Questions to Make You Quake - Part 2
Questions to Make You Quake - Part 2
Article by www.ThePerfectInterview.com
(continued from Part I)
Still with us? Good! You’re not done yet. Now we’re going to move on to the hard stuff.
7. What do you consider your major accomplishments at your last job?
The interviewer is looking to see whether you have the drive and creativity to not only come up with an idea, but implement it successfully. Describe projects you have initiated or participated in, which most benefited the company. Perhaps you found a software flaw that decreased your company premiums. Maybe you created an ad campaign that resulted in a significant conversion rate for the company. These are all to your credit. But share that credit with those your worked with. It shows a team spirit.
8. How will you approach this job?
They’ve seen your resume, and know you have the technical skills. Now they want to know how you’re going to apply them. This is where your research into the company, and this position specifically, will really pay off. Talk about the importance of your department or position, and how it impacts the company as a whole. Then demonstrate with facts or proposals, how you intend to use your skills to help the company achieve its long-range goals.
9. What do you consider your greatest strength?
Interviewers are looking for confidence, not cockiness. Be honest and direct. Focus on skills that relate to the job. This is an excellent opportunity to bring in your competence in other areas, which may not have been mentioned previously.
10. What about your weaknesses?
Everybody has them, but not everyone is going to blurt them out. Those that do, often flunk the interview. Never be defensive or focus on what you can’t do. Emphasize areas of interest that you have pertaining to the job, and express how willing you are to learn more, or take extra training to achieve a higher level of performance.
11. If you could create an ideal boss, what would they be like?
Questions like this can be fishing expeditions. The interviewer may be looking to see what kind of people you can’t get along with, by taking your ideals, and looking at the polar opposites. Be professional and focus on personal qualities that benefit both you and the company, allowing everyone to perform to their peak efficiency.
12. Tell us how you handle pressure situations.
Again, another potential trap. They’re looking for the “firefighter” mentality who rushes in and saves the day, then lives to brag about it later. Then they’ll drop the boom on you by asking if the crisis could not have been prevented. Don’t be caught with your jaw flapping. Say that there is stress in a person’s daily personal life and professional life. Emphasize how they handle it, as being an important factor in job performance and reliability. Then explain that your personal goal is to use careful planning and balanced consideration of the situation, to avoid a crisis.
posted by Joel @ 10:04 PM
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