Monday, January 26, 2009

Great Interview Responses

By Edward Baker

Want to know the secret to standing out in your interview? It's giving the best answers to common interview questions. How you handle these can make or break your job interview. The secret is being prepared. Here are five common interview questions and how to answer them, so you stand out from the crowd.

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Telling them your strengths is pretty straight forward, just keep them in line with what the job you're applying for requires. Most people get tripped up on their weaknesses. What you want do is be honest about your weaknesses, but put a positive spin on them. Example: "Spending too much time polishing my presentations has always been a weakness, that's why I set definite deadlines and stick to them."

When candidates are asked to "tell me about yourself" - they often go into a blind panic. It's as if they had no advanced warning that this common interview question may come up! It can be tough knowing where to start. The truth is that this is a gift of a question. You now have the chance to talk about whatever you want for the next two minutes. Devise your top 5 selling points and talk about them to your partner or friend and discover which terms make you sound the most impressive.

"Why are you looking to move from ...[your present company]?" Don't do what many candidates do in answering this style of interview question, which is to put down their current job or boss or company. You need to sell the idea that you are a team player and a positive person. Tell them the truth - what a concept. Tell them the story of how your career is progressing - but use the terms that allow you to sell yourself in the most positive light.

Tell us about when you dealt with ...[this problem]. This is a typical introduction to a competency based interview question. Have two or three examples prepared in advance through which you can sell a number of different skills and attributes. You can use this question as an invitation to talk about that example in the terms that you have designed in advance.

How would your coworkers describe you? This common interview question is best handled with examples. They can be exact quotes or paraphrased. Having a couple ready like "Ron, who I worked with at Fun inc. always said I was the most trustworthy person he had ever worked with." Statements like that are just as good as if Ron were there and made them himself.

Some more quick tips: Stay upbeat and positive; always be honest; prepare in advance. Best of luck in your interview. - 14915

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