Successful Interviewing
Interviewing Defined―Three Kinds
- Practice - Taking interviews to enhance your question/answer skills in
preparation for more serious interviews.
- Informational – As you explore who you are and what you want to do, interview
just to find out more about the company or field.
- Employment – The real thing. All your preparation, research and practice leads to this.
Why Employers Interview
Employers choose to interview because they are looking to find
out these things:
- Why are you here? Why did you seek out this firm?
- What can you do for us? Or, what skills, knowledge and
experience can you bring to aid in their success?
- What kind of person are you? The employer wants to know if
your personality and work habits match those of others in their
organization. In other words, “will you fit in?”
- What separates you from others? Why should they hire you
above all others?
- Can we afford you? What will it take to hire you and are they
willing and able to meet your price?
What Will We Ask You and Why
When it comes to the actual interview, the five general
questions listed on the previous page multiply into hundreds of
possibilities. During our interview, we will try to uncover
evidence of certain essential, or core, characteristics that
must be present in the ideal candidate. Such questioning may
proceed as follows:
- Non-Directive – A question designed to assess whether you
possess a certain characteristic needed for the job.
Example: What kind of people have you worked with and how did
you relate to them?
Comment: Here, we want to assess your interpersonal skills. A
strong answer will be clear, concise and show an ability to deal
with diverse personalities.
- Parallel -Asks you to compare strengths and weakness, to show
how you perceive yourself.
Example: What are your strengths and weaknesses in dealing with
people who have less experience than you?
Comment: This question tries to get at your ability to work with
a diverse group of people. Make sure the weakness you give can
be seen as a strength, such as, “I try to give my subordinates
too much of my time” or “I sometimes try too hard to explain
things to someone who has no experience.”
- Preference – Tries to find out what you like/dislike.
Example: Do you prefer working in an environment where things
are clearly defined or one where things are neither black nor
white?
Comment: Your response will suggest whether you are a
self-starter or one who needs clear direction. Neither response
is wrong…it simply means you will likely be more successful in
one environment versus the other.
- Direct and Proof – Asks you to give proof that you possess a
certain characteristic.
Example: This job requires strong problem-solving skills. Give
me an example of a difficult problem you had to solve and how
you did it.
Comment: Be prepared to recall accomplishments and challenges
from your work experience. We look to hire those who can give
thorough examples of success and overcoming obstacles.
- What if
– You are presented with an actual work problem or
scenario and are asked to solve it.
Example: What if you are asked to complete three projects, but
only have time for two. What would you do?
Comment: We look for people who can take their skills and manage
multiple priorities to accomplish specific goals.
- Difficult Questions
– Interviewers will often try to test your
mettle and professionalism as well as gain your commitment.
Example: What did you like least about your last supervisor?
Comment: If you had a difficult supervisor, describe how you
overcame the problem.
Example: What was your most upsetting work experience?
Comment: Answer with an instance of personal frustration that
suggests you are a hard worker or a perfectionist. Stay
positive.
Your Questions – The more you ask, the more interested and
curious you appear. Do enough research about the company to stimulate such questions. Ask about:
- Company marketing plans
- Financial condition
- Work environment
- Training
- Management philosophy
Remember
The interview is your chance to sell yourself and your skills.
Be professional, dress well, maintain eye contact, keep a
positive attitude and be prepared. One quick and very easy way
to prepare is to research the company online.
The more you know about the company you are dealing with, the
better you know who you are and what you can do, the greater
your chance for success.