How To Give Job Winning Answers At Interviews
uman Resources personnel, matter how much preparation you
professional recruiters and do.
various other career
experts all agree: one of the 2. Treat any sample answers you
best ways to prepare yourself for find, such as in discussion
a job interview is to anticipate forums, books or on Internet job
questions, develop your answers, sites, as GUIDES only. Do not use
and practice, practice, practice. any sample answers word for word!
Interviewers can spot "canned"
answers a mile away, and if they
There are plenty of websites that suspect you are regurgitating
offer lists of popular job answers that are not your own,
interview questions, and knowing you can kiss that job goodbye.
the types of questions to expect You must apply your own
can be very useful. But knowing experiences, personality and
how to answer those questions can style to answer the questions in
mean the difference between your own way. This is crucial,
getting the job and getting the and it will give you a big
"reject letter." advantage over candidates who
simply recite sample answers.
HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
3. Job interview questions are
First, know these important not things to fear, they are
facts: OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL. They
allow you to show why you are the
1. There is no way to predict best person for the job, so
every question you will be asked instead of dreading them, look
during a job interview. In other forward to them! The key is to
words, expect unexpected give better answers than anyone
questions--they'll come up no else, and that's where your
preparation comes in. the phrases they use when
describing the desired
Now, take these actions: qualifications. You'll want to
target these as much as possible
1. Make a list of your best when developing your answers. For
"selling points" for the example, if the announcement says
position. What qualifications, they want someone with "strong
skills, experience, knowledge, customer service skills," make
background, personality traits do sure you include "strong customer
you possess that would apply to service skills" in at least one
this particular job? Write them of your answers. That will make a
down and look for opportunities better impression than saying "I
to work them into your answers. helped customers."
2. In addition to any sample job 4. Review and edit your answers
interview questions you find until you feel they are "just
through various resources, you right." Read them over and over
absolutely must develop your OWN until you are comfortable that
list of probable questions based you know them fairly well. Don't
specifically on the job for which try to memorize them; don't worry
you are applying. Put yourself in about remembering every word.
the hiring manager's shoes... Practice saying them out loud. If
what kinds of questions would you possible, have a friend help you
ask to find the best person for rehearse for the interview.
this job?
Be A (Short) Story Teller
3. Write down your answers to
likely questions. Study the job Make use of this old marketing
announcement carefully. (If you tip: "Facts tell but stories
don't have one, get one!) Note sell." During a job interview,
you are selling yourself. any problems after that." (NOTE:
Whenever possible, answer I know nothing about dog
questions with a short story that grooming; I made the Schweitzer
gives specific examples of your Maneuver up for illustrative
experiences. Notice I said purposes.)
"short." You don't want to ramble
or take up too much time; you Don't you agree that Mary's
want to be brief but still make answer is better? Sure, Joe
your point. answered the question, but Mary
did more than that--she gave a
For example, imagine two people specific example and told a quick
interviewing for a job as a dog story that will be remembered by
groomer are asked, "Have you ever the interviewers.
dealt with aggressive dogs?"
Candidate Joe answers, "Yes, In today's job market where there
about 10% of the dogs I've are dozens of highly qualified
groomed had aggressive candidates for each opening,
tendencies." Candidate Mary anything you do that will make
answers, "Oh yes, quite often. I you stand out and be remembered
remember one situation where a will greatly increase your odds
client brought in his Pit Bull, of getting hired.
Chomper. He started growling at
me the moment his owner left, and Keep the Interviewer's
I could tell from his stance he Perspective in Mind; Answer His
wasn't about to let me get near "What's in it for Me?" Question
his nails with my clippers. I
think he would've torn my arm off While many questions asked during
if I hadn't used the Schweitzer job interviews appear to focus on
Maneuver on him. That calmed him your past accomplishments, here's
down right away and I didn't have an important tip: they may be
asking about what you did in the answers, "In my current job at
past, but what they really want Stylish Hounds, management ran a
to know is what you can do NOW, special promotion to increase the
for THEM. number of customers who use the
dog-grooming service. It was a
The key is to talk about your bit too successful because we
past accomplishments in a way suddenly had more customers than
that shows how they are RELEVANT we could handle. Management would
to the specific job for which you not hire additional groomers to
are interviewing. Doing advance help with the workload. Instead
research about the company (such of turning customers away or
as at their website or at significantly delaying their
www.hoovers.com) and the position appointments, I devised a new
will be extremely helpful. grooming method that was twice as
fast. Then I developed a new work
Here's another example with Joe schedule. Both efforts maximized
and Mary. The interviewer asks, productivity and we were able to
"What is the most difficult handle the increased workload
challenge you've faced, and how effectively without upsetting our
did you overcome it?" Joe answers customers."
with, "In one job I was
delivering pizzas and I kept Joe's answer shows initiative and
getting lost. By the time I'd commitment (he bought that GPS
find the address, the pizza would gadget with his own money, after
be cold, the customer would be all). But Mary's answer relates
unhappy, and my boss was ready to specifically to the job they are
fire me. I overcame this problem applying for (dog groomer). And
by purchasing a GPS navigation Mary had done research about the
device and installing it in my company and discovered it was
car. Now I never get lost!" Mary about to significantly expand
it's dog-grooming operations. So but it's relevant to the position
she picked an example from her and indicates that she has what
past that addressed an issue the it takes to be successful in this
interviewer was likely to apply particular job. It tells the
to a future situation in his interviewer, "I have what you're
company. See the difference? looking for; I can help you with
your specific needs."
Here's one more example. Joe and
Mary are asked, "What's your Looks like Mary has a new job!
greatest accomplishment?" Joe
answers, "I won two Olympic Gold Do Not Lie
Medals during the 2000 Olympics
in the high-jump competition." Last but not least, tell the
Mary answers, "I was named truth. It's sometimes very
Stylish Hounds's Dog Groomer of tempting to "alter" the truth a
the Year in 2003 for increasing bit during a job interview. For
productivity in my section by instance, say you quit instead of
47%." being fired. But the risk of
being discovered as a liar far
Joe's accomplishment is pretty outweighs the potential benefit
spectacular. But remember the of hiding the truth.
interviewer's perspective. He
might be impressed, but he's If you are thinking about telling
thinking "What's in it for me? a lie during the interview, ask
What does being a world-class yourself these questions (this
high-jumper four years ago have technique has helped me make many
to do with helping me to increase major decisions): "What is the
sales in my dog-grooming BEST thing that could happen?
department?" Mary's answer is What is the WORST thing that
much less spectacular than Joe's, could happen? Is the best thing
WORTH RISKING the worst thing?" Need To Do When Preparing To
In this instance, the best thing Answer Job Interview
would be getting the job. The Questions:
worst thing would be getting
discovered as a liar, which could 1. Study the job announcement.
lead to getting fired, which
could lead to unemployment, which 2. Research the company.
could lead to more job searching,
which could lead to another 3. Anticipate likely questions.
interview, which could lead to
the stress of deciding whether to 4. Prepare answers to those
lie about just getting fired, and questions that are relevant to
so on... a cycle that can go on the position and the company.
indefinitely. Is all that worth
getting the one job, perhaps on a 5. Promote your best "selling
temporary basis? points" (relevant qualifications,
capabilities, experience,
Always consider the consequences personality traits, etc.) by
of your actions. working them into your answers.
In Summary, Here's What You 6. Practice. Practice. Practice.
About the Author:
Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular "Job Interview Success System" and free ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other career-building resources and tips at her website: www.best-interview-strategies.com
Source: www.isnare.com
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