Nerves can make anyone forget the obvious. But even nerves are no match for practice. Is the question you’re answering really the one they’re asking? What do they really mean? Are they just trying to gauge your self-esteem and career aspirations?

These thoughts and feelings are common so before your next interview, you might want to remember some of the hints below.
Interview Guide

ARRIVE EARLY

Be punctual. Plan to arrive five or ten minutes early in case you have difficulty locating the address. If you do find yourself running behind, call the person you are meeting to let him or her know how late you’ll be and why.

Always dress for the position you aspire to, not the position you have. That way, the interviewer can visualize you in the job. Avoid avant-garde clothing, or overdone make-up and accessories. And whenever unsure, err on the side of conservatism. Your choice of clothing, grooming habits and general presentation speaks volumes about you.

It is always best to project the most professional image to potential employers. Interviewers are not only assessing your competency for the job but they’re also assessing your ability to represent the company to their clients. When considering what to wear for the interview, remember to dress for success. For men, it is always strongly suggested to wear a subdued color wool (navy blue, grey or black) business suit, white button down dress shirt, conservative tie and wingtip shoes. For women, dark (navy blue or black) skirt business suits are appropriate. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression in an interview!

Recently, several firms have adopted a “business casual” dress policy, making it difficult for interviewees to determine whether to wear a suit for interviews. Do not assume that this means that you may attend the interview in business casual attire. Companies have differing views on appropriate dress for interviewees, so please always check whether business casual attire would be acceptable to your interviewer before the interview. Even if the client deems that business casual is acceptable, bear in mind that many of your “competitors” in the interview process may still elect to dress in a business suit.

SMILE
Who isn’t attracted to friendly people? Establish eye contact. It makes you come across as sincere and open, never socially challenged. Give a strong handshake and smile as you introduce yourself.

Steer away from negative words, and always try your best to put a positive spin on things.
Never badmouth your old employer or supervisor. Keep the “sour grapes” to yourself to avoid coming across as bitter or difficult to work with.

PREPARE
Find out as much as possible about the company. Your interviewer will see your efforts as a sign of commitment and a measure of your interest level. You can also use this information to help shape your answers.

GENERAL TIPS

Do ask about career advancement, but be careful not to sound too interested in future roles. Your interviewer may worry about your leaving the position six months after you’ve filled it.

Not that you can’t have reservations, of course. Just don’t show it. You may learn more about the job later that will revive your interest. Besides, you can always turn down second interviews or job offers when you’ve had time to appraise them.

As for detailed questions about financial terms, wait until an offer is on the table. It’s your recruiter’s job as your career agent to help you negotiate the fairest package.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

It’s always helpful to know what kind of impression you’ve made. So, if you don’t get an offer after the interview, find out why from your recruiter. That way, you can factor it into your next interview, wherever it may be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some commonly asked questions in interviews. Just remember that since they’re supposed to be personal and enlightening, your responses should be too. Take care not to sound insincere or overly rehearsed.

SO, TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.

The interviewer is really saying “I want to hear you talk.” Use this opportunity to summarize your qualifications, career history and abilities, emphasizing those skills relevant to the job in question. This is not an invitation to relate childhood memories in great detail. Spend a maximum of four minutes on your response.

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR CAREER?

The interviewer is really trying to gauge your self-esteem, confidence, career aspiration and whether you are a happy, positive person. Your answer must always be, “yes.” If, however, you’ve hit a career plateau or you feel you are moving too slowly, feel free to qualify your answer.

WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR PRESENT JOB?

The interviewer is trying to find out whether the job in question involves tasks you dislike. Answer this one with extreme caution. If you’re too specific you may draw attention to weaknesses. A safe approach is to play up a characteristic of your present company that’s different from the company you’re talking to. For example, if your corporation is large, you might say you are frustrated with slow decision-making. Or if it’s small, you could say that a lack of opportunities makes you feel unfulfilled.

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?

There are no excuses for being unprepared for this question. The interviewer wants a straightforward answer as to what you are good at and how you can add value.

Concentrate on discussing three or four of your strengths and how they could benefit the employer. Strengths to consider include technical proficiency, ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, a positive attitude, your ability to relate to people or achieve a common goal. Avoid clichés such as “I’m a good people person.” Be specific and provide relevant examples.

When is knowing your weaknesses your greatest strength? When is it just a weakness? Can you share your past in a way that demonstrates you have a future?

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS?

A favorite of interviewers, this one is really about your level of self-awareness. So, don’t say you don’t have any weaknesses. Just name one in an area that is not vital for the job. Or, describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered strength, and the steps you have taken to combat it. For example, “I know my team thinks I’m too demanding at times. I tend to drive them pretty hard, but I’m getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick.” Do not select a personal weakness such as “I’m not a morning person.”

WHY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?

Your response to this should be straightforward. State how you are looking for more challenge, responsibility, experience and a change of environment. Never give negative reasons for leaving. Finally, it’s rarely ever appropriate to cite salary as your primary motivation, unless you are being paid dramatically below market standards.

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE?

The interviewer is trying to find out if you are an achiever. Describe a fairly recent, work-related achievement. Identify the skills it demanded and its benefit to the company. For example: “My greatest achievement was to design and implement a new sales ledger computer system, bring it in ahead of time and improve our debtors position significantly, thereby, saving the company $100,000 a month.”

Others to prepare for include:

1. Where would you like to be in your career in five years?
2. How would your colleagues describe you? Your subordinates?
3. Why should I offer this job to you?
4. How do you feel about working long hours/weekends? Be very careful not to emphasize your work-life balance needs until the employer expresses serious interest in your candidacy.
5. What can you bring to this organization?
6. Which part of this role is least attractive to you?
7. Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Why?
8. What are you looking for in a company?
9. Have you received any work-related awards for outstanding performance?
10. Have you taken any skills-related courses recently?

The interview of interviews
And then there are questions that challenge you on completely different personal and professional levels. These are all part of a more scientific interviewing technique that organizations use to evaluate a candidate’s particular expertise and to determine future job performance.

At first, these questions may seem daunting, even out-of-bounds. Fortunately, First Alliances has invested considerable time and money understanding this technique. As a result, we are in a position to help you with the appropriate responses.

For starters, recognize that good interviewers dig deep into your past experiences hoping to learn more about how you have already behaved in a variety of on-the-job situations. So be prepared for questions that focus on a prescribed set of key performance criteria. That’s how the interviewer will assess your technical and personal skills.

To succeed in this sort of interview, know yourself well and articulate your responses honestly and concisely. And be sure to listen. If you understand and interpret the questions properly, you can draw on relevant past experiences to illustrate your answers. Use real life examples from prior work experiences to support your positions.

Following are some example of questions you may face. Since every situation you have faced is unique, be sure to let the interviewer know about the specific limitations you had to deal with.

These questions are designed to draw out character traits such as sensitivity, leadership, tenacity, rapport building, behavioral flexibility, independence and resilience.

The interviewer also uses them simply to get to know you. If you don’t have an opinion or answer, then don’t give one. If you are honest, it will be apparent and you won’t ever find yourself backed into a corner.

All jobs have their frustrations and problems.

Questions include some of the following:

1. When was the last time you were angry at work? How did you cope?
2. Name some specific job conditions, tasks or assignments that have been dissatisfying.
3. Talk about the last time you disagreed with your boss.
4. What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with? (Warning: You never know your prospective boss’ personality. Be diplomatic and tactful at all times).
5. What kinds of pressures have you encountered at work?
6. Are you a self-starter? Give examples to demonstrate.
7. Describe the biggest problem you have faced recently and how you resolved it.
8. What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?
9. Describe a situation where you found yourself in over your head. Have you made any decisions that really were not yours to make? If yes, what were they?
10. Can you give an example of when you had to delegate authority and/or responsibility to someone who did not report directly to you?
11. What systems do you use to keep track of things that require your attention?
12. What are some responsibilities you have taken on? Why? What unique challenges did you overcome and how did you accomplish them?
13. Have you ever had to discipline or correct a friend on the job? How did you handle it? Give an example of when you worked the hardest and felt the greatest sense of achievement.
14. What are the biggest decisions you have made in the last year?
15. When have you delayed decisions to give yourself more time to think?
16. What situations do you find most stressful?
    

In the end, most regard the interview as a tool used exclusively by companies to evaluate candidates. We believe it is much more than that. We believe it is also a window on employers themselves - open it - evaluate the questions asked of you. What isn’t being said and why? Is the interviewer someone you would want to work for? - Remember, it is your interview, too. You are the one who will be changing jobs. You are the one who will be doing the work. The employer may have thousands of employees but you only have one job. Consequently, just as employers use the interview to see you as you really are, we suggest using it to see them as they really are. A poor match hurts a company and candidate alike.