How do you answer interview questions?

Answer 1

There are several things you should do:

• Be honest and be positive.
• Take a second are two to think about what the company is really searching for in an employee and then apply it
• Prepare for possible difficult questions by going through your resume and noting any red flag areas that could translate into a difficult job interview question.
• Stay calm and unflustered and answer in a positive and professional manner.
• Keep the tone of your voice non-defensive and use body language that gives the message that you are comfortable and confident.

The job interview is your commercial for you. Know what your strong points are and be ready to get them into the interview when you can. Get a book on typical interview questions and see what things might come up. The book will suggest answers. Do not learn them - expect that the interviewer has read the book too and will key into the fact that you're giving a standard response. Instead think what the standard questions could link to in your list of good points and get them out. Practice your potential "spontaneous responses" aloud to make sure they sound good and aren't loaded with tongue twisters etc.

Example:

(In this example the applicant gives a brief answer to the question asked but rapidly moves into a discussion of how his training and experience flange up to the job.)

Q: What are your strong points:

A: I like to prepare for any task I undertake. For instance, when I saw your Company needed my skills sets in the XYZ division and had a strong environmental ethic I felt I could offer you ...... because ...

Anticipating the job interview questions is one of the best ways to get ready for an interview. Getting ready for an interview requires homework, but the hours of prep time will be worth it. Your answers for any interview questions are taken into consideration by the interviewer.
If this is related to a job interview, you would always want to answer it in a positive and out going way.... be prepared, they will ask you questions like:

-what are you long term goals?

-why do you want to work for us?

-what are your strengths?

You really need to do your research on the company as well

as really knowing what kind of goals and strenghts you will be bring to the the

company, this way you will know exactly what to say when you start asking you questions.

AnswerAlways answer yes and be prepared to have some. Otherwise, you'll appear to be disinterested or unprepared. Before the interview you should have learned everything you can about the company. It is important to ask questions that show a response to what you have learned from the employer. Avoid trying to sound scripted. Here are some examples:

Advancement

Can you tell me how success in this position is measured?

How do you encourage your employees to keep current with professional developments in the field?

Can you describe your training program for me?

What is a typical career path for someone who has been in this position?

What is the time frame for advancement?

What is the retention rate for people in this position?

Does the company tend to promote from within?

Responsibilities

Tell me about a typical day on this job.

What is the most challenging aspect of this job?

Who would I work with most closely?

How often can I expect to relocate?

Being On A New Job

What is the most challenging aspect to this job for someone who is new to the company?

What will the new (job title) have to accomplish in the next six months?

What are your expectations for newly hired employees?

What qualities do newly hired employees possess?

How would you describe a typical first assignment?

More About The Company

Why is the position open?

What are your major projects for the coming year?

What is the structure of the department where the position is located?

What is the work environment like?

What are the company's strengths and weaknesses?

Good general questions

1. Please describe the duties of the job for me. (You should already know this - but if not, ask for a formal job description)

2. What qualities are you looking for in the candidate that fills this position?

3. What skills are especially important for someone in this position?

4. Is this a new position, or am I replacing someone?

5. How long has the position been open?

6. What training would I receive if hired?

7. What characteristics do the achievers in this company seem to share?

8. Where does this position fit into the organizational structure?

9. What is the largest single issue facing your staff (department) now?

10. How does the company plan to market its new (line of ______, product, service, etc.)?

11. I noted in your annual report that ……….. Has this strategy been successful?

12. How much travel, if any, is involved in this position?

13. Do you fill positions from the outside or promote from within first?

14. What is the usual promotion timeframe?

15. What are your growth projections for next year?

16. Is your company environmentally conscious? In what ways?

17. What is the relationship of this organization to the local community?

18. How often are performance reviews given?

19. In what ways is a career with your company better than one with your competitors?

20. What kind of assignments might I expect during the first six months on the job?

Questions for the Employer/Interviewer

1. What do you (the interviewer) like best about your job/company?

2. Why do you continue to work for this company/organization/corporation?

Good closing questions

1. What is the next step in the selection process?

2. When should I expect to hear from you, or should I contact you?

3. When would you want me to start in this position?

Questions to ask after you are offered a position

1. Once the probation period is completed, how much authority will I have over decisions?

2. Will I have the opportunity to work on special projects?

3. Are salary adjustments geared to the cost of living or job performance?

4. What do you wish you had known about the company before you started?

5. Is the last person who held this position still on staff?

6. Does your company provide any financial assistance for further education?

7. Do you have a standard benefits package or can I choose from a variety of options?

8. Has there been much turnover in this job area?

9. Do you offer flextime?