence level and help keep off nerves at the interview table.
Reaching for the interview late may put the interviewer off, as it can also dampen your spirit. So to have an idea as to when you should leave for the interview, just go by the venue at least one day prior to the interview as a rehearsal.
Envisage the likely questions and picture yourself answering them with confidence. Keep telling yourself that you are good enough to sail through. This will infuse just enough confidence in you, and that'll make all he difference in the interview.
Consider the dress you'll be wearing. 'Formal dress' is often a deceptive phrase as it may mean different clothing for different companies. Sometimes, it's indispensable to put on a three-piece, while the other day it may seem too much of affectation; only a tie with formal shirt and trousers may do. Make out what dress could be apposite for a particular company.
If the company is too far-off and your dress is likely to get rumpled in the bus, better travel in a taxi. Carry a comb in your pocket. There is no excuse for a clumsy appearance in the interview.
Reach the venue at least half an hour in advance so that you have enough time for having a breather and bracing up for the interview. Arriving at the last minute and entering the interview room panting will reveal you in a poor light and you won't be in the right kind of frame to take on the interview.
In case the interview does not commence on the scheduled time, don't lose you focus. Don't be distracted and maintain your composure. Read some magazine or talk to the people about the company. Go out for a breath of air but don't go too far away. And don't ever let it show that you disliked being made to wait. You have got some time on hand, so use it discreetly.
Inside the Interview Chamber
Pull yourself up the moment you are summoned inside the interview chamber, and enter the room with an air of confidence. And while you are taking on the real deal, practice the following:
Maintain a body language suggesting confidence and cheerfulness. Don't look uneasy or dispirited. Smile at appropriate moments.
Maintain eye contact while answering the questions. This will suggest that you are confident enough.
If there is more than one interviewer, address to all of them. Remember names if you can and address by the names. Sound confident but avoid being brash.
Saying 'sorry' or 'pardon' when you couldn't quite get the interviewer is civility, but making the interviewer repeat something for you too often could really make you sorry at the end of the day. You say 'sorry; once, and the interviewer willingly repeats, you say again, and he takes notice, you say thrice, and his exasperation shows, you go on to say yet again, and you just lose it all. What puts the interviewer off is the revelation that you are not all ears during the interview. So better listen attentively and minimize 'being sorry' or 'begging pardon'.
Don't speak too loudly or too faintly. Maintain a pitch that is audible as well within the perimeter of courtesy.
Don't delve too much on a topic. Neither keep the answers too short. Just speak enough on every topic.
Use wit and make the interviewer smile. But again, discern the faint edge between humour and discourtesy. Also, whatever you speak to bring smiles on the interviewers' face should sound germane to the topic. However, use this trick sparingly- making the interviewer chuckle twice in an interview is just sufficient.
Some questions may be devised to judge your self-restraint and tolerance as a professional. So if a question sounds provoking, don't fall for the trick. Avoid acting feverishly and maintain your cool. Handle such questions discreetly and with shrewdness.
Try to make out what is going through the interviewer's mind while you are answering to the questions. His body language may well give you a clue if he's listening to you attentively or you are just pushing on an off-putting gab. Put on the brakes the moment you discern that you have deviated off the point.
The interviewer might ask you towards the close of the interview if you have any questions. Don't think it impolite to ask a question or two. Rather, not asking a question could revel that you just want the interview to be over, so go ahead. However, exercise caution regarding the question you pose. Never inquire about the salary. Preferably, show inquisitiveness about your role or the organisation.
In the end when all is said and done and you make an exit from the interview cell, you might well be knowing in your heart that you've just made it. After all, it's all about being confident and acting astutely.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Things your CV should NOT have
Your CV is your marketing brochure through which you try to sell a commodity, ie your skills to the potential buyer ie the prospective employer. The sole purpose of your CV is to fetch you an interview call. Nothing more, nothing less.
However, creating a CV isn't as simple as just using flowery language and pretty fonts. There are certain things that put recruiters off and if you want to make a good impression, make sure you do not commit these mistakes in what is arguably the most valuable document of your job hunt.
While the rules listed are well-founded, they are not carved in stone. At times you will need to break the rules. If you want to add these things knowingly and purposefully to your CV we advise you to do that.The points mentioned here are not listed in the order of priority; instead they are listed in the sequence in which they usually appear on a CV.
Colorful or glossy paper and flashy fontsYour CV is a formal, official document. Keep it simple.
Resume or CV at the top Many people tend to add headings to their CV. The usual are CV, Curriculum Vitae and Resume. Do not do this.
Photographs until askedDo not add your photo to the CV until you have been asked for it. Photographs are required only for certain types of positions like models, actors etc.
Usage of 'I', 'My', 'He', 'She'Do not use these in your CV. Many candidates write, 'I worked as Team Leader for XYZ Company' or 'He was awarded Best Employee for the year 2007'. Instead use bullet points to list out your qualifications/ experience like: Team leader for XYZ Company from 2006-2007.
Spelling mistakes and grammatical errorsProofread your CV until you are confident that it doesn't have any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. These are big put-offs for the recruiters. Moreover, sometimes these mistakes might land you in an embarrassing situation.A candidate who submitted his CV without proofreading it committed the mistake of wrongly spelling 'ask' as 'ass'. Now you can imagine the type of embarrassment he must have faced during the interview, when the interviewer pointed it out. These mistakes tend to convey a lazy and careless attitude to the interviewer.
Lies about your candidatureDo not lie about your past jobs or qualifications or anything which might have an impact on the job. You may be able to secure a job with these lies today but tomorrow you may lose it as well.
Abbreviations or jargon that is difficult to understandPeople screening your resume usually belong to the HR department. If they do not understand what the abbreviations and jargon mean, they will simply dump your CV in the trash can. Avoid over-using such terms as far as possible.
Reasons for leaving last job Leave these reasons to be discussed during the personal interview. For example, some candidates write: Reason for leaving the last job: Made redundant. Avoid making such statements in your CV, they add no value. Besides, if you do get an interview call, chances are the interviewer will address the issue.
Past failures or health problemsMentioning these immediately slash your chances of getting an interview call. For instance, you have a gap in your employment because you started your own business which did not do well. Some candidates might write -- Reason for gap in employment: Started own business which failed. Do not do this type of injustice with your job hunt at this stage of writing the CV.
Current or expected salaryLeave it to be discussed while negotiating the salary.
Irrelevant detailsLeave out the details like marital status, sex, passport number, number of kids, age of kids. These are usually irrelevant for most interviewers but at times could be used as a basis for discrimination.
References Do not include them until asked. In fact, it is not even required to mention the line 'Reference available on request'. If the recruiter requires a reference, he/she will ask you to bring it along for the interview.
Now that you have run through the list, take a fresh look at your CV and prune away unnecessary details and unaffordable blunders that could have cost you your dream job.The author is a contributor to Careerride.com, a website that addresses technical and personal aspects of an IT interview.
However, creating a CV isn't as simple as just using flowery language and pretty fonts. There are certain things that put recruiters off and if you want to make a good impression, make sure you do not commit these mistakes in what is arguably the most valuable document of your job hunt.
While the rules listed are well-founded, they are not carved in stone. At times you will need to break the rules. If you want to add these things knowingly and purposefully to your CV we advise you to do that.The points mentioned here are not listed in the order of priority; instead they are listed in the sequence in which they usually appear on a CV.
Colorful or glossy paper and flashy fontsYour CV is a formal, official document. Keep it simple.
Resume or CV at the top Many people tend to add headings to their CV. The usual are CV, Curriculum Vitae and Resume. Do not do this.
Photographs until askedDo not add your photo to the CV until you have been asked for it. Photographs are required only for certain types of positions like models, actors etc.
Usage of 'I', 'My', 'He', 'She'Do not use these in your CV. Many candidates write, 'I worked as Team Leader for XYZ Company' or 'He was awarded Best Employee for the year 2007'. Instead use bullet points to list out your qualifications/ experience like: Team leader for XYZ Company from 2006-2007.
Spelling mistakes and grammatical errorsProofread your CV until you are confident that it doesn't have any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. These are big put-offs for the recruiters. Moreover, sometimes these mistakes might land you in an embarrassing situation.A candidate who submitted his CV without proofreading it committed the mistake of wrongly spelling 'ask' as 'ass'. Now you can imagine the type of embarrassment he must have faced during the interview, when the interviewer pointed it out. These mistakes tend to convey a lazy and careless attitude to the interviewer.
Lies about your candidatureDo not lie about your past jobs or qualifications or anything which might have an impact on the job. You may be able to secure a job with these lies today but tomorrow you may lose it as well.
Abbreviations or jargon that is difficult to understandPeople screening your resume usually belong to the HR department. If they do not understand what the abbreviations and jargon mean, they will simply dump your CV in the trash can. Avoid over-using such terms as far as possible.
Reasons for leaving last job Leave these reasons to be discussed during the personal interview. For example, some candidates write: Reason for leaving the last job: Made redundant. Avoid making such statements in your CV, they add no value. Besides, if you do get an interview call, chances are the interviewer will address the issue.
Past failures or health problemsMentioning these immediately slash your chances of getting an interview call. For instance, you have a gap in your employment because you started your own business which did not do well. Some candidates might write -- Reason for gap in employment: Started own business which failed. Do not do this type of injustice with your job hunt at this stage of writing the CV.
Current or expected salaryLeave it to be discussed while negotiating the salary.
Irrelevant detailsLeave out the details like marital status, sex, passport number, number of kids, age of kids. These are usually irrelevant for most interviewers but at times could be used as a basis for discrimination.
References Do not include them until asked. In fact, it is not even required to mention the line 'Reference available on request'. If the recruiter requires a reference, he/she will ask you to bring it along for the interview.
Now that you have run through the list, take a fresh look at your CV and prune away unnecessary details and unaffordable blunders that could have cost you your dream job.The author is a contributor to Careerride.com, a website that addresses technical and personal aspects of an IT interview.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Standard Interview Questions !!!
Standard interview questions might not seem difficult, but your answer to each should be polished and sharp. Craft responses and practice them before your interview so that they roll off your tongue when you face the interviewer. Effective responses answer questions honestly, positively, and briefly, highlighting important qualities and accomplishments that are relevant to the position at hand. Give examples to illustrate and corroborate your statements when possible. Your responses should work together, making connections between what you have previously done, the available position, and your goals.
1.Tell me about yourself.
2. What did you most enjoy about your last job?
3. How would your colleagues or supervisor describe you?
4. What can you offer us that other people cannot?
5. What about this job attracts you? What is unattractive?
6. How long do you see yourself with us?
7. How would you describe an ideal working environment?
^^^^^^^^^ FIND MORE HR BASED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS HERE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/hr-questions-with-answersiii.html
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/most-popular-hr-interview-questions.html
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-are-your-goals.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tell me about yourself.
Ineffective: I am a hard-worker who is good with numbers. After I worked as a financial analyst for a few years, I decided to go to law school. I just finished and now am looking for a new challenge.
Effective: I began developing skills relevant to financial planning when I worked as a financial analyst for three years. In that role, I succeeded in multiplying the wealth of my clients by carefully analyzing the market for trends. The return on the portfolios I managed was generally 2% more than most of the portfolios managed by my company. My initiative, planning, and analytic skills were rewarded by two promotions. As the manager of a team, I successfully led them to develop a more efficient and profitable strategy for dealing with new accounts. My subsequent training in the law, including tax law and estate law, gives me an informed view of what types of investments and charitable gifts would be most advantageous for your clients.
What did you most enjoy about your last job?
Ineffective: I liked lots of things-the people, the challenge, the rewards. Sometimes we had to work long hours, but it always seemed to pay off.
Effective: Of the many things that I enjoyed, I would say that the strategic aspects of my job most energized me. I liked setting concrete performance goals for myself and finding ways to meet them. I similarly enjoyed analyzing markets for trends and identifying when would be the most beneficial time to enter or withdraw from certain funds. When I was a manager, my team and I developed a new approach to accounts that became a standard for the company. Strategizing gave my work a sense of tangible direction and accomplishment.
How would your colleagues or supervisor describe you?
Ineffective: I guess they would say that I am a hard worker who is successful.
Effective: My supervisor and colleagues have described me as a dependable worker. My supervisor has appreciated that I prioritize tasks and manage my responsibilities so that she can rely on me. My bosses tell me I have a sixth sense for markets and I learn new information and procedures quickly. These skills account for my two promotions in three years. My boss was also impressed by how I was able to lead my team.
What can you offer us that other people cannot?
Ineffective: I have a unique combination of skills. I also really want the job.
Effective: I have a track-record of multiplying wealth through investments and developing strategies with teams. Since I have a JD, I also know what legal parameters and loopholes affect families and individuals planning their finances. My CFA training not only shows that I will succeed in the CFP courses, but also gives me a broader view of why financial plans work as they do. Since I am organized and self-motivated, I will add value to the company without requiring much tending and supervision.
What about this job attracts you? What is unattractive?
Ineffective: I like that it is in the field I am targeting. I don't like the commute that it will require.
Effective: As I evaluate my skills and goals, this job maximizes on both. I will be able to merge my knowledge of law and markets while strategizing for the sound financial future of clients. Since this is a small company, I imagine that there will be opportunity for increased responsibilities and challenges. I share the values of the company. I am not eager to do much data processing, but the position is very attractive.
How long do you see yourself with us?
Ineffective: I don't want to make any hasty commitments, and I like to keep my options open. Maybe I will be here for one year, maybe for five. It depends.
Effective: I see myself here as long as we both think that I am contributing to the vitality of the company while still being grown through challenges.
How would you describe an ideal working environment?
Ineffective: A laptop and cell phone on a beach sound ideal to me. Short of that, I would like an environment in which I am able to work as I please, without much supervision.
Effective: It is important to me that my company has clear objectives and strives for success. Similarly, I like having colleagues whom I admire for their skills and perspectives. When communication is clear between colleagues, our energy becomes synergy. In addition, I find that I flourish when given discretion after having gained the trust of my supervisor.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
How to Stay Graceful in a Stress Interview
Most commonly used in investment banking, stress interviewing is the deliberate creation of an uncomfortable situation in order to test how the candidate reacts to pressure.The ethics of this kind of interviewing are questionable, and it is far from certain that the stress created is similar to what would occur on the job. However, it's also true that one person's stress situation is another person's fair, if tough, question.
Common Examples of Stress-Creating Techniques
The interviewer doesn't say anything for the first five or ten minutes of the interview.
The interviewer is reading the paper when the candidate comes into the room.
The interviewer asks a tough question right off the bat, without even introducing himself.
The interviewer challenges your answer by disagreeing with you.
The interviewer pauses for a long time after listening to your response.
The interviewer ridicules your background.
The interviewer takes you into a department meeting with no introduction.
The interviewer is deliberately very late, then keeps looking at his or her watch.
The interviewer pretends to fall asleep.
How to Handle Such a Situation—if You Still Want the Job
If the interviewer ignores you when you walk in the room, just dive in with something like, "I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you why I think I'm the right person for this job." After a long pause, you might say, "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear." Then explain your previous response.
If the manager ridicules your background, you could say, "Perhaps you expected different qualifications, but these have served me well so far and I intend to continue to build on them."
If the manager thrusts you into a department meeting without an introduction, just introduce yourself and ask the other people for their names, then explain that you are happy to meet them and learn more about the department.
If the interviewer pretends to fall asleep, write a note saying, "I enjoyed meeting you," put it in front of the interviewer, and rise to leave. Chances are, you'll get the interviewer's full attention.
The important thing, if you're unfortunate enough to encounter this form of interviewing, is to keep your cool, maintain your dignity, and find a way to use the situation to your advantage.
How to Handle Psychological Interviews
It's Just a "Fit" Test
In responsible hands, the purpose of a psychological interview is to determine whether you are one of the 90 percent of people who are honest and try to do their work well—or if you're someone who might terrorize the office, steal from your employer, or file fraudulent legal claims. A secondary goal, if you are in the 90 percent majority, might be to identify what type of assignment and management style to you would respond to best.
Most of the questions are likely to focus on your aspirations and your family background, with an effort to find a linkage between the two. Others may deal with topics such as what provides you the greatest satisfaction, what you would like to avoid, and past experiences that you enjoyed or didn't enjoy.
Relax and Tell the Truth
The most important thing to remember if you are to be interviewed by a professional psychologist is to be yourself (you don't want to look like you have something to hide). The second most important thing is not to overly dramatize your family background. If you have 14 siblings, just say you grew up in a large family, unless you're probed further. If you had an abusive parent, focus on the other parent. Don't give the psychologist a lot to feed on in terms of difficulties in your relationships with your family.
Work Questions Get Work Answers
In responding to work-related questions, use the types of answers recommended for other forms of interviewing. You want to be as proud and confident as you are in your other interviews. And avoid deception, inconsistencies, nervousness, or anxiety in your answers. You don't want to be one of the ten percent labeled untrustworthy.
In the Case of Weird Questions
Unfortunately, a few unqualified interviewers may try to play the psychologist role, coming up with such oddball questions as "If you were a tree, what kind would it be?" or "Picture yourself as a championship athlete. What sport and what position would you play?"Give a boring but unchallengeable response. To the first question, oak (stable), maple (well liked), and redwood (long lasting) are great answers. To the second, basketball, tennis, baseball, and golf are fine. Running marathons is a bit iconoclastic, and rugby or ice hockey might suggest latent aggressiveness.
Prepare for Your Behavioral Interview
Companies have increasingly adopted behavioral interviewing techniques as a key technique in screening candidates.
What is a behavioral interview?
Basically, it's an interview designed to elicit information that will tell the interviewer how you will perform on the job. The principle behind the technique is the belief that the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. The technique involves asking a series of questions designed to get the candidate to talk about how he or she handled certain situations in the past.
Stressful situation
For example, if a company has a high-stress environment, the interviewer might ask a candidate to talk about whether she has ever been in a stressful situation in the past.
If she says yes, the interviewer would proceed with a line of questions about what she had done in the situation, how it made her feel, how others had responded to her actions, how she relieved the stress of the situation, and so on.
Typically, the interviewer will have determined three or four behavioral characteristics that would be most important for on-the-job success and will have written out a definition of each such characteristic.
Examples:
Good listening: The ability to listen empathetically to a client's problems, asking appropriate questions and paraphrasing the responses.
Written communication: The ability to capture, in a succinct manner, the most important issues to be resolved, the recommended action plan, and the desired outcomes.
Project management: Taking responsibility for organizing tasks, reaching agreement on individual responsibilities and goals, monitoring progress, resolving problems, and reporting on status.
In a behavioral interview, you will be provided with such definitions of desirable characteristics and asked for examples of situations in which you have exhibited those characteristics. Sometimes, after you have provided one example, you will be asked for another, just to test the depth of your experience.
One of the supposed benefits of this technique for employers is that candidates cannot prepare for these questions in advance. However, you can help yourself by anticipating the types of questions you might receive and dredging your memory for examples of past behavior. You may be able to guess at some of the questions by analyzing the job requirements beforehand.
Behavioral interviewing is a challenge, but preparation will help. You may feel that you didn't have perfect answers to each question, yet still be seen as much better suited than the other candidates who didn't anticipate behavioral questions.As one swimmer said to the other upon sighting a shark: "Fortunately, I don't have to swim faster than the shark. I only have to swim faster than you."
Common Examples of Stress-Creating Techniques
The interviewer doesn't say anything for the first five or ten minutes of the interview.
The interviewer is reading the paper when the candidate comes into the room.
The interviewer asks a tough question right off the bat, without even introducing himself.
The interviewer challenges your answer by disagreeing with you.
The interviewer pauses for a long time after listening to your response.
The interviewer ridicules your background.
The interviewer takes you into a department meeting with no introduction.
The interviewer is deliberately very late, then keeps looking at his or her watch.
The interviewer pretends to fall asleep.
How to Handle Such a Situation—if You Still Want the Job
If the interviewer ignores you when you walk in the room, just dive in with something like, "I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you why I think I'm the right person for this job." After a long pause, you might say, "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear." Then explain your previous response.
If the manager ridicules your background, you could say, "Perhaps you expected different qualifications, but these have served me well so far and I intend to continue to build on them."
If the manager thrusts you into a department meeting without an introduction, just introduce yourself and ask the other people for their names, then explain that you are happy to meet them and learn more about the department.
If the interviewer pretends to fall asleep, write a note saying, "I enjoyed meeting you," put it in front of the interviewer, and rise to leave. Chances are, you'll get the interviewer's full attention.
The important thing, if you're unfortunate enough to encounter this form of interviewing, is to keep your cool, maintain your dignity, and find a way to use the situation to your advantage.
How to Handle Psychological Interviews
It's Just a "Fit" Test
In responsible hands, the purpose of a psychological interview is to determine whether you are one of the 90 percent of people who are honest and try to do their work well—or if you're someone who might terrorize the office, steal from your employer, or file fraudulent legal claims. A secondary goal, if you are in the 90 percent majority, might be to identify what type of assignment and management style to you would respond to best.
Most of the questions are likely to focus on your aspirations and your family background, with an effort to find a linkage between the two. Others may deal with topics such as what provides you the greatest satisfaction, what you would like to avoid, and past experiences that you enjoyed or didn't enjoy.
Relax and Tell the Truth
The most important thing to remember if you are to be interviewed by a professional psychologist is to be yourself (you don't want to look like you have something to hide). The second most important thing is not to overly dramatize your family background. If you have 14 siblings, just say you grew up in a large family, unless you're probed further. If you had an abusive parent, focus on the other parent. Don't give the psychologist a lot to feed on in terms of difficulties in your relationships with your family.
Work Questions Get Work Answers
In responding to work-related questions, use the types of answers recommended for other forms of interviewing. You want to be as proud and confident as you are in your other interviews. And avoid deception, inconsistencies, nervousness, or anxiety in your answers. You don't want to be one of the ten percent labeled untrustworthy.
In the Case of Weird Questions
Unfortunately, a few unqualified interviewers may try to play the psychologist role, coming up with such oddball questions as "If you were a tree, what kind would it be?" or "Picture yourself as a championship athlete. What sport and what position would you play?"Give a boring but unchallengeable response. To the first question, oak (stable), maple (well liked), and redwood (long lasting) are great answers. To the second, basketball, tennis, baseball, and golf are fine. Running marathons is a bit iconoclastic, and rugby or ice hockey might suggest latent aggressiveness.
Prepare for Your Behavioral Interview
Companies have increasingly adopted behavioral interviewing techniques as a key technique in screening candidates.
What is a behavioral interview?
Basically, it's an interview designed to elicit information that will tell the interviewer how you will perform on the job. The principle behind the technique is the belief that the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. The technique involves asking a series of questions designed to get the candidate to talk about how he or she handled certain situations in the past.
Stressful situation
For example, if a company has a high-stress environment, the interviewer might ask a candidate to talk about whether she has ever been in a stressful situation in the past.
If she says yes, the interviewer would proceed with a line of questions about what she had done in the situation, how it made her feel, how others had responded to her actions, how she relieved the stress of the situation, and so on.
Typically, the interviewer will have determined three or four behavioral characteristics that would be most important for on-the-job success and will have written out a definition of each such characteristic.
Examples:
Good listening: The ability to listen empathetically to a client's problems, asking appropriate questions and paraphrasing the responses.
Written communication: The ability to capture, in a succinct manner, the most important issues to be resolved, the recommended action plan, and the desired outcomes.
Project management: Taking responsibility for organizing tasks, reaching agreement on individual responsibilities and goals, monitoring progress, resolving problems, and reporting on status.
In a behavioral interview, you will be provided with such definitions of desirable characteristics and asked for examples of situations in which you have exhibited those characteristics. Sometimes, after you have provided one example, you will be asked for another, just to test the depth of your experience.
One of the supposed benefits of this technique for employers is that candidates cannot prepare for these questions in advance. However, you can help yourself by anticipating the types of questions you might receive and dredging your memory for examples of past behavior. You may be able to guess at some of the questions by analyzing the job requirements beforehand.
Behavioral interviewing is a challenge, but preparation will help. You may feel that you didn't have perfect answers to each question, yet still be seen as much better suited than the other candidates who didn't anticipate behavioral questions.As one swimmer said to the other upon sighting a shark: "Fortunately, I don't have to swim faster than the shark. I only have to swim faster than you."
How to Handle Your First-Round Interview
The types of questions you are most likely to encounter in your first-round interview include:
Tell me about yourself.
The perfect opening for your two-minute presentation! Describe your educational and work background, identify your key strengths and provide a couple of illustrations, and state your intended career direction. Usually, this is the first question asked. If it isn't, you can usually defer answering a different question by saying "It may help if I start by providing a bit of background" and following with your presentation. Then you can return to the interviewer's question.
^^^^^^^^ FIND MORE HR-BASED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS ^^^^^^ ^^^
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/hr-questions-with-answersiii.html
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-are-your-goals.html
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/most-popular-hr-interview-questions.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Why would you like to work here?
Explain what you have learned about the company, highlighting what you find appealing or admirable. Try to be specific—broad generalities sound trite.
Good answer: "I've researched the leading companies in this industry, and yours seems to be the one that does the best job in terms of customer relations, encouraging risk taking, and setting tough goals while giving people an idea of how they're doing. That appeals to me." (Shows that you've done some research and are basing your decision on specific criteria.)
Bad answer: "I've heard it's a good company, and I have friends here." (You don't appear to have done any serious research, and the interviewer may wonder if you're more interested in socializing than in working.)
What are your career goals?
Focus on the idea that you want to grow professionally, but realize that there may be a variety of opportunities in the company as time goes on. Avoid naming titles—you may shoot too high or too low.
Good answer: "I've learned from the experiences I described earlier that I enjoy leadership, communication, and negotiation. I'm interested in learning to manage projects, people, and business situations. My goals are to work for a manager I can learn from, to develop on-the-job experience, and to achieve or surpass the goals that are set." (Ties together the past and future and shows business awareness and achievement orientation.)
Bad answer: "I haven't set any specific goals, but I know I want to work here." (If you don't have any goals, how do you know you want to work here? Are you focused on learning, or have you already completed all the learning you intend to do?)
Who is your hero?
Pick someone—don't answer that you don't have a hero or heroine, because the question is about the traits you value. (If you don't want the job, you might say that no one lives up to your standards.) This should be someone you genuinely admire, and you should make sure to name the traits that give rise to your admiration. Also consider whether the values these traits represent will seem positive to the company. If you say, for example, "I've always admired my Uncle All because he did whatever it took to pile up a fortune," you'll come off as greedy and selfish.
Good answers: "I've always admired a guy I went to high school with named Joe Curates. He was a paraplegic, injured in an accident when he was 12. He could have been bitter, but he decided that wasn't the kind of life he wanted. He became a fine chess player and trumpet player and was very popular. He taught me the value of managing your attitude and using what resources are available to you."
"The person who taught me the most was my graduate school mentor. By working with her, I learned how to research and debate scientific questions, work collaboratively, and share the credit. I admire her for her tactfulness, her trusting management style, and her generous recognition of good work."
Why should I hire you?
Be prepared to cite the key strengths that you see as necessary to do the job, relating them to your own demonstrated skills, as illustrated in stories you've already told. Then try to name one desirable extra that you provide, such as your enthusiasm, your ability to work long hours when necessary, or your love of learning.
What are some of your values?
You can answer this as you would the hero question, if that question hasn't already been asked. Or just name some things you genuinely admire or desire. Examples: a collegial environment, good teamwork, honesty, fairness, willingness to help, trust.
Do you set goals for yourself?
Do not say no. Name a situation where you did and tell what you did to be sure you met them.
Good answer: "I knew I had to earn at least $4,000 during the summer to pay for my final year at college. My work as an interior decorator's assistant was contingent on her having extra work for me to help with—primarily ordering, sending and paying bills, and other clerical work. By the end of June I had only earned about $1,000. So I got busy and put together a brochure for her that she was able to use at her booth during the begonia festival. So much business came in that soon she was sending me out to make sketches and sign up new customers, for which I was paid a bonus. I surpassed my goal on August 10, and earned an extra 1,400."
What characteristics would you look for in a good manager?
Select the elements that are most important to you from the range of traits considered desirable in a manager: honesty, providing clear goals, encouraging resourcefulness, challenging employees, respect, giving feedback, offering recognition, inspiring, caring, being available. Don't give the whole list, or you'll seem impossible to satisfy.
What are your limitations on travel?
If you have limitations, think about these beforehand and come up with ways to work around them as far as possible. And before you jump into telling the interviewer all your limitations (no flying, no trips of more than two days, claustrophobia, vegetarian meals only, and so on), find out what the person has in mind in the way of travel. If you can handle the requirements, say so with enthusiasm.
Do you have any more questions?
Never say no! Keep several good questions in reserve for just this request (more than one, because over the course of the interview the manager may address one or more of them).Some good questions:
"Can you give me an example or two of teamwork in action here?"
"How can I learn what I need to know about the organization's strategic plan?"
"Assuming you hire me, how would you like me to spend my first month here?"
"Have I said anything that causes you concern about my fitting in here?"
Tell me about yourself.
The perfect opening for your two-minute presentation! Describe your educational and work background, identify your key strengths and provide a couple of illustrations, and state your intended career direction. Usually, this is the first question asked. If it isn't, you can usually defer answering a different question by saying "It may help if I start by providing a bit of background" and following with your presentation. Then you can return to the interviewer's question.
^^^^^^^^ FIND MORE HR-BASED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS ^^^^^^ ^^^
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/hr-questions-with-answersiii.html
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-are-your-goals.html
http://basicinterviewpreparation.blogspot.com/2008/03/most-popular-hr-interview-questions.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Why would you like to work here?
Explain what you have learned about the company, highlighting what you find appealing or admirable. Try to be specific—broad generalities sound trite.
Good answer: "I've researched the leading companies in this industry, and yours seems to be the one that does the best job in terms of customer relations, encouraging risk taking, and setting tough goals while giving people an idea of how they're doing. That appeals to me." (Shows that you've done some research and are basing your decision on specific criteria.)
Bad answer: "I've heard it's a good company, and I have friends here." (You don't appear to have done any serious research, and the interviewer may wonder if you're more interested in socializing than in working.)
What are your career goals?
Focus on the idea that you want to grow professionally, but realize that there may be a variety of opportunities in the company as time goes on. Avoid naming titles—you may shoot too high or too low.
Good answer: "I've learned from the experiences I described earlier that I enjoy leadership, communication, and negotiation. I'm interested in learning to manage projects, people, and business situations. My goals are to work for a manager I can learn from, to develop on-the-job experience, and to achieve or surpass the goals that are set." (Ties together the past and future and shows business awareness and achievement orientation.)
Bad answer: "I haven't set any specific goals, but I know I want to work here." (If you don't have any goals, how do you know you want to work here? Are you focused on learning, or have you already completed all the learning you intend to do?)
Who is your hero?
Pick someone—don't answer that you don't have a hero or heroine, because the question is about the traits you value. (If you don't want the job, you might say that no one lives up to your standards.) This should be someone you genuinely admire, and you should make sure to name the traits that give rise to your admiration. Also consider whether the values these traits represent will seem positive to the company. If you say, for example, "I've always admired my Uncle All because he did whatever it took to pile up a fortune," you'll come off as greedy and selfish.
Good answers: "I've always admired a guy I went to high school with named Joe Curates. He was a paraplegic, injured in an accident when he was 12. He could have been bitter, but he decided that wasn't the kind of life he wanted. He became a fine chess player and trumpet player and was very popular. He taught me the value of managing your attitude and using what resources are available to you."
"The person who taught me the most was my graduate school mentor. By working with her, I learned how to research and debate scientific questions, work collaboratively, and share the credit. I admire her for her tactfulness, her trusting management style, and her generous recognition of good work."
Why should I hire you?
Be prepared to cite the key strengths that you see as necessary to do the job, relating them to your own demonstrated skills, as illustrated in stories you've already told. Then try to name one desirable extra that you provide, such as your enthusiasm, your ability to work long hours when necessary, or your love of learning.
What are some of your values?
You can answer this as you would the hero question, if that question hasn't already been asked. Or just name some things you genuinely admire or desire. Examples: a collegial environment, good teamwork, honesty, fairness, willingness to help, trust.
Do you set goals for yourself?
Do not say no. Name a situation where you did and tell what you did to be sure you met them.
Good answer: "I knew I had to earn at least $4,000 during the summer to pay for my final year at college. My work as an interior decorator's assistant was contingent on her having extra work for me to help with—primarily ordering, sending and paying bills, and other clerical work. By the end of June I had only earned about $1,000. So I got busy and put together a brochure for her that she was able to use at her booth during the begonia festival. So much business came in that soon she was sending me out to make sketches and sign up new customers, for which I was paid a bonus. I surpassed my goal on August 10, and earned an extra 1,400."
What characteristics would you look for in a good manager?
Select the elements that are most important to you from the range of traits considered desirable in a manager: honesty, providing clear goals, encouraging resourcefulness, challenging employees, respect, giving feedback, offering recognition, inspiring, caring, being available. Don't give the whole list, or you'll seem impossible to satisfy.
What are your limitations on travel?
If you have limitations, think about these beforehand and come up with ways to work around them as far as possible. And before you jump into telling the interviewer all your limitations (no flying, no trips of more than two days, claustrophobia, vegetarian meals only, and so on), find out what the person has in mind in the way of travel. If you can handle the requirements, say so with enthusiasm.
Do you have any more questions?
Never say no! Keep several good questions in reserve for just this request (more than one, because over the course of the interview the manager may address one or more of them).Some good questions:
"Can you give me an example or two of teamwork in action here?"
"How can I learn what I need to know about the organization's strategic plan?"
"Assuming you hire me, how would you like me to spend my first month here?"
"Have I said anything that causes you concern about my fitting in here?"
Turn Your Weaknesses into Strengths
Sometimes, interviewers will pelt you with questions that require you to analyze your weaker traits. The types of questions you are likely to encounter in this style of interviewing include:
Do you find it difficult to work with some people?
Indicate that you get along well with people and work hard to understand other points of view. You can name one or two traits that disturb you, but make sure they're not overly broad, and give preference to those that a manager would also find hard to accept-such as dishonesty, incessant talking, or unreliability.
What are your weaknesses?
You can say you don't know of any that would prevent you from doing an excellent job in the position you are discussing. If pressed, you can turn this into an opportunity to talk about the kind of workplace you hope to enter. You might say that you prefer not to work in an environment where there's no teamwork or where you don't have a sense of why your work matters. Another good answer along those lines, which turns your "weaknesses" into strengths: "I work better in a team environment, despite the fact that I'm a self-starter and think well independently."
Bad answer: "Well, I often oversleep, and I'm a terrible procrastinator." (You may get a few points for candor, but your interviewer will almost always assume that you're worse than what you say.) If you're asked to name your strengths as well as weaknesses, follow the same principles:
Good answer: "I think my strengths are in my ability to understand the intent of a project, master the details, and organize and pursue a well-developed project plan. My weakness might be that I can be a little impatient with people who don't keep their commitments, although I'm learning that I get better results by being tactful and persistent in asking questions, rather than making demands." (Shows coherence and a learning attitude; turns a weakness into another strength.)
Pretty good answer: "I'm a good detail person. I do what needs to be done, and I get it done on time. I don't know of anything that would prevent my doing a good job." (Less compelling, but fairly believable.)
Bad answer: "I'm good at numbers, as long as I'm left alone to get the work done. I can't think of any weaknesses." (Turns a strength into a weakness! Refuses to think about weaknesses or opportunities to learn.)
What would your most recent boss say about you?
Say that you believe he or she would confirm whatever you have claimed as your strengths or your accomplishments.
Has your work ever been criticized, or have you been told to improve your performance?
If you say no, be prepared to back it up with a statement such as "I've always received excellent reviews." (And be sure your references will confirm this, or you will lose credibility completely.) If you can't say this confidently, answer honestly-but it's best to choose a situation in which your idea was criticized, not your behavior. All the better if you can explain why the idea made sense to you.
Good answer: "I received some criticism when I introduced the idea of a customer satisfaction survey in the placement agency where I worked last year. It wasn't a popular idea with my boss, who feared the results. But I felt that if we were ever to correct our shortfalls, it would be important to know what mattered most to our customers."
Bad answer: "I received a lot of criticism from my last boss, who was pretty insecure. When I suggested a customer satisfaction survey to deal with our loss of customers, he flew off the handle. Eventually, with the help of top management, he came around to my point of view." (Just a bit arrogant sounding, isn't it?)
What would you do if you were asked to do something that didn't make sense to you?"
Indicate that you would say something like "Perhaps I'm missing something, but I'm not immediately seeing why that would be the best way to handle the situation. Could you help me understand?" If you can, provide an example of how you faced such as situation and successfully resolved it.
Good answer: "That happened to me when I was working on a cruise ship and the activities director wanted me to shut down the entertainment early to save money. I felt that the several passengers still in the lounge and all the others had paid their fares and deserved their full value.
When I realized that I wasn't able to influence her, I took it on myself to find a dignified solution. I explained to the passengers that the band really wanted to rest up for the tremendous party I had planned for the next evening, and I hoped they would plan to be there, because I would see that they got special treatment. I offered, instead, to play a terrific video that none of them had seen. All was accepted in good spirits, and my boss was grateful that I handled the situation well." (Shows resourcefulness in finding a solution that had integrity without undermining management.)
Not-as-good answer: "My boss asked me to get up on the roof to fix a sign that had been knocked about by a windstorm. I have a fear of heights, told him so, and suggested he call the sign company. He did, and they did a better job of fixing the sign than I could have done myself." (Although the suggestion was sound, it would be better to have pointed out the hazards involved and to have suggested that the sign company was better equipped to deal with them.)
Another mediocre answer: "My boss at the newspaper told me to cover a traffic accident nearby. When I reported what I had seen, he asked me to delete the part about the driver being cited for driving while intoxicated, because he was the son of one of the paper's executives. I went along, but didn't feel good about the decision." (There's no quality being illustrated here except following orders. Better to choose another illustration that allows you to demonstrate skills in creativity, resourcefulness, communications, diplomacy, mediation, or some other valuable attribute.)
Bad answer: "I'd take advantage of the company's open-door policy and make an appointment to see the CEO." You also don't want to give an example in which you didn't handle the situation to your boss's liking or in which the result was to discredit your employer.
What kinds of work do you find difficult to do?
Mention things that would run contrary to your values or your employer's best interests. For example: "I'd find it difficult to promote a product that I knew had flaws that weren't disclosed" or "I wouldn't want to do anything that I thought could harm the company—although, of course, I'd try to be sure I really understood the situation." Don't say something like "I really hate clerical work." Though that may be true, it makes you sound like a prima donna.
If you encountered an unreasonable deadline, what would you do?
Good answer: "I'd prioritize, then seek out best methods to employ, communicate with the manager about what was going on, and go all out to achieve everything that was agreed to be feasible—and more, if possible."
Pretty good answer: "I'd try to get my manager to set the priorities, because I'd want to be sure the most important work got done."Bad answer: "I'd tell my manager the deadline was impossible to meet and would have to be changed." (Shows unwillingness to work hard or seek solutions.)
Do you find it difficult to work with some people?
Indicate that you get along well with people and work hard to understand other points of view. You can name one or two traits that disturb you, but make sure they're not overly broad, and give preference to those that a manager would also find hard to accept-such as dishonesty, incessant talking, or unreliability.
What are your weaknesses?
You can say you don't know of any that would prevent you from doing an excellent job in the position you are discussing. If pressed, you can turn this into an opportunity to talk about the kind of workplace you hope to enter. You might say that you prefer not to work in an environment where there's no teamwork or where you don't have a sense of why your work matters. Another good answer along those lines, which turns your "weaknesses" into strengths: "I work better in a team environment, despite the fact that I'm a self-starter and think well independently."
Bad answer: "Well, I often oversleep, and I'm a terrible procrastinator." (You may get a few points for candor, but your interviewer will almost always assume that you're worse than what you say.) If you're asked to name your strengths as well as weaknesses, follow the same principles:
Good answer: "I think my strengths are in my ability to understand the intent of a project, master the details, and organize and pursue a well-developed project plan. My weakness might be that I can be a little impatient with people who don't keep their commitments, although I'm learning that I get better results by being tactful and persistent in asking questions, rather than making demands." (Shows coherence and a learning attitude; turns a weakness into another strength.)
Pretty good answer: "I'm a good detail person. I do what needs to be done, and I get it done on time. I don't know of anything that would prevent my doing a good job." (Less compelling, but fairly believable.)
Bad answer: "I'm good at numbers, as long as I'm left alone to get the work done. I can't think of any weaknesses." (Turns a strength into a weakness! Refuses to think about weaknesses or opportunities to learn.)
What would your most recent boss say about you?
Say that you believe he or she would confirm whatever you have claimed as your strengths or your accomplishments.
Has your work ever been criticized, or have you been told to improve your performance?
If you say no, be prepared to back it up with a statement such as "I've always received excellent reviews." (And be sure your references will confirm this, or you will lose credibility completely.) If you can't say this confidently, answer honestly-but it's best to choose a situation in which your idea was criticized, not your behavior. All the better if you can explain why the idea made sense to you.
Good answer: "I received some criticism when I introduced the idea of a customer satisfaction survey in the placement agency where I worked last year. It wasn't a popular idea with my boss, who feared the results. But I felt that if we were ever to correct our shortfalls, it would be important to know what mattered most to our customers."
Bad answer: "I received a lot of criticism from my last boss, who was pretty insecure. When I suggested a customer satisfaction survey to deal with our loss of customers, he flew off the handle. Eventually, with the help of top management, he came around to my point of view." (Just a bit arrogant sounding, isn't it?)
What would you do if you were asked to do something that didn't make sense to you?"
Indicate that you would say something like "Perhaps I'm missing something, but I'm not immediately seeing why that would be the best way to handle the situation. Could you help me understand?" If you can, provide an example of how you faced such as situation and successfully resolved it.
Good answer: "That happened to me when I was working on a cruise ship and the activities director wanted me to shut down the entertainment early to save money. I felt that the several passengers still in the lounge and all the others had paid their fares and deserved their full value.
When I realized that I wasn't able to influence her, I took it on myself to find a dignified solution. I explained to the passengers that the band really wanted to rest up for the tremendous party I had planned for the next evening, and I hoped they would plan to be there, because I would see that they got special treatment. I offered, instead, to play a terrific video that none of them had seen. All was accepted in good spirits, and my boss was grateful that I handled the situation well." (Shows resourcefulness in finding a solution that had integrity without undermining management.)
Not-as-good answer: "My boss asked me to get up on the roof to fix a sign that had been knocked about by a windstorm. I have a fear of heights, told him so, and suggested he call the sign company. He did, and they did a better job of fixing the sign than I could have done myself." (Although the suggestion was sound, it would be better to have pointed out the hazards involved and to have suggested that the sign company was better equipped to deal with them.)
Another mediocre answer: "My boss at the newspaper told me to cover a traffic accident nearby. When I reported what I had seen, he asked me to delete the part about the driver being cited for driving while intoxicated, because he was the son of one of the paper's executives. I went along, but didn't feel good about the decision." (There's no quality being illustrated here except following orders. Better to choose another illustration that allows you to demonstrate skills in creativity, resourcefulness, communications, diplomacy, mediation, or some other valuable attribute.)
Bad answer: "I'd take advantage of the company's open-door policy and make an appointment to see the CEO." You also don't want to give an example in which you didn't handle the situation to your boss's liking or in which the result was to discredit your employer.
What kinds of work do you find difficult to do?
Mention things that would run contrary to your values or your employer's best interests. For example: "I'd find it difficult to promote a product that I knew had flaws that weren't disclosed" or "I wouldn't want to do anything that I thought could harm the company—although, of course, I'd try to be sure I really understood the situation." Don't say something like "I really hate clerical work." Though that may be true, it makes you sound like a prima donna.
If you encountered an unreasonable deadline, what would you do?
Good answer: "I'd prioritize, then seek out best methods to employ, communicate with the manager about what was going on, and go all out to achieve everything that was agreed to be feasible—and more, if possible."
Pretty good answer: "I'd try to get my manager to set the priorities, because I'd want to be sure the most important work got done."Bad answer: "I'd tell my manager the deadline was impossible to meet and would have to be changed." (Shows unwillingness to work hard or seek solutions.)
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