10-08-2012, 03:30 PM
The Best Answer to Tough Interview Questions
Interview kit.doc (Size: 196 KB / Downloads: 63)
Tell me about yourself
This is really more of a request than a question. But these few words can put you on spot in a way no question can. Many quickly lose a control of the interview during the most critical time- the first five minutes. This is not the time to go into a lengthy history or wander off in different directions. Your response should be focused and purposeful. Communicate a pattern of interests and skills that relate to the position in question. Consider your response to this question as a commercial that sells your autobiography. Provide an answer that includes information about where you grew up, where you went to school, your initial work experience, additional education and special training, where you are now, and what you intend to do next. One of the most effective ways to prepare for this question is to develop a 60 seconds biographic sketch that emphasizes a pattern of interests, skill, and accomplishments. Focus your response around a common theme related to your major interests and skills. Take, for example, the following response, which emphasizes computers.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
This open-ended question is one of the most difficult and stressful ones job seekers face. Employers ostensibly ask this question because they are looking for people who know what they want to do and who are focused on specific professional goals. If you lack goals, you will have difficulty answering this question. Be sure you arrive at the interview with a clear vision of what you want to do today, tomorrow and five years from now. Be consistent with the objective on your resume and the skills and accomplishments you are communicating to the interviewer. Your answer should be employer-centered. For example,
“In five years I hope to be working with an employer in an increasingly responsible position, that enables me to utilize my talents and work closely with my colleagues in solving important problems. I see myself taking on new and exciting challenges in an enjoyable environment and hopefully this will be with your company.”
Do not indicate that you hope to start your own business, change careers or go back to school. Such responses indicate a lack of long term interest since you do not plan to be around for long. While some may respond that they honestly haven’t really thought that far ahead, the interviewer infers that the applicant lacks vision and goals.
Describe a major goal you have set for yourself recently.
Give an example of a goal you both set and achieved. Ideally, this should be a professional goal: such as improved time management skills, achieved new performance targets, or learned a new skill. A personal example can also be appropriate if it reinforce your pattern of accomplishments. For example, if you take a great deal of initiative and quickly move into leadership positions, you might use a personal example relating to your recent community work: organized a community walk-a-thon that raised $30,000 in matching funds to purchase new computers for the local library. Talk about results of achieving your goal. This indicates you set realistic goals and that you can focus on outcomes. Select an example that has interesting outcomes related to your efforts. The example should showcase your skills and abilities.